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please note "Marrowbone" in the subject or body of your donation. FUCK TEAM SPORTS

So here you are again. The walls are closing. I’m on the outside looking in, a world between us. Left alone I’m prone to spend my life on the edges. No gangs and no defence. Sit myself down. Take the gun from my head, crack my thoughts wide open. It’s our survival instinct to be on the winning team well I say “Fuck team sports”. That’s just how it is, the home advantage. Water flows beneath the bridge, but you’re still chanting. In the drone there is a voice, it says you belong here. Telling me I have a choice. I chose to sit myself down. Take the gun from my head, crack my thoughts wide open. It’s our survival instinct to be on the winning team well I say “Fuck team sports”. Fall in line with the colours you drew, watch the smiles all fade from the people you knew. Sing the songs like the others do, as the songs all fade then the people will too. Is it the end of humanity again? Will there be no enemies or friends? All I have are pictures of you in a paler shade of blue. Sit myself down. Take the gun from my head, crack my thoughts wide open. It’s our survival instinct to be on the winning team well I say “Fuck team sports”. LANGUAGE

Hold me close. I know it’s freezing. Toes are numb. The sun is bleeding through the broken blinds in your free house. Oh, I know it’s moved so quickly. The floor - it shook, you fell into me. Every moment makes me lose my breath. So hold me close in the back room of your house. My lips won’t be the same again. Well, you can take the heart that is beating from my chest and you can take the memories from my head. As we awoke beside each other, our innocence, it fell asunder and I would see that light go out again. We were too young to not see clearly or old enough to finally keep the whole world outside of our heads? So hold me close in the back room of your house. My lips won’t feel the same again. Well you can take the heart that is beating from my chest and you will free these memories from my head. You’re not a failure, you’re not a martyr, you’re not the only one lost at sea. I have seen things that made me stronger and I have felt the shore pining for me. Did I want this? Did I need this? I’m the one who felt lost at sea. Oh, we’re either lovers or ex-lovers. We cannot escape each other. Language bound us eternally. JUST LIKE ME

I heard your ma cried louder than a church bell when all the new flames got doused by stormy seas. I spent my time pining for a love song. Well I’ll be home in time tonight. I think it’s funny that you’ll leave without a fanfare. You’ll hit the road pal, leave your footprints in the dust. You’re a mental gymnast, hittin' flips right over your nightmares. I wont be home in time tonight. I’ve had my highs and lows. I’ve been pretentious and I’ve been a selfish fool, I know. I hope you reap all the seeds you’ve sown. 'Cause your so fuckin' friendly, it’s so fuckin easy to feel at home. You think you’re clever and classless and free, you’re just a fuckin scumbag just like me. And if you’re building your house on the shore, don’t be surprised when the waves at your door. I’ve a pain in me hoop with you round these days. I’m so sick and tired of playing these games. We're all just dead, we're all just fucked, go back to sleep. I think it's funny when a dream knocks on your window. And although it’s not yours, you're obliged to hold its seams. And all you want is to be singing the songs of your hometown. That dream can fuck off home in time tonight. CROSSHAIRS

I’ve been staying up late fighting figures with crosshairs, and sometimes you’d come to mind.

I’ve been praying you’d wait finding reasons in nowhere, and sometimes they’re hard to find. I’ve been forgetting dates, dusting bookshelves with cobwebs, and that’s when you tried to stay.

I’ve been calling you fake hollow crosses you won’t bare, and that’s when you walked away. And you said that drowning was the quickest way to the bottom of the lake, and you were right. Those city lights just don’t compare to the shallow water’s shimmer in the middle of the night when the stars look like reasons to fly. You always said there’s something stupid about me and I’d never know why. I’ve been straining my eyes, internet, escape life. And sometimes I’d fall asleep. I’ve been maintaining face, silent struggle and quiet nights, and sometimes it’s hard to keep. I’ve been telling you lies, concentrating on past lives, and sometimes I’d lose a day. I’ve been calling you fake hollow crosses you won’t bare, and that’s when you walked away. I had a dream this would sink. A few chains short of a link. So tell me now what do you think? You said that you couldn't bare. I gave you fake hollow crosses, that you couldn't bare. AN EMIGRANT'S WAKE

I’m a number at home, you’re a number abroad. I don’t know what to do. But I’ll remember your face, any time any place, if it’s the last thing that I’ll ever do. If it’s the last thing that I’ll ever do. HOLY COMMUNION

I remember the streets unfolded like a map. I was in the oldest part of the city. My mother told me stories of when she was a child as we watched clothes dry on a balcony. There was a choir singing gospels loud and clear. Oh no, I didn’t know how to feel. That was the last time I took Holy Communion. I had to walk to the alter to see their faces clear. When you asked me if I was okay I couldn’t answer (I just shook). But oh, what would you do? How would you feel if the world paid attention to you? Oh, how they grow up! They were the shoes we wore when our wives fell in love with us. Don’t let them call my name to an empty room. If you’ll do that for me I’ll do it for you. The only suit I own is black and if it stays right at the back of my wardrobe this year could be a better one. Some things must die for some to grow and though I’ll find my own way home I know I’ll never be alone again. But oh, what would you do? How would you feel if the world paid attention to you? Oh, how they grow up! They were the shoes we wore when our wives fell in love with us. Don’t let them call my name to an empty room. If you’ll do that for me I’ll do it for you. I’m a number at home, you’re a number abroad. I don’t know what to do. But I’ll remember your face, any time any place, if it’s the last thing that I’ll ever do. If it’s the last thing that I’ll ever do. ONE GOOD SHIRT

They’re looking up their skirts and they’re asking if it hurt when they fell, “What’s an angel like you doin’ in hell?” They wore their one good shirt, now they’re rolling in the dirt and the blood and the beer. Just get me out of here. I’m running for my life before they cut me down to size. Back when there were more busses than taxies in the city. Oh it returns again. She looks him in the eyes but he’s glancing at her thigh. She can tell by the way he moves he’s under her spell. The night just feels the same as they stumble down a lane. In their heads it’s the next best thing they have to a bed. They can’t see the sky, even though they tried. Glowing lights just reassure me, darling, that nothing’s alright. Oh it returns again. Oh oh how does it feel? You think you’re ready?

I don’t know why you’re asking. He’s my brother, he ain’t heavy. She’s finding her way home, so much harder on your own. When she falls there is no angel waiting for her at all. The scent she leaves behind lingers longer in his mind. Is that a tear or the remnants of more spilled beer? Promissory notes catching in his throat, and a gag, it’s the best feeling that he’s ever had. Oh it returns again. Oh oh how does it feel? You think you’re ready?

I don’t know why you’re asking. She’s my sister, she ain’t heavy. LET ME LET YOU DOWN

Don’t wanna be a hero. Don’t wanna save the day. Just wanna walk in the hills with my dog, not the streets of LA.

Don’t wanna be a rockstar. Don’t need the crowds to scream for me.

Just wanna lay on in bed with my girl, she’s all the crowd I need. Don’t wanna be another lost soul in the smog of Los Angeles. Wanna watch my dog swimming in mountain streams with the trees surrounding me. Just let me let you down. Please this time, just let me let you down. Should have never signed a contract. Should have never seen music as a means to an end. Just wanted to bash out some tunes with my bro, have some fun with my friends.

Got my dog from a pound, and I helped her, and gave her a start. And if I get on a plane to the states it'll just break my heart. SONS & MOTHERS

I don’t have the strength tonight. I got sick one too many times. I’ll wear a mask and I’ll smile until you see my bloodshot eyes. You said “If home is where the hate is then rest your head on me”. You cleaned me up, you carried me. How can I repay this generosity? You said “Crawl your way out of the sea” Here I am with my head in the gutter and all I am is the son of my mother and I say “What’s left to lose?” Who wants it all? Who wants it all?

That’s just me singing in the rain. My words are tapping on your window pain. I hope that they don’t wake you up. These days you’re dreaming for the both of us. “If home is where the hate is then rest your head on me”. You cleaned me up, you carried me. How can I repay this generosity? You said “Crawl your way out of the sea” Here I am with my head in the gutter and all I am is the son of my mother and I say “What’s left to lose? Except for you.” THICK & THICKER

I’ve been lost for weeks but that’s alright. I’ve lived from my knees but that’s alright. I’ve had songs and stories of life. Nothing I shouldn’t have tried. Darling I could wish on a falling star, but it’d do fuck all and I’d look like a prick.

Darling I could cross every mountain and sea, but it’d do fuck all and I’d feel like a thick. I’ve ignored some calls but that’s alright. I’ll never catch them all but that’s alright. Street-side satellites screaming off their heads.

The world's so fucking lonely and now I’ve been left for dead. Again. THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR

It’s pumping out of my radio. I see it on my T.V. screen. I hear the words “I’ll love you forever”, I forget what they mean. We fall together or we fall apart. Any way you sing a love song it’ll end up with a broken heart. I’m happy when you don’t answer. It means you’re out with your friends. You deserve so much better than a night of talking me off a ledge, but I pick up the phone again. We fall together or we fall apart. Any way you sing a love song it’ll end up with a broken heart. Now it’s happily ever after but after the credits roll they don’t show you 30 years later in a cold room with just a hand to hold. I’ve seen so much more lying on the cutting room floor. We fall together or we fall apart. Any way you sing a love song it’ll end up with a broken heart. MARROWBONE LANE

Let’s take a shortcut down Marrowbone Lane. No, I don’t sit in traffic these days. ‘Cause when my sirens flash loud and cold cars break from their moulds. These are the things that I know will not let me go. These are the things that I know shape the edges of that old soul. What am I like? What am I like? Pouring myself out into the night. I’ve seen old couples hold hands, they’re just like cobbled roads. I wonder how they cope. They spew old stories, oh you know that they’re just like chimney smoke. They told me everything that I ever wanted to know. These are the things that I know will not let me go. These are the things that I know shape the edges of that old soul. What am I like? What am I like? Pouring myself out into the night. Sometimes you’re high. Sometimes you’re low. Sometimes I’m sick to the back of my throat. They say when you lose everything they can hurt you no more. But I say I’m okay as long as you’re okay. And I’ll say it every single day.

