Get all 9 The Zags releases available on Bandcamp and save 60%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Cliff, A World Away / Icy Red, Icy Red, The Zags, Small Bags, Tattoo [Single], Bridges Of 1987 [Single], Red-Eyed Dawn [Single], and 1 more.
1. |
No Go
02:49
|
|||
|
NO GO
(Ricardo)
—————————
RIFF (A major)
VERSE
A D
Hey now, don’t get too excited, ‘cause I’ve
C D E
Got bad news for you
A D
I see that look in your eyes. I think I
C D E
Know what you want to do
CHORUS
D E
But it’s a no — no go
A E D
You’re gonna have to make it happen on your own
D E
I said no, oh no
A E D C D
Don’t even try to change my mind because you won’t
RIFF (A major)
VERSE
A D
You said if we pull on the thread, we could
C D E
Unravel a mystery
A D
I said you can go right ahead, but you can
C D E
Do it without me
CHORUS
D E
‘Cause it’s a no — no go
A E D
My friend, it’s up to you
D E
I’ll still be here waiting when you are
A E D A E D
Through with your something new, I’ll leave you with this haiku:
HAIKU
C
Leaves they do enthrall
D
Green they grow and yellow fall
Bb C
Branches are always
RIFF (A major)
|
||||
2. |
A World Away
02:27
|
|||
|
A WORLD AWAY
(Ricardo)
———————————
INTRO
G Cm G Cm
VERSE
G Cm G
You... shine like an evening star
Bm Em Cm
I heard that you’re doing better. Still, you’re a world away
VERSE
G Cm G
So I watch you from afar
Bm Em Am Cm
I know I will reach you on some fortunate day. Still you’re a world away
CHORUS
G D C G
I fly higher than the highest mountain
G D Eb
But only in my dreams
G D C G
So I stare into the dusty air ’til the
Am Cm
End of the day. Still you’re a world away
INTRO
G Cm G Cm
VERSE
G Cm G
I’m ready to trade orange in for blue
Bm Em Am Cm
To feel gravity’s pull! It’s true that I am ready to pay. You’re only a world away
CHORUS
G D C G
I’ll fly higher than the highest mountain
G D Eb
Eyes fixed upon the queen
G D C G
I know that we will be together
Am Cm
One fortunate day. Still you’re a world away
CODA
G D C Bb
G D C Bb
G D C Bb
All of my life I heard the stories and I
G D C Bb
Looked to the stars
G Cm
All of my life I watched you from
G Cm
Mars!
G Cm
Sitting at the foot of the Olympus Mons;
G Cm
By this time tomorrow I’ll be
G Cm
Gone. Pale blue marble with a swirl of white;
G Cm G D C Bb
I’m gonna dream of you tonight!
|
||||
3. |
Neither/Nor
02:44
|
|||
|
Right from the start I've been indebted to you
For covering mistakes and the chances I blew
How could I ever step off or abandon our perch?
It's all that I've ever known
But maybe you know that I am questioning
It shows in my gestures and the songs I sing
What is an ideal man? And is he who I am?
I'm certain of being unsure
Neither/nor, superior, caveat emptor
Neither/nor
I walk through our world so comfortably
Finally thinking about why that must be
Oh I hate to agree and to also accept
This land was made for not them, but me
How do I repay for all that you've done?
You've treated me like a favorite son
Grateful though I might be, it doesn't taste sweet
I take an extra bite all the same
Neither/nor, superior, caveat emptor
Neither/nor, neither/nor
Should we give up the place that we've always ruled?
You and I have always had it our way
Could we possibly learn to honestly share?
Oh we can't let go, not today, not today, not today
Neither/nor, superior, caveat emptor
Neither/nor, neither/nor, neither/nor
|
||||
4. |
Put A Record On
01:59
|
|||
|
PUT A RECORD ON
(Ricardo)
————
VERSE
C C/B Bb F
I can blow fire; I can rain on it
C C/B Bb F
I can see a thing’s reflection in its opposite
C C/B Bb F
I can float high when I’m feeling down
C C/B Bb F
Put a record on and spin around, lifted by the sound
PRECHORUS
E F
I’ll pretend that I am Billie Shears
Am G
Bathing in the ghostly cheers
CHORUS
C C/B Bb F
Can you feel it now?
C C/B Bb F
Adoration from a long-dead crowd
C C/B Bb F
And it makes me wanna sing it loud, just let it go into the microphone
Am G D G
But I know; I know
Am G F G
That no one’s listening anymore!
VERSE (instrumental)
C C/B Bb F
C C/B Bb F
C C/B Bb F
Am G
VERSE
C C/B Bb F
I can blow fire; I can rain on it
C C/B Bb F
I can see a thing’s reflection in its opposite
C C/B Bb F
I can float high when I’m feeling down
C C/B Bb F
Put a record on and spin around, lifted by the sound
PRECHORUS
E F
Now I’ll do my best to make it clear
Am G
So just open up your ears
CHORUS
C C/B Bb F
Can you hear me now? I know you wanna, but you
C C/B Bb F
Don’t know how I know you wanna, but you
C C/B Bb F C
Don’t know how
|
||||
5. |
Icy Red
02:55
|
|||
|
I see red, your heart is deep
It's filling in with everything that I packed, you folded 'em neatly, put 'em in a stack
You take it all, what I push
I just don't know how you deal
When I see red, oh I see red, my heart pumps lead, it's icy red
You're on the path, you're on the path
And I am the obstacle lying in wait
You're on the path, you're on the path
And I am the obstacle, trying far too late
Together we'll slink on, striking familiar chords
Let's slam into reverse, evade the challenge words
We made our bed, one side is cold
The roof's blown off, won't you be gone
When I wake, and I see red, deserved you said, it's icy red
You're on the path, you're on the path
And I am the obstacle still lying in wait
We could've played on, striking familiar chords
Slamming into reverse, evade the challenge words
|
||||
6. |
Broken Toy
02:50
|
|||
|
BROKEN TOY
(Ricardo)
————
INTRO
G (x4)
VERSE
G C Am
Just like a broken toy, I’ve had my fun
G C Am
And like a broken toy, my happy times are done
Em B7 C G G/F#
I walked right into it, when I should have run
F C G
Far, far away from everyone
VERSE
G C Am
If you were there with me, you’d understand
G C Am
I am my enemy; no one to reprimand
Em B7 C G G/F#
A shadow’s fallen on things that I had planned
F C G
And so I sleep with leaden hands
BRIDGE (instrumental solo)
G Bm G7 C Am D Am D D7
VERSE
G C Am
Blue as the ocean is blue as the sky
G C Am
Blue as the lack of pigmentation in my eye
Em B7 C G G/F#
Blue as a pilot light, burning up inside
F C G
All day and all of the night
F C G
All day and all of the night
|
||||
7. |
(We Will Be) Awesome
02:17
|
|||
|
Our playing is tight, our singing's all right
Is there something that's rubbing you wrong?
In tune and in time, the sound's equalized
Is the problem the band or the songs?
If you knew how long we've been working at this, oh
You'd say we should be awesome, man
We are collaborators, interrogators
Our first band's a well-oiled team
Trying to bloom from a struggling sprout
Drifting in confusing dreams
Where we're handing a cracking chalice spilling cloudy vodka
"Have a drink, aren't you thirsty?"
Yes we are! Recognize us now!
What can we do? Let's keep at this thing until we graduate
We're not that great, but give it time
And we will be awesome
We're gonna get signed, man, I'm sure of it!
|
||||
8. |
Catalina Serafina
03:23
|
|||
|
CATALINA SERAFINA
(Ricardo)
----------------
INTRO
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba
F#m B7
Ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba
VERSE
Em G C B7
Friday evening, a quarter to nine
Em G C B7
We finished dinner, then we drank all the wine
A A7
All our cards were on the table, then our clothes were on the floor
Am7 B7
We stumbled into bed and you began to snore. Oh!
VERSE
Em G C B7
In the morning, you were painted with sun
Em G C B7
We got around to what we meant to have done
A A7
I’ll call it meditation, ‘cause it put me in the now
Am7 B7
Let go of all my worries, and I was left with wow! Oh
CHORUS
E G#m
Catalina Serafina
C#m G#m7
We both know that I’m a dreamer
A Am
Wake me, make me see reality
VERSE INTRO
Em G C B7
Em G C B7
VERSE
Em G C B7
“Put your shoes on. Let’s go outside,” you said.
Em G C B7
“We’ll take a walk or maybe go for a ride!"
A A7
All the crows were shouting warnings and the jasmine smelled so fine
Am7 B7
There was no room for reverie, there was no time.
CHORUS
E G#m
Catalina Serafina
C#m G#m7
We both know that I’m a dreamer
A Am
Wake me, make me see reality
BRIDGE
F#m B F#m B
Get me out of my head! Turned to me and you
E C#m A Am
said “Oh, honey, you’re so funny. Take my hand and spin around with me."
VERSE
Em G C B7
I felt inspired to escape from this frame
Em G C B7
Yeah, I got mired, but I'm back in the game
A A7
Catalina taught me to forget about my mind
Am7 B7
I lost myself, and all I had to do was find my
CHORUS (x2)
E G#m
Catalina Serafina
C#m G#m7
We both know that I’m a dreamer
A Am
Wake me, make me see reality
E G#m
Catalina Serafina
C#m G#m7
We both know that I’m a dreamer
A Am
Wake me, make me see reality
FALSE ENDING
Em G C B7
Make me
Em G C B7
see What you can
Em G C B7
see
E — — —
OUTRO LOOP
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba ba
Get me out of my head!
