Songs Written On Paper Orchids

by A.p. Harbor

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    Artwork from Heather Holcomb, Sarah Kate Morgan, and Elizabeth Ash in a sturdy Jewel Case.

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1.
Blackberries 02:25
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If I could go back and take some blackberries home, I'd savor the taste way deep down in my soul. I'd bake us a cobbler and save all the seeds, and grow blackberries far as the eye can see. If you'd told me the truth about the fountain of youth, I'd have ripped up the tree of life from its roots. I'd fill my watering can and till all the land, and grow some wild blackberries for you. How many times do my fingertips pine for that old shade of blue? It's a thing hard to find. If I get the chance, I'll fill my basket again, because blackberries always remind me of you.
2.
Madman 02:33
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I think it's cute when your face is furry. To get to my heart, you filled up my tummy. Leave it to you to spark this stupid song. I couldn't find your favorite flowers, so I made origami ones. When you're gone and the rain starts falling, I'll pretend we're safe below a parasol for two. Just a couple of lovesick buddies. It's as true as the sky is blue- I'm a madman for you. You put me to sleep when you sing so soft. You put hickeys on my neck just to piss me off. Yeah, your dog liked me, and my cat liked you too. That was the moment I was positive that I wanted you.
3.
Redwood 03:13
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The moon seldom stowed away in the nightfall beneath quilts of laurel and dogwood entwined. The mountains stood wide as a wildfire before me, until that old redwood grew square in my eye. I used to think a North wind had blessed me with shade from this stranger to my coalfields and kin. Until, with the ease of a North wind, it left me, and uprooted my sorrows, my home, and my sins. Redwood, if I could tear you down, I would, I would. I’d rambled in boroughs for all of my childhood- dark as the winter and deep in those hills- till one day, he held me so high in the branches and showed me the places that I’d never been. Before that redwood, I was scared of changing. I built my life from the stones of these hills. But a cold day was looming and took down my redwood. Though I long to forget him, I know I never will. Somedays, I see our children in visions. They’d revel on rope swings hung high in the trees. They’d climb like their fathers in days past before them in memories that linger as deep as the sea.
4.
I Want to Hear You Sing 04:35
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If I go blind, will your eyes glow gold as honey? If I lose my legs, will you still dance me home at night? If I lose my ears, I'll be okay, if I can only find a way to hear you sing to me. If I get lost, can I get lost in your thoughts? If I lose my voice, will you refine my words? I'll lose my mind if ever a day comes that I can't hear you say my name, but I will feel no pain, if I can hear you sing. If I lose my way, I don't want to be found. It ain't peace and quiet without your pretty sound. Just a little hum, and I'll come back around. I won't need a thing if I can hear you sing to me somehow. If I lose you, I'll no more listen to any melody or rhyme or rhythm. I'll lose my mind if ever a day comes that I can't hear you say my name. It would be a shame, to never hear you sing. Oh me, oh my, my, my, I don't need much more than this. I got the sun, moon, the sea and stars in your soul. I don't need no gold and glitz, no, I don't need a thing. Oh baby, I just want to hear you sing.
5.
Nos Quedamos 03:10
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Engraved in the countenance of bronze men, we've been prisoners of the obsolete and then some. The devil lies there in his grave. Up above, we will remain. Signal the hellfires, ring the sirens. The walls are breaking, water's rising. If I fall, heed my warning, after me, there will be more. Nos quedamos. Canaries in cages will no more sing for the rusted throne who clipped their wings.
6.
Little Old Man 02:33
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There's a little old man in his little blue pickup truck, his St. Bernard beside him in the seat. He's well on his way, this afternoon, to the post-office, but he's stopping by the market to pick him up some fruit. In the bustling of the town, he picks out a crate of oranges- two cents a pound- and takes the oranges home. One rolls out the back of the pickup truck and tumbles on its melancholy way down the dusty market road. The little old man turns the truck around, retracing the footsteps of the orange as it rolls well on its way, this afternoon, toward the post-office. Bobbing, it ricochets into the great unknown. The little old man parks his little blue pickup truck in the post-office patron parking lot. His St. Bernard has confirmed there's no mail here today, so they turn their eyes to the deep and endless hole. It stretches like a puncture in the plane of their vision in the shoulder of the sidewalk by postbox, and like ostriches they dive headfirst into the chasm, and reunite with the orange down yonder as they go. The three of them have fallen down here many times before, whether in holes in the road or in the ribcages of dogs. The little old man and his St. Bernard, Nudley, and the orange, round and perfect as the sunlight through the fog. They come to a fence- an unnecessary fence. Only three feet wide in the center of a field easily scalable, easily passed by, and flimsy enough to level with very little effort. They didn't harm the tiny fence, without a doubt. Isn't that a nice thing to think about?
7.
The Desolate Voice of Daniel's Creek 03:01
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Oh, the bravest sing, when the lamplight fades, of all the glory that she branded in stone. Marionettes baring cobalt breath to tell the story of the Daniel's Creek rose. The ashes remember her scarlet hair, worn tightly as a soldier's helm. And from her aged lips, not a moment's rest- a spout of poems sound the bells. When the morning came, and her darling waned at the mercy of a pillager's cold steel, the hapless few, in the town, they knew, would be burning in the hands of Paula Sandwill. On the eve of blood, bereft of love, the paltry hearts of the damned she set alight, with a bruised might, and surrendered to the devil's hand. Now in hindsight she bellows a harrowing song, lilting to the drums of contempt. She said, “no human, beast, fool or god will silence Paula Sandwill's hymn.” And the children gather curiously, around the crooked hanging tree between the hills. to hear, they thought, what her torment begot- the desolate voice of Paula Sandwill.
8.
Calloway 03:30
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I've been blind in the eye of a hurricane. I stole the hammer of Thor for his judgement day, but when has a whirlwind ever been tamed? I fell in love with the wind and it blew me away. Might have been blinded when I decided that nature itself had meant for us to try this, but if another hurricane blows you back my way, I'm always yours, darling. I'm always yours, Calloway. A souvenir shop sold me a lie, a little glass bottle trinket with a twister inside. I thought that the storm would rage on and on, til the daybreak came, and you were gone. In the calmness after, the notion of rain has brought you back to me again and again, but the weather was never a symptom of us. Sometimes a storm is just cold rain and wind. Sometimes a storm is just cold rain and wind.
9.
Malachi and Lola 02:53
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Malachi, Lola, Paint me something good, you say? Paint me something beautiful. Elegant, graceful. Darling, make me anything but blue. When the colors dull, the canvas is torn, and your hands are stained and dry, lay your brush aside for now. The sweetest colors are in your eyes. Remember us in watercolor, sweeter, softer, lovelier than we were. Hang us up in a home-made frame somewhere in the corner of your mind.
10.
One Rose 04:21
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She was just forty four, but life held no meaning for her anymore. The children in their room with their music going loud, yet she felt so alone, even in a crowd. The little home she loved and used to work with pride is now covered with dust as if no one resides, but as she looked around at the sign of neglect it only reminds her more of the way she feels inside. If her children and her man had only reached out their hand to show her that they cared. But how was they to know when even she didn't understand? When she says goodbye, the tears will fill their eyes and they will bring her arms full of roses red, but if they only knew while she was alive. When she has left this world and comes face to face with God, will he reach out his hand and say, “I understand. I know you have tried”, or will she go on forever with that loneliness inside? So, to all of you who have that special one you love give them all those little things they need to help them climb that hill, for useless are the big things and your love after she is lying still. One rose they had give, maybe this lonely heart would have more heart to live.
11.
The Zoo 03:29
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I want to go to the zoo. That's what I've always wanted to do. I want to go to the aquarium, to see the fish swimming in the sun. If I were a fish, it would go without saying, I'd cover my bowl unless the big fish were paying. I want to go to a greenhouse, to see the trees and their leafy carouse. If I were a tree, I would grow high and mighty and tear holes in the ceiling if taken too lightly. I want to go to the pet shop, and buy a new friend for fifty cents off. If I were a pet shop, I would sell all my friends, and pay off my mortgage again and again.
12.
Gray 01:40
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The satellites are gray and still. The wisemen bow, and always will. Waning in his knowing palm, the mountains weep, the child is gone. Spaceman, have you made it through the deep, dark gray? The scholars, we, who in his stead, will never still, will never rest. Forget the sky, and to Earth, we'll pray for mountains steeped in the deepest gray.
13.
Umbrella Ferns 03:33
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Lay me to rest once more. Brother, I'm calling for you. The salience of closing doors, the perennial shelter of the early hour. Bury us again beneath umbrella ferns. Spooky places lurking out there. Sentinels, ever vigilant, will keep us tucked away forever, in honeysuckles and strawberry planters.

