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A Very Fine Line

by Andy Revkin

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1.
Very Fine Line music and lyrics by Andrew Revkin It’s a very fine line between winning and losing. A very fine line between living and dying. A very fine line between loving and leaving. Most of your life you spend walking a very fine line. Five out of six Lotto numbers won’t win you a dime. If that driver ahead is a nut you may soon be flying. Girl’s out the door if you say right things at the wrong time. Most of your life you spend walking a very fine line. Chorus: It’s a very fine line that you’ve got to walk. Gotta watch every word when you make small talk. Gotta watch every step or you’ll find yourself crazy and crying. Most of your life you spend walking a very fine line. A very fine line. It’s a very fine line between loony and sane. A very fine line between a loss and a gain. A very fine line between pleasure and pain. Most of your life you spend walking a very fine line. People you think are a genius are this far from bent. President blows an election by half a percent. We all know love hurts but we try it again and again. We know that the line between love and despair is so thin. Repeat Chorus Bridge: Winning and losing – a very fine line. Living and dying – a very fine line. Loving and leaving – a very fine liiiiine. Loony and sane – a very fine line. Loss and a gain – a very fine line. Pleasure and pain – a very fine liiiiine… Repeat Chorus
2.
Arlington 04:30
Arlington music and lyrics © Andrew Revkin In Eighteen Hundred Sixty Four, the burying began. To spite that rebel Robert Lee, we took away his land. Just outside of Washington, his hills spread far and wide. Soon corn gave way to crosses, as young soldiers died. But where will they go when there’s no more room in Arlington? Arlington, the hills go on and on -- gray veterans and fresh fallen side by side. Bugles blow and caissons roll two dozen times each day. At that rate in 15 years, there’ll be no room to lay… in Arlington, in Arlington. Private William Christman was the first one we laid down. Now there are a quarter million in that hallowed ground. In Mrs. Lee’s rose garden, we buried near 2,000 – those just the boys who fell down at Bull Run. But where will they go when there’s no more room in Arlington? Arlington, the hills go on and on -- gray veterans and fresh fallen side by side. Bugles blow and caissons roll two dozen times each day. At that rate in 15 years, there’ll be no room to lay… in Arlington, in Arlington. From the War to Save the Union to the War to End all Wars, And all the battles ever since, all fought on distant shores. But where will they go when there’s no more room in Arlington? Arlington, the hills go on and on -- gray veterans and fresh fallen side by side. Bugles blow and caissons roll two dozen times each day. At that rate in 15 years, there’ll be no room to lay… in Arlington, in Arlington.
3.
Blame it on Biology music and lyrics © Andrew Revkin Blame it on biology, the difference between you and me. Male and female boy and girl, each one sees a different world. Blame it on biology, the difference between you and me. Whoa girl, can’t you see, blame it on biology. When we try to figure out, just what some fight is all about. English is what we both speak. It may as well be French and Greek. You stand there with that pretty pout. I’ve got no clue what’s put you out. Finally you explain your funk. It was something that I said last month. Blame it on biology, the difference between you and me. Male and female boy and girl, each one sees a different world. Blame it on biology, the difference between you and me. Whoa girl, can’t you see, blame it on biology. Bridge: You say that I lack sensitivity. I defend my masculinity. I say the facts are clear as crystal, why can’t you see that I’m right? Then you say why can’t I see that facts have nothing to do with this fight? The good news is that when we’re done, biology it brings us home. I look at you. You look at me. We say, thank God for biology. Blame it on biology, the difference between you and me. Whoa girl, can’t you see, blame it on biology. Whoa girl, can’t you see, blame it on biology.
4.
Breakneck Ridge music and lyrics (c) Andrew Revkin I came from old New England’s shore. I miss those salty tides. My friends from Rocky Mountains high, they crave their starry skies. Some flock to California towns, where sunsets glow like ale. But it’s Hudson River banks and hills that make my soul set sail. From Breakneck Ridge to the Bear Mountain Bridge, and all that lies between. In autumn’s gold and winter’s snows, and spring and summer’s green. [repeat] A billion years of time and toil are etched in these old hills. Carved by ice and dynamite, but they stand firm here still. Seen tomahawks and cannon fire, and mighty industries. But these Hudson Highlands will endure when we are history. From Breakneck Ridge to the Bear Mountain Bridge, and all that lies between. In autumn’s gold and winter’s snows, and spring and summer’s green. [repeat] I’ve been around this whole wide world. I’ve been up toward the Pole. But when I’m gone please let me lie in Hudson Valley soil. From Breakneck Ridge to the Bear Mountain Bridge, and all that lies between. In autumn’s gold and winter’s snows, and spring and summer’s green. [repeat]
5.
Black Bird 04:37
