March 10, 2014
Grover Anderson

Reviews:
Independent Clauses: http://independentclauses.com/little-chief-grover-anderson/

The Optimist - 2014

Track 3 from The Optimist
-----
Sleep is a luxury, til you’re next to me,
then I’d rather be your pillow.
Life used to be a bore, only hoping for
a sign that there is more than merely filling in the
days until we give it up, but I became unstuck
from that routine the day I met you. I’m
awake and living in the now, cause I’ve spent too much energy
worrying about the future.

Only heaven knows if I’ll be with you til the day I die,
but I’m gonna try.
There will be obstacles in the road,
I’ll go around them.
I’d like your permission to vow to never leave your side,
would you be satisfied?

It could feel right to marry you tonight,
but I know that you’d like to invite all our friends
and throw a big party and that’s
fine! Get your dress designed.
We can take our time,
cause it’s only a brand new life we’re starting.
Hope, innocent and plain, soon to be reclaimed,
I’ll hold you in my arms, I won’t forget this feeling that we
share. If it gets rough out there,
I’ll remember where my soul went flying
back when glances needed stealing.

Only heaven knows if I’ll be with you til the day I die,
but I’m gonna try.
There will be obstacles in the road,
I’ll go around them.
I’d like your permission to vow to always have your back,
could you go for that?

Every day I’ll look for a new reason to fall for you again.
Perfect is far out of my reach but I’ll always be your best friend.
We’ll start sharing our new life tomorrow, but tonight can I just have this dance?
Thank you for the chance…

Only heaven knows if I’ll be with you til the day I die,
but I’m gonna try.
There will be obstacles in the road,
we’ll go around them!
I’d like your permission to forever call you the one I love
…that would be enough

The Optimist

iTunes

Enough

Track 8 on The Optimist
-----
She likes my taste in music and I love her taste for life
She can’t stand to read, but I love what she writes
And when I need an answer, she’ll only ask me why
But I know that it’s somewhere behind those eyes

Because she’s just as uncool as me
But she loves me like you won’t believe
And she swears a singalong is gonna save the world
And she goes La Da Da Da Da Da Da Da

She’ll never tell me what she’s thinking but she’ll tell everybody how she feels
Says she oughta go to prison for them hearts that she steals
And when I’m feeling safe she goes and catches me off guard
We both take our jokes just a little too far

Because she’s just as uncool as me
But she loves me like you won’t believe
And she swears a singalong is gonna save the world
And she goes La Da Da Da Da Da Da Da

Dancing in the silence of the moonlight
Or making up new words to all our songs
It don’t matter which one is running through my head
Because I know she’ll be singing, She’ll be singing along

Because she’s just as uncool as me
But she loves me like you won’t believe
And she swears a singalong is gonna save the world
She goes La Da Da Da Da Da Da Da

Save The World

Track 1 on Freight, Vol. 1
music & lyrics by Jimbo Scott & Grover Anderson
-----
He said, “Pick up your horn and you should blow it away, blow it away my friend!”

My daddy worked the factory seems the whole day long
He’d come home at suppertime, drink whiskey til it’s gone
And he never laid a finger on my mama or my kin
But Friday night on the banjo, his hands moved like the wind

Folks came from every direction just to hear
That banjo in the old mans arms
Between chasing girls and fighting with my friends
The old man asked me to join him and play him some guitar

Well my daddy’s mind’s still going, but his hands have lost their speed
He still loves that rocker and he sure as hell loves to sing
Even though this town it seems to change every day
The family still gets together, and we still love to play

Pick Up Your Horn

Track 5 on "The Optimist"
-----
I see the rain falling down through the haze 
I see the colors but I’m missing all the shapes 
I see the light but it won’t show me the way 
And I can’t see you

I see the future when I close my eyes 
I see your picture, but I think it’s a disguise
 My fingers run through your hair but no matter how I try 
I can’t see you

It’s like I’m telling myself something I don’t wanna hear
 They dismiss it as a dream, but it seems so clear 
I could testify, but it’s best if my eyes drift when you come near
 Cause they’re telling me something I don’t wanna hear

Even when I’m sleeping there’s a reason that I do the things I do
 And every changing of the season brings believing that dreams come true
 Give me just a little time, I’ll remind myself what you’ve been going through
When I can’t see you

