Lyrics/Credits

AXIOM

SIDE A

Axiom

Lyrics quoted from selected poems of Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

However we may labour for our own deception
Truth
Though unwelcome
May sometimes intrude upon the mind

Truth is scarcely to be heard
But by those from whom it can serve no interest to conceal it
Truth allows no choice

The heart naturally loves truth

Reason and truth will prevail at last

Steve Drizos: drums, bass, guitars, synths, percussion | Jenny Conlee: piano, wurlitzer, mellotron, Rhodes | Kyleen King: strings, vocals | Kyleen King: string arrangement

Juggling Fire

She is a child of chaos, juggling fire
Lost in the hopes of somebody else’s desires
Five cent returns, seem to be keeping her well
Hubcaps…my bike…anything else she can sell

And home ain’t nothing but brick and stone
When you’re all alone begging for night

Push carts and black tarps under the rush hour race
Grey skies and rainflies, look what you’ve done to this place
If only she’d clean up; stop throwing words at the walls
But then again, I know what it feels like to fall

And home ain’t nothing but brick and stone
When you’re all alone begging for night

She is a child of chaos, juggling fire
And I think of myself every time she walks by

Drizos: guitars, synths, vocals | Conlee: wurlitzer |King: strings, backing vocals | King: string arrangement

Static

Our guard is up, watch your back
Like everything is about to crack
Like all that is good is left for dead
And warning signs, they flash ahead

I feel it
It’s everywhere
It’s the static in the air
It’s pulling you, it’s pushing me
It’s drowning everything

We scream and shout into the void
Thoughts and prayers to kill the noise
But God will do what God does best
Watch us play in our own mess

I feel it
It’s everywhere
It’s the static in the air
It’s pulling you, it’s pushing me
It’s drowning everything

This feeling is all we know
But seasons come and go

I feel it
It’s everywhere
It’s the static in the air
We seek the light, then just freeze
It holds us like a dark disease

What we want and what we need
Are always tearing at the seams
But what we have
Is you and me
And that is everything

Drizos: drums, guitars, arpeggiator, drum programming, percussion, vocals | Conlee: piano, synths | Nate Query: bass | Rebecca Sanborn: backing vocals

You Don’t See That Now (feat. Kyleen King)

You change the locks, hide the key
Keep all your secrets from me
You kill the lights, pull the shades
Anything to keep it away from me

I let you in, opened my heart
Thought we’d try a brand new start
Once again, you proved me wrong
Always the same old song with you

Now my head lies everywhere
But you don’t see that now
Time won’t wait but time will tell
You don’t see that now

What can I say, it just slipped away
Guess I needed a change of scene
Was it the fights or the fucked up nights
Or maybe the silence in between

Now my head lies everywhere
But you don’t see that now
Time won’t wait but time will tell
You don’t see that now

Drizos: drums, guitars, percussion, vocals | King: strings, vocals | Conlee: wurlitzer | Steven James Wright: bass | String arrangement: Conlee, King

SIDE B

Softer, Please

On my hands and on my knees
If you’re needing me
Stranger thoughts spin around my head
Too much chemistry

Feel the grey skies creeping in
Without a sound
Will this winter break my fall
Will you be around

Always come to my defense
With such eloquence
I could never let you see
It was killing me

In this town it all goes down
If you play it right
So we find the ones we love
Hold each other tight

Always come to my defense
With such eloquence
I could never let you see
It was killing me

I will do my level best
With the time that I have left
To find the beauty in between
The breaking waves of the extremes

On my hands and on my knees
I do believe
You can get me on my feet
A little softer, please

Drizos: drums, guitars, percussion, vocals | Query: bass | Troy Stewart: lead and rhythm guitars | Dave Jones: backing vocals

Covering Your Eyes

Please don’t mistake my words
As acts of confidences
I’m a mess on the inside
She said you’re just like me
Hurt in places they can’t see
Keep your cards tight to the outside

You’re covering your eyes
Before this even starts
You’re covering your eyes

The hardest part of reaching out
Is then they come around
Easier to tie it off
Bury it deep beneath the ground

You’re covering your eyes
And hardening your heart
You’re covering your eyes

Paralyzed and terrified
Of the things I cannot see
Foxhole prayers
Hanging in the air
They won’t change your history

Stop covering your eyes
And tearing it apart
There’s beauty in your eyes

Damaged goods, misunderstood
Step into the light
Damaged goods, misunderstood
There’s time to make it right

Drizos: drums, guitars, wurlitzer, moog, mellotron, percussion, vocals | Conlee: organ | Query: bass | Jones: backing vocals | Gang vocals: Jenny Conlee, Rebecca Sanborn, Ji Tanzer, Nadia Tanzer

Take You Home

Don’t know how it feels
I can’t be in your shoes
But I’d do anything to take this from you

I can’t say it’s alright
I can’t say don’t worry, babe
When I am shaking and afraid

When the lights go down on you
You will not be alone
When the hurting starts on you
I’ll be there
And I’ll take you home

You always were the one
Holding up the light
I’ve never seen it shine so bright

And I always turn to you
For strength and honesty
Now it’s time you lean on me

When the lights go down on you
You will not be alone
When the hurting starts on you
I’ll be there
And I’ll take you home

We made it through the rain
It left us scarred and changed
It showed us all we had
Our moments good and bad

When the lights go down on you
You will not be alone
When the hurting starts on you
I’ll be there
And I’ll take you home

Drizos: drums, guitars, drum programming, synths, percussion, vocals | Conlee: piano | Wright: bass | Brian Daste: pedal steel

Liminal Space

Jesus Christ, finally took your own advice
Went and got yourself better
Turned the ship around before it ran aground
Set the course for clearer weather

The world is spinning fast, don’t save the best for last
If you really love that girl you ought to tell her

And try to hold the line
You just might find a little piece of mind

The past will not forget
Better make peace with your regrets
Don’t lose your place in time

You got the weight of a heavy soul
But not everything is out of control
There’s a friend to call and a sink full of dirty dishes
So don’t worry your pretty head about how the story ends
Maybe your world won’t seem so vicious

And try to hold the line
You just might find you leave some things behind

Shudder with the memories
A promise of uncertainty
Don’t lose your place in time

You do the best you can, try to be a better man
Leave behind the old design, there’s been a change of plan
Wishing on the stars will only go so far
It’s okay to be okay right here where you are

Looking for some grace
In this liminal space
And in time you find some peace of mind

Drizos: drums, guitars, synths, percussion, vocals | Conlee: piano, organ | Query: bass | Paul Brainard: lap steel | King: backing vocals | Jones: backing vocals | Alia Farrah: backing vocals | King: vocal arrangement

All songs written by Steve Drizos
(Carpshootmusic, BMI)
Except Liminal Space written by Drizos / Jenny Conlee (BMI) / Nate Query (BMI) / Dave Jones

Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Steve Drizos at The Panther, Portland, OR
Assistant Engineered by Dave Jones / Rich Hipp

Jenny Conlee and Nate Query appear courtesy of Capitol Records

Design by Ethan Colyer
Cover Photo by Kelly Green
Inside Photo by Jason Quigley
Edited by Michael Lewis

www.stevedrizos.com
www.thepantherpdx.com
www.cavitysearchrecords.com