1. |
1: Piece by Piece
02:48
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I've been beyond this place a thousand times
Taking for granted all the things that keep us safe
Sometimes the sparks burn out within our eyes
It's up to us to bring the smiles back to our faces
Let's be there for one another
And when you asleep just know I've got your back
Ease up on your mind, I'll try and focus on the rest
Let's fall apart if only bit by bit
Just like a puzzle, we'll come back to build it
Piece by piece we'll help each other piece 'til we're ok
There's no rush at all
We'll finish what we started, frame it, stick it on our wall
I've made the same mistake a hundred times
I'd like to think life taught me something on the way
Over the years I've come to realize
It's up to us to lift the blindfolds from our faces
Let's attempt to face the future
When it gets difficult just know I've got your back
It might take a while to surface so just keep calm and hold your breath
Let's fall apart if only bit by bit
Just like a puzzle, we'll come back to build it
Piece by piece we'll help each other piece 'til we're ok
There's no rush at all
We'll finish what we started, frame it, stick it on our walls
As bad as it may feel
There's no shame in feeling overwhelmed and sad
And as tough as it may seem
You'll come out the other side a stronger man
There's no rush at all
Let's fall apart if only bit by bit
Just like a puzzle, we'll come back to finish it
Piece by piece we'll help each other 'til we're ok
There's no rush at all
We'll finish what we started, frame it, stick it on our wall
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2. |
2: Sticking Around
01:52
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It’s always been a dream of mine
That when I eventually die
People keep quoting from something I’ve said
At least I’ll leave my words behind
Hoping they verge on wise
A legacy left to the ones that are left
On a birthday card
In some poetry
On a postcard send from Italy
At the end of the day we all worship the greats and I’ll try get my name on that list
From the moment I die, I’ll be keeping alive by leaving my name on their lips
’Til the last time they mention my name, I’m sticking around
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3. |
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I scratched my name into a tree trunk
I wanted everyone to know about my carving skills
And as a teen we used to get drunk
Beneath the branches of a thousand names I never knew
Then the sun would set and we’d say goodbye and we’d walk back home under darker skies to a safety net and mouthful full of lies
Now I know I wish I knew what I never knew that my parents knew that a bloodshot eye shows true
So catch me at the bottom of it all
I had a pocket full of eyedrops and a government condom which I never used
It had expired in the 90’s much like the stupid stories that I’d choose
To protect my friends when we’d say goodbye with our mouthwashed breath and our hazy eyes as we practiced our balance and walked on the yellow lines
Now I know I wish I knew what I never knew that my parents knew that a bloodshot eye shows true
So catch me at the bottom of it all
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4. |
4: On the Wind
02:34
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All I know is things will be ok at the end of the day
Things will change but everything will turn out ok either way
Paranoid and fearful just throw it all away
Hope to catch the breeze and just watch as it floats into space
On the wind
Take some time to focus on the good in your life if you can
Breathe in deep and hold it for as long as you like when you can
Terrified and anxious just throw it all away
Wish it to the wind and just watch it get carried to space
On the wind
Try your best to practice just as hard as you preach
And the rest will fall in place with relative ease as they say
Tired, drained and angry just throw it all away
Trust the wind to catch it and carry it deep into space
On the wind
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5. |
5: Medical Aid
02:13
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They said it’s time to settle down
Stop wasting time fucking around
You’re over 30 and it’s time to face up to the future
You can’t make money playing your guitar
Stop writing songs and making art
It’s time to give up on your dream of being a musician
Focus on your finances and please
Get medical aid
It might be fun to sleep on floors
By getting drunk to brave the cold
Your dirty sleeping bag has been broken on near a decade
Your clothes are damp and smell like smoke
You’re bumming alcohol and smokes
It’s time to give up on your dream of being a musician
Focus on your finances and please
Get medical aid
Your plan of touring round the world
For years has quickly gotten old
1000 plays on Spotify can barely buy a decent meal
Your friends are all married with kids
Your baby’s cracked and missing strings
It’s time to give up on your dream of being a musician
Focus on your finances and please
Get medical aid
It always seems you’re having fun
By smoking weed and getting drunk
But when the fuck will you discover some sort of achievement
It’s time to find a 9 to 5
