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Rangefinder

by First of Three

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1.
Out In The Rain 01:50
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Clouds are rolling in, With a half-hearted grin, I hope the rain would someday go away. But I’m out in the road, With no place to go, Certain that it wouldn’t matter anyway. ‘Cuz I’d stand out in the rain Just to see you again, It seems the sun’s not shining today. I’d wait a hundred years, For my words to reach your ears And hope the thunder won’t drown me out today. If I offered you my hand, Would you understand The words that I’m just too afraid to say? ‘Cuz I’m standing by your home, Soaked through to the bone, Hoping I’ll be just a little brave. ‘Cuz I’d stand out in the rain Just to see you again, And it seems the sun’s not shining today. I’d wait a hundred years, For my words to reach your ear And hope the thunder won’t drown me out today. ‘Cuz I’d stand out in the rain Just to see you again, And it seems the sun’s not shining today.
2.
Rangefinder 03:10
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I’m in a lake of glass, throwing stones. Trying to break through to the unknown. Crystalline shards catch drops of the light, Marbled and marred by day and night. And a light glows by the harbor, And once more, I can see. And a shape looms by the lighthouse, Sings its songs for me. I see the world through my lens, I lost focus, so unclear. I see the world through my lens. Do my eyes deceive me, Whose design conceived me With eyes so weak to a flame. Though we curse and wine, Caught upon our lines, We’ve only ourselves to blame. I’m in a lake of glass, sea of bones. Slave to a chain, I rage at the throne. Gilded in gold, and caught in the light, Marbled by day and marred by night. And there's a face in the forest, And once more, I can speak, And a shadow lurks in the treetops, And my words don't fail me. I speak of worlds in my lens. I lost focus, so unclear. I speak of worlds in my lens. I’m in a lake of glass, throwing stones.
3.
You Have To Come Down 04:09
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All these years, I’d prayed that Someday all of this would end. I was in denial, While he was in my now ex-girlfriend. So I closed the blinds and, I turned the TV on. Though you were always saying, “God, I wish my life would change.” I could see your worries, That life may never be the same. So you treaded water, Dreading every day. But it always seemed to me, You’d never see the sea If you can’t bring yourself to let things go. So go out with a bang, But don’t make a sound. Let the parachute drift, Racing you to the ground. All your thoughts melt away, As you’re spinning around. ‘Cuz when you go up, Well, you have to come down. All these years I’d prayed that, Someday all of this would end, I could count on hardship, But on luck I can’t depend, Shifting tides and time bombs, And the radio’s static hiss. There were gaps of pleasure, In between the lengths of pain, Maladjusted malice, And a double-scoop of shame, A burning blast of headlights, Left us shambling in the road. But I always figured you Would know just what to do. But you can’t bring yourself to let things go. So go out with a bang, But don’t make a sound. Let the parachute drift, Racing you to the ground. All your thoughts melt away, As you’re spinning around. ‘Cuz when you go up, You have to come down. All these years I’d prayed that Someday all of this would end. Time’s my constant ally. Death’s my ever-absent friend. So I tried to call you, But my phone was on the fritz. I think I lost your number, Though that’s probably for the best. Don’t think I can stand you, Shouldn’t put that to the test. It’s not fair to you and It’s not fair to me. But I always hoped your ears, Would someday learn to hear. But you can’t bring yourself to let things go. So go out with a bang, But don’t make a sound. Let the parachute drift, Racing you to the ground. All your thoughts melt away, As you’re spinning around. ‘Cuz when you go up, You have to come down. So go out with a BANG! UGH! But don’t make a sound… All your shots miss the mark, All you hit was the ground. And all of the thoughts We’ve been talking around. ‘Cuz when you go sailing up, You come crashing down.
4.
Dybbuk 01:54
