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You breathe out
I breathe in
We’re kindred spirits
But when we fight
I always win
And that’s not possible
Can you show me how
To recognize
These lies I tell myself
Can you show me how
To believe
When you say you love me
And believe me when I say I do
You can shed your skin
I cling to mine
We’re kindred spirits
But you shed your skin
All the time
And we’re both changing
Can you show me how
To recognize
These lies I tell myself
Can you show me how
To believe
When you say you need me
And believe me when I say I do
You don’t know what I know
And I’m not gonna tell you
You’ll just have to wait and see
And I’m not gonna show you
Read my actions
Watch my words
Feel your reaction as you
Calm your nerves
You could see what I see
But I’m not gonna show you
You wouldn’t notice if I tried
So I’ll see you on the other side
Read my actions
Watch my words
Feel your reaction as you
Calm your nerves
I wave my magic wand at you
And you know what I know
I don’t wish that were true
Now you do what I do!
Let’s pretend we’re sorcerers!
Waving wands and casting spells!
We’re all hiding in plain view!
Read my actions
(We’re all hiding in plain view!)
Watch my words
(We’re all hiding in plain view!)
Feel your reaction as you
(We’re all hiding in plain view!)
Calm your nerves
(We’re all hiding in plain view!)
I know you said it
I heard you say it
Today is the happiest day of your life
You probably meant it
It was a light day
It lifted
Got a favor to ask
And I’m gonna hold you to it
(Just a second, give me a chance)
And I’ll try to help you through this
We don’t care about what you thought you were trying to say
You stole the moment and took their words away
Better they should have ‘em
They can use ‘em again
Restore the meaning
Make a genuine friend
We can be the source of frustration
Everything we say is our translation
Got a favor to ask
And I’m gonna hold you to it
(Just a second, give me a chance)
We can help each other through this
When you leave it up to me,
Quickly sinking in the sand...
A fenced-in boy
Who cannot flee,
Though aided by my hand
Empathy is misguided
Don’t fall into the pits
Potential isn’t matter
Remember this
Empathy is misguided
Don’t fall into the pits
Potential isn’t matter
Remember this
Sharks attack without warning
Your animal actions conquer men with books
(You’re an animal actor, animal actor)
It’s unthinkable kid
It really spins my head
Trying to redeem yourself
A picture of a nature scene
Purple skies and purple trees
Don’t you know you can’t pretend
Paint the skies what you see
We can’t paint a rainbow
With only pink and blue
Try again I dare you
Or nothing will amount of…
You can’t paint a rainbow
With only pink and blue
Try again I dare you,
We’ll start anew
Sharks attack without warning
Ooo your animal actions are…
Sharks attack without warning
Your animal actions conquer men with books
(You’re an animal actor, animal actor)
It’s unthinkable kid
It really spins my head
Trying to redeem yourself
I’ve lots of
Problems they are
Unhealthy and...
Immoral
But only on a
Personal level
I believe that I have
Ceased to hurt others,
But I know
That I still
Inflict pain
And do so more
It’s time to push It away
It only brings you down
It may be fun tonight
It may be “fun”
But push It away
Feel the real stuff now
(It’s hard for me to say
I’ll never be around)
Is there a place you can go,
Where they will leave you alone?
There are voices everywhere!
(Everywhere!)
In your head
(I can make it if you help me, I can make it if you help me)
Some that care
(I can make it if you help me, I can make it if you help me)
Some that scare. Oh.
When fear is your channel for
Making you Smile
(I can make it if you help me, I can make it if you help me, I can make it if you help me!)
And the light can only hold you for a while...
And all of a sudden I start wondering
If it’s time to act so bold and
Keeping it under, keeping with my rules
So I hope that
My heart is solid
With You!
It’s time to push It away
Simple isn’t plain
It takes some getting used to
And we will remain friends
So, Push It Away!
Make some room for change
It’s hard for me to say,
I’ll state this in your name:
I’ll never be the same again!
I know that it’d be okay
If someday we moved away
Being here is ordinary
I’m not afraid of anything
But being here is ordinary
I’ve already got characters
To write my story
I’m not afraid of anything
I’m not afraid of anything
When will my eyes stop walking?
When will my feet stop talking?
When will my mouth stop looking around?
Fearless change is unproductive,
There’s always something more seductive
Even Eden lost its glimmer
This wanderlust has got me bad
Leaving me no better than a broken nomad
Left behind and left for dead
If I could just keep thinking small
Sing my songs and forget it all
Sing my songs and forget it all… forget it all!
(Why can’t my feet keep moving?
I learn my songs and forget them
I bet we all can turn this around… turn this around!)
I know that it’s no better
What’s here is here
And, there’s no other place to be
Or see
It’s all here in front of me
(So why can’t the world start talking?
Why can’t the world keep talking?
I bet we all can figure this!)
Why can’t we all keep singing?
Why can’t we all keep singing?
Why can’t we all keep singing it?
Why can’t we all keep singing?
Why can’t we all keep singing?
Why can’t we all keep singing it?
Why can’t we all keep singing?
Why can’t we all keep singing?
Why can’t we all keep singing it?
My mind is what it is and disconnected
From all emotion when it’s fully active
(My mind is what it is and disconnected)
Listen mind, it's time to unlearn that which
(From all emotion when it’s fully active)
Controls the way you make decisions.
