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1. |
Undercover
03:39
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When you’re undercover all your vices become virtue, nothing but the truth can hurt you, slipping in and slipping out of sight. When you’re in hiding, that’s when it gets exciting, and your greatest weapon is the night.
When you’re a detective finding clues with silent shoes, following the prime directive, it helps you if you have a good disguise. When you’re incognito hunting down some bandito use your big sombrero to cover up you eyes.
Watching your back and staying on your toes, finding ways to change your history. Covering your tracks and laying low. Seeing something in the mystery.
When you’re undercover all your vices become virtue, nothing but the truth can hurt you, slipping in and slipping out of sight. You can pretend ya’ some kind of ninja, and your greatest weapon is the night.
I told all the super heroes I was gonna reveal their alter egos. And I would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for those kids and Scooby Doo.
When you’re a detective finding clues with silent shoes, following the prime directive, it helps you if you have a good disguise. When you’re cloak and dagger, hearing every pitter-patter, finding what’s the matter with those enemy lines.
Watching your back and staying on your toes, finding ways to change your history. Covering your tracks and laying low. Seeing something in the mystery.
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2. |
Checks and Balances
03:57
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I've got a million dollars; it's hypothetical
A large amount in my bank account; it's parenthetical
The money I'm made of is theoretical
So in theory I've got it good
My fat wallet is on a diet
My balance sheet is lopsided
My income statement is keeping silent
So let's keep one thing understood
I need checks, I need balances
Life's a mess with financial challenges
Checks and balances, when things get tough
Do you do it for money or do you do it for love?
My cold hard cash is soft and tropical
My deep pockets are merely topical
I hit the big time; it was microscopical
But don't you get it I am no fool
I own a bank, I call him piggy
Brought home the bacon, he got a little wiggy
Cracked him open, what a pity
His inner life was pitiful
I need checks, I need balances
Life's a mess with financial challenges
Checks and balances, when things get tough
Do you do it for money or do you do it for love?
I know a cheap skate, always has a headache
Trying to get something for free
None more wiser is the miser
Always lives in misery
I'm cashing in on triple coupons
Soup kitchens calling, saying the soup's on
I sing for my supper and get my groove on
I still know how to have fun
I need checks, I need balances
Life's a mess with financial challenges
Checks and balances, when things get tough
Do you do it for money or do you do it for love?
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3. |
The Frame Maker
04:08
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Painter paint me a picture
Painter pain me what you see
I have come from far away
And your work has meant so much to me
But my pearl eye is in its shell
And my hand wants to shed its skin
What is the secret?
What is the spell?
Where do I begin?
Here's to the frame maker
Who will tell you the trick to the trade
is that it's not for the one who's a name maker
But only for someone who can bring out the beauty
In something that someone else made
Painter paint me a picture
Of all the things you brushed aside
For I have so far to go
The road is long but never as wide
Here's to the frame maker
Who will tell you the trick to the trade
is that it's not for the one who's a name maker
But only for someone who can bring out the beauty
In something that someone else made
Oil of joy and satin sadness
Beautiful world, oh beautiful world
The color of love and daylight canvas
Beautiful world, oh beautiful world
Painter paint me a picture
Painter pain me what you see
Here's to the frame maker
Who will tell you the trick to the trade
is that it's not for the one who's a name maker
But only for someone who can bring out the beauty
In something that someone else made
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4. |
Woodpecker's Song
06:19
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All the birds of a feather got together saying, “Something is terribly wrong. You see there used to be a melody, but now it’s nothing but a woodpecker’s song.
The beads were in the trees and the birds were back in town. All through the canopy you could only hear one sound. All the birds of a feather got together saying, “Something is terribly wrong. You see there used to be a melody, but now it’s nothing but a woodpecker’s song.
All the chicks dig it, and it ain’t no chicken feed. But what good it is banging your head against a tree? It don’t mean a thing to me. The bluebirds and finches were lined up on benches. The cardinal was saying his prayers. But in spite of his devotion there was a general commotion, and the turkeys said, “Who really cares?”