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Words on my door let you in, poorly worded, As hands by my side hold me back, all assorted, Offered and bartered and finally afforded, You’re shaken down to the bone. I don’t know what to say, Can’t speak, Loss for words, Could it be? Don’t know who or what, Where, why, I don't know, Who am I? Words in no language and faces unknowable, Call yourself confident, prove yourself gullible, Thought you let nothing go, nothing allowable, Shaken down to the bone. I don’t know what to say, Can’t speak, Loss for words, Could it be? Don’t know what or where, Who, why, Nothing’s sure, Who am I? Can’t say a word without spelling out circumstance, Caught in a riddle, with answers left up to chance, Singing a song as you’re dancing a calming dance, Shaken down to the bone. I don’t know what to say, Can’t speak, Loss for words, Could it be? Don’t know who or what, Where, why, I don't know, Who am I? Don’t know what to say, Can’t speak, Loss for words, Could it be? Don’t know what or where, Who, why, Nothing’s sure, Who am I?
5.
The Cat's Meow 02:06
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Caught in a lie, a trap, a mask, Going soon, and by, and fast. Safe and sound and all alone, One for all and all for one. But despite what others say, All I hear is the cat’s meow, Cars go, brake hard. Takin’ a moment to wonder how You know, life’s hard. Not a thought, we drift to sleep, Amidst the ocean’s swelling deep, Unlike any seen before, Shifting tides you can’t ignore. But despite what others say, All I hear is the cat’s meow, Cars go, brake hard. Takin’ a moment to wonder how You know, life’s hard. Won’t take a moment, So don’t make a sound. Footprints and falsehoods, All lost and found, All I hear is the cat’s meow, Cars go, brake hard. Takin’ a moment to wonder how We know, life’s hard. All we hear is the cat’s meow, Cars go, brake hard. Takin’ a moment to wonder how We know, life’s hard.
6.
I See No God Up Here 02:19
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I can’t seem to catch my breath, Words come quick and just as fast, They fail me. I can’t seem to hold a thought, What I need and what I’ve got Avails me. But out in space, there’s no hope for help and Out in space, there’s no helping hands, As I’ve said my peace, I’ve said all I can, And I walk out. I stepped through the stars, past the Moon and Mars, And I see no God up here. A moment’s harm in the void’s cold arms, And I feel not a hint of fear. My eyes sing songs of a man who’s wrong, And it rings out loud and clear, For though I’m blind, I’ve kept my eyes open wide, And I see no God up here. Like the fool I always am, I sit and hope I might find land, I’m drifting. Lost the sense of what is real, Shapes and colors no one feels, I’m shifting. But in the dark, we all look the same, In the dark, there’s no need for shame, As lit by the rocket’s flame, I go. From where I stand, I’m standing high, From where I stood, I scraped the sky, From where I stand, I’m where I need to go. I’ve stepped through space, at a rocket’s pace, And I see no God up here. The stars fall away as I start to sway, And my knees go weak with fear. I lose my ground when the Moon is round, And tonight is bright and clear. Downturned eyes hide an eagle’s pride, And I see no God up here.
7.
Mountain Ridge 03:30
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In dying light, grip the wheel so tight, Knuckles burning bright. As I shoot forward, of my own accord, It all seems so right. I know what I need but don’t know where it’s waiting. But at this pace I’m sure to be there soon. Redemption sits past the mountain ridge, There for me to find. Though still I feel road beneath my wheels, Oh, just give me time. Lost in space, but I heard the call, Only need to fall. Rockets burn, peace that’s won and earned, And it’s won for all. Press on the gas as I press ever forward. And at this pace I know I’ll be there soon. Redemption sits past the mountain ridge, There for me to find. Though still I feel road beneath my wheels, Oh, just give me time. I know where I am, I’m grasping where I’m going, And at this pace, I’m sure to be there soon. Redemption sits past the mountain ridge, There for me to find. Though still I feel road beneath my wheels, Oh, just give me time. Dance and sing, cherish broken things, They’re so often lost. Cat and mouse, burning down the house, Count a countless cost. There’s a familiar outline to this chaos, The name will come back to me soon. Redemption sits past the mountain ridge, There for me to find. Though still I feel road beneath my wheels, Oh, just give me time. ‘Cuz left to right, it all just looks the same now. But at this pace, I know it’ll all change soon.
8.
Castles Of Cards 02:36
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I keep building castles out of cards, Wind just blows ‘em over. I’ve been throwing punches in the dark, But I’m getting nowhere. Once upon a time, our words rang out, Now there’s only pauses. Seems we never have to look too hard For righteous causes. There’s a wind in the wires, My castle falls again. There’s a sin in the fires, My castle falls again. I keep crafting words from beams of light, Speaking left us blinded. You keep chiming in, I’m never right, But at least I’m trying. Setting our alarms, but all we hear, Is a numbing silence. Tipping every scale to favor us, Throws the world out of balance. There’s a wind in the wires, My castle falls again. There’s a sin in the fires, My castle falls again. I keep building castles out of cards, Wind just blows ‘em over.
9.
No Ocean 03:54
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If I spoke my mind, I’d never speak, I’d only take a moment and breathe. All the words that I unfurl, Nonexistent syntax sheathed, If I had the chance, I’d vocalize, But all I do is shield my eyes. Fixed point on a moving world, We tried to run and now we fly. Mailbox blue and blood-red And snow white flag, I try to speak But hang my head. Sunshine spears the veil, And now I see, I try to speak, But breathe instead. [Breath] There's no sense And there's no time, And there's no hint of any motion. There's no reason, There's no rhyme. I’m drowning in no ocean. Tried to learn to swim, but I learned to drown, My need to float just drags me down. Lone walk home, a lone wolf, limping far, Through woods of brass and glass and tar. Concrete doors and locks of stainless steel. Cars roll by on seven square-shaped wheels. Nonsense in the best way, seems to me. I can only say what I can see. Ocean blue and fox-red, And sheer white flag, I try to speak But hang my head, Range of motion, can’t move, And yet I’m free. I try to speak, But breathe instead. [Breath] There's no sense And there's no time, And there's no hint of any motion. There's no reason, There's no rhyme. I’m drowning in no ocean. I’ve been farther down before, But where and when I can’t be sure, I flail around for solid ground, And every word strips every sound, As my grip begins to slacken, Tight like all the faith I’m lacking, The world’s weight bearing down. Weeping blue and flame-red, And harsh white flag, I try to speak But hang my head. Gonna need a moment, Homing in on all my hopes and see, I try to speak But breathe instead. There's no sense And there's no time, And there's no hint of any motion. There's no reason, There's no rhyme. I’m drowning in no ocean.
10.
Around It 02:12
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I was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, I was a light in the sky, But you tugged on my sweater, Pulled the wool from my eyes. I was a murmur deep in the water, A wave out on the sea, You were a great, grand, and glorious ship, Sailing confidently over me. And there’s no way around it. No, there’s no way around it I’ve heard there’s no way around it, You see. Snagged by a pin, stuck to your thimbles, Crushed flat like a can, I put the “fun” in “fundamentally flawed,” You put your hand in my hand, I was the label on your cigarettes Keepin’ an eye out for you. You were the words jockeying for my attention, Sayin’ “Hey, how do you do?” And there’s no way around it. No, there’s no way around it I’ve heard there’s no way around it, You see. There’s no way around it, You and me.

about

Originally planned to be an EP, this project grew from just four tracks to a mighty ten. Named "Rangefinder" after both the fourth track and my favorite style of camera, I aimed to capture a variety of both sounds and mood.

This music is a product of my life, and my life is a product of all those who have become a part of it. My family and friends are a source of supreme support, and without listeners such as yourself, this album would go unheard. And for this, I offer my thanks.

Also, a big thank you to my cat, for putting up with me playing the same songs three billion times in a row as I tried to get a recording I was satisfied with.

credits

released March 2, 2018

"Dybbuk" is named for a creature from Judaic mythology. A dybbuk is a displaced soul that leeches off of a living host, and it was this story that served as inspiration for the song.

"I See No God Up Here" quotes a remark that is often attributed to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, despite the fact that he never said it. It's rumored he spoke those words, though they never appear in any official transcripts.

Meowing on "The Cat's Meow" came courtesy of my cat Thor, who is an objectively rad dude.

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First of Three Charlottesville, Virginia

There's no problem that can't be solved by a guitar, with the exception of almost every problem.

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