B i o g r a p h y (by Jon O'Brien)
Emily Haines is the lead singer of the Canadian band Metric. She is also a part-time member of Broken Social Scene. She has contributed backing vocals to albums by other Broken Social Scene alumni, such as solo albums by Jason Collett. Emily is a daughter of Canadian poet Paul Haines and sister of Canadian television journalist Avery Haines. She was born in New Delhi, India, and raised in Canada. After settling in Peterborough, Ontario at the age of 3, she grew up in a milieu rich with experimental art and musical expression. Paul would often make cassettes of rare and eclectic music for his daughter to listen to and her early influences included Carla Bley, Robert Wyatt, and later PJ Harvey. By her teens she followed her parents' footsteps by attending the Etobicoke School of the Arts. There she met Amy Millan and Kevin Drew, with whom she would later collaborate in songs for Broken Social Scene and Stars. Haines and Millan briefly formed their first band around 1990 while at Etobicoke, and with songs later written and recorded while at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in 1992-1993, at Toronto in 1995, and at Concordia University in Montreal in 1995-1996, Haines distributed in 1996 an early effort with a limited number of copies. Haines has also ventured out into a small solo career, releasing two albums, Cut In Half and Also Double and the anticipated Knives Don't Have Your Back (to be released in September, although it has been quietly leaked to the internet within the last week) while occasionally playing a limited amount of shows with Amy Millan as the opener. Haines' act consisted of just herself (blindfolded), and a piano. There are numerous leaks of some of the shows hovering around the internet. Her band Metric's most recently released album is entitled Live It Out.
Click HERE For Emily Haines' Metric Lyrics
American Dream Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl Baby Blues Ballrooms Of Mars Backyards Bottom of the world Come Back Clean Don't Think Twice, It's Alright Ending Start Expecting to fly 'Going, Going, Gone Hangover days Knock you out Our Hell Row Boat Shrine to fast goodbyes Sprig Stopwatch hearts Telethon The bank Them (Pop Song #3333)
Cut In Half and Also Double
Dog I do get lonely So many nights, spent soaking beans And listening to my ears You are what you hear You are what you hear Dog Sit up and run White laced panties and calm it Your body is warm, so is my vomit Your body is warm, but I'm not cold Hard to say Let it go before it gets away Hard to move Standing next to you He's a good dog I can do whatever I want to him 'Cause it doesn't show He doesn't know any better Sit Rub Here, dog Bore If you leave early No one's coming out to get you Once you're gone We'll forget you were here and there I get up early Make a list and go on back to bed to dream You're slicing up my face You like my hair And that's all that matters It's too early Bed of hands still we can't fall asleep for too long Forget while we're here, not over there It's not crazy anymore Every bus ride's such a bore I miss that shiny downtown whore That I was before It's not crazy anymore Every bus ride's such a bore I miss that shiny downtown whore That I was before Oh misery What would I have if you didn't have me Oh Misery Who are you going to move when you can't touch me Oh misery Who do you love if you didn't love me Try me, I'm really not a whore... Eden Welcome to the garden of Eden Can you see even me When I've pushed Call it a fall and Lay all the blame on me From where I'm standing It's a long way down Up here, at the top of a building Top of a mountain, top of a crowd Watching all the people moving Down there in their clothes It's like they're hiding But there's nothing left That everybody doesn't already know I feel alright, I'm not coming down Until I remember And I will remember Where I'm standing it's high enough I'm looking all over Miles and miles of highway signs Do you know how to get out when you run out When you ran out of reasons nights ago And I will remember If I still remember the garden of Eden You could see even me when I'm pushed Called it a fall and lay all the blame on me Pretty head Too late today, for the sky to open No living place lay here for the sky to fall No one remembers when the wheel was broken Made a rut so deep, made a massive hole Made a man so small I don't want to see that girl Always got something going wrong inside her pretty head I don't want to be that girl Too late today for an open moment A stray temptation's all in her touch And on the way, not a word was spoken There's not much to say Already gave some, already gave too much I don't want to be that girl Always got something going wrong inside her pretty head I don't want to be that girl Who can't get over it Have been dumped and living it, and it shows I don't want to be that girl Always got something going wrong inside her pretty head I don't want to be that girl Freak Traded your bucket and bruises for a bag of bones And a wardrobe of excuses You live too hard, you look too good And you're in my backyard Just like everybody said you would be Greased by imposters Plastic at the crust Orbiting lighter You'd gone too far if you could And you're in my backyard, Just like everybody said you would be So let's get wired, I feel weakened Make it look so easy, come on, come on freak You're a liar, I'm a thief And this will get you If your baby gets down off, I'm listening It gets so crowded in an empty place Two eyeballs for every face Three bodies hanging up a transient's cell Six hands in the same hole It gets so crowded in an empty place Two eyes for every face Three weary bodies hanging up one's soul Six hands in the same hole Everybody said you would be Greased by imposters Plastic at the crust And I'm orbiting lighter You live too hard, you look too good And you're in my backyard, Just like everybody said you would be So let's get wired, I feel weakened Make it look so easy, come on, come on Let's get wired, I feel weakened Make it look so easy, come on, come on freak Let's get wired In their house we're belching Down some very nice words Just to keep it brief We'll get tomorrow as you win "It's not really going to work, I don't think" "Hmm, just play it anyway" Beautiful boy, what can I do I told you I told you Beautiful boy, I know I never do What I want to, I want to The view Who deserves a pretty tangle dream Green hillside, hands inside hands I lay before you like unclaimed land You drove your bulldozer over Wrote your name in the sand I am new, watch the smoke move through You've got this world, and the wine in your hand So you drink it down, then you look at me And offer me some watered down potion Eau de toilette of devotion Tell me you've been saving it for me Tell me you've been saving it for me Who deserves a pretty tangle dream Green hillside, hands inside hands I lay before you like unclaimed land Clear economic potential You hung yourself in the sky frozen blue My smile, a tattoo, you're happy Happy with what you've created Tell me to choose like some big suit tycoon You drink it down, then you look at me And offer me some watered down potion Eau de toilette of devotion Tell me you've been saving it for me Tell me you've been saving it for me You used to shine I can't find where you drink it down Yeah look at me Offer me a watered down potion Always one to let out devotion So you drink it down, then you look at me And offer me some watered down potion Eau de toilette of devotion Tell me you've been saving it for me Tell me you've been saving it for me Eau de toilette I know your ways, so when I tell you "Don't get crazy" But the last wall standing's fell Daddy kicked it down Your little sister's gonna have a baby I heard you're planning to drive into the desert Hope you'll find the gypsy queen there To make your body feel a little better I heard some talk around the table Heard someone say your name They talk like you were a superstar They know you for what you are Do you really think it's wise to try To push the sun back down before it rises I know you're used to winning When are you going to choose the prizes, oh oh You must get tired of standing on the outside Watching the show, tired of all the useless conversation You know how the boys like their little ladies They like them silent, dead, dead quiet Even though I know you don't believe in dreams Don't even like to close your eyes The other night there was a shot outside You screamed in your sleep You said "Help me I'm still breathing Oh Jesus, sweet Jesus, isn't this enough?" It's been a long time you've been standing in line Just like they've taught you to Waiting for the view, you'd learned in school You were entitled to Carpet You can burn your paper fingers in the ashtray Drown your swollen lips in my ruby wine You can shave your heavy head In my carpeted hallway Lie on the floor like so many before Being sure for the first time You chose the right clothes to wear You can burn your paper fingers in the ashtray Drown your swollen lips in my ruby wine You can shave your heavy head In my carpeted hallway As you laugh to erase all the dirt in this place Making sure for the last time together is nowhere Pink Don't say this: "Leave me with your brown boots behind the door and come to bed Everybody lies I never said I'd be happy" Don't say it Don't injure your mouth Trying to show me where you've been I've seen everything You can't ambush behind the tomcat grin Sad sad, tomcat That's a hideous void in your ears Watching the feet while the song disappears Don't say this: "Put on your best suit, wash and go Get out of my head Everybody lies but let's be happy (Oh let's be happy) I am gorgeous (Oh you're gorgeous) Pink and skimpy (Pink and skimpy) Let's be famous (let's be famous) Let's be happy (Oh let's be happy) And obnoxious (And obnoxious) Thick and skinny (Skinny) Rich and famous (Rich and famous)" That's a hideous void in your ears Watching the sun while the moon disappears That's all there is, that's all I know Got a couple of friends, say I told you so
Knives Don't Have Your Back Our Hell
First went wrong is hard to find We're paralyzed, we apologize Our hell is a good life Last went wrong Where's my prize Under the lights Can we call it in We'll be on the road Can we stop When we stop My back will turn Your face toward the fence What I thought it was it isn't now What I thought it was it isn't now All this weight is honest worse We're moderate, we modernize Till our hell is a good life All we know what to forget How to do right Coloring in the black hole Can't we stop When we stop My hands will shake My eyes will burn My throat will ache Watching you turn From me toward your friends What I thought it was it isn't now What I thought it was it isn't Punishment to stall what is done What I thought was in is missing out What I thought it was it isn't now There's a pattern in the system There's a bullet in the gun That's why I tried to save you But it can't be done It can't be done Doctor Blind The Lack of Light Hollow Sea Poison Beaches Limousines Toothless Dentists Cops That Kill My baby's got the lonesome lows Don't quite go away overnight Doctor blind just prescribe the blue ones If the dizzying highs don't subside overnight Doctor blind just prescribe the red ones Da, da, da, da, da... Hard to hold Cold to touch Fall to pieces Treat the rush in hindsight With prime time talk All your pain Will end here Let the doctor Soothe your brain, dear My baby's got the lonesome lows Don't quite go away overnight Doctor blind just prescribe the blue ones If the dizzying highs don't subside overnight Doctor blind just prescribethe red ones Da, da, da, da, da... Crowd Surf off a Cliff Crowd Surf Off a Cliff Cursed with a love that you can't express It's not for a fuck or a kiss Rather give the world away than wake up lonely Everywhere in every way I see you with me Crowd surf off a cliff, land out on the ice Crowd surf off to sea, float toward the beach If you find me, hide me, I don't know where I've been If you find me, hide me, I don't know where I've been Are we breathing, are we breathing Are we wasting our breath It won't be enough to be rich All the babies tucked away in their beds We're out here screaming “The life that you thought through is gone!” Can't wind down, the ending outlasting the move I wake up lonely Crowd surf off a cliff, land out on the ice Crowd surf off to sea, float toward the beach If you find me, hide me, I don't know where I've been When you phone me tell me everything I did If I'm sorry you lost me you'd better make it quick ‘Cause this call costs a fortune and it's late where you live It's late where you live Rather give the world away than wake up lonely Everywhere in every way I see you with me All the babies tucked away in their beds We're out here screaming “The life that you thought through is gone!” Can't wind down, the ending outlasting the move I wake up lonely I wake up lonely Detective Daughter She was calling around to find half an hour She walked right into my mirror Said she's here to waste time I said, “That's fine.” Listen to thy self be true To thy self be true Every thread Every hair rearranged to resemble you You could help her Detective daughter copy Please don't be me There are so many skirts under the table None of these long legs are mine She calls around, finds me crying Wish I were capable of lying sometimes Hide out Love is hell, hell is love Hell is asking to be loved Hide out and run when no one's looking She's still calling around to find half an hour She'll always have a place in my mirror She's got no more time now she wants mine But I'm all out too To thy self be true To thy self be true To thy self be true The Lottery I only wanted what everyone wanted Since bras started burning up ribs in the sixties Favors are flying, faces are falling All I desire is to never be waiting If that's a