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The Cliff

by The Zags

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    (Back cover art by Jay Harlow.)

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    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. , and , .

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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 (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.
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 (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 (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.
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

credits

released October 25, 2019

D. Ricardo - songs, voice, guitars, keyboards, percussion, trumpet
S. Hall - songs, voice, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, lap steel
M. Curry - drums

with
R. Broach - voice (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, & 8)
T. Haskell - drums (tracks 2 & 5)
J. Saturn - drums (track 1)
C. Cummins - oboes (track 3)
D. Coble - voice (track 9)

Recorded by D. Ricardo, in the basement.

Thank you to Ice Cream Man Power Pop & More Records!
icecreammanrecords.bandcamp.com

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