Some Kind of Cure

by David Berkeley

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about

While living in a 35-person village in the mountains of Corsica, David Berkeley wrote the most haunting and powerful music of his life. Upon returning to the U.S., he began recording a collection of these songs. The result, to be released on JANUARY 25, 2011, is Berkeley’s 4th studio album, Some Kind of Cure, rich with the images from that Mediterranean island and even the sounds of the village church bell and Corsican singers that David recorded while there.

Dubbed “a musical poet” by the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE with, "emotional story-telling lyrics, charismatic stage presence, and hilarious anecdotes" (June Wulff, THE BOSTON GLOBE), Berkeley has also written an accompanying book of short stories (one for each of the 13 tracks), 140 Goats and a Guitar - the Stories behind Some Kind of Cure, to be released in conjunction with the album.

David Berkeley is a romantic realist, known for his ability to look at the human condition in all its complexity and give us luminous songs full of sunshine and anguish, melancholy and delight. He brings the people and situations he sings about to vibrant life with a warm, rich tenor that often slips into an aching falsetto to underline the overwhelming emotions that can move us to tears or laughter. He blends folk, rock, and classic pop to create timeless expressions of love and longing. “It may be pop music, but my goal is to be open and honest,” Berkeley says. “I’m not afraid to show fear and weakness. I want my songs to convey hope without denying the hard times we all face.”
For more info, visit www.davidberkeley.com.
Contact David: david@davidberkeley.com
Press: Jeff Kilgour at Tijuana Giftshop
jeff@tijuanagiftshop.net
Booking: Amanda Case at AIC Entertainment
aic@aicentertainment.com

credits

released 25 January 2011
"Berkeley sings in a lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake...As his melodies ascend to become benedictions and consolations, the music shimmers and peals." --The New York Times

"The best of the young American songwriters, a voice full of feeling and a big, big heart. And the balls to say what he thinks." - Boston Phoenix

"Emotional story-telling lyrics, charismatic stage presence, and hilarious anecdotes" - Boston Globe

“Often compared to Nick Drake, Tim Buckley and
Donovan due to his emotive, airy vocals and pensive
qualities, Berkeley crafts his songs like watercolor
paintings. Intimate and introspective, his gentle yet
colorful melodies are graceful and resonate long after
the last note fades.” —Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing

“He’s a musical poet.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“David Berkeley is a singular voice to arrive on the
music scene.” —Bruce Warren, WXPN

“David Berkeley creates a layered landscape of sounds
that envelope the listener.” —John Platt, WFUV

Some Kind of Cure Credits:
Album produced by Will Robertson.
All words and music by David Berkeley.
Straw Man 2010. ASCAP
(except "Shenandoah," which is traditional)
Mixed by Neil Strauch (with additional mixing by Will Robertson)
Mastered by Roger Seibel

Additional Musicians: Will Robertson, Jordan Katz, Kim Taylor, Kevin O'Donnell, Peter Bradley Adams, Lex Price, Trappers Cabin, Jonathan Goldberger

tags

tags: berkley brian deck daytrotter fire sign indie-folk mountain stage singer songwriter this american life wxpn without a trace acoustic folk folk rock indie folk singer-songwriter San Francisco

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Track Name: George Square
She was walking cross George Square in the rain.
I was high. I was so high in a plane.
I was trying to see through the clouds,
Looking for places we’d been,
Like a sign, like a sunburst, like the letters in her name.

Oh girl, don’t change your hair for me now.
I am on your side.
No girl, don’t hide your hands from me now.
I am on my way down.

She was walking quite slowly all alone.
All the lights in the windows were aglow.
But the statues they were so silent,
With the rain splashing their heads.
How bad she wanted to hear them tell her which way is best.

Oh girl, don’t change your dress for me now.
I am on your side.
No girl, don’t hide your eyes from me now.
I am on my way down.
I am on my way down.

We were back in George Square when the rain gave way.
There’s something in how the spring comes so suddenly.
And the dress she wore was yellow.
And the rain was in her hair.
How bad I wanted to tell her that I would always be there.