Well I spend so much time thinking about what’s out of my hands 
I hear, I plan, I hope, then you command 
I wake up grasping at what my heart demands 
But it don’t matter what I do , no I can’t see you

Now I see the future when I close my eyes 
I’ve been staring at your picture, and I know it’s a disguise
 Don’t you know I did my best to love you but no matter how i try 
I can’t see you

It’s like I’m telling myself something I don’t wanna hear 
Y’all dismiss it as a dream, but it seems so clear
 You know I could testify, but it’s best if my eyes drift when you come near 
Cause they’re telling me something I don’t wanna hear

When You Come Near

Track 9 on "The Optimist"
-----
There’s a picture that our friends put in a frame
Of you acting the fool on a drunk
I hid it deep in my closet
But that ain’t stopped it from keeping me up

Here’s the belt that you gave me
What a diabolical plan
Because I lost a lot of weight since you wound up in another’s arms
Now your memory is holding up my pants

I can handle the lonely
It feels like that’s what I was born to do
I can handle
My stomach, my heart and my panic attacks, but
Lord knows I can’t handle you, I can’t handle you

One of the best things about us
Was our mutual love of music and good tunes
But now every song has a memory
And I’ve nothing left but country and the blues

I asked your opinion
What’s the classiest car I can afford?
Now I’m riding in style
And my passenger seat is empty and ignored

I can handle the lonely
It feels like that’s what I was born to do
I can handle
My stomach, my heart and my panic attacks, but
Lord knows I can’t handle you, I can’t handle you

Now there’s no better version of me
Than the one that’s standing by your side
But he went south in a hurry, yes he did
On the day you hung me out to dry

I can handle the lonely
Cause it feels like that’s what I was born to do
I can handle forgiveness
There’s something to hold on to
I can handle the blame game
Cause at least that’s something I’m prepared to lose
I can handle
My stomach, my heart and my panic attacks
Lord knows I can’t handle you, I can’t handle you

Handle The Lonely

Track 6 on "The Optimist"
-----
I remember when I took you camping in the snow
It melted and a river grew between us
Even then I had decided that our time was low
There would soon be miles between us
So we packed up and for the first time I took you home
My mother smiled to see us

I would like to meet the one who said, “If you love them, let them go.”
I would like to think I’ve lived enough to hope
And now, we’ll never know

When we met in Vegas weeks after I let you go
We watched the world beneath us
I withered as you left for the plane that took you home
But I steeled my heart and lied, “It’s for the best.”

I would like to meet the one who said, “If you love them, let them go.”
I would like to think I’ve lived enough to hope
And now, we’ll never know

You remember when you took me camping at the coast?
I’d not yet felt the canyon grown between us
I’d forfeited every chance to tell you how I loved you so
Exhausted in the months that I’d let pass
I relive that night, naked, dancing slow
Regretting that if only we had both known

I would like to meet the one who said, “If you love them, let them go.”
I… would like to think I’ve lived enough to hope
And now, we’ll never know

Dancing Slow

Track 7 on "The Optimist"
-----
Philip Marshall Cates was born in Carolina,
Went to school in England
Philip and Samantha married on his farm
Before the harvest season
He was schemin’
His worshipped father died a Great War hero
At night he’d lie in bed and clutch his silver stars and eagles
(He was schemin’)

Back abroad in London Philip Marshall Cates
Had met an old explorer
Who’d climbed the Ural Mountains, crossed Sahara,
Dove the oceans, spoke of more
Oh, he spoke of more!
So one night Philip abandoned poor Samantha,
Future Smokey Mountain old maid
And as he dark departed, son Lysander
Joined his father as a stowaway
(He spoke of more!)

But tonight, don’t cry for Samantha, mother and bride
As she holds a black and white photograph that fades away
She still works the farm, and she remembers her baby in her arms
The babe that left her barren and the man that drove her early grey
And they all take respite in the thought of coming home one day

Philip and Lysander carried south to work for merchants out of Quito
Son translated, father wore a gun and fended off banditos
He grew weak though
Then in eighteen years they worked every job from here to Argentina
Every woman a distortion of that last time they had seen her
(He grew weak though)

But tonight, don’t cry for Samantha, mother and bride
As she holds a black and white photograph that fades away
She still works the farm, and she remembers her baby in her arms
The babe that left her barren and the man that drove her early grey
And they all take respite in the thought of coming home one day

Old Lysander Cates spent over thirty months
In travel north to Raleigh
Gasping when he saw Samantha bed-ridden, rheumatized and gnarly
He said “I’m sorry,
“It’s been seven years since father was gunned down
“By gauchos out to rob our cocaine
“And when I got out of jail for killing every last one
“I started home again
“Oh, Mother I’m sorry.”
Old Samantha Cates was buried in
The shadow of the church bell tower
And when he took his life Lysander’s body
Landed there amongst her flowers….

