Only now do I see them for what they're worth
Only now can I comprehend just what it took
To stay together, to grow better, to shelter from the weather
The reality of life, certainty of death, and want of truth
As players they were near perfect, never breaking from character
As people they were broken, individual and alone
They set the stage, conceived the cast, and tried to ignore the plot
But the moral of the story seemed to say what they could not
Chorus:
We were named after saints we never heard of, never learned of
Taught to memorize numbers and find our way home
In backseats we were brilliant, famous, star-gazers
Hollow was this stage but how could we have known
Hollow was this stage but how could we have known
Ignorance is bliss and in a sense saves innocence
Loneliness is an illusion brought on by selfishness
In our fight to be right no one wins, we're all last
Looking back with black eyes makes it hard to see the past
(Chorus)
So raise a glass to help forget the past
And make today as empty as the last
Cuz' it's hard to make things last
Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2018
Epic, folksy psych-pop, diligently crafted from sessions recorded in a beach studio and an old San Francisco mansion. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 9, 2015
Tom Heyman documents life in San Francisco circa 2023, refusing to succumb to easy characterization & instead capturing the city’s nuance. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 22, 2023
Hiss Golden Messenger transforms from a solo songwriter to a full-band on a record benefiting Durham Public Schools. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 9, 2020