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Virginia / David Bazan / Strange Negotiations

David Bazan - “Virginia”

Songs like this are why ‘Strange Negotiations’ should be on MANY Best Albums of 2011 lists.

Virginia I had a dream that you invited us over
You still lived on the street where you laid down for good
We all sat on the floor as my kids swam around us
You smoked cigarettes like I knew you would

We were worried about your personal salvation
Was it heaven or hell that you saw when your eyes closed?
You smiled at us, floating high above the question
Like you knew something we didn’t know

Virginia I had a dream we were closer than brothers
Singing, pictures of you, crashing cars, skipping school
We drove all over town as the days blurred around us
We wore out your cassettes, we were nobody’s fool

They were worried about our high school graduation
They read us a poem, “Oh the Places You’ll Go”
You smiled it off, floating high above the question
Like you knew something they didn’t know

A great performance of “Virginia” live on KEXP.

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Second Best / Pedro The Lion / Control

Pedro The Lion - Second Best

The motel, the distances, cave into kisses cold and wet
Familiar exchanges, like needle pulling thread
The empty movements that once were so inspired
Desperate attempts to fan the flames without a fire
The mattress creeks beneath
The symphony of misery and cum
Still we lie jerking back and forth
And blurring into one

Second best oh second best
I can learn to live with this
Plus I really need a rest
After all what’s wrong with second best
What’s wrong with second best

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Options / Pedro The Lion / Control

Pedro The Lion - Options

It’s been a PTL type of week. A new song hitting home every day. This one stood out. 

We were walking, holding hands, 
with our bare feet in the sand 
and the seagulls overhead
when I broke the spell and said 
“I could never divorce you without a good reason 
and though I may never have to, 
it’s good to have options 
But for now, oh, I need you 
But for now, oh, I need you 
But for now, oh, I need you 

But it was only in my head
because no one ever says 
what they really mean to say
when there’s so much at stake 
So I told her I loved her and she told me she loved me 
and I mostly believed her and she mostly believed me

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Rejoice / Pedro The Lion / Control

Pedro The Lion - Rejoice

Wouldn’t it be so wonderful 
if everything were meaningless. 
But everything is so meaningful, 
and most everything turns to shit. 

Rejoice

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Let Down / Pedro The Lion /

Pedro The Lion - Let Down (Radiohead Cover)

I stole a bunch of Pedro the Lion from a coworker. I can’t believe I didn’t get into these dudes more back in the days.