Get all 7 Testa Rosa releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Testa Rosa IV, Testa Rosa III, Never Marry a Railroad Man, Testa Rosa II, Testa Rosa I, The L.R. Doty (Single), and Songs For Melting Snow.
1. |
Alice Anything
03:57
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When you see her place you would have to squint
(or you’d never guess) just to picture it’s former grace
Sunshine dappled grey ivy trellises somehow seem to say,
"With the boys all gone no one paints"
With troubles of their own they all vanished then,
their five cars on the lawn would escape
But when it was treeless, Model-As every now and then
would come down the way throwing biscuits to her pets
She was the only one with a velvet cape, Omega 321 on her bed
Tin enameled wares with a blackened rim
sometimes green or red on her window ledge shuttered
You can’t ask Alice anything anymore
but I won’t forget how she stood there at her door
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2. |
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(Not Saying What You) Really Mean
I can see it on your face as you look away
And there’s something in your voice that your words don’t say
Oh what are you thinking about?
What are you leaving out?
You know that you can tell me anything
But the way you leave me guessing is troubling
No it’s not like you
Oh am I getting through?
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
I try to get inside of your worried mind
And I understand the truth isn’t always kind
But I have my doubts
Won’t you let it out?
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
Or maybe I don’t want to know.
Because I can feel you letting go.
Even if you’re gonna tell me no.
I’d rather hear it from you.
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
And I can never tell you what you really mean to me
You know you’re not saying what you really mean
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3. |
High Horse
06:23
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When I get down from my high horse
Then lay me down, put flowers around
Play a mournful sound you think I'd know
Word gets around in this lonely town
That I'd rather drown than than show my cards
But you showed be your hand, bet your money your land
No one can stand your game of love
So I must fold, love
Here today gone tomorrow, gone.
When I get down from my high horse
I'll sink like a stone, entirely alone
Ashes and bone into the ground
When I get down, I'll be coming round
Weathered and brown form my high horse
You'll give me your hand when I can hardly stand
According to plan I'll take it all
By now you must know, all.
Here today, gone tomorrow, gone
When I get down, when I get down
When I get down from my high horse
Then lay me down, put flowers around
Play a mournful sound you think I'd know
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4. |
Play It as It Lays
04:37
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If there was a way we could change things like the summer’s end
With actions and Strange Magic
Waiting for weekends and babysitting bread
We were the captains of our shit
But oh we were oblivious
To what it really meant to us
Now we say it when we need to
“Play it as it lays” – it was our way
Not an adolescent notion
You know where I stand from far away
Won't you stay another night or two
Won't you stay another night or two
Won't you stay another night or forever
Fade away, rearranging what we did instead
We took the long way to reach it
Bumpo, TwoTone, Coronado, Storm
And Deaf Ear and Metamorphosis
But oh they were oblivious
To what it really meant to us
Now we say it when we need to
“Play it as it lays” – it was our way
Not an adolescent notion
You know where I stand from far away
Won't you stay another night or two
Won't you stay another night or two
Won't you stay another night or forever
Stay
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5. |
Herring Gull
06:26
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There were three maybe four silver needle pines
Towering on the shore counting the time
Over the wide thermocline
Worry and wait she would, staring all the while
Iron and weathered wood horizon line
Silvery light, sliver eyes
Til one night she would stir the ashes grey
Turning to winged bird then fly away
Into the night she would climb
She was a herring gull
With her wings open wide she could weave and wave
Over a monumental dynamic ray
Au Train Bay, Beta Grise
Seeing in the water below in the undertow
Something in the white water changing the flow
Superior agate, meridian magnet
She was a herring gull, up in her lift and drag
She was a herring gull, up in her lift and drag
Ulna and humerus, forelimb and radius
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6. |
7W
04:38
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In 7W I remember
Making myself someone else for you until November
Saying too much, failing my crush
Oh how I wish I hit the pause before I let it go
In 7W the air was sterile
Watching pen and paper fall to my peril
Apricot cologne, one call on our one phone
Oh how I wish I hit the pause before I let it go
In 7W at St Aquinas
Someone said you would never go for a B minus
Crumpled in your hand, under the bandstand
Oh how I wish I hit the pause before I let it go
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7. |
Great Time to Go Back
04:23
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All aboard the Milwaukee Road
Blinding as the sun is shining on the snow
Outside the bright hits your soul
Reaffirming something you already know
Trees like a strobe-light flashing in your eyes
Could be the moment when you realize
A great time to go back
And would you believe it you don't need to pack
A great time to go back is now
Winding down the valley wide
The only place where you can see the other side
Climbing up to the sunny sky
And through a frosted window will materialize
Trees like a strobe-light flashing in your eyes
Could be the moment when you realize
A great time to go back
And would you believe it you don't need to pack
A great time to go back is now
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8. |
Nature Kills Maidens
05:52
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Why don't you see what's out there Annabelle?
Why don't you see what's out there in the field?
Some ruby red roses like a crown for your hair
Why don't you go and get some for yourself?
Why don't you see what's out there MaryAnn?
Why don't you see what's out there in the barn?
Some warm dark horse hair you can add to your coat
Why don't you go and get some for yourself?
Why don't you see what's out there Valerie?
Why don't you see what's out there in the wood?
Some deep green emeralds you can wear around your neck
Why don't you go and get some for yourself?
There’s always so much better for you
And pretty somethings for when you are blue
Why don't you see what's out there Eloise?
Why don't you see what's out there in the lake?
Some rings of silver that will shine from your ears
Why don't you go and get some for yourself?
There’s always so much better for you
And pretty somethings for when you are blue
Why don't you see what's out there Bethany?
Why don't you see what's out there in the snow?
Some sparkling diamonds you can wear on your skin
Why don't you go and get some for yourself?
Get some for yourself
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9. |
Sirius A
05:03
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Love you are one bright chemical
Floating above the earth below
When I look up you're a silver cup and I know I'm going home
Like gold dust you woke me up
Glowing a light I'd never know
Holding an arrow and a bow
We were serious under Sirius a long long time ago
Like gold dust you woke me up in your own time
Like stardust and phosphorous, angel of mine
The brightest star in the sky
You're a meteor getting nearer
And how I love you so
Like gold dust you woke me up in your own time
Like stardust and phosphorous angel of mine
The brightest star in the sky
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Testa Rosa Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ever glance down at the speedometer and realize those cherries in the rear view really are for you? How could they know that heart-crushing pop music was to blame. Testa Rosa writes songs to make you remember love and forget the speed limit.
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