@ALBUM: EQUIPOISE HAPPY RHODES PRODUCED by KEVIN BARTLETT, HAPPY RHODES ENGINEERED by PAT TESSITORE RECORDED and MIXED at CATHEDRAL SOUND STUDIOS, RENSSELAER, N.Y. DIGITAL MASTERING PERFORMED by DR. TOBY MOUNTAIN at NORTHEASTERN DIGITAL RECORDING COVER PHOTO by BILL DEMICHELE MAKEUP by LYNNE SIGNORE PAINTING by HAPPY RHODES INSIDE PHOTO by BEEZ STUNT DUCKS by ACME MALLARDS MANAGEMENT: SUSANNE WHITE SMW PRODUCTIONS ALL SONGS WRITTEN, ARRANGED AND PERFORMED BY H. RHODES THANKS KEVIN for making me laugh and for all of your tireless programming, ideas and support ADDITIONALLY, Pat Tessitore, Ace Parkhurst, Susanne White, Bob Leonard, Martha Waterman, Kelly Bird, Ray Jung, Mark Foster, Chuck D'Aloia, Zena, Shorty, Barney Parker, Icky Bone Swanson, Michelle Clark, Mike Morrison and all the Public, Commercial and College radio folks who've embraced and supported my music. (C)1993 HAPPY RHODES all songs BMI All songs published by HOVERING SLAB MUSIC (BMI) (P)(C)1993 AURAL GRATIFICATION All Rights Reseerved Unauthorized duplication of any or all of this recording is a violation of applicable federal copyright laws. PRINTED IN U.S.A. CONTACT and INFO: Aural Gratification P.O. Box 8658 Academy Station Albany, N.Y. 12208 @SONG: RUNNERS (5:58) Percussion and Keys: H. Rhodes, Kevin Bartlett Guitar: Kevin Bartlett Coming around 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming around 'e gonna steal my heartbeat Off the line Oh oh, 'e coming behind 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming behind 'e gonna steal my heartbeat Anytime We meet with friends, we talk carcinogens < What ya gonna do run, run, oh > The toxic dumps, and the malignant lumps < What ya gonna do run, run, run, run > The smoke alarms, and the organic farms < What ya gonna do run, run, run > We're running faster, to beat the master < Oh run, run, oh > Coming around 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming around 'e gonna steal my heartbeat Off the line Oh oh 'e coming behind 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming behind 'e gonna steal my heartbeat And make the line She drives the cart, right down the aisle < What ya gonna do run, oh run > < What ya gonna do run, whatcha gonna do > Can't buy a thing, without worrying < What ya gonna do run, run, oh > Coming around 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming around 'e gonna steal my heartbeat Off the line Oh oh 'e coming behind 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming behind 'e gonna steal my heartbeat And make the line Oh 'e coming again 'e gonna steal my heartbeat 'e gonna pull my pressure down Oh 'e coming again 'e gonna steal my heartbeat 'e gonna put me in the ground....six feet under baby But I can run really really fast yeah Eatie the food that gonna make me last yeah Go to the doc and have him pull the skin back Pull the grey and color everything black Wear a hat to make up for the ozone Better yet, I'm never gonna leave home Why yes you're right, could be your time < Oh pack your bags and go > You make the rules, so live your life < Just live your life > Coming around 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming around 'e gonna steal my heartbeat Off the line Oh oh 'e coming behind 'e gonna take my heartbeat Coming behind 'e gonna steal my heartbeat And make the line Oh 'e coming again 'e gonna steal my heartbeat 'e gonna pull my pressure down Oh 'e coming again 'e gonna steal my heartbeat 'e gonna put me in the ground....six feet under baby But I can run really really fast yeah Eatie the food that gonna make me last yeah Go to the doc and have him pull the skin back Pull the grey and color everything black Wear a hat to make up for the ozone Better yet, I'm never gonna leave home Oh 'e coming again 'e gonna steal my heartbeat 'e gonna pull my pressure down Oh 'e coming again 'e gonna steal my heartbeat 'e gonna put me in the ground....six feet under baby But I can run really really fast yeah Eatie the food that gonna make me last yeah Go to the doc and have him pull the skin back Pull the grey and color everything black Wear a hat to make up for the ozone Better yet, I'm never gonna leave home @SONG: HE WILL COME (4:07) Percussion and Keys: H. Rhodes, Kevin Bartlett Guitar: Chuck D'Aloia She walked into the room His wine spilled upon the floor Something 'bout the way she dreamed Made his ship come ashore Her eyes didn't see the count They saw his duality They looked through