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Brown Bag Compilation #1

by Milburn & Vigoda

supported by
Ewan
Ewan thumbnail
Ewan Everything these guys do is fabulous. Barista Girl is the most-requested track on my iPod during car trips. This Sucks is just wonderful (albeit better live). Favorite track: This Sucks (from ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME).
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1.
Hi I’m Kat This is my gear I write music with my pointy violin. What you should know About my ax Is that to play it, first you have to plug it in. I compose Modern operas They're avant garde, groundbreaking and new Out on the edge of the musical galaxy Giant mosaics of colors and tones Pushing the envelope, searching, exploring Through 3-hour dramas of passion and woe Cerebral exciting inventive experiments Maybe attended by 5 or 6 people Who walk out disgusted before intermission Proclaiming out loud as they go “She sucks.” Yep, they say that loud enough so I can hear it. I was broke Completely broke And in the opera biz I didn't have a prayer I took a gig A music gig Where you don't realize the music's even there I write the score For video games Music for games that hurtle boys through space Pasty and pimply and gangly teenagers Paying my rent and my huge student loans 'Cause that's what a master's in music will get you A backbreaking bloodsucking black hole of debt And you try and you try not to be just a sellout You try and you try to be true to your art And instead I accompany blowups and bleeps And the blast of an alien jet This sucks. Okay, it sucks—so what the hell, I may as well sell my artistic soul in the most epic way possible. If I have to make music for space I will not make boring music for space Typical music for space that fades into the background Oh, no. I will make symphonies sweeping and soaring For each little space cruiser revving and roaring The score will transport you right out of your chair Put a chill up your spine and a curl in your hair And you won't even realize I am the source Of the pulse-pounding power—but I am the force The soundtrack within every game-playing boy The song of their sweat and their pain and their joy The ecstasy of victory The agony of defeat The star captain warrior Rocketing to my beat Space Pirates! That’s the name of the stupid game I’m working on. You’re like Robin Hood or Han Solo flying through the galaxies! And the best thing about all this geeky tech stuff—I don’t need anyone else, I can do it all by my lonesome. So I took the ol’ laptop and plugged in my keyboard and I added an entire string section— (she does) And then trumpets! (she does) And low soulful brass! (she does) And what the hell, some bombast! (she adds tympani) Welcome to my symphony, teenage couch potatoes! Space Pirates! Space Pirates! Go forth and find your destiny on every distant shore You fly against the odds Immortal as the gods You fail and then you prevail again You sail where no one's ever been before And suddenly My music is bigger than me More than me Better than me And I can even add more people than me (in harmony with herself) More people than me And I can warn of dangers to come— (suddenly, through the microphone, she has a deep, commanding man's voice) "Don't go in there! it's full of mutants!" I make little boys feel like supermen The finest and bravest conquering-the-future men Like Columbus, like Captain Underpants With courage to carry on in any circumstance Ponce de Leon, Jacques Cousteau, Ernest Shackleton Erik the Red, Neil Armstrong, Indiana Jones Anyone real or not Who took their shot And actually had to leave their chair To see The world Now before you think I’m a total sellout here, I’d just like to say that Space Pirates has been beta tested by like 300 gaming teenage freaks, and guess what the freaks’ favorite part of the entire damn game is: My music! My music! My big! John Williams! On steroids! Friggin' music! So my operas are gathering dust on the shelf But at least someone hears me aside from myself My three hundred beta test boys My three hundred beautiful beta test boys Maybe one day there'll be three million of 'em For now there are three hundred boys and I love 'em Three hundred underage twitchy and pasty-faced fabulous pimply boys Who think that I don’t suck!
2.
