Ah, yes, the dreaded “last day of vacation” has finally arrived. As much as I would love to stay in San Diego forever, I’m due to fly back to the East Coast early tomorrow morning (arriving just in time to catch the series finale of “Breaking Bad!”)
My last day of vacation usually involves packing, double checking that I packed everything about four to several more times, catching up on my (sigh) e-mails so I’m prepared when I get home and get back to business, double-checking that I packed everything another five times, and shopping. My mom, God bless her, loves souvenirs, so I always have to make a point to bring her back something cheesy to appease her, and even though I bring more than enough clothes and outfits for any and every occasion that should arise (you never know when you’ll need a cocktail dress… or a ball gown) while away from home, I always end up picking up a few more things that catch my eye.
Today, while stretching my legs, I stopped by a little store downtown to take a quick peek at a dress displayed in the front window that I had liked the pattern of. Instead, I ended up leaving with a bunch of fun-printed scarves and a crop-top I couldn’t resist buying:
Yesterday, I spent a good chunk of the day catching some sun and salty ocean air down at the pier at Ocean Beach (O.B.) which is one of my favorite spots in San Diego. The overall environment and the people that frequent there, at least every time I’ve visited, are very laid back surfer, skater, and hippie types. When I wasn’t down at the water, I was walking along the main strip of surf-shops, bars, and food shacks, admiring the spray-painted murals and street art on display on the sides of most of the buildings. The entire look of the beach is like something out of late 60s/early 70s, with more modern cars and clothing, of course. I’m so smitten with the place.
I met up with my longtime San Diegon friend, Duncan, at O.B., where we had a really nice little picnic by ocean before heading back to his beautiful apartment in Hillcrest. I met his three-legged cat (who is ADORABLE) and Duncan surprised me with an absolutely gorgeous Michael Kors watch. I’m still a little stunned by it. Every time I go to look at the time, I can’t help but smile.
The night concluded with a visit to a rooftop bar, where I had the most breathtaking view of the city as the sun was setting, followed by some New York style pizza- which is really the only way to end a perfect day.
And now, as the sun begins to set here again (sadly, I have no pizza this time,) I’m preparing to bid farewell to SoCal, and to what was an entirely and thoroughly enjoyable weekend. It was so, so nice to see some familiar faces- and meet some new ones, over the past few days, and while there were a couple of people I sadly did not get the chance to visit due to distance or time constraints- there’s always next time.
It seems that the only thing left to do before I go is stuff my face with one last heaping amount of In-N-Out Burger. I’m craving animal fries like you wouldn’t believe right now.
This little four day getaway (I arrived Wednesday) was sort of a spur of the moment decision on my part. October looks as though it’s going to be a month full of fun events- with my time split between being at home in Massachusetts and in NYC- and November and December, as is the workplace tradition- will be very, very busy as the firm wraps up cases for the end of the year and prepares for 2014. It’s a little wild to think about- that in just a few months we’ll be heading into an entirely new year.
But I digress, since talking about time going by so quickly can be awfully depressing. Seeing an opportunity to get away, if only for a few days, before I am indubitably swamped, I flew out to Southern California to do, well, nothing. This is the first time in a long time where I’ve traveled somewhere, not to see any specific sights or participate in any specific activity under any specific schedule, but to just sort of come and go as I please- eat and drink where I want, sleep as late as I’d like (although I was up and moving at 7 A.M. Pacific Standard Time yesterday and this morning, so I guess some things never change, even on vacation,) and roll with the punches as they came at me- and it’s been phenomenal, and also very, very relaxing. I’ve discovered a ton of new places in the area to add to the list of places I already frequent and enjoy.
While Wednesday was pretty quiet, low-key, and uneventful (after a pretty long and horrific flight, the only thing I really wanted to do was grab some food and take a nap in my hotel room,) yesterday was filled with a lot of exercise and exploring. I spent the majority of the morning and afternoon in Balboa Park, stopping by the San Diego Museum of Man (an absolutely massive and gorgeous building I’ve always admired from afar whenever I’m here,) to see an exhibit of Medieval torture devices- because why not? I only got a little queasy just once while reading the description of how one of the devices was used (spoiler alert: it was a device designed specifically for women,) but overall, it was morbidly fascinating. Definitely worth checking out if you’ve got the stomach for it.
As it turns out, my timing for this trip turned out to be perfect, especially last night when I stopped by The Griffin to grab a drink and catch a show put together by SoundDiego that featured Neighbors to the North (awesome,) the first live performance from Saint Diego (my new favorite band,) and my old pals, The Nervous Wreckords. Now, my love for the city of San Diego itself and it’s beautiful weather and lovely scenery is only surpassed by my love for the people I know here. I’ve known Brian, the frontman, since my teens- and Daniel, the keyboardist, for a while now, and I hadn’t had the pleasure of spending time with either one of them in about two years. The show was fantastic, but getting to see them and catch up afterwards was truly the highlight of my night (apart from Saint Diego covering CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising,” of course. That was the coolest thing ever.)