Build a routine, get paid on time
It’s time to give up on your dream of being a musician
Focus on your finances and please
Get medical aid
It’s time to slow down
What if you get sick and need a hospital
You’re getting old now
Find a scheme that suits you
Give up on your dream of making music
Focus on your finances and please
Get medical aid
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6. |
6: Mayors of this Town
03:19
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One day when I’m older and you ask what it’s all about
I’ll tell a bunch of stories of what seemed a simpler time
The streets were almost playgrounds and I’m well aware it might sound quite ridiculous but shit,
We were the mayors of this town
We’d circumvent our curfews and one of us would always lead the way
By executing our excuses in a subtly, well thought out impressive way
On an almost daily basis, we’d throw caution to the wind
And hardly anybody ever seemed to care
We’re ride our bicycles for hours without ever checking in and then come home with muddy clothes, torn jeans and matted hair
The sun was not as harsh then and the rain just never ever came around
Even nature understood we were the undisputed mayors of this town
The sun would never disappear for longer than a day
And when it did, we’d point out shapes within the clouds
Winter would decide that it could never show it’s face ‘cos none of us would ever bother inviting him around
None of us had money but we’d always find a way to work it out
We shared everything we owned including values and the dreams we were about
Year by year we lost our way
But friends we shall remain
Our dreams back then, they’re still the same
By mistake we took the longer way around
But we’re the mayors of this town
Stomachs full of laughter and a sparkle in our eyes
We’d live another day without an inch of fear
We would bury all our treasures as a secret in the ground and constantly forget about them all over the years
Trust me when I tell you that I really really hope they’re never found
As long as they stay buried then we still remain the mayors of this town
Year by year we lost our way
But friends we shall remain
Our dreams back then, they’re still the same
By mistake we took the longer way around
But we’re the mayors of this town
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7. |
7: Going Crazy
02:44
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I think I’m slowly going crazy
I can’t decide if it’s me or the rest of the world
From the voices in my head I’ve been told
I’m the one who is normal
All the lines are blurred and hazy
And I just can’t figure out what is real
It’s getting way more harder to feel
Then reality hits me
Sometimes I want to stay inside
It’s easy on the eyes
I must avoid the light
I often wonder if I’m ok
And does everybody feel the same
Is all of this part of a game
I want to close my eyes and wish it away
I think we’re all a little broken
Perfection’s just something we say
If you look closely at the end of the day
There’s nothing wrong with ever feeling this way
Sometimes I want to stay inside
It’s easy on the eyes
I must avoid the light
It’s truly such a strange sensation
To come to terms with realisations
That I’m the problem and solution
It’ll probably never change
The universe is complicated
It’ll always stay the same
Sometimes I want to stay inside
It’s easy on the eyes
I must avoid the light
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8. |
8: Up or Down
02:10
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Usually things aren’t quite as simple as they ever seem
At least that’s how I feel
Complicated used to be my middle name
I’m bearing witness to my own reckoning
A privilege at the least
Sometimes right and wrong might be the same
Stand and deliver
The news may be bad
But for fuck sakes I really need to know
Am I up or am I down
I need to pack my bags for where I’m going
So many different kinds of people spend their lives searching for something they will never find
I called the search party in years ago
I figured out, if I am destined to discover what is wrong or right
Everyone deserves to know
Stand and deliver
The news may be bad
But for fucks sakes I really need to know
Am I up or am I down
I need to pack my bags for where I’m going
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9. |
9: Help
02:44
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Men like these are few and far between
A dying breed
Always forgotten of in history
They took the easy way out
But all my friends
Will be remembered ’til the bitter end
It doesn’t matter what a tombstone says
It’s what the man was about
Take it for granted
You need me I’ll be there
I’ll give you the shirt off my back if you need to get warm
Memories are all we really have in times like these
A way to focus on the better things
To lift our brains from the ground
Silently we sit and suffer when we really need someone to listen
With a smile to see
And a familiar sound
Take it for granted
You need me I’ll be there
I’ll give you the shirt off my back if you need to get warm
The world is in need of a much better feeling
Don’t be scared to reach out for my help
I’ll sure be asking for yours
Step by step
Unchartered territory is what we get
