EXITMUSIC 1002
Written, arranged and produced by
Mikel Rouse
EXITMUSIC RECORDINGS
Return is a collection of songs using samples from Rouse’s 1985 book of String Quartets. It was the first recording after the completion of Rouse’s monumental Trilogy. As such, there is a distinct break from larger forms and structures. However, the idea of sampling his own work to use as structural material makes Rouse unique in the world of pop music and singer/songwriters. Stand-out tracks include Tennessee Gold and She Wants To Know. The recording also includes two early demo tracks as a bonus.
01. Dammit Bikini
02. You Know Why I’m Here
03. Everybody Waits
04. Undo Drag
05. Tennessee Gold
06. She Wants To Know
07. Roseland
08. Host Of The Room
09. God Hides Out
10. Moment Fade Away
Bonus Tracks:
11. A Loan On Saturday Night
12. Dana Says Dawn
Lyrics
DAMMIT BIKINI
I got good looks.
I do declare(!) to take apart
the ones that stare.
Into the void; their afternoon
when comes a time
to make more room.
When the misery says to me,
“All-y All-y All Outs In Free”,
take a line out of history: dammit bikini.
I had more time
than I had plan.
I settle down into the man.
I make believe like I don’t see
what’s goin’ on
goin’ with me.
When the misery says to me,
“All-y All-y All Outs In Free”,
take a line out of history: dammit bikini.
Shoot the moon, the verse, the scene
the tidal wave of human being
the in, the out, the up and down
and as the motor runs aground…
The shapes and sounds of summer greed
in perfect silk and matching seed
and hunger ‘til you’re out of scratch
and flood the mass machine (attached)
And break the hearts that bomb the west
and pour the lotion on your breasts
address the crowd with volleyball
and polka dotted booty call
I got good looks, I do declare
to take apart the ones that stare
then stumble out into the wave
and say, for instance, “I am saved”
Erase the world, perchance to dream?
The tidal wave of human being
The tidal wave of human being.
And break the hearts that bomb the west.
I got good looks.
I pass the test.
Erase the world, perchance to dream?
The tidal wave of human being.
YOU KNOW WHY I’M HERE (I’m Your Guide)
I am your guide
I am your guide
Your guide
I see guide
I see am your guide You Know why I’m here
Your guide You know why I’m here
I see your face, I am your guide You know why I’m here
Guide You know why I’m here…
I see am your guide
Your guide
I see your face, I am your guide
You don’t mind it, you don’t wind it
You don’t stop ‘cause you’re never gonna find it
You’re all over, you’re in clover
You’re uptown and you’re in a range rover
You don’t wonder, you don’t thunder
You don’t know it’s a living that I’m under
You don’t give up, you don’t tin cup
You don’t rattle with the man who has a chin up
You don’t smoke ‘em, you don’t joke ‘em
You just wait until they blink and then you choke ‘em
You’re out grazing, you’re out dazing
You’re out done because you’re monitor is phasing
You don’t manage, you just damage
And then you wonder why I put you in a bandage
You don’t comfort, you just Humbert
You make a living with some makeup and a short skirt
You don’t mind it, you don’t wind it
You don’t stop ‘cause you’re never gonna find it
You’re all over, you’re in clover
You’re uptown and you’re in a range rover
You know why I’m here too
You know why I’m here
You know why I’m here too
You know why I’m here
I see your face, I am your guide
Am your guide
I am your guide
I am your guide
I am your guide
EVERYBODY WAITS
Every board trustee takes it outta me.
Boredom, third degree,
Replace harmony.
Distance; probably heart grows more fondly.
Makeshift bubbly:
Regrets sent to me.
Everybody waits for some sign
Every lesson learned underline
In the batting cage for lovers
Marking time between the covers
Everybody waits and wonders
When the size of your heart,
Lost for something to start,
Takes a room with a view,
Takes a picture or two…
Motel 6, degree
Flop house memory.
Just in time to see
Regrets sent to me.
Hidden harmony between you and me.
Every board trustee takes it outta me.
Everybody waits for some sign
Every lesson learned underline
In the batting cage for lovers
Marking time between the covers
Everybody waits and wonders
When the size of your heart,
Lost for something to start,
Takes a room with a view,
Takes a picture or two…
UNDO DRAG
If you’re in the market of mystery
and if you buy the corporate cosmology
then bang the box and future and living free
as you ride the rocket all over me.
