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When All Else Fails

from You Won't Even Know I'm Gone by Ian Fitzgerald

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lyrics

The streetlamp sputters, no words are uttered
Though the corner's occupied
The street dissolves, when the cops are called
No one even thinks to hide
There's no flesh, just skin, and it's stretched so thin
Every stranger's just a skull
And they bellow smoke that would make you choke
If your senses weren't so dull
The car door closes as the driver dozes and his dreams in comparison pale
I only hear from you when all else fails

Your makeup's smeared 'cause you conjured tears
So at least you'd look affected
'It's a cheap disguise,' say your hollow eyes
Which you haven't yet perfected
'The dark will help,' you tell yourself
So you nestle in the shadows
But you don't account for when light surrounds
And points you out like arrows
The power lines in an hour's time will give in to the gales
I only hear from you when all else fails

Shutters snap, bedrooms unwrap
As dawn ends night's forgiveness
The streetlamps' hum tries to spite the sun
But it puts them out of business
You spent all your nerve on the night's concerns
But the nighttime holds no grudges
A paper rose down the sidewalk blows
But the bluebell barely budges
You felt justified 'cause I must have lied
Somewhere along the trail
I only hear from you when all else fails

There are calling cards 'neath bottle shards
Of the gentlemen left waiting
Where they fell refused next to yesterday's news
Gathered in the gutter's grating
There are forming clouds over morning crowds
Like a warning shot was fired
Open blinds bear eyes, and you wonder
By how many you're desired

Empty payphone stalls line the broke-brick walls
If you need to call, just holler
Interest is rare, so, sweetheart
Spare the dime, but spoil the dollar
All the storefront's vacant windows
Can't make right what's gone too wrong
We all inspect our own reflections
Only question's for how long
The wire's tripped, the heartbeat's skipped
The one you wanted's bailed
I only hear from you when all else fails

credits

from You Won't Even Know I'm Gone, released November 18, 2016
Ian Fitzgerald - acoustic guitar, vocal
Eric Lichter - electric bass
James Maple - drums, electric guitar
MorganEve Swain - viola

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Ian Fitzgerald Providence, Rhode Island

Though perhaps technically a singer-songwriter, Ian Fitzgerald prefers the term 'folk singer,' as it more accurately describes the tradition in which his music is rooted. From early twentieth century field recordings through Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, and hundreds of artists in between, Ian has been influenced by one of the sturdiest strains of American music. ... more

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