Wash Away

Instrumental

Like Fire

I am so tired now of waiting for you
Waiting for you
But I got a car and a tank of gas
Got a bleeding aching buried
deep in my heart and eye

I am so tired now of waiting for you
Waiting for you
But I got a car and a tank of gas
Got a bleeding aching buried
deep in my heart and eye

I am so tired now of waiting for you
But I got a car and a tank of gas
Got a bleeding aching buried
deep in my heart
And I am turning

Mother

Mother think twice this is all I'll ever ask
Rumble in the air I cover myself with earth
Only to find it is down to you and me
Mother think twice before you go and cry
Mother it's me in your tidal wave of tears
Just one more chance to head for higher ground

And I'll never ask you again
And I'll never ask you again
And I'll never ask you again
And I'll never ask you again

Fugitive

Circus man shot from cannon
Aint got no wings but still he flies
With secrets now of lion taming
With wooden chairs and wooden whips

No clowns in your sky tonight
They are hiding in the hills
All valleys made high tonight
And circus tents made low
At funeral march

What's behind door number three
It's a grizzly bear balancing on a ball
And our cannon man with no safety net
He has the audience to break his fall

No clowns in your sky tonight
They are hiding from the cops
And all of their malpractice lawsuits
They hunt their own food tonight
They are living off the land
But still wearing makeup

Sister

Instrumental

Red Means Go

Did you ever know you are my lullaby
Tonight goodnight
Did you ever know you are my lullaby
Tonight goodnight
Did you ever know you are my lullaby
Tonight goodnight

Places go like stepping stones
Can't cross the river with them all
Here in my car

Here in my car
People go like skippin stones
Bouncin on and turning till they sink

Here in my car
I feel you here with me
Here in my car
And if I die
Here in my car
It won't be alone

And I will not slow down
I will not slow down

Pockets full of milestones
Weigh me down
Here in my car
I never learned to swim
Here in my car
I never learned to swim
Here in my car
I never learned to swim
I will not slow down
I will not slow down

Brother

And I am tired of turning the ground
And my hands bleed from breakin up rocks
And this apple fell to the ground
And my offer the best that I got

It's not enough for your love
No it's not enough for your love

So my brother would you come with me now
To the field and I'll show you what
I've been growing if you just turn around
And if you kneel look at the ground

Just bow your head and pray
Just bow your head and pray

So I am sorry if you could believe
I did it all for you I was in pain
I'm not his keeper but I know where he lays
And I will go now wander the earth

And I'll hide from you my love
And I'll hide from you my love

You in the Pieces

I'll see you on the outskirts
Of the town we took
With a hunting blade

I'll see you in the pieces
Of the buildings
That fell by themselves

And it's just like
It's not your fault
Cuz you weren't really there

I'll be in the front row
Behind the glass
You'll be in your favorite chair your chair

I'll be in the front row
When they turn it on
I'll be the first to see to see

How you do on your throne

And it's just like
It's not your fault
Cuz you weren't really there

So you show the world
How the hell a helmet makes a difference
You have thousands falling deep behind your eyes
Your eyes

Father

Instrumental

Newspaper Poem

Coiled and bundled on arrival
You leave your house and check the mail
There's a newspaper on the driveway
Dirt painted on its tattered plastic bag
But it just waits there
And it stops you in the rain

Folded it's been there all along
Safe under snow and weather
Safe hiding in the cracks of cement
And you bend to pick it up
And the folds have made creases
Where the paper has thinned out
Where pieces have worn away

Looking upward you hold it over your face
And it crumbles like ash
Bits of light bending through
It buckles like untamed levee
Drops of water squeezing through

And when you hold it up you move with care
So not to make the creases weaken
And you inhale the aging musk

And then it's a bird
Waiting for that burst of wind
Waiting for that burst of freedom
From your grasp
Waiting for you to let it be as before

First it is the headlines who panic
The front page yearning for that moment
That one chance to take flight
But it hesitates
And it waits for you to slip

Then immediately it's all the others
And the wind does come
And in the wind the sheets take frenzy
Into the sky and around you
Without their goodbyes
And they leave no trail of ink behind
But let your day continue

Icarus Learns to Swim
Indie Rock (c. 2006)

Production

Borrowing from mythologies, Kern paints a picture of the duality of ambition. Collectively the imagery of this album also weaves together a collision of elemental themes like water, fire, and air. Kern's work here criticisizes how we define the heights of society, is it Entertainment? Relgion? Military Dominance? Familial piety?

As Kern wrote this album he was coping with a long-term fear of water which he later overcame by learning how to swim as an adult. Lyrics appear deceptively simple to new ears, but on each listen, deeper meaning is found.

Always a bit of an experimenter, Kern opted to go with some unorthodox approaches, minimal vocal processing, no use of click tracks, commitment to no-patch-in editing, and a choice to include no drum track an the otherwise deserving track, Red Means Go.

Icarus Learns to Swim is a raw, gritty, and organic experience, laced with fleeting moments of beauty amidst a tale of tragey, much like the boy who flew too high.

Publication

Newpaper poem was published in Spire Magazine when it was distributed in hardcopy print form.

Credits

• Recorded and Produced 2006 by Autonome
• All songs written and performed by Rich Kern
• Album cover art by Rich Kern

1. Wash Away
   • Piano - Rich Kern
2. Like Fire
   • Piano, Bass, Guitar, Vocals - Rich Kern
   • Drums - Noah Greer
3. Mother
   • Bass, Guitar, Vocals - Rich Kern
   • Percussion - Rich Kern, Noah Greer
4. Fugitive
   • Guitar, Vocals - Rich Kern
   • Bass, Drums - Noah Greer
5. Sister
   • Guitar,Bass,Percussion,Vocals- Rich Kern
6. Red Means Go
   • Guitar, Bass, Vocals - Rich Kern
   • Arrangement by Rich Kern and Noah Greer
7. Brother
   • Guitar, Vocals - Rich Kern
   • Bass, Drums - Noah Greer
8. You in the Pieces
   • Guitar, Vocals - Rich Kern
   • Arrangement by Rich Kern and Noah Greer
9. Father
   • Guitar, Vocals - Rich Kern
10. Newspaper Poem
    • Keyboard, Vocals - Rich Kern