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Kill Devil Hills (2004)

by Jim Clements

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1.
My darling, I just can’t believe it’s true, But I have to let you go, because you wouldn’t let me go. I can’t believe that it’s lasted so long, With the way that I treat you, or at least how you say I do. When I dug you up you didn’t look so good, But I cleaned you up like I said I would. Now everything’s coming up roses. My darling, you wear so much makeup, But it doesn’t cover you, or the scars I gave to you. You hurt me too. You hurt me so bad. My friends told me so, and that’s how I know. When I painted you, you were looking faint, So I touched you up with some crimson paint. Now everything’s coming up roses. And now you’re gone. I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll always miss your touch, and some of that other stuff. But I’ll get by. I’ll get through. It was only my heart you took. You left my little black book. When I buried you, you looked your best. Now my flowers are blooming and you’re getting your rest. Now everything’s coming up roses.
2.
I dropped a bomb after the war was over, I sold my stocks three days after the crash. I fell in love, but my heart was already broken. I got an appetite when my lunch was in the trash. I found God deep down in the inferno. Joined the race when my tank was out of gas. Lord knows I should pull myself together, But the Devil knows that time’s already passed. And in a cruel twist of fate, I met my true love three days late. She’d found another tender lover, so much like me could be my brother. So I’m buckling down, trying to make her come around, A few choice words, or perhaps a murder, I’ll break their hearts before the beating even starts. I split the tide but the ship was already sailing. I raised the dead after the rot set in. I split the loaves but they’d all packed their own lunches. I gave my life after they set me free. And in a cruel twist of fate, I met my true love three days late. She’d found another tender lover, so much like me could be my brother. So I’m buckling down, trying to make her come around, A few choice words, or perhaps a murder, I’ll break their hearts before the beating even starts. Don’t they look so happy? I want to take a little for myself. And you know I hate to spout these clichés, But I can’t cook her breakfast without breaking some legs.
3.
It seems I spend my time either tripping over my tongue, Or choking on yours, my love. And I don’t think that glass shoes look good On anyone, my love. Time to leave, I think. I hurt too, when you talk about your troubles, baby, Because you always talk so loud. Time to leave, I think. Fletcher Christian, spending time in the sun. His captain drifts away; he’s miles away from home. So long, Marianne, I’m going on holiday. Don’t drink from the sea; it’ll dry you more than it’ll wet you. I can’t stop thinking about this place I heard about, This beach with bright pink shells. Time to leave, I think.
4.
Wendy Darling ties me down. My winged feet, both flat on the ground. She sews my shadow to my sole. The lost boys have all been found. If this is the only way, I’ll try to let it be. I trust you when you say that you know what’s best for me. A boat made from polished glass, with sky blue sails flown from the mast Began to drift away, with me shut in the hold. When all the children waved goodbye I didn’t feel the need to cry But, I have to say; I’d never felt so old. Wendy Darling drags me home, Followed by a ticking crocodile. With a winding sheet to keep me warm And pennies to keep the sun out of my eyes.
5.
When she smiles, I think of you. When I lay her down, I try to do all of those things that you loved. When she moans it takes me back To all the times I told you that there’d be nobody but you. And I’ve always been faithful to you, in my own way. Of all the girls I’ve loved and tossed, You’re the only one that I think of The few nights that I sleep alone. If that strikes you as a bit unclean You’ll be glad to know I haven’t dreamed About you since you were my own. And I’ve always been faithful to you, in my own way. Every week I put a little note And a big cheque in an envelope. There’s a mailbox right outside my door. I lick the seal so tenderly, Put on more stamps than I really need, I’d still do it if it wasn’t the law. And I’ve always been faithful to you, in my own way.
6.
My, I saw you dressing, My, oh my, I saw you bare. I froze like water, water to ice, And I tried to lower my eyes. And then you saw me, My, oh my, and you smiled, And I melted as the temperature rose, You pulled me in, slammed the door closed. And I’m overwhelmed, and I’m overdressed, I keep thinking that you just haven’t thought this through, And you’re throwing your love around like so much confetti now. Why has your mood changed, Why, oh why, what’s wrong? You say you’ve got a question, and my heart just sinks. Can this be what I think? (Then you say to me) I’m overwhelmed, and I’m underdressed, I keep thinking that you just haven’t thought this through, And you’re throwing you love around like so much confetti now. So we made this strange parade. I’m overwhelmed, and I’m underdressed, I keep thinking that you just haven’t thought this through, But still your love rains down on me like so much confetti now.
