THE WORLD IS WATCHING YOU
by matthew presidente
release date feb 6th 2003


click to see cover art

tracklisting:

1) boy observations 4:08
2) world is watching 2:56
3) insecure/immature 5:34
4) she's a scorpion 4:36
5) empty tunnel 5:08
6) just in time (for xmas time) 4:54
7) burn the black dress 1:45
8) i found god 6:18
9) let's try this again when we're sober 6:38
10) last night i dreamed that we both died 3:08
11) red light 5:25

info:

'THE WORLD IS WATCHING YOU' was recorded between sept and dec 2002 in Tsawwassen with engineer and producer Matt Walsh! It features Matthew Presidente on piano, keyboards, guitar, and vocals. Drums by Matt Walsh, and Bass by Rob Kirkham! It features the skeleton songs of "sosandra and dog" (planned project title) and some new ones and revamps! it was originally planned to be a 10-song, 60min epic called "sosandra and dog" - a story in song form about this crazy girl who has all these bad things happen to her. But after thinking about it and working on it for nearly a year, I realized that my concept was incoherent and inconsistent, and the music at times was a little dull, and I wasn't happy with the recording. That's when I switched over to Matt Walsh, who is an amazing producer and musician, and we spent a few months re-recording a few songs from the sosandra bunch, and a few others, including some new ones. The record started to take shape, and rather than being a 'concept album' I now had a bunch of songs that were loosely themed around observations. Basically watching the world, seeing where one fits in, overcoming fears and insecurities, and figuring out the world. In the album are many little stories and songs about people and things - some of them refer to me, and some are about things I've observed, dreamed about, or just thought about. It all ties together in the theme of a person and their place in the world. The album now has 11 songs and runs about 50 minutes long! It was recorded on an old upright piano that has such a classy sound. I'll explain a bit more about the songs in detail...
    The album starts with BOY OBSERVATIONS a dark, solo piece written about the seedy underside of the gay scene. It's one of my favourites off the record, and matt walsh's recording really captures the feel. The song makes reference to hate crimes, and one recent in particular being the death of a local man Aaron Webster who was brutally beaten to death for his sexuality. The song speaks of male prostitutes and hustlers and seems to come to a dreary understanding and reality of this scene.
    WORLD IS WATCHING follows, the title track and 'single' (if I ever decide to get off my ass and try to get some radioplay!) for the new CD, and features a full band performance - it's a fast fun song for the girls. It's basically about trying so hard to fit in, and how a person's place in the world isn't as important (in the scheme of things) as they often think it may be. INSECURE/IMMATURE has similar themes but relates to the male side of things more than the female. It was originally written for the Sosandra and Dog album, and hints to stories of miscarriages, cancer, fears of death - but basically someone worried about the outcome of their life, and their choices at the present reflecting on that. But it's all put into the context of a relationship - one that isn't working in the case of this song! This is a really upbeat song, and Matt Walsh's drumming is so funky...
    SHE'S A SCORPION is another song written for Sosandra and Dog, and is specifically about the sosandra character. Scorpion is obviously tied into the fact that I'm a scorpio and possess many traits of that zodiac, and so does the character. That's how I relate to her in the song. It's basically about me and her going out for a coffee and talking about her horrible horrible past, and she's fearing the worst for her future. Probably my darkest song because it offers no optimism whatsoever! hahaha, it's really quite frightening and terrible when I think about it. But it's pretty impressive piano, and it's kind of catchy too.
    EMPTY TUNNEL is where the record takes a change of pace - I recorded it on my keyboard using a fender rhodes piano sound (which is btw, my favourite instrument in the whole wide world) and this song is probably my slowest ever... sweet, but also very dark and sad... it takes two stories (of people that I have observed in my life) and experiences, and puts them to the same conclusion that they need some more love in their life. But it's not too sappy - there are guns and blood in this song! JUST IN TIME (FOR XMAS TIME) follows, and it's another love song - kinda sappy, but sweet, and recorded nicely. It'll probably be a favourite among parents and grandparents - but honestly, it's quite sincere, and a more personal song that most of the rest with a very poppy, catchy tune.
    BURN THE BLACK DRESS is like short comic relief... just under 2 minutes long, this song is already a fan favourite. It's also written about the Sosandra character, and the goth scene in general - not so much the style, but more the attitude I've noticed from a lot of people. It's a very fun happy song, and the recording is totally cool - complete with bop-bop-bop's in the background, and a crazy little carnival organ solo! I FOUND GOD is next - it's got a really cool recording with phased vocals, heavily distorted synth, and me playing the acoustic guitar (barely!) but it's different than anything I've done. Talks about religion a bit, but more how people relate to faith in different ways. The song gives a few 'examples'
    The next song is the monster from the record - nearly 7 minutes, and a total true story of things that happened to me durring last summer as a direct result from alcohol abuse!!! It's humorous and fun at times, optimistic, and upbeat, but at the same time it has an underlying sadness to it. It's a true rollercoaster - LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN WHEN WE'RE SOBER outlines my personal experiences in a fun way - sort of a 'look back and laugh at the situation' kind of thing. The situation is nothing in specific... the song makes reference to a few different things that friends and family may pick up on, but I'll never give out the details! :)
    The last two songs finish off the album nicely - LAST NIGHT I DREAMED THAT WE BOTH DIED puts love and life into perspective by looking at a dream of death. The song is basically about the things one takes for granted and an 'if we died right now' kind of situation arises and one is faced with the regrets of the things they didn't say or do, as well as the things they with they had done differently. Written to sound like a dream, the song has a very unusual structure, and the changes are unique as well. It's one of the most beautiful recordings on the record with huge swells in the chorus of piano, layered organs, and warm synths. RED LIGHT closes the record, and it's probably my favourite of all the songs - maybe even of all the songs I've written. It's a bitter-sweet close... tells a story about someone who has clearly gone off the edge, and it's sad to see this person waste away, but the character in the song is taking that person's mistakes and using them to make better their own life. It's an empowering song with a really cool piano riff, and powerful vocals on the chorus. It really makes a nice finish.

lyrics:

Boy Observations
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

he had much better manners than his parents / built in intuition / built into his clock, into his ticking clock (tick tick tick tock) // all these boys don't come for free / most of them are younger than me / tough times to be letting go / money, rocks & rolls / sex sells only when you're old / buying (building) growing cold // i'm growing used to sensitivity / growing senseless growing harder / growing violent growing careless / growing bored of all of this // i think i'll stay frozen - thanks / i think i'll keep my naivety / cause 15 years is all it took & 15 years from now you will not ... // ... find me dead and battered / left to be remembered as nothing but a community statistic / a walk in the park, a flower, a big red show, & a boy in the mirror // boy observations in the back of my mind / we're taking in all of the colors / i leave out black & i leave out red because we always were a little bit racist / but we like to talk, we like to touch / we're sleeping with all of our friends / i'll leave out fats and i'll leave out femmes / we're constantly moving forward // i'm wondering if the comfort zone is in the platform or the stage / what you call the stage - for you - is small and full of shame // all these boys don't come for free / most of them are younger than me / tough times to be letting go / money, rocks & rolls / sex sells only when you're old / buying (building) growing cold // boy observations in a comfortable place it's got a lot to do with my friends / i'm in disguise i'm incognito / i'm looking for who i am // looking for who i am in this place / looking for who i am

World is Watching
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

you could make a killing if your jacket were too tight / if you got rid of those spectacles and built some bridges with your body / no it wouldn't take much / you could be the diamond of the show if you just see those extra pounds all spread around and some hair removal cream / no it wouldn't be tough // half the time you look like a waste of time / falling fast / half the time you look like a little girl / going far / and the world is watching you // you could be a winner if you changed around some things / a small injection, tight perfection, could this be the new infection / no it wouldn't be tough // half the time you look like a waste of time / falling fast / half the time you look like a little girl / going far / and the world is watching you // but "what's the point in life" she says / "to build a bridge to show the world / just who you are, and what you do / if there ain't nobody watching you - oh no"

