This slightly-self indulgent album of cover songs is near and dear to my heart. I wanted to create an album that was stark and sweet and exactly like what you'd hear if you come to see me live with just a guitar and my voice. Thanks for listening! x

9 MP3 Songs in this album (28:23) !
Related styles: Folk: Folk Pop, Easy Listening: Ballads, Solo Female Artist

People who are interested in Emmylou Harris Sarah McLachlan Tori Amos should consider this download.


Details:
I've been thinking of doing a covers album for a long time...though the idea of doing an album of songs that would be mostly unknown to the general public seemed a bit self-indulgent...but then isn't all my music more than just a little self-indulgent? I've never written for the masses and therefore it would make sense that many of my favourite songwriters would be teetering on the cusp of the known as well? That's not to say that some of the songs on this record haven't been on the charts at one time or another, but I hope that they have enough of my own spin on them to make them come through as something that somewhere along the line, with enough inspiration and a healthy dose of muse, I could have been lucky enough to have written myself. They certainly all feel close to my heart in lyric and melody and I thank all the wonderful songwriters of these fantastic songs for making my life better for them being in it. Hope you all enjoy!
credits
released 01 June 2011
Guitars and vocals: Lobelia
Bass: Steve Lawson
Mixing and mastering: Steve Lawson
Engineering: Lobelia and Steve Lawson
Recorded at Muswell Hall Studios, London.

Special thanks to Tim Hall (mearsie and zola too!) for the use of the lovely studio and lots of space to work and create.

This album would also not have been possible if not for the wonderful Baby Flapjack, whose birth turned me into a blubbering bowl full of inexpressible emotions and has kept me from releasing any of the drivel I've written since his birth. (Slowly getting back on track with writing now thankfully)

Thanks to Steve Lawson for his unending support and for helping me gain the confidence needed to grow and enjoy every aspect of being a musician. His love and guidance have made a huge difference in my life and in my writing and performing as well. Plus, he's lovely. Sorry Illico. He's still mine. ;)

Thanks to all the lovely people who support us by coming out to see a show, listening to our music, interacting with us online, buying an album or (quite legally) sharing our stuff with their friends. :) We love you and we appreciate every last bit of it.

Thanks to bandcamp for being amazing as usual, and to Limelight for making it so much easier to license music! Wheee!

Lastly, thanks to all the amazing songwriters that inspired this album by writing the incredible songs contained herein. I REALLY could not have done this without you.
Here's a rundown of all the tunes with lyrics as well.
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1. Beautifully Undone

I met Lindy through my friend Emma after having listened to this song on repeat for months. Lindy has an amazing voice...like velvet on the edge of a razor blade and I love watching him perform. The first time I saw him live, he did this crazy version of Tracy Chapman's Fast Car, in which he half yelled the lyrics at the audience in his best redneck drawl. All this from a 6'8 tall Icelandic man is an impressive sight, let me tell you. :) Anyway, it's a gorgeous song and I'm so pleased to have it as the title track of this album.
lyrics
I don't remember what it used to be like
The things that I'm not proud of
And the only reason I kept coming back to you
Is I thought I was in love

But I don't think about you anymore
And I don't know what the hell I came here for
When I'd rather just fall right off of your floor
And come beautifully undone

And I don't recall San Francisco at all
It falls right from my memory
And the only thing that really exists
Is where you thought you'd found me

But I don't think about you anymore
And I don't know what the hell I came here for
When I'd rather just fall right off of your floor
And come beautifully undone
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitar and Vocals: Lobelia

original song written and recorded by Lindy Vopnfjord
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2. Junk
This is tender-hearted and evocative writing of the highest order from Paul McCartney. From the first moment my friend DA Evosirch played the original track for me, I have been in love with this song and harboured a secret wish to someday record my own version of it. It's also one of the songs that has always calmed my little one down right away. He's got good taste!
lyrics
Motorcars, handlebars, bicycles for two
Brokenhearted jubilee
Parachutes, army boots, sleeping bags for two
Sentimental jamboree

Buy, buy says the sign in the shop window
Why? Why? Says the junk in the yard.

