Xerxes

Xerxes was our second album on Touch and Go Records. It was released in the spring of 1994.

Like the first three albums, it was produced by Brian Paulson. It was also mostly recorded at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Mn, with additional recording and mixing taking place in Chicago.

1994 | CD | Touch & Go Records

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Lyrics

  • And all you want to do is smile
    And take it everywhere you've been
    Advice like yours a moral play
    I'd walk from hear to here you say

    And death's not knowing that your dead
    Never life or fear or trial
    So you want happiness instead
    All you got is just a smile

    [chorus]
    All you want to do is smile
    All you got to do is smile

    Can't help the helpless with your help
    Can't be the selfless by yourself
    Can't turn an inch into a mile
    Can't make me happy with a smile

    Stood in a forest for the fools
    And said what no one wants to hear
    A tree that falls without a sound
    Take your smile I'll be around

    [chorus]


    W. Graber

  • And all you want to do is smile
    And take it everywhere you've been
    Advice like yours a moral play
    I'd walk from hear to here you say

    And death's not knowing that your dead
    Never life or fear or trial
    So you want happiness instead
    All you got is just a smile

    [chorus]
    All you want to do is smile
    All you got to do is smile

    Can't help the helpless with your help
    Can't be the selfless by yourself
    Can't turn an inch into a mile
    Can't make me happy with a smile

    Stood in a forest for the fools
    And said what no one wants to hear
    A tree that falls without a sound
    Take your smile I'll be around


    S. Macdonald

  • Came for the green slop pie - all mixed together
    It's that I... nobody's got one yet
    You see I was Mark Merrill
    And he was just another who dragged it out far to long to believe
    Is it to be... Is it to be...
    Is it everything I was lead to believe
    If it's good - then it's form without substance
    If it's clear - it's all the thing that you hate...

    [chorus]
    All mixed together
    With lamps of fire
    We fixed another
    With laps together
    A lapse of reason
    Stuck in the mire
    If it was easy...
    Another liar

    Came face to face with death in the washroom
    And I'm never not alone again
    You see another door to door man
    Another partial vision
    On a mission learned, and only believed

    Well it's not me... it's not me
    It's not anything I'd pretend to conceive
    If it's unknown... it'll burn in the fire
    If he's pure... he's just another liar

    [chorus]

    It's all mixed together
    But I cannot remember
    Walk only where I'm s'posed to
    With fear and only endings...

    [chorus]


    W. Graber

  • Blood the martyrs seed
    An altruistic greed
    And it all is lost... this is just a passing thought

    Words too big to know
    And fear you can't explain
    Hope at any cost... this is just a passing thought

    [chorus]
    Where to start... where to begin
    Pass you the note... Pass you the note along...
    Nothing long... nothing long

    Leaves of many loves
    And root of only one
    There's no place to go... this is just a passing thought
    Tabula Rasa
    Suggestions only rule
    When it's all unlearned... the truth is not a passing thought

    W. Graber

  • You were the only one
    I was the one who never tried
    You were the one.. the only one
    I'll build your hope - then make you cry
    While others broke the rules
    And everything is open
    I build them up - I hide away
    If no one would tell - no one would say

    And self righteous lonesome's still lonesome
    Love of my life, where are you now?

    No decisions left - it's only sideways glances
    If it tastes like shit - it's probably shit
    Re-use old ways to disappoint
    Another set of claims - like open ended fear
    These are the terms, or no return
    These are the terms, or no return
    And you, you believe far too much
    You believe far too much in good

    If there's really no one
    If there's really no one
    Love of my life, where are you now?

    If I let you down - I let you down
    I let you down - I let you down
    And it is everything I never wanted
    It's everything you ever hoped for me...

    And he's the fool with the purity, self pity No one would tell - and no fool would ever know


    W. Graber

  • Sign - like the sign of things to come down
    To the wire
    And if I... minded half of Let Down
    To the wire

    [chorus]
    I have no fear
    I have no pride
    I have no right
    I do not mind
    I was the one who lost this time
    I was the one who saw the lie
    I have no drive
    I have no hate
    I do not mind
    I was the one who lost this time
    And it's like everybody wants a peace that I.. can't

    Give - what you wanted to give away for free
    Down to the wire
    And say - what you wanted to hear next time around
    Down to the wire

    [chorus]

    I have no hate
    I have no hate
    Down to the wire


    Music Arcwelder
    Words W. Graber

  • Hey - be wary of your heroes
    They will always disappoint you
    OK I know that you are lonely
    You're reaching out but only - they don't even respect you

    Now I don't mean to make you feel sad
    But I feel down when they treat you so bad

    Always another passing fancy
    And you only call me when you're feeling down
    They, they all get to hold you
    I get to console you if no one else is around

    Now I don't mean to scare you away
    But I have a need that won't go away

    Oh no - be wary of your heroes

    Again I don't want to hear it
    Don't want to be near it, it only tears me apart
    So now, call me yours or let me go
    Call me yours or let me know and let me make a new start

    Now I don't mean to scream at the stars
    But you dodge the truth like so many passing cars

    Oh no - be wary of your heroes
    Change the way the wind blows
    Change the way the wind blows

    So long


    S. . macdonald

  • Unlock the door
    Up the stairs to see
    And light shines through
    A window near the peak
    Here's the Khouri
    Here's a man
    And someone cries
    And someone cared
    Did a good job
    Was a good man
    Got it all out
    Better in the end

    And no it doesn't count
    Through everything on call
    And no it doesn't mean
    Anything at all

    Searchin for (made everything sensation)
    Something that might mean (and nothing too much)
    And here's the box (lived up to expectations)
    And opened everything (say something for yourself)

    Here's the Khouri
    Here's a man
    And someone cries
    And someone cared
    Did a good job
    Was a good man
    Got it all out
    Better in the end

    And no it doesn't count
    I don't believe in fall
    And no it doesn't mean
    Anything at all

    I don't believe, I don't believe

    And now you know what I mean
    But you don't know what I mean
    Cause everything's all right
    And nothing happens tonight

    I have your ring
    Down the stairs and lock the door.. again

    I don't believe


    W. Graber

  • Take down
    And now take along
    What you can't now

    And sorens eyes
    Good for value prize
    Where's your head now

    40 times
    Maybe 50 times
    Where's your heart now

    Compromise
    If you can find the time
    Where's your pride now

    When I walk out the door it'll be a sunny day
    And the breeze floating by blowing worries away
    From my mind
    I feel fine

    Come around All of the fear and the paranoia
    Maybe half a pound All of the stress is unhealthy for ya
    Where's the sky now All of the pain and the aggravation
    All of the grind and the desperation
    Cut it down til you feel proud If you want heat you should start a fire
    Where's your thoughts now If you want hope you should fuel desire
    If you want help you should try to find it
    Hit it and quit Forget the pride that you leave behind it
    While we still can
    And we'll end pound

    Hit it and quit it
    While we still can
    And we'll end pound


    Music: Arcwelder
    Words W. Graber & S. Macdonald)

  • A close encounter a combined IQ of thirteen
    Time spent memorizing the paint on the walls
    Move it outside a hint of lemon and protein
    There's no slowing down the swimmers at all

    And then it was over and done that's it
    And then it was over and done that's it

    There was a problem the solution a problem again
    The other side set on laissez faire
    A crack in the image another form to amend
    If a tree fell in the forest would anyone care?

    And then it was over and done that's it
    And then it was over and done that's it

    Get out your instruments and play a sour suite
    Cue the credits and fade to black
    Round up the horses and make a hasty retreat
    And pray to yourself that it's not coming back

    Because it is over and done that's it
    Because it is over and done that's it

    S. Macdonald

  • It's not Bill
    And it's not Scott
    It's not Brian
    And it's not Rob
    I don't know where to begin...

    Begin where it's simple
    Begin at the end
    Begin with all you can't defend
    Begin at the end...

    And disappointment bring the least
    Well this is less the you conceived
    It ends with the first

    Before the beginning
    And after the end
    It can't be funny
    It didn't bend
    I didn't want this at all... at all... at all.

    A blindered horse A wind up toy
    I'm on auto pilot I am a cog in the machine
    Am I a mindless drone Or heartless sap
    Now matter how you slice it I am a cog in the machine

    They say to stay in school then get a job
    But mainstream society doesn't care if your happy
    I play the fool go with the mob
    Corporate America doesn't care if I'm happy

    Settle down And play along
    Die unfulfilled Just like anybody else
    And well now damn it now I live a lie
    Write it down I'm not like everybody else

    Today I march along I follow blindly
    I do what they tell me I hear and obey
    I sing my song I treat 'em kindly
    You are my master I hear and obey

    I didn't want it... It's all the same No face no name
    I didn't want it... It's all the same Big town small game
    I didn't want it... It's all the same No risk no gain
    I didn't want it... It's all the same Big weight small frame


    Music: Arcwelder
    Words: W. Graber & S. Macdonald

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