We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Safe as Houses

by Mark Lenover

supported by
Jessie Jayne
Jessie Jayne  thumbnail
Jessie Jayne hey, I have to say that I first heard you on the end credits of a movie, Banshee Chapter, and I looked up the song immediately, I found 2 albums on Amazon but then I found the link to BANDCAMP
I was so psyched that there were so many more. I listen to music all the time and my hobby is to find new music that is very different, unique ,very cool,sadly that most people usually don't know about because the radio doesn't play good music anymore :-).
I must say that you have an incredibly unique sound .
your voice itself is like no other it's one of those voices that's unmistakable your own. I have all of your albums now, I got them all from band camp and I was happy to because I know that most of the money or all of it goes to the artist and arts the most important thing I think that gets overlooked way too often. I just wanted to tell everyone who may be reading this that This sound is brilliant . its dark and folky at the same time, the lyrics are elusive beautiful and a lot of times kind of bleak which I adore. and mark if you're reading this I just want to say thank you because you're one out of maybe seven in the last year that I can say this about and all of your albums are excellent and I have been recommending you to friends who also think that you're amazing I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't love it so don't stop writing them cuz I know I won't stop buying them and word of mouth goes a long way you have a gift and I'm very glad that you're sharing it the world and I'm even happier that you're making most of the money on your albums that's the way it should be and even though I still have to listen to them more than two times each I can't wait for the next one. xoxo
jessica jayne martel
Gary Lines
Gary Lines thumbnail
Gary Lines Oh, god, how many times have I played Safe as Houses? If it were an old vinyl record I would have worn it out by now! This was my second foray into Lenover's work. I came to it hesitant, expecting disappointment after the excellent GITW; I was wrong. Oh, how I was wrong. It is all I am coming to expect of Lenover and more. Buy this. Favorite track: Safe As Houses.
/
1.
Fall Baby 03:57
Let’s make a home in autumn Let’s make a house from sticks Let’s build a house of straw and let’s build a house of brick If wild dogs come ‘round to blow these houses down, we’ll throw our nets around them and then we’ll make a house of pelts and bone Rows of tidy beds under leaves Save a quiet place for me Fall baby Let’s make our home in autumn away from winter’s tricks Let’s make ourselves an oven Let’s build a house for pigs Don’t let the wolves have any Don’t spare them any strength at least not ‘till January if there are any left by then Rows of tidy beds under leaves Save a quiet place for me Fall baby
2.
Wagon Red 03:11
Wagon red, with the wheel in my broken hands I search through spider webs, until I find my legs and a black river running under me and a blanket of gasoline My circling arms are there cutting through empty air clutching at the atmosphere and a delicate hope Then I bow my head, as a chorus of long lost friends floats past, cussing me out, and I sink safe and sound into a fiery wreck, naked, past the pillars of smoke and spots I can see them now salty and tuckered out so I’ll keep my eyes closed ‘till I wake up at home safe and sound
3.
There are weights on my wrists and they cling limb to lock in a delicate, yet devastatingly carnal pile-up as a comforting light spins and sketches in place and a strangely brutal silence sets to pulling me away You’re as safe as houses It’s alright now You’re as safe as houses so don’t trouble yourself The neighbourhood turns up and they grieve for a while but only as it suits them, from a comfortable distance for the denigrating, barrel-chested terror at my back survived only by its failures, and the son it never had The trigger pulled me gently by the finger tip I shot a rat with an elephant gun Don’t be surprised if there isn’t much left of it But you’ll be happy again, once the transparency lifts when the spectres wilt before the fists of the neighbourhood kids When you sleep they won’t remember what I did You’ll be as safe as houses for a good, long while You’ll be as safe as houses so don’t trouble yourself Tusks and teeth are made of old piano keys Fatty hands are made of candle wax Ghosts are no more than two holes in scrappy sheets
4.
The Critic 04:33
You’ve got a lead weight stuck in your head You’ve got a way about you that puts everyone on edge You like to pick at things You love to pick at things until there’s nothing left You’ve got a vacuum caught in your ears You’ve got the look, and wisdom beyond your years You like to pick at things You love to pick at things until they come undone But then the sea change can wear you down until you find your way back to the underground You’ve got a zeppelin tied to your neck You’ve got a thin mustache and a book full of tricks You’ve read it several times You’ve got the paper cuts to prove you’ve paid what’s due You’ve got a clean slate tacked on your face and your hair’s always perfectly out of place You’ve got the best of us so you can pick on us as much as you please But then the sea change can wear you down until you find your way back to the underground
