We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Welcome To The Poorhouse

by The Birthday People

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 3 The Birthday People releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Welcome To The Poorhouse, Here's To Another, and The Birthday People EP. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $14.70 USD or more (30% OFF)

     

1.
The dots upon the ceiling make a map of all the things you've never done She texted you with the fewest words And what once was two is now only one I used to be the same Got tired of playing my own game You keep getting burned because you never learned About the reins, and how to let them go Your legacy's already spent, the space between your ears is all you can afford He walked out without saying a word And left you all alone to fall upon your sword Seems you still don't understand All the things you can't command You never learned About the reins, and how to let them go
2.
One more hour 'til I get on with the things that I should do One more day until change and clarity come into view One more month and then walk away from things I should eschew All the suffering Welcome to the poorhouse Alas and alack, everything you borrow you give back Never will desire give you slack Welcome to the poorhouse No more terrified feelings of the world you used to know No more petrified attitudes that turned you to stone You won't have to hide fears that always chilled you to the bone No more suffering Welcome to the poorhouse Alas and alack, everything you borrow you give back Never will desire give you slack Welcome to the poorhouse
3.
Run You Down 02:58
I've been staring at the ceiling Still somehow can't shake this feeling A shoe that I don't own is gonna drop I've been searching for some remedies Even getting on my knees Anything to make these fears stop If you're feeling satisfied, you'd better turn around Don't you feel something rumbling underground? When you state your claim, that's when they run you down You never said you were unique Still you turn the other cheek Knowing that you always have that right When you're awake, you're still amazed Obsidian's the present hue of nightmares bleeding into days If you're feeling satisfied, you'd better turn around Don't you feel something rumbling underground? When you state your claim, that's when they run you down You're not sure when you gave up But now you hold a paper cup Hoping for some providence to fall There's no reward for sitting still You're just another space to fill Until you clear the fog and see it all If you're feeling satisfied, you'd better turn around Don't you feel something rumbling underground? When you state your claim, that's when they run you down
4.
Ghost Town 03:50
Every place that we know is dark here Save the stores and pharmacies We're all so connected now, we're not sure what we believe Some of us have homes and families Still more have even less We rosin up our bows and play our songs under duress Looking for someone to hold us now But there's no one left in this ghost town Every window reflects the emptiness Every silent street resounds Every store shelf shows the fate of what's been lost, but once was found I remember when you said to me things would never be the same And now here we are all hunkered down by the pilot light's flame Looking for someone to hold me now But there's no one left in this ghost town Take a minute and settle yourself down It's just another day in this ghost town
5.
I stare at the screen, it's hypnotic glow My fingers swipe and swirl The colors, the images, hold me entranced Electrons flutter and whirl I stop in the silence, I know I'm alone, and wonder just where you went Then I recall you're in the next room My mind's not one hundred percent And I keep forgetting you're not here The world is an oyster, a complex marvel We are the dreamers that dream It's hard to imagine that we'll have a future staring at each of our screens And I keep forgetting you're not here
6.
They called off the world today, and told us everything would be fine We walked away saying nothing, but we all knew that they were lying Suddenly a shift, no going back again Let us all walk into the valley Sadly, not hand in hand They called off the world today, and told everyone to go home We worked along in stony silence as we packed up all that we owned Suddenly a shift, no going back again Let us all walk into the valley Sadly, not hand in hand
7.
There's always been a way that we do things around here Never a reason to change - change is what we've been taught to fear So now we're supposed to be open minded Embrace the now with outstretched arms My early warning's flashing on standby Waiting for the coming storm Everybody, here comes the carpetbaggers They're gonna steal us, steal us blind Take everything that we hold sacred And hope that we don't pay no mind I'd like to find Mr. Toffler, give him a shock of his own Chaos is never the answer - the past is where we belong Everybody, here comes the carpetbaggers They're gonna steal us, steal us blind Take everything that we hold sacred And hope that we don't pay no mind
8.
Long day's toil grinds you down Heart's reserves cannot be found Neither mind nor matter factors in Pays no mind to lose or win Sometimes, when prospects are bleak You'll find a sunset on fleek Feel those rays permeating your soul and melting the sadness away Crimson daylight wins again Try as you might, you still cry When bad tidings stop on by Let the night do what it intends There'll be daylight left to mend Sometimes, when prospects are bleak You'll find a sunset on fleek Feel those rays permeating your soul and melting the sadness away Crimson daylight wins again
9.
Once, it was bitterly cold Now, we sleep with the windows wide open Though the facts speak a truth There are those who say nothing's the matter This is how it ends Once, upon the briefest of times We opened ourselves to the other Now, under Damocles' sword We run from the real to take cover This is how it ends Now, as the still waters rise We are nervous and mad as a hatter Though we're feeling the truth We smile and say nothing's the matter This is how it ends
10.
We're not gonna talk when we get to the car Nothing to say, nothing to dread I already know that you're gonna walk So I'm just left chasing a thread Down the rabbit hole, to the end of the string No way I'm gonna do that I drank from your well, it was bitter and warm It reminded me of spaces I'd tread A common refrain might rise from my lips Don't want to be stuck watching my head Your best intervention is the wringing of hands In tough times like these, got no time for that In these times of tribulation, it's so hard to make sense It's like the whole world lives on the other side of the fence If it's too hard to listen, then it's too hard to know I find that silence is the hardest way to grow Watching my head

about

The third album from The Birthday People.

credits

released August 10, 2021

Mike Schrand: Lead and background vocals, electric, acoustic, tenor, baritone and bass guitar, mandocello, keyboards, percussion.
Ken Kase: Backing vocals, guitars, vocals, keyboards, percussion

Party guest: Chris Kase - Flugelhorns on "This is How it Ends".

All songs copyright 2021 by Mike Schrand / BMI
Produced by The Birthday People
Mixed by Ken Kase
Mastered by Jack Petracek

Cover photo by Ken Kase
Art design by Jeff Hirsch
Thanks to Kimberly Springer for the title "Sunset on Fleek".

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Birthday People St. Louis, Missouri

A studio duo born out of like musical minds writing songs about the human condition with a wry smile and all frilly with musical accompaniment.

contact / help

Contact The Birthday People

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like The Birthday People, you may also like: