CASSIDY: "This song's about loving a woman who doesn't need anyone. A survivor who lives on her own terms."
He casts a shadow down the block
he can't remember
Just how to start or when to stop
fight or defend her
He shines the light into the dark
and empty corner
right where the past had left its mark
Too late to warn her.
Chorus:
But she's fine
she's not innocent
She's fine
in all her discontent
She knows it's always been the same.
It'll always be that way.
He holds the secret in his fist
a burning ember
To stay or go now that's the twist
hate or befriend her.
Chorus 2:
But she's fine
she's not innocent
She's cool
in all her discontent
She knows
it's always been the same
She's fine
she's not ignorant
She knows
there's no main event
She's fine
It's always been the same
(bridge)
It'll always be that
way
It'll always be that way...be that way...
(repeat 1st half of chorus)
She's fine
she don't give a damn
You don't have to understand
She knows it's always been the same
and she'll always be that way.
CASSIDY: "This is a new song about someone who's only willing to get so close - who's afraid to pull the walls down and have at it with the relationship. It could be with a lover or a parent or a friend. You find yourself saying, 'I have to get past this because it's not real.' And feeling sad about it and realizing you have to let go. That's what this is about - that sadness, that realization that you've come to the end of your journey."
I
I've had a change of heart
This one's come to say
that it is awake
In
In this time alone
I have come to know
You'd be fine with one foot in
and one to go
Chorus:
If you
you don't know by now
Then you
you don't know by now about
Open hearts and doors
Once
I was the big mistake
That one was hard to shake
Forgiveness draws its first breath with hesitation
(chorus)
Bridge:
So I lead with borrowed light into your darkest night
where you're still afraid of me
Trade the sadness on your face with me there in its place
and set us free.
(chorus twice)
I
I've had a change of heart
This one's come to say
that it is awake
KRISTEN: "I have a hard time with this song. It's a song about my friend Michael who was killed tragically in a car accident. I had a really hard time dealing with it. I co-wrote this with a very special friend named Diane Scanlon. She helped me get it out. This song helps me keep Mike alive, and I'm just happy about that."
Driving down a dark road
on the last night of his life
Michael's in the back seat
Thinking everything's alright
He was young, and so invincible
The radio was blasting
in the car he got from dad
tail lights in the distance
are the last of him I have
and it's all so inconceivable
Chorus:
When they told me you were gone
I hated god for what he'd done
I'm trying hard to understand
And I know I shouldn't want this to
be someone else instead of you
I thought you were so invincible
Four o'clock in the morning
Before the break of dawn
Michael left forever
from the town where he was born
and I woke up crying, 'cause I knew you were gone
Chorus:
And it hurts to miss you everyday
this feeling never goes away
I'm trying hard to understand
And I drive the streets we grew up on,
I can't believe it's been so long
I thought you were so invincible
Bridge:
I want to change the way the story goes
why can't it have a happy ending?
Driving down a dark road
on an endless summer's night
Michael's in the back seat
and he makes it home alright
Chorus:
And at night he whispers in my ear
I hear his voice so loud and clear
He tries to help me understand
that he'll always be right by my side
a part of him will never die
that's what makes him so invincible
CASSIDY: "We were driving through Pennsylvania one night and there were some really drunk, belligerent boys on the road who wanted to play chicken. Everything that I cared about was in that steel box driving down the highway. They were in one of those hatchbacks and they're scaring the crap out of me. I went home and I thought, How sad, to be in a situation where you don't care what happens. What could you say to someone like that to make him realize that the world isn't as bad as he thinks it is?"
Lost inside the pattern
of those who'll never matter
speak to you of freedom, rage is getting fatter
Empty as your beer can
crush me you're a mad man
Hanging on to history of hate in your hand
(chorus) What can I say
to pull you from behind?
What can I say
to make you change your mind?
I know what you're thinking
you believe in nothing
Hollow eyes say you're not whole
and you're not bluffing
Now we can't ignore you
now we can't afford to
standing on your chest are those that go before you
(chorus) What can I say
to turn water into wine?
What can I say
to make you change your mind?
(bridge)
Your anger looks so ugly like a handprint in the icing
on one more forgotten birthday of the child no one noticed
Lay the belt upon the table
hope for punishment that's better than the silence that surrounds you
and the love that never found you
(chorus) What can I say
to leave your hands untied?
What can I say
to turn water into wine?
What can I say
to make you change your mind?
CASSIDY: "It's basically about unrequited love and being unhappy in your present situation. And maybe having a crush on someone else and thinking, Hey, this is bad."
