Vienna Teng — Say Uncle
Album: Waking HourAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 84
Length: 5:20
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Everyone agrees it came too soon
It was only meant to be an intersection
You kept fear of death in a a back pocket of your jeans
In the palm of your hand affection
It came like a sudden gust of wind
Leaving them, bewildered, to ask how
I recall last time we met you said we'd meet again
The irony is only bitter now
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
They want to touch your spirit lest it die
For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table
To form a healing circle for our new demise
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
I retrieve the memories quickly as I can
Add them to the portrait we all draw in our minds
Your body gone, we shall keep the man
I close my eyes and hope they do not fade
These remnants of a voice and of a smile
Images of landscape cloaked in forest green
Like your life unfolding mile by mile
A fierce embrace, a word of thanks
A cheerful whistle and hours in a van
Somehow these pieces must bring back the man you were
Though the ocean claims your ashes on the sand
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
They want to touch your spirit lest it die
For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table
To form a healing circle for our new demise
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
I retrieve the memories quickly as I can
Add them to the portrait we all draw in our minds
Your body gone, we shall keep the man
(x2)
It was only meant to be an intersection
You kept fear of death in a a back pocket of your jeans
In the palm of your hand affection
It came like a sudden gust of wind
Leaving them, bewildered, to ask how
I recall last time we met you said we'd meet again
The irony is only bitter now
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
They want to touch your spirit lest it die
For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table
To form a healing circle for our new demise
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
I retrieve the memories quickly as I can
Add them to the portrait we all draw in our minds
Your body gone, we shall keep the man
I close my eyes and hope they do not fade
These remnants of a voice and of a smile
Images of landscape cloaked in forest green
Like your life unfolding mile by mile
A fierce embrace, a word of thanks
A cheerful whistle and hours in a van
Somehow these pieces must bring back the man you were
Though the ocean claims your ashes on the sand
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
They want to touch your spirit lest it die
For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table
To form a healing circle for our new demise
These days everyone cries, "say uncle"
I retrieve the memories quickly as I can
Add them to the portrait we all draw in our minds
Your body gone, we shall keep the man
(x2)
Comments (17)add comment
Lady on the cover kinda looks like my paranoid crackhead neighbors; always staring out the windows, barebulbin' it.
I know she has a lot of fans here, but the vocals and genre on this tune sound more suited to Judy Collins than anything contemporary. Maybe she should cover "Send In The Clowns"! Then again...
A big overwrought, she's done much better since.
After all these years of hearing her on RP, her voice still grates on my nerves.
"Say Uncle?" Give me a BREAK....
no thanks
If I say "uncle" will you stop?
sirrus wrote:
Well said.
Is this album one of her first?
Sorry Vienna.. this song sounds a bit like open mic night at the coffeehouse.
Sorry Vienna.. this song sounds a bit like open mic night at the coffeehouse.
Well said.
Is this album one of her first?
Sorry Vienna.. this song sounds a bit like open mic night at the coffeehouse.
Sorry Vienna.. this song sounds a bit like open mic night at the coffeehouse.
The lyric: "Everyone these days cries, 'Say Uncle' " kinda bugs me,
Would the people actually cry '"Say Uncle", or wouldn't they just cry "Uncle!"
Would the people actually cry '"Say Uncle", or wouldn't they just cry "Uncle!"
Wow. She\'s channeling Dar Williams on this one.
On the strenght of this music, I clicked the AMAZON link to learn more. There wasn\'t any editorial content, but here is a review that I found and thought you might like it too.
***************************
Soothing, elegant, lovely, November 22, 2002
Reviewer: A music fan from California
She\'s been compared to Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan, and yes, her music is vaguely reminiscent of theirs, but hers is quieter, more thoughtful, and leans toward graceful harmony. Her lyrics don\'t lack substance, though, so you can lose yourself in the music without fearing the empty, bright songs of so many other artists.
Her piano playing is flawless. Her voice, on the other hand, is very *real* and warm, not bothering to hide behind flashy effects and offering straightforward, beautiful melody. And yet it seems no stretch at all for her to sing in a variety of styles, and yet all of them uniquely her own.
\"Gravity\" is breathtaking, easing into a gentle ripple of piano and then soaring into a waterfall. \"Enough To Go By\" is warm and possesses a light, buoyant tune--probably the most cheerful of her songs. \"Between\" sweeps you up in a sad and powerful rhythm, and \"Drought,\" deeply melancholy, seems poised between summer and autumn. The wistful \"Say Uncle\" speaks of the memories that follow death, while \"Lullaby For A Stormy Night\" offers comfort to a child frightened by the rain. \"Eric\'s Song\" is a simple, quiet love song.
There is not a single song not worth listening to.
The piano is what first grabbed me. Sensitively played and lovely. Will need to hear the whole song a few more times before I could fairly judge it, but love the work on the keys.
I think she\'s got a nice voice, but female singers and slow love songs are just a genre that fails to interest me.
tori has some competition