Artist: Tim Becker
Release Date: August 7th, 2018
If 2017's The Plaid Album was a tour de force, written and recorded in a three-week period in the fall, then Galapagos is a labor of love. Recorded, revised, and re-imagined tirelessly throughout 2018, this album contains songs that have been in the works since as far back as 2011, coming to life and finally seeing the light of day. Complexly layered, carefully crafted, and darker than its predecessor, this album is a huge leap forward for me as an artist, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with all of you.
Lyrics
Galapagos
we’ve escaped the window box
breaking through the clay
tired of being nothing more than
butterflies pinned to a wall
in the light we are washed out
weaving through the trellis
breaking through the atmosphere
butterflies pinned to a wall
sprouting limbs and thirsting
we spiral into hurricanes
we crawl out of the ocean
(in a pale light, in the moonlight, oh we’re)
butterflies pinned to a wall
no longer dead and beautiful
no longer dead and beautiful
tired of being nothing more than
tired of being nothing more than
tired of being nothing more than
falling leaves in pages
butterflies pinned to a wall
butterflies pinned to a wall
we’re moving forward
Galapagos
The Bear
if I went to the edge of the river
put my hands in the water
would you come out to see the stars
and pull me under?
if I ran to the edge of the house
in the dark, would you follow?
as I cup my hand over your mouth
would you holler?
if I gave you a thread
would you pull me undone?
another bear caught in a trap
in wintertime
if I put you in a jar
up on the shelf, would you starve?
or would you glow and fill the room
in a flash of chemicals?
if I gave you a thread
would you pull me undone?
another bear caught in a trap
in wintertime
if I ran to the edge of the house
in the dark, would you follow?
as I cupped my hand over your mouth
would you holler?
if I gave you a thread
would you pull me undone?
another bear caught in a trap
in wintertime
another bear caught in a trap
in wintertime
would you come with me to the river
put your hands in the water
and pull me under?
Poison Filling the Room
one day we will awaken
from a simultaneous dream
slip back into our bones and
walk the earth with dinosaurs
but you won’t, you won’t
you’ll be snared and swinging in the dark
dangling from strings
glowing eyes will suck you dry
half-blind in the failing light
I’ve followed you into the jungle
spoken tongues at your altar
if you’re here to share the gospel
I’ve already heard it
and it’s starting to feel
this is all starting to feel like
poison filling the room
like poison filling the room
the room
I’ve cartwheeled down your aisles
shook tambourines at your revival
bled into your offering basket
danced in your holy fire
this is all starting to feel
this is all starting to feel like
poison filling the room
like poison filling the room
the room
your truth, my truth
I’ve already heard it
I’ve already heard it
poison filling the room
like poison filling the room
the room
City of Grace
taken aback as I’m taking it in
wish you could tell me where to begin
city of grace or the city of sin
can’t decide which one I’m in
passenger seat we’re taking a trip
sound asleep, the only sound we get
freedom calls, it calls my name
but all I’ve found tonight is shame
taking your time as you’re pulling your tricks
your shotgun weddings are making me sick
nickel won for a dollar spent
you left her wondering where you went
you left your bride by the chapel bells
are you leaving her or are you leaving yourself
city of grace or the city of sin
can’t decide which one I’m in
this town reeks of piss and backwash rum
got to run before the devil come
sold your soul for a fifth of gin
ain’t no way to start again
beggars, bastards, liars, and thieves
skipping town but we can’t leave
dancing like hell til the break of day
ain't no heaven for the poor and strays
cause we are fuckin it up
fuckin it up good
fuckin it up
fuckin it up good
Good Friday
I’m getting older every minute, every minute
I try to sleep but I can’t get it, I can’t get it
feels like my life is ending before it begins
feels like my life is ending before it begins
before it begins, before it begins
it ends before it begins
I’m getting older every minute, every minute
I try to sleep but I can’t get it, I can’t get it
feels like my life is ending before it begins
feels like my life is ending before it begins
before it begins, before it begins
it ends before it begins
getting older, getting older
Feathers and Wings
come on out of the water
shed your scales and you’ll see
nothing’s what you expected
it hurts like fire when you breathe
change is coming soon
change is coming soon
I hear the knock and then I open up
can you feel the new limbs sprout
feel the fangs come out
feel the white light burning
brand new eyes
feathers and wings
feathers and wings
I hear the knock and then I open up
feathers and wings, feathers and wings
see the meteors crashing,
see volcanoes erupt
see the rivers dissolving
into tar pits and mud
see the foundations fracture
break the heart of the world
see the heavens crack open
and the lightning fall out
why you holding on?
see the meteors crashing,
see volcanoes erupt
see the rivers dissolving
into tar pits and mud
see the foundations fracture
break the heart of the world
see the heavens crack open
and the lightning fall out
Voyager
come back to earth
you’re not the one to say what’s real
can you hear me? I’ve been drifting
now I’m halfway gone
suddenly my mind doesn’t work
the way it used to
I never thought it was a problem
that I get confused
it’s like I’m floating by the world
and my words can’t make it through
you say:
“come back, come back, come back
come back to earth”
I’d quit somersaulting in the void if I could
I’d be living in the moment if I could
but I’m all mixed up
I’ve been walking in a haze so long
it doesn’t faze me anymore
I’ve been swimming in the clouds
I don’t notice when it all slows down
I never thought it was a problem
that I’m skeptical
I don’t believe people can know that they know
what they think they know
you say:
“come back, come back, come back
come back to earth”
I’d quit somersaulting in the void if I could
I’d be living in the moment if I could
but I’m all mixed up
come back, come back,
voyager
Too Bad
rainfall, trickle down
filthy gutters to the thirsty ground
medicine o’er the mouths of children
analyzers, we observe
corner table of the wandering earth
people turn like gears in a clock
searchlight, prison break
thoughts escape on a turning page
nothing will change unless it’s made to
stubborn stares are sinking ships
war begins at the fingertips
words have only the power that they’re given
well it’s too bad
it’s too damn bad
car wreck for the curious
life is wasted on the rest of us
on our confirmation bias and denial
resuscitate and stabilize
damn it’s good to be alive
but what’s the point of living if no one’s watching
well it’s too bad
it’s too damn bad
Blue Ridge Parkway
early morning
fog is lifting
parkway blooming
we drive in silence
Appalachia
nice to see ya
through tree tunnels
we drive in silence
there’s no future
only winding
pencil cities
erase behind us
there’s no future
only winding
pencil cities
erase behind us
Appalachia
nice to see ya
through tree tunnels
we drive in silence
there’s no future
only winding
pencil cities
erase behind us
Eno River
halfway cross the river
haven’t got a lot to say
halfway cross the river
things will never be the same
hold your hand a little
till it carries you away
look—what could be better?
you are, you are
when you climb the mountain
and chip away, chip away
when you climb the mountain
I’ll be counting down the days
wish I could be there for you
if things had gone another way
halfway cross the river
I can feel you slip away
halfway cross the river
things will never be the same
hold your hand a little
till it carries you away
look—what could be better?
you are, you are
you are, you are