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Nothing Lasts Forever (B​-​Sides)

by Noah Derksen

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1.
you cry when you’re happy, and you cry when you’re sad the same when it’s good as you cry off the bad now you’re looking at me, white knuckling your tea there’s a rose by the window, it sways in the breeze I find myself scanning through the words in my mind for something to say that won’t make the tears fly but the crack in my voice says that I have no choice while the rain hits the window it drowns out the noise beauty and pain is like sunshine and rain can’t have one without the other it’s hard to be your lover we swam in the oceans, now I’m alone in this creek with an eye for the sorrow and a heart that won’t let be it’s a burden to carry—a thorn on the vine well if love is in sunshine then the shadow is mine beauty and pain is like sunshine and rain you can’t have one without the other it was hard to be your lover it’s been 42 days and I think I should call so I pick up the phone to see if I’m still scarred by the beauty of love and the truth of its cost and the rose by the window, its petals all lost beauty and pain is like sunshine and rain can’t have one without the other it was hard to be your lover
2.
well it came to me this morning in a dream I was floating on the treetops in the California breeze then the devil he appeared and cut my wings as I tumbled towards the ground I heard him shout out oh no, nothing lasts forever no, not the earth and not the pebbles singing oh no, nothing lasts forever but that still gives us time for you and me then in a moment there was a flash before my eyes the good lord he was standing there and he kneeled down to my side he said son do you remember what you promised back in Sunday school well I remember and I think you’ve gone astray oh no, nothing lasts forever no, not the earth and not the pebbles singing oh no, nothing lasts forever but that still gives us time for you and me when I awoke I chased the memory from my grasp like the fading print of lightning or a snake within the grass then I turned to face my lover as she slept under the covers and I wept for all the time that has passed oh no, nothing lasts forever no, not the earth and not us pebbles singing oh no, nothing lasts forever but that still gives us time, oh that still gives us time
3.
in the safety of the air-conditioned room I watched your flowers bloom it was the most beautiful arrangement—ya that’s true the colours playing but then a shadow cast an oblong shape I knew seems light was fading and it’s contagious is it you or is it me sacrificing who we’re meant to be is it you and is it me sacrificing for eternity but then are you and me are we free there’s a notion that you reap what you have sown so many moons ago I once tried to plant a garden but the seeds, they failed to grow what a foolish thought to think that I could lift them up from dust to sky when all I did was shield from view the sun and all its vital hues is it you or is it me sacrificing who we’re meant to be is it you and is it me sacrificing for eternity but then are you and me are we free in the safety of the air-conditioned room I watch your flowers bloom
4.
I wanted to ask you the simplest of questions what’s that look that you’re throwing my way it’s pain mixed with hate mixed with my own reflection so I try, but I can’t look away it’s 4pm in this stranger’s apartment I’m looking in on the darkest of days I see a jealous heart that plays the part, it’s searching for blame tell me, babe, will this ever change change, change so I try, but I can’t look away you could say that it’s my imperfections you could say that the timing’s just off or you could spin a globe, watch it roll thinking somewhere else must be better but sometimes the darts hit the wall the wall, wall sometimes the darts hit the wall the fading of light casts a shade on the counter swinging a hinge as you reach up above but with broken glass now the moment’s passed to a night of cold shoulders nothing quite hurts like your love
5.
your daddy died a year ago but what’s the point in getting old? you see those who love, well, they suffer most that’s what I’ve always known early mornings in coffee shops to late night drinks on a rooftop I held your hand and I took my shot and so it goes oh no I thought that we would take it slow oh no megan you don’t have to go my twenties they have slipped on by love has turned to hate before my eyes it’s hard now to recognize the beauty in the failures but here you sit right by my side you promise that you won’t leave me tonight I say just give it some time you’ll change and I will change too oh no we said that we would take it slow oh no megan you don’t have to go your daddy died a year ago but what’s the point in getting old you see, those who love, ya they suffer most that’s what I’ve always known

credits

released November 30, 2023

Produced by Noah Derksen
Recorded at Backbeat Studios (Winnipeg, MB) by Noah Derksen, Cody Iwasiuk. Additional engineering by Dana Doerksen, Madeleine Roger, Austin Parachoniak.
Mixed by Philip Shaw Bova (Ottawa, ON)
Mastered by João Carvalho (Toronto, ON)

MUSICIAN CREDITS

Cody Iwasiuk - drums & percussion
John Baron - bass guitar
Kris Ulrich - electric guitar (1, 5)
Keiran Placatka - acoustic piano, synths, additional keys
Mackenzie Friesen - vocals (2,3)
Madeleine Roger - vocals (4,5)
Dylan Macdonald - electric guitar (2,3,4)
Noah Derksen - vocals, acoustic & electric guitar

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Noah Derksen Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canadian Folk Music’s 2021 Emerging Artist of the Year, Noah Derksen is quickly becoming known as a songwriter’s songwriter. Hailing from the heart of the Canadian Prairies, Noah has spent years honing his craft across North America. With a rich and soulful voice, Noah weaves poetry that sounds instantly familiar on first listen. He lives in Winnipeg, Canada. ... more

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