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the birthing pyre

by The Jane Austen Argument

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1.
Phoenix 04:47
I need to find a little solitude, my love in which to catch alight my breath I need to build a little fire in my heart which will spit and spark ‘til my death So I can unfurl the pretty flames that have my arms Which I will raise up to the sky with a twisted smile And I will sing ‘Glory Be’ and inside, whisper ‘help me please’ and shout out ‘Love, love, love’ For eternity Oh what have I become and where is my mother Oh bring me my sticks and spices that I may build this birthing pyre He says I have the soul of the sun but I’m yet to ignite it (I’m yet to invite it) And she says I’m not around anymore but she still tastes the smoke on my tongue But I will unfurl the pretty flames that have my legs And waltz away my flesh and feathers and I will cry tears of glee and I will beg you to save me But I’ll be flying, flying, flying It’s mythical policy Just give me a thousand years, my love I’ll meet you by the ashes
2.
I wake with your hand on my shoulder Its colder outside where they don’t know we’re naked All of your friends leave messages That suggest we should not be doing what we’re doing But we do not care and where there is air we’ll be breathing Believe me, where there’s warmth we’ll share… Oh and why are you not in Melbourne Its colder here you know And the stars are obscured by the sky And why are you not Melbourne There’s art in the streets And your feet should come darken my door Oh and why Are you Not in Melbourne? Under the house of someone I once slept with We wept on the inside, the outside kept talking Cos we knew we’d fit together like continents In the eyes of children who have just learned geography And you had a lover And I had a ticket We wickedly took off with the few hours left to us And still you’re not here in Melbourne Its colder here you see And the stars aren’t as bright as you’d like And still you’re not here in Melbourne There’s art on the streets Put your feet somewhere close to my floor And why are you still not in Melbourne? I caught you peeking When you thought I’d be sleeping We caught not a wink For the heat we were breathing No there was no rest But at least we weren’t arrested For teaching the children of the birds and bees (and the bees and bees) But I wish you had turned when I had turned back I’d turn back the clocks if I thought we could stay still long enough So maybe its good You’re not here in Melbourne Its colder here you see And the stars are obscure in the sky But still, there’s a place for you in Melbourne And my heart’s on my sleeve Wish your feet were somewhere close to my floor You. You and me. I mean we. Could both be Here in Melbourne Here in Melbourne Here in Melbourne.
3.
I have a little house Close to town, but not to the city Far from home, but near my family No water views, but so close to the sea I see This is how my little life could be… And I’m filling it with things Like furniture I find on the street And all the special things I’d like to eat Pictures of people that I’d like to meet I’ll meet them when I’m orbiting the world… … And it’s so pretty… … And so lonely… My lovely love affairs Are all scheduled ‘round the TV guide And my sex life has all been plagiarised In an attempt to meet a harsh deadline… I’d like to rent-a-wife Then rent a husband to keep her for life The three of us, we could be so happy (Them with each other, me with company) I’ll see them off on a flight around the world… … And it’s so pretty… … And so lonely… … And at my funeral they will say ‘Tom, he was such a nice guy’ ‘He went too early, but he went in style’ ‘They’ll play my music and then they will cry’ They’ll have a little wake They’ll drink bad wine and they’ll eat lemon cake And my mother’s little heart will break And she’ll say: ‘Wait! There must be some mistake - he can’t be dead Take me instead!!!’ Oh but I’m not dead They tell me I’m not dead They say that I’m not dead And I won’t die for some time… I’m in my little house Just writing little songs to pass the time Which (incidentally) is precisely nine So don’t you worry, I’m completely fine I’m fine I am just so fucking fine
4.
It's Love 03:03
Your tomorrow’s raining all over my today and it’s hard to hear that it’s over, you say But it’s love It’s love And the moonlit cracks on our window leave spines of light in the dust You gather your things in the fluoro-lit night and I think I’ll be alright You could tell me anything and I’d believe it - You’re so sure of your own heart your heart But it’s love It’s love But I shed people like snakes shed skin I’m not proud of it – I’m not proud But you can’t find your way out of me…
5.
See, the debt collector’s coming He’s come to break my fingers So I can’t play piano no more… See, the debt collector’s coming He’s come to take my tongue So I can’t sing any songs anymore I just go ah-ha-ah-ha-ah To the top of the pop charts ah-ha-ah-ha-ah In your iPods ah-ha-ah-ha-ah That’s the sound of silence, Simon and Garfunkel See, the Grim Reaper is coming He’s sharpening his scythe ‘Til he can see his own reflection See, the Grim Reaper is crying - his business down the drain ‘Cos people do it so much quicker (and cheaper and better…) See – our saviour’s second coming - he’s such a selfish bastard (some of us don’t get to come even once) And you see, his fans know to avoid my house now I’ve signed a sealed deal with Satan To just love everybody that I can… You see – I think the Grim Reaper should go after That fucking debt collector So I can sing whenever I bloody goddamn well please And our Saviour should just make love to Satan So both can see that either Are intolerable Without the other…

about

Debut EP from The Jane Austen Argument

credits

released January 25, 2011

Phoenix (Kingwell/Dickins)
Piano/Vocals: Jennifer Kingwell; Vocals: Tom Dickins; Violin: Lyndon Chester

Here in Melbourne (Dickins/Kingwell)
Vocals: Tom Dickins; Piano/Vocals: Jennifer Kingwell; ‘Judith’: Tom Dickins, Jennifer Kingwell

Bad Wine and Lemon Cake (Dickins/Kingwell)
Vocals: Tom Dickins; Piano: Jennifer Kingwell

It’s Love (Kingwell/Dickins)
Piano/Vocals: Jennifer Kingwell; Vocals: Tom Dickins

The Debt Collectors (Dickins/Kingwell)
Vocals: Tom Dickins; Piano/Vocals: Jennifer Kingwell; Vocals: Cade Diehm; ‘Judith’: Tom Dickins, Jennifer Kingwell, Cade Diehm; Twitter Choir: Ty ‘The Guy With The Headphones’ Carson, Ryan Tessier, Christoph Kummer, Jessica Allyn, Amber Stricklin, Meghan Dornbrock, Cass Dalgleish, Daniel Lee, Jesse Markham, Gerry Norton, Teralyn Tanner, Jhube V, Clay Robeson, Grace Frick, Nick Schultz, Aaron ‘Man with Hat’ Shay, Kim ‘AthenaMuze’ Butler

Recorded and mixed by Cade Diehm

Produced by The Jane Austen Argument and Cade Diehm

Mastered by Blake Bickel

Copyright The Jane Austen Argument 2011

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The Jane Austen Argument Melbourne, Australia

The Jane Austen Argument are a Melbourne-based indie cabaret duo who combine raw ballads and sharp tongues with chaotic abandon and overtones of anti-folk and punk love.

Recent collaborations have included Amanda Fucking Palmer and Neil Gaiman.
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