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A Present

from Night Phlox by Starlings

/

lyrics

You are crawling
Away from the coal dust
Coughing up rowboats,
Saddles and roses

You can't cry, can't laugh 'cause your room is wired
You can't close your lids even when you're tired
You can't breathe 'cause the corset's laced too tight

But look, there's a jungle and a swing
That your best friend made from nails and string
And I made you a present
A library and a place to sing

They were watching.
They were instructed,
"I dare you, I dare you
to lay a finger."

He closed and she opened up too wide
And he ran the halls with the red inside
And you held your tongue so you could devise a divide

But look, there's a jungle and a swing
That your best friend made from nails and string
And I made you a present
A redwood tree and a perfect spring

Hospice attendant
Charging the bolus
"I'm not ready, I'm not ready!"
You were infected.

They pinned you in a body cast
Even though the tornado was coming fast
Pumped you with morphine so you wouldn't talk
But I'm not gonna be quiet, I'm gonna tell the whole block!

And while the siren's are blaring, I'll cut the wires
Unplug the drips that made you tired
Evacuate you and hold you tight

And you can't come down 'cause you can't calm down
But you caught that glimpse: we will be your ground.
We will be there when you can look again.

A nylon rug
A labored bed, and a loaded gun.
They made you unhappy, but now it's done
Oh, now it's done

So look, there's a jungle and a swing
That your best friend made from nails and string
And I made you a present
A library and a space to sing

So look, there's your family
And all your friends and your bunnies
And I made you a present,
A redwood tree and a perfect spring

And they made you unhappy,
Made you believe you couldn't breathe
But I made you a present:
I'll let it be a memory.

credits

from Night Phlox, released November 18, 2022

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Starlings Somerville, Massachusetts

Starlings are a three piece theatrical rock band. Former The Sinister Turns members Susan Putnins + Dan Thorn join with Benjamin Bakman to bring dynamics, quirk, heart and heaviness to their music.

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