EMERGENCE

Produced by
Dave Carmichael and Laurence Currie

Recorded at
Chalet Sound - Claremont, ON;
Idea Of East - Halifax, NS;
Lakewind Sound - Cape Breton, NS
by Everett Ravestein, Laurence Currie and Mike Shepherd

Mixed at
Ashburn Studio - Port Perry, ON
by Everett Ravestein and Laurence Currie

Mastered at
Metalworks - Toronto, ON
by Brett Zilahi

Dave Carmichael - Guitar\Vocals
Jamie Robinson, George Antoniak, Clarence Deveau, Jamie Alcorn, Gordie Sampson, Lil Thomas - Guitars
Dale Murray - Pedal Steel
Rob Laidlaw, Bruce Jacobs - Bass
Troy Feener - Drums
Bruce Vickery - Percussion
Gordon Stobbe - Mandolin
Chris Church, Gordon Stobbe - Fiddle
Lisa MacDougall - Accordion, Vocals
Kim Dunn - Farfisa, clavinet, organ, rhodes, piano
John Scott - Cello

LYRICS:

Monkey Business
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

Jack sweat, mouth was dry, he could feel his chest
Had to get away from the complain and complaining
Stars in her eyes, she came in with the night
Waiting for someone like she was waiting sunrise
Hey hey, Jack is sitting all alone
Sally’s smiling so bright - he detects an undertone
Someone never showed up
Soon the place is closing up
And both don’t want to go home

Chorus:
You can try monkey business
In the middle of the night
You take your chances too
‘Cause when you try monkey business
Well you better beware
Pretty soon that monkey jump on you
You can take it from me
I’m here and I know

I fell flat - sometimes I get like that
It’s time to go and I stay for one more
Watch the sun sink low, nighttime come and go
While that monkey sits, laughing at me
Hey hey, Jack you think you’re feeling strong
Sally’s feeling no pain – it never seems to last long
You know I‘ve been in your shoes
If someone’s home who loves you
Go back where you belong

[Chorus]

Bridge:
My baby left me with a monkey

[Chorus]

Jack sweat, open mouth, he could feel her chest
The girl who’s kissing him was waiting for me

Scramblin'
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

Remember back just a little while
Thought you knew what you started
Floating around in style
You'll soon be loving the departed

Chorus:
It’s the same old tune
Looking for to be the horizon
We're riding in big balloons
They come in all shapes and sizes
Where are we going?
Sooner or later it all comes down
Sure is fun when you're cruising
But if you finally get there
What you going to do?
When you hit the ground

Don't you be fooled
He's only looking for a good time
Says everything is cool
There's no telling when he'll change his mind

Chorus & Bridge:

Leave me standing at the gate
It's wide open but I can't seem to walk away
And everything's getting old
You're gone out on a limb
You say it feels like you're starting to live again
I'm jealous of you and him
I'm scramblin'

Chorus

Runaway Child
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

 Since the time I could walk I started running
Got to keep moving I can’t help myself
No time to hesitate when I gotta go

A. My mother said “son, I’ll teach you a lesson
Go out & have fun when you feel like running away
Child – just go dancing”
Come on baby you can never lose
Forget your troubles get your dancing shoes
And dance away those runaway blues

Chorus:

Runaway, Runaway, Runaway child
I ain’t nothing but a runaway
Runaway, Runaway, Runaway child
I ain’t nothing but a runaway
I go dancing

 When my baby and me start going crazy
Slip on some music from Louisianne
“Laissez les bon temps rouller”
I like to go down there

B. They come by the dozen & know how to have fun
The band starts a-buzzin’ – your feet just slip away
Child – let’s go dancing
Come on baby we can never lose
Forget your troubles get your dancing shoes
And dance away those runaway blues

Chorus

 Fare thee well, fare thee well
Polly wolly doodle, must be on my way
Got the urge for stepping out
Listen to some zydeco

B-Chorus

Sinking
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

I know shy like the back of my hand
You think of what to tell them but it’s much too late
So I got my problems
Daily grind, look out for the man
The shit they try to sell you - I say – just pay rent
Don’t buy it
Makes me want to shout
But I don’t know who will listen
And religion is division
But you got to stand for something
Have a reason to believe… oh!

