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Wild Ride

by Stephen Liu

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1.
Coast to Coast 03:32
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Well I went two thousand miles away And I came two thousand miles back While I've been around from coast to coast There's many sights that I still lack I've cruised through the fields of Iowa Highways flanked on both sides with tall maize As the sun set in the rearview mirror There's nothing that could not amaze The one thing that I know Is that I'm always home As long as I have got my heart I'll make it right back at the start Weaving around the peaks of the Rockies From the backwards-facing dining car I was teetering along the edge It felt like I'd be falling far Looking down from cruising altitude With a cloud here or two for cover The expanse of Nevada desert It seemed to go on forever The one thing that I know Is that I'm not alone As long as I have got my friends I've got company until the end And though I've barely been across this hemisphere I've got my sights trained on the whole world in front of me out there The one thing that I know Is that I'm free to roam As long as I've got family I've got the support that I need The one thing that I know Is that I'm always home As long as I have got my heart I'll make it right back at the start
2.
Out to the Bay 04:12
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Ten miles out into marsh The tall grass sets the scene Still waters define the path There's no more trees Billowing around your back Captured in your jacket The breeze is all our company There's no racket And though we have come far I somehow have five bars In a place we could never reach by car And out to the bay and through to the sea I'm going as far as the eyes can see Penny for your thoughts, and a dime for mine What's even the point when we've got no time When I think about the past When I can catch my breath I couldn't and I wouldn't change For worst, for best Every opportunity That cobbles my future The haphazardry is not a bug It's a feature And though we have come far I still can't find a bar Just a place we could rest to see the stars And out to the bay and through to the sea I'm going as far as the eyes can see Penny for your thoughts, and a dime for mine There's no guarantee of reason or rhyme I'm going into the horizon Evaporating to ions I'm waiting until the sun flickers back on I'm peering into the water And trying hard not to falter I'm waiting, waiting for the sun to flicker And out to the bay and through to the sea I'm going as far as the eyes can see Penny for your thoughts, and a dime for mine What's even the point when we've got no time And out to the bay and through to the sea I'll do as I want, I'll do as I please Penny for your thoughts, and a dime for mine It's it about the worth, it is about the size
3.
Perspective 03:59
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And all the things you hear on the radio Just like the sounds we all heard so long ago And all the magic radiating around us Brings joy and calm to all of the panic and fuss I can feel it coming I can feel it here I can feel it permeating Everywhere So sing the thing you've got on the tip of your tongue So loud the heavens can hear the sounds from your lungs If you don't let the silence numb and deafen you Your heart and mind will be washed in perspectives new I can feel it coming I can feel here I can feel it permeating Everywhere Can you feel coming Can you feel it here Can you feel it permeating Everywhere And I believe in you And the things you could do Will you believe in me So I can help you see I can feel it coming I can feel here I can feel it permeating Everywhere Can you feel coming Can you feel it here Can you feel it permeating Everywhere Is it really coming Is it really here Is it really permeating Everywhere
4.
Fences 04:15
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Don't you see what you have done To yourself and to the world Now, boys and girls Follow every laser sight As it traces down the line To microns fine Don't you know that we all see the world The way that we want it to be So just pick up the pieces Pick apart all the fences Any storm we can weather We are neighbors together I think we've lost ourselves I think that we've lost our way Grab a hold of my hand Before everything dissolves away Don't you know we share the earth Every inch and every square From here to there With every breath we take Standing under the same sky Skewed eye from eye Don't you know that we all see the light How we imagine it to be So just pick up the pieces Pick apart all the fences Any storm we can weather We are neighbors together I think we've lost ourselves I think that we've lost our way Grab a hold of my hand Before everything dissolves away And do you see the mask Talking to yourself From deep inside the flask Mirroring the shelves Where we're all standing still Trophies in your eyes Muted in voice and will Trying to break the ice So just pick up the pieces Pick apart all the fences Any storm we can weather We are neighbors together I think we've lost ourselves I think that we've lost our way Grab a hold of my hand Before everything dissolves away