That Dreadful Bird lyrics and music © Andrew Revkin Black bird sits on our windowsill In a cage of twigs and twine. My sweet Marie says she’ll never set it free. I’ll tell you the reason why. I’ll tell you the reason why. One morning as we woke before the dawn A fluttering sound we heard. Circling round our kitchen lamp, There came that dreadful bird. There came that dreadful bird. My sweet Marie grabbed hold of me, Said don’t go to the mine. When a blackbird flies before the dawn By dusk someone will die. By dusk someone will die. I said my dear, please have no fear. I’ll be home by suppertime. But a coal car crushed the life from me In the darkness of that mine, In the darkness of that mine. Oh winged death why’d you come for me Before it was my time. You took me from my family, Left nothing but tears behind. Left nothing but tears behind. My sweet Marie she caged that bird So no one else will hear The flutter of black wings at dawn. No one should know that fear. No one should know that fear. Oh winged death why’d you come for me Before it was my time. You took me from my family, Left nothing but tears behind. Left nothing but tears behind.
6.
Grandpa’s Cadillac Music & lyrics © Andrew Revkin It pulled into the drive like a cruise ship into a dock. All curves and chrome, swear it measured one or two blocks. When it rounded a corner, looked to bend just like a snake. Drove smooth and cool, like drinking a vanilla shake. It was white as a tooth. Had fins to the sky. The windows were Coke-bottle green. My Grandpa’s Cadillac was one great shiny machine. He bought it used, never owned a new car in his life. Treated that Caddy almost like it was a second wife. When he washed it he’d circle like a sculptor ‘round a marble bust. Searching for dings or dull spots or, God forbid, rust. It was white as a tooth. Had fins to the sky. The windows were Coke-bottle green. My Grandpa’s Cadillac was one great shiny machine. He kept it running as long as he could but it was finally time. Traded in that ’59 and got himself a used ’69. Gone were the curves. Gone were the fins. Streamlined was out. Square was in. Now a Cadillac was just another kind of car – Nothing special, not a work of art… Not like that ’59 with fins to the sky and windows all Coke-bottle green…. My Grandpa’s Cadillac... My Grandpa’s Cadillac… My Grandpa’s Cadillac was one great shiny machine.
7.
Bills Bills Bills lyrics and music © Andrew Revkin Bills bills bills, pile up every day. Bills bills bills, got no cash to pay. Bills bills bills, they never go away. What is a man to do? I’m in the red, I’ve got no green, And I’m feeling so blue. I ain’t what you’d call a spendthrift. Don’t have fancy tastes. Car that gets from A to B. A roof and a bed and a color TV. But I never get out from under. Always deep in debt. Every dollar that I earn is gone ‘fore I cash my check, because these… CHORUS Some day I’ll dynamite the mailbox. Move to a new zip code. Fall in love with an heiress, With a basement filled with gold. But meantime these…. CHORUS
8.
LIBERATED CARBON music and lyrics by Andrew Revkin It took a thousand generations for our species to rise. But gathering and hunting was no way to get by. We yearned to burn more than dung and sticks. Then someone came along and said, “Hey, try lighting this.” He opened up the ground and showed us coal and oil. He said, “Come liberate some carbon. It’ll make your blood boil.” Liberated carbon, it’ll spin your wheels. Liberated carbon it’ll nuke your meals. Liberated carbon, it’ll turn your night to day. Come on and liberate some carbon, babe, it’s the American way. Now I got peat swamp fossils running my TV. BP’s black label burns in my S.U.V. We can light up the planet like a Christmas tree. They say that things are getting hot but, hey, we’ve got A.C. Liberated carbon, it’ll spin your wheels. Liberated carbon it’ll nuke your meals. Liberated carbon, it’ll turn your night to day. Come on and liberate some carbon, babe, it’s the American way. Bridge: Pump those electrons and that gasoline. No sweat or hurry, just turn on a machine. We sent an army to the desert to keep this country free, And to liberate some carbon, baby, for you and me… Liberated carbon it’ll spin your wheels. Liberated carbon, it’ll nuke your meals. Liberated carbon, it’ll turn your night to day. Come on and liberate some carbon, babe, it’s the American way.
9.
Between the River and the Rails C F Am F When I’m feeling so low that road kill looks lucky, G F C This happens more times than you might like to here. C F Am F There’s one destination that makes me feel better. G C Down where the tide flows by just like the beer. G F C Between the river and the rails, F C G In the room behind the store. C F C F Fireplace roaring, Guinness pouring, G C How could you ask for anything more. Repeat chorus Cops and stockbrokers and writers and loafers All flock when that green neon shamrock does glow. So drop all your worries, slow down, there’s no hurry. Come on to Guinan’s some peace you will know. Chorus once, then Bridge: Am F On the first Thursday just past the full moon C G Musicians they gather from far and away. Am E (retard here…) Settling in for long night of tunes, F G…. Wild Rover and Danny Boy oh how they play…. Chorus
10.
Instrumental

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released November 28, 2013

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Andy Revkin Lamoine, Maine

Best known for his environmental journalism and books, Andy Revkin has long been a performing songwriter (here seen on the Clearwater; photo by Susan English).

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