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The Bane Voice Mixtape!

by Various Bane Voice Performers

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1.
Danny you can hear the factory callin' Thick smoke and soot got your lungs messed up good It's appallin' But you married her young Now it's cold Darn near numb Every night 'cause the heat don't run here Anybody says living's easy Their head's not quite clear Their head's not quite clear It was fast cars and dark bars For the first couple years You made a decent living And the freedom soothed your fears Of being Trapped in this Dingy old relic of industry Tell it again to me How has it been? You see, I'm wondering how a man Can earn his stay right here Upon this spinning ball of dirt and glass And endless atmosphere It's like the weight they always sang about Is something no one lives without And love is all that shakes the doubt Of nothing within, and nothing without
2.
You called me six times when I was all bored at that basement show in the suburbs you made sure I knew where to go to your bandmate's place where you sat, tasting some of my words you only remembered the simple tune you only pretended not to lose your cool and I was all flattered that it didn’t even matter that you caught hold of my hand while your friend made an omelet or a sandwich in the kitchen in the middle of the night (I think it was a Tuesday) I quoted you the wasteland beneath the blanket of your body and you couldn't know that I wouldn't get over you But I pretend it all the time and later that summer I followed you to the ocean I wanted to hear the water think but you flirted with the breezes and reckoned with the sand and ripped my patience from my ribcage you only remembered the simple tune I only pretended not to lose my cool and I was all flattered that it didn’t even matter that you caught hold of my hand while your friend made an omelet or a sandwich in the kitchen in the middle of the night (I think it was a Tuesday) I quoted you the wasteland beneath the blanket of your body and you couldn't know that I wouldn't get over you But I pretend it all the time
3.
i daydream about getting up for another cup of coffee, but i can't. i know they said to watch out for when you can't do your own laundry, and i remember that. and i know that i quit smoking cause i ran out of unanswered questions, but the answers have been getting to me. i don't have the strength to pick my feet up or turn the key in the door. i am melting on the carpet cause i sure as hell can't more forward. if the blizzard's outside, i'll be at the window if the blizzard's in me, well... after all this time, my heart beating against the sheets in my bed is enough for me to finally arrive at this decision to stand up for myself without saying sorry... i was frozen for a long time, standing in the same spot next to the door that might as well have been locked, trying to stay as far away from relapse as i could get thinking it all was my fault until i saw a mark i had carved in a circle i'd been round once before, seeming to say: "this is where i take my leap of faith" and after all this time, my heart beating against the sheets in my bed is enough for me to finally arrive at this decision to stand up for myself without saying sorry. this second time, the lump in my throat will convince me to take my own advice and get myself out of this house fire burning up the memories that stop me when i think i'm ready to let go
4.
I'm going to a place where I feel like I'm shit out of luck where people overuse words like "privilege" and "construct" I don't understand their humor and I'm angry that they're laughing It turns out some people aren't afraid to hit a man with glasses it's a problem when you've got a big mouth and you need glasses to see I want to be bigger and better than me I'm going back to the land of the Minnesota Skyway back to the land of subdivisions by the highway back to the land of diabetes and uneasy smiles watching my friends throw half-full beers at a daycare here in the land of my first STD scare I hope to God I can make it through this week I'd like to believe that I know where I really want to be It's the shit you hate that makes you human it turns out other people also like Randy Newman and it's nice to have someone just as hateful, if not more so, than me.
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well isn't it remarkable how it's still light, not dark at all at dusk your eyes keep telling you there must be hours left to do what we want nocturnal sounds have filled with dread the path upon which we had tread but we can still see light ahead and "to the top" is what we said we'd shoot for when at the top we turn around our eyes can find no safe way down but if we never make it through I'll gladly stand here next to you and tell you I'm not scared at all and this has been what I would call a good night good year good life goodnight
8.
9.
Way above the puffy tofu clouds There’s a spot where I hang out And stay for days Sure, traffic can get somewhat thin A kind of desolate waste bin Then I look down A million ants scurrying to and fro Empty conversation wherever I go And I think, no-o-o This ain’t for me Do I know the secret to a happy life? Sure as hell don’t, but this don’t feel right Genuine hearts take genuine flight And I might stay the night, the night What’s to be had and to be done? Blindly searching for conviction Something to grasp So I’m chasing all my paper dreams In constant search of the compelling And hope it lasts, hope it lasts A million ants scurrying to and fro Empty conversation wherever I go And I think, no-o-o This ain’t for me Do I know the secret to a happy life? Sure as hell don’t, but this don’t feel right Genuine hearts take genuine flight And I might stay the night, the night The night, the night The night, the night Oh! The night, the night The night, the night Oh! A million ants scurrying And we’re just hurrying A little less worrying We’ll be all right, all right A million ants scurrying And we’re just hurrying A little less worrying We’ll be all right, all right A million ants scurrying And we’re just hurrying Through the night A million ants scurrying to and fro Empty conversation wherever I go And I think, no-o-o This ain’t for me Do I know the secret to a happy life? Sure as hell don’t, but this don’t feel right Genuine hearts take genuine flight And I might stay the night, the night
10.
Gracefully she moves across the room, a flower in her hair, her feet are swift and bare, and when she's by my side, my words are loud and clear and I have nothing to fear in this life. Gracefully she moves across the room, necklace spinning 'round, she's singing sacred sound, and though she rarely speaks, her voice is soft and pure, like I've never heard before in this life. Gracefully she moves across the room, while I'm just hangin' 'round, like Babel falling down, but when she's by my side, my voice will always know what I'm feeling in my soul in this life.
