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Minimally Decent People

by The Counterfactuals

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    The Counterfactuals in vinyl-y goodness with a supercool screen-press design jacket.

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Simple jacket with fabulous art by Lisa Beth Anderson and Amy Campbell. Shrink wrapped.

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1.
Running dry 04:20
Don't treat another word, as something less than said A phrase will twist you round and round You feel, you fold, you cry I'm running dry I'm running dry A drive up to the north, where radio signals fade Then burst with mighty noise You feel, you fold, you cry It's enough to keep you around To feel, to fold, to cry I'm running dry Turn the signal. Turn it up, and then turn away Wordless noise, wordless noise is enough to tell Of an ocean where the weeds pull you down to play I, I'm running dry (repeat ad nauseum)
2.
Look up at the light of the street lamp before it goes out Out on the street we were laughing we were having a shout Oh me I love the truth, 'less it's likely to get in my way Oh you, you love lies, they make sure you've got something to say I once knew a boy that was certain of the state of his mind He once met a girl whose sweet love was what made him go blind "Boy you're better off dead, than apart with a mind of your own." "Ah girl," he said, I was nothing when I was alone We look up to the sky, watch the birds as they're flying away I'm holding your hand, not too tight see I'm ready to play Oh I've heard it before, that the birds will be back every year You just heard the bells, and they bring back the worst of your fears The moon has gone by and we're sitting here time out of mind The nights are too long, but the nights are when I feel fine Saturday night, and we're dancing to songs oh so slow You brushed out your hair, so the spins and the twirls would show You spin, and you spin, while the world around settles down I'm holding on tight, just to keep you down close to the ground I mean what I say, and I'm fond of the clothes on my back I'm ready to play, so you work to keep me off the track Oh my, my sweet love, will you ever just say it out loud? Oh my, my sweet love, are you open or are you too proud? The moon has gone by and we're sitting here time out of mind The nights are too long, but the nights are when I feel fine
3.
Indiana 03:23
I knew when we met there was trouble ahead To someone like you, I'm a target that's true You got in my head like it's yours and not mine You can take what you need just leave something or someone behind It's a shame that you love me it's shame that you're loving at all Yeah, your river's too twisted, I feel lost, yeah it makes me feel small Someone so good loving someone oh someone so bad Well, if that ain't a sin then I think, oh I think, we've been had Indiana, oh, Indiana. When I heard that she left, I said, "Indiana" Drinks on the shelf in the house on the hill We drank there together, she's sitting there still Oh, Indiana, Indiana I've been to the sea., I've watched the tides as they play With the sand and the stones, how it swells and smashes and sways I've looked at myself, I know the look of my lot But the current's too strong, with what little strength that I've got Hold the line, and I'll try to grab it strong Yeah, we'll try to move along Went for a drive just to clear out my mind Saw an old man out walking, his dog slowly marching behind As I pulled past the pair I felt nothing but shame I was pulled straight behind and I ran at my name Oh, Indiana, Indiana
4.
Hindsight 04:52
I might, looking back in hindsight, be a better man, tie my tongue and listen to the world The fish eye was warping my perspective, had to look around, had to get my tangled thoughts unfurled Yeah I skipped out on being good, on a simple line, on living as I should For a long time it seemed to me that the world was mine, was mine to do with what I would Takes a small cut to get the river flowing, just a sharp word I'm tacking round to get out of the wind It's a small space to lie in when you're bending Had to look around, see that there was nothing to rescind Yeah I skipped out on being good, on a simple line, on living as I should For a long time it seemed to me that the world was mine, was mine to do with what I would I want my world to be over I need my shoulders to be lighter I want my world to be over If they tell you I'm being too repentant, please just look away and take my tears as payment you deserve If I march 'long without a steady drummer, oh girl that's proof enough I've got a steady nerve Yeah I skipped out on being good, on a simple line, on living as I should For a long time it seemed to me that the world was mine, was mine to do with what I would I want my world to be over I need my shoulders to be lighter I want my world to be over The shutter speed's too fast. Oh take my hand and let me do it all again. Forget about the past 'Cause my face hasn't changed, hasn't changed I want my world to be over I need my shoulders to be lighter I want my world to be over
5.
"Hold on." That's the final word from over the phone. Go on. When the last link breaks they'll see how it shone I doubt, when the miners say they're going for gold If you go then you go it alone If you go then you go it alone Drown out when they tell just how it's gonna be Don't write. It's just one more line for someone to read March on. You know looking back will turn you to stone If you go then you go it alone If you go then you go it alone Every night brings a new kind of dark If you go then you go it alone Find all the closed-up rooms wherever you go Mind, what you find in there I don't want to know Climb to the top where no one's holding you down If you go then you go it alone If you go then you go it alone If you go then you go it alone If you go then you go it alone If you go then you go it alone
