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Can't Get Back

by The Modlins

supported by
Jim Trageser
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1.
Beirut 04:00
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Instrumental: D#___D#/C___D#/Bb___D#___[x4] Verse: D#_________Bb_______Ab__[repeat these 3 chords throughout] You were true, so much better than I could have asked of you You took what came I was young and I didn’t know what I was gonna want So I took your name Prechorus: D#__Bb___Ab_____[repeat these 3 chords throughout] But then I saw what it was to live outside your door Where I was more like myself than I had been before Chorus: Bb_______Ab___________D#_____Ab________D#________Bb And I know I made a mess, darling, turning over every stone Bb_____Ab________D#___Ab__________D#_____________Bb Maybe I’m a little lost, but I can’t pretend I’m coming home Instrumental: [same as previous, except play last D# twice] Verse: D#_______Bb_______Ab__[repeat these 3 chords throughout] Drew a line and I knew that I could never change your mind Not in this life So I lied: told myself that I was lucky, and didn’t mind -- That it felt right Chorus: Bb_____Ab_______D#____Ab_________D#_______Bb But I got a little lost, darling, turning over every stone Bb_______Ab________D#___Ab_________D#_______________Bb And I know I left a mess but I can’t pretend you’re coming home Prechorus^: Bb________Ab_____________D#____Bb_________Ab But as the days go on, darlin’, and seasons change Bb__________Ab_________________D#____Ab____Bb Well, I’m content knowing in your life I’ve had a place Instrumental: [same as first, but twice as long]
2.
A Difference I Can See 04:21
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*verse chords modified in unidentified ways -- root notes listed [Verse 1] E___________________A __A mural fading on a wall ‘cross town Abm__________________________A ____The buildings wearing water-tower crowns F#m______________________A________________________E ____Nobody needs them, but nobody’s taking them down [Verse 2; same chords] The things you got that don’t work anymore That yellow coat you bought and never wore If you don’t use them, then what you keeping them for? [Chorus 1] _______A A/Ab_______________F#m Well I know what’s good for me _______E______________Abm And I know who I should be ____________F#m__________B____________A But neither one has made a difference I can see [Verse 3, same chords] The kind of drink you like on sunny days The look you get when there is something you’re not saying I should forget them, but I keep getting delayed [Verse 4, same chords] The way I felt when I was twenty-eight The way you were before you switched the bait They won’t come back yet I can’t help but wait [Chorus 2] _______A A/Ab_______________F#m Well I know what’s good for me _______E_________________Abm And I know who I should be ___________F#m___________A____________C#m But neither one has made a difference I can see [Chorus 3] _______A__A/Ab_________________F#m Well I know_____what’s good for me _______C#m______________Abm And I know who I should be _____________F#m_________B_____________A__C#m__Abm But neither one has made a difference I can seeeeeeeeeee [Outro] F#m_______B_______E_________A_______F#m Oooh-oooh ooohhh, Oooh-oooh ooohhh, Ooooh-oooh B7_____E ooohhh Oooooh
3.
Give Today A Chance 05:15
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Instrumental: A [with riff playing over it for 4 bars] Verse: ______A Tonight when you got locked out, you said to me ‘of course’ As if you’re always having to get inside by force ______D___________________________________________A I guess that you forgot about all the times you had the key Prechorus: ___A I know you didn’t want to come, You’d rather be back where you’re from ________D But where you’re from is not the place That you last left it anyway _____A So now you’re neither here nor there, You’re vanishing into thin air ____D I’d hate to see you disappear, So please for my sake, listen here: _____E Perfection’s not some pleasant dream; It’s much more like some pyr’mid scheme ______D______________A_[A plays for 2 bars before chorus] Where nothing is what it seems Chorus: __________A And you can’t go on running in place You can’t go back wishing things hadn’t changed _____D You can’t go back running in place A________________[A plays for 4 bars before next verse] Can’t go on wishing things hadn’t changed Verse: [chords same as previous] The difference ‘tween expecting and planning for the worst Is whether you are walking ‘round believing you’ve been cursed You call yourself a realist, but curses aren’t too real to me Prechorus: [chords same as previous] You tell me you feel cheated cause Nothing is the way it was But you’ve been saying that for years So what’s this time that you hold dear? And someday you will talk about How much you miss what you have now So if you’d give today a chance You won’t be haunted by the past And if you find your feet get cold Then try your hand -- don’t you fold And we’ll see what cards the future holds Chorus^: _____________A Cause you can’t go on wishing things hadn’t changed ____________________________________D___A You can’t go back, running in place, in place ______A You can’t go on running in place And you can’t go back wishing things hadn’t changed, _____D____A they change _________E No you can’t go back but can’t go on this way _______D______________A So just let go what is gone __________D____________A And you’ll start to get along __________D______________A Yeah, just let go what is gone ___________D_________________A And you’ll start to get alonnnnnnng
