Karen Musæus - Summoning (2019)

Track list:

1. Anna
2. Chase
3. Redeemer
4. Backbone
5. Wildfire
6. Intentions
7. Here Before
8. Yet
9. Confetti

"Summoning is an album that deals with the gut feeling: the calling that’s hard to put into words, but still affects our choices in life. Most of us live our lives going back and forth between options and choices, not knowing what’s right or wrong. All we can do is listen closely to whether we’re being summoned by something or somewhere, and try to navigate with the tools we have"

1. Anna

Hey Anna
you ask me how to fix these things
but the truth is I don’t know
I never was an expert
in fact, I rarely could let go

Dear Anna
you’re barely seventeen
already at war with all you are
Put that gun down
I have learnt that love will take you far

You just have to take it slow
A little at a time your strength will grow
I’ll gladly tell you what I know
but we both make that path as we go

Remember
when everything was easy
As a child you never knew
what sorrow can do
when you were running up and down the avenue

Whenever
you’re searching in the corners
for a joy you can reclaim
just keep in mind your soul is still the same

You just have to take it slow
A little at a time your strength will grow
I’ll gladly tell you what I know
but we both make that path as we go

Hey Anna, come by
Dear Anna, hold tight
Anna

You’re afraid to lose yourself any minute
and wonder how to change what you’ve become
but you are not what you carry
on those days when you are weary

So Anna
there’s not much I can teach you
but I’ve learnt to trust myself
to put that gun down
You can find your people in this town

Whenever you feel you’re not enough and
someone else defines your worth
Polish that crown
No one has the right to put you down

You just have to take it slow
A little at a time your strength will grow
I’ll gladly tell you what I know
but we both make that path as we go
I know you think you cannot hold
but even blood gets stronger when it’s cold

2. Chase

I'm catching my breath
Leaning forward, hands on my knees
It was nothing you said
Still feel like I'm uncovered under thunder storms
Under thunder

This house that we've built
is deserted, is that what it is
With no sign of guilt
Still feel like I'm uncovered under thunder storms
Under thunder

Looking around these silent rooms and I
hear no sound of a fight, no fight

What are these signs I see
In your touch, in your voice
You won't come back to me
and I continue to chase you
I continue to chase you home

Used to you loving me
Being right by my side
but now it's half past three
and I continue to chase you
I continue to chase you home

The words that you say
are elusive and they keep spinning in me
as you pull away
'cause you've made your mind up now
and if I resist, it won't keep you here
so I don't know why I persist
Why I keep chasing

Looking around these silent rooms and I
hear no sound of a fight, no fight

What are these signs I see
In your touch, in your voice
You won't come back to me
and I continue to chase you
I continue to chase you home

Used to you loving me
Being right by my side
but now it's half past three
and I continue to chase you
I continue to chase you home

Both of us missing the lover we knew
I've been trying to hold on and get closer to you
but I can't seem to
A glimpse of your back as you're walking out
With nothing to say, but still wanting to shout
There's nothing left to talk about

I'm catching my breath
Leaning forward, hands on my knees
It was nothing you said
Still feel like I'm uncovered under thunder storms
Under thunder

I know how it ends
If you love someone, set them free
but who's releasing me?
Stil feel like I'm uncovered under thunder storms
Under thunder

Looking around these silent rooms and I
hear no sound of a fight, no fight

What are these signs I see
In your touch, in your voice
You won't come back to me
and I continue to chase you
I continue to chase you home

Used to you loving me
Being right by my side
but now it's half past three
and I continue to chase you
I continue to chase you home
Home

3. Redeemer

Waiting for a chance, waiting for a sign
hoping you’ll one day out of your free will
hold this hand of mine
I lose my sense of time when I’m playing spy
Feel the seasons change when I see the little starlings fly

Reason says knock the door
or go and find another
but my heart knows I’m a dreamer
I make believe who you are
Some days I don’t bother
but right now you’re my redeemer
I need this to go on
I feel closer to the one than I have ever been

For a moment there’s a fire in me
I believe in everything you could be
Did it ever cross your mind that we could get away from here?
You keep running on these empty pages
From afar I can be so courageous
I’d go anywhere as long as you’re the one who takes me there
Take me there

You don’t know my name, but I made the game
How to make you see you were meant for me
if I like who you turn out to be
Gonna keep my cool, gonna try my best
not to make a fool of myself
When I say hello you’ll wanna to talk to me

4. Backbone

First I’ll grow a backbone then I’ll let you know
when you can come home
I’ll tell you that I’m fine but I’m in bed
constantly checking my phone
When we are swimming over waves that we have caused
you’d have expected that a pause would do us well
but I’m hoping you can tell
that my backbone won’t grow
and I refuse to spend the night on my own

When I set the rules, you follow up
and you keep staying away
I thought I needed space
but it gets lonely at the end of the day
How do I run when I belong, get out of sight
when every time I leave
my hands are gripping tight
Now my backbone won’t grow
and I refuse to spend the night on my own

Early morning worrying
I think you get me wrong
We’ll get nowhere if we’re hurrying
but I hope you’ll come along

Morning’s coming close, you stumble in
I hear your voice through the door
Like nothing ever changed
you leave your shoes lying around like before
When we are swimming over waves that we have caused
you’d have expected that a pause would do us well
but I’m hoping you can tell
that my backbone won’t grow
And I refuse to spend the night on my own

Early morning worrying
I think you get me wrong
We’ll get nowhere if we’re hurrying
but I hope you’ll come along

In the early morning
a sunbeam hits your face
You say you feel it’s warming
I really hope it stays

5. Wildfire

Made to fill a part
and to deny it is a start
but where to go when it gets dark?
They lead you to believe
that certain things are meant to be
that they know what you can achieve
Rest your head on asphalt
Lay your cheek on gravel road

Waiting for a chance
to hold your future in your hands
but you must do what he demands
Every other day
those other faces pass your way
and wonder if you are okay
Rest your head on asphalt
Lay your cheek on gravel road

If you raise your voice
you'll step right into wildfire
but do you have a choice?
Feel the burning skin
It feels safer to retire
but you can't outrun this summoning

It's you, it's you who decides what you'll say
It's you, it's you who decides if you'll stay

Waiting for a sign
to leave your ball and chain behind
but now you're scared of what you'll find
What if all you know
is to accept and to let go
of every stone that they might throw?
Rest your head on asphalt
Lay your cheek on gravel road

Listen to the sound
of heavy iron hitting ground
and take your time to come around
You know what you need
when you feel ready you proceed
Before a harvest comes a seed
Rest your head on asphalt
Lay your cheek on gravel road

If you raise your voice
you'll step right into wildfire
but do you have a choice?
Feel the burning skin
It feels safer to retire
but you can't outrun this summoning

It's you, it's you who decides
It's you, it's you who decides what you'll say
It's you, it's you who decides
It's you, it's you who decides if you'll stay

6. Intentions

Again, you tell her lies
she’s heard a thousand times
You conjure up something you think sounds right
then pray for her to sit tight

Now, you don’t mean no harm
Intentions blurred by charm
You find your way around her subtle noes
and feel satisfied when she goes

Stare at your reflection
Rummage through your soul
Did mama ever tell you
to mislead the hands you hold?
You act like you’re a saviour
favours for a price
but tell me is it worth it?
Is it really worth it
when sorry won’t suffice?

You wear you name with pride
like you’ve nothing to hide
and you think no one’s gonna take that fight
that you’re washed clean by daylight

At night, I wonder how
those faceless voices plough
through every vulnerable soul until
everyone is kept still

7. Here before

I’ll travel ahead and wait at your destination
‘cause I believe your every word
I’ll travel ahead and wait for your confirmation
You asked if I could wait around
as devious as that might sound
Now that you’re holding me again come and thrill me
Do what you’re always doing best come fulfil me

You call me on the phone to say
that maybe it was time that I came back again
You tell me I was kind to take a chance
I make you wanna be a better man
I’m not afraid to lose at all
but I answer your call
while I know in my soul that
baby, we’ve been here before

For some, to be in control is the only option
but obviously not for me
I gladly throw myself into your corruption
Obedient and happily
I volunteer as family

Now that you’re holding me again
come and thrill me
Do what you’re always doing best
come fulfil me

You could’ve pulled the plug, you know
quit with all the throwing around
but I know that’s not your style
Yeah, I know that’s not your style

8. Yet

Skin so soft and eyes that only flicker
It’s a wonder that we’ve just met
Your hands reach out
but you don’t know what you’re reaching for
and I don’t know how to love you yet

All your sounds
I hold my breath and listen close
I feel the warmth of your skin
You wouldn’t know
or understand the mess I’m in
‘cause I don’t know how to love you yet

January came and brought a wind into our house
A wind that shakes the ground and freezes bones
but in the midst of chaos, you lie there next to me
and helplessly you promise days of love

‘Cause I don’t know how to love you yet
I don’t know how to love you
I don’t know how to love you yet
I don’t know how to

A mystery how creation dealt a card for me
though I don’t know what it was
that sent you here
Makes me believe in things I cannot see
but I don’t know how to love you yet

As the weeks go by, I see you growing in my hands
Some days you even greet me with a smile
Why don’t we just stay here
skin-to-skin for a while
Playing records and cancelling plans

‘Cause I don’t know how to love you yet
I don’t know how to love you
I don’t know how to love you yet
I don't know how to

I don't know how to love you yet
I don't know how to love you
I don't know how to love you yet
but I think I’m starting to

9. Confetti

It’s been a while since I drove a car
‘cause I believe you’d see me coming from afar
It’s been a while since I played a song
‘cause when I do I get the chords wrong
It’s been a while since I told a lie
‘cause I get nervous every single time I try
It’s been a while since I tried to swim
and for a while I’ve been avoiding him

I can imagine how it would evolve
if I could win him, this puzzle to solve
but I would not believe it, I would stop and stare
throwing confetti and my hands in the air

For a while I’ve been chasing highs
and casting sorrows aside when they arise
It sure feels good to know, without a doubt
that if he’s sad and needs a laugh, I’ll help him out
So I know what I want to say to him
I’m what he needs, but I don’t know where to begin
What if he knows, but doesn’t need me there
so I’m avoiding what I fear to hear

I can imagine how it would evolve
if I could win him, this puzzle to solve
but I would not believe it, I would stop and stare
throwing confetti and my hands in the air

Yeah, I would sing to the world
of how possessed you can feel when it burns
I tell my friends to not be shy
so I’m gonna take this piece of wood out of my eye

It’s been a while since I heard his voice
I saw his face and held his hand and made a choice
I’m what you need, I said, I’ll do you good
and he responded: I don’t love you like I should
He cast a shadow in the August light
Drifted away, just like my pride, right out of sight
I see him sometimes, now and then
and if I could, I’d tell him once again

I can imagine how it would evolve
if I could win him, this puzzle to solve
but I would not believe it, I would stop and stare
throwing confetti and my hands in the air
I can imagine ah ah ah
I would not believe it ah ah ah
I can imagine ah ah ah
I would not believe it