Only Human, by Jeff Gandell

Only Human

by Jeff Gandell

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1.	Only Human 03:21	lyrics	buy track
Flowers are down, and stocks are bloomin’ I’m dreamin’ and drinkin’ and lovin’ and unassumin’ Cars are talking and folks are zoomin’ My mileage ain’t half bad, but I’m only human I’m only human I’m only human I got this body to move in cuz I’m only human They’ve outsourced our minds to overseas We’re soft as a towel, fragile as cheese You’re bathed in holy light each time you’re computin’ I’d love you like a machine, but I’m only human I’m only human I’m only human I buy things and don’t use ‘em Cuz I’m only human You keep saying that I am cold and rigid I’m stiff, my lips are rusty and my hands are frigid I’m sorry that sometimes my ears are fumin’ I’m stoic as a tree, but I’m only human I’m only human I’m only human It was too soon to move in But we’re only human War has come and winter is loomin’ There are no more drawers to put our food in I promise I’ll protect you from doom and gloomin’ My aim is untrue, but I’m only human I’m only human I’m only human Winning feels like losin’ When you’re only human
2.	If Me Tomorrow 02:44	lyrics	buy track
If me tomorrow Could see me today Would he tell me bout the flood? And the sorrow that came with the rain And all that dancing in the mud? If me tomorrow Could see me yesterday Would he have told me bout last week? Am I too shallow To want the storm to stay? Wipe the glass and take a peek A puddle, an Ocean, a wave The land is far away I’ll see you from outer space I’ll wave Tomorrow If me tomorrow Got greedy and mean And had no spiritual concerns Am I too callow And have I always been? What are the things I’ll never learn? If me tomorrow Haunts me like a ghost And leaves me clues that I can’t read What if the water That keeps us all afloat One day springs a little leak? A puddle, an Ocean, a wave The land is far away I’ll see you from outer space I’ll wave Tomorrow
3.	Don't Know How 03:08	lyrics	buy track
Don’t know how to breathe Don’t know how to stand Don’t know how to be Your man Don’t know how to sleep According to plan Don’t know how to be Your man I do know lots of things I know how to write know how to sing But to your love Don’t have enough Faith to bring Don’t know how to clean Or dust a lamp Don’t know how to be Your man I’ve never steamed A soft-shelled clam And I’ve never been Your man I do know lots of things I know how to fight know how to drink But to your love Don’t have enough Hope to bring All the books On the shelves Can’t tell me How you felt All the bottles Behind the bar Still can’t tell me Where you are Don’t know how to leave Don’t know how to stand Until I can be Your man Don’t know how to read The folds of your hand Don’t know how to be Your man I don’t know many things But I hope one I might bring to your love Just one Song to sing To your love Just one Song to sing
4.	I Am An Adult 03:27	lyrics	buy track
I am an adult I like grapefruit and coffee and getting up early I have investments I watch how they perform I like to feel secure Never thought I’d dress like my dad Never thought I’d miss feeling bad Never thought I’d find myself uncool Or that I’d find you I love to spend my Nights inside my home Plans I postpone I’ve got a family I cook dinner and lunch It’s fun Never thought I’d worry like my mom Never thought I’d need stress to feel calm Never thought I’d cry right on cue Or that I’d miss you Wished I hadn’t Spent so much of my life Thinking I was rright Never thought I’d make you my wife Never thought you’d let go of a kite Never thought I’d be okay being blue Or that I’d lose you
5.	Your Picture 02:30	lyrics	buy track
I sit in this dark basement A naked lightbulb on a chain Fire outside is blazin’ Shots fly through the rain And I sit in silence Like a statue or a fixture A charm against the violence With my hand upon your picture Men in green are running Gauze is flying through the air The food that’s left is muddy They’ve given me the chair My mother’s words are with me And I am always with her There isn’t much I can’t be With my hand upon your picture And if they breach this factory And if they find us here If they point their guns at me If you can’t hear my prayer I won’t raise my hands I will sit right here I will die in my land With my hand upon your picture
6.	When I Go 02:23	lyrics	buy track
All of my life is packed up in boxes I can’t tell where half of my socks is Piled to the roof of the highway Truck is coming day after today And I don’t mind If that toaster is slow It’s coming with me when I go What is the weight of ten years of living? Are the sad times heavier than the silly? Will you help me we can lift together What’s big as a truck was once light as a feather Would you mind Packing up that radio? It’s coming with me when I go When I go Will you renovate? When I go What will you upgrade? When I go Is anything safe? Will I leave a trace? When I go? You can keep the sofa never liked it anyway I’m sorry that I insisted on beige Maybe we should have gone for a darker shade But we live with the choices we’ve stained That clock Runs fast, I know But it’s coming with me when I go
7.	Been Better 02:53	lyrics	buy track
The grapefruit sprays Into your eyes And short circuits All your wires Plug them out And plug them in Juice runs down The walls of your chin Yes, I got your letter Yes, I’ve been better The bus don’t move Still people board Take off your shoes Your toes are sore Stretch them out As folks climb in It’s wall to wall Wet socks stick to your skin Yes, the weather’s got wetter Yes, I’ve been better Yes, I think you’ve met her Yes, I’ve been better A darkened room Projects your fears You see them all Seated in the rear Look on out And Breathe on in A sticky floor Your glued like a pin Yes, I got your letter Yes, I’ve been better Yes, I read your whole letter And yes, I've been better
8.	I Want To Know Everything 02:52	lyrics	buy track
Each thing in this World is mine the Christmas lights and the nighttime They’re blinking green and blue for me and I guess for you I like to touch the red ones the red ones are the most fun I want to know everything I need to know how birds sing their songs Why does that cat have three legs and why is his face all red Sure I can look away I can stare at the wall all day Where d’ya go when I close my eyes I can those That big bells chime I want to know everything I need to know why birds sing their songs Will you be here when I get old will you hold me when I get cold Will you laugh at my fears when we’re lost will you steer Us back to those Red lights that we saw that holy night I want to know everything I need to know why birds sing, how birds sing their songs I want to know everything I need to know how birds sing their songs

