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Lonely People

from The Great Make Believer by Chris Robley

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This song, it's a kind of rally cap. But you're never quite certain if the singer believes his own pep-talk. (At least I'm not.) 'Even crippled birds can teach themselves to fly.' Can they? Hope so.

Anyway, that line is a nod to Dolly. At the time, I was listening to a lot of Elvis Perkins, M. Ward, Josh Ritter ... writers whom I admire for the way they veer between Americana and pop conventions. I think that's why the verse of this song, with its fairly standard chord progression and straightforward lyrics, moves to a chorus with more conspicuous chords, ornate melodies, and wistful words.

When we were working up the arrangement at our makeshift studio on the Oregon coast, the band easily fell into the train-beat groove, and the song was headed in a Sun Studio direction until Paul Brainard (God bless him) got out his pedal steel and added that Hawaiian sound -- which is not something I'd've ever thought to ask for. 'Lonely People' is still a lot of fun for me to listen to, I think because of that exact reason: Stylistically, it's unlike any other song I've recorded, thanks mostly to the players (Paul Brainard, Anders Bergstrom, Bob Dunham, Arthur Parker, Rob Stroup, and Naomi Hooley).

lyrics

Lonely people don’t ya cry
Lonely people don’t ya cry
‘cause even crippled birds
can teach themselves to fly
lonely people don’t ya cry

Heartsick people, don’t give up
Heartsick people, don’t give up
‘cuase the rain that’s falling now
could fill your empty cup
heartsick people don’t give up

when you finally learn to love the lady
luck has laid beside ya
and you finally promise to be true
you might find in time
that life can still surprise ya
she’s no longer loving you
‘cause you turned and walked away
one too many times
when you thought her love was always hear to stay

so hopeless people, dry your eyes
hopeless people, dry your eyes
‘cause every ending’s a new beginning in disguise
hopeless people dry your eyes
‘cause even crippled birds can teach themselves to fly
lonely people don’t ya cry

credits

from The Great Make Believer, released March 11, 2016

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Chris Robley Lewiston, Maine

"Chris Robley is at the top of his game with his new work." - KCRW

Maine-based singer/songwriter and award-winning poet Chris Robley (formerly from Portland, Oregon) performs orchestral indie-pop and fractured folk reminiscent of John Lennon, John Vanderslice, Harry Nilsson, and Joe Henry.

His poetry has appeared in POETRY Magazine, Prairie Schooner, and many other journals. ... more

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