So girl, don’t change, don’t change please don’t change.
I am on your side.
No girl, don’t hide your heart from me now.
I am on my way down.
I’ll be on your side.
I am on your side.
Track Name: Independence
Oh it’s the 5th of July,
I was walking the streets.
Everything’s over.
Everything’s still.

There was still smoke in the sky.
I was holding your hand.
You looked so beautiful.
Your lips start to grin,
Independence.

I think that’s singing I hear,
Of heroes and burdens to bear.
I think there’s hope now,
Light coming through.

Feels like the first of the year.
Eerie, we’re all trying to find,
Where to start over,
And how to begin.

Independence. Independence.

But all the colors are gone,
Only ashes remained.
They’re up to our anklebones.
You pulled me close.

This has been true all along,
Oh we’re not free as we feel.
And dreams aren’t as simple after we win.

Independence.
Independence.
Independence.
Independence came and went.
Track Name: The Blood and the Wine
Tell me that you still remember,
When we caught lightning in a jar.

Now you have put the sway back in the grass.
You have put the fire back in me.

There were times when you were hiding.
And I know I’ve been hard to hold.

But you have put the wine back in the glass.
You have put the blood back in me.

And oh, oh my word.

There’s a blue house in the distance.
There’s a stream beside it, too.

Well you have put the sails back on the mast.
You have put the breeze back in me.

Oh, oh my word.
Oh, oh my word.
Oh, oh my word.

Now you have put the wine back in the glass.
You have put the blood back in me.
Track Name: Parachute
Your heart is like a parachute.
It only opens whe you fall.
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba…

Driving back to Massachuetts in your father’s car,
Top down, we saw all the stars.
I’ve been waiting for the fall to get back where you are,
Top down and talk about it all.
Top down. Top down.

Your heart is like a parachute.
It only opens when you fall.

Driving back to Massachusetts in your daddy’s car,
Broke down, yeah we broke down.
Lying back against the windshield, cars were blowing by.
And you cried, wrapped up in my arms.
You cried. You cried.

Your heart is like a parachute.
It only opens when you fall.
Your heart is like a parachute.
It opens when you’re falling down.
But look at me, I’m falling now.
Come let me pull you open.

And oh, you and I, autumn sky, trying to see so far.
Oh autumn sky, you and I, trying to see too far.
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba...

Driving back to Massachusetts.
I believe this is who we are.
I believe. Oh, I believe.

Yeah, your heart is like a parachute.
It keeps us both from falling down.
Your heart is like a parachute.
It keeps us both from falling now.
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba…
Track Name: Steel Mill
There’s a steel mill, shut down when spring came.
My dad worked his life there,
I was doing the same.

Now I don’t know what to do with my days.
The kingdom comes to workmen,
So the preacher he says.

And there’s voices, sometimes well you know.
And the devil comes a knocking,
When the money gets low.

Sing with me please.
Oh da lee Oh da la. Oh da lee.
Sing with me please.
Oh da lee.

Yeah, it’s not like I liked working there,
The fire and the shovel,
And the smoke in my hair.

Oh but lord, it’s all I know.
I miss being needed,
Having somewhere to go.

There’s voices, sometimes well you know.
The devil comes a knocking,
And the bottle gets low.

Sing with me please.
Oh da lee.
Oh da la.
Oh da lee.
Sing with me please.
Oh da lee.

Yeah, there’s a woman who gave me the will.
And her name is Gracie.
She believes in my still.

My name is Joseph.
It could well be Job.
I don’t mean to harm you
With the hurt that I hold.

Cause it’s a story
Heard round each bend.
A man works his heart out,
And is broke in the end.

So come on, sing with me please.
Oh da lee.
Oh da la.
Oh da lee.
Sing with me please.
Oh da lee.
Sing with me please.
Oh da lee.
Sing with me please.
Oh da lee.

There’s a steel mill, shut down when spring came.
I gave my life there.
My dad did the same.

There was a steel mill, shut down when spring came
I gave my life there,
Suppose I’d do it again.
Track Name: Hope for Better Days
Oh to disappear,
Board a fast plane,
And never look their way.
We leave all of our fear,
All their warnings,
And all that’s worn and frayed.

All we save is hope for better days.
It’s all we have, hope for better days.
It’s all we have. It’s all we need.

And when those lights appear,
When we crest the hill,
The city in our eyes.
Hand upon the wheel,
and the pedal down,
and everything alive.
And through the evening sky, I hear them say.

It’s on its way, hope for better days. It’s almost here.
So sing for me now. And I will sing for you.

And throwing your arm over my shoulder,
Believe me we pulled one over.
Leaving their world far behind,
and now the lights are shining.

So sing for me now. And I will sing for you.
Track Name: Some Kind of Cure
In the morning,
Bells kept ringing.
You were calling.
No one’s listening.

And no one knew the reason why.
No one knew the reason why they rang.

At the table,
You were crying.
I was unsure
How to reach you.

You opened up your arms,
Opened up your arms to let me in.

Corsica, I’m calling from over here.
Oh sorceress, come conjure up some kind of cure.

Please hold me like you used to, baby.
Hold me like you would.
Please hold me like you know what I’m going through.

Some have told us,
Keep your distance.
There are secrets
That we keep here.

And that’s as close as you will get.
That’s as close as you will ever get.

Corsica, I’m calling from over here.
It’s dangerous to open up more and more.
So sorceress, come conjure up some kind of cure.

Please hold me like you used to, baby.
Hold me like you would.
Hold me like you know what I’m going through.
Hold me like you used to, baby.
Hold me like you would.
Please hold me like you know what I’m going through.
Track Name: Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Away you rolling river.
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Away, I'm going away,
Cross the wide Missouri.

‘Tis seven long years since I last saw you.
Away you rolling river.
‘Tis seven long years since I last saw you.
Away I'm going away,
Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter.
Away you rolling river.
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter.
Away, I'm going way,
Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Away you rolling river.
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Away, I'm going away,
Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah, I'll never leave you.
Away you rolling river.
Oh Shenandoah, don't want to leave you.
Away, I'm going away,
Cross the wide Missouri.
Track Name: Soldier's Song
Wo oh the weight of man.
Come lift me up.
Come take my hand.
Wo oh the weight of man

All of the lines in the sand,
And all that we carry,
And all of our cares,
Tell me how to prepare.
Tell me how to prepare.
For who here is chosen,
Is he who is damned.

Wo oh the ways of man.
The dark behind
The brightest plan.
Wo oh the ways of man.

This is the strength in my hand.
This is the strength of my hand.
This is all I can hold.
I don’t care that you told me,
That you think I’m wrong.
This is not your song.
This is a soldier’s song.
So try to keep your head down,
Try to understand.

Wo oh the wars of man.
And why we fall,
And why we stand,
Wo oh the wars of man.

These are the sounds in the sand.
These are the sounds in the sand.
This is all I can hear.
You try to block the screaming.
You cannot block the sky.
This is a soldier’s cry.
This is a soldier’s cry.
And no one wants to hear it.
No one wants to hear it.
But I’m afraid to die.

Wo oh the weight of man.
Please lift me up.
Please hold my hand.
Wo oh the ways of man.
Just leave me here.
Just drop my had.
Wo oh the wars of man
Come break my heart.
Just lay me down.
Wo oh the weight of a man.
Wo oh the weight of a man.
Wo oh the weight of a man.
Wo oh the weight of a man.
Track Name: Homesick
Homesick is hard when you don’t know
Just where it is that you call home.

I don’t know how this roof’s going to hold.
It’s oh so cold.
It’s been snowing too hard I fear.
Yes, I know that it’s pretty here,
And the air is clear.
But the years aren’t passing fast enough this way.
Maybe you can save me now.
I’m not sure how.
I’m calling out for that
I’m crying out for that.

Homesick is hard when you don’t know
Just where it is that you call home.

There’s a place that the old man knows,
Where the moon sits low,
Where he sits and thinks things through.
I have asked him if to think of you.
It may come true.
Been hoping that he might wish you here today.
Or maybe he can lead me home,
And not alone.
I’m calling out for that.
I’m calling out for that.

Homesick is hard when you don’t know
Just where it is that you call home.
So hold me close and don’t let go,
Cause through it all, I love you so.