about

In his latest album, "Only Human," guitar player, singer, and songwriter Jeff Gandell reappraises what it means to be mortal in an age of too many robots. One day Jeff typed the lyrics to one of his songs into an AI-checker—because who among us can say for certain that they are not bionic? The results were inconclusive. In his attempt to regain touch with his own humanity, Jeff penned eight songs that take it back to the primitive— one acoustic guitar and one voice.

Inspired by songsters like John Prine, Loudon Wainwright III, and Mississippi John Hurt, Jeff’s impressive fingerstyle guitar playing features rollicking rhythms and moving melodies—a push and pull between groovy and delicate. His lyrics demonstrate a similar balance—disarming you with their humour before flooring you with an emotional sucker punch. He sings of problems both timeless and of-the-moment: the contemplative elegance of war, the atmospheric guilt of our future selves, the fleeting wonder of childhood, and the unique incompetence of love.

The album was recorded in three afternoon sessions, live off the floor with no overdubs and no edits. It is a snapshot of an artist and a moment, full of charming imperfections and moments of accidental clarity. Because we are, after all, only human.

credits

released June 25, 2023

All songs written by Jeff Gandell
Guitar and Vocals by Jeff Gandell
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jesse Daniel Smith.
Recorded live off the floor March/April 2023.

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Jeff Gandell Montreal, Québec

Drawing inspiration from songsters like Mississippi John Hurt, John Prine and Loudon Wainwright III, Gandell combines deft guitar playing with moving melodies and humourous, emotionally true lyrics. His new album "Only Human" was recorded live, off the floor, in a way that machines can't yet do, with all sorts of charming imperfections and moments of accidental clarity. ... more

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Jeff Gandell recommends:

superioryouareinferior
by Rae Spoon

Rae Spoon's first record stops me dead in my tracks every time I hear it. Beautiful mix of humour and emotional punch. "I'll Be A Ghost For You" is a standout. Jeff Gandell
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Drifter
by Dan Bern

Dan Bern is one of the great American troubadours. He's at his country folk best on this album, channeling Hank Williams channeling Luke the Drifter channeling Dan Bern. Jeff Gandell
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Songs About Songs
by Chris Velan

Just discovered this artist. Catchy and honest folk songs that you can immediately relate to. Like sticky notes, his tunes remind you that you're a human soul in a human body, like, all the time. Jeff Gandell
go to album

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