Song Share: The Truth

By Francisco Manzo-Flores

There is a plethora of groups that could be introduced through Song Share in the vein of what I know is tested, tried and proven to be well liked in this venue, but the fact is that we find ourselves anemic when it comes to music that is outside the adult alternative and acoustic areas. A recent brave submission of Saul Williams has made it easy for me to follow the newborn trend when it comes to less than mainstream hip hop.

Handsome Boy Modeling School is easily one of the most amazing collaborations hip hop ever witnessed - however short lived - and unfortunately is also one of the most under appreciated. Nevertheless, the combination of Dan the Automator and Prince Paul (of De La Soul production fame) proved to be so 'money', that most people with an ear to the ground found it impressive, regardless of their background, testament to their wide appeal.

Part of their secret was the fact that both of them are producers, generally shying away from the microphone and in turn the spotlight. Instead they reached out to a multitude of artists and populated their two albums with a rather eclectic but effective mix of sounds. "The Truth", with its lingering piano and jazzy vocals provided by Roisin Murphy (another artist you must look up if you are unfamiliar, try her songs 'Ramalama' or 'Night of the Dancing Flame'), was the first song I ever heard from them and perhaps for that reason it holds a bit more of a connection with me. Hope you guys find it enjoyable as well.



Lyrics:
[Roisin Murphy:]
Go
Go to the mountain if you must
Go to the burning bush
Happy would ease your troubled mind
How do the fade, just stay behind?

I know you better than you think I do
Don't worry
This is why i fell in love with you
The man in the looking glass
Is looking back at you at last

You can't hide from the truth
Because the truth is all there is
You can't hide from the truth
Because the truth is all there is
You can't hide from the truth
Because the truth is all there is
You can't hide

If happy times are too few and far between
It's a pity, dear
We can't erase the things we've seen
So disappear, vanish if you wish
Just go before you're swallowed up by bitterness

And the truth is you can't hide from the truth
And the truth hurts because the truth is all there is
I realized some time ago
That I would have to let you go

May not be true to see that you would return one day
But in your present state
You may as well not be here at all
You wear a thin disguise, it's from yourself you hide
Just take a look at us, we are heading for a fall

[J-Live:]
Now presiding in this court of hip-hop
Justice, my rap fort�
is Judge, jury, bailiff or prosecuting D.A.
Et ceteras, paraphas
My modus operende
It's carpe diem whether de facto or de jure
Comprende?
The people versus, you and your Sensi
Teaching that style of word-play
Weaker than Wednesday
Regardless of what your friends say
They're all dissable
Stricken from the record and deemed inadmissable
And this long arm of the law grabs the mic to
Shoot dope lines first and ask questions later
The death sentences of this live litigator
Close the case tighter than the jaws of a 'gator
Stenographers are steady loggin, the jargon
That your counselors are barking, in hopes of a plea bargain
But when you read back verbatim
What they're saying to pursuade them
They realize exactly how i played them
I come with the truth, whole truth and nothing but
'Cause the truth hurts just as much as fuckin' with 'Live will
I brew skill with refills from now until
Plagiarizing MC's get their flows to steal

[Roisin Murphy:]
Baby, I don't die without you by my side
As long as you return into these arms that burn
Baby, I won't die, just take a look inside
Into these eyes that burn
Come to these arms that yearn

I won't die if you leave me high
I won't die if you're not by my side

And the truth hurts
Because the truth is all there is
You can't hide from the truth
Cause the truth is all there is
You can't hide from the truth
'Cause the truth is all there is
You can't hide from the truth
Because the truth is all there is
You can't hide from the truth...

Song Share: The Girl

by Francisco Manzo-Flores

Alright, so this is my first attempt at Song Share, so I am starting out by tipping the toes into the water so to speak and going in with an easy-to-like entry from City and Colour. Those of you that know me are aware that my taste in music is pretty broad, and in time I expect to be able to bring into this forum a variety of music, but I felt it might be wise to start out with something that will serve as a good foundation for the rest. No need for me to wreck my reputation before I get started :D.

This particular song was one of those accidental finds during one of many downloading sessions where a name catches your eye and you download it simply out of curiosity. As it turns out City and Colour has a lot of pretty good stuff, most of it on the acoustic rock vein, of which this is a pretty good sample. Though not overly complex in formula, I think it is the simplicity of this song, the paired guitars and straight froward lyrics that make it so approachable. Anybody that has ever been in a relationship (I think that is all of us), knows how easy it can be to lose perspective, become selfish and take a partner for granted when they have been next to you for so long, or here and there one might hit that bump on the road that wakes you up to the treasure you may be holding to. Without being overly preachy or beating the subject on the head with a mallet, this song expresses the spirit of gratitude in a folkishly charming way. I do hope you guys like it.

The Girl by City and Colour



Lyrics:
I wish I could do better by you,
Cos that's what you deserve.
You sacrifice so much of your life,
In order for this to work.

While I'm off chasing my own dreams,
Sailing around the world,
Please know that I'm yours to keep,
My beautiful girl.

And when you cry a piece of my heart dies,
Knowing that I may have been the cause,
If you were to leave, fulfill someone elses dreams,
I think I might totally be lost.

But you don't ask for no diamond rings,
No delicate string of pearls,
That's why I wrote this song to sing,
My beautiful girl