Get all 7 Rob Szabo releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Rob Szabo, Life & Limb, After The Gravity, One More For The Road, Like A Metaphor, Late Bloomer / Sore Loser, and A Battery Of Tests.
1. |
Beautiful
03:13
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Beautiful
(Szabo)
you never tell me that i’m beautiful anymore
you only treat me like a medical condition
you understand me like a metaphor
you’re a student in a class
will i get better in a year or two?
forgive me if i ask
automatic
you vote for conversation
you ask me how i am
but keep to twenty words or less
why ask?
new and improved
another product you consume
it’s true
and it happens every day
it does
you never tell me that i’m beautiful anymore
you only treat me like a medical condition
you understand me like a metaphor
you’re a student in a class
will i get better in a year or two?
forgive me if i ask
in a panic
that smells like competition
on your mark, get set, depend
line me up with other brands
on the shelf
new and improved
another product you consume
it’s true
and it happens every day
it does
you never tell me that i’m beautiful anymore
you only treat me like a medical condition
you understand me like a metaphor
you’re a student in a class
will I get better in a year or two?
forgive me if I ask
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2. |
Breaking Even
04:00
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Breaking Even
(Szabo/Brunker/Prilesnik)
You should be there by now
You talk about it all the time
Sayin’ things like “if I’d only, then I might be …”
But it’s more a matter of how
You never seem to get a break
You’re better than everyone else
You’ve just made a few mistakes
You’re breakin’ even
You’re breakin’ even
You’re breakin’ even
But now I’m here
Tryin’ to get you to …
Tune in to this
Wanna fall in love like high school kids
You should’ve quite by now
You think about it every night
Saying things like “maybe tomorrow, or the next day …”
But it’s more a matter of doubt
Cut off your nose in spite of your face
If there’s something you’re waiting for, you’re kinda late
Too bad you don’t believe in fate
You’re breakin’ even
You’re breakin’ even
You’re breakin’ even
But now I’m here
Tryin’ to get you to …
Tune in to this
Wanna fall in love like high school kids
Makin’ fun of songs like this
In case you’re wonderin’
Thought you had it all worked out
But then you had to change
It’s always the times you think it’s all wrapped up
it blows up in your face
Thought you had it all worked out
But then you had to change
Thought you had it all worked out
You’re breakin’ even
You’re breakin’ even
You’re breakin’ even
But now I’m here
Tryin’ to get you to …
Tune in to this
Wanna fall in love like high school kids
Makin’ fun of songs like this
In case you’re wonderin’
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3. |
A Sad Song
03:50
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A Sad Song
(Szabo/DeMatteo)
You threw it all away
What you were going to say
You memorized what you decided
So you wouldn’t be swayed
Was it a mistake?
The advice you gave …
How many plans have you devised?
You just hope she’ll be ok
How many times can your world stopped spinning?
How many eyes d’you avoid in one sitting?
How many hours a day?
Well I’m thinkin’ you can’t be wrong
If you’re singin’
A sad song for someone you care for
Be careful you can’t wait forever
You try and bury it
This little thing you won’t admit
No matter how you try to hide
It always brushes against your skin
You stumble out on stage
Like you’re an actor in a play
But all those lines you memorized come out as lines on your face
How many times can your world stopped spinning?
How many eyes d’you avoid in one sitting?
How many hours a day?
Well I’m thinkin’ you can’t be wrong,
If you’re singin’
A sad song for someone you care for
Be careful you can’t wait forever
Don’t get involved with a cannonball
You never know when that weight will fall
You never know where they’re coming from
You never know
You might be wrong
You might be wrong
You can’t be wrong
If you’re singin’
A sad song for someone you care for
Be careful you can’t wait forever
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4. |
We're All Alcoholics
04:03
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We’re All Alcoholics
(Szabo)
we’re all alcoholics, but nobody wants to talk about it
nobody ever owns up
and no one wants to call up a cab
we’re all big fat liars, we’re all living in denial
nobody ever coughs up
and no one wants to pick up the tab
we bottle up what we have unless we’re half in the bag
aww come on we’re beautiful
cheers to all we’re hangin’ on!
cheers and bombs away!
here’s to all we’re hangin’ on
there’s nothing we can’t share … while we’re under repair
we’re all schizophrenic, one day fine, the next day panic
but none of us ever hold up
and no one wants to pass on the meds
if it get us outta bed, depends what the doctor says
aww come on we’re beautiful
cheers to all we’re hangin’ on!
cheers and bombs away!
here’s to all we’re hangin’ on …
there’s nothing we can’t share …
if we’re not knockin’ ‘em back, or at home smokin’ grass, we’d be out shootin’ smack
‘cause if it ain’t tits and ass, it’s the sign of the cross, it could be so much worse
so it ain’t that bad, no it ain’t that bad
no it ain’t that bad, no it ain’t that bad
aww come on we’re beautiful, we’re irrefutable
cheers to all we’re hangin’ on!
cheers and bombs away!
here’s to all we’re hangin’ on …
we ain’t that bad
no we ain’t that bad
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5. |
No One
04:21
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No One
(Szabo/Stevenson)
Don't look up to me 'cause I can't
Don't look after me 'cause I don't
Don't turn up the T.V. yet
This one won't work out in bed
Though I wish it would
Don't you talk to me like that
I should tape you and then play you back
Familiarity breeds contempt
I thought that's what you said,
I thought that's what you said
She
Blames it on her family
Don't blame her for that
I
Blame it on myself
I'm not any help
I'm no one
I don't count
Don't you father me - I've had a dad
Don't be so hard on me 'cause I'm a man
Just tell me I'm unique like everyone else
I'm lonely - we're only
Teething that's all
Get used to it
It's probably my fault
It's over ... again
She
Blames it on her family
Don't blame her for that
I
Blame it on myself
I'm not any help
She turns it off it's way too sad
Neil young playing on cassette
I wanna listen 'til the end
That's what I like about it
I'm no one ... I don't count ...
I'm no one
I
Blame it on myself
I'm not any help
I'm no one
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6. |
Good Son
03:41
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Good Son
(Szabo/Strongman)
i’ll do anything that you want
ask my mother i’m a good son
just had some trouble when i was young
i swear to god i’m gonna grow up
things are goin’ good at my job
i’m workin’ hard, i pulled my socks up
i’m comin’ home right after I get off
i swear to god i’m gonna keep it up
but then sometimes it feels like a compromise
and then sometimes i’m afraid you’ll leave me
what about that winter weekend?
no i shouldn’t have been driving it
i didn’t know the ice was that thin
man he’s lucky we got out to him
don’t remind me about last night
no i really shouldn’t have hit that guy
but he was lookin’ at you with those eyes
man he’s lucky he got out alive
but then sometimes it feels like a compromise
and then sometimes i wish you’d just leave me
alone
then baby i’d go
but maybe i’m wrong
i hope so
‘cause i’ll do anything at all
i’ll do anything that you want
ask my mother i’m a good son
just had some trouble when I was young
swear to god i’m gonna grow up
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7. |
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Nothing Really Ever Happens Here
(Szabo)
Out on the sidewalks the criminals walk without a care
In front of cameras for security purposes with no one on the other end
The audience is at home and they’re getting prepared
But nothing really ever happens
Here life just might last too long
Here life just goes on
Inside of bedrooms significant others
talk and nod and stare
discussing problems of how to deal with their poor little Jen
She's hanging out with a boy and a car and she cut off all her hair
'cause nothing really ever happens
Here life just might last too long
Here life just goes on
Inside of boardrooms the criminals grab their market share
Behind cameras as personalities assault us with details
It’s always safe on this side of the screen but we’re not getting anywhere
We bitch and complain we’re reality queens without sticking out our necks
So nothing really ever happens
Here life just might last too long
Here life just goes on
Real life always lasts too long
Real life just gets old
As long as we get scared
As long as we stay scared
Nothing really ever happens
Here
You want to buy it out
You want to buy it out
You want to buy it out (It’s beautiful out here)
You want to buy it out (… this time of year)
You want to buy it out (…but you don’t care)
You want to buy it out
Here life just might last too long
Here life just goes on
Real life just might last too long
Life goes on as
… long as we get scared
As long as we stay scared
Nothin’ really ever happens here
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8. |
The Johnstown Kids
03:25
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The Johnstown Kids
(Szabo)
The Johnstown kids really play it like they feel it
They sing it like they say it and they say it like they mean it
The Johnstown kids really play it like it hurts they can’t afford their health insurance
It’s not a government service
Well Endless Mike sent me a note he said he liked what I was sayin’
He thought my songs were really special and they “really bring the pain”
I didn’t really know him so I took it with a grain
I didn’t get what he was sayin’ ‘til I went down there to play
The Johnstown kids really play it like they feel it
They sing it like they say it and they say it like they mean it
Well the bassist in the Club he had to quit to get a job
But it’s not like he’s givin’ up it’s just he’s got a bad case of …
The kids in other bands they all pitched in to lend a hand
Too bad they couldn’t meet end to end and pay for all his medicine
The Johnstown kids really play it like they feel it
They sing it like they say it and they say it like they mean it
The Johnstown kids really play it like it hurts they can’t afford their health insurance
It’s not a government service
It’s not some kind of act
They really feel like that
They didn’t sit around a boardroom table trying to come up with the right angle
Some of them are really feeling bad
Sure could use some medecine
Meanwhile city council went and blew their cash on an enormous flag when they could really use a bandage
The kids in this here little town they play what could be called punk rock
But it don’t matter what you call it I just know it doesn’t suck
It don’t sound much like punk you might hear on the radio
It doesn’t sound all that grown up because they’re having too much fun
The Johnstown kids really play it like they feel it
They sing it like they say it and they say it like they mean it
The Johnstown kids really play it like it hurts they can’t afford their health insurance
It’s not a government service
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9. |
Family & Friends
03:46
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Family & Friends
(Szabo)
I keep looking at that picture from the letter that you sent
I keep thinking but right now I’m not convinced
That you and Johnny told our father that you’re gonna have a kid
I can’t look now in case it hasn’t hit me yet
Good for you
Good for you
Good for you
You know I wish you all the best
He felt sorry for his brother ‘cause I really took it bad
While you lied and you made each other’s beds
I just keep thinking of that promise about in health and in sickness
I can’t talk now in case it hasn’t hit me yet
Good for you
Good for you
Good for you
You know I wish you all the best
How many times can we go over this you ask?
How many years of penitence?
How many years ‘til it’s just water under a bridge?
How many days ‘til my revenge?
‘cause if we can be family … then we can be friends
It’d be good for you
Good for you
Good for you
You know I wish you all the best
Good for you
Good for you
Good for you
You know I wish you all the best
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10. |
Incandescent
04:54
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Incandescent
(Szabo)
Would you burn me a candle?
Will you sing on your way back home?
Will you save me a mouthful?
If not could you leave me a note?
Will you comb my hair when my head is full of knots?
Will you tell me you’re scared when you’re ready?
There’s no way
I would take
The replacement on the way
There’s no one to replace
I’m ok
I’ll do just fine alone
I’ll do just fine I hope
You’ll do just fine out there
I’ll do just fine
I’m scared
I just wrote you a page full
On both sides of the foolscap note
Just a week in the mail
If not, I’ll just wait ‘til you call
I could make us a meal and then eat half all alone
Save the rest for a week
You could re-heat it
There’s no way
I would take
The replacement on the way
There’s no one to replace
I’m ok
I’ll do just fine alone
I’ll do just fine I hope
You’ll do just fine out there
I’ll do just fine
I’m scared
I can’t remember what you look like anyway
I can’t remember what we felt like anyway
I can’t remember what you look like anyway
I can’t remember what I feel like anyway
There’s no way
I would take
The replacement on the way
There’s no one to replace
I’m ok
I’ll do just fine alone
I’ll do just fine I hope
You’ll do just fine out there
I’ll do just fine
I’m scared
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11. |
The Others
06:25
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The Others
(Szabo)
since the others won the war - i can’t come ‘round here no more
stay away from everyone - i’m on the run
all the things that i’ve done wrong - used to count them on my thumbs
now they push down on my head - i’m under arrest
they’re making me ride in the back
interrogating me about what happened:
“did you forget where you came from?”
“did you forget where you belong?”
when we met that one last stand - a pane of glass between our hands
we were out of metaphors – we were out of doors
oh, the water was too strong - and the wind was at our front
all the birds flew overhead - the earth turned its back
eroding how we understand each other’s lives
did we forget where we came from?
did we forget where we belonged?
did we forget all we stood for?
could we forget all that?
I understand why, but couldn’t we just try and be friends?
valentine we crossed the line
we both know we cannot go back
a flash of light just ash is left
we both know we were not like that
we both know we were better than that
while the world goes on outside - all the numbers get compiled
you don’t fit the rank and file and neither do i
like the call girls on my street – we’re just trying to make ends meet
one day we’ll be obsolete - like an old tv
gathering dust on the screen
but don’t tell me that that means
we should forget where we came from
we should forget where we belonged
we should forget all we stood for
could we forget all that?
I understand why, but couldn’t we just try and be friends?
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Rob Szabo Toronto, Ontario
Rob Szabo is a Songwriter/Producer/Musician. He has collaborated on dozens of albums for other artists, recorded 6 solo albums & 4 albums with former bands Plasticine & Groove Daddys -Buy Groove Daddys here: groovedaddys.bandcamp.com
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