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The Great Escape

by Emily Triggs

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Great Escape via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    shipping out on or around March 28, 2024
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 CAD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $12 CAD  or more

     

1.
London 1969 03:50
London 1969 – Emily Triggs / Caroline Conolly You’ll never forget this landing on the moon The way the earth fell away while we stood in the room Our eyes as big as stars as you took steps of faith We all left the pool to watch the interstellar race As I watched you leaping for mankind he said you’ll never forget this you’ll never forget this And I love you leaping for mankind I know I’ll never forget this London 1969 You floated for days and days you floated to the stars Our eyes were yours we shared your gaze Jupiter and Mars Do you think you’ll miss her? Could she change your mind? If you had the chance to stay would you leave us all behind? Would you kick the boosters off and drain the rocket fuel Flip the bird to planet earth while we stare up at you? As I watched you leaping for mankind he said you’ll never forget this you’ll never forget this And I loved you leaping for mankind I know I’ll never forget this London 1969 London 1969
2.
America 03:26
America - Emily Triggs You got the brave and strong Colorado long Smoky eastern skies The Brooklyn Bridge You got my friends and their kids I miss you more each time we talk The Northern Lights Prairies big and wide Redwoods in the west Seattle and Cali Where I visit my family A place I’d love to live one day I love you America Your stars shining in the sky You hold the sweetest gifts for me Ones I can’t live without Say you’ll keep them safe and free I’m too far away to help you hold the weight You’ve got the Ozarks and their toys Oklahoma boys Smokey mountains too West Virginia hills Those hollers and those stills We drove across those creek beds once Minnesota candied skies The Carolina’s beaches and the dunes Where we swam in the waves with Chad, Adam and the Daves Brothers on our college spring break I love you America Your stars shining in the sky You hold the sweetest gifts for me Ones I can’t live without Say you’ll keep them safe and free I’m too far away to help you hold the weight New York streets are calling me Those Pittsburgh nights felt like home Watching from here we all can see The commoners carry the load I love you America Your stars shining in the sky You hold the sweetest gifts for me Ones I can’t live without Say you’ll keep them safe and free I’m too far away To help you hold the weight
3.
The Walls 03:06
The Walls – Emily Triggs You call me an angel now but you treat me like a ghost We could live in this town if you could stomach all the noise You’re living just for show as you’re grinding down the rough When the wheels are turning slow and it’s just too tough You know that we could make this right if you just came home tonight We got a lot to do since the walls came down The war is coming on as we save the universe The crows will take the crops we just have to get there first When things aren’t making any sense your faults will show the road You think the spotlight shines on me You take the lead role You know that we could make this right if you just came home tonight We got a lot to do since the walls came down You say the world’s gone bad It’s the past that makes you wrong Ah it’s all so wrong, and it’s all coming down You know that we could make this right if you just came home tonight We got a lot to do since the walls came down came down, came down, came down
4.
Flower Skirt Pretty – Carveor Triggs I got string in my pocket It holds things I forget Deep down digging sometimes gets to me My wallet is soaking wet The screeching rises like a chain Throw it in with a clang and a bang She knew she was flower skirt pretty at night On the bus ears are all sharpened The cracked cement sky is a tomb Christmas rushes washing dishes Wrinkled eyes for the bride and groom She hardly spoke any English But they got along alright He knew she was flower skirt pretty at night He tries not to be a cynic Knows there’s nothing funny in it Deadwood submarines under bridges Sunglasses for nine ninety-nine The prices all have gone up They’ll sleep on the river bank Who would see she was flower skirt pretty at night
5.
Sister Summer – Emily Triggs Did someone tell you sister that I’ll be leaving soon The warm dark hands are reaching out and I’ll be going home You can tell our father I’ll bring him his long tan pipe I’ll wrap myself into his arms and I’ll feel his warmth again I’ve been missing you since last I heard your voice I knew that you were busy and time gave you no choice I’ve been missing you We both know I still am My love it never waned for you, Diane You can tell the summer I don’t need her to come back I love the winter endlessly I’ve embraced its darkest hours You can tell the rivers not to let go of the ice I see the water rush underneath my feet from where I stand Depuis la dernier fois Tu me manque toujour Je savais que tu etais occupée Le temp devenue trop court Depuis la dernier fois Tu me manque toujour Mon amour reste fidèle pour toi, Diane I’ve been missing you We both know I still am My love it never waned for you My love it never waned for you My love it never waned for you, Diane
