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Comin' Down
ShannonCampbell-CominDown-Coyotes.mp3 | 3.61MB
The Story
More than a few of my songs are about my first 'real' relationship ever - with a musician - and my inspiration for learning how to play, actually. (Who wouldn't want to be that cool?) This was the second song I ever wrote, and, coincidentally, the second song I wrote about the ex. Hmm.
The Lyrics
it's all I can do just to get up out of bed sometimes
and it's all I can do just to look you in the eye when you know I'm lying
but it's easier to give in than to scream and shout and shove
or admit that though I'm happy I'm only fond of you - I am not in love
and I still miss your smile, just not enough to miss you too
yeah it's just enough to wonder if I could possibly ignore the rest of you
chorus:
and I may be strong but even steel can bend
it'll bend until it breaks like a tree in heavy winds
and the storm is comin', but I will stand my ground
cuz even though I'm ready I think it's all comin' down
it's comin' down
it's all I can do just to sleep and not to dream
about the difference of the way things were
and the way they should have been
now you say you want to come and see me
and I'm afraid of what that means
I can't even take care of myself let alone another human being
and I am just not ready to change the way I am
and if it didn't work the first time,
you think it's gonna work if we try it again?
chorus
yeah it's all comin' down to a war of the wills
who will win the battle and who will end up getting killed
yes it's all comin' down to the last one left alive
and I don't want to have to hurt you
but you know that I have got my pride
Backpack [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-Backpack-Coyotes.mp3 | 3.73MB
The Story
When my grandfather died, I was crushed. Anyone would be, of course. I didn't attend the funeral (I've yet to attend any funeral, actually - death is inexplicably hard for me to handle with any grace), but months later the family took a trip to visit my grandmother and we all drove out to see his gravesite.
Now, earlier that year, my cousin Jeanie had died in a car crash. I found out the afternoon of my very first school dance in junior high. Jeanie and I never spent a lot of time together - she lived in Missouri and I lived in North Carolina - but we were close nonetheless. It never occurred to me that Jeanie's grave would be next to my grandfather's, and when I saw the stone I completely lost it. For some reason, her death was more intensely personal to me than my grandfather's, maybe because the two of us related on a more intimate level that I had with my grandfather.
The memory of that day stayed with me for quite a few years, and this song was my catharsis.
The Lyrics
started out a little girl
with little pink dresses and lots of curls
had a diary and a canopy bed
with lots of Barbie dreams runnin' through my head
when I scraped my knees I started wearing jeans
became a running back for the football team
my boots keep me rooted in the Carolina sand
brain makes sure I got the upper hand
and the day that Jeanie died
we all stood by her grave and cried
I felt my own mortality
for the very first time at age 13
chorus:
and it's a long road but I'm ready to go
I got my back pack I got some Kerouac
I got a devil on my shoulder and a monkey on my back sayin'
I don't know how she feels about that
but I'm leavin' with the light and I won't forget to write
but I don't think that she's comin' back
got a little older and I started a band
all you needed was some beer and a couple of friends
then I met someone almost screwed it up
almost lost it all for the sake of love
yeah I thought I'd settle down in a couple of years
but now the love is gone and the friends are here
so I'm livin' my life cause it's all I've got
yeah I'm revvin' the engine' til the hammer drops
chorus
here come the demons (x4)
chorus
Redemption Song [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-RedemptionSong-Coyotes.mp3 | 2.79MB
The Story
I know it's the Bob Marley song that everyone plays, but that doesn't make it any less cool.
Petty Crime [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-PettyCrime-Coyotes.mp3 | 3.48MB
The Story
The first song I ever wrote, and man, was it exhilarating. I actually put this one down on paper driving home from work in Waldorf, Maryland on Highway 301. I remember I shared that little tidbit one night at an open mic, and someone (commenting on the verbosity of the lyrics) shouted out, "Where the hell did you end up? Florida?"
This song was inspired in almost equal parts by a break-up, Andy Warhol's "25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy," and "Green Eggs and Ham." Freud would have a field day.