11.
I went down to the crossroads and i saw a sign in the middle of the road one said southwest and one said south and I can go and see all my friends oh boy its the carnival we can all shout over all the bullshit spend all our cash to drive real fast down to texas and make lasting connections I got a showcase at 4 in the morning hotel lobby everyones snoring fast asleep in all their dreams while the unsigned folks who cant afford it complain about music and its gentrification taking over austin and the locals get displaced and cant afford the festival but enjoy the tourists fixation (slow) cause its the only time anyone ever cares about texas ignore all the more dillemas about laws they pass in texas wont tour here any time all year except for when the company lets us I reckon its time to go down south because the carnival bekons oh I went down to the crossroads again it didn't treat me so well last year but I met one kind of nice agent who said hed pass along my demo to his boss and this year I actually got a spot to sing my song in a legetimite venue I think I am going to kill it even if its only 15minutes but at least its 15 minutes of fame iv got nothing to lose and i have everything to gain except for my time and all of my savings and time I could be spending touring around playing my music to ten people to a time who will actually care about my life but thats ok cause Im ingrained with the bogus social contract that we have arranged (chorus)
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16.
Try as I might I can't sleep at night. And you got it, man; I can’t stay awake during the day. Try as I might. To think about all the good things in life when I get to sleep, can't stop the nightmares. They haunt me the next day. I've got a hillside in West Virginia waiting for me to lay my naked body in its grass. I've got a wagon in Oklahoma; at least that's what the Oregon Trail told me; though I never won that game. Try as I might; and I Try With All My Might; can't quiet down the noise; the noise in my head. So I try to write it down; try to get it out. Sometimes it works out ok. Those days I feel pretty great. Daydream bout a big slice of pie from Texas. Dream about the Pacific Northwest; its weather's supposed to be pretty grey. Maybe I could learn to love rain; rains here every other day. I'll buy a pair of rain boots and go outside some day
17.
18.
It's a juniper war From the summer before; Where the sun won't come 'round, it just drags you down Yeah, they take you away. Oh, it's a juniper war. It's the salt that we shake In the wounds that we make Like the love that we shared, that never was there When we got carried away. Oh, it's the dreams that we fake. It's the songs that we sing And your ears as they ring. And the lake bed that night, was so full of light As we were walking away Oh, it's the songs that we sing Oh, it's the songs that we sing. Oh it's a juniper war...
19.
20.
I’m in a tie at my desk I’ll be ready soon I’m in my going-out clothes in my bedroom Sittin’ in my brown leather chair from Staples Waiting for a second wind I’m in a hurry oh the night is closing in If I don’t leave pretty soon what will my life have been? 24 years sitting in square room waiting for my life to happen to me But tonight I don’t feel right Haven’t accomplished a single objective This isn’t how a person with real self-respect is I don’t know how to do anything Fun enough to convince me to not just sit here Call up a friend but they’ve gotta be somewhere Scroll through your contacts like the savior is in there You’ll let the sun set on a wasted day ‘Cause you can’t get it together but I’ve gotta say that Tonight I don’t feel right It’s getting’ late oh I’d better just stay in Maybe I could go to bed early awaken All refreshed and ready to go But there are only five episodes left of this online show Still gotta read 300 pages by Wednesday An essay and a unit plan due on the next day Not keeping to the schedule that I made but that’s okay Tomorrow I’ll work twice as hard as should have today
21.
It all started as a dream, my eyes wide and seeing reality return to my mind...to this cage of a room - or more like a tomb, and I'm the Pharaoh cut down in his prime. From the ceiling to the floor are possessions galore. All the precious items that define a previous time and a life left behind for solitude, a title, and wine. Left behind was a girl, with the will of a soldier, and plans both perfect and refined. I won over her heart, but as easy as it started, all ended at the drop of a dime. Not sure of my worth, and unable to confer on a timescale of years of her time why mending this bridge would allow her to live to the potential deserved of her kind. At the time I was convinced I had earned every inch of her heart, her soul, and her mind. Those assumptions would be, most definitely, the straw that broke her back.
22.
now i've moved, i've tipped my hat, i sang along. i moved out west, i hit the beach i was disarmed i try to sing i know my name, but not my place. i love my friends. and i could never be alone anyway. you can break my heart, can say goodbye, i understand. i love you still the sky got big. i lost my voice. there's no one here. the streets are bare. and i could never be alone anyway.
23.
And I stood out on your front porch tonight. The clouds were purple and gray in the moonlight. I talked out loud like you were still around and here is what I had to say: "I hope I'm doing this right. I want to live an honest life. I want to take your advice. I want to try and live a good life. But between an honest life and what I am: the sea." And Lily waved on her way to the hospital. I think she died later that night. So I'll sing this loud because you are not around to hear that which I have to say. "I hope I'm doing this right. I want to live an honest life. I want to take your advice. I want to do my family right. But between an honest life and what I am there is a sea."

about

This is a compilation of most of the artists who performed at Bane Voice during its first year of operation. What a year! I am so thankful for the friendship of all these wonderful people and I am grateful that they offered up their tunes for this release.

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released May 10, 2014

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The Michael Character Boston, Massachusetts

It's political music, whatever. Based in Boston, MA. Absolutely willing to drive very far to play for you and five of your vaguely alternative friends in your combination kitchen/laundry room. Hit me up. I'm fully serious.

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