But tonight, don’t cry for Samantha, mother and bride
As she holds a black and white photograph that’s faded away
She still works the farm, and her baby has outgrown her arms
The fields are never barren and
The men come in for supper after a long hard day
And they all take respite in the thought of coming home….

Philip Marshall Cates

Track 11 from "The Optimist"
-----
Hey pretty lady won’t you come my way
We got nothing going on today
I got two arms and you belong in the middle
I’ll be the big spoon if you’ll be the little

We could stay out until we see the stars
Or we could drink Blue Moon in a dive bar
If you wanna go shopping you could drag me around
I could check out the new record store downtown

You got the money, I got the time
You put me in the best frame of mind
Lately I’ve been telling anybody who’ll hear
That you’re the only song playing in my ears

Hey pretty lady won’t you come my way
We got nothing going on today
I got two arms and you belong in the middle
I’ll be the big spoon if you’ll be the little

I sold a record but I ain’t sold two
So I only got a little bit to spend on you
I’d sure like to buy you an ice cream cone
Pretend we don’t have to act like all grown

Up men and women worried bout the banks
The youth and the protests and the corporate ranks
The burden and afflictions and the stress are all gone
When I’m walking down the street with you on my arm

So hey pretty lady won’t you come my way
We got nothing going on today
You keep doing what it is you do
And I’m always gonna be a fool for you

You be the crazy and I’ll be the sane
I’ll keep up with you and I won’t complain

Oakland, Chicago, to NYC
I just wanna hold you next me

I’ll be the big spoon, you be the little
I got two arms…and you belong in the middle

Little Spoon

Track 10 on The Optimist
---------
Watching the sun come up over Lake Michigan
Letting the morning train drag me away
Hard to believe that we’re doing this again
Hard to believe I didn’t come here to stay
Hard to believe you’re sending me back west, but easy to see
Why you don’t need me wearing you down
Grindstone

Love’s down to powder and sawdust and grit
I’d like to call but there’s nothing left to say
And I never meant to take advantage of you like I did
The wind picked up and carried all away
Grindstone
(Love falls out every day)
(I just missed it)

Grindstone

from Grover Anderson, the Optimist (3/10/14)

There was a poor old Lampolier
Who’d corner any man drawn near
Solicit, grinning ear to ear, his time
“Dear Citizen, entrepreneur,
“Bourgeoisie or raconteur,
“Permit me the chance to fill your mind
“With my travelled, torrid tale
“No broken hearts or angels ailing
“In some foreign castle in decline.
“If you’ll sit a minute please
“I’ll tell you how your own two knees
“Can carry you to hold the brightest light
“Ever to shine.”

Now most men over five and twenty’d
Long since learned to make their money
Pouring iron or pressing fact’ry stamp.
But me, I’d gone by many names, 
I’d brought my parents ought but shame
Dishonorably they’d cast me out a tramp.
“Sit, I’ll tell you crystal clear,”
To me said the Lampolier,
Cold, glazed piercing eyes once red and damp
“Days a’walk from this cold city
“Hides a cave, old, dark, & gritty
“And inside’s the light that outshines anything
“I’ve ever burned within my lamp.”

The Lampolier
Tell my mother it was the Lampolier

“Three days out route 49
“You’ll find a town in deep decline
“Left abandoned by all but the fools.
“Then go up walking in the hills,
“Wander where the light it wills,
“But don’t you trouble rations, maps or tools.”
I had to stop the Lampolier,
“Mister you’ve not made it clear,
“Exactly the value of the light.”
“Young man,” said the old lampmaker,
“Love your God and don’t forsake Her,
“But this light’s the very holy source that gives
your soul its life.”

The Lampolier
Tell my mother it was the Lampolier
If you find my body here
Carry it into the sun

Well I obeyed the man’s directions
Brought no map but found the sections
Perfectly the Lampolier’d described
I crawled headfirst in that hole
Lost my grip and cracked my skull
And in the waning moment before I died
I recognized a well-dressed stranger
Eyes ablaze, I’d played his game to
Watch him stoke his cold and glorious fire
He held a shiny lamp towards me
And rather than my soul set free
Now I make his flame burn all the brighter

The Lampolier
Tell my mother it was the Lampolier
If you find my body here
Carry it into the sun

Children do not fear the dark
You’ve no idea who’s lit the spark
That you believes keeps demons far at bay
Late at night when lamps are burning
Next to you he could be lurking
The Lampolier could always use more prey.

(C) 2014 Grover Anderson
Music & Lyrics by Grover Anderson
Mixed by Michael Clebanoff
Mastered by Paul Stubblebine
Performed by Grover Anderson (vocals/rhythm guitar), Aaron Bishop (bass), Bob Matthews (drums), Rick Moore (organ), and Kiel Williams (lead guitar)

The Lampolier

second single from "The Optimist", out 3/10/14

—————

I don’t know if it’s fireflies, or if my eyes are lying to me
But the lights that fill up my sky aren’t shining as bright
I landed in Minnesota, it’s colder, but I’m warm and I’m free
Until I’m alone, only memories to help me get through the night
And I got what I want, now I just want more

When you leave Indiana, I’m gonna cover come ground
Do all that I couldn’t get done without you around
I’m gonna cook you a dinner and burn it
I’ll say you’re perfect when you don’t deserve it
I’m gonna love you til I’m sick of you
And hopefully you’re gonna be sick of me too

We’ve dealt with this distance,
Lived through dissonance, the wild ups and downs
But I hear your voice through the wire and my heart floats away
Soon you’re headed home, and we’ve gone on too long waiting around
Let’s have some of that fun we’ve been hearing about
Forget about the future and live for today

When you leave Indiana, I’m gonna cover come ground
Do all that I couldn’t get done without you around
I’ll change your flat tires, keep my facial hair groomed
I’ll hold you in bed til the late afternoon
I’m gonna love you til I’m sick of you
And hopefully you’re gonna be sick of me

We’ve got the rest of our lives to live the rest of our lives
And try as we might, in time, some of the magic might die

But when we get together, I’m gonna cover some ground
Right now we’re young and we’re dumb and we’ll run this town
I’m gonna cherish each kiss like the first
I’ll hold you in ways that they’d frown on in church
Then if I’m lucky to live til I’m 80
I’ll still be a fool for my little old lady
I’ll tell everyone that I’m sick of you
And hopefully you’re gonna be sick of me too

Sick Of You

I don't know if its fireflies or if my eyes are lying to me
But the lights that fill up my sky aren't shining as bright
I landed in Minnesota, it's colder, but I'm warm and I'm free
Until I'm alone, only memories to help me get through the night
And I got what I want now I just want more

When you leave Indiana, I'm gonna cover some ground
Do all that I couldn't get done without you around
I'm gonna cook you a dinner and burn it
I'll say you're perfect when you don't deserve it
I'm gonna love you til I'm sick of you
And hopefully you're gonna be
Sick of me too

We've dealt with this distance, lived through dissonance
The wild ups and downs
But I hear your voice through the wire and my heart floats away
Now you're heading home and we've gone on too long waiting 'round
Let's have some of that fun we've been hearing about
Forget all the future and live for today

When you leave Indiana I'm gonna cover some ground
Do all that I couldn't get done without you around
I'll change your flat tires, keep my facial hair groomed
Hold you in bed til the late afternoon
I'm gonna love you til I'm sick of you
And hopefully you're gonna be sick of me

We've got the rest of our lives to live
The rest of our lives
And try as we might, in time, some of the magic might die

But when we get together I'm gonna cover some ground
Right now we're young and we're dumb and we'll run this town
I'm gonna cherish each kiss like the first
I'll hold you in ways that they'd frown on in church
Then if I'm lucky to live til I'm eighty
I'll still be a fool for my little old lady
Tell everyone that I'm sick of you
And hopefully you're gonna be
Sick of me too

Oh, aren't you sick of me too?