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The Barr Brothers — Even the Darkness Has Arms
Album: Sleeping Operator
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1231









Released: 2014
Length: 3:45
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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I was holding my breath
When the tightrope walker slipped into the moon glow
Saying all my children, follow me
Maybe it's time to go

You can be cruel when you're wise
You can be wise when you're blue
And baby, if I have
Then I have for you

Bribing the jury to keep me in jail
Singing tea for the tiller man
And although I lie fantastically
This woman knows of my history
It's a miracle I can see

You can be wrong when you're right
Even when you're right on cue
And if I die tonight
Then I die for you

All I know is they call me son
Great grandson and grandson
Great uncles and some relatives
That judge what I have done

Gonna make it right by you
Even if it's all I do
And if it's all I do
Then I do it for you

People have raised a whole lotta hell
About the water in the windmill
And although I stab chaotically
It hurts no one but me

Even the darkness has arms
But they ain't got you
And baby, I have it
Comments (26)add comment
I'm liking the acoustic sound coming through my new speakers, wondering if I've ever noticed the backing vocals before, listening to the entire song and going +1 to 8. 

LLRP
Posted 2 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Little bit 'o Kenny Rogers anyone?
Posted 3 years ago by jwolf8609    [ Reply ]
Basically The Boxer 2.0
Posted 3 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
There's a pivotal scene in the Australian TV series The Heart Guy that features this song... I'll always associate the bittersweetness of that scene with this song. 
Posted 3 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
Lovely, lovely song. Truer words rarely spoken.
Posted 4 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
 LinThizzy wrote:
i hear "the boxer"
 
I hear Springsteen's "I'm on fire", especially in the rhythm of the vocals.  Still a very different song though. 
Posted 4 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:
Simon and Garfunkel could ask for royalties and win.
 
And lose, actually.
Playing acoustic guitar does not amount to plagiarism.
Posted 4 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
love this
Posted 4 years ago by adrimarzan    [ Reply ]
ANOTHER favorite band discovered on RP... thanks Bill!
Posted 5 years ago by wtango    [ Reply ]
Simon and Garfunkel could ask for royalties and win.
Posted 5 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
I had forgotten about these guys. Thank you for reminding me about them Bill.  This has such a wonderful groove, peaceful yet moving forward.
Posted 5 years ago by graycoach    [ Reply ]
i hear "the boxer"
Posted 6 years ago by LinThizzy    [ Reply ]
Other than having finger-picked acoustic guitar and some harmonies, it doesn't sound specifically like Simon & Garfunkel to me - or at least no more than it sounds like any other (folky-sounding) recording artists who employed finger-picked acoustic guitars and some harmonies.  We all hear different stuff though.  Nice tune at any rate.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]

I was holding my breath
When the tightrope walker
Slipped into the moonglow
Saying all my children follow me,
Maybe it's time to go
You can be chrome when you're wise
Can be wise when you're blue
And baby if I have, then I have for you

Bribing the jury to keep me in jail
Singing "Tea for the Tillerman"
And although I lie fantastically
I swore an oath on my history
It's a miracle I can see
You can be wrong when you're right
Even when you're right on cue
And if I die tonight, then I die for you

Calling on those that call me son,
Great-grandson, or grandson
Great uncles, aunts and relatives
To judge what I have done
Gonna make right by you
Even if it's all I do
And if it's all I do, then I do for you

People will raise a whole lot of hell about
The water and the wind-mill
And although I stab chaotically
It hurts no one but me
Even the darkness has arms
But they ain't got you
Baby, I have it, and I have you too

And a light in the window
To pass the night through
May be so uncertain but what can I do
Keeping it on, keeping it on
And I know I like it but what does that prove
Sometimes I worry I don't know
How to love you

I bring to you with reverent hands
All the books that my love abides
Kind woman that my passion wore
Like the shoreline wears the tides
Maybe the water went dry,
Keeping an eye on you
And with an eye on you, it could drown me too

People will raise a whole lot of hell about
The water and the wind-mill
And although I stab chaotically
I swore an oath on my history
It's a miracle I can see,
Even the darkness has arms
But they ain't got you
Baby, I have it, and I have you too1

And a light in the window
To pass the night through
May be so uncertain but what can I do
Keeping it on, keeping it on
And I know I like it but what does that prove
Sometimes I worry I don't know
How to love you


Posted 7 years ago by Michael_Dean    [ Reply ]
In the first minute of this song, I thought I was listening to Josh Ritter - and then Bill follows it with Josh Ritter's "Joy To You Baby" - looks like he sees the similarity too!
Posted 7 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
As an old school Punk I have to say... I quite like this, damn it!
Posted 8 years ago by Redpoint    [ Reply ]
Simon and Garfunkle crosshatched with Peter and Gordon + TBB.
Quite good.
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 Flip_flops wrote:
Me too!!!!☺
 
Me3.
The whole album is good, btw.
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:
dang. i like this.

 
Me too!!!!☺
Posted 8 years ago by Flip_flops    [ Reply ]
dang. i like this.
Posted 8 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
I ve loved these guys from the first time RP played their songs. Great harmonies and nice playing as well. 7.72
Posted 8 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:
Simon & Garfunkel reincarnated.

 
I admit I like it. 7 from here.
Posted 8 years ago by Kaw    [ Reply ]
 nicknt wrote:
Simon & Garfunkel reincarnated.

 
literally thought the same thing. literally.
Posted 8 years ago by stewliscious    [ Reply ]
Simon & Garfunkel reincarnated.
Posted 8 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
new to me
i'm open for more 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Ahhhhhhhhhh....
Posted 8 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]