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Black Box Theory

by Gretchen's Wheel

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1.
untethered 02:52
it was something nice but the details were gone when you woke falling crumbs from the table you’ll take what you can get now carrying a heavy truth so your hands are too full and it takes all your strength there’s no room for a distraction desperate measures got you in trouble again came untethered the reason it ends little acts of defiance words you throw in the abyss overshared, underwhelmed opted out of the machine range of motion getting so small pretty soon you won’t move at all guess it never hurts to try except when it does moving on, no hard feelings you’re well enough alone
2.
plans 03:28
now it all makes sense I was watching the pot too long forgot to turn the burner on shouldn’t let me in the kitchen everywhere that I go sea of faces around me I’m not waving but drowning if you can see it, you’re too close was there an open door, I didn’t see one was there something worth the cost of admission worst laid plans dying on the vine there’s nothing I can’t undermine I remember the pearls overlooked them in days gone by wish I could find one, but in a sty it’s just a ruin, nothing doing to any insult, I’ll add plenty of injury leave it to me
3.
lucid 03:48
the fog of fantasy is heavy enough to breed complacency and fill my cup no light, no tunnel, I am floating in space no way to get it wrong, lost in no place I can set aside my common sense put disbelief in suspense dream on demand I’ll half live it, it’s so vivid like I’ve already been there lucid and distant, it’s sufficient faith is expensive and I am spent I found the way to peace, I’m so content turn away while history repeats and there’s no danger of defeat why would I ever want to wake up don’t want to know what I am made of
4.
funny thing 03:01
saw the rainbow fall unwoven from the sky in a demon haunted world content to let it lie a dot that’s pale and blue everything we’ve ever known flutter for a day trying to feel less alone can I trust my senses, who am I to know funny thing how certainty retreats the further you go watchmaker, crusader, minding the gap inside the box, another box that’s black beautiful order, fearful symmetry no matter what it is the truth’s beyond belief
5.
the maze 03:24
empty web that you weave the good ones always leave never been more aware never going anywhere no easy way out, no easy way in you’re too far gone to start again get so lost in the days sleepwalking through the maze every way looks the same can’t go back the way you came no easy way in, no easy way out you’ve been here before, you failed to reroute
6.
tatyana 03:45
you are a terrible dreamer or so you’ve been told must have been misled by the books you read you’re wise enough to know you might be a fool might be deceived still you believe oh Tatyana, you shouldn’t write the letter you’re gonna go too far letting him know won’t make anything better I’ve been where you are you’ll wish you hadn’t been lifted up only to be set down not passing inspection on further reflection oh Tatyana, you should’ve burned the letter before you went too far letting him know didn’t make anything better I’ve been where you are I know it’s too late to you it feels like fate this will draw the lines your life will be defined
7.
aftermath 03:20
not afraid of the water I’m afraid of my thirst going overboard, abandon ship the angle of list is past the point of no return whatever it was I wanted was carried away by the waves wax and wane, loss and gain forgot what I was gonna say I need a heavier blanket and quiet is too loud put a record on, I’m going deaf if it’s really the darkest before the dawn tonight I’ll know whatever it was I wanted was carried away by the waves wax and wane, mad and sane forgot what I was gonna say to find the balance, compare, contrast the effort, the error and aftermath
8.
today I woke up feeling good so I wonder what’s wrong I wonder what’s wrong how about some superstition to even it out I’m afraid of the rain for dread of the drought something’s coming to set it right restore the balance it’s a matter of time something’s coming chance or design caprice of luck or intervention divine imagined ounce of prevention against the roll of the dice against the roll of the dice if misfortune comes around when least expected well, I really think I ought to be protected
9.
imp 03:43
standing on the edge looking down a little too close, too far from the ground perfectly safe or so I thought I’m in control or maybe not I’m all right, I feel fine, I’m okay, I’m okay can’t explain what’s in my brain I want to stay, I want to stay the whisper of the imp in my ear the call of the void is loud and clear not inclined to self destruct instinct to live, impulse to jump not coming down, I’m burning up the peace that I found the id interrupts
10.
a tourist 03:32
souvenirs are in the suitcase lighter than it was before fascinating views, illuminating news an ending, beginning, either/or winding down, finding out, fading away leaving town, turnabout started today I’ll listen to the songs of summer when I can’t tolerate the cold staying on the inside, a tourist looking out contained, conditioned and controlled one more off the bucket list trying to unwish the wish took a picture, walked the hall this is not the time or place need to rearrange my face it’s a holiday after all

credits

released June 1, 2018

(official release date June 15, 2018)

Lindsay Murray: vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, bass, keyboards on all songs

Nick Bertling: drums on all songs, additional guitar and intro synth on Untethered, additional rhythm guitar and mellotron on The Maze, synth strings on Aftermath, second bass and additional rhythm guitar on A Tourist

All songs written, produced and recorded by Lindsay Murray at home in Westmoreland, TN

Drums recorded by Nick Bertling in a storage cupboard in Chicago, IL

Mixed by Nick Bertling at home in Chicago, IL (not a storage cupboard)

Mastered by Andy Reed at Reed Recording Company in Bay City, MI

Cover artwork: Heidi M. Moses

Photography: Danielle Shields Photography

Layout: Lindsay Murray

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Gretchen's Wheel Nashville, Tennessee

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