5.
Spinning Around 03:56
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I don't think I have seen quite enough Not even sure what it means to love Well, I'm sure I'll find my way Sometimes it gets a bit hard to breathe And when it happens, it's hard to see Well, I'm sure I'm fine today So if I reach out to grab the sun Does that mean the night will come undone As every star fades and falls down one by one I am spinning around Just trying to get my feet on the ground I just can't help it, I'm trapped in the sound I am just passing by Just trying to catch a glimpse of the sky I just can't reach it, it's too far up high I've always wanted to see the earth Just for an idea of what I'm worth Well, I'm sure I'll find the clues So what does it mean to be complete To have a throne you could call your seat Well, I'm sure I can deduce So if I reach out to grab the moon Does that mean the day will soon consume Everything keeping the universe in tune I am spinning around Just trying to get my feet on the ground I just can't help it, I'm trapped in the sound I am just passing by Just trying to catch a glimpse of the sky I just can't reach it, it's too far up high And so I'm stuck here in pursuit Just chasing the idea of you If I ever knew what to do Would I have the courage to shoot Or would it all be moot As I'm spinning around Just trying to get my feet on the ground I just can't help it, I'm trapped in the sound I am just passing by Just trying to catch a glimpse of the sky I just can't reach it, it's too far up high
6.
Dime a Dozen 04:11
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It's five in the morning out here I couldn't sleep so well last night I think I'm paralyzed with fear It might be of the dark, it might be of the light I took a walk along the creek It's risen a lot since the rain Just a bit more time until it leaks It's metaphoric of my pressure and my pain And across the seven seas Through the folds of space and time Out of a dozen, I am a dime In the layers of the sky Above every ridge and ditch In this vast ocean, I'm but a fish I stood in wait at the station Waiting for my train to arrive I really need a vacation To get the blood flowing so I can feel alive And across the seven seas Through the folds of space and time Out of a dozen, I am a dime In the layers of the sky Above every ridge and ditch In this vast ocean, I'm but a fish And when I cover up my eyes Retreat to the silence inside I'm running free within my mind Even when I am just a trainwreck outside And across the seven seas Through the folds of space and time Out of a dozen, I am a dime In the layers of the sky Above every ridge and ditch In this vast ocean, I'm but a fish And for every star, I'll make a wish
7.
Unsteady 03:54
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So hold me now, I'm unsteady I've had one too much I'm feeling the rush All the lights and the motion Blend into a blur Like it never were Before, I thought I was ready I could take the world It had all unfurled All the mountains and oceans Just lying around Waiting to be found In my mind It didn't play out quite this way Lost in time And within all the words I couldn't say So pull me down And push me in Let me hold on to you for another day So come around And take a swim Let me hold this thought until it goes away So watch me now, I feel pretty I've gone in too deep Took too far a leap Buried high in emotion Got my blood racing Got my mind pacing After I'm lost in the city Tracing every light Caught within my sights Will I last the explosions Bubbling inside As I try to hide In my mind It didn't play out quite this way Lost in time And within all the words I shouldn't say So pull me down And push me in Let me hold on to you for another day So come around And take a swim Let me hold this feeling 'till it goes away And I've got all these words that I have to say So pull me down And push me in Let me hold on to you for another day So come around And take a swim Let me hold this moment 'till it goes away
8.
From a Distance 04:03
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You looked so perfect from a distance Just like a porcelain vase Shining in the night And when you look up towards the heavens And you wish upon a star Just to feel a bit more human Than you now already are And when you're falling down Will you make a sound Will you make it known To the world around And when you're out of sync Trying to find your peace Trying to find the link To get your release Will you be okay Everything's perfect for a moment To take a breath and erase All that's on your mind And when you look to the horizon And you trace along the lines Just to find a bit of distance Between truth and all the lies And when you're falling down Will you make a sound Will you make it known To the world around And when you're out of sync Trying to find your peace Trying to find the link To get your release Will you go today The wind, it pushes you Farther than you ever thought you'd go But don't let it take you away And when you're falling down Will you make a sound Will you make it known To the world around And when you're out of sync Trying to find your peace Trying to find the link To get your release Will you find your way You looked so perfect from a distance
