The Ballad Of Caddy Compson

from The Beginner's Guide To Birds ( 2 0 0 3 - 2 0 1 8 ) by Painkiller The Pigeon

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about

Original version recorded in the Argyle apartment, Chicago IL on March 23, 2004

This version recorded in the back bedroom at Brotown, Chicago IL on July 29, 2008
Final overdubs, vocals and mix in Saint Paul MN from October 3-5, 2016

lyrics

All the bright, smooth shapes
Seen twisting in the flames
Like a clutched, broken flower
Forms the twist of her name,
And she's gone away

All the punches and clicks
Of the pocketwatch, advancing in the ditch
Like the words in italics
You will find the colors drift into her name,
Now she's gone away

Caddy's broken smile
Undone
Over, gone
Caddy's broken smile
All along
Closed, done

We were talking about you just last week
Writing songs for you to sing in your sleep
Later on when all that burned,
When it drowned,
Mistakes were made, sure
But yours devoured
Sound and rage,
A hollow roar,
This house will fall
And there'll be nothing more than

Caddy's broken smile
Sad song
Now it's all become
Caddy's broken smile
Was all wrong
Now it's over and done, ah...

Oh, if she exists in any way
Well, who can say
All we know is stored
Between pages 1 and 374, oh

Caddy's broken smile
Undone
Over, gone
Caddy's broken smile
Sad song
Now it's all become
Caddy's broken bones
Better leave
What can't be known
Caddy's overtones
They'll echo until
We all go home...

credits

from The Beginner's Guide To Birds ( 2 0 0 3 - 2 0 1 8 ), released December 4, 2020

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Painkiller The Pigeon Los Angeles, California

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