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Neko Case — City Swans
Album: The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight...
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1218









Released: 2013
Length: 4:04
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Baby, come out
I'll meet you in the street
At the place by the old fire station
We'll get something to eat,
Like we talked about.

Baby, come down
It's been a while now
I've got so many things I could tell you,
If my stubborn mouth doesn't let me down.

And I can't look at you straight-on
You're made from something different than I know

I try to slip the marching clock
But centipedes invade my thoughts
Without free will I heel and I go
I step onto that metal plate,
Where it meets the dazzling sound of trains,
And I beg those trains to run.

Cause I can't look at you straight-on
You're made from something different than I know

My eyes are on the sidewalk,
It's gum holding your feet
I swear under my breath
Because I'm starving in your gravity
You're made from something different than I know

You linger just a little long,
I see your gun is drawn with the safety on
You can walk me back to my hotel
Like it was home.
And I smell those fools you made cordwood of
In petty dreams that leave me sleeping here, in your arms.

City swans,
Our crook'd necks long
City swans

And I can't look at you straight-on
You're made from something different than I know

And it breaks my heart just like the day,
That I looked down and I realized
I'd been sailing so long I'd become the shore

City swans,
Our crook'd necks long
City swans
Comments (77)add comment
 Lazarus wrote:

This song is soooo good for the ears...  I want Neko Case to have a multitude of babies for me...
 

More than a little creepy 
RP introduced me to Neko and I'm fully hooked
Love pretty much everything Neko does, but this is one of my particular favourites from her.
Lovely to hear Neko on RP.  Here's hoping her exposure here wins her a bunch of new fans. 
oooohhhh. love love love this
I love the phrase "I've been sailing so long that I've become the shore". Goosebumps!
If it were not for stations like radio paradise or WFMU i never would have heard of neko, screw commercial music radio
Ahhh love....it provoke such interesting lyrics and songs don't it?  The things we primate do when we go ga ga over each other....

So it goes.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
There are three anthemic moments on this album that never fail to inspire me. The crescendo of the chorus and the transition into the relative quiet under the line "I'd been sailing so long, I'd become the shore" is one of them.
always upvote Neko!
Just got inside my apt. from listening to this in my car and I turn on RP and here we are again. Can't ever get enough of her. Thanks Bill! Happy holidays y'all!
I always thought it was silly swans.
one of the many reason why I support RP

{#Hearteyes}
Man, the lyrics on the RP site are messed up. Here they are for real:

Baby, come out
I'll meet you in the street
At the place by the old fire station
We'll get something to eat,
Like we talked about.

Baby, come down
It's been a while now
I've got so many things I could tell you,
If my stubborn mouth doesn't let me down.

And I can't look at you straight-on
You're made from something different than I know

I try to slip the marching clock
But centipedes invade my thoughts
Without free will I heel and I go
I step onto that metal plate,
Where it meets the dazzling sound of trains,
And I beg those trains to run.

Cause I can't look at you straight-on
You're made from something different than I know

My eyes are on the sidewalk,
It's gum holding your feet
I swear under my breath
Because I'm starving in your gravity
You're made from something different than I know

You linger just a little long,
I see your gun is drawn with the safety on
You can walk me back to my hotel
Like it was home.
And I smell those fools you made cordwood of
In petty dreams that leave me sleeping here, in your arms.

City swans,
Our crook'd necks long
City swans

And I can't look at you straight-on
You're made from something different than I know

And it breaks my heart just like the day,
That I looked down and I realized
I'd been sailing so long I'd become the shore

City swans,
Our crook'd necks long
City swans
 run4more wrote:
She followed the wrong act today (King Crimson—People)—I generally like her more and not a big KC fan (even tho I own an album). It's just that I had to crank KC and found myself lowering the volume back down for this. Probably feel different on another day.. Elbow following with One Day Like This means volume goes down again.  Look,  I have close neighbors and a reputation here...

 
Sorry, but you lost a little good neighbor vibe on those last two. Me, I would been past 11 by now...


Hard not to rate this song as a 10.
  She has a soul and the song takes over. 
I'll stop the world and melt with you...
This sounds like the closing credits to a wonderful movie that I will remember for the rest of my life.
This sounds like the opening theme to a 90's sitcom that I've spent years trying to forget.
Got to see her last night on her birthday at the Beartooth Theater Pub in Anchorage.  Her first show in Alaska.  It was good. 
 bb_matt wrote:
Sounds almost exactly like her song "People got a lot of nerve" 

 
I heard she had to hire two different attorneys in order to sue herself for Copyright Infringement.
{#Propeller}

Original version?


 bb_matt wrote:
Sounds almost exactly like her song "People got a lot of nerve" 

 
i like quite a few NC songs but this "Sounds almost exactly like her song _________________"
Sounds almost exactly like her song "People got a lot of nerve" 
Clear, understandable lyrics, no shouting, well within her range.  A good start.  Establishes an environment of being within the song with Neko.  Thank you RP for introducing me to Neko Case
To the rescue...thank you NC. Great opening number for her live shows.
She followed the wrong act today (King Crimson--People)--I generally like her more and not a big KC fan (even tho I own an album). It's just that I had to crank KC and found myself lowering the volume back down for this. Probably feel different on another day.. Elbow following with One Day Like This means volume goes down again.  Look,  I have close neighbors and a reputation here...
Too good, I did'nt know this band, thank's RP .
Got me off my couch to see what it was.  That says something.  Play it again.
 stmichal wrote:
We must hear this one like four times a day. Definitely enough.

 
It's alright... the more I hear it the more I like it and I already liked her previous work.
 stmichal wrote:
We must hear this one like four times a day. Definitely enough.

 
No, its not "like" 4 times a day.  Look at the commentor dates.  Not even close.  Would it be hard to bring, like, a minimal amount of precision to your statements first?   
We must hear this one like four times a day. Definitely enough.
Definitely a grower
Saw here a week ago at the Vogue in Broad Ripple. It was fun. I'm an avid Neko fan and the show did not disappoint. 

Forget his name but the older guy that played guitar, pedal steel and of all things, a trombone - he was awesome.  

The bass player looked like someone from Duck Dynasty. He played the stand up bass a good bit, which I think is cool.

Also enjoyed seeing the backup singer. She does very well.

On a side note, security was making a HUGE point about no one being allowed to take any pictures or videos. They made it clear that you would be booted out immediately if you used a phone or camera. It was bit heavy handed.  Ironically, Neko's hair and outfit were pretty bad. Black tights that had all the leg and hip bones in white with some ratty shirt. He hair looked like an outlet bit her.   

Still love the Neko tho. It was great being that close. I think she smiled at me. <wink>
And then there's that Lilac Time-esque riff at the end of this song. 
Neko. Friday night. Ann Arbor Folk Festival. Wife pulled strings and got great tickets. The countdown is on!
Nice tune...

I see your gun is drawn 
With the safety on

This gets a 7.
One of the best tunes of this wonderful CD.
She is one flipped out chick. Love her!


https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1173&bih=558&q=neko+case&oq=neko+case&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1320.3550.0.3808.9.8.0.1.1.0.103.658.7j1.8.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..0.9.664.GDhaeCq-r28#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=TpliCSM6Nv84VM%253A%3BxkewnyCMFJFDxM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblogs.philadelphiaweekly.com%252Fmusic%252Ffiles%252F2009%252F07%252Fnekonipple.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblogs.philadelphiaweekly.com%252Fmusic%252F2009%252F07%252F28%252Fwin-free-tickets-to-see-neko-case-at-the-kimmel%252F%3B237%3B465
 Poacher wrote:
She is playing near me on the 11the Dec. . . I think I'll take Mrs Poacher out for an evening to see how she sounds live. 

 
Hopefully Mrs Poacher sounds the same as she does at home.
 ziakut wrote:
B R I L L I A N T    T U N E

 
Y   E   S  !
 msymmes wrote:
This song is growing on me.
 

 
.............. and me :)
B R I L L I A N T    T U N E
I have been listening to this album a lot lately, and each time, each song seems to reveal another layer of Neko's greatness and intensity...
This song is growing on me.
 

Only on RP do you get King Crimson followed by Neko!  Woo Hoo!  Truly a paradise.


Gotta put Neko on my bucket list.  What a voice.  Yummy.
 
 rdo wrote:

Apropos of nothing really…

Each of us experiences a song in our own individual way – it’s a unique event, a moment in time, this connection between creative sound and listener. It’s elusive, transitory, unstable, mutable.  The event can never be measured, or examined under a microscope. You don’t need to learn a frumpy terminology to write about music.  Happy Thanksgiving.



 
How very true!
I am a Neko fan...{#Hug}
She is playing near me on the 11the Dec. . . I think I'll take Mrs Poacher out for an evening to see how she sounds live. 

Apropos of nothing really…

Each of us experiences a song in our own individual way – it’s a unique event, a moment in time, this connection between creative sound and listener. It’s elusive, transitory, unstable, mutable.  The event can never be measured, or examined under a microscope. You don’t need to learn a frumpy terminology to write about music.  Happy Thanksgiving.


I saw her on 10/20/13 in St. Louis. She looked and sounded as if she just woke up from a nap. It took a few songs to get going but once she did, it was all good. 


 itaish wrote:
Everybody in my radio station just love Neko Case but I am still trying to figure out why {#Smile}

I mean - I like her singing but find most of her stuff not that interesting (in particular this one).

Just MHO...

I know what you mean. Lots of people who’s opinions I value love Neko but for some reason she doesn’t ring my bell. Thought I do like this particular song more than most.


Not nearly as good as other songs of hers but still very excited to see a new album out.
This is like Neko's entire work in one song. Excellente!

{#Cheers}
 davedog wrote:


I'm going to see her in a week at 1st Avenue in Minneapolis.  Really looking forward to it!

 
Ugh.  Can't believe I missed her.  I've seen her twice there before.  Great shows.


 sajitjacob wrote:
Likewise, My brain say's "yep" my heart say's "meh"





 
Maybe the simplicity is the genius...catchy none-the-less.
Likewise, My brain say's "yep" my heart say's "meh"

 itaish wrote:
Everybody in my radio station just love Neko Case but I am still trying to figure out why {#Smile}

I mean - I like her singing but find most of her stuff not that interesting (in particular this one).

Just MHO...

 


Everybody in my radio station just love Neko Case but I am still trying to figure out why {#Smile}

I mean - I like her singing but find most of her stuff not that interesting (in particular this one).

Just MHO...
god, these women are good!
 grungepuppy wrote:
Great song! I got to see her play it live a few weeks ago.{#Hearteyes}

 

I'm going to see her in a week at 1st Avenue in Minneapolis.  Really looking forward to it!
I like the new Neko more than the previous Neko. This song and I'm a Man are the kind of Neko I prefer -- at least until I've heard it too many times. 
Great song! I got to see her play it live a few weeks ago.{#Hearteyes}
From the other room, I caught just a hint of When the needle touched down...echoes from her earlier work Blacklisted, and I like it a LOT.
I've had this CD in my car all week since I bought it.  This is a great track, but so much to like on this album.  Neko Case is a great lyricist and the precision of her vocals always amazes me.

This song is soooo good for the ears...  I want Neko Case to have a multitude of babies for me...
 

I want Neko Case to have my baby...

 
sounds a bit messy to my ears, like the singing and instruments aren't in sync.
One day I hope to be as cool as Neko.

Now a different review. Is taking place in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NYC, the "U.S. Open 2013", the sport that I am very enthusiastic, and indeed practiced intensively at the amateur level. This is not a musical event, so what does this have to do with music? for a few minutes in between the exchange field, the organization of this event, play some musical moments that serve as relaxation for the public and for the players. Up to this point, all right. The "best" part ... is that the organization already has many years of experience in this event - in sport, have excellent performance - this time, was keen to hone musical themes and choose the most superfluous, trivial, taste more than doubtful. Is a detail which is not in accordance with the magnitude of the event.
This happens in the course of an event - U.S. Open - widespread throughout the world, and in my opinion, and it could be used in "musical interludes", to dissemination of immense and talented artists, singer-songwriters coming from the U.S., as a "calling card" of this country, and to the recognition and tribute to these authors, past and present.
Perhaps our esteemed "Unkle DJ-Bill", next time, can give a "little help" to the organization's U.S. Open. lol

Hey, this is good, mighty good...much anticipated, and much appreciated!
lovely artist
..she does sound like herself..a.lot..which rates an 8, in the book in front of me..
Patiently waiting to get my copy of this...
I have been waiting for some new Neko Case!  Sounds Great thanks for playing!!!!

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  LOVE this song...  love Neko Case...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...