We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Bystanders

by Steve Thompson

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Digipak style case. Shrink-wrapped. Includes lyrics booklet.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Bystanders via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 14 Steve Thompson releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Highwire, Cactus Frank, Bystanders, RTRO2TR, Broken Mirror, Rosetta, RTROFUTR, Get Professional!, and 6 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $33.60 USD or more (30% OFF)

     

1.
I want some peace of mind But it's hard living in these times Everyone's trying to pretend We're running a race with no end Oh - where do we go from here When you all shut your eyes? How - how do we carry on When we don't even know how to live our lives? Leaders keep turning away While their speeches have nothing to say Drop your ideals - empty thoughts With a smile in a ballot box Oh - when will we free ourselves From the lies we've been told? If we can forgive again Then at last the reconstruction can begin
2.
I fear the window of our patience Is closing too soon They've got an everlasting pretense They apply to you And you know It's all a reflection of Their soul It will drive you Out of your mind Straddled across the line They define you Measuring up All of the vices and virtues You've lost the grasp on how to handle The walls closing in The comforts you might have adopted They're calling sins But you know They've got a collection of Their own It will drive you Out of your mind Straddled across the line They define you Measuring up All of the vices and virtues It will drive you Out of your mind Straddled across the line They define you Measuring up All of the vices and virtues
3.
New Orleans 03:28
No man is an island But I'm still trying Gone from those country comforts Long in the teeth you're losing And when you're walking the side streets Lit up like a pine tree It's never what you pictured Take all those dreams and wash them down Hey, New Orleans What do you think you see? That's so naive But will it come back to me? You've got to believe it When you can't see it On all those rusted ceilings Are the lights that light the way Hey, New Orleans What do you think you see? That's so naive But will it come back to me? My cypress heart Gets torn apart Each time I walk But if I stayed I could count the ways That it wouldn't work out Hey, New Orleans What do you think you see? That's so naive But will it come back to me?
4.
Velvet Will 03:04
Lie awake and you're here with me In my head where we're young and free Every action a consequence Or a reason to start again Chances come And pass me by My alibi is A velvet will and an aching heart And I can't finish what I didn't start Outright Waking visions build up these walls As we travel forgotten halls All the hours spent lying there All the static's becoming clear Chances come And pass me by My alibi is A velvet will and an aching heart And I can't finish what I didn't start Outright Drift away Can't recall All these visions All those walls Chances come And pass me by My alibi is A velvet will and an aching heart And I can't finish what I didn't start Outright
5.
Bystanders 05:18
Give me your hands And I'll try to believe In making amends With the powers that be The weight of the world As we wait around Tries to have its way Wants to hold us down And though it will try While we stand by Once we're gone They'll sing our song But they'll forget our names And the words will be wrong And the tears we cried And the wars we fought Just a memory Gone Like a pack of wolves Trying to catch our tails Never able to win But can we really fail A dose of distrust And some apathy And we should probably care But it's not our scene And though we won't try We'll still stand by And once we're gone They'll sing our song But they'll forget our names And the words will be wrong And the tears we cried And the wars we fought Just a memory Gone Once we're gone They'll sing our song But they'll forget our names And the words will be wrong And the tears we cried And the wars we fought Just a memory Gone Let it fall on me my darling Let it all rain down You're the one I need my darling Cutting through those clouds Let it fall on me my darling Let it all rain down You're the one I need my darling Cutting through those clouds
6.
Hand In Hand 03:30
When we're looking back on our life Ten or twenty years from now Through the good times and the bad ones We'll have made it through somehow Hand in hand Always together from this day Understand I wouldn't want it any other way All my life As I'm waiting up here thinking As I'm seeing you walk in In this game of life we're playing Two of a kind will always win Hand in hand Always together from this day Understand I wouldn't want it any other way All my life No matter what life brings We can do anything Hand in hand Always together from this day Understand I wouldn't want it any other way All our life
7.
Ambition 03:53
