1. |
These Roads Go Nowhere
02:47
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THESE ROADS GO NOWHERE © 2020 Grant Olsen
Up the mountains on the coast where the treeline meets the snow
The mother lode is waiting to be made
Many men before went out looking for that ore
Freedom’s lustre never seems to fade
I got trouble in my mind, gold fever and snowblind
I’ll bite the dust looking for a seam
These canyon walls for blinders, where keepers may be finders
These roads go nowhere but to dream
Whitehorse Johnny came this way, I guess looking for a claim
Never found the yellow but he tried
Saw his footprints on the track going forward, never back
Never took his ghost with him when he died
I got trouble in my mind, gold fever and snowblind
I’ll bite the dust looking for a seam
These canyon walls for blinders, where keepers may be finders
These roads go nowhere but to dream
Had a vision on the trail, a snake that ate its tail
Vanished right there without a trace
These roads go round and round, some go up and some go down
And ne’er a one to take me from this place
I got trouble in my mind, gold fever and snowblind
I’ll bite the dust looking for a seam
These canyon walls for blinders, where keepers may be finders
These roads go nowhere but to dream
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2. |
The Day I Met My Love
02:54
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THE DAY I MET MY LOVE © 2020 Grant Olsen
The happiest day that ever came my way was the day I met my love
The sun went up and down and it rolled all over town
On the day I met my love
The happiest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never would have to chase after her
But in a way the saddest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never could be any happier
The happiest day that ever came my way was the day I met my love
Her head went up and down and mine went round and round
On the day I met my love
The happiest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never would have to chase after her
But in a way the saddest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never could be any happier
The happiest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never would have to chase after her
But in a way the saddest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never could be any happier
The happiest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never would have to chase after her
But in a way the saddest day was when I met my love
For I knew I never could be any happier
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3. |
Agents of the Wind
02:58
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AGENTS OF THE WIND © 2020 Grant Olsen
Rhodo-honeysuckle afternoon
Spring-fed stream carries away our gloom
Winter’s over, but it never knows it
‘til the Stanfields wind up at the bottom of the drawer
Dogs laze misty-eyed in sun-glazed early skies
Bees graze lowly on the heather in the yard
I feel a moment when time stands frozen
‘til the sun trickles in and melts it all away
I think of all the time I spent with lowing ears and posture bent
On a screen that screams in blocks and text
And a heart that breaks my bones
Falling, we become the agents of the wind
That blushing on the vine doesn’t care about your woe
You and I drop our heads, propped up like rag dolls in tomato cages
Laden with the fruits of our work
And I too must lean like this, tied to my cowardice
For all the things I could have said and done to make it right
I think of all the time I spent with lowing ears and posture bent
On a screen that screams in blocks and text
And a heart that breaks my bones
Falling, we become the agents of the wind
That burst on the vine doesn’t care about your
Rhodo-honeysuckle afternoon
Spring-fed stream carries away our gloom
Winter’s over, but it never knows it
‘til the Stanfields wind up at the bottom of the drawe
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4. |
Happens to Everyone
02:58
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HAPPENS TO EVERYONE © 2020 Grant Olsen
My baby sat me down one sad day
She said seeing other people might be fun
But we could maybe still get together
I guess that happens to everyone
I walked home so low I nearly stumbled on myself
The clouds in the sky weighed a tonne
My heart so heavy it dropped down in a hole
I guess that happens to everyone
Oh they say it can happen any day
Try to wake up and you slip away
Once in a while we could get together
I guess that happens to everyone
My baby sat me down one sad day
She said seeing other people might be fun
I don’t know why I found that a surprise
I guess that happens to everyone
I guess that happens to everyone
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5. |
Whiskey and Tap Water
03:45
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WHISKEY AND TAP WATER © 2020 Grant Olsen
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
The bartender drinks and the manager puffs with the patrons round the bar
Old man Edgar’s happy as can be he’s got anyone to work there at all
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
The cops don’t know about this serpent of a road and they turn around at the bay
And you’re free to live with your junk lying ‘round and you sleep all through the day
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
Old Mike Jake’s lived there 40 years with his little brother Dominique
And they never found a way to take out the trash or to fix all them broken things
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
Over by the lake up the shining hill you’ll find their barricade
They hide from my eyes below their fall-down hovel but their dog always gives them away
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
Their sister in the city’s trying to sue their asses and get them off her property
But a hundred dump runs and a bin and a crane would never get that acreage clean
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
I sang them songs of freedom and love and I saw not a single friend
But it’s they who are so much freer than me for I come from the bitter end
Whiskey and tap water at Edgar’s bar at the far end of the road
Paper cups and pickles in a jar at the far end of the road
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6. |
Sanctuary
03:17
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SANCTUARY © 2020 Grant Olsen
I’ve got sunshine
I’ve got rain
Somewhere in my pocket
Somewhere in the vein, she said
Son come on up to the table
Son get up off the floor
Can’t you hear they’re stamping their feet now
Cold outside the door, oh yeah
Saw a man out on the sidewalk today
Curled up in his camp
Tent city wrapped around the block
Invaded by the political tramp
Oh Lord, can’t you see outside
There’s a lot of suffering?