crime let's commit it There's a new crime, sexual suicide When our underwire radio Tears into their international airwaves Boredom will Die! Ears will Bleed! All they desire is to give and to please There's a new crime, sexual suicide There's a new crime, let's commit it While we're waiting on the next day To begin it in the best way There's a new crime, sexual suicide There's a new crime, let's commit it Don't worry, Heather, about forever Don't worry about me It's a lottery baby, everybody roll the dice It's a lottery baby, everybody roll the dice Will we always be Like little kids Running group to group Asking who loves me Don't know who loves me It's pathetic It's impossible Like girls in stilettos Like girls in stilettos Like girls in stilettos trying to run The Maid Needs a Maid Bros before hos disagree on the sidelines Fight for a fee the man needs a maid The maid needs a maid Bros before hos is a rule read the guidelines You trouble me your breasts heave when you sing Your mouth should be working for me for free Sewing up the fold ‘cause I've been laid up Will you put on the fire for me Draw the bath and remind me to eat You won't need a real job you won't need a real job Because I would love to pay for you You could be a good wife to me I would love to pay for you You are the maid for me Mostly Waving Young Thought as I was Thought as I was Thought as I was Done Thought as I was Thought as I was Thought as I was Get Get the line down Get the line down Get the line down Don't elaborate like that You'll frighten off the frat boys Use your baby talk Frighten off frighten on This fall the blues are brown So turn your horse around now The blues are brown Missing, mostly waving Thought as I was Done Thought as I was Young Thought as I was Reading in Bed Who's in a bad mood Who's in a taxi Turning the clock back Avoiding a fight with this man he is meeting Stands in the lobby Counting his questions in the neon light Sinking under the river She sewer line touches the edge of the suburbs Back to the beach where a family is waiting on rumors of summer lay out a blanket bring something to feed the birds With all the luck you've had Why are your songs so sad You sing from a book you were reading in bed And took to heart All of your lives unled Reading in bed Nothing & Nowhere ( A.k.a Numb is the new high ) Sketch of your faces I still don't know you You aren't permanent Permanent You want all of our moments stolen Blind alleys and hallways to basements How are you gonna hide till you disappear Nothing and nowhere is golden Apartments are cages I still don't know what is permanent Permanent Maybe all my possessions were precious Truth is, all my possessions I somehow lost them Been traveling so light, when we're floating by It seems nothing and nowhere is golden Some say we're lost in space Some say we're falling off the page Some say our life is insane But it isn't insane on paper Playgrounds are graveyards And all of our scars are permanent Permanent There's no replacement for places I'll always love you, you're mine Numb is the new high, all memories die out ‘Till nothing and nowhere is golden Some say we always only wanna get off Some say our hands are much too soft Some say our life is insane But it isn't insane on paper Some say our hair is in our eyes Some say we're out of our little minds Some say our life is insane But it isn't insane to have to ask The Last Page Hover through the foggy vapors Till I see you in a dream Singing animals to sleep By the way It's over without you I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way Lights out till midnight Sleep all day Yeah, yeah, yeah Sha la la la Dark and quiet only the owls Are watching only the sky Is up and I'm leaving for a place From another time Just to be near you Just to be near you Just to be near you I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way I'm in the way Don't become the one you hated Death is absolutely safe A billion bibles mark the last page I've gotta roll through the days without you here I get a shock, shock, hurts to heal I've gotta roll through the weeks without you here I get a shock, shock, hurts to heal I've gotta roll through the months without you here I get a shock, shock, shock I've gotta roll through the weeks without you here I get a shock, shock, hurts to heal I've gotta roll through the weeks without you here Shock, hurts to heal, hurts to heal, hurts to heal... Winning To never open a book always reading a magazine Outspend betting if it looks like winning you haven't been. Knives don't have your back I wait and I count the knives don't have your back I wait and I count to the last breath we take What we made doesn't make sense What's a wolf without a pack Open your chest and take the heart from it Open your chest What's bad, we'll fix it What's wrong, we'll make it alright Alright, it's gone, we'll find it Takes so long, we've got time, all the time Some part of you, too small to lose Some part of you, too small to lose All of us, all of you All of us, all of you Counting to the last breath we take What we made doesn't make sense What's a wolf without a pack Open your chest and take the heart from it When you talk can I tape you How'd you get what we don't know We don't know how to help, only know how to hound Nose to the grindstone, grindstone to the ground Don't even visit that place They'll sharpen their teeth on your smile I'm glad you didn't All our songs will be lullabyes in no time What's bad, what's wrong Make it alright Alright, it's gone, so long We've got time, all the time All the time
Choir of the Mind
Planets Hours to spend, hours to burn Sleeping through the seasons Open, suspended time and space Planets stand in place Planets stand in place Watching it end, watching it burn Out of habit, know the patterns Broken, the fragments float in space People drift away People drift away Fatal Gift Haven't we made Enough for a living wage We accept the fatal gift A soup stone for our stove And a blindfold for our tears Paying for a living wage Know it's a deceptive deal We accept the fatal gift They hover over where we live The things you own, they own you Haven't we saved Enough to go away Enough to reach the coast Why do we stay Paying for a living wage I know it's a deceptive deal We accept the fatal gift They hover over where we live All the things you own, they own you The things you own, they own you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you (All the things you own, they own you) And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you (The things you own, they own you) And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you Close my eyes Close my eyes The things you own, they own you All the things you own, they own you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you (All the things you own, they own you) And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you (The things you own, they own you) And you own it and it owns you And you own it and it owns you (All the things you own, they own you) And you own it The things you own, they own you The things you own, they own you And you own it and it owns you... Strangle All Romance Don't hang on so tightly You'll strangle all romance Seduce me, surprise me Pretend we met by chance Dealt the ace back to me so I played it Feeling the odds were for once on my side What a lie, no I'm not where I thought I would be and I'm naked Love is my labour of life Love is my labour of life Love is my labour of life Is my labour of... Love is my labour of life We'll tear it up We'll tear it up We'll tear it up Over the open sky we're higher and higher and higher Under the cover of night we always find each other coming down All of the endings and beginnings are rough There are so many kinds, there's never enough Love Love is my labour of life Love is my labour of life Love is my labour of life We'll tear it up We'll tear it up We'll tear it up Wounded Every time I wear this dress I'm back to the way I was when we met Every time a little less I'm not like before, hey When you got London next Remember the way I was Caught up in a useless test That nobody grades so I never thought what I thought I deserved Girl, you got a wounded look Give it a rest Lay your weapon down beside my bed Isn't it behind you yet? It's not like before, hey All abandoned hopes I have With a best case escape plan I remember you descent And the only way to land Is to crash and burn What we do is grotesque The pleasure we get, filling up a poison well of revenge Every time I wear this dress I'm back to the way I was when we met Every time a little less I'm not like before, hey That's what we all say That's what we all say I remember you descent And the only way to land Is to crash and burn Legend of the Wild Horse Let me tell you 'bout the legend of the wild horse She escaped from the racetrack, ran away and never came back From the dark forest For sanity I remember this Now that I'm fenced in ba-dum ba-dum Just like before, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Yeah I've been punched up ba-dum ba-dum Ten times or more, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) The legend of the wild horse She got lost on a golf course She got locked out of a life-force Or sanity I remember this Now that I'm fenced in ba-dum ba-dum Just like before, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Yeah I've been punched up ba-dum ba-dum Ten times or more, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Now that I'm fenced in ba-dum ba-dum Just like before, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Yeah I've been punched up ba-dum ba-dum Ten times or more, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Before you knew me I'd dive from the roof I'd swing from the trees and hang from the moon Now that I'm fenced in ba-dum ba-dum Just like before, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Yeah I've been punched up ba-dum ba-dum Ten times or more, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) Yeah I've been punched up ba-dum ba-dum Ten times or more, I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I swore I'll be your warrior (warrior) I was the wild horse Nihilist Abyss When I walk alone I'm walking with you When I sleep alone I'm sleeping with you When I just drink alone, I get so drunk with you When I go out alone, I'm dying I'm dancing I'm dying with you I'm dying I'm dancing I'm dying with you Set me free Let me never feel, let me never feel, let me never fear anything Set me free Let me never feel, let me never feel, let me never fear anything Set me free Like we never kissed, like we never touched, like we never did anything Never did anything Never feel anything How can you resent love Can you prevent any love at all How can you resent love Can you prevent any love at all I meant what I said back then but the danger now is all my anger Spinning out of orbit toward the nihilist abyss When I walk alone I'm walking with you When I sleep alone I'm sleeping with you I meant what I said back then but the danger now is all my anger Spinning out of orbit toward the nihilist abyss Minefield of Memory So unstable then you were born So unstable then you were born So unstable then you were born So unstable then you were born Just leave a light on in the window (I'll be there, there, I'll be there) Just leave a light on in the window (I'll be there, there, I'll be there) How has the song in your heart found a tune How is the sound strong enough to carry you Over the undertow Keeping the volume low I stay with my memories And it's a minefield of memory I'm going to stay with my memories I'm in a minefield of memory Oh it's a minefield of memory I've been living in a hole Everybody has to know All the ways I didn't deal with everything right Help me dig another hole Everybody has to know All the ways I didn't deal with everything right Bury the body in the garden (It's still there) (It's still there) Bury the body in the garden (It's still there) (It's still there) How do the days in a row make a week? I'm leaving a song in your heart as we speak Keeping the volume low No matter where I go I stay with my memories And it's a minefield of memory (It's a minefield, it's a mind-fuck) I'm going to stay (right here) With my memories (I know this place) Even though it's a minefield of memory (It's a minefield, it's a mind-fuck) I got to stay (right here) With my memories (I know this place) Oh it's a minefield of memory (It's a minefield, it's a mind-fuck) I'm going to stay (right here) With my memories (I know this place) Even though it's a minefield of memory (It's a minefield, it's a mind-fuck) I want to wait (right here) With my memories (I love this place) And it's a minefield of memory (It's a minefield, it's a mind-fuck) I'm going to wait (right here) With my memories (I love this place) Even though it's a minefield of memory (It's a minefield, it's a mind-fuck) I'm going to stay (right here) With my memories (I love this place) Even though it's a minefield of memory Oh it's a minefield of memory Oh it's a minefield of memory Perfect on the Surface This is (this is) This is The purpose of my life This is (this is) This is The purpose of my life This is (this is) This is The purpose of my life Harvest all my love, harness all my power To be perfect on the surface The surface cracks and I Harvest all my love, harness all I had To be perfect on the surface The surface shines Kill it (save it) Kill it (to save it) The purpose of my life Kill it (to save it) Kill it (to save it) The purpose of my life Kill it (to save it) Kill it (to save it) The purpose of my life Harvest all my love (Harvest all my love) Harness all my power (Harness all my power) To be perfect on the surface The surface cracks and I Harvest all my love (Harvest all my love) Harness all I had (Harness all I had) To be perfect on the surface The surface shine Harvest all my love (Harvest all my love) Harness all my power (Harness all my power) To be perfect on the surface The surface cracks and I Harvest all my love (Harvest all my love) Tarnish all my pride Perfect on the surface The surface shines Choir of the Mind If I could go back, if I could reach that feeling again If I could go back, if I could reach that feeling again I would not have let shit-talkers stop me Failures whisper sad how hard she tries Advance retreat, accept defeat so softly Shrink inside to see through your camera's eyes The greatness she has dreamed her acts have missed Her labour, her passion, her pain A rapture and pang, her glory and her curse; And yet she cannot choose but labours on; Her mighty heart forbids her to desist (Her failure lives, her failure lives!) For as long as the world lasts her failure lives Astonishing and foiling Reason's gaze A folly and a beauty unspeakable A superb madness of the will to live A superb madness of the will to live (A superb madness of the will to live) This is her being's law, its sole resource; Though satisfaction never comes (Never comes, never comes, never comes) Her hungry will to lavish everywhere Her many-imaged fictions of the Self And thousand fashions of one Reality (One reality, one reality, one reality, one reality) Escape from the moment's prison of littleness (She shuts eternity into an hour) Almost (almost) She nears what never can be attained (So softly) She shuts eternity into an hour She serves no aim But labours driven by a nameless Will Her secret and impossible task She serves no aim But labours driven by a nameless Will (So softly) So she follows her sublime irrational plan Invents devices of her magic art But even now she knows not what she's done For all is wrought beneath a baffling mask A semblance other than its hidden truth The unfinished creation of a changing soul In a body changing with the inhabitant (So softly) The unfinished creation of a changing soul (The unfinished creation of a changing soul) In a body changing with the inhabitant (In a body changing with the inhabitant) Insignificant her means, infinite her work (Work, work , work, work, work) On a great field of shapeless consciousness A strange enthusiasm has moved her heart She hungers for heights, passions for the supreme Hunts for the perfect word, the perfect shape Leaps to the summit light (Summit light, summit light, summit light) And woos his large-eyed wandering thoughts to dwell In figures of her million-impulsed Force Woos his large-eyed wandering thoughts to dwell In figures of her million-impulsed Force Her million-impulsed Force (So softly) Her million-impulsed Force That's it (So softly) Her million-impulsed Force (So softly) Statuette With a feather in your cap Another jewel in your crown Another notch in your belt You're the captain at the helm The statuette on your shelf Says you're better than me Better than me With all the coal in the core All the water and the oil You can buy any girl in the world With the soil that you borrow And the moral you deny You can buy the eyes of the world With all the coal in the core All the water and the oil You can buy any girl in the world With the soil that you borrow And the moral you deny You can buy the eyes of the world Better than me (You're better than me) Better than me (You're better than me) Better than me (You're better than me) Like oil in the ocean I couldn't keep to myself Your father was a merchant And I'm a salesman myself See what we have in common Is so easy to find We're wound around each other Like wires and vines Wires and vines Build a shrine to fast goodbyes And we played Sweet Adeline Who should you apologize to What is there to say Build a shrine to fast goodbyes And we played Sweet Adeline There's nothing more to apologize for What is there to say With all the coal in the core All the water and the oil You can buy any girl in the world With the soil that you borrow And the moral you deny You can buy the eyes of the world With all the coal in the core All the water and the oil You can buy any girl in the world With the soil that you borrow And the moral you deny You can buy the eyes of the world Better than me (You're better than me, you're better than me, you're better than me) Better than me (You're better than me, you're better than me, you're better than me) Better than me (You're better than me, you're better than me, you're better than me) Better than me (You're better than me, you're better than me, you're better than me) Siren From the grandstand to the island To the mainland white sand beach I only want what I can't reach From the songbird to the siren To the famous melody I only want what I can't see A songbird someday will find me It's a wonder I remember What you wrote, the way you wore your clothes Then the moment was beyond us And you knew I would go From the one hand to the other hand Reasons to be made I only wanted to escape From the bedroom to the ballroom To the basements I've outgrown I only wanted to be known I only wanted to be known It's a wonder (It's a wonder) I remember (I remember) What you wrote, the way you wore your clothes (The way you wore your clothes) Then the moment (Then the moment) Was upon us (Was upon us) In the spotlight I just froze And you knew I would go From the hotel to the motel To the tent pitched in a field I only wanted to be healed From the hideout in the treehouse To the shelter underground I only wanted to be found I only wanted to be found It's a wonder (It's a wonder) I remember (I remember) What you wrote, the way you wore your clothes (The way you wore your clothes) Then the moment (Then the moment) Was upon us (Was upon us) In the spotlight I just froze (Just froze) It's a wonder (It's a wonder) I remember (I remember) What you wrote, the way you wore your clothes (The way you wore your clothes) Then the moment was beyond us (Was beyond us) Then you knew (Then you knew) I would go (I would go) I would go From the grandstand to the island To mainland white sand beach I only want what I can't reach From the songbird to the siren To the famous melody I only want what I can't see A songbird someday will find me Irish Exit It ends an assassination It ends an assassination Or it doesn't end in a way That anyone remembers You're the guy that always brings the drugs When nobody wants drugs That twinkle in your eye, I know it so well That twinkle in your eye, I know it so well You return, girls flock to see How you fail to age between lies We once were pals We wish to be with more than mouths and watery eyes When everybody's got love (Love) When everybody's got love (Love) You're the guy that always brings the drugs When nobody wants drugs That twinkle in your eye, I know it so well That twinkle in your eye, I know it so well You're the guy that always brings the drugs RIP Over my body, some cloak of fire Hope that I don't find out this is all This is over, I'm so not dead I withhold my consent to be praised Not about to fade out in the open Dial down the overdrive Otherwise top yourself off in time To sail on in toward On toward what That corner you can't turn faster so don't They fly to you Won't say hi to you Cringing, I hold out for compromise Oh but then don't some principles hold like tentacles oh But it's horribly kind have you taken me in So I'll do what I can I'll do it all Dial down the overdrive Otherwise top yourself off in time To sail on in toward On toward what That corner you can't turn faster so don't They fly to you Won't say hi to you Cringing, I hold out for compromise Oh but then don't some principles hold like tentacles oh But it's horribly kind how you've taken me in So I'll do what I can I'll do it all
Non Albums Tracks
American Dream (LCD Soundsystem cover) Wake up with somebody near you And at someone else's place You took acid and looked in the mirror Watched the beard crawl around on your face Oh the revolution was here That would set you free from those bourgeoisie In the morning, everything's clearer When the sunlight exposes your age But that's okay And that's okay Grab your clothes and head to the doorway If you dance out, no one complains Find the place where you can be boring Where you won't need to explain That you're sick in the head And you wish you were dead Or at least instead of sleeping here You prefer your own bed, come on You just suck at self-preservation Versus someone else's pain So you feel drained And insane And insane He was leather and you were screaming Swinging chains against the stage And you couldn't know he was leaving But now more will go with age, you know So get up and stop your complaining You know that you're the only one who's been Destroying all the fun Look what happened when you were dreaming Then punch yourself in the face So you kiss and you clutch But you can't fight that feeling That your one true love is just Awaiting your big meeting So you never even asked for names You just look right through them As if you already came It's a drug of the heart And you can't stop the shaking 'Cause the body wants What it is terrible at taking oh And you can't remember the meaning But there's no going back Against this California feeling California feeling dream Sha-bang, sha-bang American dream Sha-bang, sha-bang American dream It's a drug of the heart It's a drug of the heart American dream
Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl
( Broken Social Scene featuring Emily Haines ) Used to be one of The rotten ones And I liked you for that Now you're all gone Got your makeup on And you aint coming back Bleaching your teeth Smile like a flash Talking trash under your breath (Or under my window) Park that car Drop that phone Sleep on the floor Dream about me
Baby Blues ( The Stills featuring Emily Haines ) I've doubled my pace For half of your smile I'm tiger-posed I'm doggy-bagged Crime or offence Don't make you cry I love your heart I've combed your eyes I see it in your feet Racing to mine And I like to dream I'm caught in the sky I hang by the fears that Staple my life The winter was long The mountains were high The fire burns blue As I wave my goodbyes This isn't the town where I wanna die I'm worth the time In all sincerity I'm honestly happy With you So let's make it fast Like lightning through the cars But just like the sixties We won't get very far I'm into looks But I'm also into books I see it in your smile
Backyards ( Broken Social Scene featuring Emily Haines ) Broken boys look good sitting on their shoes Silent waves responds expose to fear Library cards, rented faces, lying on the naked train Hard parades with nothing skin Things that breathe way too thin They lost their lives in backyards Elevator, red blue stain, best of things Half way between things and times, a kill Library cards, rented faces, lying on the naked train Highways and major club smell stale, almost eyes, a thousand things They lost their lives in backyards It's a hard parade, just be courageous
Ballrooms Of Mars (T.Rex cover / Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T.Rex LP) You gonna look fine And be primed for dancing You're gonna trip and glide All on the trembling plane Your diamond hands Will be stacked with roses And wind and cars And people of the past I'll call you thing Just when the moon sings And place your face in stone Upon the hill of stars And gripped in the arms Of the changeless madman We'll dance our lives away In the ballrooms of Mars You talk about day I'm talking 'bout night time When the monsters call out The names of men Bob Dylan knows And I bet Alan Freed did There are things in night That are better not to behold
Bottom of the world ( What Is Free to a Good Home EP / UK Bonus track of Knives CD )
Is it true you used to be my friend What did i do Why didn't I get in to your cool crew Got a modern loft and a new tattoo with your own name I've got a single room overlooking the highway under the microwave For you Heartbroken I've been for you Is it true, you and the other girls, you all stood in a circle Sophie left me in a bar at the bottom of the world All followers pick a word out around the room I'm on my way, you're always "Remember you, to stay on the move" It's true, true Heartbroken I've been for you You've left me on the bottom of the world
Come Back Clean (The Crystal Method feat. Emily Haines / Divided By Night LP) In the taxi Spit the bad seed Spit the bad seed He came out to testify Rip the black jean With his gold teeth In the back seat He came out to testify I'm not a follower Don't want to follow her Don't want a piece of the pie Where I land I don't care I don't need a plan One night at a time Who kicks open every door lately He can't stop He can't stop fighting Who says, "I won't leave 'til you make me" He can't stop He can't stop losing a round Looks like me Dressed like me Just like me Looks like me Dressed like me Just like me In the back seat of the taxi He came out to testify In the back seat of the taxi Kept saying, "Who am I" In the back seat of the taxi He came out to testify In the back seat of the taxi Said not to move, he's fine Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream Don't play with bugs for your bad dreams I'm gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean Gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean Gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean Gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean Gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean In the taxi Spit the bad seed Spit the bad seed Rip the black jean With his gold teeth In the back seat Make it up Make it up (Hold my breath) Make it up Make it up Make it up Make it up Where I land I don't care, I don't need a plan Where I land I don't care, I don't need a plan Where I land I don't care, I don't need a plan Where I land I don't care, I don't need a plan I don't give a damn, I don't need a plan I don't give a damn Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream (Gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean) Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream (Gonna hold my breath 'til you come back clean) Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream Don't play with bugs for your bad dreams Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream Don't come to us 'til you come clean Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream Don't play with bugs for your bad dreams Don't play with drugs in your bloodstream Come back to us when you come clean
