Live at Sidewalk Café, Vol. 1: March 18, 2007

(click on the song to play)
1. post call
2. snapdragon
3. self-portrait in your colors
4. up there
5. charlene
6. cloud 9
7. white horse
8. so long, angeline

Live at Sidewalk Café, Vol. 1: March 18, 2007
Recorded in New York City, 2007
All songs written and performed by Michael Novick
MKN: vocals, acoustic guitar

(click here to view the gig diary for this show)

post call (2004)

i have six friends that i know of and two of them don't even like me / i could use a friend right now but you'll do / sometimes i can see you coming / sometimes you catch me by surprise / i was proud to play the sucker / i'll do anything for a laugh / but now i'm tired and i can't sleep / and i just need something warm to hold / sometimes i think that i still want you / sometimes it hurts to see you happy / but it's gonna be alright... / i'm a pretty decent singer but i'm not good at much else / i learn everything the hard way if i learn anything at all / sometimes i wish for things i already have / sometimes i take things i don't need / but it's gonna be alright...

snapdragon (1992)

there you are, invited / bees buzzin' 'round the queen / words are lost in the lightning / so ancient and serene / you used to be a soldier / you used to have a dream / but now your eyes are swollen / so practiced, it's obscene / hush, delilah / i'll come around / though you've sent me so low that i can't even find the ground / i'll put up with the snapdragon / if you can put up with me / i laid it on the table / but your dishes were not yet clean / and i could see the expression you sent out / you shut my right to dream / living without you would still be a life / i'm not above the struggle / but don't you know the man inside your door? / he's nothing but heartache and trouble / so hear me, delilah / i will come around / when that other is past, i will make sure you are found / i can deal with the snapdragon / but will you wait for me? / i tell you i'll take care of the snapdragon / if you can take care of me

self-portrait in your colors (2001)

someday you'll learn that i'm a hard man to know / you only get to see what i'm inclined to show / i'm too sensitive / i'm too shy / too judgemental to lie / too shallow / i'm too deep / but i'd sweep you off your feet / i always bet too much when i've got nothing to gain / but you have to play your cards if you want in on the game / i'm too intense / i'm benign / but i won't stop until you're mine / i'm a genius / i'm a fool / and you are nothing if not cruel / i'm your salvation / i'll be your end / i'm the part of you that will not bend / i'm the singer / i'm the tune / i'm eternal / i'm too soon

up there (2001)

what's it like up there hangin' from a hill a statue of yourself on your windowsill? / so this is l.a.? / what a way to go / head up in the clouds and your own video / did you save the best for last or was it all a dream? / i'll remember this when we meet again / you and your veneer / i'll be waiting here / you left up all your christmas lights / were they just for show? / what's it like up there on the highest horse swingin' by a thread in your four-post bed? / so this is l.a.? / what a way to go / head up in the clouds / playin' for the crowd / what's it like up there?

charlene (2004)

you had a hand in the jar and one eye on my pocketbook / i could see it from afar / you were always worth a second look / call me old-fashioned but i like to take my women like my wine / dry, bold, and australian / you were always dumb, but you were kind then / you'll never be that dumb again / if i'm the best that you could find / i pity all those other men / call me a coward / call me anything that makes you free / i'm just trying to keep the part of me that breathes / charlene, take what's yours and disappear / charlene, look away and let it go / it's too late to be sad for something we never had / i'm thinking of a number / what's it going to take to make you leave / i'm cool, drunk, and carniverous / charlene, take what's yours and disappear / charlene, look away and let it go

cloud 9 (2004)

i'd like to say more than i do to you but i'm tongue tied / lightning strikes and gives me up in your yard with a handful of pebbles / i'm on cloud nine / you're an angel / i'm on cloud nine for the hundredth time / don't stop now, we're close to something real / can you feel it? / i can't believe that you don't sleep to dream / why else close your eyes? / i'm on cloud nine / smelling roses that aren't even mine / i'm lost in you, but i lose myself a lot so don't sweat it / i can't believe that you don't sleep to dream / my dreams are my saviors / i'm on cloud nine so don't wake me / i'm on cloud nine / don't come and take me home / i'm on cloud nine...

white horse (1994)

he bites his tongue / she looks away / he is no fun / she lives today / she is a young girl and he is an old hand with thinning hair / she is a gambler and he is a source / she rides a white horse / we watch them fight / laughing in turn / she's in the light / he'd only burn / she is a young girl and he is an old dog with one eye blind / she is a fighter and he just takes his course / she rides a white horse / he bides his time / she looks for air / he sees her heart / she dances for him slowly / she is a dancer and he has a song he made for her to dance to / but she is a white horse and he is a man / they do the best they can / she is a young girl and he is an old hand with thinning hair

So Long, Angeline (2003)

i took everything i could get my hands on / just to make you hate me / i didn’t know how much that hurt you and made you harder / i’m not sorry but i’m sad / you really loved that show downtown when i sang for the girl at the bar / we were young, but not stupid / and i walked though the city like i knew my way / i didn’t know my way / so long / i collected the rain in a jar by the door / when you said that was dumb, i agreed / but i cared about something / and it’s not like i wasn’t aware of the game / i just wasn’t playing for long / so long / i was singing alone in my room / serenading the man in the moon, i was praying / i didn’t know you were listening / from beneath my window / so long, angeline…