Light From the Break
Story & Tune
© 2023 STORY & TUNE
All music and lyrics by Ben Grace & Karyn Thurston,
except “Waltzing the Faultline” by Ben Grace, Karyn Thurston, and Jeff Berkley.
Produced and mixed by Jeff Berkley at Satellite, part of Studio West in San Diego, CA.
Mastered by Mark “Robbie” Robinson / Photography by Rachel Hall / Production Assistance Amelia Sarkisian
Lead Vocals: Ben Grace & Karyn Thurston
Guitar & Banjo: Jeff Berkley
Keys: Ben Grace
Drums: Josh Hermsmeier
Bass: Rick Nash
Pedal Steel: Ted Stern
Lap Steel: Aaron Bowen
Accordion: Sharon Whyte
Backing Vocals: Flamy Grant, Lisa Sanders, Karen Hayes, Noah Heldman, Will Stucky, Jacobo Mendoza, Evan Diamond, Reyna Adams, and Fable Thurston.
Track 1: Beautiful Girl
The Story: A love song for Karyn’s nine-year-old child about the complexity of beauty and the importance of self-love.
The Lyric:
your mama gave you
a heart that has a way of cracking open
a habit of collecting up the broken
a little more likely to bleed
your mama gave you
the kind of hope that wraps around your ribcage
that spills a thousand words onto a blank page
a little more likely to need
beautiful girl
while you’re busy patching up the world, hold your own
don’t you know
beautiful girl
wrapping up tomorrow in your twirl
wild and sure, oh you deserve
beautiful things
your mama gave you
a headstrong accidental way of dreaming
a razor edge propensity for scheming
a little more likely to steal
your mama gave you
a genuine affection for disaster
a way of bouncing back the morning after
a little more likely to heal
beautiful girl
while you’re busy patching up the world, hold your own
don’t you know
beautiful girl
wrapping up tomorrow in your twirl
wild and sure, oh you deserve
beautiful things
don’t you ever dare belong to anyone but yourself
don’t you ever hesitate to ask someone for help
don’t you feel an ounce of shame for something you don’t know
you’ve got time to grow
we’ve got a lifetime left to go
oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh
beautiful girl
while you’re busy patching up the world, hold your own
don’t you know
beautiful girl
wrapping up tomorrow in your twirl
wild and sure, oh you deserve
beautiful things
4 minutes 18 seconds
Track 2: I’ll Never Tell
The Story: A good little song about a big bad idea.
The Lyric:
you don’t have a secret
and I don’t wanna hear
don’t come any closer I won’t whisper in your ear
that the something you aren’t feeling
maybe I don’t feel it too
back up baby, I’ll forget I don’t belong to you
and there’s no use beginning
what you can never end
so I don’t know, and you don’t know
and we can all pretend
there’s nothing going on, and it’s just as well
no mystery, no part of me that’s itching to rebel
lord we might be heaven or hell
but you won’t ask and I’ll never tell
I know you feel me watching
from clear across the room
a hundred people in this place but all I see is you
go on, laugh like you don’t notice
act so they don’t see
back up baby, I’ll forget that you don’t belong to me
and there’s no sense in playing
if you can never win
so I don’t know, and you don’t know
and there’s nothing to begin
there’s nothing going on, and it’s just as well
no mystery, no part of me that’s itching to rebel
lord we might be heaven or hell
but you won’t ask and I’ll never tell
so go back to your corners
safe inside your walls
this ain’t what you’re after, love, and oh love, after all
there ain’t no use in blurring
the lines that we have drawn
so I don’t know
and I don’t know
cause knowing would be wrong
there’s nothing going on, and it’s just as well
no mystery, no part of me that’s itching to rebel
lord we might be heaven or hell
but you won’t ask and I’ll never tell
I’ll never tell
I’ll never tell
I’ll never
4 minutes 17 seconds
Track 3: Can’t Love a Cowboy
The Story: A warning not to put too much faith in someone who has their heart set on going it alone. An allegory about the non-committal nature of modern dating culture.
The Lyric:
you can answer his wink with a smile when you meet at the bar
give in to a dance or a summer romance
but honey hold on to your heart
you can make love, you can wake up with him in your bed
but his only home is a saddle
and his battle ain’t yours to regret
if he leaves in the morning, you’ll still be worth more than slick tongues and silvery lies
so don’t hitch up his horse to your house like he won’t say goodbye
you can’t tell the sun down in Dallas that it shouldn’t burn
and you can’t run away from a lesson you need to learn
you can only hold on to a memory till it fades away
and you can’t love a cowboy like he’s gonna stay
you can cry when he writes you a song on a lonely guitar
laugh in his arms cause he means you no harm
but darlin it ends when it starts
you can tell him you’ll wait, but he ain’t gonna come back around
rivers don’t change their direction
and a cowboy don’t tie himself down
when he leaves in the morning, you’ll still be worth more than slick tongues and silvery lies
so don’t hitch up his horse to your house like he won’t say goodbye
you can’t tell the sun down in Dallas that it shouldn’t burn
and you can’t run away from a lesson you need to learn
you can only hold on to a memory till it fades away
and you can’t love a cowboy like he’s gonna stay
westward he’ll ride
chase the stars in his eyes
till the dust on his boots meets the sea
and he finds that old road
has just led him alone
when he thought it was leading him free
you can’t tell the sun down in Dallas that it shouldn’t burn
and you can’t run away from a lesson you need to learn
you can only hold on to a memory till it fades away
and you can’t love a cowboy like he’s gonna stay
4 minutes 33 seconds
Track 4: Blue Ridge
The Story: A modern take on a classic murder ballad with a #MeToo twist.
The Lyric:
I was twelve years old the summer we moved to the hills outside of Clemson
in a rusty wagon near overflowing with mama’s good reasons to run
mama loved a legend like she loved Jim Beam
always laughing me a story that would spin in my dreams
but her eyes went heavy the first time she told me the name
of the wild-hearted woman the Blue Ridge couldn’t tame
she was born in the sort of backhanded country where a lady remembers her place
where a young girl’s hopes or a cry for justice can vanish without a trace
where you best not question the way it gets done
women bleed out just from biting their tongues
and the dust grows thick on the laws and the minds that don’t change
til the wild-hearted woman the Blue Ridge couldn’t tame
if you go out in the woods tonight, you’d better leave your chains
these hills run with brave rebellion, wolves, and old bloodstains
heaven help the man who claims the forest or her trees
cause hell hath no fury like a woman breaking free
hell hath no fury like a woman breaking free
she was married to the sheriff at just 19, he was hungry and angry and rough
everyone knew, and the rumors flew, but the whispers were never enough
see that lawman, he don’t care to much
what’s his to protect or his to touch
but no one in town would dare to accuse him by name
til the wild-hearted woman the Blue Ridge couldn’t tame
so the afternoon her niece came home with hard tears in her eyes
she marched downtown to the sheriff’s station and demanded that he resign
but power bends what you can’t prove
lies defend against the truth
and they called her a whore for tryin to take a good man down
yeah they ran that wild-hearted woman right out of this town
if you go out in the woods tonight, you’d better leave your chains
these hills run with brave rebellion, wolves, and old bloodstains
heaven help the man who claims the forest or her trees
cause hell hath no fury like a woman breaking free
hell hath no fury like a woman breaking free
now the tables turn when what’s been silenced breaks into a yell
and what is told it must behave is destined to rebel
one lit match and gasoline
will burn down all that won’t come clean
and guilty bones are quick at catching flame
now all of the sheriff that remains
is the legend of the woman the Blue Ridge couldn’t tame
if you go out in the woods tonight, you’d better leave your chains
these hills run with brave rebellion, wolves, and old bloodstains
heaven help the man who claims the forest or her trees
cause hell hath no fury like a woman breaking free
hell hath no fury like a woman breaking free
mama held my hand as she brought me to the forest that summer night
where they still say the wild-hearted woman is waiting and ready to fight
she said if some man is up to no good
come right here to the edge of this wood
close your eyes, just whisper her name
call the wild-hearted woman the Blue Ridge couldn’t tame
5 minutes 43 seconds
Track 5: Red Tide
The Story: A San Diego ghost story about bioluminescence. Because science is cool.
