The Best Sign
from One Was Gleaming by Tanner Porter
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lyrics
THE BEST SIGN
One more year has come and left me
at the age I claimed I’d be
when I’d see that life, that wedding
Some dreams rise and some retreat
Feeling tired
Now, that’s not the best sign
Might as well retire
from the casting of these nets
in waters long ago dried out
Might as well run
Might as well take the anchor up
Might as well say, Enough’s enough
Might as well run
One more year arrives and renders me
the age I held I’d be
when I’d see that shared apartment
Over there, the cat would sleep
Feeling tired
Now, that’s not the best sign
Might as well retire
from the raising of these sails on ships
with decks all rotted out
Might as well run
Might as well take the anchor up
Might as well leave the ship to rust
Might as well say, Enough’s enough
Might as well run from the best sign
Run for the best sign
One more birthday shrugs me by
while years like highway road signs pass
Each a turn I missed while driving
far and fast from dreams I had
Feeling tired
Now, that’s not the best sign
Might as well retire
from just waiting for a higher tide
to take my vessel out
Might as well
Run from the road that you dreamt and you haven’t met yet
And might as well keep running from the old alternative
Run for reasons wrong, and run for reasons better
Know you’re acting scared and small and in cowardice
And yet keep running from the dress, and the aisle
and the bed, and the child
and the rent, and the loans, and the debt
and the low, cold lonesomeness
Running from the home, and the best is ahead
and the loathing, and the rented apartment
and the debt, and the low, cold lonesomeness
Running from the night, and the dance
and the crying, and the glances
and the Last time, yeah, this will be the last time
This is in the past, this is where I draw the line
Running from the dream, and the grief
and the years collecting, and the queries
When’s the wedding
Aren’t you ready yet
and the debt, and the cold lonesomeness
Running from the questions
So defensive, so bereft, so entitled, aren’t you spiteful
Neighbors with their side-eyed insights, saying
Why aren’t you married yet
One more year has come and left me
at the age I claimed I’d be
when I’d see that life, that wedding
Some dreams rise and some retreat
Feeling tired
Now, that’s not the best sign
Might as well retire
from the casting of these nets
in waters long ago dried out
Might as well run
Might as well take the anchor up
Might as well say, Enough’s enough
Might as well run
One more year arrives and renders me
the age I held I’d be
when I’d see that shared apartment
Over there, the cat would sleep
Feeling tired
Now, that’s not the best sign
Might as well retire
from the raising of these sails on ships
with decks all rotted out
Might as well run
Might as well take the anchor up
Might as well leave the ship to rust
Might as well say, Enough’s enough
Might as well run from the best sign
Run for the best sign
One more birthday shrugs me by
while years like highway road signs pass
Each a turn I missed while driving
far and fast from dreams I had
Feeling tired
Now, that’s not the best sign
Might as well retire
from just waiting for a higher tide
to take my vessel out
Might as well
Run from the road that you dreamt and you haven’t met yet
And might as well keep running from the old alternative
Run for reasons wrong, and run for reasons better
Know you’re acting scared and small and in cowardice
And yet keep running from the dress, and the aisle
and the bed, and the child
and the rent, and the loans, and the debt
and the low, cold lonesomeness
Running from the home, and the best is ahead
and the loathing, and the rented apartment
and the debt, and the low, cold lonesomeness
Running from the night, and the dance
and the crying, and the glances
and the Last time, yeah, this will be the last time
This is in the past, this is where I draw the line
Running from the dream, and the grief
and the years collecting, and the queries
When’s the wedding
Aren’t you ready yet
and the debt, and the cold lonesomeness
Running from the questions
So defensive, so bereft, so entitled, aren’t you spiteful
Neighbors with their side-eyed insights, saying
Why aren’t you married yet
credits
from One Was Gleaming,
track released May 17, 2024
Alex Davis (Bassoon I), Chloe Swindler (Trumpet I), Dylan Hunter Chee Greene (Drums), Jess Tsang (Vibraphone), Jon Shadle (Trumpet II), Maddy Wildman (Bassoon II), Sonya Belaya (Piano), Tahirah Whittington (Cello), Tanner Porter (Vocals, prepared piano, autoharp). Vocals recorded by Christopher Botta at fer sound, NY. Piano recorded at Roulette Intermedium by Sonya Belaya in Brooklyn, NY. Drums recorded and engineered by Dylan Hunter Chee Greene at Out of Time Embassy in Berlin, Germany. All other instrumentals recorded remotely by the performers.
Mixing by Christopher Botta
Mastering by David Peters, Oak House Recording (oakhouserecording.com)
Produced by Tanner Porter and Christopher Botta
Cover photography by Titilayo Ayangade (titilayoandco.com)
Music, lyrics and arrangement by Tanner Porter
Artistic design, booklet and visual art pieces by Tanner Porter
Alex Davis (Bassoon I), Chloe Swindler (Trumpet I), Dylan Hunter Chee Greene (Drums), Jess Tsang (Vibraphone), Jon Shadle (Trumpet II), Maddy Wildman (Bassoon II), Sonya Belaya (Piano), Tahirah Whittington (Cello), Tanner Porter (Vocals, prepared piano, autoharp). Vocals recorded by Christopher Botta at fer sound, NY. Piano recorded at Roulette Intermedium by Sonya Belaya in Brooklyn, NY. Drums recorded and engineered by Dylan Hunter Chee Greene at Out of Time Embassy in Berlin, Germany. All other instrumentals recorded remotely by the performers.
Mixing by Christopher Botta
Mastering by David Peters, Oak House Recording (oakhouserecording.com)
Produced by Tanner Porter and Christopher Botta
Cover photography by Titilayo Ayangade (titilayoandco.com)
Music, lyrics and arrangement by Tanner Porter
Artistic design, booklet and visual art pieces by Tanner Porter
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Tanner Porter New York, New York
Tanner Porter is a composer-performer and songwriter.
discography
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Jul 2024 -
Aug 2016
contact / help
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