“This pretty little record… will just melt your heart.”
Jessica Russel, TV Guide

“With her gorgeously intimate voice—somewhere between the tough vulnerability of Amy Rigby and the passionate, sophisticated folk of Joni Mitchell—Christa Couture sings with heart-on-sleeve intensity about the suffering and loss she has faced in her life. …It’s truly remarkable that listening to The Wedding Singer and the Undertaker does not feel like the aural equivalent of ambulance chasing. This is down to Couture’s writerly, at times even playful, skill with words…”
Alan Brown, Pop Matters

Lyrics:
Sad Story Over
Nothing’s Changed
Further From the Point
Map Unfolded

A Grief as This
The Declaration of Spring
I Don’t Play Piano
Cry Baby Cry
In His Name
Waterfall
Oh Yes Oh Yes
Sweetheart

Sad Story Over

She was cold lying on his bedroom floor
The autumn window open, the air marching to frozen
But other than her skin she was warm
Because the boy that lay beside her his light was burning golden

He is happiest when things are stable and unchanged
Most content with calm and small
Whereas she is a circus of unusual and strange
And even if she wants to can’t hold on to
Anything at all

Along those lines of thinking
His ship was sinking after a five year sail
All the while she was starting and stopping
She was box car hopping to no avail

And it seems her sad story could be over on this page
If she takes this writer for a lover than her story will change
She puts the pen in his hand, leans into him
Says “write me a kiss, then write me a kiss again”

The path for him and the path for her
To this moment builds the overture to a symphony
That they’re composting on the cold floor
The sounds of delight and surprise and falling fill the city

For a girl so lost and saddened how fast it happened
That she gained
A sense of being worthy of such beauty
As he contains

And it seems her sad story could be over on this page
If she takes this painter for a lover than her story will change
She puts the brush in his hand, leans in to him
Says “paint me a kiss, then paint me a kiss again and again and again”

She was cold lying on his bedroom floor
The autumn window was open, the air marching to frozen

Nothing’s Changed

I know why this is where I’m at – I asked for this, I remember that
and I know that I don’t get to blame you. Though I’d like to –
I want to scream and cry “you were so unfair you were so unkind”
but the truth is all that shit was mine

and nothing’s changed
I’ll just push you away and then complain
I will make my bed with these dirty sheets and then damn you
for not laying with me

let’s have a laugh at me and my bad poetry
buy the first song – the rest are free
even then I could make you a deal, I’d give it all up for something real
none of this late night low light pondering anonymity
I’d give it all up for a garden blossoming propinquity

you see nothing’s changed
I’ll just push you away and then complain
I will make my bed with these dirty sheets and then damn you
for not laying with me

What I saw in you was you seeing me – we can’t have that, now can we
What I saw in you was you leaving me – I mean of course you will, someday, eventually
every good thing must come to an end
every strong thing bends
let’s just hope we mend

nothing’s changed
I’ll just push you away and then complain
I will make my bed with these dirty sheets and then damn you
for not laying with me

Further From the Point

Here I go again
The same predicament
I was in
Not long ago

And we’re all just walking spirals
From the inside out
Getting further from the point
Less certainty more doubt

This boat I’m in
Is sinking
But I’m saying I’m smooth sailing
‘cause I’m afraid to swim

We’re all just doing laps
Getting closer to the edge
Where we find out that we trapped
And this is all there is

The same decisions
To be made
The same outcome
To be weighed

We’re just trying to stay on track
And carry what we can
Without breaking our backs
Or breaking what began

You won’t get to heaven
If you don’t let this one in

And we’re all just walking spirals
From the inside out
Getting further from the point
Less certainty more doubt

Map Unfolded

I watched helpless as our conversation took a turn
My arms outstretched bracing as we swerve
And from the ditch I see the stars of our last words hanging
Never needed much fuel to go anywhere
Just hello how are you and we were halfway there
And in the dark we climb the bank and try to find the main road

This is something I should be getting used to by now
This is nothing new
If I had a dime for every time that I…
I’m a fool, I’m a fool.

In the soft but perpetual light of this motel room
We’re both awake but feigning sleep ‘cause I spoke too soon
In the still I hear your breath from across the room
And surely you can hear my heart
It’s beating now to beat the band it’s beating now though torn apart
But it would heal under your hand so please reach out

This is something I should be getting used to by now
This is nothing new
If I had a dime for every time that I…
I’m a fool, I’m a fool.

I’ll close my eyes and let you drive
When we arrive – don’t wake me
the view might break me

This is something I should be getting used to by now
This is nothing new
If I had a dime for every time that I…
I’m a fool, I’m a fool.

Let’s hit the road before the sun comes up
You read the signs I’ll stare into my coffee cup
I’ll try not to spill my heart out again
Lord knows like my coffee it stains

A Grief as This

I’ve never known a grief as this
a warmer kiss I’ll never give
and I’ll never know the smile of his
or what it is that turned him cold

I’ll never have as many flowers again
until my own days end
I don’t want it to be that such beauty reminds me
of just how empty a body can be

and he will never know the taste of my skin
or the comfort therein
and I’ll never know what I’m missing I guess
but I’m missing nonetheless

I’m sure that this is never meant to be
So don’t say this is God’s way
because God is not thinking of me

no I’ve never known a grief as this
a warmer kiss I’ll never give
as I’ve never been in love like this
and a love like this never ends

The Declaration of Spring

The declaration of spring
The next it started snowing
My side is aching – baby kicking to go
Outside and play in the snow

The declaration of spring
The next day the blossoms were wearing
White jackets and swearing
They’d never grow

To take off their green armour
And bare their pink petticoats
Of flesh and seed

The declaration of spring
I am waiting for autumn to call
That’s when baby will fall
A red leaf to the ground

The declaration of spring
I’m just serenading
With a lullaby on the fact that I
to the seasons am bound

Until you take off your green armour
And bare your pink petticoats
Of flesh and bone

I know that I was fighting you
But who am I too deny?
And after all, I’m not in control
You showed me so

The declaration of spring
The next it started snowing
My side is aching – baby kicking to go
Outside and play in the snow

The declaration of spring
The next day the blossoms were wearing
White jackets and swearing
They’d never grow

To take off their green armour and bare their
Take off their armour and bare their
Will you take off your armour and bare your
Pink petticoats of flesh and bone
You’re my flesh and bone
You’re my flesh and bone

I Don’t Play Piano

You know I don’t play piano
But I wish that I could
I would find a smoky old bar, a spotlight and a sequined dress
And I sing Gershwin and Porter and Jewel
And the drinks would be free and the men be impressed
I know if I played on those keys
My love would find me

You know I don’t play piano
Oh but I wish that I could
On holidays everyone would gather around this old monster
I’d lead them in song
They’d say “don’t she remind you of Irene when she plays?
Yes she’s just like her grandmother and the pianos that loved her
Will love her again”
When she sings oh holy night, the stars were brightly shining
They were shining

I won’t pretend my hands haven’t known many men
But as for my head – only one man will
Only one man will

You know I don’t play piano
But I wish that I could
I would find a smoky old bar, a spotlight and a sequined dress
And I sing Gershwin and Porter and Jewel
And the drinks would be free and the men be impressed
I know if I played on those keys
My love would find me
Brightly shining
Brightly shining

Cry Baby Cry

Don’t cry baby cry don’t cry baby cry
Your momma she is just a little tired
You’re way past due, she’s been carrying you for 10 months now
And there is no sign of you coming out
So cry baby cry

Don’t cry baby cry don’t cry baby cry
Your momma she is just surprised
She was told long ago no seed would ever grow
And now that you do it’s that much harder to let go
So cry baby cry
Cry baby cry

And that’s where she found me in my morning bed she wore red and was hurried to go
And that’s where he brought me when my body bled, turned his head and I buried you both
That’s when I thought this was the end, feeling hopeless – but nothing is hopeless
Yes when I thought this was the end, picked up my pen and tried to write again
Try to right again

Don’t cry baby cry don’t cry baby cry
Your momma she just needs to write
There are two books now up there on the shelf
There is one on how she loves you so
And there is one on how she hates herself
Cry baby cry

Don’t cry baby cry don’t cry baby cry
Your momma she is just a little tired
You’re way past due, she’s been carrying you for 12 months now, 12 long months
And there is no sign of you coming out
So cry baby cry

In His Name

Why am I angry like this? This is everything I asked
Thought when I made this choice I could leave it in the past
But it climbed into my bags into my pockets and in my mouth
Even through clenched teeth the bitter bitch is breaking out
Why am I angry like this?

