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The Light You Can't See in the Day

by Alma Drake

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1.
Persephone 05:51
Persephone, what’s takin’ you so long? Persephone, what’s takin’ you so long? It’s been so cold here since you’ve been gone Persephone, is he makin’ it hard to leave? Persephone, is he makin’ it hard to leave? Is he feeding you something stronger than pomegranate seeds? Persephone, I’m tryin’ hard to understand Persephone, I’m tryin’ hard to understand He was only supposed to be your winter time back door man Persephone, do I need to send your mother down? Persephone, do I need to send your mother down? I know the kind of parties they have there in the Underground
2.
If I Was You 04:49
If I was you I’d tell that girl just how I feel I’d tell her I know she’s the only one for me If I was you, I’d let her know I mean forever And make damn sure that I love everything about her Chorus But I’m not you and your shoes don’t fit my feet Empty words come all too easy when it’s not about me Cuz I’m not you, I’ve got no skin in this game No harm, no foul, no blame It don’t matter what I do Cuz I’m not you If I was you, I’d take that job out of town Pull up all of my old roots and put some new ones down If I was you, I’d leave the bullshit all behind And toss a match in once I’d made up my mind Chorus Bridge If I was you I’d stop listening to unsolicited advice If I was you I wouldn’t be stuck in my own damn dead end life If I was you I’d throw seeds instead of rice I would take my pick and wouldn’t think twice If I was you I’d tune everybody out And make sure that my own heart is turned up loudest Chorus
3.
Thundersnow 04:32
I haven’t seen it snow like this in years It’s coming down like giant tears From a heavy sky It’s covering the farm, stilling everything Silence reigns, but for the laughter we bring As we run outside Watch it comin’ down through the thundercloud Like wet, white rain See it tumble, hear the rumble Feel alive again Oh for joy Oh for joy Pears are still hanging on the tree We pull them down and start to eat It’s magic of the highest order No taste has ever been so sweet As these snow-covered pears, right off the tree It’s nothing short of nectar You and me the only souls Out here in the cold It’s like some kind of secret And I could almost cry for joy That I got to share this with my little boy The silence and the sweetness
4.
We got lost in the woods one evening We got soaked to the skin, we were freezing But as night - fell down - we started walking On a path not marked but long traveled We found the old straight track It’ll take you back Back to the second path From there you can find your way home Repeat Through the dolmen trees, cross the valley below To the top of the ridge, do you see the stone Standing tall - alone - a long forgotten marker Of a way nobody remembers anymore Follow the old straight track . . . Lost doesn’t mean forsaken And there’s magic in not knowing the way Sometimes you have to get lost in the dark To see the light you can’t see in the day By the souls of my feet I know this way I have walked it before with a different face And I know - that you - will remember walking By my side, many times, beyond counting Walking the old straight track . . .
5.
There’s a road outa town, it’s a back way Kind of thing you hit at the break of day when you’re leavin’,when you’re leavin’ tank full of gas and the coffee hot Car packed up 200 in the pocket Leavin’, leavin’ Don’t give me no hard luck story Don’t give me no hard luck story Engine hums and the wheels whine Seams in the pavement got me keepin’ time On this highway, on this highway Interchanges slip and slither Twist like snakes in my rear view mirror on this high way, on this highway Don’t give me no hard luck story Don’t give me no hard luck story Don’t need to think about how I feel when change needs to happen I just get behind the wheel And drive on, I drive on No time to rehash my mistakes Don’t make me slow down, don’t make me put on the brakes No, I gotta drive on Don’t give me no hard luck story Don’t give me no hard luck story
6.
I’m goin’ down to that river I’m gonna shed my old skin I’m goin’ down to that river I’m gonna shed my old skin I’m gonna wash In that water Until I’m new again I will bathe in that river Until I crawl out on the bank I’m gonna bathe in that river Until I crawl out on the bank I will swaddle myself In fine woven linens And then I’ll give thanks I’m goin’ down to that river I will plant my garden there I’m goin’ down to that river I will plant my garden there From seeds Within my body And water from my tears
7.
Desire Dance 04:52
Dark dance under a moonless sky All I can see is you We’ve both done time dancing in another line Now we’re through with anything but love We spin and weave under infinity Stars burst out of their skins Midnight glows with a multitude of sins It’s ours to discover, ours to design and do I don’t desire to dance with anyone but you Sometimes I slip, sometimes I stumble And grace is in short supply But I trust you teach me again to fly And glide like an angel Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow it’s all about give and take You make me feel like I can’t make a single mistake Chorus We dance alone in this Forever I’m gonna call it Paradise I catch my breath as I see the green flash in your eyes Chorus
8.
Fragments of blue behind the clouds shine on waters mirror still Starling chasin’ the sunset down Hey, won’t you take me along I can’t remember how the crow flies Roads nothin’ but curves and hills Gettin’ weary of this shotgun ride Honey, take me home Chorus Home, take me home I can’t take much more of these mobius roads As much as I love bein’ with you alone Ah honey, let’s get on home Darkness falls upon us now Memory sleeps in the northern hills Starlings chasin’ my dreams around Hey won’t you take me along I can’t wait to get up and drive Out of these Ozark hills North to roads straight and wide Honey, let’s go home Chorus Bridge Oh starling guide my way Oh crow, lead us straight Back to where we belong Cuz it’s time to get on home
9.
Silence 05:10
Sitting under a half empty moon Watching darkness and shifting light We don’t speak because we don’t have to And there’s no pressure to fill the silence I lose myself in my own thoughts I imagine you’re doing the same It’s too dark to read shifting emotions And there’s no pressure to fill the silence The everyday turns upside down In the home of stars there is no sound And what a gift to hold The silence safe and sacred now We’re holding space and we’re holding silence We’re not afraid of the dark All the chatter and the whine of the highway Disappears in the wake of our silence

