The Goose & the Wren

""Goose and the Wren" was my first time having someone add cello to a song, that was rad; and I had a ton of fun recording all those folks singing at the end. If I remember correctly half the vocals were recorded at the end of a house show in Roxborough PA, the other half poolside, someone's house in Delaware I think."

While informed of the end
The goose and the wren
Left the shores of Maryland
To find better oxygen
While the outcry of twenty men
Run from the nearby battalion
As if we avoid their light
That we might make it home tonight

And one old crook
Carries a very heavy book
Friends would say, "Sir, are you sure
Some good could come of your learning?"

And he said, "My girl gave it to me
Just before the war
I've never read a book like this before
It's giving me kind of a, kind of a burning

But if it is love, then I'm not quite sure if I should keep it
But I've heard it's a part of the whole so I guess I need it
But I'll certainly be sure to stay above the ground
Lately, beautiful things got a way of bringing me down"

Here lie one hundred men
Fighters every one of them
They went into the light
Oh no, they won't be home tonight

And I came upon a kid with a kite
Despite the storms, said he's gonna fly
And so I said, "Brother
What would your mother say?"

And he said, "Hold your tongue!
It was a present
And goddamn, I am a man
I ain't afraid of the rain!"

But what can a bystander do?
No more than watch the spidery lights take a hold of you

But you know I warned you, boy
You know I told you, boy
I'll hold you back, boy
But now I don't know, but
'Cause in a curious kind of way
I want to grow along with you

And morning did come
I was standing struck dumb
By the man in the sun
And the only live one
Held a string from his thumb
That stretched up to the sky
Where the heron flew by
Singing, "Oh me and oh my!"

And the goose and the wren
No, I have not seen them
But the water looks nice
So I do not think twice
And I'm sure that they're fine
Very good friends of mine
'Cause sometimes I can't tell
When things are unwell

By the look of the sea
Staring straight back at me
And I miss 'em, I do
But I think it is true that
When the love goes
It's the lovers who show
Just how lovely they are
In a song or a star

Sincerely, your friend
Write back to me, wren
I've been thinking too much
Down here in the sand

The farmer stands and says, "What happened to the land?
It used to be fertile, it used to be good, when I was a lad"
The farmer calls out to his men
Says, "It's getting late boys, it's best you come back in"
Everybody together!

The farmer stands and says, "What happened to the land?
It used to be fertile, it used to be good, when I was a lad"
The farmer calls out to his men
Says, "It's getting late boys, it's best you come back in"
I love you guys!

The farmer stands and says, "What happened to the land?
It used to be fertile, it used to be good, when I was a lad"
The farmer calls out to his men
Says, "It's getting late boys, it's best you come back in"
One more time!

The farmer stands and says, "What happened to the land?
It used to be fertile, it used to be good, when I was a lad"
The farmer calls out to his men
Says, "It's getting late boys, it's best you come back in"
(Come back here right now)

Woo!
Yeah!
That's the one!
Let's go!
Alright! Alright!