charisma To the pain of immortality Gabrielle dancing on the rocks He will come for you He will come again So keep your eyes searching In the clouds He will come for you He will come again There aren't worlds enough To contain her innocence There aren't horrors enough To reverse her fearlessness Gabrielle dancing on the rocks He will come for you He will come again So keep your eyes searching In the clouds He will come for you He will come again see you are his deathwish don't flee, set him free Gabrielle dancing on the rocks He will come for you He will come again So keep your eyes searching In the clouds He will come for you He will come again Gabrielle dancing on the rocks He will come for you He will come again So keep your eyes searching In the clouds He will come for you He will come again @SONG: THE FLIGHT (4:49) Keys: H. Rhodes Bass, Percussion and Additional Keys: Kevin Bartlett He sees her face and is compelled to take this flight He knows her soul embodies this, his final plight His heart beats requiem, pounding the rhythm of intent The night speaks fare thee well, the thrashing sea Speaks portent <> <> His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake Burning, longing, nothing could keep him from her now He flies by the whispering guidance of the clouds This lonely eternity will end this eve within the Arms of Gabrielle The creatures of the night release him to become The dove again <> <> His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake This curse, this need to feed through the centuries Has grown tiring, so she becomes his history The fog breaks and she is there wandering on The jagged cliffs The fortress comes in view as he descends to meet her kiss <> <> His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake His chest is bared and ready for her hand His chest is bared and ready for her stake @SONG: OUT LIKE A LAMB (6:47) Keys and Percussion: H. Rhodes Guitar and Additional Keys: Kevin Bartlett Bagpipe: Andy Wyman Snare Drum: Mark Foster he'll call me when he's back in town this I know he'll call me when he's coming around this circle again i can feel no shame in his discretion cause i think he's always seen how deeply he'd affect me he came in like a lion on the hunt a vibrant man when he'd had enough, he snuck out like a little lamb and they have said he could have been so much more but fame was not what this old boy had come here for he did arrive very well equipped with gifts of mind and hand and the knowledge that life thrives in every grain of sand he'd paint his dream, he'd paint his sea he'd always make them laugh he would have died a million deaths on my behalf it's a case of perfect hindsight maybe we can try again i did love you more than you knew now we see our history he'll call me when he's back in town surely he'll call me when he's coming 'round the circle again i can feel no shame in his discretion 'cause i think he's always seen how deeply he'd affect me it's a case of perfect hindsight maybe we can try again i did love you more than you knew now we see our history he quietly slipped out of town when the doctor was turned around when they finally found him out it didn't make the news for seventeen hours he moved vern out piece by piece by six a.m. he'd broken his lease he'll call me when he's back in town surely he'll call me when he's guided 'round that circle again i can feel no shame in his discretion 'cause i think he's always seen how deeply he'd affect me he'll call me when he's back in town oh this i know he'll call me when he's guided 'round that circle again i can feel no shame in his discretion 'cause i think he's always seen how deeply he'd affect me @SONG: SAVE OUR SOULS (6:12) Percussion: Kevin Bartlett Keys and Additional Percussion: H. Rhodes Fretless Bass: Ray Jung We give to you a disc of gold It represents the dreams we hold We'll tell our children what to do We'll show them how to listen for you Please feel free to call Our wheatfields await you all We are the number one offender Of specieism and yet Here we are reaching out for aliens Looking for our salvation Pity our emptiness Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls We think that we're superior To every living thing It can be lonely at the top So we look for higher praise to sing Won't you just say hello We'll give you a cable show We have weapons to intimidate You if you look afright Come on down and see our Zoos and refugee camps Ain't it worth