7.
When the city fell, we were lying in a country meadow. We were halfway home before we knew. When we reached the walls, we saw roses in the rocky ruins, Bird’s nests in the hoods of dead cars. But inside our home, all our things were in their places, Our letters stacked in wooden cases. Your rings were left untouched. These things that seemed too small to notice held strong while the world fell away. So let us speak of all the wreckage, and the love that grows in the strangest places. If the earth is too hard to plant our roots in, I’ll grow out of you, and you can grow out of me. Sometimes it crushes me when my vision’s blocked by preacher’s towers, There words turning the hour sour. Or when I’m in a room surrounded by these dead, dead faces, Just trying to catch a glimpse of you. But then I see your face, and I hear the thoughts behind what’s spoken. I find a use for all the broken. When our eyes meet, I walk through walls like they’re paper, Move to a rhythm separate from the drum. So let us speak of all the wreckage, and the love that grows in the strangest places. If the earth is too hard to plant our roots in, I’ll grow out of you, and you can grow out of me.
8.
And, after the flood, I woke to the wind, I emptied my room, I packed all my things, And I left without closing the door. I walked through from my house, watching my feet, As they splashed in the puddles still filling the streets, And I smiled and I didn't look back. And morning comes now. The water's shallow. And colours are filling the sky. I walked through the streets full of broken glass, The larks built a nest in the hole in my hat, And the ants made homes in my shoes. My legs felt like stone and looked like stilts. My teeth crunched like I'd eaten a mouthful of sand. Maybe from savage lands; maybe from an English beach. And morning comes now. The water's shallow. And colours are filling the sky. I remember paddling. I wish you did too. I'm sorry that you fell, but I suppose that's the way it goes. On the outskirts of town, I found an empty house, I slowly walked in, sat on the couch, And I cried at a couple dancing on the TV.
9.
The girls are holding hands in a circle, Laughing and sneezing, and then falling down. The boys are building traps in the chimney, While their parents are buying Christmas presents in town. You walk past the boys and girls. They smile at your sneakers and your curls. You don’t notice them at all. You walk to the volcano, dressed in grey. I thought I might follow you. Delilah is treating her new friend Rapunzel To a make-over in her beauty salon. St. George is out slaying dragons, But children still sleep with their nightlights on. You walk past the boys and girls. They laugh at your suitcase and your peals. You don’t notice them at all. You walk to the volcano dressed in grey. I thought I might follow you. There’s poppies growing through the cracks in the pavement, And flower shops on every avenue. The ladies are out buying red roses For their husbands with their beards of blue.
10.
Another Sky 04:01
I stood by the sea Waiting for the ship to take me On the bone white sand Holding out my hands. The ivory sky Bled into the sea My eyes went blind But I could still see I could still see And the wind ceased to blow And the emerald sea no longer flowed And the angels shook the land And I managed to stand. The ivory sky Bleeds into the sea My eyes go blind But I can still see I can still see When I woke up The sky was burned And, through the smoke, The ship returned. Behind the sky As trumpets blew I saw another sky And another sky And another sky.

credits

released July 7, 2004

Jim Clements - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica,
Steve Payne - Bass, Mellotron, Keyboards
Nathan Lawr - Drums
Kevin Quain - Piano, Organ, Keyboards, Harmonica, Mellotron
Neil Leyton - Electric Guitar, Organ, Vocals, Bass
Dean Drouillard - Electric Guitar
Carl Nanders - Violin
Marney Isaac - Cello
Debbie Suede - Vocals
Maury Kaufman - Percussion
Stephen Kozmeniuk - Electric Guitar, Keyboard

All songs by Jim Clements, except "Another Sky" by Jim Clements and Richard Clements.

Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Steve Payne.
Mastered by Nick Blagona at Metalworks.

Recorded at Chemical Sound.
Additional Recording at AnElectric Studio.
Mixed at Joao Carvalho Mastering Studio Canada.
String Arrangements by Carl Nanders.

Cover Paintings by Royal Art Lodge.

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Jim Clements London, UK

Every five years or so, Jim Clements emerges to drop a collection of literate, witty, surreal, gut-wrenching songs, before disappearing again into the shadows. A songwriter’s songwriter in the tradition of Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Nick Cave, his songs have earned him critical acclaim and a devoted following over his fifteen-year career. ... more

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