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THE UNENDING ALTERATION OF THE HUMAN HEART

by Gabrielle Louise

supported by
David E Schipper
David E Schipper thumbnail
David E Schipper A perfect blend of acoustics, a touch of lead guitar, and the voice of an angel. So glad I ran into you again.
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1.
There's an awful lot of words to wade through and I know that neither of us know the way. You don't want to hear about the ways I blame you, I don't want to hear a single thing you say. How did we run aground? Once there was so much water, we'd drown. Mother Theresa makes a daily habit loving a man she cannot touch or see. She'd loose her sanity in half a moment if he looked at her the way you look at me. How did we run ashore? Once I was someone you adored. And oooh, I want to howl at the moon: it hurts! Ahoooh, will I ever not be blue? Lets not talk about our rerun sorrows or spin our wheels inside that ancient pain. The door is open, we just have to walk through, right outside is the living day. How did we come undone? Once I was someone you loved. And oooh, you want to howl at the moon: It hurts! Ahoooh, will you ever not be blue? I want to take you out in the desert and make love under a million stars. The solution might be not to solve it, we can only be right where we are. How did the well run dry? Do me a favor, darlin' -- don't try. And oooh, we can howl at the moon: It hurts! Ahoooh, maybe then we don't have to be blue.
2.
put me on the first train west put me on the first train west I ain't got no money left I got this pistol in my vest put me on the first train west put me on the first train home put me on the first train home it's a wicked world everywhere you go yhey pay a dollar for your soul put me on the first train home let me out where the wildfire burns let me out where the wildfire burns lickin' up the lodgepole pine reflecting in the fox's eyes let me out where the wildfire burns give me the chance to look one small spark is all it took "come the minute that you can, life's a flicker" read the telegram. that's when I ran. a thousand acres everyday a thousand acres everyday men up on the Ridgway train, they ain't got an inch contained a thousand acres everyday. I'll walk right through the flames straight to the home where I was raised if my daddy had to die with a smoke stained rage in his eyes so will I give me the chance to look one small spark is all it took if my sweetheart had to die In a fiery bed under a gravestone sky so will I I'll walk right through the flames straight to the home where they were raised if my daughters had to die without the whisper of a lullaby so will I put me on the first train west put me on the first train west I ain't got no money left I got this pistol in my vest put me on the first train west
3.
In the darkness, in the vastness the quiet - it is a canvas so be still; stillness speaks. I'm not waiting on any god there I'm not sending up any prayer I am still because stillness speaks. Oohs When the fury blows fast around you there is one word to always ground you It is joy; joy will speak. And the hateful, they may shout louder but to their judgments they are bound So be joy; joy will speak. Oohs In the darkness, in the blackness your kindness, it is a candle so be kind; kindness speaks And the hateful, they may shout louder but to their judgment, they are bound so be kind, kindness speaks. Oohs So be kind; kindness speaks. Be joy because joy will speak. Be still; stillness speaks.
4.
As you and I lay sleeping shoulder to shoulder we met in an orchard you were much older but it's easy to know you know you by the shape of your hands reaching up now to touch me to do more than speaking your eyes are telling my eyes are seeking it's easy to know you know you by the sweet way you stand There was a shadow on a cold, damp wall it was a featureless version of me standing so tall there was a flame it came from a spark from the only one I've ever known who could see in the dark Oh but time is a tyrant taking all that is tender so I wait in the orchard where I can remember how easy I know you know you by the shape of your hands reaching up toward the branches for the fruit hanging round you and caught in a spotlight where the sunlight had found you it's easy to know you know you by the sweet way you stand There was a shadow on a cold, damp wall it was a featureless version of me standing so tall there was a flame it came from a spark from the only one I've ever known who could see in the dark
5.
Time 05:41
I'm hopeful in the morning but it vanishes by noon I keep seeing you in the next room I know you can't do right by me til you do right by you which I gave up hoping you'll do Lay here in bed til ten just staring at the ceiling life alone is healthy but it ain't got no feeling It's just time time time all there is is time Every so often a boy will come around lay where you lay and if I don't think to hard I might not realize my hands can't find your face now I'm in bed by nine just staring at the ceiling life alone is easy it ain't got no feeling It's just time time time all there is is time Now I'm in bed by nine the wood stove is blazing life alone is simple it ain't half as crazy it's just time time time all it is is time
6.
Anxious 04:21
Doctor, doctor, I can't sleep been out drinking every night this week he's real gone, he ain't coming back and I'm anxious Pace the floor, cut my hair go out walking should I find him there strangers ask "what is your name?" I'm anxious Oh there's nothing I can do to keep from feelin blue to keep from feelin sad A memory is all I have Doctor, doctor what should I take my vision blurs and my hands shake ever since he went away I'm anxious Doctor, doctor what should I do putting all my faith in you I can't stop my racing mind I'm anxious Chorus
7.
Act 1, curtain up a little girl falls off the back of a truck 14, she's on the run chip in her teeth, but she ain't judging her luck a polaroid at 21 she's just a kid she's just a kid with a kid! There's a point in every story where it all falls apart oh, it's raining in the winter and the car won't start anybody else would have to fold their cards but it ain't nothing for Big, Big Unbreakable Heart Act 2, his gentle hands hey play guitar in a rock n' roll band one kiss, they dream a dream bring home a dog and buy a washing machine he drinks, they start to scream she loads her girl into the backseat There's a point in every story where it all falls apart oh it's raining in the winter and the car won't start anybody else would have to fold their cards but it ain't nothing for Big, Big Unbreakable Heart Oh but wasn't it something? When he held her she was home And wasn't it something? When she had to let him go There's a point in every story where it all falls apart oh, it's raining in the winter and the car won't start Anybody else would have to fold their cards, but it ain't nothing for Big, Big Unbreakable Heart
8.
Read me! I’m a marquee shining over head Guard dog with a yard sign written in red I don’t mean to alarm you but don’t touch me Bike chain on a highway speeding underfoot Blue flame a fan blade hope I’m understood I don’t want to have to harm you so don’t touch me No one could blame me it’s easy to see how I’d feel this way but don’t try to save me man I don’t want to be saved! Read me! I’m a marquee singing overhead Good lord I’m a billboard heed what I’ve said I don’t need to mislead you so don’t touch me
9.
Sun up in Somerset ain't nobody else moving yet he pours the coffee and he packs his bag just exactly like his old man Walks down to the general store Looks like that building has been to war holes in the front door Fall is passing through on the breeze oh he drifts away on a dream of the day he'll leave It's noon here in Somerset ain't nobody took a break yet the sun is screaming and it hits his eyes when he comes walking outa the coal mine He'd only need about a million now buy everyplace in this dirty town maybe he'd burn it down! Water passing through in the creek oh he drifts away on a dream of the day he'll leave Sundown in Somerset ain't a soul who's not in bed yet crooked houses hanging onto the hill and not a candle in a window sill He walks down to the liquor store cause they'll be closing in a few more bells on the front door Strangers passing through in the night oh he drifts away with their tail lights Aint nobody here taught to whine he'll make it out someday but in the meantime... Sun up in Somerset
10.
I’m not feeling tired I’m not feeling worn I’m feeling like the river bed after the storm now I know why the rose bush needed the thorn needed the thorn were you just an illusion? just a mirage? or a four story fire in a house of cards you think you’re so authentic you don’t know where to start until you’re honest with yourself you’ll break every heart building a house of cards I’m not feeling split I’m not feeling torn I’m feeling like an earthquake took out the floor now I know why the soldier needed the sword needed the sword I guess I thought I was holy thought I was good till you hit the highway to be understood Maybe I was too fragile maybe it was too hard but nobody wins the game it only falls apart our house of cards
11.
Deportee 06:23
The crops are all in and the peaches are rotting The oranges are piled in their cresote dumps They're flying you back to the Mexico border To pay all your money to wade back again My father's own father, he wanted that river They took all the money he made in his life But it's six hundred miles to that Mexican border They chase us like outlaws, like rustlers, like theives Good-bye to my Juan, good-bye Rosalita Adios mis amigos, Jesus why Maris You won't have a name when you ride the big air-plane And all they will call you will be Deportee We died in your hills, we died in your deserts We died in your valleys and died on your plains We died 'neath your trees and we died in your bushes Both sides of the river, we died just the same. Good-bye to my Juan, good-bye Rosalita Adios mis amigos, Jesus why Maris You won't have a name when you ride the big air-plane And all they will call you will be Deportee A sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos canyon Like a fireball of lightning, it shook all our hills Who are all these friends, all scattered like dry leaves? The radio says they are just deportees. Good-bye to my Juan, good-bye Rosalita Adios mis amigos, Jesus why Maris You won't have a name when you ride the big air-plane And all they will call you will be Deportee

