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For the Comfort of Others

by The New Middle Class

supported by
Michael Petter
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Sean Tayler
Sean Tayler thumbnail
Douglas Clubok
Douglas Clubok thumbnail
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1.
A Public Gesture 03:03
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I promise not to tell what we did in your room When the crowd spread the rumour round, you didn’t deny the truth Follow a forbidden urge, but how do u trap the love Follow a forbidden urge, but how is the love returned? You didn’t care in the schoolyard what anyone thought When the crowd gathered round, we really start to flaunt it Cry public tears for the truth of my word, but how do you trap the love Cry public tears for the truth of my word, but how is the love returned? CHORUS Where do you take it, the fading glow Do we keep it alight for the sake of show When we need somewhere to stand, we stand together When we need somewhere to stand (a public gesture) When I came back to town, it was like you really cared Then the crowd drifted off, it was like I wasn’t even there The same lesson I just couldn’t learn, how do you trap the love The same lesson I just couldn’t learn, how is the love returned? CHORUS Bridge In front of an audience we discover We keep it up for the comfort of others Give me all you got, I need more If we love each other we rise to the chore CHORUS
2.
Sorry But I Meant it 04:15
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We lived in a caravan park, winter nights were long Mum pissed in a bucket to avoid the toilet blocks You dressed like you were homeless, people offered you spare change Mum grew her beard, didn’t believe in shaving Pre CHORUS What would I be allowed to share with a friend I said I’d never forgive you, I’m sorry but I meant it CHORUS How could I ever love/someone Be brought into this/world Maybe I can forgive/you I can’t forgive myself How could I ever love someone We were only doing our best Maybe I can forgive you I can’t forgive myself You never taught me manners, how should I behave Cousins sat with straight backs, elbows off the table Aunty offered me cheese, wouldn’t let go of the plate I didn’t know I was worthy, how should I thank you? Pre-CHORUS You and Mum split up, you stopped paying rent You weren’t allowed in the park so I’d meet you at the fence Drinking through the lattice at your story’s fevered pitch (You’d puke up chorizo sausage) never skipped a beat Pre-CHORUS CHORUS
3.
Summoning Spirit and Country 04:11
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3000 miles, Brisbane to Halls Creek The burden is on you, you don’t want to leave For Gooniyandi Land, you made the sacrifice You surrender in body but your spirit stayed behind Pre-CHORUS Gooniyandi land, now that I belong I came here for you, I came here for your song We smoked the house with sage, and let bad spirits leave Remember the smoke alarm it was ringing in my ears I could not hear myself or pace out a plan I was haunting my own house, haunting the land Pre-CHORUS CHORUS Summoning Spirit and Country (you sing) Featherfoot leaves no trace Summoning Spirit and Country (you sing) Together we’ll find our way If ownership follows, everyone has a story I gave up on my own, you were here before me The pain’s all one side and if its my heart They fly me down to Perth but no one has an answer A white bullamen on the road, I swerve to miss a ghost On the way back from Fitzroy Crossing, I let go of control The car lands upside down, I did not know my place There is no story to share until we name our mistakes Pre CHORUS CHORUS x 4
4.
Orphans' Xmas 03:31
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2015 I was home for Xmas Kept a Xanax in my pocket just in case In case I felt the need to escape I had a feeling like I had to impress you All I could do was stress and regress You brought out the salad with the usual suspects Pre-CHORUS Iceberg lettuce, tinned pineapple And a half a hard boiled egg (no dressing) CHORUS This year I’m having an orphans Xmas No sad ham and prawns for me This year I’m having an orphan’s Xmas Burning down the Xmas tree Its 2017, I’m going to a friend’s place We’ve had Xmas together ever since you were born And we took you to hospital when you were young I ring up my brother to tell him I’m worried I hope Dad doesn’t take it out on Mum I’m ruining Xmas for everyone Pre-CHORUS CHORUS 2018 I said I was in Melbourne With my boyfriend in Toowong I decided to hide You asked about the weather I couldn’t lie My brothers go with the families of their wives Keep the family together never disagree It’s all down to me to be the life of the party Pre CHORUS CHORUS
5.
Off With The Fairies 03:44
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Down the path on the side of our house I gaze into a single lily white Down the path on the side of our house Let there be a fairy when I open my eyes Across the passage, Mum’s bedroom Do you think fairies are for real Across the passage, I can’t get there You pause before you answer me CHORUS From the cliffs over the river Coloured lights reflect a path (off with the fairies again) How I wish we could walk together Coloured lights reflect a path (off with the fairies again) I got sick of snakes and ladders So I skipped rope all afternoon Emily said Alexander Why don’t you have a Dad like the rest of us do? She cried out he’ll kill you He picks me up every Wednesday after school She cried out he’ll kill you He’s gonna come over and kill Mum too CHORUS Bridge See the little plastic fairy off its pod fly and spin (off with the… Don’t let me fall in – off with the fairies again (off with the fairies..) Into the air it flutters and sails towards the kitchen sink (off with the..) Don’t let me fall in - off with the fairies again (off with the fairies again) Have you seen the old lady in black When I go into my room to find She’s waiting when I turn the lamp on But disappears into the light Across the passage, Mum’s bedroom Do you think fairies are for real Across the passage, I can’t get there You pause before you answer me
6.
There's Some That We Can't Save 04:38
