The Rise and Fall

by Monarchs

The Rise and Fall cover art
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about

monarchsfamily.com
(p) & © 2011 Celeste Griffin / BMI

credits

released 12 July 2011
Credits:

vocals, piano, and guitar on “The Rise and Fall”: Celeste Griffin
guitar, mandolin, and bass on “Business Casual”: Van Hollingsworth
bass, pedal steel, and harmonies on “Date Night” and “A Love Alive”: Phil Ajjarapu
drums, percussion, and harmonies on “Date Night” and “A Love Alive”: Josh Halpern
violin and harmonies on “Miles Away”: Katie Holmes
harmonies on “Miles Away,” “Blvd.” and “The Rise and Fall”: Anne Garland Mahler
vocals on “Spirit of the Rain”: Preston Lovinggood
live drums on “Business Casual”: Daniel Jones

Produced by Mike McCarthy and Monarchs
Recorded by Mike McCarthy with additional recording by Jim Valentine and Lars Goransson
Mixed and Mastered by Lars Goransson
All songs written by Celeste Griffin
“Business Casual,” “A Love Alive,” and “Not Sure What’s Real” written by Celeste Griffin and Van Hollingsworth
“Spirit of the Rain” written by Celeste Griffin and Preston Lovinggood

Album layout by Young Athenians
Cover photo: Christmas 1979 at the Burnum House, compliments of Mary Ann Findlay
Back photo of Celeste on gravel pile by Cary Norton
Photo of Celeste and crown by Alex Howell
Portrait of Celeste Burnum by W.W.S. Wilson (1958)


Thanks you’s:


Endless thanks to all the Pledgers who made this album possible with a special thanks to my “executive producers,” Celeste Burnum (Mimi), Fran Griffin (Mama), Celeste Burnum Burford (Aunt Lessie), Neil B. Griffin (Uncle Neil), and Jay "Flow" Catalina. To the band for all your time, talent, and creativity. To my “board of directors” and awesome team: Morgan Catalina, (tiny) Jessi Baker, Alex Howell, and John P. Strohm (legal). To my amazing friends, art clubbers, beloved beasties… and a big thanks to my love, Alex.

tags

tags: alternative rock soul alabama austin birmingham celeste celeste griffin mike mccarthy monarchs monarchs family monarchsfamily soul Austin

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about

monarchs:[mon-ahrks](n) 1. the alt-soul love child of singer/writer celeste griffin.

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Track Name: Arm's Length
Your love is selfish
your love is cold
your love is shallow
you don't want more

don't want to lose me
well that's not for me
yes, that is for you
this is can see

Austin
is where you are
so you'd like to have my company
while i am in the same city

arms-length
is what you want
you'd like to spend some time with me
and then you would be free to leave,

well, God's Speed
you're losing me
i'm taking it my company
no, you will not be reaching me

You say you're unclear
about your future
so then you feel
unclear about me

but when is it clear?
my future's unclear
but i'm manning-up
you're not man enough,
my dear

CHORUS

Go again, get gone, get along, get moving girl
I've gotta lot, I'll dig it up, I'll grow it out and see
Having fun, livin’ up, having laughs with friends
My livin-lovin-life is full even with out him, I'll

Set a line, set a line, set a line, set a line for him
And make it clear what must be done for him to be with me
2 arms, 2 legs, full heart, 2 hands
I don't deserve a half, no I deserve a full man

CHORUS
Track Name: Business Casual
Business casual
High heels and a pants suit
Laying in an open casket
you’ve got the world looking down on you
and you look So fantastic
Your skin is flawless and your lips are rouge
In your Open casket

They will watch you
when you’re falling
And you’re gaining
Giving words to your decay

Post a message from
The box inside your office
That you’re happy
And you’re ok

Business is good
Family is great
Life is looking merry looking gay

Business casual
High heels and a pants suit
Laying in an open casket
you’ve got the world looking down on you
and you look So fantastic
on satin pillow shades of blue on blue
In your Open casket

They see you slipping
See ya giving See ya gripping
Read you like you
Were a charade

Take the phone call
Change the status
Leave the message
That you’re happy
with your fillet

dinner was good
family is great
I can’t be happier today

Climb the hill and get the mail
Take a pen and break the seal
It’s a notable affair
And it’s asking that you wear

Business casual
High heels and a pants suit
Laying in an open casket
you’ve got the world looking down on you
and you look So fantastic
Your skin is flawless and your lips are rouge
In your Open casket
------------------------------------------------------------
Track Name: A Love Alive
Start the water
Pull the bath
Get a candle
Strike a match

Light a fire
Let’s relax
The record’s spinnin’
Start the track

Cause I want to feel it
A love alive

So let’s take our time ‘cause baby we must feed it
For it to survive

Don’t know the future
Barely know the past
Graduation’s nearing
It’s coming fast

Shifting cities
Changing tracks
They say ‘guard your heart girl
It may not last’

But I want to feel it
A love alive

So let’s take our time ‘cause baby we must feed it
For it to survive

And I want to keep this
This you and I

So if you’re with me darlin’ won’t you come on let me hear it
I need to know your fire

they say ‘guard your heart girl’
It may not last

The future’s unclear
There’re rocks in your past

I say give it time, see it through, let it be
When you feel like
He’s the one, that you want, most of all
You feel just right
In his arms
You feel just right
As his woman

Cause I want to feel it
A love alive

So if you’re with me darlin’ won’t you come and let me hear it
I need to know your

Wait for the moment
When the time’s in the present
Then you’ll see it your future
It will become

Now is the moment
That was one time your future
You must use it your patience
You must let go

Love him your Alex
If you choose to with him
Then you’re heart you must give him
You must let-go