your time Pity our emptiness Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls SOS SOS Please feel free to call Our wheatfields await you all We are the number one offender Of specieism and yet Here we are reaching out for aliens Looking for our salvation Pity our emptiness Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls Save our souls SOS SOS Well, there's a beacon in the sky Meant to catch the Rye @SONG: CLOSER (5:03) Percussion and Keys: H. Rhodes, Kevin Bartlett Additional Vocals: Kelly Bird I was born with a penchant for sadness Now I can finally speak of the madness Oh you took from me my safety net Killed my hopes and made me your pet I'm closer than before I believed it could only get better But your ignorance loomed like the weather Oh you made breathing a nasty chore I ate your malice for ten years more I was crushed in the vice of your sickness Took the blows for your every weakness Oh you forbade me to love my mom Daddy begged me to keep things calm Closer, I'm closer, much closer than before All the fears of the babes lay upon me Every word volunteered for my army Oh sticks and stones thrown Shattered my bones I glued them back with rhythms and tones Reaching out for the ones who could save me Nervous pats on the head's all they gave me Oh where were you all when I was jailed I cried and pleaded, to no avail Closer, getting closer than I was before I'm closer, Much closer than before I stand before the fork I look from left to right I wait in partial pause And choose to use my sight I'm ready on my mark My heart is beating drums I make a run for it I'm getting closer, I'm closer, much closer than before Closer, I'm closer, much closer than before @SONG: TEMPORARY AND ETERNAL (4:48) Guitar and Keys: H. Rhodes Percussion: Kevin Bartlett He is broken, far from free Words were spoken, 'tween him and me "I had friends, yes, I was admired I'm so old now, feel so tired" Well he walks to the gate and he looks behind at life in rewind And wishes he had known these things while still alive still alive He can see reason in everything "Where do I go to get my wings" Going to fly She sees faces in her home Wonders why they (don't) leave her alone "You must know child, I am all here They think I'm failing, senile, I fear" Well she walks to the gate and she looks behind at life in rewind And wishes she had known these things while still alive still alive "I can see the purpose now and all I've learned All the roads and where they've turned I can see, I can see everything, the total truth I'm ready for another youth" Going to fly @SONG: COHABITANTS (5:39) Percussion and Keys: H. Rhodes Additional Percussion and Multi-dimensional bleedthrough: Kevin Bartlett < So it seems I'm through > < Here I am just looking at you > i got a feeling we're gonna be close real pals i like the way you shake and scream and run away when all i want to do is play with your mind to see how long it takes before you crack and lose your strength i'm gonna be your closest friend who else would terrorize you......................... I've not been here before I think I've unlocked the door < I steppie in between the molecules > < To get me a better look at you > well i think it would be a good idea for you to pretend i'm not here whenever people come around or they will make you wear a jacket i haven't quite made up my mind whether or not to break the skin but i will give you ten to run i love to see you flinch................. Run anywhere as fast and as far as you like I've not been here before I think I've unlocked the door to my world I'm on a holy quest I'll be your most humble guest when your friends cannot see me but you see, what's that gonna say about your sanity they're gonna come and put you in a rubber room where i'll have the freedom to GET YOU GET YOU i can see it when i look into your eyes dear, i will feast on the smell of your sweet fear, i know your mommy said there wern't any devils but this little earth comes with many different levels, oh < I cohabitate > < I cohabitate > i believe you're looking rather pale don't they believe your little tale too bad i guess you're on your own but i will watch over you i come from a different dimension than the one you know and i am here to drive you to the border of insianity and < take notes >.......... Run anywhere as fast and as far as you like I've not been here before I think I've unlocked the door to my world I'm on a holy quest I'll be your most humble guest when your friends cannot see me but you see, what's that gonna say about your sanity they're gonna come and put you in a rubber room where i'll have the freedom to GET YOU GET YOU i can see it when i look into your eyes dear, i will feast on the smell of your sweet fear, i know your mommy said there wern't any devils but this little earth comes with many different levels oh @SONG: PLAY THE GAME (6:26) Percussion and Keys: H. Rhodes Additional Percussion: Kevin Bartlett Boys...can I play the game Boys...can I play your game by my rules Yours don't apply to me Boys...I want to play the game Boys...I want to play your game by my rules And be who I want to be I don't think I can speak for anyone I don't think I can fight for anyone But I have to know where I stand As a person, not a woman or man And do believe me when I say What I need is respect If I have to be pretty to be liked Then I think I'm dead in the water I never want to have to be like the boys To be allowed to play with the toys I hope you take me as I am Masculine or feminine I cannot be a role player Boys...can I play the game Boys...can I play your game by my rules Yours don't apply to me Boys...I want to play the game Boys...I want to play your game by my rules And be who I want to be If I raise my arm for the role call Will I be present and accounted for And if I choose to walk with my brothers I will do it as a sister I've been influenced by society To paint my face and hate my body I don't think I'm any better for it Doesn't mean I'm more legitimate After all, isn't it what's inside that counts No matter what the gender be Boys...can I play the game Boys...can I play your game by my rules Yours don't apply to me Boys...I want to play the game Boys...I want to play your game by my rules And be who I want to be Now while we're all here, let's get this straight I'm not a man, but my voice is ten feet tall With these tiny little arms, see all that I can do Keep your eyes on me if you want to see some Mountains move Boys...can I play the game Boys...can I play your game by my rules Yours don't apply to me Boys...I want to play the game Boys...I want to play your game by my rules And be who I want to be If I raise my arm for the role call Will I be present and accounted for If I choose to walk with my brothers I will do it as a sister @SONG: MOTHER SEA (5:23) Piano: Martha Waterman Electric gulls and Keys: Kevin Bartlett I looked out over the blue And breathed in the new, old air Wondered where it had been Before it got here Little bell in a cage Singing to me happily I wanted to swim out far To keep him company Mother Sea blew her Sweet breath on me Telling me there's so much More to be seen Yes I remember now I remember now How it goes I remember the tears For the jellyfish Drowned in the sand I wavered in the waves With seaweed in my hand I wanted to fly under The wings of the gulls Overhead I longed to know what lies Beyond that line Mother Sea blew her Sweet breath on me Telling me there's so much More I can be Mother Sea blew her Sweet breath on me Telling me there's so much More I must be Yes I remember now I remember now How it goes Now I know just what My godmother was for Mother Sea blew her Sweet breath on me Telling me there's so much More I must see Mother Sea blew her Sweet breath on me Telling me there's so much More we can be Yes I remember now I remember now How it goes @SONG: I SAY (5:39) Percussion and Bass: Kevin Bartlett Keys and Additional Percussion: H. Rhodes as i walk through the streets i could be anyone that you need but i must stand and speak my name or be forced to live up to your dreams i say i like the wind and rain i don't wear red, i dream i pull the bugs from death i read my books in bed for i believe of all my lives, this is one i must define not you, or her can say who i am not them, or him can say who i am not them, or her will say who i am not you, or him can tell me who i am you see my face is unveiled to the world if people speak in my stead do not trust everything that is said when my thoughts come from me you will know that it can be believed i say i like to paint the strange my hair is blond, eyes grey i hate to be in crowds i often think outloud for i believe of all my lives, this is one i must define not you, or her can say who i am not them, or him can say who i am not them, or her will say who i am not you, or him can tell me who i am you see my face is unveiled to the world