I got lost I got off track Well I took the long way 'round, but now I'm back I was wrong, now I got it right, and I got a fist full of flowers for you tonight but I'm standing in the shadow of the man who is first in line yes I'm standing in the shadow of the man who is first in line I was down on my luck I was living in the back of my pickup truck I got high I got low but I got back up on my feet and I'm good to go but I'm standing in the shadow of the man who is first in line and I'm looking over his shoulder and I see that you're still looking fine (yes you are) and I'm tryin' to cut in, but baby I know the score he's got everything I got and just a little bit more and I'm standing in the shadow of the man who is first in line well I guess I had my chance and blew it good shoulda asked you out to dance back when I could now I'm sitting at the bar wishing you were mine, and I watch you dance around the floor with the man who was first in line. Well it's all right I shoulda known I guess I'll have me a diet cola and go on home before I go I just wanna say you look as good as you did the day I let you slip away and I'm standing in the shadow of the man who is first in line yes I know the way the game is played and I can see the exit sign 'cause the very best I got, it might as well be my worst I'm the second man in line and your new man is the first oh, I'm standing in the shadow of the man who is first in line.
3.
this is it! this is the big brass ring and you’re grabbin’ it! you’re a hit! the star of the reagan cabinet! some men quit when the going gets rough. deep inside they’ve had enough. but your interior is tough, that’s your department! time to move! time to pick up that weight and carry it! gotta prove you’re running the best damn secretariat! you don’t care what tomorrow brings! you’re too busy signing things! that’s how you pull the strings in your department! meetings with assistants! strategy reviews! can you go the distance? will you win or lose? oversee the budget! go through it line by line. better order up a sandwich you’ll be staying here ‘til nine! (instrumental break) you will not surrender! you will not give in! not when your agenda is a battle you must win! memos in your inbox! ketchup on your lap! better open up the pull-out and take a power nap! you’ve got a goal: changing the world deregulatorily! stay in control, and it’ll all go hunkily-dorily! everyone looks up to you you’re strong and proud and brave and true, and now the place you work is too. that’s your department! your department! your department!
4.
in Rome a thousand years ago the fashion of the day was to make the eyes look larger and the drops from this plant were the very best way so every lovely lady fair had huge eyes that glistened and shined all with thanks to bella donna she could drive a man out of his mind and then she would slowly go blind the truth came clear as years went by each girlfriend or mistress or wife could no longer see in the mirror the amorous eyes that would cost her her life imagine all the tears they shed imagine their shock and surprise when they found their doom was due to the bloom that gave them their beautiful eyes oh beautiful poison heart of jesus, angel's wing the star of bethlehem oleander, whistling thorn I know every leaf every root every stem so many ways to end a life to set your spirit free a taste of water hemlock leaf or a bite of the fruit of the suicide tree yellow jasmine, bleeding heart black nightshade, christmas rose angel's trumpet, leopard's bane and this is how my garden grows in New Orleans, right here, right now, there's danger everywhere and it's best to keep your distance but hard to resist when you breathe the sweet air with every lovely blossom fair you have to be careful, you know can you look past the thorns and the nettles just how far are you willing to go? do you dare to dig deep down below? if you go beneath the surface and embrace all that's strange and bizarre all these fragile fatal flowers they don't deserve blame, they can't help what they are imagine how the flowers feel they yearn to reach up toward the sky without warmth from above and devotion and love their beauty will wither and die. oh beautiful poison
5.
The bobbin, the flyer The high tension wire The pedal, the treadle, the hook Rotate it fully And pull on the pulley A twist of the wrist—and then look! Once in a while there’s a rebel thread See, here’s one beginning to fray I rip it apart till I’m sure that it’s dead Just kill it if it won’t obey The wheel goes ’round, the wheel goes ’round The choice is made, the thread is wound You spin the yarn, the yarn is spun The sheep is shorn, can’t be undone The wheel goes ’round and ’round Alpaca, angora They have such an aura Mohair’s nowhere to be had The worst one was worsted It’s gone now—I cursed it Remember my temper—it’s bad Old and forgotten and all alone I hold every grudge, every slight With a grip made of steel and a heart made of stone I can hang on incredibly tight The wheel goes ’round, the wheel goes ’round The choice is made, the thread is wound You spin the yarn, the yarn is spun The sheep is shorn, can’t be undone The wheel goes ’round and ’round ’Round and ’round, ’round she goes Where she stops I suppose You could say There’s a way To take charge of your fate It might not be too late Take the wheel If you feel You can handle the tension, the stress and the speed The sharp places a princess’s fingers could bleed Not to worry though—look at you, grown up so tall And so smart and so strong—I have no doubt at all You’ll be fine, take her out for a spin, hold on tight Stay away from the spindle, you might be all right BAD FAIRY & BEAUTY The wheel goes ’round, the wheel goes ’round The choice is made, the thread is wound You spin the yarn, the yarn is spun The sheep is shorn, can’t be undone The wheel goes ’round and ’round