All the birds of a feather got together saying, “Something is terribly wrong. You see there used to be a melody, but now it’s nothing but a woodpecker’s song.
All the chicks dig it, and it ain’t no chicken feed. But what good it is banging your head against a tree? It don’t mean a thing to me. The crows took up the caws of casting the blame, and the doves said it must be a coo. The parrots seemed to feel the same, and the owl just simply asked, “Who?”
All the birds of a feather got together saying, “Something is terribly wrong. You see there used to be a melody, but now it’s nothing but a woodpecker’s song.
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5. |
Independence, Louisiana
04:58
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There’s a town called Independence. The Italian families worked the farms together. It was a time of the elements, and they say you could see strawberry fields forever.
Independence, Independence. There’s always one on whom you can rely . Independence, maybe it’s a coincidence, but the fig trees bloom the first week of July.
There’s a man, my father’s father - he lived his whole life in Independence. He still pulls the bush hog with the tractor - 96 years in residence.
Independence, Independence. There’s always one on whom you can rely. Independence and so much common sense-the two things that still keep him alive.
After the war, he built the dairy. His brother John was gone in ’49. But he had Rose. She knew he loved him. Now he stays at home and stretches dimes.
Independence, Independence. There’s always one on whom you can rely. Independence and so much common sense-the two things that still keep him alive. Independence, maybe it’s a coincidence, but the fig trees bloom the first week of July.
There’s a town called Independence. The Italian families worked the farms together. It was a time of the elements, and they say you could see strawberry fields forever.
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6. |
Lazy Bones
03:57
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Oooo Southern breeze
Blowing through magnolia trees
Old river, take me home, take me home
Feel the rhythm from the levee
Soul and spirit, ain’t it heavy
Move your lazy bones
Just like that, just like that
Move your lazy bones
Just like that, just like that
Feel the rhythm from the levee
Soul and spirit, ain’t it heavy
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7. |
Dumb It Down
04:22
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Nobody likes a know-it-all
Comin' in here, making us all feel small
He might have the inside story
But all the tiny details get a tiny bit boring
One thing I've learned, one thing I've found
If you want to play it smart you've got to dumb it down
If I can't spell it, if I can't pronounce it
I'll probably ignore it, might even denounce it
Well you see it's a matter of prudence
True democracies are run by C students
It's gotta be in black or white even if it's brown
If you want to play it smart you've got to dumb it down
You've got to put it into neat little boxes
They kick you out the boat if you're the one who rocks it
People take sides even when it's a continuum
Oops that's a big word I think I just lost someone
Keep your head in the sky and your feet on the ground
If you want to play it smart you've got to dumb it down
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8. |
What Can I Do For You?
04:15
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The kitchen’s too small, and there’s so much love.
There’s never been “you” or “me” - only “us.”
An apartment’s not a house, but it is a home -
- taking care of her own.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
I believe that love is a decision.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
It’s a decision and it’s a feeling too.
For better or for worse those were her vows.
She meant them then. She means them now.
There is always a way, and you always hear her say,
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
I believe that love is a decision.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
It’s a decision and it’s a feeling too.
The kitchen’s too small, and there’s so much love.
There’s never been “you” or “me” - only “us.”
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
I believe that love is a decision.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
It’s a decision and it’s a feeling too.
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9. |
Traveling at Night
05:09
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The sky gets blue on a sunny day, and even I sometimes feel that way. I don’t put my trust in the visible light traveling at night.
The thieves and the scoundrels come out of the woods, dodododododo. Just don’t let them guess that you’re good. Don’t let them guess that you’re good.
I’ll take the moon and her reflecting ways over the sun that wrinkles my face. I won’t be slowed down by the speed of light traveling at night.
The lunatics and lovers, they act like they should, dodododododo. Oh, if we could be we certainly would. Oh, we certainly would.
The sky gets blue on a sunny day, and even I sometimes feel that way traveling at night.
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10. |
I Like the Feeling
05:11
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I like the feeling of feeling forgiven, I do. I like the feeling, the feeling of being with you. Say what you want to say. I will listen to you.