about

THE UNENDING ALTERATION OF THE HUMAN HEART

When I have sewn up all my sadness
I cast out the quilt of me and see
     the diverse portrait I have become —     
never having feared to love
or to integrate my sorrow into me.

When I have picked my proudest moments 
and framed my favorite to recall    
I see the self as prized, but dead 
     for the work is always still ahead
and not done making me at all. 

credits

released March 20, 2020

Core Team
Produced by Gabrielle Louise and Tim Mitchell
Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Tim Mitchell
Gabrielle Louise - Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Rhodes
David Kaye - Dobro, Electric Guitar, Mandolin,
Pedal Steel, Additional Acoustic Guitars
Greg Schochet - Electric Guitar, Mandolin
Jon McMillian - Electric and Upright Bass
Damon Smith - Drums, Percussion, Harmony Vocals

Guests
Beth Wood sings on Big Unbreakable Heart, Stillness Speaks
David Rynhart sings on Time, Sun up in Somerset
Brodie Kinder sings on Anxious, See in the Dark

Studios
Brooklyn Aloha, UNC Studios, Mighty Fine Productions, Greeley Warehouse

Design
Cover and Back collages by James Payne
Layout by Gabrielle Louise and Chris Garre
Photo by Darius Devas

Songwriting
All songs by Gabrielle except track 11 (Guthrie) and tracks 4 and 7 (Thompson/Louise)

license

all rights reserved

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about

Gabrielle Louise Paonia, Colorado

Gabrielle is a songwriter and storyteller living in the mountains on the western slope of Colorado. Half her time she's touring and making records and the other half she's gardening, painting, and writing songs on her porch. Her live show is honest, introspective and engaging.

"She executes a captivating balance of heartache and resolve." --David McGee (NYC, NY)
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