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The Whole World

by Penelope Houston

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    Signed by Penelope! 13 track CD in jewel case

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    Get all 12 Penelope Houston releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Avengers, On Market Street, The Pale Green Girl, The American In Me, Loners, Stoners and Prison Brides, Once in a Blue Moon, died for your sins, Crazy Baby, and 4 more. , and , .

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1.
glad I'm a girl lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston, Josef Brinckmann If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl I said, I'm glad I'm a girl Pick me up baby at a quarter to one It won't hurt but it won't be fun Pick me up baby at a quarter to three I'm going to change your policy Pick me up baby at a quarter to five You thought it couldn't happen in your lifetime Is everybody happy now? If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl I said, I'm glad I'm a gir Pick me up baby at a quarter to four Hungry world knocking at your door Pick me up baby at a quarter to six Now, you shouldn't break what you can fix Pick me up baby at a quarter to nine Hear you're living where the sun don't shine Is everybody happy now? If it's a man's world Pick me up baby at a quarter to two You jump and shout when I turn that screw Pick me up baby at a quarter to eight A thousand little worms will help me celebrate Pick me up baby at a quarter to ten You can't smudge the ink from a razor sharp Pen Is everybody happy now? If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl If it's a man's world, then I'm glad I'm a girl I said, I'm glad I'm a girl You know I'm glad I'm a girl that's right, I'm glad I'm a girl
2.
on borrowed time lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston, M. Peppas, S. Strauss Don't tell me, I already know To follow where you want me to go Don't tell me, I already know To follow where you want me to go Take me to the alter you can your do what you please Jesus knows money doesn't grow on trees Drop your penny candy down the well of hope Your innocence is swinging from a ten foot rope in the breeze Don't tell me, I already know To follow where you want me to go Don't push me, I already know To follow where you want me to go To my father's garden, down the primrose path Take me to the banks I can follow your laugh You promised me a river, it's a dry creek bed The Amazon is burning, the Black Seas dead Watch out for the undertow, the tide is turning never look back, see my bridges all burning down on my knees and pray the following line You can't buy heaven on borrowed time You can't buy heaven on borrowed time You can't buy heaven You can't buy heaven, no You got to stop You better look around Going to listen Put your ear to the ground Don't tell me, I already know To follow where you want me to go Don't touch me, I already know To follow where you want me to go Barefoot in the kitchen, never cut off my hair Had so many children got to hide them somewhere Broom is in the closet going to sweep up this world you'll never find heaven if you silence this girl Watch out for the undertow, the tide is turning never look back, see my bridges all burning down on my knees and pray the following line You can't buy heaven on borrowed time...
3.
Sweetheart 04:11
sweetheart lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston, E. Nemzer, S. Strauss Somebody tell somebody else lies Like an avalanche they're going to make you cry Everybody knows when you've been wrong I remember our love was born hanging laundry in a lightening storm Hid in the cellar as long as we could Well, the corn ran out and the water ran out and we had to come out when the honey ran out Out of the forest and into the woods Sweetheart, they're going to talk about us Well, I say live and let die Sweetheart, they're going to talk about us Well, I say live and let die Will my lucky star shine down tonight on a sleeping town in a northern light Shut my eyes, I can see their words fall down I lay my head on a pillow of stone wrap myself in a sinners robe Sticks and stones, I'm going to build myself a home With their sticks and stones I'm going to build my home Sweetheart, they're going to talk about us Well, I say live and let die Sweetheart, they're going to talk about us Well, I say live and let die Somebody tell somebody else lies Like an avalanche they're going to make you cry Everybody knows when you've been wrong Will my lucky star shine down tonight on a sleeping town in a northern light Shut my eyes, I can see their words fall down And their sticks and stones are going to build my home With their sticks and stones I'm going to build myself a home Sweetheart, they're going to talk about us Well, I say live and let die Sweetheart, they're going to talk about us Well, I say live and let die
4.
Sugarburn 03:12
I never thought my love would lead me down this sorry road I never got a taste for sour wine Like you do Sugar burns my mouth Like you do Drink cut my tongue Like you do Paler every day Like you do Darling, without the pain What remains? I thought that you were such a lovely child And I thought that you were such a lovely child Now I'm going to have to take Now I'm going to have to take it Now I'm going to have to take it back... Now I'm going to have to take it Like you do Sugar burns my mouth Like you do Drink cut my tongue Like you do Paler every day Like you do Darling, without the pain What remains? I never thought my love would lead me down this sorry road I never got a taste for sour wine Like you do Like you do Like you do
5.
out past vacaville lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston and Steven Strauss In the middle of day I think of you In the middle of my empty day I listen to your songs, I listen to your voice What is it that you're trying to say? Want to picture your face when I hear your voice But the words get in my way The cars passing by make a soothing noise In the middle of my empty day I don't know why I should want you I don't know what I expect you to say You're not the one that's coming home soon You belong to a different day In the middle of the night I dreamt of you In the middle of the long hot night We dove into the sea the cool black sea Seven arms around me tight Now I picture your face, now I hear your voice But they're gone with the morning light The sun pouring in is a brilliant white Burning my dreams away I don't know why I should want you I don't know what I expect you to say You're not the one I'm waking up to You belong to a different day Now the sun is burning red Like the day the earth stood still Smell the fire on the hills Out past Vacaville I don't know why I should want you I don't know what I expect you to say You're not the one I'm coming back to You belong to a different day I don't know why I should hate you I don't know what I expect you to say You're not the one I'm coming back to You belong to a different day
6.
qualities of mercy lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston and P. Johnson Saw a leaf fall and I wanted to catch it but I'm lying face down on a Daily Californian Hair spread out in a halo of gold Humming a tune, it's the song of the charlatan Hear the glass break and the trickle of whiskey Take me along I'm the life of the party Day after day I hear my promises fade Giving lip service to the mercy of my friends And all the boys they tell me how they're going to love me And all my girlfriends they say, "you're so lucky" But what I'm really needing, in this golden country can you explain to me the qualities of mercy? Old man sleeping with a beer in his hand Worked so hard but he's got no one to bury him Built alot of fences in his fence building days Never built a bridge but he's crossing over anyway Baby, take a stick, draw a circle around me One to protect me from the times I want to fly away Don't need a bridge 'cause I'm already sailing sailing on the ferry cross the mercy of my friends And all the boys they tell me how they're going to love me And all my girlfriends they say, "you're so lucky" But what I'm really needing, in this golden country can you explain to me the qualities of mercy? It's good enough, it's good enough to know the falling tears make a cradle in the snow It's good enough, it's good enough to hold that summer's long as the winters day's cold Saw a leaf fall and I wanted to catch it but I'm lying face down on a Daily Californian Hair spread out in a halo of gold Giving lip service to the mercy of my friends And all the boys they tell me how they're going to love me And all my girlfriends they say, "you're so lucky" But what I'm really needing, in this golden country can you explain to me the qualities of mercy?
7.
Father's Day 04:07
father's day lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston and Mel Peppas The smiling ponies ride the shiny Ferris wheel A smiling marching band can crush the way I feel I know the sun come up to light another day I can't believe in what I can't explain We live in a house of cards painted by the wind paper and bits of card tumble in the rain Baby, I know it's hard to build it back again Baby knows it's so hard I wait for Father's Day to supplicate my joy Green tea and ice cream just like every girl and boy And then the sun go down forsaking me again I can't remember why I feel no pain We live in a house of cards scattered by the wind paper and bits of card tumble in the rain Baby, I know it's hard to build it back again Baby knows it's so hard Baby waits Baby knows Baby waits, Baby waits for Father's Day In the shadow of his sin living in the shadow of his smile in the shadow of his smile living in the shadow of his smile living in the shadow of his smile in the shadow of his smile
8.
Maybe Love 03:26
maybe love lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston and Mel Peppas My sheets have left their patterns on your skin and sleep won't let the morning enter in My eyes my eyes will linger on my lovers frame for when he wakes he covers all his shame Oh don't hide, don't hide Maybe love is not the word I'm looking for Maybe love is wholly changed Maybe love is not the word I'm looking for Maybe love will never be the same Like habits that keep following me home I wonder if I'm better off alone I'll try Stop tugging on a sleeping lion's mane Oh don't hide, don't hide Maybe love is not the word I'm looking for Maybe love is wholly changed Maybe love is not the word I'm looking for Maybe love will never be the same Stop tugging on a sleeping lion's mane Oh don't hide, don't hide Don't shy away Now don't hide, don't hide Maybe love is not the word I'm looking for Maybe love is wholly changed Maybe love is not the word I'm looking for Maybe love will never be the same
9.
innocent kiss lyrics and music by Penelope Houston There is no innocent kiss there's nothing simple in my kiss There is no innocent kiss there's nothing simple in my kiss a touch is much more easily rationalized like the pressure of your knee where it's resting against mine and if I can't forget it I know I can explain it away but if I took you by the back of the neck there would be nothing more to say There is no innocent kiss there's nothing simple in my kiss There is no innocent kiss there's nothing simple in my kiss you think that talking on the phone can keep us on safer ground but if I said out loud would it make your hands sweat would it make your head pound? so I'm driving along asking riddles like spirals circling round I can deny the sensation but a word from my lips would burn my alibi down There is no innocent kiss there's nothing simple in my kiss There is no innocent kiss there's nothing simple in my kiss
10.
Honeysuckle 03:27