6.
Empowered 03:06
(As the music begins, HOPE enters in a flurry of activity, with two shopping bags of clothes and shoes. She is wearing a relatively sexy outfit. She drops the bags on the bed.) Empowered Fabulous, fifty and single My friends said you'll find you a much better guy If you just get on out there and mingle Men will be lined up outside of your door Life will be better than ever before You're smart and amazing and beautiful —you're Empowered! (She exits the way she came in, leaving the bags. CHARLES enters with a glass of water and waters the plants. He notices the bags. He leaves. HOPE re-enters, with more new clothing and shoes. As she sings the following, she is rummaging through the bags for a new outfit and new shoes.) Emboldened Okay, date number one's not the winner Time to try harder, get back in the game You know, Rome wasn't built over dinner I'll be more selective—I think that's the key This evening a drink with a nice Ph.D. Shorter skirt, higher heels, you can bet that I'll be Emboldened! (HOPE exits to the bathroom holding a black cocktail dress and high heels, presumably to change into. CHARLES enters with a glass of water. This time he takes down all the plants, replaces them with lusher, greener plants, and waters them. He is bemused by the profusion of dresses and shoes. He exits through the front door. HOPE enters through the front door. She is wearing the black cocktail dress and high heels. She looks fabulous, but she is visibly deflated.) Embarrassed Embarrassing even to say why Conversation was sparkling and witty and fun I just had a date with a gay guy I should have known better, how could I not see That no good-looking hetero doctor would be So into an aging neurotic like me Embarrassed (HOPE leaves through the front door. CHARLES enters with a glass of water. He replaces the plants with even larger, lusher versions, waters them and leaves. HOPE enters, stumbling. She is drunk, and disappointed.) My friends say, "Try something new, Hope" My friends say, "It's the right thing to do, Hope" My friends say "Speed dating's great, Hope" They say, "It's never too late, Hope" So I'm back from four dates with four men in four hours Four cups of coffee, then four whiskey sours One must have doused his whole self with cologne One spent the whole freaking time on the phone One had a comb-over, one was a gnome And I'm tired and pissed and I'd rather stay home I need a good man Someone who went to high school Someone who speaks English Someone who's still breathing I need ice cream.
7.
Still Love 03:03
This is what we always wanted To be side by side as we grow old Chatting each evening, on the porch swing As we watch the days unfold All of the lines and the wrinkles Make a map of our lows and our highs I love your crow's-feet and your laugh lines And the deep brown of your eyes The way I can nestle my head in your shoulder and it fits so perfectly The way that your arms can encircle my waist when you're standing next to me The way we fit better, shorter and fatter than we ever used to be Every so often I notice Your hair has a new strand of grey Can't remember if I've told you You still take my breath away If you don't hear so well, you can lean close when we're talking, am I right? If you don't walk so well, we can just sit here and kiss in the twilight And if we don't remember so much any more, we can dwell on the highlights We don't have to be exciting We don't have to run around We don't have to dance the night away We can be gentle We can be still You've always been gentle And I always will Love you I still love you
8.
It was so easy To be your lover and your friend And when I hear your voice It all comes back again You know I understand Ambition has its price But are you really sure That it's my heart you want to sacrifice PRECHORUS: 'Cause I have loved you oh so long, and I I just know that you still care And every day since you've been gone I I still can feel your body there CHORUS: Patiently I wait for you 'Cause I know that no one else will ever do I'll see it through You'll come to me If I wait patiently My friends all tell me To leave the memories behind But I cannot forget So easily this time I have no tenderness Reserved for someone new I gave it all I gave it all to you
9.
Mike Errico has the right to reproduce these lyrics, and we don't unfortunately. But they're very pithy and good lyrics, so listen close. :)
10.
Barista Girl 04:33
Hey, barista girl. Hey, barista girl. I picked the body up and threw it in the trunk trunk I drove the car you know it's just a piece of junk junk down by the lake I sank the body 'til it sunk and hey, would you go out with me? and now I'm finished with the jimmy jimmy job job I'm always working 'cause I'm married to the mob mob I know it sounds a little corny on the cob, but hey, would you go out with me? I'm so lonely tonight, I'm so lonely tonight. Hey, barista girl. Now I'm at starbucks and I'm eating coffee cake cake and Jimmy's sleeping with the fishes in the lake lake I think I've had all the espresso I can take, and hey, would you go out with me? I'm so lonely tonight, I'm so lonely tonight. I could come pick you up when you get off of work I could bump off your boss if he's being a jerk so alone, so alone, so alone… and I could take you far away from here I could make your problems disappear (!) (next two lines: sing in octaves) and I know that sounds like a big cliche, and I'm sure hit men hit on you all day, but I'm aching for you, barista girl. Hey girl I think you make a mocha really well well, And you got lots of other talents, I can tell tell Just let me wipe away this blood on my lapel and hey would you go out with me? I'm so lonely tonight. I'm so lonely tonight. I would treat you so fine, in the way you deserve. I would ice anybody who gets on your nerves. So alone, so alone, so alone... and I could take you far away from here I could make your problems disappear and I know that sounds like a big cliche, and I'm sure hit men hit on you all day, but I'm aching for you, barista girl. hey, barista girl. I'm so lonely tonight. I'm so lonely tonight. Won't you please have some pity on poor little me I got no one to kill, I go nowhere to be so alone, so alone, so alone… But I could take you far away from here I could make your problems disappear and I know that sounds like a big cliche, and I'm sure hit men hit on you all day, but I'm aching for you, barista girl.
11.
Leap 05:01
how could I think of crossing the chasm the vast expanse between me and you I had my fears like everyone has 'em as years went by the larger they grew tied me up and tied me down to my old familiar ground still and static, safe and sound - but I found If you leap - heaven knows just where you're going to land If you leap - chances are it won't turn out like you planned But if you don't if you won't you might always wish you had and when you walked by, well I can't deny that I found that I just had to leap for you I don't repair what hasn't been broken I never question my status quo (oh no) I used to leave my feelings unspoken I'd just relax and go with the flow but there you were, the turning tide to rock my boat and toss aside all my charts, all my plans and all my pride If you leap - heaven knows just where you're going to land Dive in deep - you could drown or you could wash up on the sand But if you don't if you won't you might always wish you had and when you walked by, well I can't deny that I found that I just had to leap for you I think it's safer not to climb too high I get all dizzy looking down I will admit that I'm afraid to fly 'cause I got no wings and I've never tried and these butterflies flit around inside but when I saw you then the great divide didn't seem so wide and my feet just left the ground I'll always be a little bit cautious I'll always stop to look left & right too much excitement makes me feel nauseous but when you're with me then I just might be okay, now I see how you make me feel so free even with no guarantee of what will be If you leap - heaven knows just where you're going to land If you leap - chances are it won't turn out like you planned But if you don't if you won't you might always wish you had but something about you made me leap look in your eyes could make me weep something about you made me leap for you

about

Here's our first collection of songs specifically for one gig--at the Noho Arts Center on August 27, 2012. Some songs are old, some brand-new, some never-before released.

If you bought a physical copy and it's not playing, just send us a note at brendan at milburn hyphen vigoda dot com, and we will set you up with a free download.

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released August 27, 2012

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Milburn & Vigoda Los Angeles, California

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