4.
Don't Tell The Truth 05:02
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Instrumental: E [four measures] Verse: _______E________________A Now if I made a list of the things I think I’m looking for _______________E And checked boxes next to names, ____________A_____________________F#m____B Well then yours would get the highest scooooore Prechorus: E Cause you’re sober and clean yet you’re not one to judge __________A And when I treat you mean well ya don’t hold a grudge ___________E Yeah the facts of the case are not in dispute ___________A___________________B And they got a lot to say, but they don’t tell the truth Chorus: F#m_____________________A Don’t tell the truth, don’t tell the truth, don’t E______________________Abm Don’t tell the truth, don’t tell the truth, don’t A_______________________F#m Don’t tell the truth, don’t tell the truth E About you.. Verse II: [same chords changing at same intervals as previous] We got so much in common that there’s nothing left to talk about And we get along so well, there’s no reason to stand(/get) up and shout Prechorus II: [same chords changing at same intervals as previous] And I know how it sounds, I don’t mean to complain But that’s all that I found when I went to explain Why my feelings were gone, didn’t know what to do Guess I should’ve been honest, but I don’t tell the truth Chorus: [same as previous, except last line is “when it’s cruel”] Solo: E A E A E A F#m A E Abm A F#m E Verse: [same chords changing at same intervals as previous] Now it’s all in the open, and everything’s begun to change First you try to convince me, then instead you start to pull away Prechorus: [same chords changing at same intervals as previous] Though it’s long past the time to question myself Well, the way that I feel, ‘s not the way that I felt When I told you goodbye, wish I had thought it through Guess my feelings don’t lie, but they don’t... tell... the truth Chorus: [same as previous, except after playing through once, chords 3 - 6 repeat to fade]
5.
No Time To Stand Alone 03:32
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Instrumental: Riff x 2 [root chords of which are C, G, F, Am, F] Verse: [sing over riff two times] Light is going by, The window shade and through your eyes But pride won’t let you turn around And you will find That when it’s gone you’ll still be there So I’m tellin’ you Chorus: _________Dm_____F___________C That it’s no tiiiiiiiime to stand alone ________F_______Dm__________F No it’s no tiiiiiiiiime to stannnnnnd __________Riff resumes To stand alone Instrumental^: [play riff one time only] Verse^: [sing over riff one time] I know you pretty well -- And you don’t like to ask for help So I’ll come to you Chorus^: ___________Dm_____F___________C Cause it’s no tiiiiiiiiime to stand alone ________Dm_____F_________Dm No it’s no tiiiiiiiiime to stannnnnnd __________F________Riff resumes To stand alone, oh no Bridge: [sing over riff two times] This time isn’t like the ones before you won’t be by yourself no more as long as I’ve got Life is just what you make it I would rather spend mine by your side come hell or water high Chorus^^: _________Dm____F__________C But it’s no tiiiiiiiime to stand alone ________F______Dm_________C No it’s no tiiiiiiiime to stand alone __________G________F________Dm Yeah it’s no tiiiiiiiiiiiiime to stannnnnnnnd __________F________Riff resumes To stand alone, oh no Bridge: [same as previous]
6.
The Ukulele Won 03:05
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*chords unknown -- played on ukulele -- but the key is C Well, the baby said it’s not a daytime song This one is a night-time song Maybe a night song So put your dancing shoes Cause the ukulele won And we grew tired of opening bands And tired from closing out the bars So we decided to pack it in and grow it up and clone ourselves So they are coming soon Out of the daycare around you But in the meantime Back here in studio light This is not a day song This is a night-time song Maybe a night song Maybe a dragging song So keep dragging your feet on And maybe we can take this one And pack it up along with the rest of Kevin’s stuff And hit the road on up Play a little night song Maybe have a lighthouse or two With this ukulele song Thought it’s not an organ song Could be one in Oregon This is not a day song Just another night-time song
7.
Remember. Remember, Remember 04:20
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Intro: Eb, Bb, G#, Eb Verse 1: Eb____________Ebsus4 Oh, the memories ______Cm,Csus4____________Fm How good_______it used to be! Bb__________Cm ____And no, I never cried _____Fm____________Eb Under that moonlit sky Chorus 1: ____G#_______Gm__________Bb7 Remember, remember, remember G#___________Gm It’s all gone, so____just leave it be ___Fm______________Cm_________Bb Before you make yourself an enemy Verse 2: Eb Oh, the memories! __Bb__________G# I was never happy Cm_____________Gm ___That time we laughed all night _____Gm_Fm___Eb It was just a lie Chorus 2 [same chords as previous]: Remember, remember, remember! It's all gone, so just leave it be Before it makes itself your enemy Verse 3: Eb Oh, the memories! _____Gm____________Fm They come and never leave Cm ___Or else they get erased ___________Gm__Bb_______Eb Which seems an awful waste Chorus 3 [same chords as previous]: Remember, remember, remember It’s all gone so just leave it be Before you make another enemy
