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Hallmark

by Hallmark

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1.
Gratitude 04:57
Ooooh ooooh ooh ohh Ooooooh ooooh If the Mayan calendar is correct We haven’t that much time left So cherish whatcha got Before you lose it Chorus: Gratitude Gratitude Be grateful precious jewel Gratitude Gratitude Be grateful precious and true Do make the eye contact Do float on to reflect You are not your body ‘Tis a ruse yes If ya die A painful death Skin slowly curling off in clumps Do be sure to flash back At a life well lived (Chorus) Who brings around valour anymore? Who wants what’s not sold in any store? Uh-oh Uh-oh Uh-oh Uh-oh oh oh Gratitude Gratitude Be grateful precious and true Gratitude Gratitude Be grateful Be grateful be grateful You are not your body
2.
The Staff 03:13
All the flowers that bore our name entwined Have now been crushed by falling snow They will never reappear the same way or be as vibrant as before Chorus: Tears to tears to pain to pain When will I be healed again? Tears to tears to pain to pain When will I be healed again? So I run to the whorehouse For something to fill me But it never quite fills me No it never quite fills me But it fills up my tab (Chorus) So I go to the hillside And become a Shepard Yes I become a Shepard And wear a picture of you Around my neck
3.
You were there when my heart was broken You caught every bloody shard Wiped the shame from bad words spoken Smooth the edges from the hard Let me hitch a ride upon your wing Soothe emotion illuminating Made me realize when I fell There’s still water in the well Like a bridge over nature run its course You show me the many doors Chorus: You are my beacon You keep on shinin’ You are my beacon Oh Gossamer you are my light The first door led right into a brick wall The second door is where I made the call Got no reply but my lonesome echo Represent dim prelude to a fall You’re the third door
4.
Nite Magick 03:55
Forget advice from friends Though I might bring 'em along To help me lay it on Silhouettes then gone Don’t forget the whims Velvet on the skin Chorus: Nite Magic Nite Magic Mystery within Nite Magic Legs Partin’ I want my Nite Magic Offered up to me Ooooh ooh ooh Ooooh ooh ooh Ooh oohh Ooh la la Ooh la la Flashin' fluorescent light Flickers faulty overhead And it’s alternatin' There is no God With there is God Velvet on the skin (Chorus) Work it through the veils now Work it through the veils (rept.) Aaaah ahhh (rept.)
5.
The Precise line of the Surgeon Don’t shake Let the anesthetic take hold Count to ten to never finish Your face will soon be gone There is no recovery Trapped in other motives Infection is not literal For the blade is sterile (X4) Awake The anesthetic drifts cold Unfamiliar surroundings Dimly realize what’s done Finding mirror to see All one can do is scream Infection is not literal For the blade is sterile (X6) The Precise line of the Surgeon
6.
Dad 03:17
When I could have had no dad A moment least expected Things took a wonderful turn And you came right along Although I never called you Dad I always thought of you And will always think of you As Dad
7.
Cage without a key All those young girls trapped there Cage without a key Cage without- A key You can dress it up in fancy words But meditation’s really solitary You don’t give them rehabilitation Just sewing and hairdressing lessons (Chorus) In there for crimes committed Crimes are still being committed So this is how the law works Do you know how much this country Spends on pets alone What about our teens? Tell the people - You can’t deprive them Tell them - You can’t deprive them They have to know - You can’t deprive them Of a normal life (Chorus X2) All those young girls All those young girls All those young girls (X4) All those young girls
8.
Laying Low 03:55
You weren’t worth the pedestal I put you on! And I’m Layin’ Low Yes I’m Layin’ Low With my friends On the street And up you appear here Ain’t you caused enough damage Sick of seeing you around As I look past you try to look in Well I’m just lookin’ to get even Why don’t you get a mask Some sort of disguise So I wont recognize you Marking those lingering traces When you’re invading my places And I can keep layin’ low Keep layin’ low With my friends On the street Spilt sour milk delusions Whispering shrugs Don’t get so enamored no more But at least I see eye to eye Now I know when to fly High And I’m layin' low Layin’ oh so low With my friends On the street
9.
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey Heyyyyy The Comedown Takes forever Makes you whisper plainly “Never” (X2) Why d'ja go Overload Repeating that cycle yet again And your losing Control Getting harder to rewind From the bends You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ Up the works Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey Hey hey hey hey hey hey Heyyyyy The Comedown takes forever Makes you whisper plainly never You keep filling that hole But you’re diggin' too far This had to end Just so’s ya know If you need someone ya got a friend You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ You’re Gummin’ Up the works The Comedown takes forever
10.
Swan Song 03:11
11.
Soft and Gentle I am a lamb in spring (X2) Oh yes I am Oh yes I am Soft and Gentle I am a lamb in spring Oooooooooh Tenderloin More than just a fable (rept.) It doesn’t have to be hard So hard It doesn’t have to be hard (X4) Oooooooooh Tenderloin More than just a fable Ah ahh ah ah ah ah Tenderloin
12.
Niki Hokey 02:19

about

Back in 2006 or 2007 or so I had decided to want to do a more "serious" musical project as I had songs that needed a home for such things. Also my more comedic musical acts (Canned Hamm, July Fourth Toilet -projects I took seriously that were more overtly funny in content and form), though well received by audiences when we had opportunities to reach them, were ignored by the music industry (when I say industry I refer to even small boutique record labels) and I thought that a more "serious" rock band with Romantic Glam leanings might warrant interest to reach people. Dan Bejar encouraged me to put a band together (a few years previously we did an acid folk project together called Points Gray that didn't fit the more Presbyterian confines of the acid folk revival that sprang up a bit later) but ultimately, despite my efforts, the industry could care less. Of this album they'd tell me how good it was but that it didn't fit. Sigh, that felt like my life story. Maybe that's why there's so much blandness out there.
That said, it was a joy to write songs, perform, and record with everyone in Hallmark. Dave Carswell recorded this album so wonderfully. The band's name may just be too common for Google but I named ourselves after Hallmark Releasing Company who devised the campaigns for the horror films "Last House On The Left" and "Mark Of The Devil", as well as the Hallmark song-poem recording company of which I am a fan.
Hallmark the band played shows in Vancouver mostly. After Jessica moved to Los Angeles, Scott and I would come to play shows with her, along with a new L.A. based rhythm section (Pete Mills and Donal Finn). There was simply no label interest in this album. I subsequently moved to Toronto to try my luck and had musical projects not really work out. A few good things happened outside of music but ultimately I was just not wanted by the arts and entertainment industry. I took the hints. I am currently in Los Angeles wondering and wandering with creative intent. Connecting with audiences -despite the industry- has been incredible and I have to remind myself of that on my difficult, more suicidal days. Along with the joyful fruits of collaboration. I do not care if you pay money for this album recorded so long ago but if you think others might enjoy it, do feel free to pass it along to them, as this is how it is finally out in the world now. I hope that you connect with it.

Love,

Robert

credits

released July 21, 2022

Robert Dayton, Jessica Milligan, Scott Chalmers, Dan Fazio, Rob McBeth.
Recorded at JCDC by Dave Carswell, Vancouver, Canada.
All tracks by Hallmark, lyrics by Robert Dayton, except for tracks 10 and 12. Some of the lyrics for track 7 was dialogue from the Susan Dey TV movie of the same name written by Joanna Lee.
Additional players: Leanne Chapman, cello; Shane Krause, saxophone; Jennifer Aird, backup vocals.
Band photos by Fiona Garden.

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Hallmark Los Angeles, California

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