6.
Beautiful August – Emily Triggs You open the kitchen drawer like so many times before Something makes you feel so far away The trees are bowing down peaches, cherries abound I don’t want to end these barefoot days Beautiful August I don’t want to let you go I’ll keep holding on until summers gone September winds start to blow We’ll visit about our quieter days laugh about our crazy ways All we won and all we never knew Tourists all disappear Lonely streets as I stay here No surprise that I’m left without you Beautiful August I don’t want to let you go I’ll keep holding on until summers gone September winds start to blow I will come and sit with you we’ll talk like we used to do Beautiful August I don’t want to let you go I’ll keep holding on until summers gone September winds start to blow Beautiful August I never want to let you go I’ll keep holding on until summers gone September winds start to blow
7.
Summer In Nevada – Emily Triggs They’re digging today in Area 51 under the sun All the things we don’t know and never will are underground The rockets of shame they blew them away in 1956 They flew to the sun in front of everyone Oh, it’s summer in Nevada N2S2, here we go They’re gonna drop the bomb N2S2, here we go Oh, it’s summer in Nevada There’s a space that they made for men in green to run in between They turn night into day a planet X Ray UV extreme The fortunate ones they watch from their rooms cocktails and orange plumes It lifts off the sky the ashes fly by Oh, it’s summer in Nevada N2S2, here we go They’re gonna drop the bomb N2S2, here we go Oh, it’s summer in Nevada The men up at front The atomic ones To see how bad that it could be Can’t tell what they’ve seen It lives in their dreams The command is far, the command is far away N2S2, here we go They’re gonna drop the bomb N2S2, here we go Oh, it’s summer in Nevada N2S2, here we go They’re gonna drop the bomb N2S2, here we go Oh, it’s summer in Nevada Oh, it’s summer in Nevada Oh, it’s summer in Nevada Oh, it’s summer in Nevada
8.
Ask The Birds – Emily Triggs Won’t you say the words that I never heard that I never heard from you Won’t you speak to me in that soft southern way and tell me how you feel When the wind blows steady to the north and I don’t hear your call I will ask the birds if you might have forgotten If they know where you are Won’t you take my hand like you’ve done before like a soldier brave and tall Won’t you reach for me in that strong southern way and show me how you feel When the wind stops blowing to the north and I never hear your voice I will ask the birds if you might have forgotten To tell me if you’re still with her The hardest road that I’ve ever toiled is empty as it is long I have no clue as to where it leads or what I’ll lose when I am gone So I’ll stare out as it stretches on and I’ll hold, I’ll hold a hope in hell I will ask the birds if you might have forgotten and to show you where I am I will ask the birds if you might have forgotten If you might have forgotten If you might have forgotten
9.
Rough In The Ring – Emily Triggs You could use a hero now to get you through this mess somehow Oh, oh When the sky comes crashing down You’re eating dirt, and you’re on the ground Brace yourself, there’s one thing I know they’re gonna hit you hard, hit you low This world’s not made for Kings and Queens It gets rough in the ring You got a sense of justice they don’t understand I’m going to teach you how to throw your hands Oh, oh When the ticket sales light up the gate You’ll show them how you punch above your weight Brace yourself, there’s one thing I know they’re gonna hit you hard, they’ll hit low This world’s not made for Kings and Queens It gets rough in the ring I will keep the home fires burning for you Just remember who you are You know who you are You be first when they ring the bell It’s your house go give them hell Oh, oh When the deal goes bad and they cross the line I’ll be your cut man anytime Brace yourself, there’s one thing I know they’re gonna hit you hard, they’ll hit low This world’s not made for Kings and Queens It gets rough in the ring Brace yourself, I gotta let you know they’re gonna come in hard, they’ll come in low In this this world you gotta duck and swing It gets rough in the ring It gets rough in the ring It gets rough in the ring
10.
I Know 03:13
I know – Emily Triggs You know I always take it too far All the way until it breaks apart You’re out there acting like a superstar I know, I know I do Everything you say is degrading You’re so young, you’re overrated I won’t be listening to what you say I know, I know, I do Nothing seems to matter to me when you’re gone Nothing seems to matter to me but these strange and lonesome songs They say you don’t really mean it They say I’m too complicated I see all the flags your waving I know, I know I do Nothing seems to matter to me when you’re gone Nothing seems to matter to me but these strange and lonesome songs I don’t care what you say I’ll break all the rules anyway You’re still walking on the road I paved I know, I know I do Nothing seems to matter to me when you’re gone Nothing seems to matter to me but these strange and lonesome songs You know I always take it too far All the way until it breaks apart You’re out there acting like a superstar I know, I know I do
11.
My Son 03:22
My Son – Emily Triggs All the way to the mountains I will take you with me I will show you the valleys and we’ll climb the highest peaks The coloured leaves will bend and weave the strength for everyone All the way to the mountains my son All the way to Ausable we will drive along the shore We will swim in Lake Champlain underneath the burning star The dark blue waves will wash the pain your tomorrows will never see All the way to Ausable with me It doesn’t matter much to me what the other people say I’ll show you the ways of days before us All the way to the city we will cross the Pont Champlain We will stare up at the buildings where the old stones know our names The darkest alleys will ring and rally of dreams yet to be won All the way to the city my son All the way to the Kootenays we will drive the winding road I will tell you the stories that I know I’ve never told The tallest trees will whisper these to you for years to come All the way to the Kootenays my son Forever is not long enough, I don’t know where we’ll go The sky is our road clouds don’t deter us All the way through the meadow I will sing you the songs That my father and his father and his father sang before All the birds will string the words with us from memory All the way through the meadow with me All the way through the meadow with me All the way through the meadow
12.
Century 03:35
Century – Emily Triggs They’re hanging flowers, it’s Victoria Day For all the ghosts you just can’t face It’s dark in the rooms where you bend the rules You’re stealing memories you got nothing to lose It’s beautiful here but you can’t look down You turn your backs as we burn to the ground Living is hard here it’s harder than you know You through up your hands saying there’s nothing we can do, nothing we can do Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening A factory girl she’s against the bricks Fifteen minutes, she’s back on shift She’s got her hair tied back she leans into talk You tell her how to say it or she gets laid off, gets laid off Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening I thought more from you was what we deserved I thought more from you is what you’d deliver I thought more of you I’m so disappointed Being nothing is the best we’ve got There’s walls you built with the pain you bought We got garbage streets that you say we own A sleeping giant in every home, every home Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening Woah, in this century You stand around and watch it while it’s happening You stand around and watch it while it’s happening
13.
Water Tower 03:22
Water Tower - Emily Triggs / Chantal Vitalis Up on the water tower looking over Graceland I see the lights on the trestle bridge You think it’s a wasteland I come up here to steal away seeking an asylum You made the great escape I stay here to guide them You just leave me leave me standing here All the things you could have done you act like I disappeared All through the long nights when we all come undone You had all the questions You had all the lessons You had all the fun I can’t say you’re guilty Overnight and you’re gone It’s so hard when you leave I can’t help but hold on Kids run up toboggan hills history repeated I may not have the life you do I like to know I’m needed You just leave me leave me standing here All the things you could have done you act like I disappeared All through the long nights when we all come undone You had all the questions You had all the lessons You had all the fun

about

There are a few specific reasons why Emily Triggs titled her new album The Great Escape, the main one being that the 13-song collection represents a break from old ways of thinking that the Montreal raised, Calgary-based Americana singer/songwriter says have held her back both artistically and personally. With her new material, Triggs set out to challenge herself by ignoring any genre restrictions, and the result is her most honest and empowering album to date.

Describing Emily’s sound in No Depression, Gillian Turnbull wrote, “Her originality continues through song themes that challenge the dominant singer-songwriter narratives so often employed by her colleagues.” And in the words of the Calgary Herald’s Eric Volmers, “While hardly a traditional folk performer, Triggs does have a knack for timeless melodies and crafting seemingly simple lines that nevertheless possess a good deal of gravity.”

credits

released March 28, 2024

The Great Escape was produced by Paul Rigby, longtime Neko Case collaborator, who also played a multitude of instruments on the album. Also contributing to the sessions in Vancouver were engineer/multi-instrumentalist Dave Carswell (Destroyer, The Evaporators), bassist Darren Paris (Frazey Ford), drummer Geoff Hicks (Colin James) and engineer Erik Nielsen (City and Colour).

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