The ocean is wide
My words are sinking
Help me get across

Can you hear me brother?
Can you hear me sister?
Can you hear me brother?
Can you hear me sister?
Can you hear me calling you?

Had It All
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

There was a phone booth up ahead
Thought I’d take it
I was looking for the change
Driving in the pouring rain
Never knew what hit never could have guessed
Wipe the windshield clean
Just another scene
Invincible
Then crash, you find out how small you really are

 It’s just a test - or so I say
Nothing comes easy
You get your opportunities
Where fate has fallen to its knees
They say the choice is yours and surely you know best
Ain’t it bright?
Staring into headlights
I thought I saw it coming – it was something else
I can be so unsure of myself

Chorus:
It seems so clear
There is nothing that can stop me
It starts raining…
Raining – get ready
Oh you never know
But you think you know everything’s just great
Then change comes down like rain gets under your skin
I had it all but couldn’t win

Bridge: Accident – I’ll never be the same again
Accident – don’t care much about winning anymore

 Phone booths make me smile
Thought I’d never make it
Find what I need in change
I’m a wheelchair Superman
Doing what I can with the choices I made
Wipe the windshield clean

Just another scene
You think you see it coming but it’s something else
You have to be so sure of yourself
[chorus – outro]

I can start over

Between The Lines
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

 I saw us both in a photograph
Freeze-frame
How to tell just how you feel?
What is real?
The frozen moment, the undercurrent
I get pulled in by a cavalier grin
Set below the glare of a cold-eyed stare
A heart that yearns as passion burns
All that we deny as we try and try to get ahead

Chorus:
Step out of time
In between the lines
Hope to find what’s on your mind
Cause I really want to know
What’s been hiding between the lines?

 There’s more to see than all that’s revealed
Secrets
Cannot say what you want to say
It’s another day
The intentions never mentioned
Again and again the cavalier grin
Afraid to show anything that you don’t know
B We joke and laugh we’re on a path
Where it’s best to win hence the grin in the photograph

Chorus & Bridge:
Oh the things that I keep to myself
While pining for somewhere else away
The smile, pose – you know what I’m saying
If you do it just right they won’t know what you’re thinking
It’s focus and “Can you say cheese”
Snap shot, everybody freeze

Chorus & B section

Chorus:
Step out of time
In between the lines
There you’ll find -
People freaking out!

Fly Away
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

 Fire
Burning up with desire
Bodies entwined in a locked embrace
I kiss your mouth you touch my faith
Making me soar
When I close my eyes, it feels like I’m flying

 Common thread of humanity
Loneliness - we feel like we’re lost at sea
Staring at the sky
You rattle my cage make me feel so high
I feel alive-
And I can’t deny the fire inside

Chorus:
This love has wings we’re flying
Over seas that divide our souls
I’ve freed myself of the prison
Personality creates – see my spirits soar
Fly away - we may be alone
But together we’ll grow
We can fly away

 Fire
Let our fingertips move us through these dire
Straits as we approach the shore
Feel the release of the tidal bore
Is flooding me
So close your eyes…

Bridge:
Right, let go of your body
Take flight – your soul knows where
Tonight we write our own story
And fly right out of here – free from sorrow

Repeat 2 & Chorus:

This love has wings we’re flying
Over seas that divide our souls
I’ve freed myself of the prison
Personality creates – see my spirits soar
You may feel you’re all alone
But I know how to escape it – come on
We can fly away

Behavior
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

They tied the knot and pulled it tighter
Till it came apart all together
He didn’t love her anymore
Said, “go ahead, leave me -
Get on with your life”
A far cry from the day they got married

 It’s so easy to see when you look behind
Promises and ties that bind
Who was she to disagree?
19; naive-
she listened to him
And he really made her feel so happy

