BETTER DAYS

Ive seen better days,

dripping down your face
We dont have to talk,
lets dance
For all the times you
felt alone, dreaming
better
I see better, better
days
Too dumb to say goodbye
thats some clich shit,
make me wanna cry
Just know that every
time I look in your
eye, I see better, I
see better, better days

Try to remember, that
you can forget
Down with history, up
with your head
For sweet tomorrow, she
never fell from grace
We might still know
sorrow but we got
better days

I seen better ways,
some wont believe
But I dont need much
more than faith
For all the times you
felt alone
Dreaming better,
dreaming better, better
ways
Too dumb to say
goodbye, now thats some
give up shit, make me
wanna cry
Just know that every
time I look in your
eye, I see better, I
see better, better days

Try to remember, that
you can forget
Down with history, up
with your head
For sweet tomorrow, she
never fell from grace
We might still know
sorrow but we got
better days

Better days.
Guess whos back in
town.
LETS GET HIGH
Lets Get High
High on Love

Bounce with the bigots
in the north, got me
rocking back and forth
And the bigots in the
south, dont you know itd
make no difference to me
Aint we all just
Japanese when were high
on love!

Now march by the terror
in the east by the
terror in the west
God and Allah would be
pleased, dont you know
itd make no difference
to Christ
Were all Jesus in
disguise, when were high
on love!

I need love! I need your
love! Yeah yeah, I need
your love! Love!
High on love

Now march with the
lonely one percent, all
they wanted was a tent
To go marching with
their friends, singing
songs
I say we let em come
along, theres no protest
theyre just songs
When were high on love!
Now march by the murder
and the pain and the
criminally insane
Theres a grand ole
jamboree, dont you know
itd makes no difference
to blood,
Its all kung-fu in the
mud
When were high on love!

All this talk of whos to
blame
For your heartache and
your pain
Grab a mirror and some
soap
Now lets do the criminal

I need love! I need your
love! Yeah, yeah I need
your love! Love!
High on love

Everyone love
Everyone love

Help me to love them
Everyone love
Help to love them
Everyone love
Help to love them
Everyone love
Bigots and assholes
Everyone love

Man in the mirror
I am the prisoned man of
single melody
Two voices carry farther
than me
I seek your help so that
my song may become free
Two voices carry farther
than me

And in the morning, sing
me love
And in the afternoon,
its love
And in the evening, if
they love
And in the morning, wake
up

And if we sing together,
love will sing along
Two voices carry farther
than one
Together we can bridge a
chorus to the dawn
Two voices carry far....
all the days

Time and mind they melt
away, like the stars and
songs of yesterday
Like the melody you
cant recall, but the
harmonies you felt them
all the days

This song of solitude
has sung its melody
Two voices carry farther
than me
I seek your help, so
that song may become
free
Two voices carry farther
than me

And in the morning, sing
me love
And in the afternoon,
its love
And in the evening, is
there love?
And in the morning, wake
up

Time and mind they melt
away, like the stars and
songs of yesterday
Like the melody you
cant recall, but the
harmonies you felt them
all the days

And if we sing together,
love will sing along
Two voices carry farther
than one
Together we can bridge a
chorus to the dawn
Two voices carry farther
than one, farther than
one, carry on
And in the morning, wake
up
TWO
Joy, joy is the giving
give to everybody
Joy, joy

War, war is the ego of
mans repressed libido
Love, love

Feel me love
Hear, me love
See me love

Please
Please, please!

Love, love is the mother
God, god is the human
You, the generator

Please, please

Peace, peace is the
giving
A piece for everybody

Please, please

Feel, you love
Hear, you love
See you love
PLEASE!
Well I guess Im moving
on
Out this city
Im so tired of leaving,
tired of breathing dirt
Well I packed all my
things today
Oh God! I could not
stay!
Country calling, yeah I
got to leave LA.
Well I packed all my
things today
Oh God! I could not
stay!
Country calling, yeah I
got to leave LA.

Ill be your man with
strong arms, hold on
Ill be your man with
strong arms, hold on

Love you, of you, any-
thing that I might do!

Think Im tasting clean
air
Pouring through the win-
dow
Heading to the country,
gonna raise a family
there
Im a mess like you
wouldnt believe
All the stress I had to
leave
Now bring me the country
Yeah, Ive got to leave
LA (moving on, moving
on)
This, where I was born
All my life I called it
my home
Country calling, yeah
Ive got to leave LA
This place where I was
born
You know I called it my
home
Oh, country calling, I
got to go away, away,
away

Ill be your man with
strong arms, hold on
Ill be your man with
strong arms, hold on

Love you, of you
All I ask is here
COUNTRY CALLING
Life is beauty through
and through
Life is sunny, life is
cool
Life is even easy too
But if my word is to be
true
Life is something to
behold
But if the truth is to
be told
Let us not leave out any
part
Do not fear, its safe to
say it here
You will not be called a
weakling
nor a fraud
For feeling the pain of
the whole wide world
You want to help but
cant help feeling you
cannot
And its killing you
while youre just trying
to smile from your heart
So go on, say it, on the
same knees youre praying
Yes, life is hard

Come celebrate
Life is hard
Come celebrate
Life is hard
All life is all we are

Celebrate it in the
sun, promenade it with
everyone, elevate it in
a song
And Ill be there to play
it, dont get me wrong
When I feel like dying
and being gone, when
life is hard
Theres just one thing,
lets not forget
Yes! life is it!
Life is it, life is it,
its where its at
Its getting skinny,
getting fat
Its falling deep into a
love,
its getting crushed just
like a bug
Like theres no love, its
getting beat into the
ground
Its getting lost and
getting found,
to growing up and
getting round
Its feeling silence,
feeling sound
Its feeling lonely,
feeling full
Its feeling oh so
beautiful!
Yes!

Come celebrate
Life is hard
Come celebrate
Life is hard
All life is all we are
LIFE IS HARD
IF I WERE FREE
If I were free, I would
run into battles with f
lowers and hugs
And bow at the boots of
our well-oiled thugs
Oh, if I were free

If it were me, I would
yell out I Love You!
to all I passed
I would disrobe and
disco and rip off my
mask
Oh, if I were free Id be
the U that crossed the I
to simply b
Mining our ref lections
at the bottom of the sea
What did you see?
I saw that you and I
forever have been free
The light become too
heavy and I feel into a
dream
What did you dream?

I dreamed a wind that
would sweep every castle
made of sand
Out across the
ancient holy land
Oh, if this were free
If this were free, wed
be free of the terror of
the grave
And fear masquerading as
the brave
Oh, if this were free
I woke upon a pig of
red, white and blue
The circus got on heavy
so we fell into the zoo
What did you feel?
I felt the fear that
every queer does in his
head
First to starting over,
I made sure I was dead
What did you dream?

Swimming with ancients,
laughing, tired of
getting lost
We took our left,
remember, when we leaned
upon the cross
What did you see?
I saw that you and I
forever have been free
The light became too
heavy and we fell into a
dream
IN THE LION
Na na na na na na na but
I want to stay
I feel the love, I feel
the love
I feel the love, I feel
the love
Na na na na na na na but
I want to stay

In the lion, theres a
heart breaking by the fire
And in the fire, theres a
flame that want to be the
waterfall
In the water, theres a
fishy swimming by the
lovers
And in the lover, theres
a tear that gonna be the
inferno
In the lion, theres a
heart breaking by the fire
But in the fire, theres
a heat to enough to cage
around your soul

I feel the love, I feel
the love, I feel the
power
Its getting weirder by
the hour
The world is fucked up
but I want to stay
I feel the love, I feel
the love, I feel the
power
Im tough enough to be a
flower
The world is fucked up
but I want to stay
In the lion, I was
holidaying as a vegan
I was eaten by a so
sophisticated animal
We went walking by the
slopes of Killamenanjaro
When the sparrow had to
light a match to make the
waterfall
In the water, theres a
pride breaking by the fire
But in the fire, theres
a heat to melt the cage
around your soul

I feel the love, I feel
the love, I feel the
power
Its getting weird by the
hour
The world is fucked up
but I want to stay
I feel the love, I feel
the love, I feel the
power
Im tough enough to be a
flower
The world is fucked up
but I want to stay

I feel the love, I feel
the love
I feel the love, I feel
the love
Na na na na na na na but
I want to stay
THEY WERE WRONG
Here son watch the dog
eat dog
He spoke with eyes of
the stiffest blue
He peeled my fists, said
let it go
Saying hope like that
and youll never grow

Ill go dancing with
disease, darling please
They are wrong
Ill go swinging, singing
peace, darling please
They are wrong,
I say they been here
for too long - they are
wrong,
They are wrong.

So to my child not yet
born
Ive just one world of
which to warn
It lives in the mouths
of choking dreams
Sickness like that youve
never seen

Ill go dancing with
disease, darling please
They are wrong
Ill go swinging, singing
peace, darling peace
They are wrong
I say they been here for
too long
They are wrong
IN THE SUMMER
In the summer, sister
and your brother
Contemplating god, out
there on the sidewalk
Eating ice cream cones
ooh baby, more things to
discover
Masturbating to Miriam
Makeba
And Iko Iko Inay, ooh
the sun is shining good
Cant give us all your
crap, youre not around

Makeup on and the
curtains drawn
All the cereal bine, oh
the summer time
With a plastic cup, for
the summer love
No, I dont want to go
away
And the television girls
all dance in the summer

Singing la da da

Cant give us all your
crap, youre not around

Makeup on and the
curtains drawn
All the cereal bine, oh
the summer time
With a plastic cup for
the summer love
No, I dont want to go
away
And the chi-shi stoner
girls
And the hard graffiti
boys
And the television world
all danced in the summer
REMEMBER TO REMEMBER
We ride the tides
The waters wide
(So wild)
Calm the troubled
water!!!
Hear the angels singin
all night
and all day
You hear them say:
Glory hallelujah !
Lay your burden down
Your time is now
Turn around

Praise to love
Praise to god

We belong to the water
We belong to the air
We belong where there is
love

Just remember this:
YOU DONT WALK ALONE
As the storm it rages
Be not afraid
Let it pass away
Hear the angels singin
Remember to remember!
(turn around)

Praise to love
Praise to god
Call to god
For love

We belong to the fire
We belong to the air
We belong where there is
love
Well ride the tides
The waters wide (so
wild)
Calm the troubled water
THIS LIFE
Ive been trying to
pretend
That death is my friend
Oh, this life
Yes, this life aint for
me now

Ive been lying to myself
Not to nobody else
Oh, this life
Yes, this life aint for
me now
No

LIAR
Im telling the truth to
yall
HIGHER
Gonna give a little
proof to yall
HIGHER
Im gonna jump in the
fire

Well I walked into black
Said I werent coming
back
Saw my angel in blue
She tell me This life
aint for you
Oh, this life
Tell it to me - this
life aint for me now

I woke up feeling new
Cause now I know this
life is for you
Yes, this life
Oh, this life aint for
me now
Its for you!