Candlesticks, building bricks, something old and new
Memories for you and me

Buy, buy says the sign in the show window
Why? Why? Said the junk in the yard.
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitars and vocals : Lobelia

Original words and music by Paul McCartney
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3. It's a Shame About Ray

This song brings back so many memories for me! Driving around in my Volvo station wagon...the utter poverty of my early 20's, and listening to great songs at top volume while dancing unreservedly. I had never played it live till a gig at the Yellow Door in Montreal supporting my friend Noelle...but it lit a bit of a fire in me to do my own special version someday. Hope you enjoy it!
lyrics
I've never been too good with names
If the cellar door was open
I could never stay away
I guess it's probably not my place
But either/or I'm hoping for a simple way of saying

It's a shame about Ray
In the stone under the dust his name is still engraved
Some things need to go away
It's a shame about Ray

If I make it through today
I'll know tomorrow not to leave my feelings out on display
I'll put the cobwebs back in place
I've never been to good with names but I remember faces

It's a shame about Ray
In the stone under the dust his name is still engraved
Some things need to go away
It's a shame about Ray
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Vocals and guitars: Lobelia

Original lyrics by Evan Dando and the Lemondheads
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4. Moon River

I fell in love with this song when I saw Audrey Hepburn perform it in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I think a lot of other people did as well, which is why it seems to be one of the top ten most covered songs of this year according to Limelight's song stats. :)

This also being Steve's Grandad's favourite song, I arranged this particular version of it for the service when he passed away a few years back. It was by far the hardest guitar part/arrangement I had ever endeavored. I'm still a bit shit at playing it live unless I'm really on my game! :)

Anyway, it's a beautiful, tender, heartfelt song in lyric and melody and I'm so happy to be able to include it here...along with the thousands of others who have recorded it this year!
lyrics
Moon River
Wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
Dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way
Two drifters
Off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon river...and me.
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitar and vocals: Lobelia

words and music by John Mercer and Henri Mancini
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5. Consider Me Gone
I was a huge Police fan back in the day...still am I have to say and Steve and I do a cover of Tea in the Sahara from Synchronicity. This song was one of my favourites from Sting's Dream of the Blue Turtles album recorded after the unofficial breakup of the Police and Eddy Grant played congas on the original. I love the jazzy stuff on this record, this track probably being my favourite. I've seen lots of great live cover versions, I seem to recall my friend Kevin Ford doing a fantastic live arrangement of it. This one features the lovely Steve Lawson on bass. It's my new favourite duo tune to do! Enjoy!
lyrics
There were rooms of forgiveness
In the house that we shared
But the space has been emptied
Of whatever was there
There were cupboards of patience
There were shelf loads of care
But whoever came calling
Found nobody there

After today, consider me gone

Roses have thorns, and shining waters mud
And cancer lurks deep in the sweetest bud
Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun
And history reeks of the wrongs we have done

After today, consider me gone

I've spent too many years at war with myself
The doctor has told me it's no good for my health
To search for perfection is all very well
But to look for Heaven is to live here in Hell

After today, consider me gone
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Bass: Steve Lawson
Vocals: Lobelia

Original Words and music by Gordon Sumner
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6. Because of Toledo
I was unfamiliar with the Blue Nile until Steve Lawson turned me on to them about 4 years ago. I love everything I've heard from them, but in particular this song Toledo just sends shivers up and down my spine. If there is a better anthem to the emotion of past addiction, I have not heard it. The scenes that play out are like a film of a life that could be anyone I know...but feel like they're somehow mine. I feel like I've seen that faded waitress many times before. I think Paul Buchanan is a genius and I hope that I've done justice to his amazing song. (just as a side note, I did screw up the lyrics on the last verse....it's meant to be "the only secret that I know", but I had already recorded it and was on the road touring by the time I'd realised!)
lyrics
Because of Toledo
I got sober and stayed clean
The pick ups in the wild prairies
The shadows dancing in between
Girl leans on the jukebox
In a pair of old blue jeans
Says I live here but I don't really live anywhere

Because of Toledo
Tuesday it's raining
And I'm pulling on my shoes
I guess I quit believing in
The early morning news
There's a boy orders coffee
And he settles down to think
How the women that you love sometimes
Are the water that you drink
Then another faded waitress dressed in pink

Cries for Toledo

The lipstick and the cocaine traces
One face in a thousand faces
I stumble through so many places
Cause of Toledo

