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about

Co-written with Stephen Butler

lyrics

If I Were You (M. Kortes/S. Butler) Magda Lane Music (ASCAP)/ Clementunes (ASCAP)

You were a king
A lion with wings
All of your life
The threatening grace
Of a cool tranquil face
Suited you fine
And where did it go
All the power that flowed
Like wine over ice?
And what do you do
When luck's run out on you
And stolen your dice?

I'd carry the candlesticks
Down where the daylight won't go
Hold my head high, look out of the wilderness
Learn from the truth
That's what I'd do if I were you

A girl or a liar
Who shook your empire
And left you without
The will to pretend
You could build it again
On the same ground
You wander dazed through the dust
Of the people who trusted you
No one's around

I'd carry the candlesticks
Down where the daylight won't go
Hold my head high, look out of the wilderness
Learn from the truth
That's what I'd do if I were you


I'd carry the candlesticks
Down where the daylight won't go
Hold my head high, look out of the wilderness
Learn from the truth
That's what I'd do if I were you


There was a time
Your words all did rhyme
Your promise rang true
When that time returns
New subjects will yearn for you
I'd take a picture or two
If I were you

credits

from True Lovers of Adventure, released April 23, 1999
Produced by Eric "Roscoe" Ambel

Mary Lee Kortes: lead & background vocals
Stephen Butler: acoustic guitar,
Andy York: electric guitar, background vocals
Joe Chiofalo: accordion
Brad Albetta: bass
Graham Hawthorne: drums
Lloyd Landesman: Hammond organ

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all rights reserved

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about

Mary Lee Kortes New York, New York

"Songs so meticulously crafted they sound completely natural". Jon Pareles, The New York Times
“Mary Lee Kortes's voice—the high mountain sunshine of Dolly Parton with a sweet-iron undercoat of Chrissie Hynde." David Fricke, Rolling Stone
"Mary Lee in concert... a feast for lovers of great songwriting that thrives in live performance for its wit, insight and glowing humanity." Billboard
... more

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