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How Did I Get Here?

by Paul Barton

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1.
Look at where you are Look at where you are, where you are You are here, you are here You are here, thank you And I love you And I love you Look at where we are Look at where we are We are here, we are here We are here, thank you And I love you And I love you
2.
Courage 04:06
Do you remember that day last year, when in spite of fear, you did it anyway? Do you remember how it felt before and after you chose to be brave? You didn't need anything else You were alive and you knew why What are you afraid of now? Take your fear, and feel it all But don't let it hold you back I know it's hard, you know it's right Choose who you want to be this time The consequences you can't predict and all the excuses that get in your way No one will stop you, they'll cheer you on as you become who you're meant to be And you won't need anything else You'll be alive and you'll know why What are you afraid of now? Take your fear, and feel it all But don't let it hold you back I know it's hard, you know it's right Choose who you want to be this time
3.
I've just been born took my first breath Seems I've got a life to live How did I get here? I'm a young boy I've learned to ride a bike These tree branches hold me up How did I get here? And the truth is, I don't know And it's more true that I'm grateful What are the chances that I'd be here, right now, in this? Seems lucky to me I've joined a band We're playing downtown The guys at the bar look really tough How did I get here? I've just moved out To the city All things here are scary and new How did I get here? And the truth is, I don't know And it's more true that I'm grateful What are the chances that I'd be here, right now, in this? Seems lucky to me I'm on your roof Sitting beside you I think there's nowhere I'd rather be How did I get here? And the truth is, I don't know And it's more true that I'm grateful What are the chances that I'd be here, right now, in this? Seems lucky to me
4.
Maybe you walk, maybe you fall But you were a baby once and you got right back up Maybe you sing, maybe you're silent But silence and song are both beautiful sounds And you might not think much of yourself And it might be hard to talk about mental health And sometimes it's hard to see You are enough, you are just right You see your faults but can you see your light? Put down your worry, just for today Tomorrow will come and you will find your way When things are light, when things are dark You travel through it all, you've come so far And what about here? This moment right now? You bring value to the world, we'll need you somehow And you might not think much of yourself And it might be hard to talk about mental health And sometimes it's hard to see You are enough, you are just right You see your faults but can you see your light? Put down your worry, just for today Tomorrow will come and you will find your way You are enough, you are just right You see your faults but can you see your light? Put down your worry, just for today Tomorrow will come and you will find your way
5.
No Tears 04:18
I remember those days long ago Crying was a part of the daily flow There were sticks and stones and bones and words that we all know The innocent lives of lucky children ready to grow And then the girls, they played separate from the boys The boys, they ran and jumped with rough and tumble joy But if you cried you soon became the bully's toy Between your tears and your peers you had to make a choice So there were ten years With no tears There were ten years With no tears They say a real man, he knows how to cry They say that tears release the tension in your life But trust me it's harder than it seems, do you know why? Once you kill that part of yourself it doesn't just come back alive 'cause there were ten years With no tears There were ten years With no tears And what I want you to know If this sounds like you That part of you is not dead He's just afraid of you So give him the courage Tell him it's ok Tell him every day Until he shows his face And it might take years It might take years But you'll see those tears I saw those tears
6.
Can I Rest 03:56
Can I rest? Lay my head next to yours? The day is done I can't do any more My hands are dirty My hair is grey My back is broken Or so my muscles say And I might be bleeding Just a little bit But don't you worry I'm used to it Can I rest? Lay my head next to yours? The day is done I can't do any more I'll tear your house down I'll build it back up I know what I'm doing I'm all grown up And though I'm tired At the end of the day I would not have it Any other way Can I rest? Lay my head next to yours? The day is done I can't do any more
7.
How do I believe you? How do I let go of simplicity And all I once knew to be true How do I believe you? You showed me some magic With no sleight of hand I can't imagine A World where that can happen You know, you know, you know, you know I don't mean to bring you sorrow Let me struggle, give me time It takes long to change my mind For now, I'll play the part Acting like I know But this paradox won't leave me I believe you and I don't In my cocoon Thinking of the forest In my head Thinking of spirit You know, you know, you know, you know I don't mean to bring you sorrow Let me struggle, give me time It takes long to change my mind Let me struggle, give me time It takes long to change my mind
8.
So, are you gonna stay? If you go, I'll be right here In this beginning place If you stay I'll walk with you till the end of time I don't know how I know So it's ok if you don't So steady as we go We'll walk into the unknown in our own time Take your time, take my time Take it all, I would love you to It's ok, it's alright I can wait, and I'll wait for you They ask us what we are Now we're not this we're not that And I'll say I don't mind I don't care much for categories anyway What's that look on your face? Don't you know I am scared too? In this beginning place Wondering if you'll walk with me till the end of time Take your time, take my time Take it all, I would love you to It's ok, it's alright I can wait, and I'll wait for you Take your time, take my time Take it all, I would love you to It's ok, it's alright I can wait, and I'll wait for you
9.
You don't fall You don't fall Maybe you Don't climb high enough No, you No, you Don't climb at all No, you No, you Don't climb at all Where are you going? No, you No, you Don't climb at all No, you No, you Don't climb at all So you don't fall
10.
Untitled 03:36

about

Every time I record an album it feels like the album is exactly what I was supposed to make. Every time, it feels like all my other musical projects have led up to this moment. This feeling is especially strong for this album. All my previous albums have given me the skills to write and record this album, which feels like I'm finally and truly being myself (even though I suspect I might feel the same way next time I record an album). With "How Did I Get Here?" I believe I've found a new level of honesty and humility in my songwriting. I'm writing from my own experience in a way that seems to connect with others. Some of these songs have made people cry when I play them live, and that's one of the highest compliments I can receive. I could not have written these songs without all of the people who have inspired my personal growth in the past few years.

credits

released March 16, 2019

All instruments and vocals performed by Paul Barton
Recorded and mixed by Paul in his bedroom
Thanks to Mara Nesrallah and Tom Upjohn for the help in finishing the mixes
Album art by Alina Kouvchinova

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Paul Barton Toronto, Ontario

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