Things I Will Need in the Past

by Charlene Kaye

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  • Digital Album

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about

Charlene Kaye's debut album, recorded by Jim Roll at Backseat Productions in Ann Arbor, released in October 2008.

"A grand blending of orchestral classicism and neo-folk pop anglings" (Real Detroit)

“A full-fledged rumination on the nature of time and love...The songs don't allow the listener to rest too long in either the saucy or wistful, the warm or the cold. One moment, the music's danceable, the next perfect for reminiscing. And it's just that kind of rhythm of change that keeps the savvy listener suspended, waiting, excited.” (Metro Times)

"A blending of perfect balance, showing strength in arrangement and ambiance” (Current).

"Her style is distinct and cannot be categorized...An indie spirit headed for greatness" (The Michigan Daily)

Read more: www.myspace.com/charlenekayemusic

credits

released 11 October 2008
“Things I Will Need in the Past”

Charlene Kaye—vocals, piano, electric & acoustic guitars, Wurlitzer, banjo, glockenspiel
Darren Criss—vocal on 7, backing vocal on 2 & 8
Emily Haltom— violin, backing vocals on 2, 3 & 4
James Hart—upright bass on 3 & 5, electric bass on 2 & 7
Ross Huff—trumpet and flugelhorn
Diana Keung – cello on 6, 7, 8, and 9
Dave Koenig—upright bass on 1, 4, 7 & 11
Spencer Michaud— backing vocals on 4
Laurel Premo—dobro on 7, guitar & backing vocal on 10
Jim Roll—backing vocals on 2, 3, & 7
Jared Saltiel—conga, brushes, & backing vocals on 4
Michael Swain—drums & percussion
Taryn Wood – cello on 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10, backing vocals on 2 & 3

Produced by Charlene Kaye and Jim Roll
Additional production by Liann Kaye, Jared Saltiel, and Dave Koenig.
Recorded, and mastered by Jim Roll
Mixed by Jim Roll and Charlene Kaye

Album artwork and direction by Adam Baker, Cheryl Andrey and Charlie Wagers for Three Bears Design. www.threebearsdesign.com

All songs written and arranged by Charlene Kaye. All sounds were captured by Jim Roll at Backseat Productions on Jackson Rd. in Ann Arbor, MI except Darren Criss and Laurel Premo’s voice and instruments, which were recorded at Charlene’s house. The grand piano on "Magnolia Wine" and "Human" were recorded by Geoff Michael at Big Sky studios.

First, foremost, and most importantly, this record would not at all have been possible without the loving hands of Jim Roll. The amount of heart, beauty and energy he has put into this project is astounding, and I’ll never forget the experience of making this record with him. I am forever in awe of his talents and kindness.

Thank you:

Mom, Dad, and Nat for their bottomless love, wisdom and guidance.
Daddy for his encouragement, inspiration, and faith in me.
My band for being my devoted self-proclaimed Charlenes, for continually reminding me what this is all about, and for steel-toed heels, bear claws, bells, burritos, and Disney singalongs.
Liann Kaye for being my supersister, my sage, muse, cheerleader, personal genius, and for comic relief.
Jared Saltiel and Dave Koenig for being amazing friends and my unwavering pillars of support.
Jenny Armstrong for being my other sister, my best friend, and my one & only foo.
Antony Abraham for listening, sharing and learning.
James Hart, Johnny Stallion and Jordan Zielke for basement jams, bandannas, and the spirit of rock & roll.
Derek Barber for giving me new ears to listen and new eyes to see.
Spencer Michaud for lessons, long talks and good karma.
David Wiliamson, Franklin Shaddy, and Sean Riddell for being the first.
Adam Baker, Cheryl Andrey and Charlie Wagers for their visionary minds, zealous pencils, blisteringly fast communication and abundant joie de vivre.
Garrett & the Bells and Torrey & the Kolesars for being there.

One very special thank you to all the Ann Arbor musicians and songwriters I have had the pleasure of meeting and playing with these past few years. I’m honored to carry the torch you’ve lit for me.

Make art!

www.charlenekaye.com
www.myspace.com/charlenekayemusic
All songs © 2008 Charlene Kaye

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Track Name: Andromeda
Andromeda

dawn, why were you hiding?
your clouds just melted through the horizon
they were gold, red and purple
peeling backwards in the sun
like the layers of a rose

the night held me as hostage
with its black blanket over my eyelids
couldn’t go any further
than I ever did desire
from the cold comfort of your ghost

quicksand in the foggy woods behind me
flashing haunting images of darker times
but like the child who sees only what he’s after
I didn’t spy the other spinning gears in tandem

gone, but not forgotten
above, but not beyond it
tore it down and teased the remnants
but thinking too much means to ache
and we're better when we don't

quicksand in the foggy woods behind me
flashing haunting images of darker times
but like the child who sees only what he’s after
I didn’t catch the signs pointing towards the better plan

Charlene Kaye (c) 2008
Track Name: All the Life Around
All the Life Around

so july came in its glory and the sun claimed its rule
kids held sunburned hands into the ocean to cool
and we lapped up those days which seemed forever endless
and counted the ways we imagined we could make it last

so october rolled along and all the trees were changing colors
squirrels outside my window stuck together like a band of brothers
we stood still, spellbound by nature’s prowess
lady fall was quick to swiftly envelope us

so december came a-knocking like a guest comes rudely uninvited
icy winter snows prowled and possessed us
saying: run but you can't hide
head guarded, made plans while living in the maybe
held our breath, held hands and hoped the sun would save me

so then april showed her face with bushes bearing sugar, musk and honey
new buds on the branches made me realize that loss is necessary
for new life, new joy, new memories to be made
so we threw up our hands and soaked up all the life around
Track Name: Strike a Chord
you strike a certain chord in the thick of me
and i'm terrified in seeing how it rings and it carries
you know it's been such a long time since i felt one inside
call me too reserved
cuz my armor's on
why should i open a pandora's box of rude complications?
the risk is too high for one more right gone wrong

cuz love is a very strong and sacred thing
and you can't stop it when you want to
even as bruises start to show
and true, taking chances gets you halfway there
but i'm not ready yet
my heart's too tattered and bent
and i move too slow

you strike a certain chord in the thick of me
and i'm too aware it's ringing out in you as within me
i know you've had such a hard time to get me by your side
but i've heard this song before in a different key
and i fear we might be singing out too late or too early
to set the stage for one more right gone wrong

cuz love is a very strong and sacred thing
but when he went without a warning
my heart alone did take the blow
so i will trace my musings with this simple tune
and until then, i'm content
biding time on the fence in the woods i know

so please forgive me if i seem half there
i can't halt those old emotions
even though that chapter has closed
but i see the honesty that shines in you
and i'm impressed that i've found that you're still hanging around
and i'm surprised at the sounds coming out of my mouth
when i say:
okay, lets give it a go.
Track Name: Amber Light
Amber Light

i'll tell you what
i hope you find
what it is you're after

and as for me
i will be
dreaming still of clocks all growing like fruit on my fingers’ branches
and I’m thinking of things I will need in the past
tell me, where's the use in that?
it's no use to regret
and yet
the future sure didn’t look like this when we first met

I’ll tell you what
time is not:
an arrow moving forward
no, I wade in seas
of memories
i turn each moment slowly round beneath the amber light
til I can't see what it was to start with, or which version is right
in the maze that is my mind
(i'm not so good at goodbyes)

deep summer grass
your hair is tousled like a windblown pirate flag
a swirl of color, smoke and ash

our time's been had
the clocks are sinking to the bottom of the bank
but i'm always looking back
Track Name: Magnolia Wine
Magnolia Wine

remove me like the ring you're wearing
forget that far away I sleep
among the hordes of the memories, merlot, women's magazines
and when the sun comes up tomorrow
another shady late entry
another lie among the never-saids buried in between

in sorrow, spirits lure you where they want
while an empty bed hands you forget me nots
but come this time tomorrow, I'll be out by water, air or land
no more love for nothing, no more hesitating at your hand
oh, soon I’ll better fill these empty arms
and you'll melt away like smoke into the dark
through the dark

he smelled of fine magnolia wine and Dior Allure
she'd long been up when he crept inside
and then, the smash of the china plates, the zing of the cutlery
says, when we took our vows in silence
i thought your hands would stay in place
thinking lines would be drawn for love, but some just never change

must you make me look down at my shoes
when my mother asks benignly about you?
but come this time tomorrow, I'll be out by water, air or land
no more love for nothing, no more hesitating, no regrets
oh, soon I’ll better fill these empty arms
and you'll melt away like smoke into the dark
through the dark

from flesh to blood to heart to bone
Track Name: Skin and Bones (feat. Darren Criss)
Skin and Bones

CHARLENE:
darling, why am I not surprised it rained today?
doesn’t it seem my broken heart just tends to ride the wind
but what will break the weight that’s held up by a string?

you don’t reminisce like me 'bout how it was
romanticizing these redundant thoughts
I’m never free
so I wait for your parade to come rain down on me

I’m running around hoping to find
somebody like the boy that I left behind
who loved all of me
my fingernails and scatterbrain and crooked teeth

DARREN:
dreams don’t carry quite the weight they used to have
two kids looking through rosy colored glass
like fools in love
the summer drugged our senses, filled our eyes with stars

CHARLENE:
but now we say goodnight confined to separate sides
and you’ll never compromise your current life to look behind
you never planned to love me for this long a time

I’m running around hoping to find
somebody like my one, though in time I’m sure
I’ll grow to know
another’s eyes, another’s laugh and skin and bones

but til then, I’ll keep on wanting you who I can’t have
cuz with the distance came this awful dam
and being in in love
with someone I can’t feel or hold or see or touch

I’m running around hoping to find 
somebody like my one, though in time I’m sure
I’ll grow to know
another’s eyes, another’s laugh and skin and bones
Track Name: Bonnie Parker
Bonnie Parker

i would like to run away to
a place where
the clouds would roll high in the afternoon
where sidewalks light up by the harvest moon

i would like to run away to
a place where
stars could be seen as a warning
where we could rise clean in the morning

the dust storms are spiraling fast
just bury your face in your hands
and follow the river that just keeps flowing

i would like to find a place
where the taste of
blood in my mouth could evaporate
where my soul could just rest from all this weight

and then you and I could live in peace
you and I could dine like kings complete again

the dust storms are spiraling fast
just bury your face in your hands
and follow the fire that just keeps growing...
Track Name: Bound Red Gideon
Bound Red Gideon

i’d been road bound, drunk on summertime
when you up and left
saying doubts about me'd slow been surfacing
like grass through the cement

hotel held a bound red Gideon into which I sunk my teeth
searching for love unconditional, dreaming without sleep
alone, you see
with answers few and far between

are you taking sips of loneliness and mouthfuls more of grief?
cuz I don't know just what I'm looking for
a town or a person, a painting, a face
a song on my stereo telling me good love is on the way
oh me of such little faith

there's no sense in wondering what was meant or what will be in time
but time and time again, i think of you and hope you're doing fine
apart and free
just a ghost, how you're meant to be
Track Name: Human
Human

worshipped a deity
a false god i praised
he had two legs to walk
and a smile on his face

he seemed infallible
i thought someone this great
surely must be from above
not from this place 

and what a gorgeous view for me 
I would follow you to anywhere you traveled with a rose in my teeth
thought you were a god in skin

but you're only human
human
you said it all
human
human
by saying nothing at all

well, time saw us take the fall
but you stayed in one piece
cuz if you bleed after all
it ain't over me

baby, you let me down
and just my blinded eyes are to blame
cuz who could love, still, without the power of sight
across the sea that holds us in place?

so get out of my mind
and get out of my heart
it’s only midnight here in Arizona
but the sun’s come up where you are
I don't blame you for wandering...

cuz you're only human
human
you said it all
human
human
by saying nothing at all
human
human
i thought you were so much more.
Track Name: Different Colored Eyes
Different Colored Eyes

dreaming into the sunlight
bluebirds fly
wanting also to unwind
and forget, finally

i know now that silence speaks
to walk away would be so sweet
let me love again, please

my body grows, but my heart lays
the weight, it's trying
while leaves drop every autumn day
they go down spiraling

but they don’t put up a fight
once out of sight, they’re out of mind
so why can’t i?

walking back from work one night
i saw a man who looked like you
with different colored eyes
suddenly couldn't decide
no, i want to walk away from your smile
and feel okay after a while
after a while
after a while