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Before The War

by Racing Days

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1.
Geminids 04:05
Driving by your house Just to see those flashing lights It’s comforting to know that someone Tries to keep the spirit alive One day you’ll invite me in One day I will step inside One day I will be your friend Instead of a passerby How long ‘til we reach The Heights? Not much gas left in the car You waste it all riding past Empty beaches and sad bars Did you see the Geminids? Did you have fun on New Year’s? Did you ever make it out to the golf course With your tributary spliff and beers? It’s too bad the plug was pulled They’ll say it was before your time That’s just how the story goes Every legend has to die And fuck what other people say Don’t try to make them understand You never used to need a seal of approval Just someone to hold your hand Why you have to share it all? Can’t we let the moment last? You transmit your whole damn life Like it’s a radio broadcast So glad the plug was pulled I’m so glad you never write At least I know it’s mutual These sad affairs they tend to die
2.
West coast women fucking with my head Always trying to trick me into bed Then they say they wish that I were dead West coast women fucking with my head Gonna take you to the observatory Griffith Park, I’m feeling like James Dean Staring at projected stars with me Learn their names and navigate the sea I’ll find a boat while you just find some beer Sail back to my coast where the sky is clear Point out constellations on the pier I will never get you out of here West coast women West coast West coast women, fucking with my head West coast women, trick me into bed West coast women, your skin never gets red! West coast women, forget what I just said West Hollywood ain’t much like Dublin Sky was gray and no one gave a shit About cappuccinos or freeway traffic Was there a point? Well, I must have missed it Glasnevin, was where my shoes got wet Kerry farmhouse, where you lost a bet Thomas St. sidewalk, covered in shit What would you know about any of it? West coast living, drove me off my head West coast living, won’t go back again West coast living, I lost something there West coast living, Hollywood can burn for all I care
3.
On Fridays I get to play the ghost Making the thrift store ladies doubt everything they know On Saturdays I get to play the guest Letting me live in a house with normals like the rest On Sundays I get to play the fool The bells clang as I dance, obliterate the rules On Mondays I get to play the star The microphone entices, so appalling is the charm On Tuesdays I get to play the slave They make me climb the ladder then tell me to behave And on Wednesdays I get to play the villain With scratch marks on the wall, but I don’t wanna kill him! And on Thursdays I get to play the lead Echoes in the royal hall, the spectators all left me Play the part Before the war
4.
Days of Gold 03:45
I feel safe at your apartment It’s warm ‘cause you’re always baking something You told me I’m welcome anytime Show you my card tricks You can bring some wine But what would happen If you were to find out What I’m really like? Are you on my side? Don’t know why my hands are shaking Maybe you weren’t part of my equation Waiting on the last train at Connolly Station Trying to make it back home before the day ends I wish I could remember all of their faces But I know they’re slipping away because I am moving slow She’s in circles behind me I warned her not to follow ‘Cause all I will ever want Is something I could never hold And all I’m thinking of Are those days of gold I felt safe at her apartment Christmas lights were shining In a little dark room Now my eyes sting At Surf Drive with the ocean I tried to breathe in Like you always told me But everything was clearer Back when you owned me I used to say I didn’t mind being lonely Am I on my own? It hurts ‘cause you’ll never believe me And I think of how you used to lead me Down cobblestone streets on foggy nights I just wish that we had more time
5.
My coat reeked from the fire When we stood on your front porch Tossing twigs and leaves for hours Can’t believe how long it burned We walked down to the swings With all my might I pushed you And you soared so high above But not as much as you used to Everyone had gathered ‘round But nobody had to speak If I could just make some sense If I could dry off my cheeks All our hands, they felt so cold And your voice sounded so dim Smoking Camel cigarettes Even though we had all quit I drove down to Water St. Found myself up on the hill And that’s where I cried for you That’s where all the love was killed I can’t lose another Another loses me
6.
Ruggles 04:17
Stumble out of Ruggles station Around the corner you’re there waiting Hug, kiss, say hello Take me to your fifth floor room “Oh man, what a killer view!” All the buildings glow Bloodshot eyes on a football game I can’t think of a thing to say I won’t let it show “How has your semester been? Why won’t you just talk to him?” I can’t let it go Oh me, what would I sing about? And you, what would you pretend to listen to? 1 a.m. walk back home, sing blues It’s too cold out to wear these boat shoes Dark blue little toes I jump under covers but I won’t sleep Replay it over endlessly The answers I can’t know ‘Cause me, what would I sing about? And you, who would you pretend to listen to? Burn the queen at age sixteen You worry about shutter speed So you can capture the grief And the onlookers say... Burn the queen number sixteen Adjust your shutter speed So you can capture the grief What a strange moment to
7.
No one ever asks, “How was your day, Thomas?” No one ever says, “Thanks for your help, Thomas.” No one ever says, “You did a good job, Thomas.” No one ever asks, “Won’t you come over Thomas?”