Everyone’s story’s got a different end
Nobody’s figured it out
Take your time
It’s not a race towards the finish line
Take a deep breath and it’ll all be fine
A few mistakes are allowed
Take it for granted
You need me I’ll be there
I’ll give you the shirt off my back if you need to get
Warm up your hands on the fire you’re feeling
Inside you the signs of you healing have you asking for more
The world is in need of a much better feeling
Don’t be scared to reach out for my help
I’ll sure be asking for yours
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10. |
10: Dirty Hands
02:14
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I’ve got respect for dirty hands
They say a lot about a man
Their grimy palms and fingernails
‘Cos somebody who’s not afraid
To bare the hardships of the day
Will be there to catch you without fail
It’s super strange
The less they seem to have
The more they seem to give
It’s little things that mean the most
Sometimes I lie awake and hope
I’m leaving memories worth remembering
I’m always trying as best I can
To earn the right to say I am
Being the best I think I can be
It’s super strange
The less they seem to have
The more they seem to give
Ooooh Oooooh
The less they seem to have
Oooooh Oooooh
The more they seem to give
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11. |
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A sudden lapse in concentration
Missed my train, embraced the station
Waited there for hours ’til the next train came around
Travelled through the countryside
Leaving everything I knew behind
A fresh start round the corner
Dropped my anchor to the ground
Home is where the heart is
What an utter load of bullshit
I’d need everything I left behind to call this place a home
If I ever thought I didn’t need my closest friends and family to survive
I’ve pulled the wool over my eyes
So brace yourselves I’m coming home
I’ve realised that’s where I belong
I’ll put my pride aside for this and admit my mistakes
And pride might be a bitter pill with side effects that make you feel a little bit more humble in a calm and easy state
Home is where the heart is
What an utter load of bullshit
I’d need everything I left behind to call this place a home
If I ever thought I didn’t need my closest friends and family to survive
I’ve pulled the wool over my eyes
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12. |
12: Rat Race
02:57
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You’re paranoid without a reason
That everything you’ve ever done is not enough
The ones who care, you’ll never please them
How the hell do you come up with this stuff
Accept you’re coming nowhere in this rat race
You and only you can change your views
Appreciate what mattered in the first place
And usually the rat race would improve
They say life is what you make it
And I hope you prove to yourself this is true
I’ve seen you suffer alone in silence
And done my best to help you find your inner smile
I promise soon, you’ll find your purpose
Sometimes these things just take a little while
Accept you’re coming nowhere in this rat race
You and only you can change your views
Appreciate what mattered in the first place
Then usually the rat race would improve
They say life is what you make it
And I hope you prove to yourself this is true
The darkest it’ll ever get is just before the light begins
I guarantee this never lasts forever
The rain may fall for weeks on end
But I promise on my life my friend
I’ll carry your umbrella in this weather
So accept you’re coming nowhere in this rat race
You and only you can change your views
Appreciate what mattered in the first place
And then usually the rat race will improve
They say life is what you make it
And I hope you prove to yourself this is true
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13. |
13: The Bigot
01:42
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Lose the shitty attitude
The world needs help, we all do too
If anything will ever change
It needs to start with us
It’s really not that much to ask
For your respect towards the past
A change in your behaviour really needs to be discussed
I don’t want to waste my time
I’ve got better things to do
Than change your stupid point of view
Unreasonable to reason with
A mouth that’s leaking ignorance
When almost a whole generation wants to get along
It’s ones like you that hold us back
The future’s looking bleaker than it really should on paper
Why can’t you admit you’re wrong
I don’t want to waste my time
I’ve got better things to do
Than change your stupid point of view
I wonder what the fuck goes on inside a brain that’s wired wrong
The only way we’re similar is we’re made of blood and meat
When judgement day comes rolling in
I hope they take you first and leave the planet to the rest of us who love to hate the least
I don’t want to waste my time
I’ve got better things to do
Than change your stupid point of view
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14. |
14: Cross Road
02:34
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I’m stuck at a cross road with little to no direction
A place to get to and no obvious idea where to go
I’m mapless, it’s hopeless
I’m just going round in circles
My body is tired and my fuel tank is running on low