Oh tell me what can I do about it?
Come inside I’ll show you a thing
(Sanctuary)
Where love goes around
(Sanctuary)
Where there’s still love to go around
Even in the dregs in the back alley gravel there’s still love to go a- round
(Sanctuary)
In the shadow of the local rose you know there’s still love to go a round, oh yeah
Save, save, save, save me, sanctuary
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7. |
Daydrinking
02:45
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DAYDRINKING © 2020 Grant Olsen
Toes tipped together, arms outstretched waving
Pinwheeling, weaving in the warm April sun
The cityscape goes by in a kaleidoscope of light
So why should I keep from dancing?
All you stuffed suits can stuff it, eat your curds Miss Muffet
I ain’t no puppet and I’m out on the town
Time is just for madmen dangling their neckties
In trailers in the sky where there’s no dancing
I take off my hat and my hair is a-waving
The confidence you lack has yours pressed down to your head
I take off my hat, I don’t fix my hair or nothing
Are you confident you ask, or just depressed?
I’m a fool for having feet and for walking on the railing
Wishing I was sailing on the False Creek below
But I’m more alive in mine than you in your oblivion
So why should I keep from dancing?
I take off my hat and my hair is a-waving
The confidence you lack has yours pressed down to your head
I take off my hat, I don’t fix my hair or nothing
Are you confident you ask, or just depressed?
I take off my coat and my shirt is missing buttons
I like to be free from all restraint
You look at me funny as I’m bleeding on the sidewalk
But why should I keep from dancing?
Oh why should I keep from dancing?
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8. |
Going West
02:48
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GOING WEST © 2020 Grant Olsen
Please don’t go she cried out to her husband going west
Please don’t leave the substance and the shadow for the cliff
I beg of you to think about your family and your home
I beg you not to leave us alone
The answer was not happy news not what she hoped to hear
I’m driven by a spirit that isn’t harmed by fear
And there’s nothing left for me to take waiting over here
I’ve got to explore the horizon
Once was a time when you and I united
Spirit and matter, uncovered and ignited
We’re one and the same
Though we try to change the other
Once was a time when you and I united
Spirit and matter, uncovered and ignited
We’re one and the same
Though wonder we try to change the other
Please don’t go she cried out to her husband as he left
I just can’t bear the thought of living in my head
Oh why can’t you see I’m not like you though
But you are a lot like me
Once was a time when you and I united
Spirit and matter, uncovered and ignited
we’re one and the same
Though we try to change the other
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9. |
Sister The Moon
04:02
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SISTER THE MOON © 2020 Grant Olsen
Every time I’m walking in the daylight
I see the sunshine in his eyes
And every time I’m walking after twilight
I see the moon shine in her eyes
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
The sunshine brings the bodies to the beach
Friend and foe walking side by each
The pulling and the drawing of the tide
That sweet and subtle moon is on the rise
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Every time I’m walking down the street
I see it in the faces of the people that I meet
And way, way down in the womb
How does it do it, the light of the moon?
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
Hey my brother and sister the moon
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10. |
Poor Michael-John
02:32
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POOR MICHAEL-JOHN © 2020 Grant Olsen
Poor Michael-John put down that axe
Quit swinging it round your head and try to relax
Poor Michael-John before someone gets hurt
Please stop being a jerk
End of the night and he finished his shift
Took to the drink bold and swift
Staff discount and he paid his dime
Bartender poured him eight or nine
Poor Michael-John put down that axe
Quit swinging it round your head and try to relax
Poor Michael-John before someone gets hurt
Please stop being a jerk
When he downed his last glass he landed on his ass
And the bartender cut him off
So he went to his truck, grabbed an axe and a maul
That’s when things started getting rough
Poor Michael-John put down that axe
Quit swinging it round your head and try to relax
Poor Michael-John before someone gets hurt
Please stop being a jerk
Fifty grand in damage to that lousy dive
Fifty grand in damage, what a surprise
A chair through the window ain’t worth that much
Must have been all the booze on the shelf
Poor Michael-John put down that axe
Quit swinging it round your head and try to relax
Poor Michael-John before someone gets hurt
Please stop being a jerk
I read it in the papers, I read it on the webs
I still can’t get it out of my head
You people who can’t handle booze I guess
You people, you leave a mess
Poor Michael-John put down that axe
Quit swinging it round your head and try to relax
Poor Michael-John before someone gets hurt
Please stop being a jerk
Poor Michael-John put down that axe
Quit swinging it round your head and try to relax
Poor Michael-John before someone gets hurt
Please stop being a jerk
Please stop being a jerk
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11. |
Fall Awake
03:38
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FALL AWAKE © 2020 Grant Olsen
Sleepwalking shadows yawn cross the meadows
Fast awake and wide asleep
Trouble in the bubble hurry on the double
No longer in our brother’s keep
Fall awake I’ll overtake and
Finally give these blues a shake
Fall awake I’ll compensate no more
The absence of our pain is good
But the lack of good it ain’t so bad
Right is measured against a wrong
Well what if there were no wrongs to be had?
