Get all 8 Joshua Starmer releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Middle Ages, Made for TV, Choice Nuggets, Beauty Must Suffer, Greene Street, Starmakers, Germany Zulu, and Postcards From Home, Volume 1.
1. |
Lehigh Waltz
01:52
|
|||
2. |
You Don't Know
02:56
|
|||
|
You don’t know
Which way to drive this car today
But it’s time to go
Maybe the stars will show the way.
You saw it in a book
A guru who lived in the sky
Thought you’d take a look
And ask him who what where when how and why
But you need a plan
Well, you’ve got time, the light is red
Do what you can
To scratch the itch inside your
head. Inside your
head. Inside your
head. Inside your
head.
So you check your phone
To see if you should take a right
‘Cause you’re far from home
You drove that car all through the night
But you’re off the chart
You’ll have to find your way from here
Follow your heart
Drive past your worry and your fear
You feel something’s wrong
Maybe you should have turned left instead
Try to be strong
And scratch the itch inside your head
Grab the map
Look for a place where you can hide
Put it on your lap
That page will never be your guide.
So you head for home
You fill the tank and check the tire
Think you’re all alone
While your heart burns like it’s on fire
You’re driving fast
Your foot is made of solid lead
First will be last
To scratch the itch inside your head
|
||||
3. |
On Your Doorstep
04:10
|
|||
|
Driving north east
I try not to think of what can go wrong
(cause) I need release
Feeling so scared when I should be strong
It’s not all that far
I double check, to make sure it’s yours
I park the car
And straighten my back as I walk to the door
It’s easy to call, it’s easy to knock.
When I could care less, I can handle the shock.
But this is so hard
This is so hard
This is so
I remember freaking out
On your doorstep, on your doorstep
And I never felt so exposed
As I did that day, on your doorstep
Fist full of daisies
How can they say what I’m feeling inside
(cause) I’m going crazy
Standing alone, right here outside
I hear a sound
Creaking and pops from an old wooden stair
(and) I look around
Thinking of you, your face and your hair
This is so hard
This is so hard
This is so
|
||||
4. |
Lucky To Be Alive
03:52
|
|||
|
Start the car release the break
Merge onto the interstate
Drive away, drive away
Drive away, drive away
You are lucky to be alive
‘Cause you’ve been bleeding deep inside
Kids say, “words can never hurt”
But they don’t know ‘cause you’re lucky to be alive
Night sky is glowing orange and red
Gas station lights are shining exit ramp ahead
Windshield wipers starting up
You took the last sip from a coffee cup
Shifting lanes, construction site
Painting lines under a light
Drive away, drive away
Drive away, drive away
|
||||
5. |
Look Away
03:34
|
|||
|
I wish I had a devil screaming
loud and clear
I wish I had a devil screaming
in my ear
Then I would have somebody
that I could blame
Then I would have somebody
to hide my shame
Look away
I wish that the grass were greener
where I stand
I wish that the grass were greener
on this dry land
Then I would have something
to ease my mind
Then I would have something
that I can’t find
Look away
Far into the future
the sun is bright
Far into the future
it’s never night
Everyone might be happy
I can dream
Everyone might be happy
so it may seem
Look away
Living in a land of shadows
Can’t see what’s true
Living in a land of shadows
I depend on you
To see what I can’t see
Screaming loud and clear
To see what I can’t see
Screaming in my ear
(but please)
Look away
|
||||
6. |
The Cue For The Band
03:58
|
|||
|
Wallflower standing at the back of the room
My hands are sweating, I can smell your perfume
I try to plan my, plan my next move
I hope it’s one you will, you will approve
I check my cuffs
I straighten my tie
I survey the floor
It’s empty right now
They’re all back by the bar
I can see from the door
You, you take my hand
as you get up to stand.
That’s the cue for the band.
But just wait, that was all in my head
The thought of asking, makes my cheeks turn red
I wish I was braver, more of a man
I’ll do my best though, I’ll do what I can
I catch your bright blue eyes
And I see your faint smile
I’m so glad I came
It takes me two short steps
I’m standing right by your side
A spotlight takes aim
You, you take my hand
as you get up to stand.
That’s the cue for the band.
This must be, this must be my dreams
It can’t real, it can’t be what it seems
Or maybe I’m wrong, and this is our night
I could get used to this, ‘cause it feels so right.
They’re just standing around
Nervous whispers on stage
They’re waiting for me
Your hair in long dark curls
Your dress flows all about
You’re all I can see
You, you take my hand
as you get up to stand.
That’s the cue for the band.
I’m triple checking my cuffs
Then I straighten my tie
I survey the floor
It’s empty right now
They’re all back by the bar
I can see from the door
You, you take my hand
as you get up to stand.
That’s the cue for the band.
|
||||
7. |
Casual Shirts
03:17
|
|||
|
I went to the mall
I went to go shopping
I went to buy some clothes that I could wear to work
The sign out front
Said the sale’s inside
So I went on in to see what I could find
Casual shirts
For $200
The kind you wear untucked when you’re all alone
Casual shirts
That need to be ironed
The kind you wear untucked when you can’t leave your home
You said we should leave
Head out for the open
We might find what we need somewhere else instead
So we both held hands
And made our way for the door
But the tide was strong and kept us stuck to the floor
You smiled at me
You seemed kind of crazy
You said you had plan to get us out of here
So we counted to three
And I followed your motions
And somehow we made it right past the door
|
||||
8. |
Don't Worry About Me
03:25
|
|||
|
I saw the words on the computer screen
I couldn’t read each one cause I know what they mean
They took the wind right on out of me
I’m just sit’n here trying to breathe
But oh, don’t worry about me
No, don’t worry about me
Cause I’ll be OK in a little while
Yeah, I’ll be just fine in a day or two
In a day or two.
A punch to my gut that will last for days
A lump in my throat that won’t go away
I could have
I should have
Tried a little harder if I’d only known just what to do
Tried a little harder if I’d only known just what to say
Tried a little harder if I’d only known just what to
|
||||
9. |
Oceans
03:21
|
|||
|
Just one man in a crowd
I do what I can
I keep my head down
I keep my hands clean
‘Cause I don’t really know the people around me
That’s just the way things go when oceans surround me
I get home from work
I watch the t.v. show
I go back to my job
And I talk about the t.v. show
But I don’t really know the people around me
That’s just the way things go when oceans surround me
What’s a shared experience, experience?
Just a shared experience, experience
I try to reach out
I’m lost in a sea
I see clouds ahead
That’s where I’ll swim
|
||||
10. |
That's Alright
02:28
|
|||
|
I see the world the way I want to see the world from over here.
Everything is clear.
You see the world the way you want to see the world from over there.
In your rocking chair.
So we might fight
All night
But that’s alright with me.
I ride a bike you drive a truck I shake my fist up in the air.
To let you know I care
You leave your trash out on the curb for weeks on end it makes me mad.
I bet that makes you glad
You stay up late I go to bed I hear the noise right through the wall.
I give the cops a call.
I’m up at 5 it’s time for work when the cops arrive and take me in.
Oh not again!
I get back home my fingers crossed but I’m not alone you’re still around.
Sitting on the ground.
We’ve tried to be apart but there’s nothing’s worse than a lonely heart I guess I see.
You’re the one for me.
|
||||
11. |
Far and Wide
03:20
|
|||
|
I have traveled far and wide
I have traveled far and wide
But I wish that I could be with you
Yes I wish that I could be with you
In my head I see your face
And in my head I feel your skin
But I’m far away from you
Yes I’m far away from you
I’ve been searching for my home
I’ve been searching for my home
But I’ll never find it without you
No I’ll never find it without you
I have traveled far and wide
I have traveled far and wide
And I wish that I could change your mind
Yes I wish that I could change your mind
|
||||
12. |
Christmas In Rio
03:04
|
|||
|
It’s Christmas time in Rio,
While the sun shines down on Rio
Papai Noel
He’s the surfing the waves
He’s got his speedo on, and he’s got his shades
He shaved his beard last week
‘Cause it’s just too warm
This is the mid-summer heat
Not a midwinter storm.
We got people singing Noite Feliz
We just finished plugging in our electrical tree
It’s Christmas time in Rio,
While the sun shines down on Rio
When he’s not hanging dez
Papai’s in Greenland
Fezzik’s employed making
presents by hand
Check out the presépio
It’s bad to the bone
You’ve got your amigo secreto
So you’re never alone
We just finished Os Pastores, oh the gall
I still can’t believe that the gypsy ran off with the doll
It’s Christmas time in Rio,
While the sun shines down on Rio
Bom Velhinho
He’s trying to keep cool
Sipping on his cachaça
Right next to the pool
The street’s lined with orchids
There’s no mistletoe
When the clock strikes doze
To chapel we’ll go
The missa do galo was crazy it lasted all night
Let’s eat a feijoada til we see the morning light
It’s Christmas time in Rio,
While the sun shines down on Rio
|
||||
13. |
Girl, You Know It's True
04:10
|
|||
14. |
||||
15. |
Garota De Ipanema
02:39
|
|||
Joshua Starmer Chapel Hill, North Carolina
A native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Joshua Starmer is a cellist, composer, and singer whose eclectic sound recalls the string-led pop of Andrew Bird and the quirky compositions of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, both of whom he cites as influences. A cellist since the age of seven, Starmer eventually wove himself into the fabric of North Carolina's vibrant music scene. ~ Timothy Monger ... more
Joshua Starmer recommends:
The Sunshine Route
by Jeezle Pete
This is my band with Wendy Spitzer and Robert Cantrell.
go to albumIf you like Joshua Starmer, you may also like:
Tender and gorgeous songs from this Brooklyn duo, “and then all over” is a striking, evocative work full of hushed beauty.
go to album
Checklist/Tempo
by Alexandre Klinke
featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 10, 2014
go to album
Sluggin' It Up!
by Stella Le Page
Ornate chamber pop laced up in strings and piano and delivered in a soft, sly voice.
go to album
The eclectic influences of this California group shine through on these creeping tracks, full of dark electronics and intimate vocals.
go to album
On “Evolution,” múm’s Gyða Valtýsdóttir writes tiny, starlit songs, her delicate vocals wreathed by hushed instrumentation.
go to album