8.
Can't Get Back 04:43
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Intro: D Bm Em G Bm Em Verse 1: ___D__________Bm____________Em I told us both I would return but I____didn’t see ______G___________Bm That it wasn’t up to me ___Em To stem the rising sea, you know Verse 2 [same chords as previous]: I did my best to make amends with who I used to be But he don’t take apologies He don’t do much of anything no more Chorus 1: ____Em_______________Bm And now, I’m on the lam ______F#m_____A No idea where I am ______Em_____Bm And I can’t get back __G______F#m I can’t get back Verse 3 [same chords as previous] When I was young I’d love the sun to shine on every tree And to break through all the leaves And not leave any shade beneath Verse 4 [same chords as previous] But now I’m old enough it shows when I am in the street Cause I can’t take all that heat I hide in every shadow that I meet Chorus 2 [same chords as previous]: Now I’m like a lamb No idea who I am And I can’t get back I can’t get back Bridge: D_________Bm____________Em __If I could get back I would stay G_______Bm_____________Em __Do the same thing every day D______Bm__________G __And again so many nights A_________F#m_________G __Wouldn’t even need no lights A___________D___________G __But if back then led to todayyyy A________Bm_________Em __I’ll end up here either way Chorus 3 [same chords as previous until noted]: Yeah, there’s only one road, And it leads away from home So I can’t get back __________Bm I can’t get back Outro [repeat to fade]: _Em______Bm I can’t get back _G_______Bm I can’t get back
9.
Last Winter 03:56
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Instrumental: A A/F# F#m Verse: _____A________________A/F# When I left home for the city ________F#m________A Well you said it was a pity ______A______________A/F# And I know that you’re worried ________F#m______________________A But you made your mind up in such a hurry Prechorus: __________F#m_________D___________A_____________C#m You heard no one here is nice from the ones who don’t know ___________F#m_______D______A That what’s cold as the ice is as soft as the snow Chorus: _______________E_______________Bm________F#m__E And I’m never alone cause there’s lights in the windows ______________Bm________F#m_________E______Bm Or if nobody’s home I’ll just see where the night goes __________________E_________D________A__________F#m Cause the water all froze, so it can’t get into myyyyy shoes __________________________E___________D Though the gates have been closed, I can always ____A Go somewhere new Instrumental: [same as previous] Verse: ______A__________________A/F# When I say goodbye to the city _____F#m________A I will take part of it with me ________A_________________A/F# Bring it home so you can see __________F#m___________________A Yeah, then you will know just what I mean Prechorus: ______F#m____D__________A__________C#m And if ever you go, well, I’ll know you’re okay __________F#m______D_____________A When you call on the phone, and then I hear you say Chorus: [same as previous] Outro: A__A/F#__A__A/F#__[no vocals the first two times] A__________A/F#___A____A/F# We’ll meet again; we’ll still be friends [repeat once]
10.
Keep Moving On 03:40
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Chorus [a capella]: You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on You can’t stay here for too long You gotta keep moving on Verse [sung over a riff, but the root chords -- mostly unplayed -- are F# D#m Abm, C# repeated]: Well growing up, I lived in a suburban dream But Grayson Court, was really just a dead-end street And I know some would rather stay Where they came from, and that’s okay Just as long as you feel free But I heard a voice in me, say: Chorus [same as previous, but sung over verse riff with same root chords] Instrumental: D#m F# Abm C# F# B C# Verse 2 [same riff/root chords as previous]: When we are young, we swear we never will be grown When we are grown, we swear we never will be old And you’d think that we would learn, but we just keep on getting burned And there’s nothing we can do, but accept the simple truth, yeah: Chorus [same as previous] Instrumental [same as previous] Verse 3 [same chords/riff as previous]: Well you know me, I talk and talk the night away But as for you, you never have that much to say And I hope that you don’t mind Me going on and on and on (Is that right?) Until you yawn, and go to bed I know exactly what you said, yeah: Chorus [same as previous] Breakdown [same root notes, mostly unplayed]: You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on Outro [same riff/root notes as verses/choruses]: You gotta keep moving on You can’t stay here for too long You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on You can’t stay here for too long You gotta keep moving on You gotta keep moving on
11.
What Should I Say To You? 03:44