The Lyrics
I have found that the heart of the matter
ain't even about the heart anymore
and when they're talking about their open door policy
it has nothing to do with an open door
I have found that the other hand
has no clue what the feet are doing
and when they tell you that God is watching
they forget to mention it's pay-per-viewing
I tried a dictionary, encyclopedia
I even tried my handy thesaurus
but no matter where I looked I couldn't do better
than the word complicated for us
since no one seems to have any idea
what's going on, on any day
I figure it doesn't matter if we're totally clueless
as to what we're doing or trying to say
this time
chorus:
Because Warhol had 25 cats named Sam
and Dr. Seuss had green eggs and ham
you never knew who I am
and I'm beginning to think you never gave a damn
God had his billion disciples
and the NRA has its ammo and rifles
all I have are my everyday trifles
like water and gas and overdue light bills
but it's all right, I'll be over it soon
forgetting seems better than sleeping till noon
yes it's all right, I'll be over it some time
forgetting seems better than toeing the line
I have found that no strings attached
usually means no benefits too
and behind the smile of a politician
is 'do as I say, not as I do'
and I have found in a sticky situation
I'm usually left with the smoking gun
and the loudest one laughing in the room
is the only person not having fun
I have found that when you say love
you usually mean 'mutually beneficial relation'
and I have found that when you say time
you mean 'no-return, one-way ticket vacation'
but since no one seems to care about us
I figure I shouldn't even bother to care
about the way things are going in my own life
or the fact that you've run off to God knows where
this time
chorus
forgetting seems better than petty crime
Head Above Water [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-HeadAboveWater-Coyotes.mp3 | 4.16MB
The Story
The melodramatic-tortured-singer song that every musician eventually writes. And writes. And writes. I honestly don't remember who the 'you the singer sings to' was in this one. I swear. It was at a point in my life where it could've been one of a few people, and not necessarily of the romantic persuasion.
The Lyrics
so you ask me for all I've got
you ask me for everything
well here it is you get an old Camaro
a coupla scratched CDs and about six strings
and you ask me if I could talk to you
or if my whole life has to be a song
said I may not tell you how I feel
but I could sing to you all night long
and I'm tryin to keep my head above water
but it gets a little hard when it's getting this deep
and I'm trying to keep a positive outlook
but it's hard to dream when you can't even sleep
I don't need much else
just to get up in the morning and go to bed at night
and if I can sing a few songs between now and then
if I can make a little noise I guess I'm all right
and if you don't like the fact that I might sing
about what goes on between me and you well then
you'll have to move on and do your own thing
because music is the therapy that I go through
chorus:
and I'm trying to keep my head above water
but it gets a little hard when it's getting this deep
and I'm trying to keep a positive outlook
but it's hard to dream when you can't even sleep
so I'm dealing from the bottom I'm stacking the deck
I'm looking for all that I can get this time
and I'm cheatin sumbitch so what'd you expect
I'm a modern-day woman looking at the bottom line
and as far as the honesty I give what I get
and you've got me lying in the worst kind of way
but you're fucked up enough that I could like you I guess
hell I might fall in love one of these days
if you want to get angry, well that's all right
I believe self-expression is all we have
and I have found it's a certainty in life
that people around me are gonna get mad
but when you do get pissed off you just best not forget
that I'm one of those people who's willing to fight
and your bleeding heart doesn't scare me one bit
cause my fingers are bloody from playing all night
chorus
Airplane [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-Airplane-Coyotes.mp3 | 4.97MB
The Story
This song was one of those angsty, unrequited love songs that everyone writes, whether they want to admit it or not. I'm admitting it. And I even admitted it to the person I wrote it for, much to my resulting embarraassment.
Eh. I'm over it.
The Lyrics
I spent the morning on southbound airplanes
and I thought of you all the way home
the clouds were swirling like Carolina weathervanes
and I wonder what's the use in two good people being alone
I think the way I feel is beautiful but it tends to be a battleground
and all I have for armor is a black t-shirt and worn out jeans
if I stumble through this war zone, focused on its shapes and sounds
will I ever catch up to these dreams
chorus:
forgive me if I mumble, if I stutter or I stare
I find it hard to concentrate whenever you're around
and forgive me if I'm angry, but it's only 'cause I'm scared
but it's easier to fight back than to stand my ground
and I'm not asking for commitment, maybe just a smile
and I'm not asking for a diamond, maybe just a drink
I'm not asking for forever, no, just a little while
and I'm not asking you to answer, I'm just asking you to think
think about it
did you know that I have loved before and it's made me terrified of loss
and all the things that ring of pain drive me away
I sometimes mumble to myself just to hear me talk
and then I can't remember half the things I say
I think if I could talk to you I'd find someone who understood
all the things that tear me down and make me who I am
and I would ask you for your heart if there was any way I could
but my petty fears have frozen me and so I'm doing all I can
chorus
I got a pocketful of dreams that I'd share with you if you wanted me to
I got a faith and a fire, and they consume me completely
I got memories just passing through
I got hopes and fears inside of me that people never ever see
and I think that you could find them 'cause you've been there yourself
and I think that I would let you, 'cause you seem like an honest man
but when it comes to how I'm feeling I can't express it all that well
but I think you catch my drift, yes I think you understand
chorus
How Can You Be Sure? [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-HowCanYouBeSure-Coyotes.mp3 | 4.99MB
The Story
The guy playing guitar and singing along with me is a friend I like to call John Fantastic. We were both pretty smashed by this point, but it's all about the energy. We're very enthusiastic. My apologies to Radiohead, by the way.
Ode [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-Ode-Coyotes.mp3 | 3.90MB
The Story
This is just one of those fun little ditties about all of the people in your life who you think are the coolest friends to ever walk the earth. There's probably six or seven different people referenced in here, and I really only hang out with one of them anymore. But that summer we lived like kings - spontaneous, chemical-induced trips to the beach, closing down the bars, watching the sun rise from rusted rooftops in the middle of nowhere and generally just holding each other up at a time when none of us could possibly admit we needed to be held. Everyone needs friends like that.
Even if it's just for a summer.
The Lyrics
I spent the summer
getting dirty with you all night long
and six a.m.
was bedtime
almost every Saturday
I spent the winter
getting warm with
you in seedy bars
played pool until last call
and we drove all the boys
away
and I said this is how I want to feel
it never really costs
too much
to have some fun when you're around
we just dig into our
pockets
and make do with what we find
and it never really takes too
much
to entertain ourselves
we could sit right here and talk all
night
and never really mind
and I said this is how I want to
feel
chorus:
this is how I want to feel
when I'm old and gray and losing
touch
remembering just how it was
to be lifted up and loved this
much
so how about drinking coffee
until we're giddy with the
world
put beer cans in our pockets
and we'll dance from three rows
back
how about being fifteen
and still laughing at those girls
with
naiveté as big as life
and a set of tits to match
chorus
so how about we all take tequila shots
until we all
throw up in the parking lot
and forget just who we are or who we're
with
or why we're here
and how about you call me up around
midnight
every other Tuesday night
and remind me that it's quite all
right
if nothing feels sincere
chorus
Get a Little[ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-GetALittle-Coyotes.mp3 | 3.82MB
The Story
I wrote this song about someone really fucked up that I dated for a few months. The first time I ever played it was New Year's Eve - umm, 1997, maybe? - in front of a group of my friends. He was there. He was completely trashed and never figured out it was about him. Dumbass.
The Lyrics
I get a little scared when you lose control
and I get a little angry when
you can't let go
I get a little tired in the middle of the night
cause I
look a little older in the morning light
I get a little worried when I have
to wait
and I get a little louder when I can't relate
but I see a little
heaven looking in your eyes
so I get a little weaker then I compromise
I
get a little scared when you don't talk to me
like you get a little angry
when I just can't see
why you get a little crazy when you have to
dream
and then you get a little silent and you get a little mean
but I
ache a little longer every time you leave
and I hear a little heaven every
time you speak
I breathe a little deeper looking in your eyes
so I get a
little weaker then I compromise
chorus:
cause I don't know if I'll
ever be
someone you could ever need
and I don't know if we'll be all
right
it's been a hell of a long lonely night
I get a little
frightened you might have to choose
so I get a little closer every time you
move
and I dig a little deeper for the pain you hide
because there's just
a little room left for you inside
and I get a little careful when I talk
sometimes
cause I get a little nervous I might cross the line
but I see a
little heaven looking in your eyes
so I get a little weaker then I
compromise
it's been a hell of a long lonely night
sleeping all by
myself with you right by my side
and I don't know if we'll wake up
fine
it's been a hell of a long lonely night
but I ache a little
longer every time you leave
and I hear a little heaven every time you
speak
I breathe a little deeper looking in your eyes
so I get a little
weaker then I compromise
chorus
Dancin' In the Moonlight [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-DancinInTheMoonlight-Coyotes.mp3 | 2.90MB
The Story
Another duet with John Fantastic, although not a planned one. This is a cover of Smashing Pumpkins cover of the Thin Lizzy song. It's like six degrees of separation of something.
Creep Up [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-CreepUp-Coyotes.mp3 | 4.35MB
The Story
When I met my friend John Fantastic, he was a better guitar player than I was. He taught me the B7 chord and the next day, I played this song for him. It's complete bullshit - my asinine attempt at a bluesy song - that everyone wound up requesting.
By the way, I left John Fantastic in the dust years ago because he stopped practicing. (And he knows it.) Shame on you, John. Bad hippie.
The Lyrics
C'mon and creep up
like the shadow you think you are
but my light's
shining in the wrong direction
so I don't don't think that you'll get too
far
and you can try me
if you think you're that kind of man
but I don't
think that you'll get much else
than a weak weak grip on the upper
hand
chorus:
and don't think for a minute
I would leave you
alone
I've got too much at stake here
to let you do this on your
own
and don't think for a minute
I don't care how you feel
but this is
me that we're talking about
and so I'm keeping it real
2 a.m.
yes
do you think that you're coming home?
I've got a bottle of whiskey and
my cigarettes
and they're keepin me a vigil by the telephone
you should
tell me
if you don't think that you'll get through this
cause I can pack
my bags and my memories
just leave me leave me leave me one little
kiss
chorus
third verse, same as the first. [sorry,
couldn't help it]
chorus
All Time Low [ Back to Top ]
ShannonCampbell-AllTimeLow-Coyotes.mp3 | 2.61MB
The Story
Widespread Panic cover. That I'll never, ever play again.