Fall awake I’ll overtake and
Finally give these blues a shake
Fall awake I’ll compensate no more
A death bed scene and his loved ones lean
Close to his ear so they can hear him for
All is allowed and allowable
Something he never said before
Fall awake I’ll overtake and
Finally give these blues a shake
Fall awake I’ll compensate no more
Fall awake I’ll overtake and
Finally give these blues a shake
Fall awake I’ll compensate no more
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12. |
Losing My Home
03:16
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LOSING MY HOME © 2020 Grant Olsen
On the first of May
She was molding clay
and I didn’t have the heart to tell her
My brains were a shakin’
and my hands was a full of my knees
By the first of July
l had something to hide
I learned how to juggle and sneeze
And I think I might be losing my home
Ain’t it funny how your fear and doubt
Can cloud a sun-filled room
And the lights at night they seem just a little too bright
A story’s book or a comic’s dream
Ain’t no way how it may seem
And I think I might be losing my home
All our conversations are well salted and well brought up
And all the constellations in the sky
Are raining down in a hit parade
Look out Jade before it fades
And I think I might be losing my home
All our conversations are well salted and well brought up
And all the constellations in the sky
Are raining down in a hit parade
Look out Jade before it fades
And I think I might be losing my home
A bird on its perch he was quiet at first
But then he sang like it was four in in the morn
It’s summertime and the windows are shut on the inside
I got up in my dream and was walking around
Sliced up an apple and sat myself down
And I think I might be losing my home
All our conversations are well salted and well brought up
And all the constellations in the sky
Are raining down in a hit parade
Look out Jade before it fades
And I think I might be losing my home
Are raining down in a hit parade
Look out Jade before it fades
And I think I might be losing my home
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13. |
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MECHANICS OF THE MOUNTAIN’S DREAM © 2020 Grant Olsen
I am the one who belongs to the mountain
I am the one you never see
I stand beside you on the trail or in the meadow
Mechanics of the mountain’s dream
I am the one who met them on the battlement
Old friends, long ago we embraced
I climbed up the face while the belts were rotating
And slipped off into the abyss
Here there be ghosts that wind through the mountains
On conveyors and pullies unseen
In your ears there’s a hum no one ever hears
Mechanics of the mountain’s dream
I am the one who watched her swim ashore
Nothing I could do but pull the lever
She climbed up the mountain and down the other side
Before anyone could save her
Here there be ghosts that wind through the mountains
On conveyors and pullies unseen
In your ears there’s a hum no one ever hears
Mechanics of the mountain’s dream
Here there be ghosts that wind through the mountains
On conveyors and pullies unseen
In your ears there’s a hum no one ever hears
Mechanics of the mountain’s dream
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14. |
Lardy McLarty
04:09
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LARDY MCLARDY © 2020 Grant Olsen
Lardy McLardy was a hand-logger’s son in the weathers of the west coast bays
Grew up in the cabins floating on the booms, learned to play in the high rolling waves
Caught lots of fish and grew real strong, set out on a seiner to make his living
Had one sister younger than he, she slipped between logs to make her dyin’
On and on do the cycles go living and dying, laughing and crying
Head to head and toe to toe breathing and sighing staring blindly
Grounded but flying
Lardy McLardy quit the fish boat one day and headed down to Hastings to spend his pay
Kept a girl there she was like a tsunami, a stranger in a strange heart he left her down there
On and on do the cycles go living and dying, laughing and crying
Head to head and toe to toe breathing and sighing staring blindly
Grounded but flying
Lardy McLardy took a ticket to Malibu to log the ridges of the thousand waterfalls
The chipper turned him into human hamburger, the cook told jokes, nobody laughed
On and on do the cycles go living and dying, laughing and crying
Head to head and toe to toe breathing and sighing staring blindly
On and on do the cycles go living and dying, laughing and crying
Head to head and toe to toe breathing and sighing staring blindly
Grounded but flying
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Grant Olsen Vancouver, British Columbia
Grant Olsen is a folk/roots rock singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist residing on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada.
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