Chorus:
It took ten long years
For her to learn
Love is more than words you can say
There’re lots of beautiful words
It’s more than a feeling
It’s behavior

 Silent treatment, predisposed
Slamming doors, dirty clothes
Smell of fear and potpourri
Talk-time – want time
Apologies sweet
A lifetime of covering up

Bridge:
It’s hard to help it, he’s so persuading
She loves to swim in his eyes
Till she feels herself slowly drowning
In the cool, blue waves he’s sending her way - again

On & On & On
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

It’s been a while since I smelled your breath
Or seen your glow
Try to break the silence, clear the wall
Hear my voice rise and fall
It’s a bed of nails can’t sleep at all
‘Cause I keep on seeing you and the crazy things you used to do
Ah man can you hear me? [3rd verse outro]
I’m calling out your name
And I’m just a little bit insane
‘Cause I just want to talk to you
And tell you that I love you
It goes on&on&on; on&on&on; on&on&on
It’s frustrating!

I was at the sea just the other day
Watch the waves flow
They washed you away from the land
Just like my footprints in the sand
And it seemed to me that you were out there man
You were one of the dolphins, flying through the air & laughing
That’s just the way you are
Anything to be free
It’s the same thing for me
And as I stand and watch my footprints go
Away with you, where? I don’t know
On & on & on ; on & on & on ; on & on & on
It’s frustrating!

I carry you with me
Your memory burns
Won’t you help me please
This letting go, this great release
Amazing grace, I’m humbled by your glory
But all the same I find it hard to let go
And although I think I understand – some of it, some of the time
It’s just that… I miss you man
It’s frustrating!

Junkyard Grave
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

 There’s a clock on the wall not working
A telephone and an answer machine
Gotta TV, video
Personal computer & a stereo
Hey I gotta nasty habit
Wasting time away
I grew old as fast as I spent it
And being alone is the price I pay
Now I’m scared and unprepared
And I don’t really want to die here
It feels like a junkyard

 Ooh I was up so high
Happily collecting pieces of the pie
No children to pass it on to
My wife can’t take it where she’s gone
Hey, I get so lonely
Discarded what I really need
What I found so dear’s now souvenirs
Slowly wilting just like me
I’m scared and unprepared
And I don’t really want to die here
It feels like a junkyard

Chorus:
Grave -
I’m in such a state
Grave -
I’m feeling low

Bridge: Rattling bones – I heard skeletons
Scares me to live
I thought I heard them call my name
Dented dreams and broken spirits
Is what you’ll find
Everything is for sale

 Heh bus driver
Please take me away
I want to leave this cloudy state
Find a sunnier place
Hey I scrapped my junk
Got nothing to claim but my memory
And though it’s tired and torn apart
I know I’m better off with a fresh start
I’m scared and unprepared
I don’t really want to die here
It feels like a junkyard

Chorus:
Grave - Grave -
I’m going away I’m going away
Grave - Grave -
I’m feeling low I’ll see you on my burying day

Let's Go To Bed
Words & Music by Dave Carmichael

 My mind’s tossed
Here comes the devil
Thoughts are reeling
You have to ask
About Love and forevermore
I’m tempted
When he shakes the liberty bell
Makes me feel as lonely as hell

Chorus:
Let’s go to bed
It’s been a long day I just want to go to bed
Hold me
Bed – keep the devil out
Go to bed
Hold me honey relieve all doubt

 I’m at a loss for words
But I know what you mean
Is this hereafter?
Why do we ask?
Need to know everything
I love you
And there’s no words can say
Let’s call it a day instead
[chorus – bridge]

Bridge:

Lay down we can feel better
Leave our hearts wide open
Let time decide the future
We can talk in the morning

Unrest in our world
We can rise up above it
Let’s get some rest you & me girl
Then we’ll rise, rise, rise…

 Bad thoughts
I can’t stop them
I sure can shake `em
Cause we have to laugh
We can choose the positive
I’m tired
Can’t speak my point of view
Nothing’s getting through to my head
[chorus]