Cowboy Junkies — Leaving Normal
Album: Rarities, B-Sides, and WaltzesAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 143
Length: 3:53
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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It's been a long time since I've seen the high planes of Expectation
and I'm way past the lowlands and the deserts of Failure and Doubt
and the last time I passed through Satisfaction
I felt like a stranger there
Now I'm leaving Normal and I'm heading for Who Knows Where
"Excuse me mister, is that seat taken,
can I put my bag over here
You know this trip will go a whole lot smoother
if you take your hand from there
No, I'm not from around here
and my name's not Little Darling"
Why is there one in every crowd
and why do I atttract them?
Funny how the smell of a Greyhound bus
now smells like a fresh start to me
and now the sounds of the steelbelts on the blacktop
is now the sounds of breaking free
But I'd trade all those cancelled tickets
for a single return fair to a station
with a loved one waiting there
I've finally learned that there's good and bad
and that a girl can do some choosing
Of that I'm glad cause this hardened face
won't take any more bruising
Yeah, and the next time I fall into another's arms
there's one thing of which I'll be certain
Yeah, you can bare the weight of another, baby
without considering it a burden
It's been a long time since I've seen the high planes of Expectation
and I'm way past the lowlands and the deserts of Failure and Doubt
and the last time I passed through Satisfaction
I felt like a stranger there
Now I'm leaving Normal and I'm heading for Who Knows Where
Now I'm leaving Normal wherever I'm heading
I don't care
and I'm way past the lowlands and the deserts of Failure and Doubt
and the last time I passed through Satisfaction
I felt like a stranger there
Now I'm leaving Normal and I'm heading for Who Knows Where
"Excuse me mister, is that seat taken,
can I put my bag over here
You know this trip will go a whole lot smoother
if you take your hand from there
No, I'm not from around here
and my name's not Little Darling"
Why is there one in every crowd
and why do I atttract them?
Funny how the smell of a Greyhound bus
now smells like a fresh start to me
and now the sounds of the steelbelts on the blacktop
is now the sounds of breaking free
But I'd trade all those cancelled tickets
for a single return fair to a station
with a loved one waiting there
I've finally learned that there's good and bad
and that a girl can do some choosing
Of that I'm glad cause this hardened face
won't take any more bruising
Yeah, and the next time I fall into another's arms
there's one thing of which I'll be certain
Yeah, you can bare the weight of another, baby
without considering it a burden
It's been a long time since I've seen the high planes of Expectation
and I'm way past the lowlands and the deserts of Failure and Doubt
and the last time I passed through Satisfaction
I felt like a stranger there
Now I'm leaving Normal and I'm heading for Who Knows Where
Now I'm leaving Normal wherever I'm heading
I don't care
Comments (35)add comment
ThePoose wrote:
Lighten up: the superlative ''never'' is used not in a literal sense, but as hyperbole. What is true is that only the slow, sad CJ songs ever get airplay, and since I will never acquire any of their work, this is their reality to me. So in the final analysis, they really are the Boring Monkeys, as I call them.
Congrats on clarifying your opinion, maintaining your position of absolute certainty (inspite of admitting that it's based on minimal experience), and at the same time politely slithering away from your hyperbolic first comment.
RobK wrote:
Really, never? Hmmm, any chance that you haven't actually listened to all their music? I have this sinking suspicion (or is it sneaking) that you don't really know what you're talking about. At least not enough to use words like "never" and "always". This is usually the case with someone who makes comments like yours, writing off a band completely based on hearing half their songs, if that. If the Cowboy Junkies' style doesn't grab you, fine. But don't critique their entire musical catalogue when you clearly haven't listened to it all. There's no need for it.
And if you'd like to hear some happier, more up-tempo songs by the CJs (non-lonesome whippoorwhil types), just let me know and I'll point you in the right direction.
Lighten up: the superlative ''never'' is used not in a literal sense, but as hyperbole. What is true is that only the slow, sad CJ songs ever get airplay, and since I will never acquire any of their work, this is their reality to me. So in the final analysis, they really are the Boring Monkeys, as I call them.