5.
Needle Jump 03:36
Explain the Xs there on your temples What kind of sore leaves scarring like that? I don’t think rubbing’s making it better Keep it up and you won’t have anything left to scratch Sit still and stir your hints into pudding Knock off, and bury your squalor in bed Save face, then stretch it, long as a fiddle just as long as you keep your apprehension fed Let it go Let it go It will sort itself out It will all collapse into itself Come down here a minute Get a hold of yourself Stretch out for a second then spin until you’re sick Just hold your breath until you sink into your bed Count up each and every penny you save for every time you complain Split hairs and relieve each one of its colour Scrub off and leave the difference in the drain Shout out! Your ears are glad for the ringing Shape up, and run a mile in place Cool down and knit your eyelids together until your bad dreams cut themselves a brand new face Let it go It’ll sort itself out Or else we can never let you out Calm down for a minute Get a hold of yourself Come down for a minute
6.
You can dig a narrow house in the dirt You can build yourself a bridge across the bar You can shut your parish out, but you’ll forget to wake up when the knackers twist at your arms We can split ourselves in half We can teach each piece to dance We can dress the shambles up but they’ll still stink like death Oh no, you can’t keep us out of your head There isn’t room enough inside your skin to keep you safe when the lights catch hell from the little trick that plays itself You can sleep here if you want, huddled up in a pulsating, arterial knot but you might wake up alone, all tied up with a chest full of imaginary clots You can wrap each hitching breath up in winding, claret shreds and I’ll dress each day in a cyprus suit and a liar’s pelt Oh no, you can’t keep us out of your head There isn’t room enough inside your skin to keep you safe when the lights catch hell from the little trick that plays itself
7.
Step off of the school bus Light a cigarette up and try to look your toughest as the bullies make their rounds Pull your ratty hood up and tell a dirty story Go ahead and stretch the truth if lying gets a laugh A little bit can make a lot of difference if you don’t forget It doesn’t really matter what you’ve got it’s what you do with it Maybe if you find it in your heart to join them in their fun they might turn you into something they can love Sneak out of class early, park out by the highway and drain a quart of lord-knows-what and walk back into town Try to keep your balance Try to keep your insides in then stagger home to your horrified imaginary friends A little bit can make a lot of difference if you don’t forget It doesn’t really matter what you’ve got it’s what you do with it Maybe if you find it in your heart to join them in their fun they might turn you into something they can love
8.
I Got Found 03:09
When I was a very young boy I took the blood and I was washed but as I grew up I grew crooked and I got lost Then I was ruled by clouds of flies and they obeyed an evil sound but Jesus cut through that awful noise and I got found…
9.
Patience 03:05
Bring me my breakfast in bed I’ve got frogs in my throat I’ve got aches in my head I’ve got tumours propagating like rabbits in warrens burrowed in my brain But they aren’t nearly as cute as they pretend to be The little one’s chew and the bigger one’s scream at each other all night, when I’m trying to sleep so I don’t catch a wink I’ve got trouble with humours and rats at my spine I’ve got bats in my belfry and crusts on my eyes If I dropped dead this minute I wouldn’t be surprised and you’d see things my way You caught me at a bad time but if you pay some attention I think I’ll survive I’ll need several expensive operations to get me through the night Alright, you caught me No, really, I’m fine I can handle the cramps, it’s not your cross, it’s mine I can manage, so go back to your party I’ll be alright… though I’ve got nails in my shoes and pins under my nails My teeth chatter too, I’m incredibly pale I guess I’ll trundle on, until my kidneys fail I can’t have much time It’s easy to see that I’m grinding my gears I’ve got smoke in my lungs, I’ve got bells in my ears and I can’t help but wonder, will you miss me my dear? Will you see things my way?
10.
Harbinger 02:33
I’ll catch you up when the salt hits your windows and your wings will fold over the dark When the vultures trace little halos over your head I’ll have ghosts on my breath You’ll rest in me You’ll make your nests in my mouth You’ll sleep where I eat little bird Make a home in my blood

credits

released April 20, 2011

All songs written, recorded and performed by Mark Lenover in 2007-2008.
Mastered by David Disher.
Cover Design by Mark Lenover.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Mark Lenover

Through a distinctive fusion of folk, rock, theatre and electronica, Mark Lenover critically examines pop culture’s ubiquitous influence, its moral philosophy and the potentially devastating effects of drug abuse and mental illness. His recent work frequently challenges an increasingly pervasive culture of celebrity, self-indulgence, distraction and desire. ... more

contact / help

Contact Mark Lenover

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Mark Lenover recommends:

If you like Mark Lenover, you may also like: