more from
Jeffrey Alan Bright Music Archive
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Be What You Are (1985 version)

from Be What You Are (2018 mix) by The Pleasures Pale

/

about

{1985 demo version digitized from cassette, edited, mixed and remastered}

lyrics

Stymied on the back porch
A screened-in view of ineptitude
I cannot wait another hour
You're just another toothsome fool

Magazines say we're young and lean
And the horde of plebes stares mockingly
My own biology tends to leave me pale
And my own psychology says I don't care

Be what you are, you live today
Be what you will as pleasures pale

A kiss on the shoulder
Now you listen to me
Life is much, much older
And the stories being told only sometimes agree

Newspapers will show run-rampant grief
Corruption, abuse and back-alley thieves
This can tend to alarm the frail
This could tend to leave anyone pale

Be what you are, you live today
Be what you will as pleasures pale

The myths you generate
With your mouth in mind
Seize me, tie me
— You could be more kind

You can see a light at the end of the tunnel
They'll say it's an oncoming train
This can tend to alarm the weak at heart
You know daily living is a Herculean art

Be what you are, you live today
Be what you will as pleasures pale
Be what you are, you live today
Be what you will as pleasures pale

Oh, life comes and goes

credits

from Be What You Are (2018 mix), released August 10, 2018
voice – jeffrey bright
guitar – mitchell swann
bass guitar – luis lerma
drums – timothy payton earick

words – jeffrey bright
music – Swann & lerma

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Pleasures Pale Dayton, Ohio

The Pleasures Pale was an influential indie quartet based in Dayton Ohio active from 1985 to 1987. Oft-compared to anglo groups such as The Smiths, TPP's influences can now be read as more diverse — taking cues from postpunk, rockabilly, swing, Motown and Dayton funk. A band for misfits, their extensive, lyric-driven output sought to light a way through the rust belt's post-industrial bleakness. ... more

contact / help

Contact The Pleasures Pale

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

The Pleasures Pale recommends:

If you like The Pleasures Pale, you may also like: