This is Why

by Atwood

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04:01
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04:12
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about

Atwood is the solo project of Xavi Ramirez.

credits

released 24 March 2012
Thanks to:
Ben Meza (B 3 N B I) - Tracking, mixing, mastering, and percussion
Jacobo Ramirez - Charango (Broken Spokes), Quena (Balloon Losing Air)
Anna Claire Urman - Backing vocals (Not Okay & Balloon Losing Air)
Luke Amble - Bass (Balloon Losing Air, Broken Spokes, & Chris' Song)
Aaron Lochert - Lead guitar (Broken Spokes)
Michael Throssell - Violin (Broken Spokes)
Daniette Flores: Chorus vocals (Balloon Losing Air)
Carly Vorndran - Album artwork

Infinite thanks to everyone that had their hands in the making of this CD. Whether it was directly or indirectly, I could not have done it without all of your support and love.

For Hector Sanchez. In life, and in death, you have been the seed of inspiration for anybody you have ever encountered. May this music be an example of that, and a tribute to your infinite impact on this world.

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about

In late 2010, taking on the name of the street that he grew up on, Atwood began to write songs that confronted difficult themes in his life. Death, heartbreak, and self-identity are among these, and are explicitly showcased in the "This is Why" EP expected to release early this year. ... more

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Track Name: Not Okay
You said you need time
to go out and find
whatever it is you need to be alright

You said, "honey, you and I
I don't think we'll survive
so kiss me long, 'cause this is goodbye"

And you left me on the floor
with your breath smelling like war
and you walked back in your garage door

I wept so hard,
that all my shame turned to scars
and my trembling hands could barely start the car

But I drove away
to a distant place
where I could forget your face

Pull relief from the drawer
just let the warmth escape my core
I've lost the one thing I was put here for

You took forever
and gave it away

Hope you find something better
but I wish you had stayed

And so if you ever
think I'm okay

Just remember
three words I'll say:

"No I am not, I'm not okay
I'm not okay"
Track Name: Broken Spokes
Towards the end
The cycle's different but
Somehow just the same

So my friend
We were so persistent and
No one is to blame

But fault follows me
Like a plague
And bends me 'till I break

I know it seems that this will remain but
People die, we move on
Nothing stays the same

And I don't think I've ever been more afraid
'cause I am just a shell and nothing more

I'm asking why
I finally had the chance to say goodbye
To turn my back on everything,
Set fire to this life

I've realized
That though the lights seem dim tonight
The horizons burning bright
And everything will be alright tonight

Now and then
My indifference is
Swayed by the winds of change

I just pretend
That this is existence is
More than just a game

But self doubt cuts me
Like a blade, and
I fear I may never stand up straight

I know
It's probably my fate, but
Fuck these lies, and fuck this body that's a cage

'Cause I am just a shell
And nothing more

I'm asking why
I finally had the chance to say goodbye
To turn my back on everything,
Set fire to this life

I've realized
That though the lights seem dim tonight
The horizons burning bright
And everything will be alright tonight

When I finally close my eyes
It'll be with an answer; I hope

That I leave this place, this shell,
And this bike with broken spokes

And maybe there'll be meaning
In the things that I wrote

But a poet's just a man
That you didn't know
Track Name: Chris' Song
I'll roll out the carpet
If you get in the cockpit
And fly into the forest
To see if you'd notice

The pieces of me
That have been missing for weeks
You're wearing my heart
Like it's jewelry

And that's fine with me.

In fact I prefer it
You've given me courage
To feel what I want
Even if I am wrong

And I don't want to hurt this
But it's about being honest
And if I speak truthfully
I think that maybe you might see

So listen to me

'Cause the best thing to do
Is what I'm about to
I'm taking the wheel to steer
Keep my love with you
Find something that defines you.
There is nothing to fear

So please my dear,
Just get out of here.