Too late now What's done is done Too late to cry She was thinking of a very cold man who could open up her heart like you'd open up a sardine can She had left him on a very high shelf where nobody could reach him least of all herself She was thinking of a very cruel man Too late now What's done is donev Too late to cry Hadn't seen him in a very long time she knew that he was trouble better left behind Walked away from a garden gone to seed entertaining every kind of weed deadly nightshade growing serpentine interlocked with honeysuckle vine Remembering days and nights and days we laid to waste Remembering secrets in your secret hiding place Remembering Too late now What's done is done Too late to cry He'd been missing for a very long time She sent a little card, said "Hope you're doing fine Take a chance and open up this door and be friends like we never were before" And she hoped the memory would be kind now she's choked by honeysuckle vine Remembering churchyards, graveyards, anybody's backyard too Remembering 17 reasons why I couldn't live with you Remembering Poison oak and belladonna times Remembering Crushing all the honeysuckle vine
11.
Shadow 03:49
shadow lyrics and music by Penelope Houston Don't you know me Don't you know me I'm your shadow Don't you know me Recognize me I'm your shadow I live behind your old oak doors So swing them wide swing them open Never bought, I'll never sell That sweet sharp twilight glowing like a bell Ringing off of foreign shores Catch the ship that crosses over land Passing through your mortal laws Smooth as a mothers hand Don't you know me Don't you know me I'm your shadow Don't you know me Recognize me I'm your shadow I live inside your honeyed walls Beside the stench of fires burning out People's houses, people's clothes Floating down in ashes from a cloud of doubt Seven nights and seven days Feel the heat, the penetrating gaze Passing through your mortal laws Soft as a lovers hand Don't you know me Don't you know me I'm your shadow, be your angel Don't you know me Don't you know me I'm your shadow Band of angels, hear them singing They're going to take me home Band of angels, hear them laughing They're going to lay me down Band of angels, hear them singing They're going to take me home Band of angels, hear them laughing They're going to lay me down
12.
behind your eyes lyrics by Penelope Houston/ music by P. Houston and E. Nemzer Since yesterday the sun is gone shadows pour from his golden cage and broken dreams like broken glass and ashes dust my pillowcase Oh, yesterday we danced in the sunlight laughter ringing out in the moonlight black coffee making all our plans I miss your mouth that tastes of smoke and whiskey sweet tobacco gone so quickly like houses built of sand Since yesterday my love has flown he dyed the night with his bitter rage and all his songs burn in my throat and liquor cannot wash away We live in this darkness beneath your lies deliver the promise behind your eyes Since yesterday the sun is gone shadows pour from his golden cage and broken dreams like broken glass and ashes dust my pillowcase. Oh, yesterday we danced in the sunlight laughter ringing out in the moonlight black coffee making all our plans I miss your mouth that tastes of smoke and whiskey sweet tobacco gone so quickly like houses built of sand We live in this darkness beneath your lies deliver the promise behind your eyes. We live in this darkness beneath your lies deliver the promise behind your eyes.
13.
White Out 03:38
white out lyrics and music by Penelope Houston When you get home I cover your eyes When you get home I cover your eyes Let me help you off with your golden chains We'll throw them in the river, sink down to the bottom and the fish swimming over will think it's a piece of the glittering sky I can fan your dreams with a white bandanna but you knew all along I would never surrender cause I put it in a song I sang it to you last night didn't I? I keep looking for the white out you promised me you didn't own to erase my mistakes before you remember them That's why I bought this jug of red wine But, I spill it on myself God damn, damn, damn, I spill it every time When you get home I cover your eyes When you get home I cover your eyes You're going to eat every carrot that you've been served every pea and potato, every piece of bad luck And don't forget to finish your extra large portion of meaningless task Well, I can eat everything on my plate and ask for seconds Don't take it away, babe, just pass the cherry relish And when I'm done I think I'll have some more I say "Thank you, lord" I keep looking for the white out you promised me you didn't own to erase my mistakes before you remember them That's why I bought this jug of red wine But, I spill it on myself God damn, damn, damn, I spill it every time When you get home I cover your eyes When you get home I cover your eyes Let me help you off with your golden chains We'll throw them in the river, sink down to the bottom and the fish swimming over will think it's a piece of the glittering sky The glittering sky...

about

(1993) Heyday Records, (2000) penelope.net Records

"The 13 bittersweet accounts of love and miscommunication that comprise Houston's The Whole World radiate a hard-headed generosity of spirit that says as much about the artist's inner toughness as any rock band could. With her understatedly gorgeous melodies getting sensitive support from her acoustic combo, songs like "Qualities of Mercy," "Honeysuckle" and "Father's Day" illuminate complex emotional issues with understated eloquence." - Pulse Magazine

credits

released January 4, 1993

Recorded by Howard Johnston at Different Fur Studios, San Francisco.

Penelope Houston vocals, autoharp, melodica
Eliot Nemzer guitar
Kevin Mummy percussion and drums
Mel Peppas mandolin, guitar
Steven Strauss bass and vocals
with
Beth Custer clarinet , Josef Brinckmann accordion, Bryan Higgins french horn, Bruce Vermazen cornet, Seth Asarnow bandoneon, Cake Yoodi cello, and Federico Gil Sola percussion on track 7

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Penelope Houston Oakland, California

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