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*no chords per se, but sung over repeated riffs based on D/G exchange I don’t know what I’d say to you I don’t know what I’d say to you If I saw your face from across the room Through I’ve thought about telling you the truth But I don’t know how much good it’d do So I don’t know what I’d say to you [Solo] I don’t know what I’d say to you I don’t know what I’d say to you Even if I want to share my side You’ve moved on from this to start your life So I don’t know how much good it’d do So I don’t know what I’d say to you [Solo]
12.
Traditional Love 05:03
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Verse 1: ___E_________________F#m I used to believe in traditional love ____________________________________B Yeah, the kind where you fall, and you don’t get up _________E_________B_____F#m______A And you promise that it will always be enough Verse 2 [same chords as previous]: So I never questioned if it was true Rather, if it was good for me or you Cause the signs were all around -- yeah, it’s just what you must do Bridge: F#m____________________B ____But every relationship is a bet ____________E__________________________B That you won’t change your mind and you won’t forget F#m______________________________B____________E ____Why you first started out and you won’t live to regret it Verse 3 [same chords as previous]: And as far as a gamble, I’ll never find Someone surer than you, no there’s no one I’d Rather place all my chips upon, yet we’re still not right Verse 4 [same chords as previous]: Cause you love to fly, while it makes me sick And often the point, well it tends to stick No, we can’t seem to get on the same page no matter how we click Bridge 2 [same chords as previous]: Yet in all my years you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted to become my blood So if it don’t work with you, then I think I’m done Verse 5 [same chords as previous]: And if ever another love comes my way Well it’s nothing that I will turn away But I’ll no longer be so obsessed/ with trying to make it stay Verse 6 [same chords as previous]: Now maybe you think that’s a cynical view Or a one-way ticket to solitude But however common a creed, that don’t make it true Verse 7 [same chords as previous]: Cause I still believe in unconditional love Like between lifelong friends, or mothers and sons And I feel in my heart that will always be enough Outro: ________________F#m__A_______________F#m__A It will always be enough, it will always be enough ________________F#m__A______________F#m__A__E It will always be enough, it will always be enough
13.
Young & Old 03:59
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Instrumental: C [four times] Verse 1: ________C____________________F_________Am When my mom and dad were just ‘bout the age that G_________________F __I am now they had their last baby and Am_____________________C__________F ___That was me, well times may have changed since Am________________G ___But I’ve not, no I’m still a kid, I Verse 2 [same chords as previous]: Still take chances when they arise I Still don’t have a nickel to set aside Still believe that it’s all alright Cause I’m as young as I will ever be again Instrumental^: C F C F Chorus 1: _______C___________F_______________C F C F And I’m as young as I will ever be again ______C____________F_______________C F C F And I’m as young as I will ever be again Instrumental^^: C G F Verse 3 [same chords as previous]: When my brother’s kids are just ‘bout the age that I am now, they’ll only be starting out As for me, well, I will be fading I’ve already found I keep changing Verse 4 [same chords as previous]: I keep seeing a bigger picture I keep screening out all the mystery I keep saying, ‘Yeah, man -- that figures” Cause I’m the oldest I’ve ever been Instrumental^: [same as first] Chorus 2: C____________F_________________C F C F Cause I’m the oldest I’ve ever been C____________F_________________C F C F Cause I’m the oldest I’ve ever been Breakdown: _____C___F____Am____G____F How good, how good it issssss ______Am_Cw_F________Am____G To knowww, to know the truuuuth _____C___F_____Am___Gm___F How good, how good it isssssssssss ______Am___C____F_______Am To knowwwww, to know the truth, ________G Though nothing can be done about it Instrumental^: [same as previous] Chorus 3: [x4] C_____________F I’m as young as I will ever be again C______________F __And I’m the oldest I’ve ever been

about

Album number six, the first after the band's hiatus, finds them experimenting with effects, as well as atonal and arrhythmic passages, while the lyrics deal with the dangers of nostalgia.

credits

released December 22, 2018

Mastered by Deborah Reeves.

Songs by Killian/Sheridan, except:
"The Ukulele Won" by Chousmith.
Produced, Arranged, and Mixed by The Modlins.
Artwork by Matt Sheridan and Alex Chousmith.

Additional Instrumentation by Billy Edwall (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Meghan Powers (violin).

Recorded in various homes -- including a couple in New York and one in Sacramento -- as well as at Superior Sound, San Diego, CA.

Published by The Racket Rack (ASCAP) 2018.

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The Modlins image

The Modlins San Diego, California

Alex Chousmith (nee Smith): Bass

Eric Killian: Right-handed Guitar

Stoph Rhanor: Drums

Matt Sheridan: Left-handed Guitar




Influences:
The Beatles
Elliott Smith
Chuck Berry
Blur
The Kinks
Belle & Sebastian
Bob Dylan
The Shins
Motown
Convoy
The Strokes
Sam Cooke
Weezer
The Walkmen
Wilco
The Arcade Fire ... more

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