I'm just a ship
That is anchored to shore
I'm the edge of a cliff
I'm a goddamn closed door

And you are a girl
With the world in your hands
Slap fate hard across the face
If you could write your own plans

So if you feel sad
For that love you mistook
On the same page doesn't work
If we're in different books

Remember that
I am just a lie.


Time has a knack for making
Bad things look good
And everything you say
Will be misunderstood

Dusk brought the tears for letting life pass you by
Put your drinks up for cheers,
This is last call tonight

And don't shed a tear,
Just get out of here.

Now I'm drunk as hell
With this pen in my hand
And it doesn't even matter

That I wrote this song
Just to feel at home
My self-pitying interpretation

Because the hardest part
Of being alone
Is that there's no one there
To notice.

And now you're gone
I'm left lingering on
And all I have is this song

So let me disappear,
Just get out of here.
Track Name: Balloon Losing Air
Lately I feel like a balloon losing air
Trying to pretend that this hole isn’t there
The truth is I’m sinking and feeling kind of scared
When my lungs are exhausted I’ll still be tied to this chair

This knot that you left me will never go away,
Like a car that has me pinned to a tree that won’t give way
It’s what holds me together and kills me just the same
Not now and then, but every day

Well not now and then, but every day

Maybe I’m wrong and it’s all in my head
But when she’s talking I hear your voice instead
And that’s why my patience was as thin as a thread
When I freaked out and left cause of what she said

If you were to come back then baby I swear
I’d be a good little Christian; I’d say all my prayers
There’d be no use for my drinking or these pointless affairs
It’s my dysfunctional way to keep unaware

My dysfunctional way to keep unaware

I’ve been scared of turning this page
So many things that I’ll never say
But if death should turn my way
Blinding light, just take me away

Someday I’ll call you and play a mean questionnaire
And the sound of my voice will bring you to tears
And suddenly the pain will be too much to bear
And you’ll whisper the words, “Baby come here”

Drinking coffee late thinking, and all I know
Is that lies will keep you warm when the truth makes you cold
So I make up these stories where you come home
Being crazy feels better than being alone

Yeah being crazy feels better than being alone

And I don’t have the words to spare
For these things that I’m trying to share
I’ve been trying to take care
‘Cause I’m a balloon losing air
Track Name: Wait for the Sirens to Pass
Things seem so opposite
More and more
Everyday

I'm asleep when I'm wide awake
And the sun shines
When it rains

Feels like I'm lying when
I'm telling the truth
And it hurts
How it pains

When they ask how I'm doing
And i just smile in reply
I say "Thanks
I'm okay"

I'm just stumblin'
I'm just drunk again
It's not my fault anyway

Just some song I wrote
Just some heart I broke
Another ball and chain

My father put down his guitar
And he spoke
His refrain

He said "You can write songs 'till you're blue in the face
But son nothin's
Gonna change"

And I think of that now as I'm writing this down
trying to catch
Your gaze

With some pretty words, wrapped in metaphors
Hoping I can leave you
On a page

Take what's killing me,
Light it with kerosene,
Turn and walk away

May each verse I write
Be my last compromise
To simply numb the pain

Because you know as well as I do
That these things will fade

I know a woman who lives alone
In a house
Down the way

Who wears a beautiful gown
And a thorny crown
And hangs paintings without frames

She waters her plants
And feeds her shepard dog that's locked up
With no name

And every now and again
Something falls and breaks
And darkness leads the way
'Cause when her husband died
There was no blinding light
Just an empty grave

Now her hallowed god
Is just a calloused fraud
And no one's ever saved

Sometimes I hear her sing songs so true
They remind me
Of a place

That I've never been
But her voice captures me, and I'm forced
To retrace

The steps to her door
Where I hide and listen, 'till her dog barks
From its cage

And she straightens up
Looks right at me, and demands
In a wispy way

She says "Who are you?"
"What are you going to do?"
Come out and show your face

I said "Ma'm I've tried
My entire life
To try and answer that phrase

But if you sing another song,
I think we'd be
Okay

And should we all die tomorrow
At least we had
Today