Lyrics

Rebecca Schiffman (2016)
Nico
Walking to the Subway
Childhood Bedroom Claustrophobia
Laura
Tips for Conquering Fear of Flying
Time for Your Renaissance
Little Ronnie
Long Weekend
I’m Only You

To Be Good for a Day (2009)
I Have Really Loved You
Aaron
The Rabbit Habit
Untitled
Angelo
Nick’s Song
Lily
Song to You (D&D Song)
It Was You
Ages

Upside Down Lacrimosa (2003)
Total Recall
Penguins and Igloos
Warning to a Talented Violinist
The Long Ride Home
Fireflies
The Weight of Your Sleep
Burn Down the School
End of the Ghost
Happy Hunting
Beating Blue
Lullabye

Singles
Me and Katie on The U.E.S. (2007)
Passing Fantasy (lyrics coming soon)
Song for a Writer (2018)
Every Moment Lasts  Forever (2019)

REBECCA SCHIFFMAN (self-titled album)

Nico
I arrive at my borrowed home
So graciously afforded me for the month
Alone, I open the door to your old room

It’s been redone, the posters are gone
You let them change it when you went to school
I know, waited each week for your call

Down the long hallway
Through the air and the dim light
I hear your mom calling you

Nico, Nico
The minutes breathe your memory

Before I sleep I brush my teeth
Look out the window, 87th Street
The same one where we used to air out our smoke

What would you think if you saw me here
Asleep on the bed where you slept for years
Now, there’s nothing to do here but sleep and dream

Down the long hallway
Through the air and the dim light
I hear your mom calling you

Nico, Nico
The minutes breathe your memory
Nico, Nico
Run down the hall and find out what she needs

Walking to the Subway
coming soon.

Childhood Bedroom Claustrophobia
coming soon.

Laura
coming soon.

Tips for Conquering Fear of Flying
coming soon.

Time for Your Renaissance
coming soon.

Little Ronnie
coming soon.

Long Weekend
coming soon.

TO BE GOOD FOR A DAY

I Have Really Loved You

I have really loved you and I love you now, though things may seem slow,
Something in your shoulder and the angle of your mouth,
Though things may seem slow they are slow for us.
If you ask him he’ll say that he knows.  If you ask him he’ll tell you as he goes.
If you were to have a room inside where things worked all the time,
Was the summer only a dream last year?  It’s not always clear from here.
Do you really believe it’s not meant to be?  Do you really believe it’s not meant to be?
If you ask him he’ll say that he knows.  If you ask him he’ll tell you as he goes.

Aaron

This guy, the turns my head, all through the desks and chairs.  I know it’s all in my head but I can’t turn out this light upstairs.  If he only knew how I think about him… but maybe he does and doesn’t care.  I like it when he laughs a lot but I can never tell what it is he’s laughing at.  I think it might as well be me.  If he only knew that I dreamt about him… but maybe he does and doesn’t care.  Can I take a look at your good book, will you tell me what it means to you?  I get so mad when I think how the world thinks that we can’t be friends.  They’d say you’ve got too many and I’ve got too few convictions.  But now I’ve opened up my mind to what is wrong and right.  He’ll never bring it up and I can’t stand how he’s so quiet.  If he only knew that I think about him.

The Rabbit Habit

Ancient craft of Japan, a grin behind the lady’s fan, divine extension of the hand.  Ancient craft of Japan, divine extension of the hand, in grateful absence of a man.  Except for Javier ’cause then I want him there, I want him there, I want to share.  Other days you might see sometimes it is good to be alone and sometimes it is not good to be at all.  Lying here are Welbutrin, I cannot write with passion, but with a dim blue and happy glow, whoa whoa whoa whoa.  But we stayed up all night on Adderall, and watched some L&O, as any friend would know that is my favorite show, oh I love that godamn show.  And then we read erotic stories until we were no longer horny, until the morning found us asleep at last.  So my rabbit in a drawer, one day I’ll come back for more.

Untitled

It takes all you have to make peace with another,
Sometimes you wonder if it’s worth the bother.
Well, I tried, I tried, I tried in vain.
I could not find the meaning in our pain.
Didn’t you ask me once if my love was true.
Now I’m telling you the answer.
Take me on board and I’ll tell you my story,
Tell you all the wrongs for which I’m sorry.
But I know it’s all right at the end of the night,
If you’d rather be alone I won’t put up a fight.
Didn’t you ask me once if my love was true.
Now I’m telling you the answer.
Didn’t you ask me once if my love was true.
Now I’m telling you.