Everyday’s an undo drag
Everyday’s an undo drag
Look into my eyes and then decide if the
currency of choice will soon provide any
guarantee of love or act in line with the
simple business plan presumed divine.
Everyday’s an undo drag
Everyday’s an undo drag
TENNESSEE GOLD
Tennessee
you got a way of gettin’ down on me
and maybe even though I gotta see
the part that made a difference made me free
the part of me the part that’s…
You know, life is always set.
You’re walkin’ ‘round the cigarette
breathless and consumed with love
(or what you think is soul above).
You think I’m just one more circus.
You let out a bold indifference!
You can be sold Tennessee gold.
When I got you on my mind
and I can’t be far behind an emotion I will own
is a savior that’s unknown.
If you’ve got a moment plea-’cause you can’t be far from me.
And I think it’s all too much.
So you better not lose touch.
I’ve been feeling disregard
for the plastic Citicard is a million miles away
from the city that I stay.
They have made it awful.
You know, life is always set.
You’re walkin’ ‘round the cigarette
breathless and consumed with love
(or what you think is soul above).
You think I’m just one more circus.
You let out a bold indifference!
You can be sold Tennessee gold.
Tennessee
you got a way of gettin’ down on me
and maybe even though I gotta see
the part that made a difference made me free
the part of me the part that’s Tennessee…
SHE WANTS TO KNOW
She wanted something like disbelief
A second look for a second hand thief.
A four leaf clover
A frying pan
A single women meets a single man.
They fall for hours.
They drink aloud.
Then make arraignments away from the crowd.
But twenty questions
From up above
She wants to know if he’s really really really in love.
She wants to know
She wants to know
Keep your eyes on the road (pell mell)
She wants to know
She wants to know
And you’re causing a crowd (pell mell)
She braves the weather; the current cold
And save forever the climate on hold
Forget who’s lonely
Arrest who’s gone
And shake the hand of who’s side that you’re on.
She wore a come back
Erase on call
The circulation dividing the wall
But twenty questions, who’s out who’s in?
She wants to know if he’ll really really really begin.
She wants to know
She wants to know
Keep your eyes on the road (pell mell)
She wants to know
She wants to know
And you’re causing a crowd (pell mell)
She wants to know: Where are you going?
Up over heaven, the other side?
I see leaves falling, I see inside.
Forget who’s lonely.
Oh, forget lucky to the bereaved
Imagination for all gifts received
Up over heaven
The other side’s a
Covered wagon with nothing to hide
Finger forever a lot that’s free
Unsentimental meets unhistory
But twenty questions from up above
Just wants to know if she’s really really really in love.
ROSELAND
Let’s take a breather
a separate vacation for good
Got a retainer, a locksmith
I knew where you stood
Maybe you left me alone
for a time just to see
Maybe the times of your life
were the times spent with me.
Gentle visions start your engines now
Gentle visions start your engines now
And when you were crying at Roseland
and I could not reach out to you
Yea, when you were crying at Roseland
a moment of history flew
Yea, when you were crying at Roseland
I tried but I just couldn’t see
that when you crying at Roseland
you were crying for you and for me.
Looks like you’re out on a bender
you see what I mean
Making arrangements with
lovers and lawyers you’ve seen
Takes no real talent
or extra digestion to see
Maybe the times of your life
were the times spent with me
Gentle visions start your engines now
Gentle visions start your engines now
And when you were crying at Roseland
and I could not reach out to you
Yea, when you were crying at Roseland
a moment of history flew
Yea, when you were crying at Roseland
I tried but I just couldn’t see
that when you crying at Roseland
you were crying for you and for me.