Waiting for the moment
When the time is in the present
Then you’ll see it your future
It will become
Track Name: Blvd.
Blvd. is open
And her soul is hummin’
She says her life’s a blessing
Well she’s got more comin’, child,
Don’t look down

Dancing in the kitchen
With the widows open
Her friends are all around her
And they’re laughing, joking, now
Young and loud

She had her first heart break,
Her first uplifting off the ground
She learned that after the pain,
The joy would always come around

Back in Alabama
On the back porch swingin’
The lake it waiting for her
And her family’s singing loud
Full and proud

Cooking in the kitchen
With her best friend talking
The boys are on the lawn
The dogs are outside jumping round
Oh home town

She found she loved her songs
She loved they’d gather people round
Opened her heart up wide
And let it rise up with the sound

and all her webs inside
she came to think that they were alright
and she knows
that she might be
and she knows
that she might be
and she knows
that she must be fine

biking through the city
with her friends and sweating
they’re heading to the springs
and you can bet they’re jumping in
summer swim

talking to Anne Garland
and you know she’s listening
her wisdom’s asking questions
and her love is sinking in
oh best friend

she had a new heart break
a confrontation with the ground
opened her heart up wide
and let it rise up
Track Name: Miles Away
Sitting Forward
Sitting back

messing up your bed sheets
Making up the bed

Marking off the old lines
Making a new list

Fixing up your breakfast
Washing off the dish

I need you heaven
Heaven, you are miles away

I have an inside
Kind of feeling
That he will not stay

I need you heaven,
Heaven

I’ve hit the sand-bar
Run aground

Same one that I hit before
Keeps coming round

It clears a message
That I’m in too deep

Seeing him in the shallow water
Standing on his feet

I need you heaven
Heaven, you are miles away

I have an inside
Kind of feeling
That he will not stay

I need you heaven,
Heaven, you are miles away
Track Name: Truths in the Ceiling
I thought you gave me what you got then
No plans of keeping
I had a little you a lot then
And no way of seeing

That you’d give me what you gave before the sunrise
You’d leave me with no footing in the daylight

I couldn’t give you what I felt then
You tied ropes to the feelings
You bound me in your web then
You asked for my shillings

I went
I went back home
I lived like I had lived before
When you had
You had gone it alone
You never dialed my number on the phone

Blue blue blue sky
Red rain
Red eyes
Black black black night
Long way
Longer drive

I couldn’t give you what I held then
The truths in the ceiling
You were a razor to my melt down
My mess made for spilling

I went
I went back home
I gave you what I gave before
When you had
You had done it alone
You never dialed my number on the phone

Blue blue blue sky
Red rain
Red eyes
Black black black night
Long way
Longer drive
Track Name: Date Night
lay it down now
it is date night
you and me
by the spring side

peddle back now
through the East Side
i’m so glad i came
into your life

doo – da – doo…

weigh it down now
water sealed tight
burlap bag
filled with sand and rice

coolest breeze
we have felt in nights
we don’t know where it came from
but it feels nice

doo – da – doo …

the sky it boasts of storms
this i have realized
we’re forewarned

but like the oaks by the spring side born
we will be just fine
if we grow soft
if we grow strong

doo – da –doo …
Track Name: Silence in the Suburbs
The silence in the suburbs has got me crazy
It’s as lush and as lovely as can be
The lawns stretch out wide
Beneath balconies wide
But there’s nobody out there to greet
Track Name: Not Sure What's Real
I don’t believe what you say
Cause you’re not sure what’s real
You don’t know what you think
You’re not sure what you feel
Come away from my life
Because I am for real

There was some grief
Some pangs of exposure
Some mix of missin
And addiction withdrawal

We walked out under streetlights
Said bye for the first time
And if you wanna dig a grave
Do it with the dead by your side

Please don’t believe what I say
Cause I’m not sure what’s real
I don’t know what I think
I’m not sure what I feel
But I’m livin my life
And yes I am for real

I’m not full of peace
But I’ve got plenty to work with
I’m not full of grief
But I’m sad all the time
I’m not sure if my settling
Is good as it’s gettin
Or if I need the best
Poured and cast up high in the sky

Blow the house down
Then throw the money out
Bend down clean up the floors
Bring your friends round
And have them bring more
Come on love
Go on and blow your house down

I don’t believe what you say
Cause you’re not sure what’s real
You don’t know what you think
You’re not sure what you feel
Come away from my life
Because I am for real

I’m not full of peace
But I’ve got plenty of life
Track Name: Spirit of the Rain
You came with the spirit of the rain
packed down the joy made room for pain
well go then
and i won't give a fuck about when you came

I don't want there to be empty rooms
sun bleeds in the window and i'm through
don't send me your letters
your words are no better
than the spirit of the rain

i don't want there to be empty rooms
sun bleeds in the window and i'm through
the album is spinning
no need for repeating

save yourself
fall in line
be the one you came for

in the end
filed away
i'm the one your came for

far away
nameless shape
i'm the one you came for

you came with the spirit of the rain
Track Name: The Rise and Fall
Wishing well
I have found no end to you
Your floor is timeless
It gapes with your youth

And I have sought out your laughter
I’ve wrestled days for your fruits
You remain and watch your actor
Age in all her pursuits

But I’ll come back
Where I left
Lay me down
Find my breath
The rise and fall is best

Little girl
You had so much ahead of you
Disappointment
Morning fades into blue

But you’ll never see the daylight
When shadows hem in your room
Put on your rings now
Lace up your boots

But I’ll come back
Where I left
Lay me down
Find my breath
The rise and fall is best

But I’ll come back
Where I left
Lay me down
Find my breath
The rise and fall is best
The rise and fall is best
The rise and fall is best