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Details and Tenses

by Stephen Liu

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1.
Wintersong 03:52
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Breaking out into a thousand pieces Frozen back into the ice Bleeding into every corner and crease Hanging on to every vice Breath like the mist, forming clouds in the sky Daggers being thrown by the wind Sensations lacking this instance of time Dealt a notice to recind And the winter's gone by Without a trace A touch, a taste, a tease And yet it's not quite spring The leaves erase A feel, a feint, a freeze Patches of white covering swatches of brown Blending right into the grey Slipping and sliding from smiles to frowns Each and every single day And the winter's gone by Without a trace A touch, a taste, a tease And yet it's not quite spring The leaves erase A feel, a feint, a freeze And I'm slowly drifting down As I fade into the ground And the winter's gone by Within a blink A speck, a sip, a smidge And yet it's not quite spring We're at the brink An end, an eve, an edge
2.
California 04:11
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The sunrise over Mission Peak Illuminates the bay A cup of coffee and the view Sets the tone for the day The traffic ain't always the best I swear paint dries faster Fernando and Greg in the Morn' Sure helps makes things better I wanna feel the sand between my toes I wanna feel the sunlight on my nose California's where my dreams are at It's where my imagination is set I wanna feel the breeze run through my hair I wanna feel the salty ocean air California's all that's on my mind Can't believe I once left it behind Acres of crops along the 5 Blend to the background blur Even if your windows are up Can't escape the odor The steep terrain under 80 Along the eastward quest It tries to entrap, remind you The west coast is the best I wanna feel the sand between my toes I wanna feel the sunlight on my nose California's where my dreams are at It's where my imagination is set I wanna feel the breeze run through my hair I wanna feel the salty ocean air California's all that's on my mind Can't believe I once left it behind The San Francisco fog Diffuses the light The Los Angeles smog Makes my lungs feel tight The San Diego bay So Instagrammable No matter what they say California is my home I wanna feel the sand between my toes I wanna feel the sunlight on my nose California's where my dreams are at It's where my imagination is set I wanna feel the breeze run through my hair I wanna feel the salty ocean air California's all that's on my mind Can't believe I once left it behind
3.
Bacteria 01:58
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A picture tells a thousand words Your poop a thousand more Places you've been, foods you've consumed If you're been with a whore So scope out the entire house Swab all of the counters Then you can find who really is The cookie jar caper Bacteria Bacteria Reveals so much about our lives Bacteria Bacteria It isn't fate It's bacteria Move over, Nestlé, it's over Too pure for your own good To boost your kid's immune systems Give momma's natural food If you're anxious, if you're depressed Even if you're obese There's a chance your microbes could be The cause of your disease Bacteria Bacteria Controls so much about our lives Bacteria Bacteria It isn't God It's bacteria We're talking correlation Not quite yet at causation So please put down that Purell And please let us take a look at each of your single cells Bacteria Bacteria So integral to our lives Bacteria Bacteria Long live almighty Bacteria
4.
Just a Big Mistake 04:10
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In my sight all I see is your face You've gone and left a permanent trace In my mind Now I'm blind There is no alcohol strong enough No eraser sufficiently tough For the job I feel robbed Well, I know that there is nothing left for me Not even a single puzzle piece There is nothing to do but let it be Leave me be So was it really just a big mistake (What did I do wrong) (Where did it go wrong) So is it far too late to make a break (What was I supposed to do) (How should I know what to do) Was this really the best conclusion I feel like I have a concussion In my head I see red Navigating nuances and words Trying to see all the signs in the birds Their patterns I'm battered Well, I know that there is nothing left for me Not even a single memory There is nothing to do but let me be Set me free So was it really just a big mistake (What did I do wrong) (Where did it go wrong) So is it far too late to make a break (What was I supposed to do) (How should I know what to do) So was it really just a big mistake (What did I do wrong) (Where did it go wrong) So is it far too late to make a break (What was I supposed to do) (How should I know what to do)
5.
All Night 03:52
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Are we the ones that are crazy Or maybe everybody else is just lazy Why do we do the things we do Was I always like this? Is it because of you? You're keeping me up all night Awake until the daylight You're never leaving my sight I never thought I'd make a move I was told that whoever blinked first would lose But you are too hard to ignore When you look at me with those eyes I adore You're keeping me up all night Awake until the daylight You're never leaving my sight You know I'd never abandon you I'll be here when you open your eyes too Inside this room, it's only you and I From now until the perceived end of time You're keeping me up all night Awake until the daylight You're never leaving my sight You're never leaving my sight
6.
Paint the World 04:16
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One vision and a thousand eyes One billion shades of the same skies Well, I'll see the world as I want to see it I would tell you but it's my little secret The beauty of it all is, you see We do not even have to agree I'll paint the world what I want The splendor of it all is, you know You're only limited by your soul We only get what we got Illuminescence in the night Counters the demons of your fright Well, I'll be the man I think I ought to be Something to be discovered, defined by me The beauty of it all is, you see We do not even have to agree I'll paint the world what I want The splendor of it all is, you know You're only limited by your soul We only get what we got So open up your mind And see the world inside There is no need to hide Just take it all in stride (So take the seven basic shades) (Spread them across every day) (Just look up, don't look down) (Even when you feel like you're only spinning around) (So take a picture in your mind) (Pin it to your thoughts behind) (Take a minute, take a pause) (Think of what it takes for you to give out your applause) The beauty of it all is, you see We do not even have to agree I'll paint the world what I want The splendor of it all is, you know You're only limited by your soul We only get what we got I'll paint the world I'll paint the world
7.
Molehills 03:33
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I don't know how we ended up here I don't get why you can't lend an ear I will find the secret in the truth I will hit the poison in your tooth If you disappeared Would you reappear I am making mountains of molehills Trust me it is one of my best skills Until it all is clear I found out the reason why we lie I found why we always have to try Now I see the true blast radius Now I can't fake being oblivious If you disappeared Would you reappear I am making mountains of molehills Trust me it is one of my best skills Until it all is clear If I went away Would I have to pay Can't keep my head over the water Trust me it can only get harder Until I end the day
8.
Bossman 02:13
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Your hair was more than ninety percent black Always with the scent of ammonium Your wardrobe colors were likewise in lack Bright neon colors break the momentum So you were once a scene kid Trying to be seen, kid This ain't Halloween, kid You're more than a teen, kid You're formerly a scene kid Gotta be obscene, kid Defeat the machine, kid And be part of the scene, kid You've found a new use for your skinny jeans And traded your Vans for Clark Desert Boots Found faith in new alternative proteins All of your gadgets are adorned with fruits So now you're just a hipster Not a mainstream chip, sir All aboard the ship, sir Ain't it just a trip, sir You've become a hipster Not wielding the whip, sir Nothing you would skip, sir Or you wouldn't be hip, sir Just following trends And copying friends Just playing pretend Until the end And soon you'll be the boss man Everything you tossed, man Not one to be crossed, man Always gotta floss, man Once you are the boss man Gotta get that gloss, man Speedy as a moss, man Once you've become the boss man
9.
Friday Night 04:10
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Streetlights hanging in the February fog Barely reaching distances not far along Running trying to catch the disappearing light Counting down until the night overtakes my sight I'm dancing all night, dancing by myself in the dark (I'm feeling the groove, I'm feeling the groove) Everything's all right, it's not like I'm out in the park (Can you see my moves, can you see my moves) It's Friday night, and I don't care Chill at home in my underwear Only need ice cream and movies Spending quality time with me And myself Got a ton of episodes of shows to watch (I care more about my Hulu queue than my email) And the cat sat a bit too close to my crotch (It better not scratch or Imma grab it by its tail) I braved a forty-five minute commute for this (I'm pretty that we were packed tighter than sardines) Looking forwards to eighty-four hours of bliss (Shedding fur aside, it's nice that I can finally breathe) I'm dancing all night, dancing by myself in the dark (I'm feeling the groove, I'm feeling the groove) Everything's all right, it's not like I'm out in the park (Can you see my moves, can you see my moves) It's Friday night, and I don't care Chill at home in my underwear Only need ice cream and movies Spending quality time with me And myself I'm dancing all night, dancing by myself in the dark (I'm feeling the groove, I'm feeling the groove) Everything's all right, it's not like I'm out in the park (Can you see my moves, can you see my moves) It's Friday night, and I don't care Chill at home in my underwear Only need ice cream and movies Spending quality time with me And myself With myself Don't you dare judge me, that's so cold You'd the same thing if you could
10.
Feeling Lucky 04:07
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Get in the car, we've got places to go Wherever that is, no one needs to know I'm feeling lucky, I'm gonna take a chance And before you know it, we'll be in a trance Because lately I've seen visions of paradise It's been filling me with longing once or twice Well, baby, come on and get with the program Suit up, we'll go off to space in my Trans Am I can feel it in the ground Standing at the edge of sound Calm down or I'm gonna turn this car around I can feel it in the air Reflecting off the sun's glare Shining off each one of my pieces of flair I've got an itch, it's burning up my feet I can't just stay here jamming on repeat I've heard stories about being among the stars And I want to be up where the legends are Seeing the cosmos up and intimate So close I feel its every element Don't pull on my strings, you'll yank me from my high You gotta kick back and let the moment thrive I can feel it in the ground Standing at the edge of sound Calm down or I'm gonna turn this car around I can feel it in the air Reflecting off the sun's glare Shining off each one of my pieces of flair So come on and grab the controls It's time to do some barrel rolls The last thing we need to complete Is to never to admit defeat I can feel it in the ground Standing at the edge of sound Calm down or I'm gonna turn this car around I can feel it in the air Reflecting off the sun's glare Shining off each one of my pieces of flair I can feel it in the sea Splashing all along my knees Hurry up before we lose our chance to flee
11.
Into the Blue 04:21