8.
Hotel St. 04:49
Dead, my eyes are dead Everytime I call her She can’t be bothered And the alarm goes When I try to follow She can’t be bothered And friends, we could be friends You give me a chance I’ll take that knife right out of your back It’s starting to sting And we wouldn’t want that We wouldn’t want that, no! Dead, my eyes are dead Everytime I call her She can’t be bothered And the alarm goes When I try to follow She can’t be bothered And friends I used to have friends Everytime I call them They gave me a holler But all that’s gone now Yeah, all that’s gone now They can’t be bothered!
9.
Facepaint, boogie boards Bike path rides, cooking smores Look so cool, red bandana No point making plans with you Racing days, before the war What were all the wide eyes for? We weren’t fools, just amateurs I didn’t hide, I ran with ya Let’s grow our hair out together Let’s let the lost years last forever Everyone thinks that they know better than us If I’m just marching towards the end Well, what’s the rush? I didn’t say that I would never say that I didn’t say that ... Maybe I did What were the wide eyes for? Just left us feeling sore What were the wide eyes for? Just leave me on the floor Driving up to Belfast, Maine I hung ‘round the Courtyard gates It must get lonely on the Interstate Singing all the family tunes Underneath the Supermoon And I’m wishing that I hadn’t stayed Pick up a purple store-bought card Write a message, won’t be hard All the sympathy try to convey Words give me a place to hide Until I’m on a stage at night Belting out how you done me wrong But you always have my back Even when I sneak attack Who knows why you’ve stuck around So long
10.
Well, where were you at twenty-two? Wasting time by ocean blue Party behind an elementary school You whispered you were wounded, too Basement, red lights, shattered glass Tell me I’m caught up in the past Your father made his morning cup I needed air to the shop I walked The barista, I’m friends with her Inside no room for regulars But I still stole this pen from them So I could write a song for you And how did the blind man know All I needed was his kind hello? And on the porch you wisely warned For untrained guests to watch their words ‘Cause I’ve been known to twist a few And you’ve been known for fists and bruises 3 a.m. come across the street Where my family was last happy Not one cell in my whole body Is the same as then And I peeled off to be alone The place inside where darkness grows Don’t know why I try to comprehend You told me to take my time But now it’s the 4th of July And I’m throwing darts at maps To see what’s coming next People tell me look alive But California killed my vibes If I don’t have the strength to leave I hope that you won’t judge me Up the stairs, you tuck me in The same room where it all begins And I knew you were right about The circles I’m running in Perverts lurk by bathroom stalls 1:30 a.m. Evan Eckstrom calls To tell me how his ex is serving Vengeance, oh so cold The backseat of a fogged up car Holding her hair in the yard Bouncer knows my sister from expired I.D. card And in the line for Crooked Coast Old childhood friend he bums a smoke It’s been ten years since the time we spoke And look how far we’ve come Maybe something’s overlooked When I’m the one with buttons pushed While you were downtown, slacking off People tell me look alive But California, I paid the price If I don’t have the strength to leave I hope you won’t forget me I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
11.
Route Five All night Green sign On a Northern drive The hills of San Francisco Couldn’t save me though Escape From L.A. My mistakes Am I misplaced? Couldn’t hold my ground When they cut me down Could I forgive myself now? Well, I sure hope so (No, I don’t think so)
12.
Bumped into you by the bookshop What a fine man you became with All your summer reading purchased And your cut-off plastic bracelet Did you ever get that watch fixed? To keep track of the time you wasted From doing all those cartwheels And staring at cloud formations Did you ever get her number? That pretty girl you were chasing And when you see her hand is open Well I, I hope that you take it When those NSBie brats come back ‘round With their little privileged faces Are you building forts in your room? Or do you leave ‘em bleeding on the pavement? And what happened to your old friend With the punk rock education? I heard his folks moved down to Jersey Or is he still in Karen’s basement? Did you ever get her reason For running out of patience? And if she ever gives you a second chance I hope that you take it Well I, I hope that you take it!

credits

released January 28, 2014

Racing Days is Brian Engles, Matt Liles, & Brian Sandlin

Music by Racing Days. Words by Brian Engles. (Tracks 3 & 8 originally arranged by Brian Engles, Dan Moakley, & Evan Sawyer.)

Brian Engles produced, recorded, and mixed the album. He also sang, played guitar & lots of other instruments.

Matt Liles played drums on tracks 2,4,6,7,11 and a million other things on Track 3.

Brian Sandlin played bass on tracks 2,3,4,5, & 8. He also sang backup vocals on tracks 2,4, & 8.

Matt Brady sang backup vocals on tracks 3,6,8,9, & 12.

Eva McNamara sang backup vocals on track 11.

Back-sleeve design on CD by Leanne Hoppe & Patrick Connolly.

If you would like a PDF of the lyrics for the album or if you have any other inquiries please email Brian Engles at racingdaysband@gmail.com

For Thomas, Mason, & Rory.

© 2014 Hole In The Wall

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Racing Days Falmouth, Massachusetts

Catch up on the last eight seasons of Racing Days before new episodes premiere this spring on the WB!

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