Get all 7 The Button Collective releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of On the Road/Cindy Gal, Sit Back and Endure, Make a Dead Man Sing, Hall on the Hill, The Fox and His Man, The Lonesome Sea, and A Ship Sails.
1. |
Never Hold Your Heart
04:25
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Well I betrayed my love, I threw her heart in the street
And I assume that she will give it to the first man she meets
Well, any man other than me would be good for my lady
'Cause I don't have the right to hold her heart anymore
And if she sees another guy I'm gonna have to be alright
No crying for stupid, old me
'Cause I brought this on myself, I already feel the fires of hell
And her heart will always be far away from me
And oh, my darling girl
What have I done to you?
Well, I took what was true and beautiful to you
And I don't know why I should keep on living anymore
Well I'll be here for a few more days, I'll have to see how long it takes
'Til you once again talk to me
Well, oh, patience is the key, it's always worked so well for me
Don't know if it will be enough anymore
And so I smoke a pack a day, to keep my thoughts away
The poison in my lungs, it soothes me
But when I'm coughing up tar, I'll know I've taken it too far
Your heart will always be far away from me
And oh, my darling girl
What have I done to you?
Well, I took what was true and beautiful to you
And I don't know why I should keep on living anymore
Oh, well it's true that this life is made of choices and paths
The road is rocky and thin
But I found my life again when I picked up my pen
Just wish I hadn't done all these fucking stupid things
But now I've fucked it up, I've fucked it all, I'm a fucking waste of space
Never call myself a man of god
And 'til I draw my last breath I'm going to fuck up everything
Don't even know why I should try anymore
And oh, my darling girl
What have I done to you?
Well, I took what was true and beautiful to you
And I don't know why I should keep on living anymore
And I will never hold your heart
No, I'll never hold your heart
No, I will never hold your heart, oh no I won't
Never hold your heart to mine anymore
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2. |
Keep in Mind
03:52
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You're living quite far away from me
And God knows we saw this coming for a while
But I know I can trust you, I've given you my heart
But two voices sound so lonely when a thousand miles apart
You dress me up nicely, before I leave the house
You straighten my collar, tell me I look like a lout
But now that you're distant I don't shave my face
My clothes are all rumpled, hair all over the place
And I don't want you to stop thinking you are free
'Cause some day you'll find someone better than me
No, I don't want you to stop thinking you are free
'Cause some day you'll find someone better than me
And now I'm staring at old photographs, I can't stick them to the walls
If I tore them off, I'd tear the paint from the ceiling to the floor
Well I've crumpled up and flattened out your picture a thousand times
It's a print-off and now it's blurred from pathetic tears I've cried
And I once tried to leave you and it tore my heart in half
So I swore that I'd stay by you when times got long and tough
But now that you're distant you don't want me anymore
Our love has dried up and packed its bags, left me looking at a closed door
And I don't want you to stop thinking you are free
'Cause some day you'll find someone better than me
I don't want you to stop thinking you are free, oh 'cause
Some day you'll find someone better than me
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3. |
The River
04:27
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Well I was sailin' on down by the river
In my little one-masted boat
When something caught my eye, just a sliver
Something amiss was afloat
So I sailed
To my peril
Well, it's true I have failed
I have lied to you
Da-da, da-da!
Well, it's true I have lied to you my lady
Of the water and the breeze
Well, it's true I've been loving another
Who can provide for my fleshly needs
Now that I've left you, it seems, this time is for good
I need the warmth of real arms around me
"You shouldn't treat me this way!" I scream and I say
"It's my right to leave, to have my own way"
So I sailed
To my peril
Well, it's true I have failed
I have lied to you
Da-da, da-da!
Da-da, da-da!
Oh, the river
My first and only love
Now I'm sinking
Into her clear, crystal blue blood
And I scream, "Have mercy on me, my mate!"
As she fills my lungs with water
She turns my words to bubbles for play
She sends me to a watery grave
A watery grave!
A watery grave!
So I sailed
To my peril
Well, it's true I have failed
I have lied to you
So I sailed
To my peril
Well, it's true I have failed
I have lied to you
Da-da, da-da!
So I sailed
To my peril, oh!
Well, it's true I have failed
I have lied to you, oh!
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4. |
I Wish I Was Taller
03:11
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Oh, I wish I was taller my darling, my dear
If I was, I would spin you around
If I put my arms around your waist
Your feet wouldn't touch the ground
Oh, but I am a little man you know this well
I'm tiny in height and esteem
If a tall man was to try and hurt you, my dear
I'd try to tear him at the seam
...But I couldn't
If I was taller I'd take you dancing
Be the prettiest couple you'd see
When we'd walk down the street, everybody we would meet
Would see a pretty girl and tall, tall me
Oh, you laugh with other men and dance about
Just like you used to for me
If I was taller, not smaller, it might maybe be
That you saved your love only for me
And so I'll wear nice clothes and smart glasses
I'll speak with an accent and airs
Oh, to make you feel you are with someone
Who's so tall he doesn't care how he fares
And so I go to sleep at night and I punish myself
For being a fake yet again
'Cause in my mind I am the shortest yet tallest of men
When you grace me with words, and then, only then
And then, only then...
