SHORTS, VOL. 5, by The Black and White Years

SHORTS, VOL. 5

by The Black and White Years

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1.	HAMLET AND HORATIO 02:41	lyrics	buy track
Strange All these changes we undergo Still we stick with the tricks we know So, so, so Away we go Good intentions don't matter, bro But I have some I'd let you borrow So, so, so Away we go I pick this place up Turn the sheets over All in your honor Will that satisfy you I don't know But I know that it used to Say I wake up Call a do-over Fight this monster Did I take too long to I don't know But it's break up or make do I can't say "I told you so" If you don't stay So go You can't be my problem now If you're not in, you're out Hamlet, I am no Horatio Lately, I do feel the ghost though So, so, so Away we go Strange all these changes we undergo Still we stick to the tricks we know So, so, so Away we go Is this our denouement Our falling action I cannot watch this imposter wearing your skin This place is littered with broken barometers I vacillate between pardon and manslaughter I'm a geek, but I'm not weak I'm learning slowly You're not the first one to hold me, then hurt me My brain is saying that the song's at an end But my heart wins the coin toss maybe nine out of ten, so 'Till you hand me the antidote I'll just stick to the tricks I know So, so, so Away I go
2.	MR. I 01:49		buy track
3.	A FOOL 02:12	lyrics	buy track
I never knew that I could do nothing and like it I was a fool not to try it I quite like it I had to go to play a show I stayed distracted Now I react like the crowd is radioactive I never go outside, I know I oughta try it But I'm getting used to the silence in my room I'd like to be left alone Thanks, no thanks I don't want none, dude I'm happy to stay in Leave me here in my own dungeon I'd like to be left alone Thanks, no thanks I'll stay at home, dude I'm happy to stand by Here, under the plaster sky I never knew that I could do nothing and dig it I wanted all the attention Well, that's ended I didn't know that I could go so long without you Every song was about you I got that out too I always went to each event (I'd like to be left alone) Now, I avoid 'em (Thanks, no thanks) I didn't stop to enjoy them (I don't want none, dude) I picked my poison (I'm happy to stay in. Leave me here in my own dungeon) I never knew that I could do nothing and like it (I'd like to be left alone. Thanks, no thanks) I was a fool not to try it (I'll stay at home, dude) 'Cause I quite like it (I'm happy to stand by here, under the plaster sky)
4.	GOOD COMPANY 03:06	lyrics	buy track
I'll show you what I got Cause I've got a rather lot to show Are you ready or not? Yes, no Run, stop Stay, go Show me what you got If you gotta risk it all, do so When you fall, I won't let you go Beside the ocean, she was waiting With the taste of inspiration on her tongue She found the motion captivating Saw it sprawl with all the patience of the young Anyway, you're where you are Just you, imperfect So, I guess you're in good company here Anywhere, you're where you are It is imperfect So I guess we're in good company, dear It's alright You're only human Baby, that's just my type It's alright, deeply flawed human There's only one type Dark as the water under moonlight Deep inside, she wasn't finding good replies Split the water with the searchlight As the tide rolled in, she opened up her eyes Anyway, you're where you are Just you, imperfect So, I guess you're in good company here Anywhere, you're where you are It is not perfect So I guess we're in good company, dear It's alright You're only human Baby, that's just my type It's alright, deeply flawed human Baby, there's just one type It's alright You're only human Baby, that's just my type It's alright, deeply flawed human There's only one type Show me what you got If you gotta risk it all, do so When you fall, I won't let you go
5.	WHAT IF (Album Version) 03:11	lyrics	buy track
What if I said everything in my head? I'd be dead or worse if another verse was read I mess around with vowel sounds Will I drown in them or learn to swim back out? What if I stay awhile? Girl, would that make you smile? Patiently, I'm waiting in the wings to say my lines We've rehearsed this scene so many times I can read the ending in your eyes What if I said everything in my head? I'd be left alone, X-Chromosome bereft I mess around with vowel sounds As the boundaries thin, the consonants stand out What if I stay awhile? Girl, would that make you smile? Eagerly, I'm waiting in the wings to say my lines We've rehearsed this scene so many times I can read the screenplay in your eyes I can read the ending in your eyes I can read the ending in your eyes
6.	A RIVER 03:32	lyrics	buy track
Gone Not gone Here There forever Old and new Out and through Like a river back to you Stay Don't cling Each day is a treasure Me and you Always new Like a river passing through We say goodbye We say hello I'll speak my mind right now Side by side, we still walk alone So I'll take my time right now It may be right It may be wrong But I'll sing my song right now A song to remember When I'm gone down the river We say goodbye We say hello I'll speak my mind right now Side by side, we still walk alone So I'll take my time right now It may be right It may be wrong But I'll sing my song right now A song to remember When I'm gone down the river Todays and tomorrows And who knows what will follow
7.	IMPOSTOR 02:22	lyrics	buy track
Such pretty lies I make up and tell myself To sleep at night I'll wake up with you My fickle love, I used up all on myself There's not much left Just enough for you I could be fun I could fake it with you Impostor Sucking down bitter medicine I could be real I could fake it for you Impostor Making promises, promises, promises The city lights winking out "Goodnight, Babylon" We spent our nights wondering what went wrong I could be fun I could fake it with you Impostor Sucking down bitter medicine I could be real I could fake it for you Impostor Making promises, promises I promise I'll be fun I could fake it with you Impostor Writing fantasy in real time I could be real I could fake it for you Impostor Making promises, promises, promises
8.	SUN AND MOON 02:12	lyrics	buy track
I will be here if you need to talk I will keep my silence if you want me to I will be here for you when you want I will wait forever if you need me to I'll be here to talk to If or when's up to you If you do decide to I'll be waiting for you You were there when I needed to talk You patiently waited till the fear was through You were there when I was lost You were there, so I'm forever here for you I'll be here to talk to When or if's up to you If you do decide to I'll be waiting for you Sky and sea Sun and moon You and me Me and you
9.	CAUSE FOR HOPE 02:40		buy track
10.	TO LOVE 01:21	lyrics	buy track
I choose to love Each moment is a chance to Choose love So I choose to love This is an opportunity to Use love So I choose to love Each moment is a chance to Choose love So I choose to love This is an opportunity to Use love So I choose to love Each moment is a chance to Choose love So I choose to love This is an opportunity to use love

about

This is the fifth and final volume in the SHORTS series, which spanned 50 songs, written and recorded over the course of 15 months from mid-2019 until mid-2020.

I've always been lousy at managing BWY's social media presence, so my intent in starting the SHORTS project was to give myself something fun to do, while 'posting engaging content' and 'engaging with my audience' and the other buzzwordy things I knew I was supposed to be doing. The thoroughly remixed and mastered versions have been released in 10 song increments since that time, titled SHORTS, VOL. 1-5.

At the beginning of the project - before I thought it WAS a project - I wrote these short songs (sometimes extemporaneously) and filmed myself recording them, then posted the videos on our Instagram and Facebook pages. To begin with, both the songs and videos were done very loosely and I was just having fun. But as things often go I quickly began to take the whole thing rather too seriously and by the time I reached the material that ultimately became SHORTS, VOL. 5, the songs were full-fledged pop productions, which weren't even particularly short.

As much as the project (and the world) changed over the course of those 15 months from mid 2019 through late 2020, a few things stayed the same. I kept the tradition of filming my vocal takes all the way to the 5oth and final song, even as the songs got longer and ever more complicated, and filming one-take vocals became a more Sisyphean effort.

The songs on SHORTS, VOL. 5 were written and recorded from May to October 2020. The original versions of the songs along with the music videos can be found on our IG/FB pages. The songs included on this album have been extensively remixed and remastered, so hopefully they will do ya fine.

Story time...
In June 2020, I noticed all at once that I had lost around 30 pounds over the course of a month. I know a lot of people might dream of that kind of transformation, but unless you are working at losing weight, it isn't a good sign. One day I was feeling strange, and when I took my temperature, it was around 95 degrees. My doctor took some bloodwork and saw that my pancreatic numbers were outrageous and suggested an ultrasound. They found what looked like a tumor on my pancreas and an MRI was ordered.

The second song on this album, MR. I (to be read as "Mister I") was written and recorded on the day of that MRI, when I was honestly the most terrified I've ever been. A few weeks later, I got hopeful news that it looked the tumor was a cyst, and on that day I wrote and recorded the song CAUSE FOR HOPE. In the end, it turned out that the whole pancreatic cancer scare was just a scare, and for that and many other blessings, I say thank ya.

Of all the 500-something songs I've written in my life, I might be proudest of MR. I. Not because it's particularly complicated or beautiful, or that my performance was particularly good. But I'm proud that on a day when I was absolutely terrified, had reason to believe I was going to be given a few months to live, and had no real reason to hope for good news, I wrote something that is full of love and light and joy. I hope that in all my darkest moments, I can be half so brave.

Okay, enough of story time. I'll let you get to listening, if that will do ya fine.

Thank you for taking this journey with me and I sincerely hope you enjoy SHORTS, VOL. 5

- Scott J Butler (The Black and White Years)

credits

released February 14, 2022

Music, Lyrics, Produced by Scott J Butler
Additional Vocals on SUN AND MOON and TO LOVE by Adrienne R Butler

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THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS Austin, Texas

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