6.
Walk me out by the fire, have a drink maybe two or maybe more Watch the smoke rise up in the evening, I hear Sophie say she's been out here before Feel the fire down to your bone, clear my mind I should've known Should've known, I should've known On that night I'm as good a man as I want to be. I know better but I know they're plenty worse. Ah, the picture of you by the maple tree. It's a blessing, but of late it's been my curse. Feel the bark against your bone, clear my mind I should've known Should've known, I should've known On that night Feel the fire down to your bone, clear my mind I should've known Should've known, I should've known On that night Oh my my. Oh should've know. When I heard your voice, when I heard you sigh. Oh my my. Oh should've know. When you sat me down by the fire. When you sat me down by the fire (ad nauseum)
7.
I remember 03:42
We were very tired, we were very merry We'd gone back and forth, all night on the ferry It was bare and bright and smelled like a stable So we looked into a fire, we started across a table We were very tired, we were very merry We'd gone back and forth, all night on the ferry And we sat on a hilltop underneath the moon And the whistle kept blowing and the dawn came too soon We were very tired, we were very merry We'd gone back and forth, all night on the ferry And you ate an apple and I ate a pear From a dozen of each that we had bought somewhere We were very tired, we were very merry We'd gone back and forth, all night on the ferry And the sky turned wan and the wind blew cold And the sun rose dripping a bucket full of gold We were very tired, we were very merry We'd gone back and forth, all night on the ferry And we hailed "good morrow Mother" to a shawl covered head And we bought a morning paper that neither of us read We were very tired, we were very merry We'd gone back and forth, all night on the ferry And she wept "God bless you" for the apples and the pears And we gave her all our money except our subway fares
8.
I'm a willing wonder, won't you let me in? I'm a foreign fighter, fixing for a win Keep my levels steady Hold on for sign If a rushing river rises to your head If the numbing numbers nail you to your bed Keep your levels steady Hold on for the sign If a might memory makes you mighty tired If a single sentry stops you at the wire Keep your levels steady Let your mettle shine Keep your levels steady and hold on for the sign Looking in, I'm missing what you've got You once said, dear, "Be happy with your lot" Oh but I might, I might just go ahead and cry If I miss the scenery, there'll be another day To open up my eyes, and let it have its way But I keep holding out, for the sign
9.
Part 1 If you leave a light on, I won't mind If you leave a light on, I will find All my bottles and saddle, gonna ride All my bottles and saddle, gonna ride I won't fight the battle, though you're not on my side I won't fight the battle, though I'll die Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Yeah, I won't right the tall ships, even if they've capsized I won't right the tall ships, let 'em lie Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Tell the stars to shine, I don't, I don't see the moon Walk to mark the time Oh my baby, oh my soul is fine, and it's mine. I won't light the candle, it's too bright No, I won't light the candle, not tonight Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride I won't turn the handle, to look inside No, I won't turn the handle, not tonight Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Want my bottles and saddle, gonna ride Tell the stars to shine, I don't, I don't see the moon Walk to mark the time Oh my baby, oh my soul is fine, and it's mine. Part 2 That's me coming out of fire That's me walking on the wire Hold tight, the wind is blowing cold Hold tight, the embers now take hold What's fierce about loving you so strong? What's fierce about wanting to hold on? Times change, but still I stay the same Times change, one day nothing will remain Take it in, but don't you take too long Take it in, all the times that you've been wronged Most folks do their wondering out loud Most folks treat their thoughts just like a cloud I heard about a little child I heard how he drove his mama wild I'll meet you somewhere down the street I'll kick you and then I'll watch you bleed Graceful and mighty full of peace Graceful and frightened now of me Ah the bother of living with the truth Ah the bother of loyalty like Ruth's. Look back to look at what you were Look back, go on, take another tour Face up, to look at lights so bright Face up to the pain of living right Oh me, oh my Oh me, oh my

about

Recorded at various locations in Northfield, MN and New York, NY. Special thanks to Mike Morris of Rice County Records for extensive use of The Barn.

Digital Downloads and CDs coming December 10th.

credits

released December 10, 2013

Daniel Groll: vocals, rhythm guitar, drums (trks. 1, 2, 7)
Andy Flory: bass, organ (trk. 9)
Mike Fuerstein: drums (trks. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9), Wurlitzer (trk. 4), saxophone (trk. 6)
Jason Decker: lead guitar, synths (trk. 1)

With:
Anda Tanaka: flugelhorn, trk 3
Tyler Wood: Wurlitzer, trk 8

All music and lyrics by Daniel Groll, except "I Remember" (lyrics: Edna St. Vincent Millay)
Mixed by The Counterfactuals
Mastered by Jason Decker
Album Art: Amy Campbell
Album Photo: Lisa Beth Anderson (Spark + Tumble Photography)

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The Counterfactuals Northfield, Minnesota

The Counterfactuals are Daniel Groll, Andy Flory, Jason Decker, Brady Lenzen, and Mike Fuerstein.

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