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba ba
Turned to me and you
G#m C#
said "Oh, honey, you're so funny
A B
Take my hand and spin around with me"
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba ba
Get me out of my head!
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba ba
Turned to me and you
G#m C#
said "Oh, baby, you're so crazy
A B
Take my hand and run around with me"
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba ba
Get me out of my head!
F#m B
Ba ba ba ba ba
Turned to me and you
G#m C#
said "Oh, honey, you're so funny
A B
Take my hand and run run run run run run run run....
|
||||
9. |
The Cliff
03:16
|
|||
|
The sun won't gaze on our navels anymore
Given up on marching, what was it for?
A fashy front's coming through
It's time to wake up to clear the air, blow it out, grip the wheels in our minds
Turn 'em hard, swing 'em round
Look, the cliff! It's the cliff!
Remember how our friction made fire
And how we made strangers understand?
We've got to back the facts so we can clear the air, blow it out, grip the wheels in our minds
Turn 'em hard, swing 'em round
Look, the cliff! It's the cliff!
Come with me, we'll walk the edge, it's a wire
Shout ourselves down at the church of the liar
Or we can rouse ourselves again to clear the air, blow it out, grip the wheels in our minds
Turn 'em hard, swing 'em round
Look, the cliff! It's the cliff!
Looking down where the buffalo flew
For a moment, that'll be me and you
|
||||
10. |
Wanna Wanna
02:28
|
|||
11. |
Bittersweet Spring
03:15
|
|||
|
BITTERSWEET SPRING
(Ricardo)
—————————
INTRO
G Am Bm C
G Am Bm C
VERSE
G Am Bm C
I hear the hissing of the brakes from the city bus
G Am Bm C
The clouds split open and I’m hoping that my bike won’t rust
Bb Dm C
Almost like a dream, new colors bleed into the scene
Bb Dm C
Cherry blossom snowflakes and a sea of yellow-green
VERSE
G Am Bm C
Each brand new day feels shorter than the one before
G Am Bm C
Each one a tinier percentage of the total score
Bb Dm C
Living for today feels smaller as the years fly by
Bb Dm C
But living for tomorrow leaves me too preoccupied
CHORUS
Em D C
The sun climbs higher, and the days grow long
Em D C
Another wintertime has come and gone
C G D
Snowdrops have sprouted and the daffodils have unfurled
Em D C
And we’re still tumbling toward the end of the world
VERSE
G Am Bm C
Down from the mountains flow the rivers of melted snow
G Am Bm C
Side Two of Abbey Road playing on the stereo
Bb Dm C
The sun has come and yeah, our faces smile
Bb Dm C
And in the end, our love we'll reconcile
CHORUS
Em D C
The sun climbs higher, and the days grow long
Em D C
Another wintertime has come and gone
C G D
The streams are flooded and the daffodils have unfurled
Em D C
And we’re still tumbling toward the end of the world
BRIDGE
F Am
The verses of the passing years are blank, but the seasons rhyme
G D
We borrowed from the future like a bank, now we’re out of time
CHORUS
Em D C
The sun climbs higher, and the days grow long
Em D C
Another wintertime has come and gone
C G D
The streams are flooded and the daffodils have unfurled
Em D C
And we’re still tumbling toward the end of the world
Em D C
Yeah, we’re still tumbling toward the end of the world
C G D Em
The streams are flooded and the daffodils have unfurled
|
||||
12. |
Time And Time Again
03:52
|
|||
|
So much time passes
So much life held back
Takes just a few notes in a sequence
And the images come rushing in
The waters, the flood
I walk for a while in silence
Working my way back to that time
What if the line was wiped from existence?
Nothing's stopping you from drifting back and forth
You can go home again but not like what you find
Your memories are blind
Everything is simulated
Manufactured, demonstrated
Rolled out on a line
And time and time again you see that everyone is partaking
Confident but still mistaking it
|
||||
The Zags recommends:
Debut record by David Ricardo's previous band, B And Not B. Check out the other releases, too.
go to album
"Straight To My Head" / "Dead Bird"
by The Harmony Motel
This is Stan Hall's solo work, with Jack Saturn producing.
go to album
Call My Name EP
by Thousand Arrows
Pete Schreiner and friends! Stanton Hall sings harmonies on this record, too.
go to albumIf you like The Zags, you may also like:
August Lightning Complex
by The Bye Bye Blackbirds
supported by 5 fans who also own “The Cliff”
Do you like melodies and intelligent lyrics? Do you appreciate well crafted songs played amazingly well? Then check out this gem. You can't go wrong with a Bye Bye Blackbirds album. They could make bigger t-shirts though. ;-)
go to album
The Toronto jangle-pop outfit keep things short, simple — and super catchy – on their buoyant full-length debut.
go to album