I like the feeling, the feeling of winning, I do, but stealing is stealing, and stealing ain’t winning it’s true. I don’t want to play games with you. There’s too many other things to do.
A reason to put on my glasses. And there’s a reason not to. Come a little closer my pretty. The better to….
So I’ve been healing, pealing, revealing a clue, and I’ve been keeling, praying and praying for you. Stay if you want to stay. You know I want you to. Oh you know I want you too.
Stay if you want to stay, Say what you want to say, I don’t want to play. I don’t want to play games with you. There’s too many other things to do.
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11. |
Sweet and Sour
03:17
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Oh my baby changes day-to-day
It even can be hour to hour
Sometimes she's sweet, sometimes she's sour
I never know which one I'm going to get
If she will be happy or complain
Though I am uncertain you should let
Me tell you that I love her just the same
Oh my baby changes day-to-day
It even can be hour to hour
Sometimes she's sweet, sometimes she's sour
Sweet and sour, kind of saucy
My little flower's a little bossy
Never bitter, never salty
I am wit' her, can you fault me?
Oh my baby loves to change her clothes
Just as we're walking out the door
And as you know the story always goes
She puts on what she had on before
Oh my baby changes day-to-day
It even can be hour to hour
Sometimes she's sweet, sometimes she's sour
Sweet and sour, she's delici-ous
Regardless of her metamorphosis
I must be some kind of sucker
I think she's being sweet and then I start to pucker
Oh my baby loves to change her mind
But I don't think that's really quite as strange
As when I come home from work sometimes
And all the furniture's rearranged
Oh my baby changes day-to-day
It even can be hour to hour
Sometimes she's sweet, sometimes she's sour
Yes I have a taste for lemonade
But not the type that comes from a powder
I like my lemons fresh give me some sugar
Sweet and sour
Oh my baby changes day-to-day
It even can be hour to hour - Sometimes she's sweet, sometimes she's sour -
Sometimes she's sweet... sometimes she's sour
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12. |
Nobody's Listening
03:41
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Nobody’s listening. There’s too much noise. I’ve never been one to raise my voice. Nobody’s listening. It doesn’t matter what I say. Nobody’s listening anyway.
It’s not your life. Don’t hold on too tightly. Just put it in the hand of the Almighty. Be conscious of what directs you. If my life were a movie I’d be an extra.
People are to love, and things are to use - not the other way around. People get these things confused, when it gets too loud.
In her backyard my neighbor has a motion detector pointed at the wind. It goes off all night. They’re on vacation again. Guess I’m not going to get any sleep tonight.
Nobody’s listening. You should try it. But first thing’s first – you have to be quiet. Nobody’s listening. It doesn’t matter what I say. Nobody’s listening anyway.
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13. |
People Come, People Go
03:34
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People come, people go
All the people I used to know
Some just yesterday and some long ago
People come and people go
There were people in school, they're still kids in your mind
People at work clocking in time
You remember certain people and you know exactly why
You said goodbye and then you said hello
There are people whom I learned from
People whom I taught
People who sold me the things that I bought
Some of them were just passing to and fro
People come and people go
Tick tock the big clock don't stop
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
We'll I've seen a million faces, and I've rocked one or two
Some said bonjour, some said adieu
Tell me your name, and I'll remember you
Plant a seed and let it grow
Some people are players, some the referee
Some are actors you see on TV
Or they're a voice on the radio
People come and people go
Tick tock the big clock don't stop
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
Tick tock the big clock don't stop
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
People come in on the highway
And they go, say "Bye bye" on the byway
Each one different from head to toe
All the people I used to know
Some just yesterday and some long ago
People come and people go
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Burke Ingraffia Richmond, Virginia
Burke Ingraffia is a singer/songwriter/guitarist whose multi-genre music fits pleasantly in the ears of both jazz and folk audiences alike. He was a finalist at the 2012 Kerrville New Folk competition.A native of New Orleans, Burke currently lives in the Richmond, VA area. ... more
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