Angelo

Baby bird, I never thought I’d have so much to say.
Now you’ve heard I filled up a whole page, a whole page.
And I’m mad that you inspired a new song,
Cause it’s the first song in a long time, it’s the first song in a long time.
In a long, long time.
And it’s an honor, some people’d say that it’s a real honor.
And you’ve already got too many bullshit honors, honors.
Oh, Angelo, I know you’re just trying to do the right things,
But what you can’t possibly see is that people find it hard to do right by me.
On your bed I felt your balding baby bird head,
While you were telling me about her, about her.
You showed me her videos and I had to admit that she could be a genius,
Even though it pained me to say so, it pained me.
But I thought that it was cool that you and I could play by our own rules.
I was just trying my best to do right by our arrangement, arrangement.
Oh, Angelo, I know you’re just trying to do the right things,
But honesty is my vice.
That’s how I make it hard for people to be nice.
When I passed by you two tonight, oh boy, was I surprised.
And I was mad, you could have said that you wanted to see her instead, her instead.
Now I’m trying to play it cool, see how long I can go without talking to you.
Sure I could change the name, but it already goes with the flow.
With the flow.
Oh, Angelo, I know you just want to do the right things.
But you can’t win in our game.
There’s always going to be a choice to make.

Nick’s Song

He walked in the room, like an angel he stood, cause he died a long time ago.
Now I know that he’s gone but I still hold on to words we used to know.
Words we used to know.
Well, his ghost gave the most eloquent toast on occasion of the rain.
I could taste every word, the meanings I heard sounded of quiet pain.
They sounded of quiet pain.
It’s hard to believe there’s something to grieve when life was so good to him.
But he paved the way and it makes me less afraid to go where he has been.
To go where he has been.
To talk in a dream, to know what I mean no matter what I say.
Now I can see that even as I sleep I am still awake. Yes, I am still awake.
It’s hard to believe there’s something to grieve when life was so good to him.
But he paved the way and it makes me less afraid to go where he has been.
To go where he has been. To go where he has been. To go where he has been.

Lily

Lily, if you’re listening, I’ve got a lifetime of things to tell you.
Lily, I want your advice on so many things in life.
You were all that is romantic and real.
I still want to feel what it was to know you, because knowing you is living.
Lily, every word you said is hidden somewhere in my head.
Every moment was an unexpected stroke of luck.
You were all that is romantic and real.
I still want to feel what it was to know you, because knowing you is living.
Boots that fit in a van on a far away trip to your northwestern ranch.
Your T-shirt’s so see-through, you had it since long before I knew you.
I knew you.
Lily, could you be here now? Would you if you could?
You were all that is romantic and real.
I still want to feel what it was to know you, because knowing you is living.

Song to You (D&D Song)

A thirteen mile-wide river, it’s water cold and deep.
Through its fighting currents we can barely see.
You on the other shore, raise your arm so I can see.
You on the other shore, I call out to thee.
Once we hid in bushes, shooting arrows out,
Rolling dice to save our lives, reaching for your hand.
You on the other shore, raise your arm so I can see.
You on the other shore, I call out to thee.
A thirteen mile-wide river, alive and filled with fear,
O’er the sound of its whining stones, we can hardly hear.
You on the other shore, raise your arm so I can see.
You on the other shore, I call out to thee.
I cast my spell, a lightning flash, blinding all the orc-ies.
I couldn’t put a spell on you to blind you from your worries.
You on the other shore, raise your arm so I can see.
You on the other shore, I call out to thee.
A thirteen mile-wide river, it’s body full of tears,
Though we may not ever cross at times you seem so near.
And you on the other shore, raise your arm so I can see.
You on the other shore, I call out to thee.
You on the other shore, I call out to thee.

It Was You
It was you I was thinking of when the rain poured down.
It was you I was thinking of when the house blew down.
And it feels unreal to let you go.
It was you I was thinking of when I left town.
It was you I was thinking of when I turned around.
And it feels unreal to let you go.
I don’t know how to be, without you I can’t be me.
And I don’t know how to see the future happily.
It was still light outside when you said you had lied,
And I knew we were through, but I still loved you.

Ages
Sitting by the window, awake for the very last time,
And I, I won’t see the sun again for ages, ages.
Sing me the ballad written for you,
And I, I won’t hear your voice again for ages, ages.
Walk around the streets we knew.
All I see is you-ooooooooo.
If you’d all come out tonight, I will sing my final song for you.

UPSIDE DOWN LACRIMOSA

Total Recall
We might not fall. We could be here for a while. Trapped forever in pictures of the moon.
How can we tell if we even left at all? When did we find pictures of the moon? And we’ll be there soon.
Real emotions remind me of the movies. And real people remind me of photographs.
The horrific scar just above the hairline, the only unsigned card with the gift- pictures of the moon.
And we’ll be back soon, if not in our minds.
Real emotions remind me of the movies. And real people remind me of photographs.

Penguins and Igloos
Lazy Katie’s complaining about the heat and flies. Can you make it be raining when she opens her eyes?
Now the whole place is empty. Inspect what’s left behind. You pocket what you find.
When it’s too hot she draws pictures of penguins and igloos. Sometimes the evil sun melts those too. Sometimes mother nature is trying to kill you.
Take an extra flyer to write your rescue note. Thought you’d only come so far with what you’ve always known. And you can think of anything to say after a while but inside you’re still all smiles.
When it’s too hot she draws pictures of penguins and igloos. Sometimes the evil sun melts those too. Sometimes mother nature is trying to kill you.

Warning to a Talented Violinist
I was playing cello in a fancy drawing room.
The lines of sound were long and thin, you’d have hated it.
But you never had your way, except the way you play.
Beware of doors and knives, their actions won’t be healed by time.
The sadddest man I met will not believe this gentle threat.
When you showed me all around your boring German town the lights were diamonds in the rain that made us walk to fast.
Will you comfort me all night? My ride is almost here.
Beware of doors and knives, their actions won’t be healed by time.
The sadddest man I met will not believe this gentle threat.
Your hands move too fast for time. Your hands slipped too fast through mine.
On my nation-series globe you’re inches away like when we walked down Berlin roads in the rain.
Beware of doors and knives, their actions won’t be healed by time.
The sadddest man I met will not believe this gentle threat.

The Long Ride Home
In the car we prove each other wrong. In the car it’s no one’s fault at all.
Thinking about the nights ahead, all of the things I still won’t have said.
In the car only twice a year, we know there are some problems here.
Turn up the static to drown out the sound of the NPR broadcast that brings us down.
At night, we string around the mountain like x-mas lights.
If I die will you hold my body wondering what’s gone inside.
‘Cause the driver seems a little nervous, but I know that he would never hurt us.
In the car it’s hard to fall asleep. Now it seems it’s only me, leaning against the windows, counting the exits ’til we get home.
At night, we string around the mountain like x-mas lights.
If I die will you hold my body wondering what’s gone inside.
‘Cause the driver seems a little nervous but I know that he has never hurt us so far.
If there was a song that we all knew in the car…

Fireflies
Everywhere you go, stand in place, it is too slow. Thinking of nothing but a summertime scandal that left you alone. Think you might find a home outside security. If you could leave now the ones you know are taken.
Fireflies that light away your fear, wait and hope they reappear.
The people you meet away from your estates won’t wait for you to finish school.
So why stay, afraid of losing all the friends you made through institutions, you failed in their eyes.
Fireflies that light away your fear, wait and hope they reappear.
Everywhere you go, stand in place, it is too slow. We try to follow but we get lost inside.

The Weight of Your Sleep
This bed hardly holds the weight of your sleep. And I’d disturb the balance on your time. To keep you spinning out all you see, so conscious and unconsciously. Forget all doubts about company, until you leave me for uncertain dreams. Look up from your shoes to make the passing call. And once again you’ve outsmarted them all. But keep inside your head. Your phantom replicas will see you when they want. And intuition’s on time, until it loses to your heavy eyes.

