Cranky, by Bill Michalski

Cranky

by Bill Michalski

supported by

Richard Fox - smallpoetatlarge thumbnail

	/

Digital Album
Streaming + Download

Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

Purchasable with gift card

name your price

You own this

1.	Me & The Emilys 03:22	lyrics	buy track
Everybody knows your voice it cracks Everybody knows you can't go back Everybody says what matters more than that When it started I was waiting to be discovered So half-hearted They were way across the room And it could have been me and the Emilys It could have been me and the Emilys Everybody wants their secret place Everybody wants to reach first base Everybody's scanning for that distant face When it started They were waiting to be uncovered So halfhearted I was way across the room Chorus There will be other chances (More cross-the-classroom glances) The world's mostly boundless (The world's mostly boundless) Chorus And it could have been me Watch what I say, watch what I do but for my enemies The world’s mostly boundless It could have been me The days cannot be counted and the Emilys
2.	Passive Aggression 03:11	lyrics	buy track
Stay with me I never wanna see ya Run and play and terrorize the neighbors My front door you pushed to keep it open You my friend I think your brain is broken On the phone Oh man you are relentless I owe you An accurate percentage It’s all yours So take it, you can have it Just give me A precious few moments alone When I hear that knock, I don’t want to go outside Hang around the block Let me please just stay inside Fingernails on chalk Answer it, your hands are tied When I hear that knock, I don’t want to go GO! Cul de sac You’re waiting on the sewer Circumspect my adamant pursuer Add it up the time obligatory Calculate My time in purgatory Fun and games You play them with a temper If I win I’ll be the first offender On the stoop Don’t mean to burst your bubble No surprise I get myself in trouble... again I need an excuse Staring at the clock What would you have done? I need an excuse I need an excuse Listen here My friend you are on notice Doctor please Give him the diagnosis Padded walls And white fluorescent hallways Set me free For always always always Running ‘round Distressing/ impressing all the people Here’s the church And here’s the fucking steeple I can’t bear Another chummy session Honestly It’s all passive aggression
3.	Hunch 04:24	lyrics	buy track
I always had a hunch That you were better than the bunch And every time push came to crunch You would overcome Most folks never had a clue But it came naturally to you We would watch it all come true I felt it in my gut You'd be the one to make the cut Go and break out of the rut Leave us all behind Always thought it'd be a waste To watch you stall Running in place Throw away a life of grace To please your parents When we were in the garden I never had a doubt We would plant the seeds And watch the seedlings sprout But outside the backyard So many ways to wither up And drift away IT'S NOT OKAY I always had a hunch That you were better than the bunch And you would beat them to the punch And send them running We finally left the backyard So much more to do To let the world in On how our garden grew But outside the backyard They prune the weeds And clip the plants By happenstance IT'S OUR ONLY CHANCE We all loved to say your name But goddamn the secret shame You could never keep it tamed So you washed it down Most folks never had a clue But a chosen few they knew What more penance can they do? always had a hunch That you were better than the bunch And every time push came to crunch You would overcome Most folks never had a clue But it came naturally to you We would watch it all come true I felt it in my gut You'd be the one to make the cut Go and break out of the rut Leave us all behind Always thought it'd be a waste To watch you die Running in place Throw away a life of grace And leave me hanging...
4.	Everybody's Looking At Me 01:54	lyrics	buy track
How can I do anything? When everybody's looking at me How can I do anything? When everybody's right behind me You can't fool me What you said I know what's inside your head Chorus You can smile Put on your act You're whispering behind my back Please let me go home and hide What's the use They see inside Chorus
5.	X-Acto Knife 05:30	lyrics	buy track
Between the box springs and the mattress Is where I store my thoughts Everything I want to be And everything I’m not Below the bedside table The stale carpet dust I'll spend my summer searching For someone I can trust X-Acto Knife, X-Acto Knife, Your shiny blade, the plans I’ve made for you X-Acto Knife X-Acto Knife, X-Acto Knife, My sharpest friend, how I depend on you, X-Acto Knife When the hour's getting later Just you and a glowing screen I have a burning notion To tell you what I mean Don't judge until you've heard it all The only friend I’ve got My sacred absolution And I don’t want to get caught X-Acto Knife, X-Acto Knife, Your shiny blade, the mess I’ve made with you, X-Acto Knife X-Acto Knife, X-Acto Knife, You’re going to save my life, stay close to me, X-Acto Knife

credits

released September 20, 2019

Engineered by Steve Hoover
Cover illustration by Russell Mark Olsen

license

about

Bill Michalski Saint Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, MO songwriter Bill Michalski exorcises his demons in his new EP, CRANKY. By (almost) entirely eschewing the acoustic guitar in favor of electric and working with a crack live rhythm section, Michalski's songs reach a new level of energy. Mr. Michalski has been recording and performing music since his high school days in 1993. CRANKY is his first non-single release since 2013. ... more