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Timeline

by Chris Ronald

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    CD in high-quality Digipak with 16-page lyric booklet. Photography & design by Derek Dix.

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1.
Chaperone 03:30
The light is emerging At the end of the tunnel A brand new adventure We cast off our old ways The world is waiting What does she have in store? I sit in my armchair Ear to the traffic And countless engines On pointless journeys This is the city The city that never sleeps Chorus: Come with me let’s go somewhere Far, far away I will be your chaperone I will take the strain We’ll take in the places Through all of our senses Across the borders And under the fences We’ll take some chances But that’s what it’s all about I’ll be your companion The one to rely on The one to guide you And shoulder to cry on Show me your weakness I’ll only see your strength
2.
Timeline 03:38
Years ago an old friend said to me these words I can’t forget “The path of less resistance may not be the one to tread.” Well it wasn’t my intention to avoid the easy road Or spend a half-life searching for a place for me to go Chorus: Time marches on, no use in lingering in the past I’m treating everyday as if it’s going to be my last And I’ve made myself a timeline so that everything is clear And I see just where I’m at and where I want to go from here “Follow your own star my son,” dear mother said one day “As you seek out your destiny it will help you find the way.” “But with so many to choose from how will I know which is mine?” She said, “The brightest one is the one you’re meant to find.” Chorus: Now I see the many winding roads behind me Now I see and I can read the signs that point the way to where I might find me So I'm listening to the wise ones and I hear them telling me "Do things that feed your soul and be the change you wish to see." So I'm stocking up on soul food and going on my way No more leaving till tomorrow things that I can do today
3.
There’s something about trains so appealing to the child A journey so fantastic, imagination running wild When you see a train in motion and you watch it on its way You know that fascination never really went away There’s something about trains, perhaps the smoothness of the ride Or the rhythm of the rails or the folks you meet inside It’s the thought of the adventure and the freedom that you feel As you’re winding through the wilderness safe upon the steel Chorus: Sit back, take a load off, the rail road will steer You haven’t seen this country if you haven’t been through here Read a book, write a postcard, tell those you hold so dear You haven’t missed a train until you’ve missed The Mountaineer There’s something about trains, with every mile there’s something new And each and every window has a photogenic view And just around the corner is another wondrous thing Like the turquoise of the water or an eagle on the wing Chorus: After bridges, after tunnels of a kind you’ve never seen After mountains, after meadows, after forests so pristine After rivers, after glaciers, after lakes so serene You will pull into the station like your waking from a dream
4.
As the page turns on yet more missed opportunities And again not much has really changed for you and me And the future holds the same as far as you can see Don’t you think it’s maybe time for something new? And the sun sets once again on the less fortunate Any help that you give is all the help they get We’re among the richest nations in the world and yet There are people who are struggling to survive Chorus: So let’s go back to basics Start from the ground With each road that we travel and sidewalk we pound From farmhouse to penthouse We can bring it all to bear With the freedom to flourish and the wherewithal to care The freedom to flourish and the wherewithal to care So we’ll start with all the people in our neighbourhood Till from coast to coast to coast it will be understood We’ll embrace all walks of life that others never could And the ones we haven’t talked to for a while
5.
Seems like any other morning Coffee's on with breakfast on the table Kids come down the stairs and Sit on their usual chairs And all of them have lost their appetites Chorus: 'Cause twenty little stars are missing Another shadow has been cast Twenty little stars are missing from The flag that flies half-mast Outside it's business as usual Everyone on the same old journey Kids dressed, backpacks on with Lunch made, homework done But none of them want to go to school Chorus: Fulfill those promises of freedom This is no job for redeemers Can't fly a flag that has lost its stars Can't have a dream without dreamers
6.
Ah-Choo!
7.
The Busker 04:16
He’s a master of the cover “50 ways to leave your lover” “Lie la-lie la-lie la-lie” and all that jazz A living, breathing jukebox The poster boy for hard knocks But a memory full of songs ain’t all he has For he’s a wizard with the pen And he’s picked it up again Like in the days when musicians still got paid But he hasn’t made a dime Since he put it all online Giving everyone the choice to take or trade He can’t rely on wages Just the kind support of strangers And a voice to sing a favourite melody Though he hides a chequered past Every bottle, every glass Knows he’s had his lion’s share of misery But he always has a smile For every captivated child Seems like they’re the only one who understand That he’s not in search of pity And a dollar for a ditty’s Fair exchange to get to see a one-man band Chorus: Oh, the busker wears his heart upon his sleeve Some words are tasting bitter but he’s not about to leave And he’s trying not to show the disappointment on his face Or think about the days gold and silver lined the bottom of his case So there’s no need to begrudge him Or worst of all prejudge him ‘Cause he’s just another guy with bills to pay And if you can spare a loonie Or better still a toonie Compensate him for his music s’il vous plait Yes if you hear a great street singer And you feel the urge to linger Toss a coin, make a wish then move along For your money will go far If you wish upon a star That you never live a day without a song
8.
I’m leaving first thing in the morning Before daylight finds shadows forming And the snow that rests upon the sidewalk Will reveal my footsteps for a short while And you’ll be getting ready for Christmas In that old familiar neighbourhood around your house And the cards will be strung above the fireplace From the ones that you love and who love you Chorus: And I can’t wait to see your face When you see me standing there in the doorway Warm my heart with your embrace Wrap me in your arms in the cold light of day The memories come right out of nowhere And hover like my breath in the cold air Some I don’t mind if they linger Some I’d like to blow away forever Chorus: Will you know me as you did before When you see me waiting at that door In the cold light of day? Will you accommodate a change in me Even if it isn’t plain to see In the cold light of day? (In the cold light…)
9.
Final Throes 04:22
It’s still turning And you’ll soon be learning How to repair it before it breaks Will you forgive us? And as you outlive us Please don’t repeat all the same mistakes we made This was out gift to you Sorry it’s worn right through Don’t sit on fences Rely on the senses Try to decipher the truth from lies Patterns are shifting And levels are lifting And it’s been falling apart right before our eyes and now This was our gift to you Sorry it’s worn right through And sorry to leave you so much to do Chorus: Well what will we say To the children When it’s time to go? When it’s too late To make a difference In the final throes And maybe you’ll be there See the man in the big chair Watch his machines as they grind to a halt And crowns will be falling But mother is calling And she doesn’t care if it’s not you fault so here This was our gift to you Sorry it’s worn right through And sorry to leave you so much to do
10.
Give It Time 04:03
If you’re hoping that the future’s going to bring you better days And everything you know seems out of line And everyone but you can see the error of your ways Give it time, give it time If an old wound has reopened and you’re wanting it to close You can’t control what’s running through your mind And you feel you’re just a player in the story that you chose Give it time, give it time Chorus: You can cry in your coffee Drown your worries in wine You can eat all the comfort food you can find You’ve just got to give it time When the song you tried to write is laying crumpled on the floor You’re facing up to being past your prime And the ink that ran so freely isn’t flowing anymore Give it time, give it time Chorus: When obstacles before you seem much bigger than they are Mountain after mountain to be climbed And all your aspirations have been set apart too far Give it time, give it time You can cry in your coffee Drown your worries in wine You can eat all the comfort food you can find You can put pen to paper Lay your heart on the lines But in the end there’s only one way to leave it all behind You’ve just got to give it time, give it time
11.
Up, down, floating around In a daze most of my life In, out, messing about Finding ways to waste all my time It's puzzling to me how anyone can keep their ducks in a row When I'm always straightening mine Up, down, floating around In a daze most of my life Left, right, loosing sight Of the things that keep me intact Right, wrong, going along With a scheme that’s all out of whack It always seems to be that I can never see the woods for the trees So easily getting bogged down Left, right, losing sight Of the things that keep me intact It's puzzling to me how anyone can keep their ducks in a row When I'm always straightening mine Up, down, floating around In a daze most of my life
12.

credits

released March 1, 2014

EXCLUSIVE to BandCamp, album downloads come with a free digital booklet and "The Sneeze" ringtone.

Chris Ronald (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, ukulele), John Ellis (acoustic/electric/pedal steel guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin), Rob Becker (upright/electric bass), Pat Steward (drums), Mike Sanyshyn (fiddle), Steve Hilliam (clarinet), Graeme Coleman (piano), Melissa Bandura & Deanna Knight (backing vocals)

Produced by John MacArthur Ellis
Engineered by Soren Lonnqvist and Jeff Jeffen
Mixed and mastered by Sheldon Zaharko
Recorded at Studio Downe Under and Fuse Studio
Photography and design by Derek Dix

All tracks written by Chris Ronald, apart from “Freedom to Flourish” written by Chris Ronald and Alex Burton.

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Chris Ronald Vancouver, British Columbia

Originally from England and now living in Canada, Ronald’s music has been described as “Canadian folk with British roots.” In recent years, his “keenly luxuriant voice and immaculate songcraft” have won him many accolades including a nomination for “Songwriter of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. His latest release, Fragments, was released on esteemed Canadian label Borealis Records. ... more

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