Insecure/Immature
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

so many beautiful people in the world / so many beautiful people in my face / i try try try to push them all away / i try try try to push them all away / so many beautiful people in the world / so many beautiful people in my face / i try try try to push them all away / i try try try to push them all away // do you want to make up? / i can't i'm still to insecure / if you can get over these blues / i'll let you light my fire // so many beautiful people in the world / so many beautiful people in my face / i try try try to push them all away / i try try try to push them all away / so many beautiful people in the world / so many beautiful people in my face / i try try try to push them all away / i try try try to push them all away // but somethings in the way / in the way of my progression / and it's something that i have no control over / it's something growing in my lungs / do you wanna try this? / i can't i'm still too immature // it's a sad sad story in a place of birth and life on a sad sad stone where i had the chance on the busiest day to let this fragile flower grow instead i used my time to twist the truth to bring myself down deeper down down // it's a sad sad story about a sad sad girl / who never lets anybody into her world / it's a sad sad story about a sad sad girl who never let's anybody into her world / it's a sad sad story about a sad sad girl who never took the time to dry the tears in her eyes / it's a sad sad story about a sad sad girl who never, who never who never, who never...

She's a Scorpion
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

always getting blamed for other peoples problems / always getting / last chance / flash back / do you wanna dance man? / i can't tell what's behind the disguise / but i feel so connected / in a similar way / she's a scorpion / i'm a scorpion / we'll escort you to your social death // this is where your house burns down / where your favourites suffer - slow / this is where the innocent bleed / where we live and breathe // STOP trying / to figure her out / this woman's work / is in a wicked place / she's a scorpion / i'm a scorpion / me first / topic change / wait up slow boy / i'd love to show you / the secrets of my history / but my poison is too strong / and my story incomplete / we'll share it all over coffee one day / but for now just be afraid // this is where your house burns down / where your favourites suffer - slow / this is where the innocent bleed / where we live and breathe // her mother was a good woman / always wanted the best for her / always wanted more from life than she was offered / so we can say an accident / and some familiar consequence / led to this incredible girl that we don't deserve / maybe it was for the best / maybe she's not like the rest / no one ever said it wasn't her fault / she's the one who did it / she's the one who did it / she's the one who'll pay for her mistakes until the day she dies // this is where your house burns down / where your favourites suffer - slow / this is where the innocent bleed / where we live and breathe / this is where you find out everything you've always wished for isn't happening / this is where your plans change - for the worst / and where you drop the game

Empty Tunnel
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

with elaborate carvings no one can see / find him in this empty tunnel - no one in there except for me / waiting for these silver bells to toll the truth so i can leave / he's gone all alone / god helps to keep him on the floor / i'd like to pick him up / if only my arms would grow so wide i could embrace his whole world // and fill this tunnel up with silver bells and real love / fill this tunnel up with silver bells and real love / real love / real love / real love // i've killed a man deep in my past / i threw my sorrow off the edge / along with all my guns / i took off my bandana / and retreated to a fancy house / and the empty tunnel in my head is only empty because i washed out all the blood // and fill this tunnel up with silver bells and real love / fill this tunnel up with silver bells and real love / real love / real love / real love  

Just in Time (for Xmas time)
©2001 SOCAN - Unreleased
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

it's almost time to fly away from me, love
take my word I know how you feel, love
nothing in my life will save this day
I'll try to vote the right way to preserve myself

so we've got to part, cry, say goodbye
and go, but know you'll be back
just in time for xmas time

I know how it feels to be thrown around the room
a million people pulling at the best of you
I wonder how you'll feel come july
in the summer of the loneliest of nights

I'm going to hold this week close
these last few fleeting moments make the best of
I can't stop the clock
and I can't stop your life
but I can take the time to stop
and think about the things you've done for me

so don't forget the summer
while you're 'learning how to live'
and don't forget my face or my humour
I'll never leave your side when you're gone

but if things change
times get forgotten faster than they came
so lets hold on to tonight
tomorrow this will be history
and I hope you'll always be mine

the bar is closing down now, love
and it's time for me to sleep, love
so let me know love, let me know love

so we've got to part, cry, say goodbye
and go, but know you'll be back
just in time for xmas time

Burn the Black Dress
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

it's time to burn the black dress cause it really doesn't match your beautiful face / you'll get more attention from a pink or a yellow anyways // cause everytime you try to cover up your eyes we see you better / don't you know we see you better / and everytime you pull a stunt (& i'll be blunt) we laugh behind your back / (this isn't the attention you want) / it's time to burn the black dress with the rest of the shit that you're embracing / your little black spikes don't hide the tears in your eyes or your cutting / see bitch, i know what it's like to be a second-hand-man / to be a stand up comedian in a blind man's hand / so watch what you're wearing & don't be a slave / take it all off and burn it babe / just burn the black dress cause you really don't like it anyways // carnival time // listen up,  i know what it's like to be a second-hand-man / to be a stand up comedian in a blind man's hand / so watch what you're wearing & don't be a slave / take it all off and burn it babe / just burn the black dress cause we know you don't like it anyways

I Found God
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

i found god in the back of my car / in ignoring all responsible girls / in letting down my hair / in letting people in / i found god in the endless empty sky / in enjoying every part of my vacation / in enjoying myself, all by myself / i found god in the simple things / in the keys to my music in the blues that i choose / in running back to always you / in running back to the first step / i found god in the early years / in all my regrets and misinformed desicions / wasted nights / passed up visions / but never in you / but never in you / i never found god in you // CAN YOU bring me something i can taste / CAN YOU take these dreams away / i've fought so hard / i've tested the waters / & it all comes down to unarmed faith / CAN YOU prove to me the reasons why / CAN YOU show me in a way that we share / i've fought so hard / to tear this down / so when I find god i'll share it // i found god in the learning room / where i learned about nothing & i wasted my youth / where i tried to see so perfectly / the reasons for my insecurities / i found god on the sea of truth / where i messed with my mind with the things you can find / but never in you / but never in you / i never found god in you // CAN YOU bring me something i can taste // i'm not singing for the women / i don't speak for the women of the world / they have a stronger voice than you / i'm not singing for the women / i don't speak for the women in my world / they always know how / they always knew how // CAN YOU bring me something i can taste

Let's try this again when we're Sober
©2002 SOCAN
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

Rain. Check. Please. Boy.
I’ve waited for this for so long.
Tactics. Tarnished.
converted to comfort in alcohol.
Marijuana.
anything to pass the time by.
sonic slumber
at least I’ve got you on my right hand side.

A three thousand dollar mistake
I forgot to break. I forgot to break.
Racoon – buffoon
we’re singing this tune are you listening?
There’s a lot on my plate
There’s a lot in my face
but listen,
my appetites strong.
So I’m in heat on this summerfire street
just come along and sing along

Last night I dreamed that we both Died
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

last night i dreamed that we both died / over a foggy pier at night / i could see the city lights / counted to three and opened my eyes / to a room of children clapping for me // sliding through the bleeding troughs / each one tore their skin right off // but it's nice to know we had a really good meal / and took in the town before we hit the ocean // the last thing i remember seeing / luminescence translating through the water / quickly closer / to the headlights of your car // i believe it was a rental too / i wonder what your dad will do / i thought of this on the way down / instead of saying "i love you" // the last thing i thought that night / was regret for keeping you on such thin ice / you balanced well / but the harder you tried / the more difficult i made it // ha ha ha // so now i'll try to take a joke / i wish that i had said goodbye / last night i dreamed that we both died / woke up to find me quite alive

Red Light
©2003 SOCAN - The World is Watching You
Music and Lyrics written by Matthew Presidente

what you experience vs. what you see / what makes you want to be like her / what glorifies the dismal dream / what makes you want to wear those shoes in the snow & rain / no trucks permitted in this lane / your claim to fame has spoiled your name / now we come & visit / at least once a week / staring back into your face / as you just sit & waste away / we'll go through the wells of time we'll fall & catch & fall / we won't burn we've got ideas / something you pretend to have // you've got a daughter & i know a lot of women / like her in the future for the things you havn't given / it's not a pretty sight / you're not a pretty sight // what you experience vs. what you know / tell me how are you going to recouperate / after the electric show / how can you just let this little girl slip away / you made her bed / you made her sad / you made her / so stick to it // you've got a daughter & i know a lot of women / like her in the future for the things you havn't given / it's not a pretty sight / you're not a pretty sight //