Of course I knew I shouldn't love you
So I fought with all the strength in me not to
To force this miles above you
Miles with nothing in between
There's barely anything to leave you now
but memories conjured up in both our minds
I'm so afraid that I might lose them
in the trajectory of time
Chorus:
In this happy home
I am so alone
The picture on the wall of smiling faces says it all
Of course I knew I couldn't love you
but then that would be a fairy tale
So I fell hook line and sink
her
I'm a fool who's suffered well
(chorus)
Bridge:
I'll never know you
Waiting turns to sleep
The only promises I'll make are ones that I can keep
Of course I knew I couldn't love you
Of course I knew I shouldn't love you
Of course...I knew.
CASSIDY: "I always say that this is a song about a one-night stand - a one-night stand that lasted five days. It was a really intense moment in time and it changed everything from that point forward as to how I approached every relationship that I was in. It was an amazing experience because of that and I wrote 50 songs about it."
You made the call
I watched the door to see you coming through
And every time it was a warm September wind that blew
then on the air that drifted in the faded smell of denial
See, I don't know so I won't ask I think it's best that way
can't be held responsible for what you didn't say
so let's pretend that I'm not me and it's not you for a while
This cigarette I'm pulling on
that second pint that's nearly gone
this hand that's sliding down my leg
(Chorus)
If there's one right thing you've got to do
don't do it tonight
and for once enjoy the view just out of the light
if there's one last kiss we've got to have
let's have it tomorrow
it's a longshot, but a chance I've got to take
It's fair to mention from the first that
when you touched me there
you're starting something that I'll finish
so just be aware
and if you mention one more time we could be soul mates I'll die
it's easy now when I look back
they call that "retrospect"
if I had known that night would have such a ripple effect
I might've been more likely just to let that sleeping dog lie
This T.V. set we're dualing on
my fighting words are nearly gone
there's something sliding down my leg
(repeat chorus)
I foresaw the day when you would come and make it clear
some things do better where you found them
so we'll leave it here
I'm only crying 'cause this cloud of smoke is burning my eyes
and ever since the times when I am standing close to you
I see the person that you are, the one I never knew
Do you ever feel me anymore or are you too high?
Ready get set here we go
what's been going on? I don't know
I've been standing tall on my last leg
(repeat chorus)
It's a longshot, from a world away
in a time slot, on a passing day
you're a longshot, but a chance I've got to take
KRISTEN: "Our record label approached us about co-writing. Cassidy and I played a little joke. We said we would love to co-write, but the only person we would co-write with was Rob Thomas and you will never be able to get him to co-write with us. Then our record label called and said you need to be in on Tuesday to co-write with Rob Thomas. We became instant best friends. We wrote two songs in three hours. He's a genius. If you rub up against him a melody ends up on your arm."
Heard you talk about leaving
Heard you talk about leaving before
Heard you talk about giving up on me.
Heard you talk about changing
but talk is cheap and I've heard it all before
Used to be that I'd fall apart
but that don't work no more.
'Cuz you can't leave half way
and I can't let you stay
Chorus:
Take your promise take your pain
Take your restless heart
If you go
go all the way
Don't look back
'Cuz in my heart you've been gone so long
that I won't miss you that bad
If you go
go all the way
Don't look back
So you ask me why I'm not crying
I did all of my crying before
I took off my pity party dress and
I don't dance no more
Cassidy: "This is a very special song about the same person I wrote 'Longshot' about."
Outside the madness come to me
Feelings are much higher underneath
I would crawl up inside you
know that I'll try to
lonely is only as lonely as we
we're only so lonely
Chorus:
I don't mind where you go while you're gone
You let me know if it's better
And I don't mind when you go why you're gone
and I'll leave you alone if it's better
You could stand on my shoulders for air to breathe
and I would bow to kiss the ground 'cause
here is where I found you
and where I'd leave you
And brighter will find you
but don't let it blind you
you can't ask forgiveness for what you don't see
and what you don't see is that
(chorus)
And there are angels beside you
they keep and they guide you
but your eyes are just as sad as they can be
are you so sad like me?
CASSIDY: "This was written a long time ago. It was written after I had a really hairy fight with my roommate. I was living in Los Angeles at the time. I had this one roommate and he and I weren't digging each other. I went to my room and thought, If this music thing works out and someday someone asks what I was like...man what he will say! People come forward all the time and say terrible things. So I went to my bedroom and wrote this song."
She lived here
behind that door
where she played and hung around
smokin' up
to something but I couldn't tell you what
Don't bother dropping that name by me
don't bother dropping nothing but the conversation
or please take your leave
I let it kill me now I let it be
But she's in here
and her shadow left a stain
and I can't get it up
she left a feeling but I couldn't tell you what
Don't let her throw her magic at you
Don't let her can't let her be your meditation
don't pray too long
Keep one open or she's good as gone
(chorus)
Did it hit where she aimed or where it hurt?
Did they wipe off that smile with dollar bills?
If you're looking for some life she left behind
you'd be better off looking at mine
She lived here
behind that door
where she prayed like on hallowed ground
saving up for something
but she never told me what
Don't bother dropping that name no more
don't bother dropping nothing but the conversation
or please there's the door
I let it beat me now I know the score
(repeat chorus)
Did she blow your mind
Did she make it on time
Did she blow your mind
Did she make it on time
She lived here
CATHY: "This song was a baby of the three of ours. I sat in my bedroom and started playing this riff. Then Kristen came over and said, 'Hey, let's add this.' We ship it off to Cassidy, who writes a song that is basically about what we've all been through. It really does get hard following your heart. You choose heart over money and sometimes that's a very difficult decision. There are definitely times when we probably thought we weren't going to make it and the only reason that we actually did make it was because we had each other."
Why are you sitting on the side
clockin' the time
letting them do the decidin'?
Caught in the ebb without a flow
watchin' the tide
what kind of wave are you ridin'?
Pick off the hours of the day
this is a shade
of your blue you've been hidin'.
Walking through the shadows of your soul
don't be afraid
'cuz baby I'll do your fightin'.
Chorus:
You're the reason
you're my everything
you lift me up when I have fallen
You're the reason
you are everything
I'm higher up and you're the reason
yeah......
I know the secret of your eyes
I may be wise
or maybe paying attention
You are much better than you know
You're subtle grace
with the heart of a lion
Shook you when the sky was falling down
you lost your place
safe in the middle
Guilty by omission was the case
but this is home base
where you will find your acquittal
(chorus)
Bridge:
I'm better since you came along
Now it's my turn
CASSIDY: "This was a song we did when we were out there on the road, pounding the pavement, 250 shows a year - in a van for four years. We did it, and we played this song every night."
It was rain for a year
drop for drop and tear for tear
on the girl who wouldn't stand out in a crowd.
She was born to the son
of a mini van salesman
on an early August morning under clouds.
Sweet romance, like her dreams
came in Spinster Magazine
her Romeo was on page 33
Chorus:
He buys her diamond rings
he's always listening
he tells her everything
all those things that a girl would ever want to hear
But that's not truly love Rosita dear.
On a plane
bags are packed
with The Bell Jar on her lap
and a half devoured Harlequin novella
You are much
much too young
to be leaving with no one
but Fabio in black jeans
Chorus 2:
He'll give her Mexico
tied up in a bow
and all the girls she knows green with envy
wishing they met one as cavalier
But that's not truly love Rosita dear.
Bridge:
Ooooo there was a time you gave
your heart and soul away
Now, all that you give is up
Don't lose the love you save.
Chorus 3:
He'll give her Mexico
tied up in a bow
and all the girls she knows green with envy
wishing they met one as cavalier
But that's not truly love Rosita..
Romantic dinner date
he'll never show up late
and all the girls you HATE are green with envy
wishing they met one as cavalier
But that's not truly love Rosita dear.
CASSIDY: "This song is about finding your inner diamond. It's about those times when you're feeling like you're pushing the rock uphill and it keeps coming back down on you. And you just think, Why did I ever think that I could conquer this Goliath? Sometimes family can't understand it. You've got to just tell yourself that you've got the strength and that you don't get more than you can handle. You've got to keep walking forward. You've got to get up every day and you've got to be grateful and you've got to love yourself."
I-I am a diamond and I cannot be broken
I-I am a diamond and I cannot be broken
Mother please don't cry for me
I rolled the dice
just give it some time
If you could just be kind
to me
'cuz I don't care
The life I waste is
mine.
It don't mean much in the grand scheme
I've given up and given
everything
Chorus:
It's worth repeating
over again
I'll keep my head up and swallow my pride
again
I'll give it away
again
It's been dead so long it can't die there
again.
I-I am a diamond and I cannot be broken
I-I am a diamond and I cannot be broken
Mother mine's a foolish game
but
the same could be said
said about yours
He took your youth and he took your name
What did YOUR journey here ensure?
(chorus)
Bridge:
I'm all grown up
I've got my pride
Why let me live
to let me die?
I'm all grown up now
I've got my pride
Let me live
Let me die.
(chorus)
I-I am a diamond and I cannot be broken
I-I am a diamond and I cannot be broken
