The Triptych

A three (or four - depending on how you count!) part song the Stevedores were working on has a single recording from their basement at the Cactus House in Madison with Spence on vocals, and is a 24 minute masterpiece (in my opinion).
The following parts on the recording are followed up with a rendition of "Advice (Pilgrim)" which is a four plus minute song on Tamuawok....

Thanks again to Ben J. for providing Spencer's lyrics here (maybe someday we'll hear this song again). Heck, maybe someday with permission from the other Stevdeores we'll even post the recording here!

Triptych

Black Clouds Over Limerick

There's flies in a bottle
collecting raindrops
at the edge of the bar
quietly frightened
Maria watches them
one with each eye
she tastes salt
and it's tears
but she thinks it's rainwater

and I'm with my brother Pablo tequila
in the street in my car
we may look enlightened
but we're really just drunk again
sufficiently lost
in the fog
that beeds on the window
as though it were rainwater

(chorus)
when it happens
if it happens, and it will
you'll be filled up like a featherbed
but forever said
comfort and warmth are just temporary
thus unnecessary but
if you'll remember from last time
there's no forever until
you feel like talking about it
so let's not talk about it

(bridge)
show me the rest of you
and I'll show you what's left of me
meet me up the avenue
we'll do it every saturday
i can't define justice for you
cause i can't define the crime
so how can you expect me to define
history to time

(chorus)

(bridge)

Treacherous Waters

A creature of habit
is not a creature of will
is not a creature of instinct
it's just a Big Gulp trying to stay filled up
one cup runneth over
two are thirsty as hell
three are filled up to quench dry lips
four (are filled) to quench themselves
as a camel I'm a creature of habit
not a creature of art
I never used to be a creature of habit
(now I am) (and looking back) it (just) breaks my heart

after all
the turbulence
the recompense
the violence
every night
everything
looks alright
otherwise
(hold me close)
by the throat
don't let go
(repeat)

The Majesty (instrumental)

Waltz of the Greedy Vagrant

It's quiet time
Saint Solemnity's playing 52 pickup
because he can't go home
until all the cards are in the hat
and that's not even a real hat
but it does
and continues to do
sometime you just have to walk
in patient circles and wait for an acorn
to land on your shoulder
if you ever seen a million people
try to be timely then you know all about New York
so just knock your big paper cup over
somebody gets paid to pick it up (again)

who lights
your evening stumbles through drunken streets
who raises up the lampposts
you don't know him
I don't know him anyway
it's quiet time
be quiet love
its quiet time
be quiet love