The Lyric:
he built the house just north of where the sea took the girl with the long dark hair
the ring she wore, his best laid plans, and any hope he had that he might love again
only 16 when he learned her name, 22 when she had it changed
to his one Sunday late in June
spent a week by the sea for their honeymoon
she said
right here, the sand, the sky
the sun setting down and the look in your eye
this is everything I’ll ever need
what else could heaven be
the sea kept the girl one morning swim, kept her laugh and tomorrow and the best of him
though he searched the waves til the sky turned black, though he counted forevers that were never coming back
but blue like her eyes in an ocean grave came a light from the break of the crashing waves
and her voice like glass in the shadow glow
whispering a promise that she’d never go
she said
right here, the sand, the sea
the midnight shining over you and me
this is everything I’ll ever need
what else could heaven be
now she comes with the red tide
stays springtime by his side
and she says his name
so sweet and clear
that he don’t care that nobody else can hear
when the winds change and the waves shine
with a light like her blue eyes
she says his name
so sweet and clear
that he don’t care that nobody else can hear
no one else can hear
he waits all year for the tide to change, when the waves turn red and the air turns strange
he stands by the sea til the sky goes black, and the pale blue glows, and the girl comes back
the town sings the story like a campfire song, how love is strange and deep and strong
while they watch him whisper to what they can’t see
to ghosts, or to heartache, to the light from the sea
they say
out there, the sand, the sea
he smiles and he laughs like somebody free
he’s got everything he’ll ever need
what else could heaven be
now she comes with the red tide
stays springtime by his side
and she says his name
so sweet and clear
that he don’t care that nobody else can hear
when the winds change and the waves shine
with a light like her blue eyes
she says his name
so sweet and clear
that he don’t care that nobody else can hear
no one else can hear
he built the house just north of where the sea kept the girl with the long dark hair
5 minutes 24 seconds
Track 6: Hurricane
The Story: A song about love that’s big enough, and healthy enough, to hold someone loosely, support them fiercely, and allow them to change.
The Lyric:
tell me how love’s been a weapon
I’ll open my hands
show me what’s left of the battle
I’ll be your last stand
Ask me to carry your story
I’ll write you a song
Sing it on street corners
Til you know you belong
you need a fortress
I’m coming with mortar and stone
you need a wildfire
you ain’t gonna light it alone
if you need me
I’ll wrap you up in my arms
let you go easy
if holding is bringing you harm
if you gotta leave me
I’ll be your someone to blame
if you look around and this tired old town is causing you pain
I’ll be your hurricane
there ain’t a limit to how many times
you can change
my lovin’ you ain’t a contract
for staying the same
there’s nothing I wouldn’t bend
if it helps you to know
nothing I wouldn’t tear down
if it helps you to grow
you need a fortress
I’m coming with mortar and stone
you need a wildfire
you ain’t gonna light it alone
if you need me
I’ll wrap you up in my arms
let you go easy
if holding is bringing you harm
if you gotta leave me
I’ll be your someone to blame
if you look around and this tired old town is causing you pain
I’ll be your hurricane
I’ll be your hurricane
I’ll be your hurricane
3 minutes 47 seconds
Track 7: Waltzing the Faultline
The Story: Trauma creates patterns that haunt our relationships. A song for every couple who have gotten stuck in an unhealthy loop.
The Lyric:
we’ve been walking around all the holes in the floor
of this house we’ve been haunting since late ‘94
when you signed on the line and I swore that I’d stay
we’ve been dancing with leaving since that day
I’ve been spinning around all the holes in my mind
where the answers went missing in memory and time
will you fade in the echo or swallow me whole
I don’t know
keep waltzing the faultline
shifting the blame
hollow the canyon
shelter my name
we’ve been building our castles on trembling ground
and wondering why they fall down
you’ve been skirting around all the holes in your story
you’re right when you’re wrong, standing right here before me
how did you believe in the way this might go
when you already knew what you already know
you’ve been running around like the walls here won’t hold you
like love is a trap set to shame and to scold you
like there’s nothing here in this home that we made
left to save
keep waltzing the faultline
shifting the blame
hollow the canyon
shelter my name
we’ve been building our castles on trembling ground
and wondering why they fall down
what if I offer my hand and you take it
fall into my arms while the whole world is shaking
we’ll dance through the shadows and settle the score
when the aftershocks come, hell, we’ll beg them for more
we go round and round like there’s no better way
like the sun always sets at the end of the day
but I’ve witnessed the world and I think there is more than we’re saying
keep waltzing the faultline
shifting the blame
hollow the canyon
shelter my name
we’ve been building our castles on trembling ground
and wondering why they fall down
5 minutes 4 seconds
Track 8: The One Who’s Leavin’
The Story: A song about having enough of yourself not to chase someone who has decided to leave you.
The Lyric:
you slammed the door so hard on your way out
that picture of my mama fell right off the wall
somewhere in the shatter I could almost hear her words
girl, don’t you forget what you deserve
I know you’ve been taken for a ride
I know your heart’s been broken, but baby all this time
I’ve been standing steady while you break into a run
I can’t keep us going if I’m going it alone
so I can’t chase you anymore
we’ve been down this road too many times before so
I won’t drive through the night to find you
or write a love song that might remind you
or waste a prayer that you’ll keep believing
honey I ain’t the one who’s leavin’
how to tell the story of a man
who couldn’t take what’s given cause he’s given all he can
you were always bleeding though I never raised my hand
you were always leaving just to find out where we stand
and I won’t chase you anymore
I am stronger now than I’ve ever been before so
I won’t drive through the night to find you
or write a love song that might remind you
or waste a prayer that you’ll keep believing
honey I ain’t the one who’s leavin’
if you want to try again
I’ll be right here where I’ve always been
you can drive through the night to find me
or write a love song that might remind me
or say a prayer that I’ll keep believing
honey I ain’t the one who’s leavin’
honey I ain’t the one leavin’
4 minutes 3 seconds
Track 9: Building a Boat
The Story: Many of our loved ones have had to say some hard goodbyes in order to be free to be the truest version of themselves - to love who they love, believe what they believe, or identify as they identify. This song is dedicated to their courage and grief.
The Lyric:
I am tired of treading water
I have begged you not to drown
I can’t swim out any farther
I can only hear the sound
of the waves that break
of my worst mistake
you should know
I hate to go
but I am building a boat
I am leaving a lamp lit
I am aiming for home
I’m hoping we’ll find it
there is room for two
there’s a place for you
you were always raging rivers
you go storming at the sea
the rain your hurricanes deliver
my love, my love, it’s killing me
we were all and lost
I will count the cost
you should know
I hate to go
but I am building a boat
I am leaving a lamp lit
I am aiming for home
I’m hoping we’ll find it
there is room for two
there’s a place for you
I am building a boat
I am leaving a lamp lit
I am aiming for home
I’m hoping we’ll find it
there is room for two
there’s a place for you
but I am building a boat
you should know
I hate to go
3 minutes 21 seconds
Track 10: The Way You Get Found
The Story: Our blessing for the wanderers, the leavers, the poets, the black sheep, the broken, the disillusioned, the healing, and the brave.
The Lyric:
I bless the way you hold your tongue
when you find the room you’re in just ain’t a listening one
I bless the way you change your mind
when you find the thoughts you’re holding aren’t the healing kind
I bless the way you close the door
when the house that used to hold you isn’t shelter anymore
I bless the way you leave behind
when you know there’s something good out there you’ve got to go and find
don’t you let anyone turn you around
now you know getting lost is the way you get found
I bless the courage in your doubt
and the stubborn way you chase the truths you haven’t figured out
I bless the patience in your grief
when it’s pushing you to rise and when it’s pulling you beneath
I bless the way you carve your name
in the gatekept innersanctums where they said you couldn’t stay
I bless the way you make a home
in the wild and in the weary, in the precious wide unknown
don’t you let anyone turn you around
now you know getting lost is the way you get found
oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh
4 minutes 52 seconds
