Be (2001)

TRACK LIST
1. Be 
2. Tree Surgeons 
3. Running Up That Hill 
4. All We'll Ever Be 
5. He Got Up 
6. Onto Me 
7. 43 
8. Independence Day 
9. Family Tree 
10. Stay with Me


CREDITS
MB, vocals, percussion; Matt Kite, guitar, keyboard; Jay Perry, bass; Roger Johnson, drums. Guest musicians: Dave Warburton, drums; Saundrah Humphrey, viola. Produced by Tommy Thew and TWBA. Recorded and mixed by Tommy Thew at Well Wrought Audio (Seattle, WA), except "Independence Day" (Scott Ross, Hanzsek Audio) and piano on "Stay with Me" (Tommy Thew, Kite House). Mastered by Scott Ross at Hanzsek Audio (Seattle, WA). Cover photo courtesy of Patrick Hagerty. Music by TWBA. Lyrics by Matt Kite. © 2001 Gargantuan Records/TWUBBA Music (ASCAP) except "Running Up That Hill" (© Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.).


REVIEWS
"The Whole Bolivian Army proves to be a cohesive rock band that expertly stirs impressive elements of production, emotional expression and practiced musicianship into each of their songs. Their latest offering, Be, extends the Army's assault with electric/ acoustic guitar transitions, heavy mood adjustments and just enough angst to keep things interesting." 
— IndieMusicReview.com, Fall 2001 

"This is the fifth recording by The Whole Bolivian Army and it's had the same effect on me that the previous four did... I slap it into my CD machine regularly. Be continues TWBA's penchant for writing lyrics that allow you to interpret the songs for your own pleasure, while being carried along by solid, hypnotic arrangements. Mary Beth Kite's silky smooth vocals lure you into the web of the band's tight, rhythmic arrangements." 
— Wayne Ellis, The Every Other Weekly, May 17-30, 2001

Be 

there was a time when… misery 
there was a man who… mystery 
I wanna be that one for you 
I wanna be… 


Tree Surgeons 

there go the tree surgeons 
it's time for carnival 
whether to be the one who sings 
with rusty blades this fall 
just take a look at each man's hands 
the hands that cut us down 
they're the same hands that pull you close 
the hands that lift your gown 

hey now, hey-ee-yeah 
hey now, hey-ee-yeah 

just look at me 
my hands are open wide 
can't get them clean 
can't let the seconds slide 
our bed is free 
my arms are open wide 
just look at me 
my arms are open wide 

there may come a day 
when stilts are all we've got 
when the trees won't fall for us 
when we leave the mills to rot 
we'll raise the big top, baby 
raise and gather 'round 
we'll trade our chainsaws in 
and build a better town 

hey now, hey-ee-yeah 
hey now, hey-ee-yeah


All We'll Ever Be 

take the keys out, babe 
you wanna stay 
let go of the steering wheel, babe 
I want you, too 

ooh, let me show you the way, show you the way 
ooh, let me show you the way, show you the way 

take a look at me 
tell me what you see 
are we all we'll ever be? yeah? 
are we all we'll ever be? 
well, that's just fine with me 
we're all we'll ever be, yeah 

take your shoes off, babe 
and close the door 
let go of the future, babe 
it's gonna come 

ooh, let me show you the way, show you the way 
ooh, let me show you the way, show you the way 

take a look at me 
tell me what you see 
are we all we'll ever be? yeah? 
are we all we'll ever be? 
well, that's just fine with me 
we're all we'll ever be, yeah 

keep your ring on, babe 
keep it on 
keep the words we wrote 
keep 'em all


He Got Up 

one man, he read left 
one man, he read right 
they stood on top of their books 
they stood and blocked out the light 
they drew a line in the sand 
and tempted me to cross it out 
they talked like men who can 
but I know they can't -- I know they can't 

one man, he stepped back 
one man, he thought twice 
he stood on his own two feet 
he stood on the thinnest of ice 
he blurred the line in the sand 
and tempted me to cross with him 
he talked like a man who knows 
and I know he knows -- I know he knows 

he's been there too 
he's seen it too, yeah 
he's fallen down and down and down… 

one man, he fell down 
one man, he got up 
he stood on his own two feet 
he stood on the thinnest of ice 
he let go of the books he read 
uncovered the words himself 
he talked like a man with hope 
and I know he dreams -- I know he dreams 

he's been there too 
he's felt it too, yeah 
he's followed it round and round and round…


Onto Me 

I slip this dress on -- for you 
it won't stay on for what we want to do 
I crack the door open -- he sleeps 
I crack in two the love he wants to keep 

you belong to me 
ooh, get onto me 

I slip this dress off -- we're alone 
it will stay off until you take me home 
I crack the door open -- he waits 
I crack in two the love he tries to hate 

ooh, he's on to me 
ooh, he's on to me 

I slip this dress off -- one last time 
it won't stay off 
I know you know what's mine 
I crack the door open -- he leaves 
I crack in two the love he needs to believe 

you belong to me 
ooh, get onto me


43 

here, flat on my back 
waiting, 43 
street lights strobe light my room 
waiting, 43 

I know, I know, I know you and me 
I know, I k now, I know you and me 

and you -- you never looked at me 
and we -- we're partners, 43 

I tried going with you 
back up, 43 
I knew they'd break you in two 
back up, 43 

I know, I know, I know you and me 
I know, I k now, I know you and me 

and you -- you never looked at me 
and we -- we're partners, 43 

have you seen my Lee? 

sunlight on my back 
it's over, 43 
washed up on the beach 
I'm over 43 

I know, I know, I know you and me 
I know, I k now, I know you and me 

and you -- you never looked at me 
and we -- we're partners, 43 

have you seen my Lee?


Independence Day 

don't tell me how to feel 
and don't tell me what's real 
I know I'm not stupid after all 
I can see I'm not blind after all 

you're gone tonight 
the sky is all you need 
you gave nothing 
just empty seed 

don't ever turn around 
I won't suffer for you 
I know you were never happy 
now I feel like you wanted me to 

you're gone tonight 
the sky is all you need 
you gave nothing 
just empty seed 

a long way home 
we sold our souls 
I won't be the one you love... 

I know I'm feeling the right way 
I can see I did the right thing 
I know I'm not stupid after all 
I can see I'm not blind after all 

you're gone tonight 
the sky is all you need 
you gave nothing 
just empty seed 


Family Tree 

I wanted to wait to tell you 
I wanted to see you smile 
I wanted to find the strength to tell you 
to give you your dream, your child 

hey, we're coming 
hey, your family is waiting for you 

I know you're scared of the future 
so hold on to me and let's jump 
we'll make the leap together 
just hold on to me and let's jump 

hey, we're coming 
hey, your family is waiting for you 

we don't have to be unhappy 
or make the same mistakes our parents did 
we can break free from our history 
uncover the life they hid 

hey, we're coming 
hey, your family is waiting for you 


Stay with Me 

sit with me 
stay with me 
I lay back down and dream 
just one more day 

laugh with me 
shake with me 
I feel your hand on my own 
just one more day

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