Find which way the wind blows and don’t be afraid to face it
It’ll help you, though the dust gets into your eyes
At the end you’ll be surprised
Where you need to get isn’t far away at all
The road may be full of deep puddle and potholes
Forcing some caution and an inherent need to slow down
It might feel lonely but everyone’s road is dangerous
So trust in your instincts and calmness is bound to be found
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15. |
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Yesterday seems far away but in fact it was only yesterday
A lot of things can happen in a small amount of time
The years are really shooting by
The longer I spend in this life
The months turn into hours and the minutes all decide
To disappear on me
I’m not that old yet but it always seems I’m running out of time
It honestly puts a fear in me
The clock is ticking and there’s so much to discover in this life
The minutes disappear
And it always seems I’m running out of time
The end is drawing near
And there’s still so much for me to do in life
My memory’s not as functional as it once was a year ago
I often need reminding of the awesome times we’ve had
I often try the best I can to gain access to my memory bank
But I keep changing the password and the answers to my questions
Disappear on me
I’m not that old yet but it always seems I’m running out of time
It honestly puts a fear in me
The clock is ticking and there’s so much to discover in this life
The minutes disappear
And it always seems I’m running out of time
The end is drawing near
And there’s still so much for me to do in life
So let’s regale our childhood stories
Yours are epic, mine are boring
You remember colour while I think in black and white
The lack of storage freaks me out
In one ear, the other out
Hopefully at deaths door I’ll remember all the things
That disappeared on me
I’m not that old yet but it always seems I’m running out of time
It honestly puts a fear in me
The clock is ticking and there’s so much to discover in this life
The minutes disappear
And it always seems I’m running out of time
The end is drawing near
And there’s still so much for me to do in life
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16. |
16: Rollercoaster
03:02
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Buckle up
‘Cos life is like a rollercoaster and the road ahead looks rougher than it ever has before
We’re navigating twists and turns
The highs are high, the lows are low
But it’s fun
Suck it up
We’re all in this together
It’s been hours since we left behind the point of no return
We’re just about to reach the top
And afterwards a massive drop but it works
So Dive in
Leave your fears behind you
Head spin as you’re upside down
Ride fast with your friends beside you
Head rush as you face the ground
Be prepared
To brace yourself for impact
There’s a fairly good to good chance that we might go off the rails
We’ll try our best to stay on course
Sometimes it’s out of our control
Who decides
So Dive in
Leave your fears behind you
Head spin as you’re upside down
Ride fast with your friends beside you
Head rush as you face the ground
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17. |
17: Fight Night
03:19
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I’m always picking my fights anticipating I’ll lose
I’ve still got blood on my knuckles and the tops of shoes
From the last time
I’ve got bruises all over from absorbing the blows
I’ve never been good at confrontation, it shows
In my eye line
It takes a certain kind of person to battle it out
With a head full of ringing and blood in their mouth
It’s just a matter of time until you throw in the towel
But something deep inside you keeps you fighting for hours
Life’s got a weakness, just wait for your chance
Keep your body protected and the bad times will pass
Listen to the voice that stops you coming in last
Take it when you get it and it’s your hand that will raise to the sky
Who brings a blunt knife to a fist fight
On the cold nights the darkness seems more dark
Be the good guy through the bad times
Keep your head up and focus on the light
We’re on our way to victory
I can see in your eyes that you’re finding your spark
It’s the thing you will need to guide you safe on the path
To redemption
As long as you’re happy at the end of the day
Winning or losing doesn’t matter they say
What do you think
It takes a certain type of person to find good in this world
With a body of bruises but a positive soul
It’s just a matter of time until you start to excel
And your enemies discover the true meaning of hell
So hold your thumbs in tightly when forming a fist
Punch straight through your target with the strength in your wrists
Some will connect nicely and the others may miss
Take it when you get it and it’s your hand that will raise to the sky
Who brings a blunt knife to a fist fight
On the cold nights the darkness seems more dark
Be the good guy through the bad times
Keep your head up and focus on the light
We’re on our way to victory
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18. |
18: Pinch of Salt
03:18
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Bonafide and making sense
I was born from the benefit of doubt
Take me as I am
A partial truth
Take it with a pinch of salt
Secrets lie in the corners of your mouth
Hidden from your tongue
It was yours to lose
Whiter than the whitest lie
Showing cracks when you’re held towards the light
A weakness to behold
But worth repair
Subtle with your twist of words
Not a twitch or a darkness in your eyes
A confident approach
With no sign of fear
When the bad meets the good and our morals disappear
Do we change or are we simply just adapting
At the core, we’re the same but our hearts exist in fear
All we want is a life left worth remembering
Questions of what’s right or wrong
Who decides what the rules are anymore
In a perfect game
With a losing score
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19. |
19: Practice Patience
02:35
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Hold your middle finger up and push it straight into the face of failure
You’ve been hoping that this time will come
Prepared to take the plunge when it arrives
Opportunity’s a rarity so grab it when you can and hold on tightly
It’ll probably kick and thrash around but it’s you that holds the upper hand in size
So take it from a mission man
Hold your chances when you can
I’ve tried to live the life I live by grabbing it with both my hands
Sometimes good things get away
But you’ll catch one on another day
Keep your wits about you
When the time is right, it’ll all fall into place
Practice patience
A safety net
A backup plan
A bad excuse to wait around for decades
It’s really not worth doing if it doesn’t cause a fair amount of fear
And there’s not much else within a man that causes an amount of fear like failure
So let the wind carry your caution and the focus and commitment will appear
Take it from a mission man
Hold your chances when you can
I’ve tried to live the life I live by grabbing it with both my hands
Sometimes good things get away
But you’ll catch one on another day
Keep your wits about you
When the time is right, it’ll all fall into place
Practice patience
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20. |
20: We're Doing Fine
04:23
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Life puts up a solid fight
When you’re figuring out what comes next it attacks with surprise
So find a way to recognise
All the obvious warning lights and the tell tale signs
When it’s safe, go outside
Feel the sun shine in your eyes
Lift your chin, stand up straight
And move forward with confidence
Be the best you can be
Let your worries all run free
Feel the weight of the world leave your shoulders in every sense
We’re doing fine
Keep, keep one eye on your back
And the other on the things you still want to achieve
Send a message to the world
You’re stronger than the others tend to believe
When it’s safe, go outside
Feel the sun shine in your eyes
Lift your chin, stand up straight
And move forward with confidence
Be the best you can be
Let your worries all run free
Feel the weight of the world leave your shoulders in every sense
We’re doing fine
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21. |
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We’ve spent too many hours wondering how our lives could have been
Have we even scratched the surface of the things we wanna see
We look around us and there’s still so much that we need to achieve
We’re running out of numbered days
We’ll go down swinging with the knowledge that we’ve got nothing to lose
To give up now would be the wise choice, not the one we’d ever choose
This life’s a marathon and it’s only ever there for us to lose
Thank god we’re almost at the end
We’ve reached the end
But only just in time
In time to save our lives
So philosophically we all know that the world has seen it’s day
It’s pretty obvious the fundamentals really need to change
We need to do our bit to fight to see new systems set in place
The time is up
The time is now
So grab your pitchforks and your lanterns and let’s all meet up in town
We’ll all sing songs around the fire as we burn this fucker down
The streets will echo with us unrelenting, unified and proud
Because of us we’ve reached the end
We’ve reached the end
But only just in time
In time to save our lives
One day we’ll sit around this fire and tell stories to the ones
Who weren’t around to see the worst of all the damage that was done
How human sacrifice was made to let the rich enjoy the hunt
A silent face full of disgust
Imagination overactive at the very best of times
But just imagine all the difference if we ever got this right
A whole new world for us to nurture while the ground is in it’s prime
I hope we live to see the end
We’ve reached the end
But only just in time
In time to save our lives
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Jon Shaban Cape Town, South Africa
JON SHABAN IS A SINGER SONGWRITER BASED IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. SHORTLY AFTER QUITTING HIS JOB AND COMMITTING TO BEING A FULL-TIME ARTIST, JON LAUNCHED HIS FIRST ALBUM IN 2015 TITLED ‘FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE’ AND HAS SINCE TOURED RELENTLESSLY BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY WITH HIS SOLO MATERIAL AND HIS BAND, THE SHABS. ... more
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