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Burning the Boats

by Mike Vial

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1.
“Change Your Tune” I never make promises that I can’t keep now That I’ve grown up I try not to tell a girl that I might meet her And not show up If you’ve been left behind before If you’ve been played for the fool Depended on the undependable It’s time to change your tune It’s always said the good girls go for the bad guys but I don’t believe that’s true I think the good girls hide mistakes in their pockets and A guy’s got a lot to prove If you’ve heard it all before Felt like a brokenhearted fool Depended on the undependable It’s time to change your tune It’s time to see The light at the end of the tunnel Is a guy like me I’ve been waiting a while Had bad experiences too And I think that’s it’s time To fall for someone like you If you’ve given up before Even yourself you couldn’t fool Depended on the undependable It’s time to change your It’s time to change your It’s time to change your tune
2.
One Way Road 04:16
“One Way Road” Maybe there’s only one way to go If life is just a one way road I’d rather take it fast than too slow tonight Maybe I’m better off being alone But it’s scary being away from home There’s no way to know which way is right There’s no guarantees I’ll arrive In the mean time it doesn’t help me That I don’t believe in love at first sight There’s only one way to go There’s only one way to go There’s only one way to go If life’s a one way road I never, I never even say goodbye My friends and family don’t know why I impulsively drive, drive, drive away And maybe it helps me get a grasp on life For awhile my memories Since minutes add up faster than miles I’d better slow down It’s only fifty-five through this town I think I’ve been here before Because I recognize all the faces Coming out of the store It’s like they’re looking for more There’s only one way to go There’s only one way to go There’s only one way to go If life’s a one way road And maybe this long drive will help me Maybe this long drive will Help me find some way to settle down There’s only one way to know If I’m heading down the wrong way On a one way road And that’s to try to turn round…
3.
Kalamazoo 03:25
“Kalamazoo” I never believed there was something to a slow walk down memory lane I thought it’d all look the same, but in my eye I noticed a change in the way I remembered you before You said goodbye under a quiet, starry night And even now, as I pass through this town My Kalamazoo, I still miss you I don’t believe I should follow my future through my past Maybe first loves were never really meant to last in this town I hope I can follow all of my dreams and don’t look back Cause if I dare and you do I might get lost here looking for you Even now, as I pass through this town My Kalamazoo, I still miss you like the first time I finally Convinced my heart to leave your scenery without saying why And even now, as I pass through this town My Kalamazoo, I still miss you It’s been a few years since I’ve stumble over these stones and bricks This town tricks lost time, memories of you fall out of line I don’t believe I should follow my own heart’s advice and look for you A turn down memory lane must suffice I argue now with myself and this town Oh my Kalamazoo, I still miss you like the first time it was clear to me You’ll always bringing me back to these streets, streets of Kalamazoo Oh my Kalamazoo Oh my Kalamazoo
4.
“Only the Rain Knows Why” I think it’s time to close our tab tonight To find a cab and ride Through green and red lights Should we turn left or was I right or wrong To say I don’t belong In this room that’s like a picture frame I should be locked outside In the rain in the night That could wash all our tears away I only wanted to be liked Only wanted to be liked by you Only planned on saying goodnight There’s beauty in a lie And only the rain knows why I lied. Written: summer 2007 Guitar notes: standard tuning
5.
Driftwood 05:15
“Driftwood” There’s a start to every river like an eye to every storm A road that leads out of every town with the patterns that are worn straight through my soles. We’re shaped by the landscapes that we roam. This tired town isn’t dead but these streets, too small a stage My door’s fully open but it’s too hard to rearrange All these boxes in my car. I can’t fit them in my four door escape. I’m leaving half of these boxes on the road by the river bend For someone else to take. Chorus I don’t know why I’m floating all alone Mistaken driftwood for solid ground or a home The river runs through this town, I have found There’s nothing really here The storm has past, the winds have calmed, alas Now the skies are clear The skies are clear It’s like I’ve had one foot on the break and another foot on the gas It’s gonna take more than a stop sign To halt me in my task of breaking out of here Even if I have to break a few hearts I’m breaking out of here You have to break first before you start to heal. Chorus Bridge It’s time for me go Take that long and winding road west, dear And move past reflection of myself found in the rearview mirror. The cracked rearview mirror The cracked rearview mirror The cracked rearview mirror Where objects are always closer than they appear The horizon has a golden tint, the window has a glare There’s nonsense on the radio reminding me there’s no need to care About how far it is, objects are closer than they appear. And about how far it is odometer counts it so clear for me. Chorus
6.
“Run Beside Me" One day it feels like yesterday Next it feels like an eternity But things never seemed the same Since you’ve been gone Since you’ve been gone Chorus: Will you run beside me When the morning comes? When you look down on me Are you proud of the man I’ve become? One, two, three, four, five Memories held inside Each one completes the puzzle Piece by piece. Countless times I’ve cried With you not by my side And still I wonder Will you run beside me When the morning comes? When you look down on me Are you proud? ’Cos you’ve fought the good fight. You’ve won the war Every speech motivated me To run on… Will you run beside me When the morning comes? When you look down on me Are you proud of the man I’ve become?

about

Mike Vial trekked across the Blue Water Bridge multiple times in 2009-2010 to record this collection of songs with Dan Achen and Michael Chambers at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. The CD displays the musical maturity of Mike's songwriting.

credits

released September 25, 2010

Produced by Michael Chambers and Dan Achen @ Catherine North Studios, Hamilton, Ontario in 2010
Assistant engineering by Mike Marcone & Duke Foster
Mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe Lambert Mastering, Brooklyn, NYC
Mike Vial: guitars and vocals (all tracks), piano (track 5)
Michael Chambers: piano (tracks 1 & 6) & bass (tracks 3, 4 & 5)
Mike Marcone: Hammond B3 organ (track 5)
Nick Skalkos: drums and percussion (track 4)
Dan Achen: ride cymbal (track 1)

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Mike Vial Ann Arbor, Michigan

Mike Vial is a singer-songwriter from Michigan. He drinks too much coffee, plays Heritage and Taylor guitars, teaches writing at Community High in Ann Arbor.

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