the gifted children - leftovers

Release date: November, 1997

This EP collected songs written between 1995-1997 that hadn’t found homes on previous releases. Like many of the gifted children EPs/LPs during this 4-track cassette period, it never really circulated officially, only existing as a few cassette copies circulated among band members. Features ‘colorfast anthem’, the song that would inspire the title of their colorfast anthems LP, as well as longtime live show staple, ‘american chrome’.

Lyrics and individual track credits:

01 colorfast anthem (suszczynski)

this is our colorfast anthem
a song to bring you to your feet
a melody that's made for all time
a song that admits no defeat.

will you cry for us
when we play our songs
will you beg for one more
of our colorfast anthems
will you listen to us?

jeff suszczynski – guitars, keyboards, drumset, voices

written: october 1997
recorded: october-november 1997
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

02 american chrome (suszczynski)

too sharp to do in their major guns
secretly piling up their razorblade armies
slackers are gasping for air
as they pour on the chemicals

papercuts don't leave exit wounds
nobody new makes old girls swoon

sticklebacks painted the wrong way again
left lacerations unintended for show
nobody claimed the glamor prize again
stalking away is the easiest thing to do

papercuts don't leave exit wounds
nobody new makes old girls swoon

i want american chrome but it just won't come to me...

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, bass, voices

written: 24 may 1997
recorded: may 1997
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

03 golden apples of the sun (suszczynski)

i've probably told you by now
but it's never too early and never too late
to sit down with you and reiterate :

you are the golden apple of the sun
i love you more than anyone.

maryam mohtashemi – voice
jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, voice

written: may 1997
recorded: may 25 1997
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

04 the octette bridge club (suszczynski)

a shameful day for the octette bridge club
something came between the wheels and the road
she walked away with all the cards that lost
she walked away with all the cards that didn't let her win

gathering on wednesdays, the octette bridge club
twenty-two years and running can come down to this
she walked away with all the cards that lost
she walked away with all the cards that didn't let her win

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, keyboards, voices

written: may 1997
recorded: may 1997
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

05 darkstar cafe (suszczynski)

wandered off
you came to darkstar
with flowers in your mind
you gave in every time
running out of the lights
running out of the time for this
all of the breed makes you bored
they're not enough for
our raging hearts, under stars
but you gave in
out in my life i guard hours, the days
darkstars, the magic : you were there –
i saw you.

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, keyboards, voice

written: november 1995
recorded: october 1997
(southland drive, brighton, ny)
additional overdubs added 1999
(location unknown)

06 dirge (synth version) (suszczynski)

is this the only time i'll see you –
moving in and out of frames
wedged between the circus acts
and you always ask: are you disappointed?
of course i am
but things won't change
we won't change
in time...

of this i'm certain :
you'll never choose
i know you
i know you.

jeff suszczynski – keyboards, drum machine, voice

written: july 1997
recorded: october-november 1997
(southland drive, brighton, ny)