I feel the tallest of men my darling
I'm so tall when you talk to me
I don't who your friends are, it doesn't matter at all
Just tell me that you think I'm tall
I don't who your friends are, it doesn't matter at all
Just tell me that you think I'm... Tall!
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5. |
Scarecrow Man
03:01
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Just a scarecrow man is what I am,
Just sallow, skin and bones
Just a scarecrow man drifting in the wind
Scaring off the crows
Could you learn to love a scarecrow man?
Could you want his heart of straw?
Well I wish to cause no tear or fear
But you have his heart and more
Well I lost my hat to the wind today
And a crow landed on me
Well what's the point of a man of straw
If he can't scare a crow no more?
As you walked across the field today
Your eyes they followed me
Your heart was smote and so is mine
Your eyes were with pity
Could you learn to love a scarecrow man?
Could you want his heart of straw?
Well I wish to cause no tear or fear
But you have his heart and more
And if I had a mouth I'd sing your praise
All the night and day
But you'll never be content with me
So a scarecrow I will stay
Oh, could you learn to love a scarecrow man?
Could you want his heart of straw?
Well I wish to cause no tear or fear
But you have his heart and more
And if I had a mouth I'd sing your praise
All the night and day
But you'll never be content with me
So a scarecrow I will stay
A scarecrow I will stay
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6. |
Feather Rat
03:48
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Well I told my lover not to walk the streets tonight
She won't listen; you can't tame that bird
There'll be groups of young men, oh looking for a fight
And I can't help but worry for her
'Cause my young lover, you're a bird that cannot fly
And I can't help but worry for you
Your wings are clipped and without them you can't fly
And I can't help but be sorry for you
Your father was a harsh man and your mother a timid thing
She would never stand up for you
You learned to deal with pain to your body and your mind
And I can't help but be sorry for you
'Cause my young lover, you're a bird that cannot fly
And I can't help but worry for you
Your wings are clipped and without them you can't fly
And I can't help but be sorry for you
Well one day when I drank a little more than's good for me
Well I swore that I would take you 'way from here
Well I take you to a place where fists don't touch your face
Instead it's held by hands that love and care for you
So I kicked down the door and I marched across the floor
And I woke you with a kiss upon your head
But as we stood to leave, your father yelled to me
"What are you doing so near my daughter's bed?"
[]
And the last thing we heard were the shots behind our backs
And as you fell to the ground, our bodies soon were found
With our hands clasped tight, oh even though in death
Oh my young lover, you're a bird that cannot fly
And I can't help but worry for you
Your wings are clipped and without them you can't fly
And I can't help but be sorry for you
'Cause my young lover, you're a bird that cannot fly
And I can't help but worry for you
Your wings are clipped and without them you can't fly
And I can't help but be sorry for you
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7. |
Arrogant Man
05:13
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An arrogant man is what I am
And they say I'm with an arrogant lady
Well I would not know this to be true
But if I think about it, possibly, maybe
Well our paths led us back to your room
And our paths led us to lying down
And I have so much respect for you my arrogant lady
You have a fair amount of respect for me too
But the holy word is so unclear
About how far a couple should go
Will to good lord shine down on our deeds and misdeeds
When holy matrimony does not ring true?
I miss the way that you breathe when I touch you
When I kiss around the back of your neck
I miss your eyes when you're holding a secret, oh
You'll break my pride in the sheets of your bed
I miss the way I don't have to worry when I'm with you
Or that I might tear one of my good friends down
Oh, I'm an arrogant man, it's true and you know this, oh
But I believe you're a little arrogant too
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8. |
On the Road
02:40
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I'm on the road to flee the words of my father
Oh I am on the road
And I'm on the road to flee the care of my mother
Oh I am on the road
'Cause my father is a wise man and my mother is a carer
But I'll be on the road
They say that money is the problem darling son
And you shouldn't be on the road
They say that money is the root of all things unclean
But I can be dirty without it anyway
They say that love is not a fickle thing
But it comes and goes all the time anyway
There's a girl that I love so very much
She wants to tell me what's right for me
Is it love or is it foolish pride that stops me from taking her advice?
There's only one place that I should be
With my drinking friends and untied ends
And the debts I owe to the government
I'll tie them up and strike a match and torch the whole lot
Put on my shoes, tie up the lace
I'll try not leave a single trace
I'll smoke a cigarette and be on the road
Oh, I'll be on the road
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9. |
Lullaby
04:29
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My brother's a soldier dressed in green
And he's stationed far overseas
My family they cry at dinnertime
And they read out his letters to grieve
They speak of him as if he's already dead
And they never speak of me
So I'll join on up and I'll get my gun
They'll have a little more respect for me
The cat's curled up on the living room floor
I'm a sailor home from sea
My shoes are up on the tabletop
And I smell something cooking for me
I'll dream no more of the ocean
I'll dream no more of the wind in the sails
'Cause my woman is warm and her arms are strong
And I'll be here for a few more days
And oh, my darling
Oh, my maid
I'm whiskey-riddled
And I'm addled with plague
And oh, my darling
Oh, my maid
Time's taken its toll and my bones are old
Hope you love me all the same
I don't pray to the god that I love anymore
And I'm dirty, penniless and poor
My sights are set on selfish mean
I don't have too much gold in heaven to store
How I wish I was a tired sailor, how I wish
I was a soldier far overseas
I wish I was anything but this stupid fuck
And I had a little more respect for me
And oh, my darling
Oh, my maid
I'm whiskey-riddled
And I'm addled with plague
And oh, my darling
Oh, my maid
Time's taken its toll and my bones are old
Hope you love me all the same
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10. |
Over the Hill
03:21
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I have a pretty young lover who lives over the hill
Her hair is golden and long, her eyes the colour of steel
I try not to forget her, she lives miles away
And I fear I won't see her 'til judgement day
Oh, she gave me a ring made of twisted stems
That grew from a tree all broken and bent
She said my love will never fail, dim or fade
And I'll stay by you for as long as you do the same
And I'll wear the crown I have earned from the years
I built it with patience, alcohol and tears
And if I place on your head a crown much the same
Will you hold my hand and shed tears of pity and shame
And I'l try my best to stay by you
When the feelings go away
'Cause you're worth the wait my darling dear
And though you live miles away I will always be near
And I'l try my best to stay by you
When the feelings go away
'Cause you're worth the wait my darling dear
And though you live miles away I will always be near
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11. |
The Monster
03:49
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Oh, tears steam your face and your hand finds mine
You skin is so warm and your hair so fine
The weight of my secret goes to break my back
The courage to tell you is all that I lack
Well, oh, there's a monster so great it goes to tear us apart
With murderous talons it lurks in the dark
The people go searching to bring it to light
But when they all find it there won't be much a fight
Well I'll stand on my two feet just like I've always said
I work for my pittance to buy myself bread
Everyday's a struggle just to keep at bay
The monster inside who would control what I say
Oh, everything was perfect just us in the world
And all we had was nothing, just our flesh and blood
And a monster would rise from deep inside my soul
A crushing wall of ruin to swallow us all
Oh and god will forgive me, but I never will
My words hit like hammers on nails in your soul
I see your face shake as your tears start to fall
Our mouths are the monsters that ruin us all
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12. |
Mumford and Sons
02:50
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I wanna be the rambling old man
That never has too many words to say
'Cause I never speak too much but i have plenty of words
To say about things that don't really need to be said
When people ask me my name I lie
Where I'm from, I lie some more
'Cause they never care too much in the first fucking place
They just can't wait 'til it's their turn to talk
And I don't want to sing songs like Mumford & Sons
But I sure want people to hear them
His songs are all about love and his sweet god above
I wonder if Jesus listens to them
My songs are never so selfish, oh
My songs are never so vain
And I never assume that Jesus liked them
And when it comes to love it's just the same
It's true that god gives me songs
They could not come from anywhere else
But he chose the most selfish of men to use as his pen
I hope to god that no one hears my songs
There's a girl that I love so very much
I betrayed her, I cut out her heart
But I found my life again when I picked up my pen
To write about romance and all that fucking stuff
It's true I am a dirty gentleman
I hide behind my Jesus and my songs
Guess I'm no better than the ones that I hate
I guess I'm no better than fucking Mumford & Sons
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The Button Collective Lismore, Australia
The Button Collective is a band that takes having fun very seriously. They combine old-time melodies with a high-energy style perfect for a hoedown. Songwriter Brodie Buttons has a definitively Australian style, writing about his life and experiences in a way that takes audiences all over the country with him. ... more
The Button Collective recommends:
The Days That Used To Be
by Cat and Clint
Cat. And. Clint. Such incredible people and musos. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy of their album and hear about The Days That Used To Be. Sounds great on vinyl!
go to album
Give Me That Hammer
by Ben Wilson
Ben is a good friend and a fantastic songwriter. Lots of cross-pollination between his band and The Button Collective. Grab it on vinyl.
go to album
Such a beautiful album, we play this in the car every road trip.
go to albumIf you like The Button Collective, you may also like:
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
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House and Land
by House and Land
House and Land offer a stirring take on classic Appalachian folk; this is delicate, heartfelt balladry.
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Sweet Old Religion
by Pharis & Jason Romero
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection.
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