HOST OF THE ROOM
return…return…
Host of the room Host of the room Host of
The room host of The room host of The room
Host of the room Host of the room Host of
The room host of The room host of The room
It’s an off-track view that’s mating
Born of this infernal gating
Separate the times of tingling
And sometime inter-mingling
I feel slow deal top of cartwheel
Embrace ables turntables
And the right to be recalled
I suppose that no one goes faster
Or gets outa line while looking for disaster
Take the point of view
I am kicking the image over to you
Before you can see the light
You’ll have to think and not blink twice
I believe I see past the comedy
I wrap it up: autonomy
Gotta be spared or gotta be holy
Saving the faith for desert or a movie
I believe anyone in my position would come into money
or come to envision a mountain of ego a measure of
profit and come to you humble with holes in my pocket…
It’s an off-track view that’s mating
Born of this infernal gating
Separate the times of tingling
And sometime inter-mingling
I feel slow deal on top of cartwheel
Embrace ables turntables
And the right to be recalled
Host of the room Host of the room Host of
The room host of The room host of The room
Host of the room Host of the room Host of
The room host of The room host of The room
Trying to climb I’m out the window
Outa my mind Just past the bimbo
Out of this world Slow motion jingle
Out of this girl Throw away single
Take me down I wanna see ya
Take me down I wanna see ya
Take me down I wanna see ya
Take me down Don’t wanna be ya
Master participation Massive litigation
Faster than speeding nation Massive SuperStation
There goes that News Van again Massive mating of men
Here comes some truth that will bend Passive dating, The End
GOD HIDES OUT
You Know, I love that girl who swears
to go alone in pairs.
Her attitude compares
to nothing anywhere.
Her mind may sleep
but soon she will arrive.
The pleasure and the pain,
Omitted for a day.
To see the moment come and gone.
To loiter unprofound
and leisure time abound.
To see the world where you come from.
And so, another lonely spot
to measure what we got.
To be alone, let’s not
forget to keep it hot.
Her mind may sleep
but soon she will arrive.
And as my cell phone’s always waiting to be rung,
And as the time I have is brief…
A forwarding address to reacquaint the world,
A chance to question my belief.
MOMENT FADE AWAY
In pockets you’ll find loose change a driftin’
And more to the point: who’ll you be siftin’?
Are all of your weak knees made of cotton?
Are signs left alone or just forgotten?
It’s startin’ to wane…
It’s every night
and every day
and in a moment you will fade away
It’s every night
and every day
and in a moment you will fade away
In fact it’s the law, you know you must stay
In silence defined along the causeway
So don’t be surprised to find me agein’
In vanished degrees that you’ll be gaugin’
It’s startin’ to wane…
It’s every night
and every day
and in a moment you will fade away
It’s every night
and every day
and in a moment you will fade away
DANA SAYS DAWN
Before the trees lost all their marbles
Above is where I wanna be
Regards to all the sons and daughters
A message outa me
I know I’m sailing through tomorrow
Leggo: a mantra made for me
I go the widest of the narrow
In sated reverie
You memorize your hands in sizes
Always in the metric crises dawn
Don’t penalize those hopeless wives
Who never got a grip on what I do
Yahoo!
Below I know it’s not the angels
What if they never come around?
I long to be that new revolver
I’m turning upside down
My God is resting in the shadows
Above is where I wanna be
And see the world hallucinating
Hallucinate with me
You memorize your hands in sizes
Always in the metric crises dawn
Don’t penalize those hopeless wives
Who never got a grip on what I do
Unvaporize between your eyes
A notion comes to pace around the room
Dana says Dawn above you
Dana says Dawn who cares?
Dana says Dawn above you
Above you when there’s nobody there
A LOAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Insert dimes and bets and world war vets
Whose honeymoon is over soon
In case of shock rezone the block
Tips on safe love from up above
And though we didn’t have love very long
And though we had love
And you never learned words to these songs
If it was bad love
This time I think you might
This time I just might come
And while you’re flying in low
Fly in low
My heads off and waiting to fall
And my head goes to
Green Berets don’t drop lines when you call
Underclothes
And even though, they might cop
And even though, they might cop
A loan on Saturday night
A loan on Saturday night
When kindness melts for mental health
Maracas mate on their first date
Reclining nude for real soul food
The last goodbye, the last to sigh
though we didn’t have love very long
And though we had love
And you never learned words to these songs
If it was bad love
This time I think you might
This time I just might come
And while you’re flying in low
Fly in low
My heads off and waiting to fall
And my head goes to
Green Berets don’t drop lines when you call
Underclothes
And even though, they might cop
And even though, they might cop
A loan on Saturday night
A loan on Saturday night
Lyrics © 1999 Mikel Rouse
All rights reserved
Published by Club Soda Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission