This song gives me the will to finish school

DOWNLOAD THE SONG FOR FREE/PAY WHAT YOU CAN at bandcamp: https://amandapalmer.bandcamp.com/track/machete

this song was written in memory of anthony: best friend, cancer victim, weapons enthusiast, life-saver and….it’s a long story. but a good one. 
read it here: bit.ly/AFPMachete

PLEASE LISTEN WITH HEADPHONES IF POSSIBLE.
this recording was able to come into being created because of my incredible patreon community.
if you want to support more making of Things, please consider joining us: https://www.patreon.com/amandapalmer

the band:
amanda palmer - piano and vocals
jherek bischoff - electric bass, string arrangement, mixing & mastering engineer, bad-ass
ben folds - drums, spiritual editor
ryan lerman - electric guitar 
aniela marie perry -  cello
lauren elizabeth baba -  viola
crystal brooke alforque -  violin

sound engineers: 
chris kahn at eastwest studio LA (band)
jaron luksa at the rattle room (vocals and strings)

thanks to mayumi heider for cat-herding, and to mayumi, risa luksa, and gracie folds for childcare.


lyrics:
MACHETE. 

i have never liked the box of knives 
you said was a paradox because you’re kind 
but withstood a childhood that robbed you blind 
of love that was safe and so you learned to fight 
x3 

what do i do with this stuff? 
it seems like yesterday i called you up 
i had a terrible case of the past 
i didn’t know how to get it off 
i didn’t know how to get it off 

and you took 
your machete 
and you sliced through the vines that wrapped around me 
and you said 
i don’t know what i’m doing 
so i’ll just keep on cutting 
it’s worth a little blood to get your arms free 

i have never liked the box of knives 
you said was a paradox because you’re kind 
but withstood a childhood that robbed you blind 
of love that was safe and so you learned to fight 
x2 

what do i do with this stuff? 
it seems like yesterday i was in love 
i kept of covering the soft parts up 
i didn’t know how to get them off 
i didn’t know how to get them off 

and you took your machete 
and you hacked through the woods in the surrounding 
and you said 
i don’t know where i’m going 
i just know that i’m heading from 
the dead things piling up behind me 

and you took 
your machete 
and you carved out a path to my chest and you said see 
there’s nothing not worth keeping 
you’ve felt so many beatings 
but 
nothing’s going to work if you believe me 
nothing’s going to work if you believe me 

i have never liked the box of knives 
you said was a paradox because you’re kind 
but withstood a childhood that robbed you blind 
of love that was safe and so you learned to fight 
x2 

i have never liked the box of knives 
i took it to the oceanside the day you died 
i stood out on the dock 
no matter how hard i tried 
i couldn’t drop them in 
and i collapsed and cried: 

what do i do with this stuff? 
it seems like yesterday you were alive 
and it’s as if you never really died 
and it’s as if you never really died. 

and you took 
your machete 
and you said boo guess who 
but seriously, beauty 
you said 
see ? 
you get the drill now don’t you 
it’s not a will or won’t 
you can’t keep making symbols out of nothing 

so i took your machete 
and i sliced off your head and you laughed 
and you said see 
it’s just like anti matter 
it’s dumbo’s magic feather 
you don’t need me here to cut you 
you don’t need me here to cut you 
you don’t need me here to cut you 
you don’t need me here to cut you 

free.

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