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Creatures of Habit

by The Damn Choir

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    Our new album, Creatures of Habit. Recorded at Trout Recording in September 2013. Produced by Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Swans, Akron/Family, etc) the album is the final product of nearly two years of intensive songwriting. Enjoy!
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1.
Creatures 03:39
CREATURES I eventually... I'll get you out of my head, I'll get you out of my Skeletons in your closet dear But I helped you bury your bones by the river You've got such a long drive home. Can I rest my head? You can rest your bones. What are you praying for? You can't save me. You think I've lost my faith, then pray for grace now. I'm praying for rain to wash you away. I've seen wise men splinter while the faithful shiver, so pull up your covers cause this time it's winter. We're creatures of habit dear. You won't walk away and I can't walk away. How did we get to this place? Only the devil knows. That you crawled under my skin, and now you're in my head and in you're in my bones. What are you praying for? You can't save me. You think I've lost my faith, then pray for grace now. I'm praying for rain to wash you away. I've seen wise men splinter while the faithful shiver, so pull up your covers cause this time it's winter. I still feel your fire. I feel your fire. I feel your fire. You're burning me out now. Come all ye faithful fools rush in, we can bury our Bibles. Come all ye holy men step aside, I'm kissing the wicked. I prayed and I prayed and I prayed. And you said you wouldn't change then you changed. And I prayed and I prayed and I prayed. And you changed, you changed, you changed, you changed.
2.
Radiator 02:28
Just say it, just say it. "Everything will be all right, everything will be all right." Radiator, you're still clicking. In this cold room, no I don't miss you. My hat's off to the longest winter and the cold war from the floor boards. Leave your dress on, you don't know him. In the City of Big Shoulders, take my hand when it's cold here. We'll take a long walk off a short pier. Just say it, just say it! Everything will be all right and everything will be all right. Radiator, you're unforgiving as the steam pours out the living. In this small room it wants to find us even if there's nothing to remind us. Just say it, just say it! Everything will be all right and everything will be all right. My eyes crawl on to the words you wrote. But they're all the same then we turned out this way. My eyes crawl on every single note. But the words you said, how could we end this way?
3.
Where did you go to? I don't know. The sun kissed your skin. You said it's god's eye on you but I know the truth. You shine, you shine, you shine on me now. Is this what you want? Do you even know? Are his hands on your skin? Please tell me the truth I once walked with you. And you shine on me now. Tell me now if it's your story. Climb to the light he's your morning glory. Tell me that it happened in this room. I'll let this match and I'll burn here with you. Tell me that there's less of you. There's no god left in this room for you. Remember you said that you won't go? You left it for dead. A love I tried to revive but it won't open its eyes. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. I hope you're shining now. Tell me now if it's your story. Climb to the light he's your morning glory. Tell me that it happened in this room. I'll let this match and I'll burn here with you. Tell me that there's less of you. There's no god left in this room for you. And what the hell am I gonna do without you? As I close my eyes and I'm askin' for the moon. But there's no god left in this room for you.
4.
East Bay 04:25
Oh whoa oh. You got me good. And you got me good. You held me close. You held me closer still. And you broke my skin. And you got me good. And you got me good. So raise your hands. Just raise your hands to mine. And let me go. Cause our love's no longer blind. Remember the East Bay. Remember, remember. Fork your tongue to sing his name. Sing, "Oh ho aha!" Fork your tongue to sing his grace. Sing. "Oh ho aha!" "Oh ha aha! Oh ho aha! Oh ho aha! Oh ho aha!"
5.
Here I come now here I come. I've been marchin' with the saints. With a cross on my back and a noose around my neck. Here I go now here I go. I'm walkin' on my feet again. Past the door where you laid with him. And you counted all my sins. You come around to watch me fall. Your devil's frown turned upside down. Now I'm upside down. Here I come now here I come. I hear you callin' out his name. You couldn't wait for the leaves to change before you walked away. Here I go now here I go. I seen you smilin' at the end. Will you ever just lay for days and I'll take your pain away. You come around to watch me fall. Your devil's frown turned upside down. Now I'm upside down. Don't let him touch your skin his hands are fatal. And I swear I, I swear I... Don't come back you're not forgiven. And I swear I, I swear I... Look in his eyes, tell him you're not faithful. And I swear I, I swear I... Don't come back you're not forgiven. And I swear I, I swear I tried.
6.
Your tears remind me of the rain. Rain drops fall into my hands. Don't leave, tell me what you've done. The moon's fading in the sky. I think God's eye has gotten old. But don't go, tell me what you've done. It's a fine day for bad weather when your secrets are your sweater. And you said, "it's getting...it's so cold here." But Chicago's not right without you. In the train windows I sometimes see your face, but it goes away. Your tears remind me of my pain. Black blood's curing out my veins. Don't leave, I'll tell you what I've done. The stars faded in your eyes. Lay back, don't begin to cry. And I swear, I'll tell you what I've done. It's a fine day for bad weather when your secrets are your sweater. And you said, "it's getting...it's so cold here." But Chicago's not right without you. In the train windows I sometimes see your face, but it goes away. Waitin' for sunshine like I'm waitin' for your eyes to meet mine by the things we burned. And I thought that day that we both learned that I'm leanin' on your fire. My hands they will perspire. When the blisters come to spit out blood and my bones are cold. I'm in love with you! We were the infantry and our love meant the world to me so won't you come and knock again and I swear this time I'll let you in.