Yeah
Yeah yeah
(oh)Yeah
Yeah yeah

Because of Toledo
The highway looks so thin
I see another motel sign
Think of pulling in
Write your name upon the mirror there
It's the only name I know
But I guess that I'd be only chasing rainbows
Back to Toledo
I think I'll go
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitar and Vocals: Lobelia

written by Paul Buchanan

I tease everyone by telling them that there's an asterisk after (song's I wish I'd written) denoting how this song is an exception...truth be told I would have been happy to have written this song despite it's overtly stalkerish lyrics. :) It's great fun at gigs as a lot of people don't recognise it till the chorus and it makes a great singalong. (though I sang it recently to a room full of mid-westerners in the US who didn't know it at all) Note to self...singalongs don't work if people don't know the song!
lyrics
If I get to know your name
And I get to trace you private number baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you're lots of fun
Open up your loving arms
Watch out here I come

And I have set my sights on you (and no one else will do)
And I have got to have my way now baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you're having fun
So open up your loving arms
I want some I want some

You spin me right round baby right round
Like a record baby right round round round
You spin me right round baby right round
Like a record baby right round round round.

And I get to be your friend now baby
and I think I'll move in just a little bit closer
All I know is that to me
You look like you're lots of fun
So open up your loving arms
Watch out here I come

You spin me right round baby right round
Like a record baby right round round round
You spin me right round baby right round
Like a record baby right round round round.

I want your love
I need your love
I want your love
You spin me right round baby right round
Like a record baby right round round round.
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitars and vocals: Lobelia

original song written by Pete Burns
Recorded originally by Dead or Alive
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8. Beautiful
One of my favourite songwriters in the universe is a lovely guy named Rob Szabo. I was lucky enough to get to tour with Rob at the beginning of 2007 and I've often thought that covering one of his songs and giving it a completely different spin would be fun. I originally wanted to have Rob sing backing vocals on this version of Beautiful...but I just didn't have time to pull together any guest artists, with the exception of Steve... probably helps that he lives with me!

I remember that Rob was playing this song one night at a little coffee shop type place in Maryland...and the barista held up a sign that said "I THINK YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!" halfway through the song. :)

One of the hardest moments in my life was playing this for him recently on our crazy jaunt to Toronto in front of lots of friends. I should have just emailed him a copy! It is so very different to the original version! Anyway, thanks to Rob for letting me cover his brilliant tune and for continuing to inspire me with his amazing songs.
lyrics
you never tell me that im beautiful anymore
you only treat me like a medical condition
you understand me like a metaphor
youre a student in a class
will i get better in a year or two?
forgive me if i ask

automatic
you vote for conversation
you ask me how i am
but keep to twenty words or less
why ask?

new and improved
another product you consume
its true
and it happens every day
it does

you never tell me that im beautiful anymore
you only treat me like a medical condition
you understand me like a metaphor
youre a student in a class
will i get better in a year or two?
forgive me if i ask

in a panic
that smells like competition
on your mark, get set, depend
line me up with other brands
on the shelf

new and improved
another product you consume
its true
and it happens every day
it does

you never tell me that im beautiful anymore
you only treat me like a medical condition
you understand me like a metaphor
you're a student in a class
will I get better in a year or two?
forgive me if I ask
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitar and vocals: Lobelia

written by Rob Szabo
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9. God Loves Everyone
I've seen Ron Sexsmith live more than any other artist (who I'm not mates with or haven't toured with) simply because I am in love with his amazing songs. I have too many favourites to name, Coming up the Road, Cheap Hotel, (Everything from Blue Boy), and on and on.

It was hard to decide which song to cover and why I chose this one I'm not really sure. I just love the sentiment. I don't know about you, but a God that truly loves everyone is the God that I want to believe in...and after the birth of my son...the line "Like a mother loves her son, no strings at all...unconditional" really struck me and seemed a fitting end to my covers album. I'd love to do a whole album of Ron covers someday (spoken like a true die-hard fan) but for now I hope you enjoy this one lovely song.
lyrics
God loves everyone
Like a mother loves her son
No strings at all
Unconditional
Never one to judge
Would never hold a grudge
'Bout what's been done
God loves everyone

There are no gates in heaven
Everyone gets in
Queer or straight
Souls of every faith
Hell is in our minds
Hell is in this life
But when it's gone
God takes everyone

Its love is like a womb
It's like the air from room to room
It surrounds us all
The living and the dead
May we never lose the thread
That surrounds us all

The killer in his cell
The atheist as well
The pure of heart
And the wild at heart
Are all worthy of its grace
It's written in the face
Of everyone
God loves everyone

There's no need to be saved
No need to be afraid
Cause when it's done
God takes everyone

God loves everyone
credits
from Beautifully Undone (Songs I Wish I'd Written), released 01 June 2011
Guitar and vocals: Lobelia
written by Ronald Eldon Sexsmith