Why am I bleeding like this? This is just a minor scrape
Well sure it was break and enter but please don’t call it –
Don’t call it like you see it. You didn’t see that.
Seeing is believing and I don’t believe in that
I believe in beauty and I believe in love
It’s what I’m here to claim, it’s what I’m here to make
And it’s the only thing I will ever hear you speak of

I try but I can’t describe his face
Though I feel his hands on me every day
But a spell that’s cast can surely break
So I’ll sing this as a love song in his name

Why am I laughing like this? It’s making people stare
But I kind of like to watch them squirm unprepared
And to tell the truth my smile she is shaking in her boots
Trying to hold her ground ‘till someone sets her loose
Why am I laughing like this?
It’s my own little inside sick joke

I try but I can’t describe his face
Though I feel his hands on me every day
But a spell that’s cast can surely break
So I’ll sing this as a love song in his name
I’ll sing for those of you who pay the cost
Of something stolen that has the right to be lost
I refuse to let it be in vain
So I’ll sing this as a love song in his name

I believe in beauty and I believe in love
But I guess that’s obvious because everyone believes that stuff
I believe we’ll overthrow the tyrannous reign
And I believe in joy after years of pain
I believe in change

I try but I can’t describe his face
Though I feel his hands on me every day
But a spell that’s cast can surely break
So I’ll sing this as a love song in his name
I’ll sing for those of us who pay the cost
Of something stolen that has the right to be lost
I refuse to let it be in vain
So I’ll sing this as a love song in his name

Waterfall

I am listening to you play
It’s all I can do not to run up and kiss you
Yeah I’m easy that way
And it’s something you better get used to
So put down your guitar
Come over here – play the songs that you love
On my arm
And move up, then move down
My skin will sound as sweet as your melody and your poetry
So come over here and play me

I know it’s not easy
To give it all up to a room full of strangers nightly
Waiting for one of them to be kind
And say “I know what you mean”
But I know what you mean
So play me

I am listening to you play
I am word washed and I am warm
In all that you say
In every last little sentence you form
And I am watching your fingertips touch the strings
And I am watching your lips as you sing
Oh the beautiful shapes that your mouth makes
I could move into them
I could move like you move me
And you move me like a waterfall
And I fall into yours every time
So come over here and fall into mine

I know it’s not easy
To give it all up to a room full of strangers nightly
Waiting for one of them to be kind
And say “I know what you mean”
But I know what you mean
So play me

I am listening, just listening over and over
You ask will I grow sick of it just listening over and over
Not at all

I know it’s not easy
To give it all up to a room full of strangers nightly
Waiting for one of them to be kind
And say “I know what you mean”
But I know what you mean
So play me

Oh Yes Oh Yes

Stay outside my house is haunted
And the ghosts they are undaunted by someone knew
So stay in sight as I might have to save you
From your grave
You better run away while the running’s still good
I can’t explain I’ve always been this way

Oh yes oh yes

Stick with me the halls are twisting
And the walls they are listening
And they will tell so whisper
And I will hear you, as I am near you
In every way
You better run away while the running’s still good
I can’t explain I’ve always been this way
A kind of burial winter ground
The cold reaches through your bones and pulls your heart out

Oh yes oh yes

I must say you seem fine you seem calm and unscathed
I’m amazed how the time is passing
And you stay
Runaway while the running’s still good
I can’t explain I’ve always been this way
A kind of burial winter ground
The cold reaches through your bones and pulls your heart out
Yes the cold reaches through your bones and pulls your heart out
I’ll reach right through your bones and pull your heart out

Oh yes oh yes

Sweetheart

“Sweetheart, sweetheart” that’s what he’d say
“I knew you would call so I washed my face today.
You’re the apple of my eye – and my good eye at that”
That’s what he’d say, my Dad.

And I sat at his desk and I tried to collect
What was left of his essence on these crowded shelves
I don’t know where souls go and how will his know
To stay beside me when I’m already beside myself

Some are so quick to romanticize death
Saying “he was a saint” now that he’s dead
But it’s a matter of opinion when it comes to the past
And it’d difficult to reconcile when he’s not here to ask