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SHORTS, VOL. 3

by THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS

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1.
I'm claustrophobic all the time These visions in my head, bro It's an Orwellian sock puppet show It's like, "Who's this lunatic wearing my eyes? Okay, I like the things he says, but The beard though, the beard's ridiculous" I've been flipping through the inky little flipbook of our lives So many pictures of dark pockets there Probably a metaphor in that somewhere If this is a joke, then why aren't you laughing? If this is a joke, then I'm not literally dead I'm close to panic all the time All these shiny, grief-based fantasies These Plathian glass figurines so lovingly maintained in ordered lines Indulge the farmer in my brain, praying for rain
2.
3.
REPEAT 01:11
I don't like to repeat myself I guess I have to do it again, again, again, again I don't like to ask for help Want to find my way back to it I would like to believe myself Perhaps I'll never listen again, again, again, again I confess I do not know myself So your confusion is forgiven I'd like to believe it I'd like to live like that I'd like to believe that it's okay I'd like to believe you I'd like to be happy I'd like to believe that it's okay I'd like to believe it I'd like to believe But I don't
4.
Lately (Always) I am feeling confused (Call me and I'm there for you) I know I want you though (I know) No one else could ever do, so Why (Soon is not true) Does it so often seem (Then has been through) Like I'm chasing something (Now is all) I'll never find (You'll ever find) It's here now Baby (That's me) I don't know what to do (Holding out my hand to you) I know I want you though (I know) That's an unquestionable truth, so Why (Thoughts aren't real but) Do I mope through the day (You still feel them) Do I hope things away (Take my hand) All that I need is here now
5.
Give up is the order (Give up) Give up is the question at hand (Give up) The voice in my head does a spot-on impression Like jazz out of misery My free form depression says Give up (Give up) It says Give up But I don't play along, I am Sick how I'm living I poison my songs See I thought I was one thing I guess I was wrong, so I Give up the illusion (Give up) I'm used up I was here all along and I'll be I don't need to tell myself what I see I already see I don't need to tell myself I agree Look, see and believe That little voice in your head Constantly whispering, whispering If that's you, who's listening?
6.
I don't know I know I love you It's enough to be below the blue I don't know I know I love you Though I don't know what to say I could stay awhile Anyway Such words I'd say would all fly away At the merest suggestion of a smile I don't know I know I love you It's enough for me to know that's true I don't know I know I love you I've no words you haven't heard before Nothing is new Below the blue
7.
There was a fog on the window A maze in the hallway There was a haze in my gaze So thick I barely saw the light I saw fog Did not notice I saw Clouds Did not see them Almost walked right past my life And barely noticed it at all A light reflects a light It dreams itself into existence As it sings in all our voices Every song at the same time Light reflects itself to life Then burns itself alive forever We are children of that sacrifice Waiting our place in line It is light Reflecting light, reflecting light Reflecting light, reflecting light
8.
"I'm an artist at heart..." Me, adjusting the contrast, recombining old patterns Hiding the footprints "I'm an artist at heart.." Me, adjusting the typeface She, the serif inside me gracing my consonants "I'm an artist at heart..." Me, selecting a preset, feeling sick as I do it God, what a business Apostrophe S "Your" versus "you're" "Mrs." and "Ms." Just serving the sentence "I'm an artist at heart..." Me, adjusting the volume, recombining old show tunes I guess art is a business
9.
I took the picture down Hung it backside face out I'm not looking back at what I had, hoping this or that I took your picture down Put it back up backwards I've got memories I've got plenty Far more than I need I took the picture down Hung it backside face out I'm not looking back at what I had, nurturing the past I took your picture down Put the frame up empty I know what I'd see Just nobody staring back at me I pray to the abyss I honor the abyss Send my love and blow a kiss to the darkness, darling I honor the abyss I lay with the abyss Send my love and best wishes to the darkness, darling I took your picture down Hung it backside face out I'm not looking back at what I had, hoping this or that I took your picture down Put the frame up empty I know what I'd see Just nobody staring back at me I took your picture down I took your picture down I took your picture down Hung it backside face out I'm not looking back at what I had, hoping this or that I took your picture down Put the frame up empty I know what I'd see Just nobody staring back at me
10.
DAMNED 01:37
I don't know how to stop I can't or won't These days, I'm damned if I do Damned if I don't I don't know what to say So I won't Anyway, I'm damned if I do Damned if I don't You know, in a roundabout way You were right Maybe I was casting out my line to nothing If I decide to hurl this thing into the sky You know and I know You'd look up This feels like an ending Is that what this is? It feels like I'm losing you Is that what this is? It's like I'm crunching the numbers and Nothing adds up anymore I don't know how to stop I can't or won't These days, I'm damned if I do Damned if I don't I don't know what to say So I won't Anyway, I'm damned if I do Damned if I don't I don't know what to say I don't know what to say Damned if I do Damned if I don't

about

This is the third volume in the SHORTS series, which ultimately spanned 50 songs and around 15 months from mid-2019 until mid-2020. I filmed myself recording the tracks, and posted the videos on our Instagram and Facebook pages. These mixed and mastered versions are being released in volumes of 10 songs, for a total of 5 volumes. Please enjoy SHORTS, VOL. 3 :)

credits

released September 28, 2020

Written, Recorded, Performed, Produced by Scott J Butler
Additional Vocals on UNQUESTIONABLE by Adrienne R Butler

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THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS Austin, Texas

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