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Strawberry Pumpkin Apocrypha (1988​-​89)

by Nate Butler

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1.
Optimism 03:22
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OPTIMISM - words & music by Nate Butler You know, Broadway songs are full of everything but my pessimism So if you ask me to sing, I'll bring the optimist in me Bone-dry river, Indian giver, optimism Pray tell, father, where's the water? -- optimism When it goes, I hope you know Many winter winds will blow you away -- and you'll be blown away Where for art thou? -- Stain my heart now, optimism Summer splinter, stab the winter, optimism When it goes, I hope you know Winter will not end, and without springtime there's no hay-fever Sometimes it's hard to climb it, without a warm climate -- some don't mind it I'll trade in everything, for just a set of wings And take off like Pegasus ... Broadway songs are full of everything but my pessimism So if you ask me to sing, I'll bring the optimist in me Bone-dry river, Indian giver, optimism Pray tell, father, where's the water? -- optimism When it goes, I hope you know Winter will not end, and without springtime there's no hay-fever -- and some don't mind it, but I'll trade in everything, for just a set of wings And take off like Pegasus ... fly me And if you ask me to sing, I'll bring the optimist in me ... I'll do mine.
2.
Disarray 03:36
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DISARRAY - words & music by Nate Butler I've figured out what you're about, and who I thought you were But I'm not out to make you shout; no, only to confer Disappointed, mild annoyment Play it cool, be the fool she'll never burn Disappointment, I know it's all my fault I expected more on your end Is that what friends are for? Make my day disarray Disarray, it's okay, I wanna stay this way ... you say: "Hey, no way Hey, no way" I couldn't pick a better place to tell you to your face This little passion play you made is hardly worth the chase Disappointed, mild annoyment It's your choice, raise your voice; you're center-stage Disappointment, giving belief to this thief? And all that it meant, a good show, much better than you know Make my day disarray Disarray, it's okay, and when you say "Go away" I'll say, "Okay, Fay Wray!" Okay, Fay Wray!"
3.
Balance 02:57
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BALANCE - words by Sean Mahoney & Nate Butler, music by Nate Butler I feathered in on an owl Sneezed and brushed the dust for an hour -- hung up my coat, threw open the doors I feathered in on an owl, after sleeping on loud clouds And clubs and crowds and pubs and How I froze another reflection And buried in my life-long collection Feathered in on fleeting moments, and lost my many children Somewhere, where my days were left Unchained, and the train steamed on Without them, until -- winter fell and the weight shifted And I balanced on a hill And I balanced on a hill The waiter spotted the owl; asked if I'd need a "loud towel"? I said, "Owl is vowel, not fowl, and he goes where I go, if I wish it My reality is sufficient Feathered in on fleeting moments and lost to many children." Somewhere, where my days were left Unchained, and the train steamed on Without them, until -- winter fell and the weight shifted And I balanced on a hill And I balanced on a hill
4.
Undertoad 02:23
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UNDERTOAD - words & music by Nate Butler Summer is gone, but it's still sticky If I had time, I'd go to the ocean And take you along -- though it'd be tricky Love wraps us up in some useless old emotion But my days are spent on a mission Finding new ways -- but I might be fishing Singing a tune; I would sing it for you, but It's been six months since we spoke, and if we did I'd choke, And yes, I miss you, but I don't want to feel an undertow The fish in the sea; there isn't one that captures me This is what folly can be I come home to see ... Beeping message machine, telling the story You can speak 'till your voice is broken One button takes away the message you've spoken I don't know why I would try erasing memories Could be the Undertoad, the fish in the sea And only the waves enrapture me, so pragmatically Take the time to breathe in big sea Water for you, water for me Do we need to be in endless sea? With all other fish? What folly for me, with memories like this Taking my wings on a vacation All my tears -- cast into the ocean It crosses my mind, I'm swimming backwards in motion But love wraps me up in some tangled new emotion And I guess it'll stay -- guess I still want it that way
5.
Stood Me Up 02:48
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STOOD ME UP - words & music by Nate Butler I thought about it and I don't think it's alright Then forgot about it -- so we're not gonna fight I gave you 'til half-past-eight, though seven was already late That's the kind of date I hate It's understood that you shouldn't have stood me up You figured you'd weigh it out, and cut me a deal But I'm not in -- and I'm not out, that's not the way I feel Not an ounce of consideration, leaving me in anticipation That's the kind of date I hate It's understood that you shouldn't have stood me up The game, again, the game, the game Suppose I see you on the town, later that night? Cyrano, you put him down ... the ensemble's uptight Don't wanna sound off in spite; only want to do what's right I just hate being uptight It's understood that you shouldn't have stood me up The game, again, the game, the game
6.
The Great Irregular Circle 05:05
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THE GREAT IRREGULAR CIRCLE - from a poem by Sean Mahoney, adapted into lyrics by Nate Butler, music by Nate Butler This will be the last letter I deliver ... Do you remember reading maps, but skipping the legends? Common sense seemed to trickle out of your fingers As you requested By the powers invested in your chest, you bested not only your parameters But challenged The Great Irregular Circle Swashbucklers never buckle, and hitters live for hitting Nobody beats the Crusader For Peace What becomes of families alone, watching clocks a-ticking? You know that mutiny is punishable only by death ... that's the way we do it out West Do you remember fighting to meet the divine? ... While all that I fought were these demons of mine We'd meet over wine ... sometimes I think that was the only time you were mine. Then the phone would ring; and you would bring a lot of flowers the next time you came -- whenever that was Saying I was too sweet to be in The Great Irregular Circle! Swashbucklers never buckle, and only cut-throats scuttle This is a ship with a mission to make! "What becomes of mutineers?" asked the novice -- his rebuttal: You know that mutiny is punishable only by death ... that's the way we do it out West Then the phone would ring; and you would bring a lot of flowers the next time you came -- whenever that was Saying I was too sweet to be in The Great Irregular Circle! Swashbucklers never buckle, and hitters live for hitting Nobody beats the Crusader For Peace What becomes of families alone, watching clocks a-ticking? You know that mutiny is food for regret ... a dinner Swashbucklers never buckle, and only cut-throats scuttle This is a man with a promise to keep! "What becomes of mutineers?" asked the novice -- his rebuttal: You know that mutiny is punishable only by death ... that's the way we do it out West You thought that every circle traced every space, you ought to know! ... You're a rail-roaded hero You thought that every circle traced every space, you ought to know! This is regret ... a sliver.
7.
Rebel With A Cause 05:51
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REBEL WITH A CAUSE – words by Andrew B. Chittick, music & additional words by Nate Butler People used to speak out if things looked wrong 'Cause it had something to do with them – those days are gone I know all about Vietnam, and on And it had something to do with me – those days are gone Summer of '69 I turned four But it had something to do with me – and here comes more I will be nineteen in nineteen eighty-four And it's got something to do with me – we've been this way before With a song in my heart, and an eagerness to start I'm an ordinary man, oh-oh But I've gotta do what I can, you know With a song on my lips, and the world at my fingertips Got an ordinary life, oh-oh But I cannot sit idly by, you know 'Cause it's got something to do with me, and I won't outlast it Got an ordinary chance, oh-oh I'm just a victim of circumstance, no-no With a song in the world, and grace in the eyes of a child Ordinary, you can see But please try for posterity, you know, When it's got something to do with me To feather out on my owl Say goodbyes and shake hands for hours Brush off more dust ... And it's got something to do with me, you know: [repeat] Take a look at the truth, it shows We're run by business suits, uh-oh Rich men in cowboy boots, no no Down on the destitute, so low Pick on the prostitutes, whoah whoah Nix on the nuts and fruits, they go And commies are in cahoots, oh no Try to suppress the truth, no no Something to do with me, and something to do with you Something to do with you I don't mind ... It's been a long time coming, and a long time getting underway
8.
Strawberry Autumn (Part One) 01:50
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9.
Plastic Blues 04:15
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PLASTIC BLUES - words by A. B. Chittick, music by Nate Butler I'm so enthusiastic over reinforced plastic That nothin' seems to matter anymore I don't care 'bout my conduct, just this groovy man-made product that is now evrything from tennis shorts to doors I committed misdemeanor over a brand-new vacuum cleaner 'Cause the lady upstairs didn't like the noise She was always made and fumin', 'cause I'm always rug vacuumin', So I put gunpowder in her Viceroys Then I'm hauled downtown by police-station boys I told them 'bout my fad, about this stuff that's really bad, But the dummies didn't seem to comprehend And they weren't enthusiastic over reinforced plastic; they just locked me up for five years, maybe ten Told me never, never, never to speak of plastic stuff again Whoah no I'm sittin' in my cell, thinking life had gone to hell When the table almost made me want to scream It was solid-structured plastic, and I thought, oh, that's fantastic I can live inside my little plastic dream ... Also likewisely constructed were the sheets that I abducted from the bed for my escape rope down the wall Then I kissed this institution adios to their solution I didn't give a rip about their ways at all, I didn't give a rip about their ways at all, bye-bye Well, I never could get sore-eyed watching polyvinyl-chloride, though I know that it's a really risky thing But who cares if it's explosive, cancer-causing and corrosive? i just want it to surround and go ding! Well I hope you can conceive it that those who disbelieve it must be quadraplegic, impotent, or blind And I know that I'm prophetic, because that which is synthetic will eventually replace all of mankind That which is synthetic will replace mankind That which is synthetic will replace mankind That which is synthetic will replace mankind That which is synthetic will replace mankind That which is synthetic will replace mankind ... and I don't mind ... It's been a long time coming, and a long time getting underway ...
10.
The Good Dream 02:48
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THE GOOD DREAM - words & music by Nate Butler I'm at work, and I'm counting the moments 'til my break; A couple peoples' feelings may be at stake. I may have a couple decisions to make, But I can't get a thought in edgewise On these customers I'm paid four dollars an hour to serve. They don't know their Lord's thrown me a sideways curve (that I probably deserved) But it wasn't labeled 'blessing' or 'curse' ... Keep those thoughts and observations in check, 'Til you have time to check from every aspect. I haven't always been a shining example of purity, But I've separated right and wrong, and found that's security. There's a world of empty people, and I'd be delighted to find one not-so-empty that loves me. 'Til last night, 'til last night ... Someone accidentally dropped a wrench in my machinery. And as soon as I get a handle on my situation, I'm gonna drag it out through the streets; tonight I sing. Tonight I sing; tonight I sing -- last night I only had a dream Last night I only had a dream I've got to find out what this means I've got to find out, got to find out what this means ... oooh me, mmm Last night I only had a dream. And here's to many more good dreams.
11.
Marina Stomp 03:01
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MARINA STOMP - words & music by Nate Butler The house is full of flowers You're alive, and it's party time We've ousted all the hours, we're alive in this beat of time I feel the cool breeze I smell salt and fish with ease I feel tossed into the arena -- gotta find a new home from the Marina Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! You've hosted lots of showers, in your time You've had party time You boasted lots of flowers, you're alive in this heart of mine I feel the cool breeze I smell salt and fish with ease When the power goes stone-cold and serener -- gotta find a new home from the Marina Continuity in the community -- we're all looking at the same sky Continuity in the community -- we're all looking at the same sky Yeah, yeah ... yeah! The house is full of flowers You're alive, and it's party time We've ousted all the hours, we're alive in this beat of time We feel the cool breeze We smell salt and fish with ease I feel tossed into the arena -- gotta find a new home from the Marina Continuity in the community -- we're all looking at the same sky Continuity in the community -- we're all looking at the same sky Continuity, the world is watching but -- we're all looking at the same sky Continuity, the world is watching but -- we're all looking at the same sky
12.
Strawberry Autumn (Part Two) 02:58
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about

This is a compilation album of Nate Butler songs written and recorded between 1987 and 1989. On many occasions, Nate invited various friends to play the rhythm section instruments and/or sing the lead vocals.
All songs were recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder.

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released August 2, 2014

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Nate Butler Fresno, California

Nate Butler is an artist, actor, musician, and singer/songwriter from Fresno, California, USA.

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