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Open Shut Case

from It's Not What You Think by Chris Velan

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lyrics

Open Shut Case
(words & music by Chris Velan)
© 2000 Chris Velan

On the first day of springtime
When everything was expanding
He was stabbed in the eye by a ray of sun
Slicing through the buildings
And he just had to drop his briefcase where he stood
All the things that might have been and those that surely could
They hit him, with the force of knowing
That this was not the way
On the street, oh my God, another day

Chorus
It’s an open-shut case
Of a calling not being heard
Not being heard

Mama, see, you’re a product of their thinking
When all you wanted to do has just been, slowly shrinkin’
It’s a pile of dirty dishes
And a drawer of single socks
With a pair of worn-out ballerina shoes
Sitting in a box
And the voice, in the drive-through speaker
Still has that song that he thinks will be a keeper
It just needs a little bit more
To just get his foot through the door
And in the meantime, he’ll just keep on
Sleeping deeper

Chorus

Bridge
It’s like a whisper in your ear
If you try to speak it out loud
It might just, disappear


You used to want to build things
Used to be sure
That you would heal people
That you would find the cure
And you would be a football star
You’d be the driver of a racing car
The old typewriter that you pounded on
Might have made you quite the phenomenon,
With your brush and the canvas you could paint well,
But you put it all away when they said it wouldn’t sell, well,
What you’re doing now you don’t know why,
It wouldn’t hurt if you only tried,
Now it sticks in your mind like a splinter,
You could use spring but you only get winter so,
How’re you going to get from here to there
So many walk around with a vacant stare,
Live the life you love, love the life you live,
So you can let yourself forgive,

If it’s an open-shut case
Of a calling not being heard
Not being heard
Not being heard
Not being heard



(alternate ending)

You can take a horse down to the water
But you can’t make him drink or want more
Said, it’s late in the day,
And we both know what you came here for
Seeing everyone, how they turn and run
Like a raisin in the sun, ‘till the next man comes
How you gonna get from here to over there
When your hands are full with your pulled out hair
And you swear and you swear that you don’t really care
Just as long as you can get your share
See the poor man with no education
Resigned to stay put and blame the system
And see the rich man,
He thinks he must make money
‘Cause the money is the thing that gets him gold jewelry
Just live the life you love and love the life you live
Happiness is not a sieve
Plenty fall away ‘cause they’re not trusting
Keep listening to avoid

Chorus
An open-shut case
Of a calling not being heard
Not being heard
Not being heard
Not being heard
Etc.

credits

from It's Not What You Think, track released January 1, 2003

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Chris Velan Montréal, Québec

Montreal singer-songwriter and producer, Chris Velan, has always been crossing borders with his brand of world music- influenced, singer-songwriter pop. Drawing comparisons to the smart, genre-mixing writing of Neil Finn, Nick Lowe and Paul Simon, Velan's
latest album, “Amateur Hour”, will be released September 14th with touring to follow. ... more

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