Things keep going sideways And I can't hold on I wish the wind would blow my way When it does it brings storms And I don't care About some useless information You can give to take me there Well you know it died And we lived another life But the things they tried Could not be left behind The marks you leave The person that's inside Are you yourself In someone else's eyes? I can't quite shake the feeling That I'm lost in a crowd At twenty-three I hit that ceiling And I can't get out And don't pretend That you never knew there was a time You were my only friend Well you know it died And we lived another life But the things they tried Could not be left behind The marks you leave The person that's inside Are you yourself In someone else's eyes?
8.
Daybreak 03:29
It is a new day Good morning The sun is shining No warnings I'd like to tell you all the things That I've had on my mind But something in my head tells me We'd never have the time So this is our day And we know it Your true colors Will show that You know what's been happening But you don't give a damn You spent so many years checked out That you became the man But it's alright - we're doing fine So take your bow cos it's our time But I, I believed Every word you said Echoed in my head Now I, I concede You never really knew All that we outgrew This is a new age Beginning And all of the gray clouds Are thinning Optimistcally I breathe And step into the dawn As memories of the days we slept Are slowly moving on It is a new day With no doubts What started as whispers Are now shouts You know what's been happening But you don't give a damn You spent so many years checked out That you became the man But it's alright - we're doing fine So take a bow cos it's our time And I, I believed Every word you said Echoed in my head But I now can see You never really knew All that we outgrew But it is a new day
9.
Seashells 01:56
Before Your first meal You're Starting uphill But I will try The best I can do Through all these changes I hope seashells are still there For you I do I do Just Rest your weary mind And know Though I can't slow the tides That I will try The best I can do Through all these changes I hope seashells are still there For you I do I do
10.
The times that we had I want to give back Cos you know those memories Ruin even my best dreams Just take them away Each night and each day we had With all those eyes watching you There's no escape from the truth You can't mean what you say saying it that way Propped on your altar I believe a storm's headed our way For all the broken-hearted I saw those closed blossoms today in my Marigold garden Just take two steps back for a change Now We planted the seeds Of those fever dreams And watered by cruel words They turned into monsters It's true I believed Your usual routine I finally broke free Your chains can't control me You can't mean what you say saying it that way Propped on your altar I believe a storm's headed our way For all the broken-hearted I saw those closed blossoms today in my Marigold garden Just take two steps back for a change Now You can't mean what you say saying it that way Propped on your altar I believe a storm's headed our way For all the broken-hearted I saw those closed blossoms today in my Marigold garden Just take two steps back for a change Now You can't mean what you say saying it that way Propped on your altar I believe a storm's headed our way For all the broken-hearted I saw those closed blossoms today in my Marigold garden Just take two steps back for a change Now
11.
Nomad Summer 03:09
I know I never said the right words But still in my heart I knew that you heard them Days grew shorter, rain kept falling As that season slipped away Through it all you just kept moving Further from the games that we played But now and then I try my best to rewind To memories and the comfort there I might find All I wanted was a chance At reaffirming things unsaid But the fading sun had set And twilight signaled summer's end

credits

released June 18, 2019

Steve Thompson: Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals, Melodica, Synthesizer, Shaker, Bongo Cajon, Vibraslap, Handclaps
Nick Tiberi: Drums, Piano, Organ, Additional Guitars
Justin Litten: Cello

Produced by Steve Thompson
Engineered by Steve Thompson & Nick Tiberi
Recorded at The Subterranean Playground, Red Crown Audio
Mastered by Larry Luther at Mr. Smalls Studio, Pittsburgh, PA

Cover Photography: Taufiq Klinkenborg
Art Direction: Steve Thompson

All songs written by Steve Thompson (ASCAP)
All songs published by Constant Variable Music (ASCAP)

Very Special Thanks To Kate Thompson, Nick Tiberi, Steve Scott, Justin Litten, Kellie Hankinson, and Matt Vulcano

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Steve Thompson Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Steve Thompson is an independent songwriter and musician currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To date, he has released five albums showcasing a broad spectrum of influences and sounds ranging from bleak electronic music to sensitive folk songwriting. ... more

contact / help

Contact Steve Thompson

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Steve Thompson, you may also like: