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The Cost of Living

by Former Monarchs

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1.
Origins 03:29
The trial, we stand here all at once, to leave our egos at the door. We're searching for a sign to boost rapport. I never noticed it before, a tribute to the Art of War, has left us searching for our enemies. Lie when you need to, use it disprove laws and facts that you know are true. Burn what you want to, burn 'cause you haven't got time and the knowledge won't find you. That's what the right says, that's what left says. You know you're wrong. Burn if you have to, burn in the hope that all the others will follow suit. The breath was stolen as you spoke, a thousand words hung in the air. What did we know about our own despair? The moral compass is intact, this is an area believed, that they have leverage that they can attack. Lie when you need to, use it disprove laws and facts that you know are true. Burn what you want to, burn 'cause you haven't got time and the knowledge won't find you. That's what the right says, that's what left says. You know you're wrong. Burn if you have to, burn in the hope that all the others will follow suit. The morning sun reprised this snapshot of our lives, a semblance of restraint and blatant dismay. The people losing time will ask us all to pray, but a shooting star means nothing to them these days.
2.
Armour 03:41
A subtle fear, a year it’s in arrears, a stolen time; a differential year. Prepare for flight, a story set alight, Provokes the end for this. A golden hue, a trickery ensues. A time that my eyes walked aside with you. A babied squall, a sorrow to recall, A sorrow above all. These short questions are driving me insane, Will you ask them in another way? These long answers are awash inside my brain. Will you ask them in another way? And in the end the past will show its face, Upon the scene, a spiteful form of grace. I took a seat, reflecting by the stair. I breathed in lilac air. These short questions are driving me insane, Will you ask them in another way? These long answers are awash inside my brain, Will you ask them in another way? These directions will lead us to our graves, all the swollen scenes of black and grey. Sliced in sections a stinging source of pain, But I won’t end in another way. I’ve been forecasting storm clouds, I’ve been forecasting stealth. You’ve been writing a blank cheque, I’ve been checking my health. You’ve been walking on minefields Staring into the sea. Swift incisions and smoke-shields You’ve been trampling on me.
3.
Buyer Beware 04:45
Take the time that you’ve spent, thinking of the things that you possess. Gather all that you can. Save, collect, you know what you still need. Now we are what we own, philosophy has taken a backseat. Gather all that you can. Save collect you know what you still need. We’ve tried to, subscribe to a richer life. We’ve tried to, subscribe to a richer life. Take the time that you’ve spent, thinking of the things that you possess. Gather all that you can. Save, collect, you know what you still need. Now we are what we own, philosophy has taken a backseat. Gather all that you can. Save collect you know what you still need. All this pretense does not make sense. (This is an obsession, fueled by foolish, young minds. We’re learning a lesson, brought about by time. This is an obsession, fueled by foolish, young minds. We’re learning a lesson). We spend all our money on things we don’t need, Because it’s in fashion and we live through our greed. Through all our pretensions, we cloak all our fears, Using ostentation to impress our peers. And yet we feel empty, why are we so glum? And yet we feel empty, why are we so glum? And yet we feel empty, why are we so glum? And yet we feel empty. Impressions, and all our values faked. Assertions, we do not give we take. And you’ll see that all our minds are closed. Our whole lives, so easily disposed Impressions, and all our values faked. Assertions, we do not give we take. And you’ll see that all our minds are closed. Our whole lives, so easily disposed Our whole lives, so easily disposed.
4.
Home 02:13
A cold morning cleanses a frost in my lungs The snapped gravel tenses, a white fog imposed. I’ll carve it into bone Running wild, the wind groans A memory of home The dark blackened embers, the weak slapping lines. A long wait full ending, this instant in time. This is a resistance, whispers with groans And inside this instant, this feels like home. A flicker of the past Hold it, let the time last A future folding fast.
5.
Birdsong 03:47
A whisper reveals, enabling a user to be at ease. The raucous appeals and cries of trepidation, yet the re-up ensues. These few words are the bearing wall; it's in this mode we will tell them all. A whisper reveals this action, as it should be, unhindered by a wall. Birdsong reveals this note, type what you will don't choke. This is the great design. It's a sign of the times. A new thought. The post. The twits have formed the vanguard and so they lead. The subjects believe this company is binding, but they can’t stop fighting. We now know that it’s all for show, it is this mode that will have to go. Birdsong reveals this note, type what you will don't choke. This is the great design. It's a sign of the times. Birdsong reveals this note, type what you will don't choke. This is the great design. It's a sign of the times.
6.
Evade 02:16
True liberation is at stake, but the party will forsake, As long as there’s a date that is there left for aim. The talking heads will have their say, it’s cruel the interplay, That bridled and released the event stayed the same. That’s not the way to fail (always take the blame, always take the blame). Even the odds today (always take the blame, always take the blame). Procrastination has its flaws, for progress has been paused And looking for a cause is a vain search because the motivation has it’s plan. It’s clear to understand, the falling sand cries ‘Hail to the chief’ in demand. That’s not the way to fail (always take the blame, always take the blame). Even the odds today (always take the blame, always take the blame)
7.
Battlelines 05:16
The current state of play, dictates a downcast and sorry state. But we won’t let it be, we’ll bring it back where we used to be. I hope that this true, ambitious guidelines to ease the mood, With these words in our ears, eliminating the greatest fears. Continue pushing forth, we’ll show them all that we still have worth, We’re small but we are proud, we’ll shout, we’ll sing and we’ll do it loud. We build in crowds, not just for healings sake, this trade is tried and true. Beware the tribe; all of its members say the wealth was lost today. Battlelines formed in minds; yes we’ll bring it up again. They will try planting mines, that’s when we’ll realize it’s a waste of time We build in crowds, not just for healings sake, this trade is tried and true. Beware the tribe; all of its members say the wealth was lost today. These ascetic holes, vitriolic folds, they are taking hold, they are taking hold. You can run it up, you can bring it back, penetrate the skin, sudden heart attack. These electric lines weaving in my spine, I will rush around, I will waste my time. He’s a boy I know she’s a girl I knew, I will save my change to get through to you This is what I think of the state of play, this is what I think of the world today, But the problem is, it’s not what I say. Battlelines formed in minds; yes we’ll bring it up again. They will try planting mines; yes we’ll bring it up again. Battlelines formed in minds; yes we’ll bring it up again. They will try planting mines; yes we’ll bring it up, We’ll bring it up, we’ll bring it up, we’ll bring it up. Our future is bright, we will continue pushing forth Clench your fists and point them skywards. Blue skies are in sight, on the horizon, pushing forth Clench your fists and point them skywards.
8.
Clans 07:54
Conflict is a constant; we’ll fly ‘til the fighting has ceased. We still have a will to win although our numbers decrease. Landmines are across this ground; you and I both are at risk. Listen as the noise resounds, punching the sky with its fist. Change the tact, hunt in packs. We’ll defend and we will attack. This is our rightful home, we belong here it’s ours alone. They will fly in the night; we will punish those left behind, We persist. Take a risk. If they’re armed we’ll fight with our fists. Conflict is a constant; we’ll fly ‘til the fighting has ceased. We still have a will to win although our numbers decrease. Landmines are across this ground; you and I both are at risk. Listen as the noise resounds, punching the sky with its fist. We’re not the villains, we understand It’s out of our control; it’s out of our hands. We just want our children to grow, But this violence is all that we know, this violence is all that we know. What occurs if we succeed? Is it freedom? Is it greed? Stick together in our clans; is this guilt left on our hands? All of our tales, stories regaled, I know where it ends All of our tales, stories regaled, I know where it ends All of our tales, stories regaled, I know where it ends All of our tales, stories regaled, I know where it ends
9.
Mori 03:22
Over-thinking, over-analyzing, (Stinging salts are thrown into my greatest fears) Sapped by singing, the secrets of the earth, boy, (The soul would lack in rainbows if the eye lacked tears). Helter Skelter, sit alone. Take your shelter, secret stone. A form of pretending, a stitch needing mending, I’m patching up my outlook. Over-thinking, over-analyzing, (The thoughts, the words are filling in the air) Sapped by singing, the secrets of the earth, boy, (The soul would lack in rainbows if the eye lacked tears). I can’t talk to you at all. (Stinging salts are thrown into my greatest fears) Scattered thoughts in sloppy scrawls. (The soul would lack in rainbows if the eye lacked tears). A form of pretending, a stitch needing mending I’m patching up my outlook A form of pretending, a stitch needing mending I’m patching up my outlook The summer evening took us Your clear white skin still glowing You had these things to tell me Keep the time ticking forwards Your wide eyes knocked me backwards All these things I won’t tell you Before I die.
10.
1000 Planes 04:17
I feel older than I am, I’m too old to lack a plan. Young thoughts, old knots, reflex arc. The light blinds me in the dark. I’ll find ways to pass the time Ways to tow the line and hope I find the way I’ll be singing in my sleep Swinging in the deep, to keep the time at bay Hushed tones, small bones, for my mind (My cerebral cortex finds Many chances left behind Stinging silence, swollen glands Biting violent, vicious hand) Subtext Convex Sightings Blind (My cerebral cortex finds Many chances left behind Stinging silence, swollen glands Biting violent, vicious hand) I’ll find ways to pass the time Ways to tow the line and hope I find the way I’ll be singing in my sleep Swinging in the deep, to keep the time at bay. I’ll find ways to pass the time. Ways to tow the line and hope I find the way I hope none of this remains I won’t stay the same; I’ll fly a thousand planes.
11.
With that look of silver seams you look at me. The birds upon the rooftops sing in harmonies Crushing bone, secret soul, takes it’s toll. Quiet fight, bitter bight, candlelight. All that’s been said and done, All that remains. I’ll take this broken son; I’ll take the blame. All that’s been said and done, All that remains. I’ll take this broken son; I’ll take the blame. Silence, eyes closed, sit still, repose. In all the time that’s passed it’s still there. I’ll keep bad memories and keep myself bare.

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Released on Mountains of Records.

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released March 24, 2014

Written by Former Monarchs. Produced by Christian Best and Former Monarchs. Additional production by Chris Somers. Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Christian Best at Monique Studios. Additional recording and production by Chris Somers (at One Chance Out Studios and in Schull). Additional recording and brass arrangement by Darragh Kearns Hayes and Jonathan Pearson (Cork School of Music). Mastered by Roger Siebel at SAE Mastering. Artwork and design by Brad McLoughlin. Additional artwork by Ralf Grosser. Additional instrumentation: Violin: Daire O’Sullivan. Viola: Niall Connaire. Cello: Sean Warren. Trumpet: Michael Mullins. French Horn: Colm Shinnick. Trombone and Euphonium: Adrian Hanly. Electronics: Shane O’Sullivan. Special thanks to Dan Atkinson at Mountains of Records, Dave Murphy, CPNHGN, Bear Makes Ninja, and Christian Best. Thanks to all our friends and families for your unending patience.

Under Exclusive License to Mountains of Records
www.mountainsofrecords.com (c) 2014 Former Monarchs. Unauthorised copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting prohibited. Spreading the word is encouraged.

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Former Monarchs Cork, Ireland

Former Monarchs are an alternative rock group from Cork Ireland. Labelled "Ones to watch" by the BBC, their debut album "The Cost of Living" will be released on Mountains of Records on March 24th, 2014.

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