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I have so much more to say on the tip of my tongue But I don't have the nerves to yell it out of my lungs My thoughts they betray me Like all things eventually But it's never too late as long as you feel you're young So how do you know When do you go Into the snow Well I really, really, really want to run away But I really, really, really, really got to stay But I really, really, really, need to catch a break (I got to, got to go) (I got to, got to go) Well I really, really, really need to go today Because I'm really, really, really, really caught in the fray And I really, really, really have to find my way I have lost the map, I've lost all of my senses I've lost track of all that's happened, details and tenses My eyes they mislead me Like all things inevitably Well, I'd have no limits if I ignored consequences So how do you do When is it through Into the blue Well I really, really, really want to run away But I really, really, really, really got to stay But I really, really, really, need to catch a break (I got to, got to go) (I got to, got to go) Well I really, really, really need to go today Because I'm really, really, really, really caught in the fray And I really, really, really have to find my way And there's no way I'm stopping now There's no need, I don't know how There's the light, I'll chase it until it's down And there's no way I've gone insane There's no need to fake the gain Certain as the seas will wax and wane Well I really, really, really want to run away But I really, really, really, really got to stay But I really, really, really, need to catch a break (I got to, got to go) (I got to, got to go) Well I really, really, really need to go today Because I'm really, really, really, really caught in the fray And I really, really, really, really have to find my way And there's no way I'm stopping now There's no need, I don't know how There's the light, I'll chase it until it's down
12.
Adrift 03:49
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Well, I can see the light Well, I can see the end Well, I can see the world We're all playing pretend Like we know what's going on Blissfully singing along Well, I'm not sure Anymore What does it mean to be adrift In my thoughts? What does it mean to be afloat In my head? What does it mean when everything has changed But I'm standing here still the same What does it mean to me by now I don't know Well, I can see the pen Well, I can see the lines Well, I can see the ink Undulating like sines Forming puzzles, forming shapes Piecning together the flakes Well, I'm confused Feeling bruised What does it mean to be adrift In my thoughts? What does it mean to be afloat In my head? What does it mean when everything has changed But I'm standing here still the same What does it mean to me by now I don't know I've moved on from who I was I've lost sight of where I've gone I've forgotten where I'm going with this What does it mean to be adrift In my thoughts? What does it mean to be afloat In my head? What does it mean when everything has changed But I'm standing here still the same What does it mean to me by now I don't know
13.
Follow the Stamps 04:06
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Where have I gone Where have I been Follow the stamps Into the bin Travel the world Indulge in sin Flying through space Flying through stars Go with the wind To places far Never look back Cherish your scars Never thought that I would ever admit this Now that I've made it two thousand miles away Would I want to go back or would I want to stay I don't know what to do I don't know where to go What do you want What do you say When everything Changes away 'Twas here prior It's gone today Pack up my car Pack up my bags Box up my life Box up the rags Seal everything So nothing drags Never thought my adventure could end like this Now that I've made it two thousand miles away Would I want to go back or would I want to stay I don't know what to do I don't know where to go Now that I've broken free of the bubble now Could I go back in, could I survive some how I don't know what to do I don't know where to go And now that I've made it two thousand miles away Would I want to go back or would I want to stay I don't know what to do I don't know where to go Now that I've broken free of the bubble now Could I go back in, could I survive some how I don't know what to do I don't know where to go
14.
Never Enough 03:21
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So time flies by in your formative years Bypassing your fears Developing tears All of the legends and mythologies Ideologies In anthologies They're central to my soul And they're all that I know So grab on tight We're going high tonight I got an itch and I can't wait no more This world is moving just a bit to slow No matter how rough It's never enough This stagnation slowly withers my heart It's breaking in parts Evolving like art Accelerating through the folds of time I'll forward my mind Past reason and rhyme And out to the unknown I'll piece myself back whole So hold on tight We'll get the high tonight I got an itch and I can't wait no more This world is moving just a bit to slow No matter how rough It's never enough I got a scratch and I can't take no more This air is struggling against the flow No matter how tough It's never enough For me For you You know It's true I got an itch and I can't wait no more This world is moving just a bit to slow No matter how rough It's never enough I got a scratch and I can't take no more This air is struggling against the flow No matter how tough It's never enough

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An album written for FAWM 2016.

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released March 1, 2016

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Stephen Liu

Stephen Liu is an Honorable Mention-winning singer-songwriter from the San Francisco Bay Area, pairing together the results of eight years of childhood piano lessons with thoughtful lyrics crafted from leftover adolescent angst.

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