Holy riders from days gone by,
Come back through time.
Come find me, come quickly, come hear the words I say.
May the world be kind to you.
And Jackson, too.
That’s all I’m asking for.
That’s all that I’m crying for.
That's all I'm praying for.
Homesick is hard.
Homesick is hard.
Homesick is hard.
Track Name: Marie
A wounded town, where the winds won’t blow,
The rain won’t fall, but the clouds won’t go.
There’s a fallen man hears a minor tune.
There’s an empty bed in an empty room.

With the shudders closed and the fire low,
The rains won’t fall, but the stars won’t glow.
There’s a lonely girl, and her dress is torn.
A baby knows when her mother mourns.

Oh Marie, it’s not like me to fall apart.
Oh Marie, it’s not like me.

A wounded town and the hill below,
Rains won’t fall, but the winds won’t blow.
Cause when a village turns into walls and woes.
And a father’s hands can’t patch the holes.

Oh Marie, it’s not like me to fall apart.
Oh Marie, it’s not like me.

The old church roof caved in long ago.
But its bell still rings, so sad and slow.
Cause when a body burns into smoke and soul,
And a father’s hands can’t patch these holes.
No a father’s hands can’t patch these holes.

Oh Marie, it’s not like me to fall apart.
Oh Marie, it’s not like me.
Oh Marie, it’s not like me to fall apart.
Oh Marie, it’s not like me.
Oh Marie, it’s not like me.
Track Name: All those Ashes
Hold me river,
Here’s my bones.
Look at all those river stones,
Forming patterns on the shore,
of the man I was before.

Clothes now dripping off the line.
Stubborn sun don’t want to shine.
If I could turn it back don’t know,
Don’t know what I’d forego.

She’s the girl with the crooked grin,
Thoughts all waiting to begin.
She’s the one with the spools of thread,
Colors always in her head.

And I’m the boy in the chestnut trees.
I’m the boy still on his knees.
I’m the one in the crumpled clothes.
I’m the boy who comes and goes.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.
Oh momma I’m fine.
Don’t worry all the time.
Don’t worry all the time.

Oh that fire burned so fast.
Promises they couldn’t last.
Pictures in those wooden frames,
Faces now don’t look the same.

And all the lessons that we learned,
All of that too quickly burned,
In the river down below,
All those ashes floated slow.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.
Oh momma I’m fine.
Don’t worry all the time.
Oh, I’m coming home.
Sweet river take me home.
Sweet river take me home.
Sweet river take me home.

Rock me river here I am.
Come on take me back again.
Rock me river, rock me slow.
Take me where I’m meant to go.
With all those ashes floating slow.
With all those ashes floating slow.
With all those ashes floating slow.
Track Name: Winter Winds
All the things to say,
On my dying day.

You know the winter winds will one day settle down.
You know the talk of spring will push us off the ground.

Oh I believe in you more than you can now know.
If I could stay right here, I’d never let you go.

This is an old refrain I used to sing to you.
You had your mother’s eyes. You weren’t even two
When we left Ft Greene, you were still in our arms.
We tried the best we could to keep you safe from harm.

And in the end, in the end…

We crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. We crossed the ocean wide.
We sold all of our things. We kept our open eyes.
For more the century, took more than our blood and bones,
More than just you and me to make this place our home.
If you love someone, don’t be afraid to fall.
What could it mean to win if you can’t lose it all?
I know the stars they fall. Sometimes the sky falls too.
Sometimes the long freight train don’t stop for me or you.

And in the end, in the end, keep your heart open.

Yeah this is an old refrain I sang when you lay down.
Though it may sound the same, everything’s different now.
I know you’ll walk away, over that mountain there.
If I could go with you, I’d follow you everywhere.
There are things so hard. I wish they wouldn’t bruise.
Everyone that you love, you will one day lose.
And one day I’ll have to go. I’ll travel further still.
And I will not return no matter how strong my will.
But you know these winter winds will soon be settling.
Even the sun will shine. One day it will be spring.

Oh it’s hard, I know, to carry on.
Go with grace my son.