*** Thanx a lot to Jose for this one ***
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Bob Dylan cover / Emily Haines and James Shaw / Help: A Day In The Life LP) Emily: It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe It don't matter anyhow An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe If you don't know by now When your rooster crows at the break of dawn Look out your window and I'll be gone You're the reason I'm travelling on Don't think twice, it's all right It ain't no use in turning on your light, babe That light I never known An' it ain't no use in turning on your light, babe I'm on the dark side of the road Still I wish there was something you would do or say To try and make me change my mind and stay We never did too much talking anyway So don't think twice, it's all right James: It ain't no use in calling out my name, gal Like you never did before It ain't no use in calling out my name, gal I can't hear you any more I'm thinking and wondering all the way down the road I once loved a woman, a child I'm told I give her my heart but she wanted my soul But don't think twice, it's all right Emily & James: I'm walking down that long, lonesome road, babe Where I'm bound, I can't tell But goodbye's too good a word, gal So I'll just say fare thee well I ain't saying you treated me unkind You could have done better but I don't mind You just kinda wasted my precious time But don't think twice, it's all right
Ending Start All this that is more than a wish is a memory All this that is ceases to be All this revealed the obvious door opens nothing Nothing left to chance When you want to leave we'll keep you When you want to sing we'll watch you When you should be dreaming, we'll wake you But don't scream, we'll make you swallow your words Gave them our reactors, our explosives, all that was ours The graphs of passion and charts of stars Gave them our reactions, our explosions, all that we are For graphs of passion and charts of stars How ending starts with answers
Expecting To Fly
(Neil Young cover / Radio 89.3 The Current interview) There you stood on the edge of your feather Expecting to fly While I laughed I wondered whether I should wave goodbye Knowing that you'd gone By the summer it was healing We had said goodbye All the years we'd spent with feeling Ended with a cry They ended with a cry They ended with a cry I tried so hard to stand As I stumbled and fell to the ground So hard to laugh as I stumble And reached for the love I found Knowing it was gone If I never lived without you Now you know I'd die If I never said I loved you Now you know I'd try Babe, now you know I'd try Babe, now you know I'd try Babe
Going, Going, Gone
( Stars featuring Emily Haines ) Going going going going going going going going Going going going going going going going gone Still hooked on cellophane Hanging 'round the mall, and all Each penny numbs the pain Sends you gently for the fall I followed you last night I saw you turn your lights out I know it wasn't right I watched in fear and doubt It's gotten to be that way (Going, going, gone.) What did you do today (Going, going, gone.) Look good in that red dress I bet the boyfriend's happy Your face is scarred with age You're twenty-three but, how can that be Still hooked on cellophane Killing time with Gin and lime Each second numbs the pain Love's just another rhyme It's gotten to be that way (Going, going, gone) I'm scared but I'm okay (Going, going, gone) There's nowhere To move on There's nowhere To move on All I see, yeah yeah, all I see All I see, yeah yeah, all I see All I see, yeah yeah, all I see All I see, yeah yeah, is me everywhere It's me
Hangover days ( Jason Collett featuring Emily Haines ) It was in your basement apartment With all of its earth and sea Making love on the carpet Under the light of the TV outside the sour moon minstrels Shook their dark tambourines The morning came in sinister Well window light menacing With clouds up above and clouds down below Killing time but it won't stand still, it won't stand still I told you I'll never make a promise A promise I can keep I thanked you for being honest I told you, “don't pull that shit on me” These are the hangover days Of frosted glass and metallic gleam All these new non-places They erase your memory We try so hard, we try so hard We try so hard to love, we try so hard to love It was underneath London bridge I finally realized what you mean Meanwhile all of fashions latest Were nipping at the heels of history I tried to send you a postcard But all you could write were apologies So out of the Columbia hotel window I threw my heart into the street
Knock you out ( Dj Tiësto Feat. Emily Haines ) Somebody to rough you up Somebody to make it tough Somebody to bait you Somebody to love But wait... Is it still love you want Somebody to pamper Somebody to blame it on Somebody to love But wait... Baby, baby I wanna be true You gotta knock me out some other way And I want to be with the sun and the moon I've been hopeless And I want to Baby, baby I wanna be true You gotta knock me out some other way And I want to be with the sun and the moon I've been hopeless I've been Somebody to take you out Somebody to show you how Somebody to train you Somebody to love But wait... Rob from always on the run is so bad and copy paste is a sin Is it still love you want Somebody to put you down Somebody to smack you 'round Somebody to love But wait... Baby, baby I wanna be true You gotta knock me out some other way And I want to be with the sun and the moon I've been hopeless And I want to Baby, baby I wanna be true You gotta knock me out some other way And I want to be with the sun and the moon I've been hopeless I've been High hopes High hopes She got high hopes High hopes (x7) She got high hopes High hopes (x7) Baby, baby I wanna be true You gotta knock me out some other way And I want to be with the sun and the moon I've been hopeless And I want to Baby, baby I wanna be true You gotta knock me out some other way And I want to be with the sun and the moon I've been hopeless I've been
Our Hell First one rent is hard to find We're paralyzed, we apologize Our hell is a good life
Row Boat ( What Is Free to a Good Home EP / European Bonus track of Knives CD ) I've been told I'm living a lie I've been told all my life I've been told I'm living a lie I've been told all my life I haven't got more than one dress, mostly I wear it out walking to work Who else am I Getting it wrong almost every time Where else, where else am I Living alone in my head Row boat, left in the rain Drifting out on the lake Where could my one love be Oh, row boat left in the rain Drifting by on the lake Rescue my one love from the grave
*** Thanx a lot to Katherine for this one ***
Shrine to fast goodbyes Drinks aside, it's time we tried to stay somewhere Take my only souvenir, hold it up high, toss it off the roof If it should break, tell me how it sounds when it lands Steal Time when there isn't enough Turn the wheel, I'm backing it up Don't feel old, hope I'm backing up Don't feel old Bloodshot eye, a ringing in the left ear 1975 ringing in my right ear Our simple rules failed each other We're close to used to being wrong Now it's gone get undressed, feeling hopeless Work weary world, see no sign of relief Still I find time to complain of a shortage While the excess collects at their feet We're close to used to being wrong Now it's gone, get undressed, feeling hopeless Work weary world, see no sign of relief Still I find time to complain of a shortage While the excess collects at their feet Always say that we will, but we don't Always say that we did, when we did nothing Drinks aside, the day today is the monotone Now there's nowhere left to go Build a shrine to fast goodbyes What's the mistake Steal Time when there isn't enough Turn the wheel, I'm backing it up Don't feel old, hope I'm backing up Don't feel old Bloodshot eye, a ringing in the left ear 1975 ringing in my right ear Our simple rules failed each other We're both reduced to being wrong Here and it's gone get undressed, feeling hopeless Work weary world, see no sign of relief Still they find time to complain of a shortage while the excess collects at their feet Above, the sun rising late hasn't set yet Work weary world, too tired now to ever sleep From watching you all complain of a shortage While the excess collects at your feet Between the church and under haiku It is roped in deep blue
Sprig ( What Is Free to a Good Home EP / UK Bonus track of Knives CD / Emily Haines Solo - Untitled EP )
Fresh Fresh when sleeping Meant every other night Falling asleep for the fifth time Early in the morning Falling asleep for the fifth time Early in the morning Awake in terror Words staring back at him Never to be used Their hands on hold So quiet They could hear each other's thinking, denying Garner interest Each other's thinking, denying Garner interest Making of life a forged painting Life's big magnet talk, talking Making of life a forged painting Life's big magnet talk, talking And listeners like you And listeners like you And listeners like you And listeners like you Stopwatch hearts ( Delerium Featuring Emily Haines ) Not that I'm that hard to please But lately when I hit the street It's hum-de-dum (hum-de-dum-de dum) When the hard times hit They hit the biz The hardest hit make the best of it Strong dollar stockbroker right to the bottom Sink down with your boomtown High water realtors arrive With numbers over their eyes Stopwatch hearts Good god I love the party-starved Businessmen with stopwatch hearts They don't beat (they tick) They don't beat (they tick) Good god I love the party-starved Businessmen with stopwatch hearts They don't beat They don't beat 'Round that corner Down the street There's a dive where working girls retreat From their hum-de-dum (hum-de-dum-de-dum) So tilt that felt hat to the side Thrift store 3 for .99 Gonna get me one Gonna get me one (and get it every night) Strong dollar stockbroker right to the bottom Sink down with your boomtown High water realtors arrive With numbers over their eyes Stopwatch hearts Good god I love the party-starved Businessmen with stopwatch hearts They don't beat (they tick) They don't beat (they tick) Good god I love the party-starved Businessmen with stopwatch hearts They don't beat They don't beat Good god I love the party-starved Businessmen with stopwatch hearts They don't beat (they tick) They don't beat (they tick) Good god I love the party-starved Businessmen with stopwatch hearts They don't beat They don't beat (they tick) So tilt that felt hat to the side Thrift store 3 for .99 Gonna get me one (and get it every night)
Swimmers
( Broken Social Scene featuring Emily Haines )
Give me more of that beat. (spoken at the end of Windsurfing nation) I was waiting for you I was standing around I was getting older I was going down If you always get up late You'll never be on time If you always wait here after work Ba ba ba da da (after work) Oh the day never comes And I stand up, waiting on I saw you down there, I know you were tired I saw you look like a swimmer All right, I want to be with you all the time Why can't you be satisfied You look good, but you smell bad You're the best that If you always get up late, you'll never be on time You're never gonna be on time And that's a shame, cause I like you I never see you
Telethon
( What Is Free to a Good Home EP / European Bonus track of Knives CD )
When I'm on will you leave me on And when I'm down will you let me get under Take cover, can't hide without a house Newspapers blow over Can't walk past the driveway without asking for directions So full of stupid questions When the daylight's like fluorescent lights I'm going to take my time night by night I hang my hands over your eyes to hide When I'm on will you rescue me I watch that telethon Got hung up on the word, can't get it over, soldier When she says nothing is enough She doesn't mean don't try to fix it Make plans with your other hand Dream without concession When the daylight's like fluorescent lights I'm going to take my time night by night I hang my hands over your eyes to hide Bruised Billy Joel - New York state of mind Take cover, take pleasure
The bank ( What Is Free to a Good Home EP / UK Bonus track of Knives CD )
Whatever it is spit it into a bottle and sell it to me I'm looking to buy freedom from my sobriety Just like Huey Lewis I need a new drug I need a new drink I need a new drug that does what it should So take me to the bank Take me to the bar Can you take me to the hot spot? This is what we worked so hard to afford but... Take me to the bank Can you take me to the bar? Can you take me to the hot spot? This is what we worked so hard to afford but how I wanna hide The next time you visit me here How about coming out to my place We can sit on the floor and play my brother's records We can sit on the grownup bed Couple with the coin Lighting up to join the coping crowd My big brother said to stay unsatisfied Never work a day to pay off your desire Couple with the coin Lighting up to join the coping crowd
*** Thanx a lot to Olivier for this one ***
Them (Pop Song #3333)
( KC Accidental featuring Emily Haines )
Girl I think that we're going to make it I've see the rest beneath the microwave Who wants the sum of all the rest Maybe you should To see those signs we had mass made Oh Girl I think that we're going to make it Because you are gone the rest of the night It's all for them