LIAR
Im telling the truth to
yall
HIGHER
Im gonna give a little
proof to yall
Im gonna jump into the
fire!
Songs:
1. Better Days (a. ebert, n. aglietti) 2. Lets Get High (a. ebert)
3. Two (a. ebert, m. noseworthy, s. ford-young) 4. Please! (a. ebert)
5. Country Calling (a. ebert) 6. Life Is Hard (a. ebert, j. castrinos)
7. If I Were Free (a. ebert, j. collazo, s. ford-young, m. noseworthy)
8. In The Lion (a. ebert) 9. They Were Wrong (a. ebert)
10. In The Summer (a. ebert) 11. Remember to Remember (j. castrinos, a. ebert, s. cole)
12. This Life (a. ebert, n. aglietti)
All songs performed by: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Featuring
With
THANKS
ALEX
roehm, eartha, mom, dad, gaby, barbara, steve, linny,
charlie, scott, robin, ocean way, studio in the country,
ross, nico, the band, bryan, all of my friends, everyone
in the world, creation, love, and courage.
CHRISTIAN
All my luv an thanks to LaursieLoo, Sally Letts, my
sisters Alexandra, Francesca, and Julianna. Dee Dee,
Scotty, Leila, Archie Boy, Jordan Bromley, Tim SFTS,
Chris D, Awesome Jetski, Rocco, Old Man, Marsh, The
Sharps, Rita and Terry Ackland Snow, Johhny Maz, Uncle
Chite, Mami Tou Cou, Ocean Ocean, Fleischman, Jesse The
Powerful, Sophie Blue, Lisa Boss, Brecky, Shashe, Krispi,
Jordy M, Claire Boukeau, Gerard Vincent, Mike and all
the Eldreds!
JOSH
Endless love and deepest thanks to Yvonne Collazo,
Maximus Collazo, Danette & John Buckley, Joseph Collazo,
Alice Nava, Sarah Buckley, Joan Lueke, Elena & Vince
Grana, Adam Velez, Rupen & Rebecca Markarian, Jonathan
Stout, Hilary Alexander, Albert Alva.
STEWART
Those wonderful friends who put a roof over my head
during this itinerant time of uncertain habitationfed
me tasty meals and gave me the pep talks. Ana, Harald,
Clifton, Wynton. Aldo Balarezo who processed and scanned
all of my film for the collage! The city and pink
mountaintops of Ojai. This band of friends. Mish.
My folks. I love you.
JADE
Jennifer Brannick , George Castrinos, Grandma June, Papa
Louis, Oohma, Grandpa Thomas, Mamoo, Grandmama, Great
Aunt Barb, Auntie, Mother Mary!!!!!!!!! Nicooooo!!!!!!!!
ORPHEO
Abundance of love to my beautiful partner Rachel and her
family, Evzen, Deborah, and Rob, greatest gratitude to
the McCord Clan Joseph, Doriane, Oceane, Justine, Pablo,
Dylan, Eli, Brother Jade and Zen Master Musa. I tip
my hat to Michael Rider, sweet Kasia, Deep Ojai Danny,
Shine, Zubin, Jimmy Wiz, Gunnar, Charlie, Max, Surf buddy
Ryan, Andrew Britton, Aaron Embry and everyone who brings
color into this life. A million thank yous to Bryan and
Dane and all the beautiful folks at New Community Mgmt,
without whom we would not be where we are now. I bow to
the magic and beauty of Mother Earth, the Sun and the
divine Universe. Love all, serve all!!!
NORA
I want to send a big thank you to the inspiring people
that make up my family; Scott, Allison and Miles. Also,
a thank you to my friends in the Eagles Nest, and my
surrogate family in the Sharpes. A nal thank you goes
out to books, The Three Amigos, Waiting for Guffman,
and This American Life for making me feel a deeper part
of society.
SETH
Kristina Canizares, Betty Boop, The Ford-Young-Kohne-
Parziale-Duffy-Ferguson Clan, Dane Wolfer, Tom Gorton,
Old Style, Mark Neal, Mia and Jonah.
MARK
John Noseworthy, Pat Noseworthy, Peter Noseworthy, Katie,
Jack and Charlotte, West Quaco, The Ocean.
ALSO
Linny the indefatigable, Bryan Ling, Dane Sundseth, Jon
Cohen, Scott Moore, Reuben Cohen, Julie Ling, Stephen
Ling, Kristin Calabrese, Blaine Kaplan, Jasmine Lywen-
Dill, Charlie Bolois, Courtney Ellis, Aaron, Nikki and
Mayla Embry, Sam Cole, Yohei Shikano, Mitchell Yoshida,
Odessa Jorgensen, Farf, Alice Ling, Benjamin Mumphrey,
Brian Bumbery, Sam Citron, Andrew Britton, Phil Sarna,
Eugene Lee, PS Business Mgmt, Vagrant Records, New
Community Management, BMG Chrysalis, Rough Trade Records,
Shock Records, Paradigm, WME, Peter Paterno, Charles
Lozlow, Jon Sidel, Kirk Sommer, Nick Cave, Adele Slater,
Brian Cohen, Heather Kolker, Marty Diamond, Adam Tudhope,
Geoff Travis, Jessica Park, Communion Music, Francois
Mobasser, Emmett Malloy, Dan Gill, Marcus Mumford, Ted
Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall, Mike Luba, S2BN, Jon
McMillan, Laura Taylor, Michelle Chapman, Josh Madden.
AND
Taye Drums, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Paiste Cymbals, Roland
Accordions, Fender Custom Shop, Ashley Atz, Loar Guitars,
Swan Percussion, Vintage King Audio, Alex Lasner at Vox,
Rich Avrach at GC Pro, Makoto Onishi, Capt. James Ralph
our future pilot.
Produced by Alex Ebert for Community Music
This Life co-produced by Nico Aglietti
Mixed by Alex Ebert and Matt Linesch
Engineered by Matt Linesch
Scott Moore: assistant mix engineer at Ocean Way
Ryan Reault: 2nd assistant mix engineer at Ocean Way
Recorded at Adios Studios a.k.a. the Ed Shed - Ojai,
California
and at Studio in the Country - Bogalusa, Louisiana
and also at Ocean Way Recording Los Angeles, CA
Mastered by Reuben Cohen - Lurssen Mastering
Managed by Bryan Ling, New Community Mgmt.
Artwork
Cover design by Alex Ebert, drawing by Christian Letts
Collage photographs by Stewart Cole
Collage layout by Josh Collago and Crash
Booklet photos by Nora Kirkpatrick (b&w) and Stewart Cole
(color & top of photo on right)
Crowd photo by Laure Vincent-Bouleau
Layout by Maria Villar
Published by BMG Chrysalis
a. ebert caravan touchdown (ascap), m. noseworthy
noseworthy publishing (ascap), s. ford-young sewfoyomu-
sic (ascap), j. castrinos jadey rae (bmi), n. aglietti
ocin music (bmi) s. cole (ascap) j. collazo-joshua
michael collazo (ascap)
Alex Ebert: vocals,
acoustic guitar, electric
guitar, percussion, string
arrangements, keyboards,
electric bass, basketball,
melodica
Jade Castrinos: vocals,
acoustic guitar
Christian Letts: acoustic
and electric guitars, 12
string guitar, mandolin,
marching bass drum, vocals
Stewart Cole: trumpet,
synths, piano, alto horn,
flugelhorn, baritone horn,
cornet, hammond and lowrey
organs, wurli, clav, pump
organ, recorder, vocals
Mark Noseworthy: acoustic
and electric guitars, 11
string guitar, ronrocco,
tenor banjo, slide guitar,
electric 12 string guitar,
mandolin, vocals
Crash: vocals
Orpheo McCord: percussion,
drums, marimba, vocals
Nora Kirkpatrick:
accordion, organ, keys,
omnichord, vocals
Josh Collazo: drums,
concert toms, percussion,
alto saxophone, vocals
Seth Ford-Young: electric
bass, double bass, vocals
Aaron Arntz: piano on
Better Days and If I Were
Free
Nico Aglietti: electric
guitar on Remember to
Remember, Please, acoustic
on Life is Hard
Roger Joseph Manning Jr:
piano on Life is Hard
Aaron Embry: piano and
organ solo on This Life
Nathaniel Markman: violin
on They Were Wrong and
Remember to Remember
Fred Bows and Susie Park:
violins on Two, Life is
Hard, and In The Lion