ThePoose wrote:
They never get out of the hangdog groove that they have cottoned on to. It's always the ''lonesome whipoorwill'' motif that they promulgate. They wouldn't know up-tempo if it bit 'em on their sorry, sad backsides.
Really, never? Hmmm, any chance that you haven't actually listened to all their music? I have this sinking suspicion (or is it sneaking) that you don't really know what you're talking about. At least not enough to use words like "never" and "always". This is usually the case with someone who makes comments like yours, writing off a band completely based on hearing half their songs, if that. If the Cowboy Junkies' style doesn't grab you, fine. But don't critique their entire musical catalogue when you clearly haven't listened to it all. There's no need for it.
And if you'd like to hear some happier, more up-tempo songs by the CJs (non-lonesome whippoorwhil types), just let me know and I'll point you in the right direction.
Man, she really sounds like Roseanne Cash.
They never get out of the hangdog groove that they have cottoned on to. It's always the ''lonesome whipoorwill'' motif that they promulgate. They wouldn't know up-tempo if it bit 'em on their sorry, sad backsides.
MissIncendium wrote:
So not feelin this one
seriously. if this one never got played again, i wouldn't mind. i'm sure they've got better stuff than this.
Her voice always gives me chills, they are amazing despite what all you ney sayers say...
What's with the reverby guitar jam? Take it down a notch, little buckaroo.
Adds new meaning to "just wing that mother."
We were doing OK until the guitar solo - 6-Oh
I like hearing Cowboy Junkies. Local radio mostly ignores them. You play just the right amount!
ditto
im50something wrote:
I'm getting a little tired of hearing them. A little less CJ play, RP, please.
I'm getting a little tired of hearing them. A little less CJ play, RP, please.
Part country song. Part parody of country songs. Art likes it!
It's been a long time since I've seen the high planes of expectation
And I'm way past the lowlands and the deserts of failure and doubt
And the last time I passed through satisfaction
I felt like a stranger there
Now I'm leaving normal and I'm heading for who knows where
So not feelin this one
I have listened to everything the Cowboy Junkies have ever done. I've seen them dozens of times.
I've never once considered them "Country" so what the hell are you talking about?
It's the name of the band "Cowboy" Junkies - it doesn't indicate an inclination towards Country/Cowboy music.
s
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
... I know country, I grew up with Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams and Roy Acuff.
This is yuppie faux country junk.
The exact same guitar solo in every CJ song!
I still rate it in the "plus" column. Their music is choice and certainly better than most...! Here Here...!
CJs have recorded some great tunes. This is NOT one of them.
Nice song. Young men might do well to listen to it.
This is fake folksy country music.
Cowboy Junkies
Really
Are
Poopie
rarities and B-sides - let's keep it that way 
Yep, its still pathetic.
Rarities, B-sides, and slow sad Waltzes it it?
Take out rarities, and slow waltzes and you're left with Sad B-sides - that about says it for me.
Dreadful lyrics and matching spastic guitar solo!
Geeeeeeeeezus this is pathetic.
<-(
I know country, I grew up with Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams and Roy Acuff.
This is yuppie faux country junk.
I love those little guitar breaks they stick in: really soulful and just enough to get your juices flowing. Of course I havent seen the High Plains of expectation myself for a while either. 9 from me.
I was just getting into the CJs until I heard this. This is pathetically country-crap.
More uptempo than upbeat, I think. This song has the nice combination of melancholy/playful spirit that's been missing in much of their later work. Wasn't aware of this song before, but I like it a lot.
An upbeat Cowboy Junkies song for those of you who thing they can't do that kind of thing.
Of course they don't do that too often.
s
Its upbeat - wait, its the Cowboy Junkies! whoa, I guess it is Leaving Normal :)
ScopArch wrote:
Eeeha!
A bit too munch Cowboy, and not enough Junkies!
...yeah....The Munch Cowboys. Didn't they used to go by The Gnosh Posse? 8-<
.................ilikethejunkmstimminsvoicereallydoesitforme.......................
Floyd wrote:
I have had this CD for years but never really listened to it. It sounded great today on rp. Thanks!
Eeeha!
A bit too munch Cowboy, and not enough Junkies!
I have had this CD for years but never really listened to it. It sounded great today on rp. Thanks!