This is the rare, self-released first version of Grace Darling’s debut album, which appeared on the Sardonic Sounds label a number of months before the “official” C’est La Mort release. Three of the songs on this release (‘Transportation,’ ‘Bleed,’ and ‘Oracle’) were dropped from the C’est La Mort release, which added five new songs in their place (‘Opening,’ ‘Illusionarium,’ ‘Telegraph Hill,’ ‘There,’ and ‘I Bury My Love’).
Track Listing
01. Cursing a Muse (Invocation)
02. Iemanja
03. Lou’s Lips
04. A Slice of This
05. Glove
06. Transportation
07. Inside Me
08. Bleed
10. Purgatory 3:05
11. Surf’s Up
12. Oracle
13. Open Air Cafe
© 1991. Some songs have been made available for free download. In exchange for this, we ask only that you do not redistribute, sell, give away, or repackage this music without prior consent.
Lyrics
Cursing a Muse (Invocation)
(Simpson)
Don’t look the other way, or turn
your head, or walk away from me.
You’d let me swim where others drown,
and this is what I saw in you.
Help me on my chosen way.
See me through another day.
You’re not the muse you used to be.
You’ve sold yourself and thus your pride.
I don’t know why you have allowed
this pool of mediocrity.
There’s no basis to your lore.
I don’t need you anymore.
©1991 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
Iemanja
(Music: Simpson, Text: Martino)
Oh! The sinking ship.
A broken cry hangs on my lip.
Salty green awaits me;
Cold, wet slumber.
Foamy arms draw me down,
Coils of seaweed hair surround me.
Liquid eyes that paralyze.
The sea is taking me.
I would leave each day at dawn
And fear the water I rode on.
Taking life so easily
From her bounty.
Now I am to pay the fee
And give it all back to the sea.
Whispered wails of victory
Notify the shore.
© 1990 grEGORy simpson & Val Martino
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the authors.
Lou’s Lips
(Music: Simpson, Text: Martino)
Burning words. Acid. Dripping quick from my tongue.
Angry words hang between us once they’re sprung.
I didn’t mean it. No, I didn’t mean it.
Something came over me.
I take it back. I’d like to take it back.
Oh, can we forget it, please?
Mindless babbling. You spew streams of junk.
Loose lips sink ships and this one’s nearly sunk.
You didn’t think. No, you forgot to think
Before you opened up your mouth.
Now I am left to clean up the mess.
Why do they ever let you out?
© 1989 grEGORy simpson & Val Martino
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the authors.
Tones ball petrified on trees.
Streams glow blue from film disease.
Tore pine finance in the fire.
Watch it Philip by the wire.
Peel endangered very screen.
Slicing candy waters clean.
Sandwich paths off tenderness.
Filter blends togetherness.
Oh, in this world, all I know;
Love is like an old widow–
Losing hope, alone and sad.
Handicapped and going mad.
Fish my bones climb radio.
Bottom focus fooling tow.
Dying hair cloth architects.
Flying coils trace dominance.
Aircraft bowls want plastic bags.
Stiffen doctor burning rags.
Private slate beacons on blonde.
Carpets held to foiling pond.
Oh, in this world, all I know;
Love is like an old widow–
Losing hope, alone and sad.
Handicapped and going mad.
Words grow slighltly down on flame.
Holding shores phone carbon name.
Danger glances off to sea.
Talking waits judiciously.
Scarlet saucers pickle by
Opening a cayenne sky.
Silent passengers turn more.
Longing was tonight a door.
Oh, in this world, all I know;
Love is like an old widow–
Losing hope, alone and sad.
Handicapped and going mad.
© 1989 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
Standing by happiness like a heartbeat that’s stopped again.
Walking on tenderness like a deep breath inhaled within.
Strippers are mistresses of a dignity
shackled in chains that were set by history.
Heaven and gentlemen have been known to call
women and circumstance by the name of God.
Listening to innocence like a deaf ear that’s turned away.
Talking to loneliness like a teardrop falling astray.
Lovers are recluses that don’t have the name
recluse to justify why they are insane.
Heaven and gentlemen have been known to call
women and circumstance by the name of God.
Languid in loveliness like a caress that’s gone and been.
Pulling at nervousness like a frail voice that calls you in.
Where’s my glove?
©1990 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
I’m on one of them a’… trains.
Clicking. Clacking.
There’s no way. I’m not hacking
This ride, tonight.
Get me off of this machinery.
If you’re over there and I am over here then the only way that you will get me over there is to strap me in the frame of some machinery and hurl it through the distance at high velocity…
Then pray for and wait for my machinery.
Transportation.
I’m on one of them a’… planes.
Roaring. Soaring.
It’s too frightening to be boring.
Won’t you? Can’t you
Get me off of this machinery?
If you’re over there and I am over here then the only way that you will get me over there is to strap me in the frame of some machinery and hurl it through the distance at high velocity…
Then pray for and wait for my machinery.
Transportation.
I’m in one of them a’… cars.
Steering. Veering.
I’m just doing my best not smearing
Flunkies, drunkards…
Get me off of this machinery.
If you’re over there and I am over here then the only way that you will get me over there is to strap me in the frame of some machinery and hurl it through the distance at high velocity…
Then pray for and wait for my machinery.
Transportation.
©1989 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
This kiss I place upon your lips will haunt me ’til I fall.
Of all the kisses we have shared, this kiss I will recall
When I catch a scent
Of where you once had been.
Or when I think I’ve felt your breath upon my neck.
Your smile’s a little awkward and your hair’s a different way.
But no one’s hand has modified the voice that I heard say
“Wouldn’t you like to be?”
Yes. I would like to be…
“Wouldn’t you like to be in here, inside of me?”
The darkness that surrounds you when the lid has sealed your sleep
Will only dim the present, not the memories I keep
Of you and I. Of love
And what we’d both dreamed of.
And how, in better times, that never seemed enough.
And as I turn to walk away, I’m left where I had stood.
I’ve now become two entities. One spiritual. One blood.
You will always be…
No one else can be…
You will always be the one inside of me.
©1990 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
Bleed
(Music: Simpson, Text: Martino)
Bleed. Sitting, watching this old love bleed.
All life leaving as it dies.
My eyes are dry, now. I cannot cry. Even if I wanted.
In the end when it wasn’t good,
We did everything we could.
Bleed. Come and watch our poor love bleed.
Then let’s kiss and call it quits.
Turn and walk away.
Everything has got to end.
Something new will begin.
If we ever meet again,
I hope it’s good remembering.
Speed. A speedy ending is what I need.
Just give me wings and I’ll hit the sky.
I got no time for these long goodbyes. How could it be ending?
Maybe, if I run real fast,
I cano get myself free at last.
Speed. It shouldn’t be a dirty deed.
We saw it coming from miles away.
I think we both agree.
Everything has got to end.
Something new will begin.
If we ever meet again,
I hope it’s good remembering.
Greed. I’m surrendering to the need
Of having my life all to myself.
I’m tired of sharing with someone else. And now I don’t have to.
I’m dealing with me instead
Of the misery in your head.
Greed. I don’t like listening to you plead.
All our demons have been set free.
Let them fly away.
Everything has got to end.
Something new will begin.
If we ever meet again,
I hope it’s good remembering.
© 1990 grEGORy simpson & Val Martino
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the authors.
Sleep Knows No Melody
(Simpson)
I slip out of my clothes.
I slip under the sheets.
I slip off of the edge.
And I tumble to sleep.
Sleep knows no melody — it’s just a rhythm.
Sleep knows no sympathy — it’s not a woman.
Sleep knows no history — it’s unforgiving.
Sleep knows no harmony — it’s just a beat.
Have you ever laid down
and everything around you seemed so serene?
You close your eyes and, immediately,
your mind shows a graphic scene
of violence?
Relentless… and cold?
Sleep knows no melody — it’s just a rhythm.
Sleep knows no sympathy — it’s just a beat.
Have you ever, at night, awoke with a fright?
Have you ever been falling and woke up trembling?
Have you ever had cold sweats? Apnea? No breath!
You’re not alone.
We’re not insane.
© 1989 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
Hold me.
Come on and Franken my life.
I’m not growing minutes. Slide me under the knife.
Fold me,
and strap me down to the slab.
Franken these things that I never had.
I’m floating in water and on air.
It’s this kind of cushion that’s my lair.
Hold me
in your electrical grasp.
I’m straining from the mouth. Won’t you turn on the gas?
Mold me
and pour out what I don’t need.
Franken my heart so it doesn’t bleed.
I’m inside a vacuum on the lawn.
It’s not quite the feeling that I want.
Put something inside it, and then see
what comes out when you don’t move it
down to the next heartbeat.
Hand me down lies, and I am so tired,
but don’t be moving it out.
Hold me.
I’m falling… Lost in the Stars.
I passed Pirate Jenny and September’s not far.
Scold me
and teach me something that’s new.
Piece me together and tighten the screws.
I’m displayed in lacquer covered flames.
They don’t melt but look like they’re in pain.
© 1990 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
Instrumental
© 1990 grEGORy simpson
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the author.
Oracle
(Music: Simpson, Text: Martino)
Hold us in your palm, we’ll sing a song
Its message bright, it’s ending sad
We see, we see
What you’ve done and what you’ll do
And if you hang us from your ears
Our wisdom is yours to hear
We see, we see
How the gods have handled you
We see, we see
What you’ve done and what you’ll do
We see, we see
How the gods have handled you
Running from the fate that binds you. Hide, but it will always find you.
We have done the same for the big names
From ancient days so the story goes
We see, we see
What you’ve done and what you’ll doO
By their breath they’ll name you “friend”
Kind words ride in on evil winds
We see, we see
How the gods have handled you
We see, we see
What you’ve done and what you’ll do
We see, we see
How the gods have handled you
Running from the fate that binds you. Hide, but it will always find you.
Some, they do not heed
They think their thoughts and words and deeds will change the thing
We see, we see
What you’ve done and what you’ll do
They push themselves ’til they are worn
The die is cast when you are born
We see, we see
How the gods have handled you
We see, we see
What you’ve done and what you’ll do
We see, we see
How the gods have handled you
© 1990 grEGORy simpson & Val Martino
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the authors.
Open Air Cafe
(Music: Simpson, Text: Martino)
You make your way to me.
We find two empty seats.
I think this is my favorite place.
Will you meet me there,
That little cafe, there in the open air?
If you have a care
We’ll fix it there, there at the Open Air.
Chocolate on a cloud.
We’re talking way too loud.
I think I’d rather read your lips.
Will you meet me there,
That little cafe, there in the open air?
If you have a care
We’ll fix it there, there at the Open Air.
She’s coming for my cup.
Don’t let her pick it up.
I think I’ll have a little bit more.
Will you meet me there,
That little cafe, there in the open air?
If you have a care
We’ll fix it there, there at the Open Air.
© 1989 grEGORy simpson & Val Martino
This song may not, in whole or part, be copied, redistributed, sold, or given away without the prior consent of the authors.