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I talked to a wide-eyed man on the street Hands shaking muttering to himself He said he was all alone with no one Who thought the way that he did, no one who listened He said all you people with your houses to go to I have to live out here Then he stood up, walked away, left me sitting Little said, nothing changed CHORUS There’s some that we can’t save I saw my uncle, my cousin in that man All those that died on the street Minds addled, thought obtuse, unable to connect Their trauma slowly leading them to the end Bridge It’s easy to lose heart when you know all your Talking will do no good and even if you took them home They’d learn to fear you and the hospitals They do them harm, the medication dulls their eyes The world ignores them, no wonder They escape CHORUS And we all strive for the light But the darkness has its roots around us Nestling us in the warmth of its decay “ Bridge They pass me by, they pass me by, they pass me by
7.
The Day That Never Was 03:46
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On the day that never was…. A homeless Fregan scouring the beach, free food’s your vocation At the Casino you polished off a steak, you refuse to pay for All you wear in Court is a Man Bag and a pair of shorts Made a pump for freshwater, showers from the billabong Rigged a car battery up for power, turned the fridge and the stereo on The hermit crabs crawled around our heads, I could stay here forever Through the canopy above were stars, never thought I’d break your heart CHORUS On the day that never was, rainbows in the sky Ask for a rainbow to appear right before your eyes On the day that never was…. A Rainbow poster for Nimbin, Festival destination Let’s go to the Day Out of Time, on the run from immigration We hit 2 kangaroos on the way back from the day that never came The actual date was 6 years past, never thought I’d break your heart CHORUS Bridge If I want rainbows I’ll see rainbows, the day that never was If I want rainbows I’ll see rainbows, the day that never was “ Inst. Verse On the day that never was…. On the day that never was…. My husband’s visa run out, he was desperate to stay I agree to sign the papers, on the run from immigration His release was finally due, I couldn’t break the news My affection kept for the dark, never thought I’d break your heart CHORUS x 2 On the day that never was…. If I want rainbows I’ll see rainbows
8.
There is a Universe 02:59
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Once there was a troll in a cave in the mountains Rarely ventured out in the light of the sun He likes to go out terrorizing strangers Sometimes when he’s restless and alone Over a ravine there’s a saggy old rope bridge And that was where he liked to have his fun He hated people passing by that way but says You gotta make the most of those who come CHORUS There is a universe deep down inside of you Do you wanna know the truth? When he sees a traveller on the bridge halfway over He grabs a hold of the rope starts going ape And never stops until they beg him for mercy And offer him their wares and their wage Look me in the eyes he says and do not look down And you’ll make it safely over to my side If your manner’s pleasing he lets you keep your burden He has no need for coins or supplies CHORUS Bridge Don’t go down into peril Do u wanna know the truth Don’t go down into peril Just admire the view The ropes got frayed one day as the troll was pulling He watched a traveller fall down screaming why Into the deep abyss the troll went down to save him Where no one’s ever made it out alive The screaming question played on his mind As he climbed and fell and climbed and lost his grasp It gets so dark deep inside my cave A fella’s just tryna have a laugh CHORUS x2
9.
They're Not Lauging at You 02:44
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Just because they're laughing doesn't mean that they are laughing at you You're only paranoid because of substances that you've abused If you were there with them then I'm sure you would be laughing too Take a step back and look at what you're putting yourself through CHORUS Got my first smart phone in 2011 Push a couple buttons sends me straight to Heaven But there isn’t an app to replace your brain I’m a little afraid I’m going insane Verse Bridge: Look up at the window sill, a beautiful ghost is here beside you Take a look out at Highgate Hill, a beautiful ghost wants to haunt you CHORUS
10.
Lost in my Reflection 03:28
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At my sister’s party in a backyard, me n Dad were Birthday Clowns Back to the dress up box again, couldn’t shift the doubt Everybody loved my outfit but I couldn’t see through the fog A sad clown in the mirror, sewing a shadow on CHORUS Lost in my reflection, found myself in the mundane Lost in my reflection, we’re all the same Lost in my reflection, nothing left to prove I reclaim the ordinary, I reclaim the bruises Across the wooden floorboards the sound of jazz shoes shuffle The dance teacher calls my name; I think I’m in trouble I got Peter Pan the leading part, didn’t think I deserved the role A sad clown in the mirror, sewing a shadow on CHORUS To make the world beautiful and fix my damaged life Don’t look at me look see me fashion my design In the classroom at the sewing machine I could never finish it off A sad clown in the mirror, sewing a shadow on

about

Everyone in ‘The New Middle Class’ will be considered to have a ‘mental illness’. It’s a special gift they will use to understand each other and gather people to celebrate everyone’s unique and courageous contributions. Until then, this is the music they will be leaving not just for themselves but ‘For The Comfort of Others’.

credits

released October 23, 2019

The New Middle Class for this recording are:

Elise Clark (drums, vocals)
Rohan Whitely (piano)
Tom Smith (guitar and vocals)
Josa Rubbra (bass and vocals)
Rachel Walker (vocals)
David Laczko (cello, banjo, trumpet, vocals)

1.3,7.8 written by Tom
2, 4 by the band
5, 10 by Rachel and Tom
6 David
9 Elise

Tom would like to thank and acknowledge the people of Yiyili Community, WA for welcoming him and his family into their community in 2011 and teaching him about country, connection and belonging.

Artwork: Pandanus Hendrik Petter; Layout: Frida Nielsen

Recorded and mixed by Cam Smith at Incremental Studios, Coorparoo, Brisbane.

2019

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The New Middle Class Brisbane, Australia

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