Listen mind, it's time to unlearn that which
All you've offered me is a distraction
Chopping off what seems to be happening
All you've offered me is a distraction
Chopping off what seems to be happening
Shutting out what’s actually happening
Seems you think I want all this action
You give me reasons not to take action
You give me reasons to have an overreaction
You give me reasons not to have a reaction,
Disconnected from emotion
You give me reasons why I’m always right
How could I...
Listen mind, how could I always be right?
How could I always be right?
How could I always be right!?
My mind is what it is and disconnected
WE NEVER THOUGHT? NEVER THOUGHT!
Hey little fuzz,
Touch the ground
He’s looking out,
He’s looking into it
All you’ve offered me is a distraction
Chopping off what seems to be happening
Seems you think I like all this action
Listen mind, it’s time to unlearn that which
Expects a certain list of outcomes.
Listen mind, I’ve got an understanding,
Try it on and see if it’s too demanding
Listen mind, it’s worth it’s weight in gold.
To make a change is really all I’m asking!
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
Listen mind, my soul is what it is,
And it’s connected.
(WE ARE ALL CONNECTED)
When I look
Into those eyes
I lose myself
Just trying to fly
There’s little else I see
And there’s nothing more to hear
It’s only you and me
And now everything seems clear
And when Love takes ahold
There is no going back - oh
You must accept it has you
No guitar will save you
No drumming will save you
No singing will save you
I’ve noticed
That under stress I- I just can’t
Keep
My cool
And all of a sudden I start wondering
If it’s time to act so bold and
Keeping it under, keeping with my rules
So I hope that
My heart is solid
With You!
And when Love takes ahold
There is no going back - oh
You must accept it has you! Yeah!
No guitar will save you
No drumming will save you
Not singing will save you!
Water flowing upward
Is never quite as clean
You’re looking for a way to cool down...
Cool down
Train goes around
Pain goes around
Train goes around
Pain goes around
Train goes around…
I KNOW IT’S TOO HARD, BUT
WE NEED YOU
KEEP PUSHING!
I KNOW IT’S TOO HARD, BUT
WE NEED YOU
KEEP PUSHING!
I KNOW IT’S TOO HARD, BUT
WE NEED YOU
KEEP PUSHING!
Our hearts make everything okay
It’s a matter of fact
Everything you say (moves me)
You don’t say
Thought you were my eyes
Thought you were my eyes
Thought you were my eyes
I thought you were my eyes
You’ve got the control now
(I’ll take the blame)
You can do anything you want
(I’ll do the same)
You’ve got me by the hand
You’ve got me by the hand
You’ve got me by the hand
You’ve got me by the hand
Thought you were my eyes
Thought you were my eyes
Thought you were my eyes
Thought you were my eyes
I thought you were my eyes
Welcome to this sphere!
Everything leads to the start
And when you think you’re near
You can call it smart
Open up your mind
Watch as it unfolds
Wrapping itself around everything
That you have known
I’ll be crushed by the foot of a Giant
You can’t predict anything
But it makes it easier
You want to predict everything
‘Cuz you’re afraid
You can’t control anything
But it makes it easier
You want to control everything
‘Cuz you’re afraid
Opportunity
Is a facade
Stabilize our sanity
Just like god
What an easy way
To make sense of this place
Hold our hopes above our heads
For us to chase
(Look at this here rock
Just sitting still
Let’s go grocery shopping
We’re out of food)
I’ll be crushed by the foot of a giant
We’ll all be crushed
By an image of ourselves
Staring at our troubled eyes
And fading out
about
The Strongest Muscle composed music together for many years without a shared vision. On the surface, they were making an album. But, deep within, each had specific ideas that were often incompatible. Overwhelmed with possibility, they paused to reflect and refocus.
Agreeing to undertake the quest of making a solid ALBUM, an artform both admired, their visions became focused. They set out to create a homemade homage to great albums, such as Flaming Lips’ Soft Bulletin, Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, and Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, among countless others in a plethora of genres and styles.
Their resurgence became the album, “Parenthetical.” A celebration of over 17 years of writing and collaboration. Exploring self growth within the limits of a determined friendship. And recognizing the trials and tribulations of the creative process.
Staying authentic to their own experiences, with the help of friends, they explore falling in and out of love, their careers as educators, wizardry, and becoming parents. Their reflective journey leaves more questions than answers, and ultimately embraces uncertainty over conviction; love over reason.
The Strongest Muscle offers heartfelt harmony vocals layered over warm guitars, bass, and drums, alongside rich synth sounds; the home studio determining the soul of the album as much as the instrumentation and lyrics.
credits
released December 12, 2020
All music, lyrics, and production by The Strongest Muscle
The Strongest Muscle is Dan Krill and AJ Daughtry Krill
Special Thanks To: Our Mom and Dad for having us and always supporting us, Carolyn Daughtry Krill, Maggie Denman, Gayatri Devillier, PJ Macklin, Drew Petersen for playing and writing music with us, Jeffrey Shokler for the incredible Astrophotography, Jessica & Joey Tucci, Ryan Swan, Larry Kosewski, Al Albers (Where are you?), Andy Puls, Luis Perez, Joe Wong, Adam Bartell, David Libert, International House Co-Op on Gilman, Ben Luedke, Bob Koch, Adam Schabow, Larry Braun, John Weidenhoft, Mike Krill, Kortney Krill, Emily Krill, Laura & Brian Clark for supporting us and encouraging us, all our friends and family, especially our musical and whimsical children, each other, and to our fans - We LOVE you ALL and we ARE ALL CONNECTED!
Established as The Strongest Muscle in 2019, Dan and AJ have been writing and recording songs together, in a home studio,
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