9.
If I Tried Harder 03:50
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Where did I think I'd be by now I don't think I thought that far somehow And look at where that has taken me I traveled the world and saw the skies But all of the memories feel like lies I don't even know what to believe What did I think I'd be by now Everyone's got their dreams and vows Everyone's got their path to take I crossed state lines trying to find my soul But only to wind up digging holes And falling deeper in to the quake If I start to think about the past Maybe I should just let it rest But if ran faster, could I catch you If I screamed louder, could I reach you If I tried harder, could I be you Who did I think I'd be by now After my childhood took a bow With nothing to take its place inside I wanted to try to find my peak But ended up only feeling weak With eroded emotions and pride If I start to dwell upon what's passed Maybe I should just let it rest But if ran faster, could I catch you If I screamed louder, could I reach you If I tried harder, could I be you If I climbed higher, could I see you If I dreamed bigger, could I find you If I tried harder, could I be you Is it ever too late Or am I bound by fate Why can't it all just wait 'Cause if I ran faster, could I catch you If I screamed louder, could I reach you If I tried harder, could I be you If I dove deeper, could I touch you If I stretched wider, could I embrace you If I tried harder, could I be you But what if I don't even know you
10.
Speeding Along 04:22
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The empire falling apart So it can have a fresh start The map that takes you nowhere Is going to take you out there The bomb falling from the sky It could somehow help us fly In this land once roamed by man Across the plains we once ran And you can't stop it anyway And you can't stop it anyhow There's no point in trying As we're speeding along The disappearing riches Re-manifest as ashes Civilization in rise Won't always meet its demise And you can't stop it anyway And you can't stop it anyhow There's no point in trying As we're speeding along And you can't stall it anyway And you can't stall it anyhow We're lost in translation As we're speeding along What goes up Must come down From a smile To a frown Start at float End at drown All the cool kids are doing it So why aren't you doing it? And you can't stop it anyway And you can't stop it anyhow There's no point in trying As we're speeding along And you can't stall it anyway And you can't stall it anyhow We're lost in translation As we're speeding along There's no point in trying As we're speeding along We're lost in translation As we're speeding along
11.
Wild Ride 04:12
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It's a wild ride And I don't know If I want out Or if I want to go The sea's to my left The sun's to my right Do I stay on the path Or follow the light I've had enough Or so I'd say Of this roller coaster ride Thought I was tough I'd be okay Thought I could ride out this tide I'm in my rut And out of luck It's a wild ride And I've lost the map All sense of direction And all of my tracks My toes in the sand My mind in the sky Lost in all dimensions And I don't know why I've had enough Or so I'd say Of this roller coaster ride Thought I was tough I'd be okay Thought I could ride out this tide I'm in my rut And out of luck And I'd run, run, run Until I catch the sun And I'll rush, rush, rush Until I lose my breath I've had enough Or so I'd say Of this roller coaster ride Thought I was tough I'd be okay Thought I could ride out this tide I'm in my rut And out of luck I saw a sign It's in my sight Exit off this wild ride Opened my eyes Into the light Sinking deep into the tide It's in the leaves I'll just believe And I'd run, run, run Until I catch the sun And I'll rush, rush, rush Until I lose my breath And I'll go, go, go Until I pass the goal And I'll drive, drive, drive Down this wild ride

about

Wild Ride was supposed to be an album about transitions: I got laid off, took a train trip across the country with my oldest friend, and moved back home to California.

Then Wild Ride became an album about 2016 as a whole: an attempt to be insightful about the growing fractures in society that were probably there to begin with all along.

In the end, Wild Ride ended up being an album about trying to make sense of oneself and one's surroundings in a time when everything is changing, inside and out.

credits

released July 19, 2020

Album cover photography: Justin Shih
Everything else: Stephen Liu

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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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