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To St. Jude with Desperation: Best Acoustic Tracks

by Erik Ritland

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1.
Aching Heart 02:52
Can't sleep this evening 'cuz there's too much on my mind The way things are going I won't make it through the night Always waking up wishing it was morningtime But it's still so dark and I'm just a little sick of trying Don't you know I need you More than anyone has before I have this aching in my heart I'm worried all the day and I can't even sleep at night Can't think straight with you running all around my brain I'm thinking too much about when I'll see you again
2.
Bluegrass 02:54
This old town It sure is nice Fields of green where rivers flow But my love is not around So I believe I'll have to go I will walk both day and night Through the wind and through the rain Just like times so long ago I will bring her back to me I'm going down to see the bluegrass For that's where my baby stays Though I roam from town to town With the wind blowing at my back But the weary sun It leads me on Soon I will return to her I'm going down To see the bluegrass For that's where My baby stays
3.
He comes home every evening You lay down by his side He can tell ‘cuz you can’t hide The secret in your eyes I wonder what he is thinking He can hear you sigh They give you away even when words escape The secret in your eyes The secret can never be told It must be held deep inside Love does not exist anyway So it’s okay to deny I am less than empty Left on the outside Here I sit trying to forget The secret in your eyes I try hard to quit but I can’t forget The secret in your eyes
4.
Dark Star 03:04
It's hard to find a friend It's hard to be something nobody else is It's hard to love and ask for nothing in return But that's what you are You're a dark star But you still shine It's easy to be down It's easy to live like everyone else does It's easy to take and to hold back all your love But you did not You're a dark star But you still shine
5.
Take a look around you, everyone’s the same Just another number, just another name Step outside the matrix and they call you insane Whatever happened to freedom? All the myths and stories passed along as facts The stands of politicians, every one an act The lying and the cheating The back door alley pacts Whatever happened to freedom? It seems the liars and the thieves do just what they please And there’s nothing you can do But it’s hard to turn the tide When criminals reside in the places above you The way that we are livin’ plays into their hand The choices we are given fall into their plan You’ll always be outnumbered Don’t dare make a stand Whatever happened to freedom? Take a look around you If you can even try Before they break your courage with their evil eye Sometimes it don’t take death before a person dies Whatever happened to freedom?
6.
If you look then it won't find you You have to wait for it to come If you don't watch it'll sneak up on you So don't be idle and don't give up True love wins in the end There will be indecision There will be broken dreams So keep your eyes on what's above you And you will know the road ahead True love wins in the end When you think it's over Your journey has just begun True love wins in the end
7.
I've been thinking thoughts that you do not want me to share Maybe I'd ignore them if I had the strength to care Liars all around me preach of change they'll never bring They're just the same as everyone no matter what they claim I can see the end of everything I've been lost so long that the right road is non-existent The closer I think I am the further away that I become I'm afraid that what I find will make me lose my passion But if it is mistaken then I suppose it has to go I can see the end of everything Life will end with a thunder It will happen soon Deep inside my heart I feel the frailty of the future Nothing's guaranteed so planning for it is all in vain The ending of the story is the hardest road to travel Be awake today to catch the last end of the ride I can see the end of everything
8.
Crystal Ball 02:13
You're so beautiful I don't mean to stare But it's so hard when you're standing there Crystal ball I want it all Give it to me Dreams are all I have You can make them real It's easy to give in to how I feel Crystal ball I want it all Give it to me When I look at you I can't turn away I'd give it all to be with you someday Crystal ball I want it all Give it to me
9.
It’s natural to want what you can’t have But it doesn’t make the end result any easier So I confess You’re the inspiration for my loneliness I think of you more than I should Though I know it won’t do any good I hope that your life is what you want I bet that you think of me just to pass the time Sure I’m confused You’re the definition of nothing left to lose Between you and me There’s a fine line Between dreams and reality
10.
Days begin where old ones end Chance for us to start over again But my motives are all wrong And I don't know where to start Drifting apart It's a dizzying high Took so long for us to realize We were wrong Our love isn't real We knew from the start Drifting apart Before the fall I don't remember when We both could tell it was near the end You can't say I didn't try We were never very smart Drifting apart It's a dizzying high Took so long for us to realize We were wrong Our love isn't real We knew from the start Drifting apart I'm surprised we made it this far It was us against the stars But the stars so often lie Don't be so quick to say goodbye Drifting apart It's a dizzying high Took so long for us to realize We were wrong Our love isn't real We knew from the start Drifting apart
11.
Wandering 03:19
In the beginning there was a sign Waters too easy, fire next time Glimpses of freedom saving the curse The best way to heaven is often the worst Brought down by daylight, a touch of the true Blinded by darkness, what else is new? High on the mountain nothing can last It's here in a vision and leaves just as fast I've been here before And I can't take no more wandering My train is coming on down the track But as it moves forward it also moves back I must be dreaming of moving ahead 'Cuz all of this backwards has got to my head I've been here before And I can't take no more wandering This too shall pass Wandering
12.
Goodbye 03:02
Said goodbye to you today Said goodbye for good You wouldn't look the other way You know if I could I would explain my fragile mind But it's easier said than done You left me with a soul to give that was empty to the core And I don't think that I can live without you anymore I've tried so hard to ease my mind But it's easier said than done Are you listening to me? Never sought to count on you But I sought you just the same And I can't take it anymore My life is wholly pain I've tried to get you off my mind But it's easier said than done Are you listening to me?

about

Promotional compilation of Erik's 12 best and most interesting acoustic/non-full band tracks. Includes many songs on out-of-print albums from 2002's Pictures on the Wall to 2012's Down in the Grove.

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released March 18, 2020

Compilation produced by Erik Ritland
Re-mastering by Erik Ritland
Original tracks recorded, mixed, and mastered by either Marshall Nystrom, Nate Houge, or Erik Ritland.

Featuring the following (see each track for details):
Erik Ritland - acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica, tambourine, vocals
Marshall Nystrom - acoustic guitar, slide guitar, bass, harmony vocal, percussion
Nate Houge: electric guitar, mandocaster, harmonies, mandolin

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Erik Ritland Saint Paul

One of the last great American songwriters in the tradition of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, William James, G.K. Chesterton, Jeff Tweedy, and Jim Varney.

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