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On November 17, 2003, Atlantic Records released the first and only official compilation of Tori Amos: an eclectic artist, unconventional, an excellent musician, and a sublime songwriter who made herself one of the most important female icons of 1990s music. According to many EWF (as Amos' fans are called), the breakup with Atlantic marked the end of an era, the conclusion of a musical and collaborative journey that lasted more than ten years. In fact, in 2001, after the release of Strange Little Girls, there had already been many tensions between Tori and Atlantic, which eventually resulted in a definitive crisis and a consequent and inevitable breakup.
In 2002, the red-haired American singer-songwriter signed a new contract with Epic (Sony), which marked the start of a new era. There were many questions from journalists and music critics regarding the breakup with Atlantic, and Tori responded by saying that relations had deteriorated too much and she was practically forced to break the contract due to "record label discussions" related to production because what she really wanted was to be free to create, without pressures or restraints from producers. And what is the best way for an artist to say goodbye to their record label? Of course, it is to release a compilation of the most known songs of her career, all enriched by two new songs and two b-sides: we are, in fact, talking about "Tales Of A Librarian".
The album’s artwork is well cared for, and Tori presents herself in a 1930s version complete with elegant hats, gloves, and pompous hairstyles. This compilation represents a farewell to the very record label that made her sign her first contract with her band, Y KANT TORI READ, the same one that had her release marvelous albums like Little Earthquakes, Under The Pink, Boys for Pele, From the Choirgirl Hotel, To Venus & Back, and Strange Little Girls, and the same one with which she decided to sever ties forever.
The songs contained in "Tales Of A Librarian" are her most well-known hits and in addition, there is the sweet "Snow Cherries From France", a ballad in the style of Scarlet's Walk, which perhaps leaves a bit of subtle melancholy, and "Angeles" another pop ballad in the style of the former, accompanied by drums, bass, guitar, and, of course, her faithful Bosendorfer. The two b-sides are "Mary" and "Sweet Dreams", two tracks that were excluded from Little Earthquakes at the time and are now rearranged in a more "modern" key. In the "Special Edition" of "Tales Of A Librarian", there is also a DVD that contains three live songs recorded during the soundcheck of Welcome To Sunny Florida, on September 4, 2003, including: "Pretty Good Year", "Honey" and "Northern Lad". Besides the live versions, there are also instrumental ones like "Mr. Zebra" and "Putting The Damage On".
Track list:
"Precious Things"
"Angels"
"Silent All These Years"
"Cornflake Girl"
"Mary"
"God"
"Winter"
"Spark"
"Way Down"
"Professional Widow" (Star Trunk Funkin' Mix)
"Mr. Zebra"
"Crucify"
"Me and a Gun"
"Bliss"
"Playboy Mommy"
"Baker Baker"
"Tear in Your Hand"
"Sweet Dreams"
"Jackie's Strength"
"Snow Cherries from France"
If the redhead is in your good graces and you are EWF, this will be an essential album to have.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Precious Things (04:29)
So I ran faster
but it caught me here
Yes my loyalties turned
like my ankle
in the seventh grade
Running after Billy
Running after the rain
These precious things
Let them bleed, let them wash away
These precious things
Let them break their hold over me
He said you're really an ugly girl
but I like the way you play
and I died
but I thanked him
Can you believe that? sick, sick
Holding on to his picture
Dressing up every day
I wanna smash the faces
of those beautiful boys
those Christian boys
So you can make me cum
That doesn't make you Jesus
These precious things
Let them bleed, let them wash away
These precious things
Let them break their hold over me
I remember
Yes in my peach party dress
No one dared, no one cared to tell me
where the pretty girls are
Those demigods
with their nine inch nails and
little fascist panties tucked inside
the heart of every nice girl
These precious things
Let them bleed, let them wash away
These precious things
Let them break, let them wash away
These, these precious things
Let them bleed now, let them wash away
These, these precious things
Let them break their hold over me
Precious
Precious
03 Silent All These Years (04:10)
Excuse me but can I be you for awhile?
My dog won't bite if you sit real still
I got the anti-Christ in the kitchen yellin' at me again
Yeah I can hear that
Been saved again by the garbage truck
I got something to say you know but nothing comes
Yes I know what you think of me--you never shut up
Yeah I can hear that
But what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey, but I don't care 'cause sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice and it's been
Here... silent all these years
So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts
What's so amazing about really deep thoughts?
Boy you best pray that I bleed real soon
How's that thought for you?
My scream got lost in a paper cup
I think there's a heaven where the screams have gone
I got 25 bucks and a cracker, do you think it's enough
To get us there 'cause...
What if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey, but I don't care, 'cause sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice, and it's been
Here... silent all these years
Years go by, will I still be waiting
For somebody else to understand
Years go by, if I'm stripped of my beauty
And the orange clouds raining in my hand
Years go by, will I choke on my tears
'Till finally there is nothing left
One more casualty you know we're too easy, easy, easy
Well I love the way we communicate
Your eyes focus on my funny lip shape
Let's hear what you think of me now, but baby don't look up
The sky is falling
Your mother shows up in a nasty dress
And it's your turn now to stand where I stand
Everybody lookin' at you
Here, take hold of my hand
Yeah I can hear them...
But what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of yours with her name still on it
Hey, but I don't care 'cause sometimes
I said sometimes, I hear my voice
I hear my voice
I hear my voice
And it's been here... silent all these years
I've been here... silent all these years
Silent
All these
Silent all these years
04 Cornflake Girl (05:05)
Never was a cornflake girl
thought it was a good solution
hangin' with the raisin girls
she's gone to the other side
givin us the yo heave ho
things are getting kinda gross
and I go at sleepy time
this is not really this a this a this is not
really happening
you bet your life it is
peel out the watchword
just peel out the watchword
she knows what's going in
seems we got a cheaper feel now
all the sweeteaze are gone
gone to the other side
with my encyclopedia
they musta paid her a nice price
she's puttin on her string bean head
this is not really this a this a this is not
really happening
you bet your life it is
rabbit where'd you put the keys girl
and the man with the golden gun thinks he
knows so much
rabbit where'd you put the keys girl
05 Mary (04:42)
Ev'rybody wants something from you
Ev'rybody wants a piece of Mary
Lush valley all dressed in green,
Just ripe for the picking
God, I want to get you out of here,
You can ride in a pink Mustang
When I think of what we've done to you,
Oh, Mary, can you hear me?
Growing up isn't always fun,
They tore your dress and stole your ribbons
They see you cry, they lick their lips,
But butterflies don't belong in nets
Oh, Mary, can you hear me?
Mary, you're bleeding. Mary, don't be afraid
We're just waking up and I hear help is on the way
Mary, can you hear me?
Mary, like Jimmy said. Mary, don't be afraid
'Cause even the wind, even the wind cries your name
Ev'rybody wants you sweetheart
Ev'rybody got a dream of glory
Las Vegas got a pinup girl
They got her armed as they buy and sell her
Rivers of milk running dry,
Can't you hear the dolphins crying?
What'll we do when our babies scream,
Fill their mouths with some acid rain?
Oh, Mary, can you hear me?
Mary, you're bleeding. Mary, don't be afraid
We're just waking up and I hear help is on the way
Mary, can you hear me?
Mary, like Jimmy said. Mary, don't be afraid
'Cause even the wind, even the wind cries your name
Oh, butterflies don't belong in nets
06 God (03:54)
Ooo hoo, ooo hoo
God, sometimes you just don't come through
God, sometimes you just don't come through
Do you need a woman to look after you?
God sometimes you just don't come through
You make pretty daisies pretty daisies
I gotta find find find what you're doing about things here
A few witches burning gets a little toasty
(Hey what do you know what do you know)
I gotta find find find find where you always go when the wind blows
God sometimes you just don't come through
God sometimes you just don't come through, babe
Do you need a woman to look after you?
