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1. |
Never Dark for Long
04:49
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Late night Pennsylvania on the interstate - it’s dark among the trees
My family’s asleep and I am fuelled by quiet double-live CDs
My highbeams catch reflective tape, cats eyes, and ashphalt slickened by the rain
A trucker comes the other way - his headlights pass, and I’m alone again
But there’s a purple haze out on the horizon before I get to the end of this song
When you’re driving through America at night, it’s never dark for long
Coffee stop and book shop out of Portland, then we’re heading for the coast
It’s nearly gone eleven, now – my eyelids sink and she’s white as a ghost
Still 38 miles from the 101, we pull into a rest stop for some sleep
We talked about a campsite, but it’s already late and we are young and cheap
But all night I fear a state trooper with his flashlight saying ‘Kids, now, move along’
When you’re driving through America at night, it’s never dark for long
Highway 7 west of Perth, the moonlight sets the frozen lakes aglow
It could be past an hour before another town will rise out of the snow
I crave uninterrupted spaces filled up with the absence of the light
Instead of these strip malls and suburbs set ablaze to drive away the night
Each city’s like a signal flare, strung point to point to lead you on
When you’re driving through America at night, it’s never dark for long
Each city’s like a signal flare, calling out for rescue to the dawn
When you’re driving through America at night, it’s never dark for long
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2. |
Anchors Aweigh
03:50
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Driving today
Anchors aweigh
To some place that you’ve never been before
The future’s ahead
Unkind things unsaid
An outcome you could never even hope for
Your heart’s been bereft
Blinker right then turn left
Up streets that you’ve never seen before
Smile and say “Great”
But you’re not thinking straight
A month ago you’d never even stand for
I’m being honest, you see
I say “you” but I mean me
At this time, my thoughts are disjointing
Can’t be careless and free
Getting out’s not so easy
And I can’t tell which way the finger’s pointing
Driving rain
Windshield wipers wave
But I’m more scared than I’ve ever been before
Snow I don’t mind
But all this rain’s unkind
Relentless in a way I can’t account for
It’s not the best way to deal
With all the things you made me feel
I gotta fly straight like an arrow from the sender
A little movement felt right
So I got in my car to drive
Out to the edge so I can look back at the centre
(I lost my scarf in the city, trying to find the place where you live
I drove around for an hour, called three times from the same phone booth)
Driving today
Anchors aweigh
To some place that you’ve never been before
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3. |
Good Brother
03:59
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Just say the word and I’ll go back to the wasteland
And I’ll kiss its barren ground
It’s so cold here that I cannot feel, now
In this charcoal, concrete, and beer-bottle town
Just say the word and change my direction
There are no signs around
Pointing back to the place that I remember
In this charcoal, concrete, and beer-bottle town
Good brother, you know it
That I’ve been here before
You know that night we lit the place
And slammed the back door
Our old man’s made of stone by the driveway
His monument his pickup truck
It was his own fault he ended in disaster
Though he clearly did not give a fuck
Good brother, you saved me from downing
Even though I can swim
I learned fast when you threw me in the river
Then you dragged me back out again
Good brother, you know it
That I’ve been here before
You know that night we lit the place
And slammed the back door
Good brother
Good brother, you know it
That I’ve been here before
You know that night we lit the place
And slammed the back door
Good brother, you know it
It’s our blood on the floor
That night we lit the place
And slammed the back door
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4. |
Islington Angel
02:05
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Islington Angel
Coming through the back door
Following the band into the clamour
With the sweating and the hammer in the ears
Islington Angel
Have it all and want more
Charming with the Spaniard buying drinks
With the wiggle and the winks and then the cheers
Into the night
It's alright
We know how to live it
And we take it to the limit just tonight
Eleanor's sleeping
Flat upon the third floor
Climbing up the ladder from the street
It's the people that you meet today, hooray
Come up and see me
Making love and not war
Give it just a minute for your face
And then we gotta find a place where we can stay
I'm in the know
It's a go
Never would have missed her
On the way from Seven Sisters to the show
Into the night
It's alright
Although the customers will give us a fright
I'm in the know
It's a go
Never would have missed her
On the way from Seven Sisters to the show
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5. |
Rockwell's (for Rachel)
04:36
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There’s a twenty-four hour place I know
Where we can go
After the show
For a coffee or a plate of fries
In a little strip mall where we’d hang around
Westward bound
From downtown
In the suburbs so we’d have to drive
And you can tell me all about your life
And the decisions that brought you here
And I can tell you all that’s kept me near
To Rockwell’s
Yes, I can hear they’ve got a pitcher more of Coors
Well, just ignore
Those local boors
With their flannel and foam-dome disguise
Just try to focus on that older couple there
With silver hair
As they share
The remnants of a piece of pie
And you can tell me all about your heart
And I can listen but not share mine
And you can tell me all that’s on your mind
At Rockwell’s
Now the colours start to blur after the bars
Ron’s black guitar
Your purple car
And the orange-green neon glow
Now you’re thinking back on things of which we spoke
Our love of folk
A glass of Coke
With a vodka or rum or SoCo
And I could tell you all about my dreams
And the person I’ll never be
And all the demons inside of me
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6. |
Wait for Something
04:26
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The roar of the engine is a frightening sound
The aeroplane is taking off from solid ground
But losing solid ground is nothing new to me
I'm learning standing firm is just a luxury
Like a ship unmoored, like a train off the track
I'm heading off to somewhere but I want to go back
I know the sun is shining high above the clouds
But you can't see when you're in them, and that's where I am now
I know the sun is shining above the clouds
But you can't see when you're in them, and that's where I am now
They say it's an adventure, but I say it's not so
They say it's so exciting, well but what do they know
I can't describe the life I'm living as brave
If the decision was mine, I would have just played safe
I can't see the life that I'm living as brave
If the decision was mine, you know, I would have just played safe
I'm gonna wait for something
But I don't know exactly what it is
I'm gonna listen to the voice in my head
In spite of all the shit that it says
My time is now
I should slow down
I should strike out
It's time to hold
Friday afternoon about three o'clock
I take my son and go off to the park
I stand behind him and I push the swing
And I stare without looking at anything
My son is content to do nothing but swing
And I stare without looking at anything
I'm gonna wait for something
But I don't know exactly what it is
I'm gonna listen to the voice in my head
In spite of all the shit that it says
I'm gonna wait for something
Some kind of message from the heavens above
Maybe a demon that's a-crying out danger
Or an angel with a sweet song of love
My time is now
I should slow down
I should strike out
It's time to hold on for a moment
Never short and never sure
I'm trying to close in on my goals
I'll give it in
I'll give it all
There's nothing left for me to know
My time is now
I should slow down
It's time to hold
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7. |
Paul
02:26
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I like to cook my own dinner
I'm not afraid to try something funny or strange
Well, I won't claim that each one's a winner
At least I can say I'm expanding my range
There's this guy that I've seen on TV
He's changed my mind from thinking about right and wrong
He takes risks in the kitchen like I've never seen
Mixing flavours that just don't belong
But if the food is good
The company's kind
It's holy, it's precious
It's not to be messed with
And if I had to choose my own vanity
This one does something for me
I'll keep on cooking my dinner
Pots and pans rattling day after day
Well I eat well, but I'm getting thinner
For me, that's a sign that I'm doing okay
All that I need to keep making my way
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8. |
The One that Haunts Me
05:09
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I hope that I can be the one that haunts me
When I come back as somebody brand new
Oh, I hope that I can be the one that haunts me
To remind me of the time I spent with you
I hope that I can meet me in the garden
If a garden’s something I get born into
I hope that I can linger ‘round the fountain
Keep me company when I’m alone and blue
And if I took a walk among the roses
Beside the crumbling wall where they all grow
I’d try to blow a picture in my memory
Recalling someone kind I used to know
I’d like to follow me along the hallway
When I get up at night to have a drink
I’d like to hover close but not be noticed
When I’m frightened and I don’t know what to think
I’d like to follow me along the hallway
My future self would make the floorboards creak
It won’t be me arousing my suspicion
‘Cept for maybe a cold brush upon my cheek
I’d really like to moan outside my window
When everything is silent in this space
If I saw my reflection at an angle
Would I recognise it as my former face?
I’d really like to moan outside my window
To show me this is not some silly game
If I could make a sound and I could hear it
The only word I’d shriek would be your name
The only word I’d shriek would be your name
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9. |
Peace Like a River
04:29
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I don’t believe them when they say they’re talking reason
They say the problem’s light as feathers when we can feel it weighs a tonne
They’re saying get together when it’s best to keep our distance
They’re saying stay apart when it’s best to join as one
If there’s a voice to speak some calm in this confusion
I would still my breath to hear it – I’ll have to let it out some day
Give me a measure of acceptance for the things I can’t control
And peace like a river in my soul
I want to act only according to my values
There are decisions to be taken that are not for me to take
And I get worried watching those to whom it’s given
They’re gonna bend that arc so far it’s gonna break
If I could will the good we need into existence
I would do it, but I’m sure that something more is what’s required
Give me the tools of calm persistence when they piss in my begging bowl
And peace like a river in my soul
Everybody wants to shout the loudest
From their separate rooms, apartments, houses
Hear and be heard in their fear
It’s absurd to be so near and yet so far away
I’m going crazy waiting for someone to guide me
If they’re not going to act like grownups, then we should send them off to bed
Sure, I can handle different views and disagreements
Just try to keep a civil tongue inside your head
If there’s a choice, I choose to greet the world with kindness
If I can help my friends and neighbours, then that’s a perfect place to start
Give me a surplus of persistence as I strive towards my goal
And peace like a river in my soul
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10. |
Slip
04:06
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Squeezing all the raindrops out of the sky
And watch the river overflow – my mouth’s run dry
I will tilt my head back and lick up all your rain
Until my heart is full of water once again
I can still remember days when the sun would shine
You would send your smile to me – you still had the time
But lately do it seem that your affection has run dry
So I’m left to squeezing raindrops out of the sky
When you’re working
Man, don’t this day seem long enough?
Well, come beside me
And I will wash your feet, my love
When you worry
I can feel it in your skin
Let the water cleanse you
And, baby, let me in
So now you come and look for me from the ocean’s shore
I am on the other side calling out for more
If only there were some way you could come to where I stand
Just reach out your arms and I’ll take you by the hand
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11. |
November
05:01
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There are no songs of love for days like these
No fresh snow falling down among the trees
No gentle shower of a warm spring rain
No sunlight burning on my face again
This city’s filthy with November winds
Still I’m trying hard to be open
To all the good things that the day can bring
The radiator’s knock and a song to sing
I wonder if it’s warmer where you are
A different share of sun, a different hour
Still I guess there are no guarantees
You might still get cold away from me
I can’t imagine any clearer light
Our summer’s faded from my mind tonight
And I can’t conjure where you’re sleeping now
Your photographs – they miss the mark somehow
Here’s just one image for a night like these
I’m walking quickly into falling leaves
Surprise me when they fall – it’s dark at night
Their golden bodies catch the warm lamplight
I’m just fooling myself and I don’t care
November’s no good anywhere
And still your question echoes quietly
Will you remember me?
I will, I will, I will
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12. |
The Date Was Interrupted
04:21
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I see you tonight
Shining like the moon
When outside it’s still light
Still daylight in my room
So when the cops have come
To take you away from me
I’m sorry for the way I look tonight
I see you tonight
Your dress as pale as me
Your hair all curled up tight
Your eyes now bluey-green
I see a teardrop fall
As they lead you out my door
I’m sorry for the way I look tonight
I see you tonight
A vision to my sense
Arms outstretched for flight
To heaven if you can
And I am stuck down here
With nothing left to say
Except I’m sorry for the way I look tonight
So remember to be polite
And you won’t get thrown on the floor
You can’t use both your hands
But duck your head getting in the car door
Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your mother proud
And don’t forget to say you love me out loud
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13. |
Mercy
06:23
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I am one who has suffered
Beneath the anger of the Lord
I have felt his sharp pain like no other
I have begged, I have implored
That he should snip the strands of my tethers
And let me rise and walk away
I don’t need to soar among the heavens
Just walk a cleaner, brighter day
I am one who is stricken
By what my father calls the blues
I’m not living well but merely living
It’s the forgiving I could use
For I just can’t go on pretending
Things are as good as they could be
Surely all these holes could use some mending
Surely there’s more life in me
Oooh, done it again
Oooh, done it again
Just got myself to blame
I am one who is broken
But I’ve received what I deserve
Everything was done as I had spoken
Can’t think of where I got the nerve
Now I’m all poured out and I’m empty
And this is where I need you most
I’ll take anything that you can send me
The Father, Son, or Holy Ghost
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
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Michael Munnik Cardiff, UK
Acoustic indie-folk with words of value at the heart of the songs, crafted in the finest tradition of Canadian singer-songwriters.
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