lyrics
CHELSEA:
How are you doing? I mean, right now, in here, in jail. How are you holding up?
JOSHUA:
Not well, at all.
Like there too, I'm isolated
Unlike there, though, I'm stuck. Sedated.
Sunk, weighted.
When I spoke,
did not stutter, did not choke.
No, but they made me a joke.
So in order to survive,
to keep my peace and stay alive,
I limited my words to five:
Yes. No. Please. Thank You.
PRISONER 1:
Fuck off punk, move your junk
I got the upper bunk.
JOSHUA:
Yes.
LUNCH SERVER:
Here's your tray, you better pray.
Food looks pretty gross today.
JOSHUA:
Thank you.
LUNCH SERVER:
Want some chips? A bit of dip?
A drink to sip?
JOSHUA:
No, thank you.
PRISONER 2:
Check this guy! You gonna cry?
Move along, let me pass by.
JOSHUA:
Yes.
COMPANY:
Who is he? Who is he?
This crackpot from outside.
Walks away, silently,
walks away and hides.
He's gotta speak up somehow.
He cannot go unheard.
He's been here for five months now,
and only says five words.
Why won't he give us a clue of who he is?
PRISONER 2:
You robbed a bank? You pulled a prank?
You know I'll be frank. You better bounce,
or my amigo Hank might shank you.
JOSHUA:
No, please, thank you.
PRISONER 1:
Hey Knight, wanna connect?
You don't got a cell phone, last I checked.
Wifi, iPads, Facebook, TV
You from the stone age?
Get on the same page.
JOSHUA:
No, please, thank you.
COMPANY:
Who is he? Who is he?
This riddle in the day.
Always mute, quietly,
Getting in our way.
A man sitting in his jail cell,
A ghost singing the hall.
He doesn't sleep or eat well,
leaning on the wall.
Why won't he give us a clue of who he is?
PRISONER 2:
You lookin' for a fight?
JOSHUA:
No.
PRISONER 1:
Wanna smoke outside?
JOSHUA:
No.
GUARD:
Need some help there Knight?
JOSHUA
Please!
PRISONER 1:
Hurry up and decide!
JOSHUA:
Yes.
LUNCH SERVER: Kitchen's closing.
JOSHUA: Thank you.
PRISONER 2: Top bunk's taken.
JOSHUA: Yes.
PRISONER 1: You're just posing.
JOSHUA: Yes.
LUNCH SERVER: Want more bacon?
JOSHUA: Please.
COMPANY (overlapping): Seen you in the yard. Hey, you got a smoke? Angry at the guard? Have another toke. Toilets are a joke. Brought your new toothbrush. Quit snoring or your dead. Forget to flush? Get outta here, dickhead. Had enough? Think your tough? Man you stink... clean the sink...
JOSHUA:
No! Silence...
I'll lock the door and hide away.
Just need to get through the day.
You don't need them, they don't need you.
This is the world, it's nothing knew.
COMPANY:
He's just a man,
A quiet man
A simple man
An unknown man.
He's just a man.
Just a man.
Just a man...
Who is he?
credits
from
North Pond,
released March 1, 2017
Chelsea Helm - Chelsea Marlowe
Michael Hewitt - Joshua Knight
Sophie Leung-Wolf - Guard
Sam Jaramillo - Lunch server
Patrick Robertson - Prisoner
Rameen Chaharbaghi - Prisoner
Likai He - Violin
Fanny Spangaro - Cello
Thomas Frey - Clarinet
Sohee Kwon - Piano
Nils Aardahl - Bass
Brady Spitz - Drums
Shun Yao - Conductor
Ben Morris - Composer/engineer
Will Inman - Lyrics
Julianne McAdams, Nevada Lozano, John Albert Harris - Additional lyrics
license
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