Burn Down the School
The night was noisy with confused intentions. What you said and what you meant to say both glide for a while, fall to the floor before they reach our ears.
Saw you waiting for anybody else. You think yourself into a hole but outside it’s warm enough to fall in love.
Our advice will fix your life but there’s no room or time to not know what to say, you’ll have to wake up soon.
Ah-ah- If you’re a dream then I’m a liar
Ah-ah- With you I’d set this school on fire anyday
Anything is meaningless with you
The floor falls out along with my regrets. You smile as the fire grows higher and higher, reflected in your eyes.
Our advice will fix your life but there’s no room or time to not know what to say, you’ll have to wake up soon.
Ah-ah- We could stay awake forever.
Ah-ah- We could burn down this school together anyday.
Ah-ah- We’ll load a van with guns and ammo.
Ah-ah- A kamakaze’s gold tomorrow.
Ah-ah- But you were never on my side.
Ah-ah- I’ll be the last one out alive.

The End of the Ghost
Here we go, end of a ghost, who might be needed still.
I still work. I still sleep. A simple clock to keep.
We knew know words the same. The end was always here.
Time to say “goodbye.”

Happy Hunting
Climbing from it’s depth of rest, an ancient gesture beats beneath our basements.
When you see the orange shape will you keep quiet or call your therapist?
Behind our eyes, a bitter smile, for happy hunting, a microwave.
You won’t dream of things you’ve never seen. Waiting so long to hear you say, “How difficult to maintain your space when a rent-a-fridge company knows where you live?”
Behind our eyes, a bitter smile, now I’m happy hunting in my kitchenette.
The future stands still, but we move infinitely in space and time, we multiply our decline.

Beating Blue
Beating blue with you Friday afternoon. The lot was dark and you looked right with it. I never meant to hurt you. You never seemed to care.
I didn’t think so but then you say to me, “I believe in a Saturday that gives you who you are.”
Turning pink with you under the sky. It’s enough to do without making noise.
I never meant to hurt you. You never seemed to care.
I didn’t think so but then you say to me, “I believe in a Saturday that gives you who you are.”
Turning pink with you. Turning pink with you.
I believe in a Saturday that gives you back to me.

Lullabye
Don’t be afraid of the distance you’ve made.
The sea will sing you to sleep.
If you should slip under I’ll tend to your grave.
Tangles in Upsella Reef.
Now every day I row out to sea and dive under Upsella Reef.
Coral and seaflowers, sand dollar stars, laid out in your memory.

SINGLES

Me and Katie on The U.E.S.
We were the first to be allowed to walk to school alone,
Holding down the backs of our skirts for fear that they’d be blown.
I heard it caused quite a stir at the P.T.A. meeting,
But there was no going back after tasting those three blocks of freedom.
When we were eight years old I went to your baptism.
I don’t remember being curious about your religion.
You were a ballerina, I was a gymnast.
I didn’t have a party anyway for my Bat-Mitzvah.
Me and Katie on the U.E.S., keeping each other’s beliefs in check.
I was always such a mess, you taught me how to dress, but I still don’t hang up my clothes at night.
In high school I smoked and died my hair, I thought I was so cool.
I thought you were a square, you must have thought me a fool.
I don’t even know if I knew what you were up to in those years,
but somehow we stayed in touch, just enough to make it back here.
Me and Katie on the U.E.S., keeping each other’s beliefs in check.
I was always such a mess, you taught me how to dress, but I still don’t hang up my clothes at night.
Walking up Madison, looking in windows just for fun. Listing the things we need to do and what we will become.

Song for a Writer
It’s not what you say, it’s the way you live.
You’re a spectacle for everyone else.
You never see the art that you give.
You’re divided against yourself.
What are you using this life for?
Stumbling away from your past, passing your prime,
But you’ve still got time to become so much more than just getting by.
I didn’t even want to save you,
Just to be there for your fall.
It’s only you who can change you,
But you’ll never try, that’s why you’re so tragic.
What are you using this life for?
Stumbling away from your past, passing your prime,
But you’ve still got time to become so much more than just getting by.
And there’ll have to be some kind of confrontation from within,
When will you begin?

Every Moment Lasts Forever
Andi, there’s nothing I can say.
The pain it never goes away.
It gets different, makes you different.
You can go back, you can go back, just maybe you can.
Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever.
Seeing you in your robe, in your lobby on the floor.
Watching like an opera, we were locked outside inside your trauma.
That scene still plays in me.
Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever.
Find a place to be alone, skip around on days like stones.
You can let a moment haunt you or you can haunt it yourself.
Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever. Every moment lasts forever.

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