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Music for Smoke Detectors (9th Anniversary Edition)

by Oxygen Pillow

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1.
Leave 02:15
I cannot leave but I cannot stay. I can't be quiet but I cannot say. Is this how it's going to end? Are you giving me a choice? I must be on my merry way. I might be back someday. Is this how I'm going to leave? Are you going to say goodbye to me? Do I have a choice? Do I have a name? Do I have to choose? Do I have to leave? I don't want to leave.
2.
She is rain on a floatless parade. She's a curious vision of truthless beauty. Manipulate the picture to make it look like a melody. Symphony's her name, or at least that's what she says to call her. Can you show me how you do it, Symphony? How to fake it all, and get it right the next time? Shadowless. All crushed and gone black. Symphony and I have business to do. There she is, all crushed and gone black, delirious with laughter, shadowless and overdressed. Manipulate the picture to make it look like a remedy. But she won't tell you that the cure will do more damage than the disease.
3.
I saw her face, and I thought it was you. I heard her voice; She sounded just like you. And she looked just like you. And she talked just the same way. And she kissed me just like the way you used to. And she knew my name. She looked like love that had once gone bad. Was she the girl who had made me sad? She reminded me of why she said good-bye. I watched her go and I began to cry.
4.
They're holding hands under the table. Somehow they don't want us to see. Their chemistry is so obvious; I wonder what they're pretending to be. Not still in love, but that's not what I'm seeing. Not still in love, don't hide the feeling. Not still in love, and I can't understand how you're not still in love but you're still holding hands. They're making amends under their breath because they don't want us to hear. But they just can't keep a secret. Things aren't like they want them to appear. They tell us that it's over now, but I can see through their disguise. The truth is not in what they say, but you can see it in their eyes.
5.
Down, I couldn't lift. A sigh is all I could give to fit the crazy shape of us. I look down at your feet (not in step with your toes). I see them walking away. Where are you going, my friend? Where have you been? Smash, I couldn't bleed. Kiss the ground as you leave. The trail of dust turns to tears. I look down at your feet (not in step with your toes). I see them walking away. She said she needs to leave. She wouldn't say why. She is gone; she walked away. Now all I do is cry.
6.
7.
The elevator would not take me up. It wouldn't leave the ground. It said if we'd stay down here we'd be safe and sound. The elevator was afraid of heights. Upward it would not go. It said if it ascended it'd get vertigo. The elevator was afraid of heights.
8.
The rain falls down on me. I stand underneath it and contemplate. If I choose to be myself, do I lose the right to live? The rain washes me. I rest and wonder.
9.
Residue 02:27
And you feel your life slip away. And all your friends are growing gray. When there's nothing left to do but just look back and say Leave the paint's residue as I fade away with you. Let the paint go away as we grow old and gray. Times are changing way too fast. Present catches up to the past. Soon all of our precious time will be just fond memories.
10.
I'm feeling so awake even though I'm half-dead. Turning, shaking, sweating cold in my own bed. I'm dreaming when I'm wide-awake and talking in my sleep. Burning bridges, ticking clocks, and counting black sheep. Has my ship come in, I'm ready to embark. Sure, I'll play the quiet one, just for a lark. If I could fight the cold wind with a shiver in the fold and brave the bitter winter night without getting cold, I could fight this feeling and be myself again, and leave all the malice in the palace of the old men. Fending off the waves where all the children stop to swim. Don't fall back, it's simple now, I knew that I could win.
11.
Feeling it's a lie, drowning and wondering why. Fleeting is the pie, frowning on the side. Today is a very good day, you'll find it will stay. Leave all behind. Pacing o'er the plain, and racing back again. Reading in your mind, seeing but you're blind. The door opened wide, I found myself inside.
12.
Leave (Demo) 02:16
I cannot leave but I cannot stay. I can't be quiet but I cannot say. Is this how it's going to end? Are you giving me a choice? I must be on my merry way. I might be back someday. Is this how I'm going to leave? Are you going to say goodbye to me? Do I have a choice? Do I have a name? Do I have to choose? Do I have to leave? I don't want to leave.
13.
And you feel your life slip away. And all your friends are growing gray. When there's nothing left to do but just look back and say Leave the paint's residue as I fade away with you. Let the paint go away as we grow old and gray. Times are changing way too fast. Present catches up to the past. Soon all of our precious time will be just fond memories.
14.
Down, I couldn't lift. A sigh is all I could give to fit the crazy shape of us. I look down at your feet (not in step with your toes). I see them walking away. Where are you going, my friend? Where have you been? Smash, I couldn't bleed. Kiss the ground as you leave. The trail of dust turns to tears. I look down at your feet (not in step with your toes). I see them walking away. She said she needs to leave. She wouldn't say why. She is gone; she walked away. Now all I do is cry.
15.
I saw her face, and I thought it was you. I heard her voice; She sounded just like you. And she looked just like you. And she talked just the same way. And she kissed me just like the way you used to. And she knew my name. She looked like love that had once gone bad. Was she the girl who had made me sad? She reminded me of why she said good-bye. I watched her go and I began to cry.
16.
Moped 01:13
17.
I cannot leave but I cannot stay. I can't be quiet but I cannot say. Is this how it's going to end? Are you giving me a choice? I must be on my merry way. I might be back someday. Is this how I'm going to leave? Are you going to say goodbye to me? Do I have a choice? Do I have a name? Do I have to choose? Do I have to leave? I don't want to leave.
18.
I'm feeling so awake even though I'm half-dead. Turning, shaking, sweating cold in my own bed. I'm dreaming when I'm wide-awake and talking in my sleep. Burning bridges, ticking clocks, and counting black sheep. Has my ship come in, I'm ready to embark. Sure, I'll play the quiet one, just for a lark. If I could fight the cold wind with a shiver in the fold and brave the bitter winter night without getting cold, I could fight this feeling and be myself again, and leave all the malice in the palace of the old men. Fending off the waves where all the children stop to swim. Don't fall back, it's simple now, I knew that I could win.
19.
20.
Feeling it's a lie, drowning and wondering why. Fleeting is the pie, frowning on the side. Today is a very good day, you'll find it will stay. Leave all behind. Pacing o'er the plain, and racing back again. Reading in your mind, seeing but you're blind. The door opened wide, I found myself inside.

about

9th Anniversary reissue includes 9 bonus tracks: 4 demos, 2 remixes, 1 acoustic version, plus 2 additional instrumentals.

Bonuses included in full album download: PDF booklet with liner notes and lyrics, JPGs of album art, and 2 videos taken from a live performance in 2008.

"Music for Smoke Detectors" (Tracks 1-11)
Originally released 18 February 2001 via MP3.com.

"The Demo Reel" (Tracks 12-15)
Originally released 02 November 2000 via MP3.com.

credits

released February 16, 2010

Copyright © 2001 The Oxygen Pillow.

"Today (is a very good day)" is dedicated to the memory of its author, Nathan Lindsley (1976-1999).

Performed and recorded by Phil Harwell at Home Life #2 in Searcy, Arkansas, October 2000 - January 2001. Mixed by Phil Harwell and Darian Stribling at Blue Chair Studio in Austin, Arkansas, January 2001. Mastered by James Heffington in Fayetteville, Arkansas, January, 2001.

All songs were written by Phil Harwell, except for tracks 2, 5, 10, 14 and 18 by Phil Harwell and Mick Wright, and tracks 11 and 20 by Nathan Lindsley and Timothy Lindsley. Used with permission. Album art design and lettering by Phil Harwell. Cover photo by Serena Harwell. Trees photo by Phil Harwell.

Thanks:
To God, most of all, for creating me and giving me all I have and more. To Jon Whitford, Mick Wright, Melinda LaFevers, and Neil Chilson for loaning instruments to the cause. To my wife, my friends and family for all their support. To Timothy Lindsley and Mick Wright for letting me use their material freely. To everyone I’ve ever met. To my teachers for their encouragement. And to Down With Phil, for being really cool guys, and for naming their band after me (aww, you shouldn’t have!).

Web Site: www.oxygenpillow.com

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Reissue Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. Songs published by Oxygen Pillow Music (ASCAP), except tracks 11 and 20 (Copyright Control).

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Oxygen Pillow Athens, Alabama

Alternative music for alternative people. Starring Phil Harwell. Operated off and on from 2000 to 2020.

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