the gifted children - the queasy dream

Release date: November, 1996

This album was written and recorded in November, 1996, by Jeff Suszczynski, as part of a challenge to write an album in a week, using “chapter” names from Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle as starting points and titles for each song.

Lyrics and individual track credits:

01 the queasy dream (suszczynski)

turn your little nightlights on before you close your eyes
and dream the queasy dream
your altar to Edison will always keep you from
any harm the night might bring.

the queasy dream is yours to take
so why are you still wide awake?
why won't you sleep and dream the queasy dream?

read a bedtime story to dilapidate your fears
and lift you off the ground
then wash your face and brush your teeth
and snuggle into bed
and dream the queasy dream.

the queasy dream is yours to take
so why are you still wide awake?
why won't you sleep and dream the queasy dream?

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, voices

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

02 when automobiles had cut-glass vases (suszczynski)

when automobiles had cut-glass vases
everyone held their shining faces
upright in the palms of their sweatless hands
the lawns were mown just a little bit neater
the women all looked just like June Cleaver
the men came home from work with a kiss and a smile!

in time it fades
the pictures of yesterday seem to run further away
color turns gray.

when automobiles had cut-glass vases
none of the kids were basket cases
they stood up straight and combed their hair and looked the same
all of the dogs had 10 ft. leashes
none of them made their little feces
on the neighbors' lawn or in the living room!

in time it fades
the pictures of yesterday seem to run further away
color turns gray.

(all the flowers in the vases have been unsubtly replaced by side-view mirrors)

jeff suszczynski – acoustic and electric guitars, voices

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

03 letter from a pre-med (suszczynski)

i'd like to kiss your ass about a thousand times
i'd like to lick your shoes and make them really shine
i'd like to show you more than just my grades
i'd like to let you know that i wear suede
please feel free to contact me
and until then i am
breathlessly yours,

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, voices

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

04 the waterfall strainers (suszczynski)

all these things to think of when going
the safest materials only to build the beast
i had a dream to ride the water
poised at the edge
i scream your name

waterfall strainers fall to the ground
you have to go home now.

anyone can sate their love by simple destruction
i fill mine by denting time with my own construction
i had a dream to ride the water
poised at the edge
i scream your name

waterfall strainers fall to the ground
you have to go home now.

jeff suszczynski – acoustic and electric guitars, voices

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

05 the hobby shop (suszczynski)

i walked into the hobby shop
saw the train i'd always wanted
but i didn't want it anymore.
i listened to the owner talk a lot
about the pros and cons of using lichen to augment terrain.
i smelled the dust and looked at boxes
watched a train go through a tunnel
fixed on tiny houses and the trees set in their yards.
stared at tiny little people in their tiny little cars
waited for the fire truck to come to the burning house
knocked a person over with the sleeve of my coat
didn't even wonder if it hurt them anymore
bought a pack of gum then said good-bye to fred, the owner
i walked out of the hobby shop alone

i walked out of the hobby shop
i'd seen the train i'd always wanted
and i didn't want it anymore.

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, voice

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

06 a modern major general (suszczynski)

a modern major general
he's good enough for me
i hope he asks to marry her
with a diamond ring.

to see our baby in silken white
come down the aisle with mr. right
what any parent would hope for
could any parent hope for more?
no, this time our baby sure has done us proud!

a modern major general
he's good enough for me
but our darling grows too fast
we should have known it wouldn't last
at least she kept the ring... (hold it tight)

jeff suszczynski – acoustic and electric guitars, voices

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

07 frank tells us what to do (suszczynski)

frank keeps telling us what to do
but we keep playing the same song
we'll play it all day long

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, voices

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

08 soft pipes, play on (suszczynski)

darling, don't you cry yourself to sleep tonight
i know that what you had seems far away
i know that you're feeling so alone today
but if you listen closely then i'm sure you'll hear
the soft pipes play on
let them put you to sleep
put them in your heart to keep

when the night has come
and the hope seems gone
soft pipes, play on.

jeff suszczynski – keyboard, voice

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)

09 end (suszczynski)

jeff suszczynski - keyboard

written: november 1996
recorded: november 1996
(southland drive, brighton, ny)