about

For Alma's first album since Aunt G and the Stone City Nephews, they decided that they wanted every song to be the best song, like some of their favorite records growing up. Plenty of surprises, a lot of assembled virtuosity, and a few moments that might just yoink at your heart.

Reviews from the CrowdSourcerors (and a few radio friends):

"This record felt like the deepest soul medicine I didn't know I needed and yet have long been searching for." Raechel, Brisbane, AUS

"AMAZING!!!! ENCORE!!!!" Tim, Iowa

"It is top notch! GOOD STUFF!" Billy Rose, host of Midwest Revue

"... an exquisite gem. The songs, the arrangements and her top flight band make this a delight for the ears." Jeffrey M, Iowa City

credits

released October 25, 2022

Co-produced by Alma Drake and Ryan Rumery
All arrangements Drake/Maod/Rumery, except Silence, arr. Drake/Littlejohn
Alma Drake: acoustic guitar, vocals, background vocals
Christine Moad: bass, background vocals
Ryan Rumery: drums, percussion
Pat Smith: electric guitar
Kylie Buddin: Electric guitar
Annie Savage: fiddle
Sebastian Sauder: cello
Byrn D. Paul: pedal steel
Andrew Teutsch: keys
Josh DeSmidt and Justin Craig: electric guitars on If I Was You

Recorded at Flat Black Studios, Lone Tree, IA, by Luke Tweedy, and at UAY Studios, Iowa City, Iowa, by Ryan Rumery and Kylie Buddin
Mixed, heroically mixed, by Ryan Rumery
Mastered by JJ Golden, Golden Mastering
String arrangement on Silence by Jean Littlejohn
Cover Photo Stubby Webb, @genreofstubby

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Alma Drake Iowa

Alma Drake (fka Gayla Drake) has been playing and performing music for over 50 years, and writing songs for over 40. They are currently a full-time sound therapy practitioner, but they continue to create and perform music on their own, with several bands, and with the Family Folk Machine choir. ... more

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