God sometimes you just don't come through
Well tell me you're crazy, maybe then I'll understand
(Come down and tell me the truth)
You got your nine iron in the backseat just in case
I heard you've gone south, well babe, you love your new four wheel
(Hey what do you know what do you know?)
I gotta find where you always go when the wind blows
will you even tell her if you decide to make the sky fall
will you even tell her if you decide to make the sky
God sometimes you just don't come through
God sometimes you just don't come through, babe
Do you need a woman to look after you?
God sometimes you just don't come through
07 Winter (05:43)
Snow can wait, I forgot my mittens
Wipe my nose, get my new boots on
I get a little warm in my heart when I think of winter
I put my hand in my father's glove
I run off where the drifts get deeper
Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice "You must learn to stand up for yourself
cause I can't always be around"
He says when you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Boys get discovered as winter melts
Flowers competing for the sun
Years go by and I'm here still waiting
Withering where some snowman was
Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
but I only can see myself
Skating around the truth who I am
but I know, dad, the ice is getting thin
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Hair is grey and the fires are burning
So many dreams on the shelf
You say I wanted you to be proud
I always wanted that myself
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses have gone ahead
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear
Never change
All the white horses
08 Spark (04:13)
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's afraid of a light in the dark
6:58 are you sure where my spark is
Here, here, here
She's convinced she could hold back a glacier
But she couldn't keep baby alive
Doubting if there's a woman in there somewhere
Here, here, here
You say you don't want it again and again
But you don't really mean it
You say you don't want it
This circus we're in but you don't
You don't really mean it
If the divine master plan is perfection
Maybe next I'll give Judas a try
Trusting my soul to the ice cream assassin
Here you say you don't want it again and again
But you don't, you don't really mean it
You say you don't want it
This circus we're in but you don't
You don't really mean it, you don't really mean it
How many fates turn around in the overtime?
Ballerinas that have fins that you'll never find?
You thought that you were the bomb
Yes, well so did I
Say you don't want it, say you don't want it
Again and again but you don't really mean it
Say you don't want it
This circus we're in but you don't
You don't really mean it
You don't really mean it
She's addicted to nicotine patches
She's afraid of a light in the dark
6:58 are you sure where my spark is-here
10 Professional Widow (03:48)
Slag-pit
Stag-shit
Honey bring it close to my lips
Yes
Don't blow those brains yet
We gotta be big boy
We gotta be big
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Selling his baby - yes
Just like my Daddy
Gonna strike a deal made him feel like a congressman
Running in our family - oh - It's run in our family
Rest your shoulders, peaches and cream
Everywhere a Judas, as far as you can see
Beautiful angel calling,
"We've got every re-run of Muhammad Ali"
Prism perfect
Honey bring it close to your lips
Yes
What is termed a landslide of principle
Proportion - boy its gotta be big
I said, it better be big boy - hey, hey
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Starfucker just like my Daddy - yes
Selling his baby - yes
Just like your daddy
Yes - selling his baby
Gonna strike a deal make him feel like a Congressman
It's runnning in your family - oh
It's run in your family - hey
It's run in your family - hey baby
It's run in your family
Mother Mary
China white
Brown may be sweeter
may be sweeter
Mother Mary
China white
Brown may be sweeter
She will supply
She will supply
She will supply
She will supply
She will supply
Supply, supply
Give me peace, love, peace, love
Give me peace, love and a hard cock
11 Mr. Zebra (01:05)
Hello, Mr. Zebra
Can I have your sweater?
'Cause it’s cold, cold, cold
In my hole, hole, hole
Ratatouille Strychnine
Sometimes she's a friend of mine
With a gigantic whirlpool
That will blow your mind
Hello, Mr. Zebra
Ran into some confusion with a Mrs. Crocodile-dile-dile
Furry mussels marching on
She thinks she's Kaiser Wilhelm
Or a civilised syllabub
To blow your mind
Figure it out
She's a goodtime fella
She got a little fund to fight for Moneypenny's rights
Figure it out
She's a goodtime fella
"Too bad the burial was premature", she said
And smiled
12 Crucify (05:00)
Every finger in the room is pointing at me
I wanna spit in their faces
Then I get afraid what that could bring
I got a bowling ball in my stomach
I got a desert in my mouth
Figures that my courage would choose to sell out now.
I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets
Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets
I've been raising up my hands
Drive another nail in
Just what God needs
One more victim
Why do we crucify ourselves
Every day I crucify myself
And nothing I do is good enough for you
Crucify myself
Every day I crucify myself
And my heart is sick of being in chains
Got a kick for a dog beggin' for love
I gotta have my suffering
So that I can have my cross
I know a cat named Easter
He says will you ever learn
You're just an empty cage girl if you kill the bird
I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets
Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets
I've been raising up my hands
Drive another nail in
Got enough guilt to start
My own religion
Why do we crucify ourselves
Every day I crucify myself
And nothing I do is good enough for you
Crucify myself
Every day I crucify myself
And my heart is sick of being in chains
Please be
Save me
I cry
Looking for a savior in these dirty streets
Looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets
I've been raising up my hands
Drive another nail in
Where are those angels
When you need them
Why do we crucify ourselves
Every day I crucify myself
And nothing I do is good enough for you
Crucify myself
Every day I crucify myself
And my heart is sick of being in chains
Why do we ...
... chains ...
Crucify ourselves
Everyday
Never going back again
Crucify myself again
You know
Never going back again to
Crucify myself
Everyday
13 Me and a Gun (03:43)
5am friday morning, thursday night, far from sleep
I'm still up and driving, can't go home obviously
So I'll just change direction cause they'll soon know where I live
And I wanna live
Got a full tank and some chips
It was me and a gun and a man on my back
And I sang "holy holy" as he buttoned down his pants
You can laugh, It's kind of funny the things you think times like these
like I haven't seen Barbados so I must get out of this
Yes I wore a slinky red thing, does that mean I should spred
for you, your friends, your father, Mr. Ed
It was me and a gun and a man on my back
but I haven't seen Barbados so I must get out of this
And I know what this means, me and Jesus a few years back
Used to hang and he said "It's your choice babe, just remember
I don't think that you'll be back in 3 days time so you choose well"
Tell me what's right, Is it my right to be on my stomach of Fred's Seville
It was me and a gun and a man on my back
But I haven't seen Barbados so I must get out of this
And do you know Carolina where the biscuits are soft and sweet
These things go through you head when there's a man on your back
and you're pushed flat on your stomach, it's not a classic cadillac
Me and a gun and a man on my back
But I haven't seen Barbados so I must get out of this
I haven't seen Barbados so I must get out of this
14 Bliss (03:35)
Father I killed my monkey
I let it out
to taste the sweet of spring
wonder if I will wander out
test my tether to
see if I'm still free
from you
steady as it comes
right down
to you
I've said it all
so maybe we're a Bliss
of another kind
lately, I'm in to circuitry
what it means to be
made of you but not enough of you
and I wonder if
you can bilocate is that what I taste
your supernova juice
you know it's true I'm a part of you
steady as it comes
right down to you
I've said it all
so maybe you're a 4 horse engine
with a power drive
a hot kachina who want into mine
take with your terracide
we're a Bliss of another kind
15 Playboy Mommy (04:06)
In my platforms I hit the floor
Fell face down
Didn't help my brain out
Then the baby came
Before I found
The magic how to keep her happy
I never was the fantasy
Of what you want, wanted me to be
But don't judge me so harsh, little girl
So you've got a playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
And wanna cross that bridge all on your own
Little girl, they'll do you no harm
Because they know your playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
From here to Birmingham
I've got a few friends
I never was, was there when it counts
I get my way
You're so like me
You seemed ashamed
Ashamed that I was
A good friend of American soldiers
I'll say it now, here by your grave
Those angels can't ever take my place
But dont judge me so hard, little girl
So you've got a playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
And wanna cross that bridge all on your own
Little girl, they'll do you no harm
Because they know your playboy mommy
And when you tell em my name
From here to Birmingham
I've got a few friends
16 Baker Baker (03:12)
Baker baker
Baking a cake
Make me a day
Make me whole again
And I wonder
What's in a day
What's in your cake this time
I guess you heard he's
Gone to LA
He says that behind
My eyes I'm hiding
And he tells me
I pushed him away
That my heart's been hard to find
Here
There must be something here
There must be something here
Here
Baker baker
Can you explain
If truly his heart
Was made of icing
And I wonder
How mine would taste
Maybe we could change his mind
I know you're late
For your next parade
You came to make sure
That I'm not running
Well I ran from him
In all kinds of ways
Guess it was his turn this time
Time
Thought I'd make friends with time
Thought we'd be flying
Maybe not this time
Baker baker
Baking a cake
Make me a day
Make me whole again
And I wonder
If he's ok
If you see him
Say hi
17 Tear in Your Hand (04:38)
All the world just stopped now
So you say you don't wanna stay together any more
Let me take a deep breath babe
If you need me, me and Neil'll be hangin' out with the Dream King
Neil says hi by the way
I don't believe you're leaving cause
me and Charles Manson like the same ice cream
I think it's that girl
and I think there're pieces of me you've never seen
Maybe she's just pieces of me you've never seen well
All the world is
All I am
The black of the the blackest ocean
and that tear in your hand
All the world is danglin' danglin' danglin' for me darlin
You don't know the power that you have with that
tear in your hand
that tear in your hand
Maybe I ain't used to
Maybes smashing in a cold room
Cutting my hands up
Everytime I touch you
Maybe it's time to wave goodbye now
Time to wave goodbye now
Caught a ride with the moon
I know I know you well
Well better than I used to
Haze all clouded up my mind
In the dazeof the why it could've never been
So you say and I say you know you're full of wish
and your "baby baby baby babies"
I tell you there's peices of me you've never seen
Maybe she's just pieces of me you've never seen well
All the world is
All I am
The black of the blackest ocean
and that tear in your hand
All the world is danglin' danglin' danglin' for me darlin'
You don't know the power that you have with that
tear in your hand
that tear in your hand
19 Jackie's Strength (04:25)
A Bouvier till her wedding day
Shots rang out the police came
Mama layed me on the front lawn
And prayed for Jackie's strength
Feeling old by 21
Never thought my day would come
My bridesmaids getting laid
I pray for Jackie's strength
Make me laugh
Say you know what you want
You said we were the real thing
So I show you some more
And I learn
What black magic can do
Make me laugh
Say you know you can turn
Me into the real thing
So I show you some more and I learn
Stickers licked on lunch boxes
Worshipping David Cassidy
Yeah I mooned him once on Donna's box
She's still in recovery
Sleepovers Beene's got some pot
You're only popular with anorexia
So I turn myself inside out
In hope someone will see
Make me laugh
Say you know what you want
You said we were the real thing
So I show you some more
And I learn
What black magic can do
Make me laugh
Say you know you can turn
Me into the real thing
So I show you some more and I learn
I got lost on my wedding day
Typical the police came
But virgins always get backstage
No matter what they've got so say
If you love enough you'll lie a lot
Guess they did in Camelot
Mama's waiting on my front lawn
I pray I pray I say I pray
For Jackie's strength
20 Snow Cherries From France (02:55)
i knew a boy who would
not share his bike
oh, but he let me go sailing
i swore that i
could survive any storm
oh then he let me go
"can you launch rockets from here?"
boy, i've done it for years
right over my head
and when i promised my hand
he promised me back
snow cherries from france
all that summer
we traveled the world
never leaving his own back garden
girls, i didn't know
just what it could be
oh, but he let me go sailing
you question me,
"can you ride anything?"
lord, do you mean like your mood swings
invaders and traders with
the best intentions
may convince you to go
"they look like pirates from here"
boy, i've been one for years
just keeping my head
and when i promised my hand
you promised me back
snow cherries from france
and then one day he said
"girl it's been nice,
oh, but i have to go sailing"
with cinnamon lips
that did not match his eyes
oh then he let me go
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