the gifted children - my little iron curtain

Release date: Summer, 1996

The third release by the gifted children, this again was a very low-key affair. No covers were ever made, and copies only circulated among bandmembers. In fact, some of the songs remained unfinished until 2007, when finishing touches were added for the Building Your Lo-Fi Shelter boxed set

Lyrics and individual track credits:

01 intro (suszczynski)

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, piano, voice, accordion

written: march, 1996
recorded: july 1996
(wallace drive basement, grand island, ny)

02 everything (it was) (suszczynski)

through all these mountains and rungs you've climbed
still-tired eyes to conceal your find
through heavy-laden city streets you roam
searching for something, you're all alone
will you find someone
will you find yourself
you go over...

in the quickfix parties you hide from yourself
walking through the graves, walking through your self
and you find your name - it's there for you to read
with these golden lights you streaked along
you hid the photographs, you made believe
and i didn't say that it was good
i didn't say that it was bad
i said it just was what it was:
it was everything.

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitars, shakers, voices

written: may 1996
recorded: july 1996
(wallace drive bedroom, grand island, ny)
shakers recorded: 16 january 2007
(bad wallpaper, rochester, ny)

03 tacoma narrows (suszczynski)

touch me and watch me resonate
it was all for you, my love
watch my window world cloud
from the force of your breath on my life
did you even say goodbye
before you went to greet the world
and smile at all but me

i will carry this forever –
your broken smile intact
in the pictures that you gave

my base, my private resting place
darkened lightbulbs that implode
and cellar dwell on bed of mold
in the hopes that the light will glow again
but you didn't say goodbye
didn't listen, didn't understand
and the thoughts that came to mind
no longer come to mind

i will carry this forever –
your broken smile intact
in the pictures that you gave
i've loved you all too much, unsaid.

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitars, voices, snare drum, ride cymbal

written: 22 april 1995
recorded: march 1996
all tracks re-recorded: 26 january 2007
(bad wallpaper, rochester, ny)

04 my little iron curtain (suszczynski)

staking a claim to the tiniest portion
envious eyes on the rest of the prize
tinkering with the greatest emotions
wallowing in the lame-horse disguise

someday the egg will set itself right
or fall down and complete the process
i want you to bleed me but i can only heal myself

narrow the field with a hindsight illusion
camera tricks to withhold the unseen
sitting it out to avoid the confusion
protectorate blinders that steal every scene

someday the egg will set itself right
or fall down and complete the process
i want you to bleed me but i can only heal myself

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, piano, ride cymbal, voice, accordion

written: march, 1996
recorded: july 1996
(wallace drive basement, grand island, ny)
ride cymbal recorded: 23 january 2007
(bad wallpaper, rochester, ny)

05 finest hour (suszczynski)

could you free yourself from webs of meaning
could you try for less could you stop this feeling
when the waterline has reached the ceiling
you're reaching...

when you think that it is beyond repair
just remember this: i have been there.

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitars, voice, sleigh bells

written: may 1996
recorded: july 1996
(wallace drive bedroom, grand island, ny)

06 vicarious (suszczynski/hall)

i like to hold the candles
while you blow them out
it makes me feel young again
hot wax over gnarled fingers
a breath of life injected like a shot

soon to fade, still a stolen moment
but pinpricks are for keeps

nick hall – drumset
jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, voice

written and recorded: june 1996
(colonial drive bedroom, grand island, ny)

07 ...i am, even still... (suszczynski)

looking for something to keep it alive
but the hallway's as dim as i feel
i know you can't see me
i know you can't feel me
but i want you to know
that i will always be there
...i am, even still...

there i am in the dust
of the place that you've erased
i know you won't see me
i know you won't feel me
but i want you to know
that i will always be there
...i am, even still...

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitars, voices, snare drum, ride cymbal

written: june 1996
recorded: september 1996
(wallace drive bedroom, grand island, ny)
snare drum, ride cymbal, and some voices recorded: 23 january 2007
(bad wallpaper, rochester, ny)

08 reprise (suszczynski)

jeff suszczynski – acoustic guitar, piano, accordion

written: march 1996
recorded: july 1996
(wallace drive basement, grand island, ny)