about

This album is dedicated with endless love to my beloved great-grandparents and my dear friend Josh Gray.

credits

released January 2, 2023

Musicians:

Joshua Atkins - mandolin, vocals
Harrison Hobart - vocals
Matt Holleran - drums, vocals
Michael Jarvi - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, bass, vocals
Emily Mills - vocals
Mary Morris - vocals, chimes, trumpet, percussion
Gianelli Pizarro - vocals
Andrew Preston - acoustic guitar, banjo, organ, keys/piano, accordion, ukulele, melodica, harmonica, upright bass, autoharp, dulcimer, tin flute, vocals, artwork
Wyatt Smith - whistling, vocals
Kendall Swan - lapsteel, vocals

"Gray" was sang by all of the above, plus:
Denise Barbee
Shayna Blackburn
Jordan Fickel
Claire Freidhof
Mikal Gibbs
Heather Holleran
Ben Johnson
Gabrielle Keith
Aleksander Kendrick
Banjo Killzooey
Jocelyn Mackenzie
Cameron Marino
Brandon McCleese
Raymond McLain
Sharon Morris
George Rodgerson
Joy Rodgerson
Alana Cain Scott
Patrick Stephenson
Wiley Tanner
Anett Török
Clay Wallace

Artists:
Elizabeth Ash - woodwork (disc)
Denise Barbee - knitting (cover)
Heather Holcomb - sewing (cover)
Sarah Kate Morgan - embroidery (tracklist)


Recorded at home and at CoffeeTree Books.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrew Preston
All songs written by Andrew Preston.
Lyrics of "One Rose" by Doris Carmeans.
Published Woodsheep Music (BMI)

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A.p. Harbor Morehead, Kentucky

weird and whimsical music

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