7.
Surgery 03:38
I need surgery. Cut her out of me. Let the blood be shown. But tell her to come home if it gets too cold. And I'll make our bed where our flesh first met. But then your fever starts, then your fever... Calm down, just calm down, you don't even look at me now. But then I tell myself, "She's not, no she's not mine anymore. No she's not mine anymore." And I need Calvary to come and crucify me. I'll write your name in red so I won't forget what you did. But August comes too soon. I won't hold my breath for you. My lips are turnin' blue, my lips are turnin... But then your fever starts, then your fever... Calm down, just calm down, you don't even look at me now. But then I tell myself, "She's not no she's not mine anymore. No she's not mine anymore." Whoa-oh! Whoa-oh! Tell me what you're sayin'. Tell me what you're sayin. No don't go! No you don't go! Is what I'm sayin'. Is what I'm sayin'. No don't go! No you don't go! Is what I'm sayin'. Is what I'm sayin'.
8.
Sun up, sun down, this god forsaken town. You came lockjawed. Your words run on and on again. Your sins, your sins are inspirational. Your sins, your sins are inspirational. And you said our love won't have to die as you lay softly by his side. And I swear I must have God's eyes. I can see his hands in your dress. All the things your selfish skin will crave, and I lay in this shallow grave. I count the days and I wait for you. So now you know that this grave is built for two. Is it time I wake up to see the light, to be the apple of your lying eyes? Like a child I watch its drowning eyes. To Lake Michigan is where our love did die. All the days I prayed you would stay. And I lay in this shallow grave. I count the days and I wait for you. So now you know that this grave is built for two. Your sins are inspirational. Your sins are inspirational. Your fire still burning is inspirational. Oh whoa oh. And I'll be the one who will catch you on your way down. And I'll be the one who will catch you on your way down.
9.
Butcher 03:21
And all the young girls are shakin' their shims, and the butcher he smiles when he's cuttin' off limbs. The boys are the track bettin' on dogs all day. But now I'm at a church a plate circles around takin' every last dollar not nailed to the ground. The preacher's in the back room dreamin' of thighs and a nun wakes up to look at the time. Where did it go? But now a cop stops just to look at the ground and he thinks about the love that he once found. There's a boy down the street cooking methamphetamines. Been workin' on a recipe since he's been thirteen; just a boy. Did I mention? I'm falling head first for you. Did I mention? I'm falling in love with you. And all the Spanish women are sweepin' the streets and the gangsters roll by a boy with a dream. And the sun gave up, the moon came out. We all came together to look at the stars. La da da la da da da da Did I mention? I'm falling head first for you. Did I mention? I'm falling in love with you.
10.
Say You Will 03:14
Say you will and I'll be gone. I'll move back east cause it's where I'm from. You said you would so I moved on past your skin where I once belonged. Keep saying his name say it over again. I came down here just to love you. Keep saying his name say it over again. I came down here just to love you, my friend. And you always came down. Come up, come down. And say you will. You're almost gone. Will you move out west? Cause it's where he's from. You said you would so I walked home. Past the place you said, "Don't hang on." Keep saying his name say it over again. I came down here just to love you. Keep saying his name say it over again. I came down here just to love you, my friend. And you always came down. Come on step down you don't love him now. Come on step down from the altar. Come on step down the charade is over now. Come on step down.
11.
Some day maybe we'll go out for just one. If the stars won't come down I will pick you up but I'll let you down. When there's hard times, baby we'll be under the gun. When the sad times come around I will pick you up but I'll let you down. And I won't love you if you won't let me and I've been chasing your ghost. And I won't stay here cause you can only change the willing. And there'll never be an easy way out. Some day maybe we'll go out for just one. If the stars won't come down I will pick you up but I'll let you down. When there's hard times, baby we'll be under the gun. When the sad times come around I will pick you up but I'll let you down. And I lay beside you and my hands will find you but then I'll find my way out. And hearts still broken our ways and sheets unspoken. And I'm still chasing your ghost. And I'm comin'... And I'm comin' home. And I will love you til you're old and grey and we almost lay in a grave. But the only thing is, this grave was built for two. It's for you and I. And I won't love you if you won't wait here for you and I. And I will lay here with the ground still frozen and wait for you and I. And I won't love you if you won't let me. Now I think we should fall.
12.
If you're falling I will catch you. In your fire, my bones still burning. And the stars do, they remind you that God is sleeping in again. Sing row-oh oh ho. And the sun's out, and the ground's hot. Hold my hand we'll run to water. I'm baptised in your eyes. To the angels sing row-oh oh ho. I sing you, 'row-oh oh ho.' In your eyes I think I can see it. In your eyes god I can see it. We built this tower watch the city just fall right down.
13.
Violet 04:11
Now that the sun is setting you said that you're regretting tasting the rain as you're walking through fields of grey. I hope for better weather. I hope to soon forget her. Did I see you walking through the cold? When we set the fields on fire only just to warm your hands. When you said, 'the grass is greener.' You're going home to find yourself. Now that the wind is changing I see hands are shaking. It's ok, just go on your way again. I hope a good man finds you, the midwest will wait behind you. Did I see you walking through the cold? When we set the fields on fire only just to warm your hands. When you said, 'the grass is greener.' Won't you come and save me now? Won't you come and save me now? Then I saw you the first time I fell in love if I told you the truth. When we set the fields on fire only just to warm your hands. When you said, 'the grass is greener.' Won't you come and save me now? Won't you come and save me now?

credits

released February 7, 2014

Gordon Robertson: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Katy Myers: cello, vocals, glockenspiel
Brandon Stein: bass, vocals, additional guitars, percussion
Shaun "Otis" Thompson Duffy: lead guitar, additional guitars, vocals
Marty Kane: drums, percussion, vocals
Bryce Goggin: piano, organ, vocals

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Bryce Goggin
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering

Executive Producer: Daniel Dwyer

Adam Sachs: engineer

Bobby Lewis: technical assistance
Henry Ellis: technical assistance

Recorded in September 2013 at Trout Recording in Brooklyn, NY.

Artwork by Ryan Besch

All songs written by Gordon Robertson and The Damn Choir.

This album was made possible with help from: John W. Myers, Bridgett Brzezinski, Eddie Seslowsky, Robert Scott Landry, Matthew Rees, Ryan "BMF" Duffy, Ben Mahoney, Jill Thompson, Katherine Haennicke

Special thanks to: Von Shakes (Paddy, Hugh, Cillian and Ryan), Emma Menton, Ian Tsan, David (for the demos), Dennis Baker, Pat Brown, Jack McClain, and our friends and families.

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The Damn Choir Chicago, Illinois

Indie folk rock with emotion and edge. Gordon Robertson leads the band in songs that explore life, love and the dark spaces in between.

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