In the summer of 2004, Bryce released his debut album, ONCE WERE EXPLORERS, a collection of 8 songs written while travelling overseas. The album features the lovely Lisanne Thomas on backing vocals, multi-talented Chris Monster on bass and backing vocals, drummer-extraordinaire Dave Stevenson on drums and percussion, and recording engineer and co-producer Mitch Girio capturing all the magic.
All songs written by BRYCE THOMAS
Vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, and trumpet by BRYCE THOMAS
Backing vocals by LISANNE THOMAS
Bass and backing vocals by CHRIS MONSTER
Drums by DAVE STEVENSON
Special appearance by THE BRONTE YODLERS (aka Mom & Dad)
Recorded by MITCH “KING KONG” GIRIO (www.kingkonggirio.com) at Tamara Williamson’s FARMHOUSE and overdubs in THE SUBURBS
Album photography and design by BRYCE THOMAS
Once Were Explorer Lyrics
RIDING WITH GINSBERG
Comin back down from outer space Cruisin through the city past the bulldogs at the gates And all the pretty girls burnin bulldog eyes Glitter vinyl chalk-white smiles + Comin back down from outer space Praying for a miracle to add to our mistakes The devil got the city but the kiddies got away Hanging from the fire escape Hello Ginsberg baby You wanna take a ride? We’ll cruise the crush in style Where every star’s a light To guide us through the night For every night we’re too far gone Comin back down from outerspace Mother’s in the headlines cause father’s a disgrace And little brother’s prayin now to someone we forgot And everything we left he got Sister E won’t you come save me? I don’t want to lie here no more Belly fit to bursting but the thirsting won’t abate Smilin at the sewer grate + The God’s are in the pulpit The fever’s on its way We’re looking up to philistines and calling out rude names And everyone’s your lover And your lover wants some food But you can’t speak or move + Comin back down from outerspace Crashin through the atmosphere and burnin up the pace The gospel’s on the T-shirt and the seizures on its way
SWEET MERMAID
Hey little sugar loosen up some Beaujolais We’ll cruise down to Rotorua for just one day And we’ll lose inhibitions and our sexy gitches Leave them on the shore of the bay Watch the evening tides tease them away Shimmer on top of a wave With you so impossibly brave That sometimes I must look away My sweet mermaid sweet mermaid A fisherman lost on the sea Draggin a net fathoms deep And into my arms you will leap My sweet mermaid sweet mermaid Can we stay forever curled up in this wave? Cause we’ll lose inhibitions Gain a new perspective Washed up on the shore of the bay Like two little fishies feeling oh-so-dishy Snuggled in the atmosphere here + Tumbling down through the heavens The fishies all flickin their tails At me in my Jacques Cousteau speedo And you in your shimmering scales + Let’s float a little farther Out beyond the bright red markers Deep into uncharted waters Drowned within the spray
THE MATADOR
Beautiful lady shall we take this inside? Looking so lovely Would you love me all night? Such a thrill you’re like a pill you make me lose self-control A little thief out on the street stealing heat from my soul I was hopin that the moment wouldn’t get in the way You were wise telling me we’ve got to be brave So so brave + All alone late at night College Street Looking so lovely to all the lovely people we meet They all do what they do so well They’re oh so theatrical Follow suit Make your moves and we’ll get it right they’ll never know + I was hopin that the doorman wouldn’t get in the way You were shining like the diamond on the ring that I gave you All this time I never thought we’d be so brave So so brave Well my baby So refined drinking wine at the old Matador So divine lose your mind at the old Matador You and I intertwined at the old Matador Such a crime what you find at the old Mat You never could get that at home Throw a leg up and make me wise I chase the starlight round your eyes I was taught to be polite So pretty please Just concede + You never can get back once you’ve been kicked out the door
EDELWEISS
Anne’s been climbing mountains all life long Though she might not reach the top You can bet she’ll still carry on She might not believe in a predetermined fate But she’s hanging from her fingernails And boy does she look great Singing yodel-lay-hee-hoo Ron’s been climbing mountains all life long And though he might not reach the top You can bet he’ll still carry on He might not believe that the great god has given him hope That she’s given him clean air to breathe She’s given him a lot of rope He’s singing yodel-lay-hee-hoo She’s got a beauty spot Tucked away where nobody’s ever gonna find it He knows and it shows Caught him smiling as he struggled with the pantyhose She’s a martyr prim and proper But he remembers when she used to live a little harder They’ll elope Ya that’s for sure Eyes to heaven while the angels come a-singing Yodel-lay-hee-hoo Eyes to the sky Eyes to the sea Eyes to the beauty of all that we believe + Anne’s been climbing mountains all life long And though she might not reach the top You can bet she’ll still carry on Ron can not believe that his life could be more complete Cause he’s loving every single day with Anne up on that peak They’re singing yodel-lay-hee-hoo
FAINT
Oh my my I love the way your body Leans against my body Like new lovers do Oh my my there’s no use denying All the things we’re trying Just to give into + Let the world stand witness To the greatest kisses Two people ever could imbue + Oh my my takes more than occupations To keep us from behavin Like two lovers do Oh my my we’ve come to this conclusion That any more intrusions Will just be interludes Let the world drown in this taste And let the winds tear down this place Until all we have to do is play And all we have to do is want And all we have to do is taste And all we have to do is faint I love your hands I love them pointing At my round belly when we’re laughing Just turn the lights down and undress me No one will know we got so messy + Oh my my even Armageddon Couldn’t stop me getting Oh so close to you Oh my my we’ll tease the people far below Dance naked by our high window Just enjoy the view
SANTORINI
She’s sipping black cappuccino in the market square And taken in by the blue and white Greek parade And with a little Peptol Bismol she’ll feel much more brave Tucked within a sexy holiday queen bee charade And though she hasn’t heard a single word I try to say I pay no mind it’s all so fine just watch her float away Santorini is goin to her head Lava red burning sand stretched around the shore Little man come to show us in to his home Kala eseii ya she’s with me yes I would love some more Of your sweet wine from the jug sitting on the floor And though he hasn’t said a single word she can ignore She pays no mind it’s all so fine she floats the whole way home + We lose the time and all for love We lose our minds and all for love We lose our clothes and all that stuff + We rent two wheels to wheel us round She drives so fast I lose my crown And watch the whirling world spin by She breathes it in I take a bite And chink a drink to those back home And wonder just how far we’ll roam To feel alive so deep inside And me the groom and she the bride We pour the wine then float inside + She’s sipping black cappuccino in the market square And taken in by the blue and white Greek parade And singing something that she maybe would have heard today A sexy sweaty sultry melody to soothe my brain And though she hasn’t heard a single word the waiters say They pay no mind Its all so fine just watch her float away
BARRACUDA & THE BUDDHA
We were once explorers World travelers you and I Traipsing through foreign ideals Watching the longtails buzz out of green harbors Chasing the wind to the sun + Do you still love me? Or do you feel a change? Could we be complete remade whole? + Bring on your passion Bring on your muse Bring on your words burning bright Cause I will be right this time And you will see the logic I’m Pushing till all hell breaks loose + Do you still love me? Or do you feel a change? Could we be complete remade whole? Remember when the words would fly To cross our hearts and hope to die And tear the roof right from the walls We shake em good until they fall Barracuda and the Buddha Will help us get this going right Bring the bitter and the suga Till we bleed new daylight And we do What we can to survive
PEACE PIPE
Pass down the peace pipe The good people here gather round as friends Cause we know you gotta take life slow + We bear the stretch marks Of wounded hearts and parts that don’t compliment But we’ve grown a little every time + Marry me to the dreams you’d like to see + It’s come up lately That some of us are lost without a light But we know its just come up due Ya its come up lame And we can see the stains that mark it so And our bones know when there’s room to grow + Marry me to all your dreams We all notice when you leave But friends shall endure Bright light of silver strips On the rocking chair over there Where we lost laughed and loved We might begin to fight But it don’t change the light over there Where we lost laughed and loved Marry me to all your dreams We all notice if you leave Cause friends shall endure + Oh come back later on