And major kudos to the friendly new faces I met last night who talked Boston sports with me (without ripping on my accent too much) and directed me to different things to check out in the city, either during this trip or the next time I’m in town. Those guys, and gals, made an already wonderful evening even better with their hospitality.
With only a couple of days left on the West Coast, I’m looking forward to visiting a few more friends and hitting the beach. It’s still early-ish here, however- and I think I hear breakfast calling my name.
Lately I feel as though I’ve been having a multi-city love affair, actively “dating” San Diego and New York City (with my heart belonging to my beloved Boston, of course- but that’s a given.) Both cities offer something unique that makes me fall head over heels in love with them whenever I’m there, and it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite of the two. The scenery, the people, the nightlife, the music and art scenes- they’re both so different from one another that I know I’m always in for a new and (usually) exciting adventure when I travel to either destination.
On a whim, I spent this past weekend in NYC with no real plans in mind- just strolling through the city checking out different shops, restaurants, street fairs, and the occasional tourist attraction. I’ve heard it’s frowned upon by some Native New Yorkers to visit the more “touristy” areas, but I think it’s all part of the experience of living in one of the greatest cities in the world. If you can’t go and enjoy seeing people from all over the globe flock to different parts of your city to admire and appreciate their significance- then what’s the point? Even in Boston when I’m passing by Quincy Market or walking through the Common, I can’t help but smile when I see different people from all walks of life posing for family vacation photos or looking at maps/pamphlets to learn more about the area.
Besides, if you’ve never eaten at Tom’s Restaurant (delicious food, and no, I didn’t order a BIG salad or a Snickers bar) or dragged your friend who’s deathly afraid of heights to the top of the Empire State Building for their first time (this recent visit marked my 4th time at the top of NYC,) then you just haven’t lived.
A large chunk of my weekend was spent walking around Central Park, which resulted in a pretty painful muscle tear in my right foot (I’m typing this with my foot elevated on a pillow, wrapped up tightly, with an ice pack resting on it,) but I still managed to tough it out to visit the Central Park zoo before I headed home to start my work week.
Also, if anyone is looking for a lovely hotel to stay in for one or two nights that doesn’t cost a fortune, but is easily accessible from the subway and within walking distance of many points of interest- may I suggest the Affinia Manhattan Hotel on 31st & 7th? I booked a room literally hours before I took off to the city and it was comfortable, clean, and chic. I loved the combination of antique and modern decor. I had my own kitchen area, which was fantastic, and I thought the floral designs on the walls in the room were so cute.
Sean approached me a few weeks ago and asked if I’d be interested in making a trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire with him and his boyfriend, Paulo, for a day. The only thing he’d planned was a scenic train ride/lunch in the afternoon, but the rest of the day was entirely up to us. I haven’t been to the White Mountains since I was a kid, and so I jumped at the chance to get some fresh air and take in the scenery. It’s been a long time since I’ve been up that way, and I’d all but forgotten that it’s almost intimidating how breathtaking it is there. Every direction you look, for miles and miles, is like something out of a painting or a postcard. I spent most of the drive just staring out my window with my jaw dropped in awe.
We headed out early yesterday morning to get to North Conway in time to catch our train, and although the ride wasn’t as scenic as I had thought it would be, the food was decent and it was still a nice way to pass an hour. I love train rides.
After we arrived back at the station, the three of us decided to keep heading North. While we drove around the curved and winding roads through the valleys- passing hiking trails, cabins, and campgrounds- we saw a group of cars parked by a river, and decided to check it out.
I think our stop at the river may have been my favorite part of the day. It was so hot outside yesterday, but the water was so clean, clear, and cold. There were a few other people there swimming around the quieter areas or riding inflatable tubes through the faster moving water, and we ended up spending a couple of hours there just relaxing on the rocks and going for the occasional refreshing wade (or in Sean’s case, a full-blown swim) in the water.
When we eventually left the river, we once again headed North, towards Mount Washington. We were looking for someplace to grab a coffee and a snack, since we were starting to get a little tired and needed an energy boost, but instead, we found a stream, and proceeded to muster up the strength to scale the side of one of the mountains to get to the waterfall where it was coming from. I had worn a flowy tulle skirt and some flats for the day, (as I hadn’t been expecting to participate in any sort of hiking or rock-climbing), which made getting up to the top of the rocky incline more than a little difficult, but it was worth it for the view alone- even if my shoes got soaked in the process.
We had wanted to keep pushing North, to see how far we could get and what else we could find, but we were losing the daylight and hadn’t exactly come equipped with food, water, fresh clothes, bug spray (I’ve got a couple of mosquito bites that are driving me nuts at the moment)- or even a tent to camp out in, and we reluctantly decided to head back towards Boston.
Overall, it was a really good day. On the ride up, I saw a lot of abandoned buildings I want to go back to and photograph, especially with the natural, picturesque backdrop the mountains and valleys provide, and I’d love more than anything to go for another hike or another swim (with the proper attire, of course) before the Summer is over.
On Saturday, Sean and I headed out to Manhattan to attend “Green Man”, a dinner and rooftop party hosted by the Sleep No More crew at the McKittrick Hotel to welcome Spring properly. The dress code called for white, so I donned a fitted white lace dress and a white floral crown, and was promptly greeted upon my arrival in the city by an alarmingly sudden (and very loud!) thunderstorm when it crept up on us after I parked my car near the venue. We ended up having to duck under some scaffolding when the downpour started.
Regardless, when the skies cleared and the sun emerged, we still had some time to dry off and roam the streets for a couple of hours before the show- and what a show it was.
“Green Man” was the first production I can remember in recent years where we didn’t have to wear masks, and where photography was allowed. After a delicious and diverse meal and a couple of glasses of wine with strangers who quickly became new friends, we were led up to the rooftop for more drinks, dancing, penis-shaped cookies (seriously), and to watch and/or participate in a couple of rituals to welcome the “season of rebirth”. The whole night and it’s theme reminded me of “The Wicker Man”, with cast members prancing around in animal masks and frilly frocks, but there was no Nicolas Cage punching women dressed in bear suits- and also no human sacrifices.
The view from the roof was breathtaking, but if it got to be too much, you could go downstairs, back into the hotel, for an incredible live performance from a house band followed by plenty of dancing and posing in a photo booth area. As was the case for New Years Eve, you were also free to roam certain areas of the hotel, and if you were in a certain place at a certain time, you could find a surprise or two. Sean and I actually ended up stumbling upon a puppet show in one of the rooms while we were exploring.
The drive home was excruciating, but overall, the night was worth it. I had such an incredible, memorable time and I’m anxiously looking forward to the next event. I highly recommend anyone interested in participating in these types of parties add themselves to the McKittrick’s e-mail list so you’ll get the notifications when they have things like this. I never would have known about it otherwise!
Yesterday, on a whim, I drove out to NYC (and didn’t have road rage once!) to meet up with my friend Alison for dinner and catch a comedy show at Carolines on Broadway. I’m surprised I don’t hang out in NYC more often, really. It’s just a few hours away and every time I do make it out there, I almost always have one hell of an adventure. Yesterday was no exception. It was beautiful outside, which made for a lovely night, post-show, of walking around, sipping coffee, and just enjoying the sights and sounds of the city after dark before I headed home.
(Ali took this photo!)
(She also took this one of Chris and I’s matching smirks and graphic tees.)
The aforementioned comedy show we attended was headlined by Chris Hardwick, of Nerdist and “The Talking Dead” fame, and was a blast. Chris is a phenomenal sweetheart, and it was really nice to talk to him between his sets. I highly recommend checking him out if he performs in your area. It was a lot of fun.
I have every intention of visiting NYC more often, although I think I may just catch a train next time. It’d be a lot easier than the drive home was.
The first time I ever visited Southern California, specifically San Diego, it was 2007, I was in my very early twenties, and I had gone to visit friends who were both performing, and working, at an all-day, outdoor music festival. I made a weekend out of it, sticking around an extra few days to take a look around and spend time with said friends who lived in the area. It didn’t take long for me to fall completely head over heels in love with the city and all it had to offer a wide-eyed, and (then) innocent girl like me. I wasn’t a jet-setting, world-weary traveler. At the time I’d barely gotten used to Boston, had taken NYC by storm a couple of times, and had even traveled to London, England the previous Summer for what will forever be known as the “Dynamic Duo Tour de Force”, as my best friend Samantha had come with me for the sight-seeing and the Reading/Leeds Festival experience- but I knew San Diego was different from anywhere I’d been before. I could feel it almost immediately.
Not only is the weather perfect nearly year-round, making outdoor activities and exercise all the more fun, but the scenery is picturesque, the nightlife options- bars and restaurants- are so diverse and easily accessible for whatever mood you’re in, and the San Diego music and art scene, in my opinion, is one of the best in the country.
Six years and countless trips later, I’m not as wide-eyed (and definitely not as innocent) as I used to be, but I’m just as enamored with San Diego as I was the very first time I visited- maybe even more so now that a good chunk of my dearest friends and family have moved there, and in surrounding areas, over time. Some visits have been great, others not so much, for different reasons, but I always go back because I feel so “at home” there. People I know, friends, family, new and old alike- have told me on more than one occasion that I belong there- that I need to make the move.
I had said in 2011 that I had every intention of moving out west, but as most of you know, and have probably experienced yourselves, life has a way of throwing curve balls when we least expect it. No sooner had I expressed my desire to leave New England when my father was diagnosed with cancer, and any and all plans to relocate immediately came to a grinding halt while I spent the next year at his side until his untimely death in the Summer of 2012. The idea was, obviously, put on the back-burner ever since- until now.
My father knew how much I wanted to move to San Diego, and he supported the decision (almost) 100%. Of course I was, and still am, his little girl- and the idea of me moving across the country to a place he hadn’t been in a long, long time- made him uneasy, but he wanted me to be happy, and as long as I flew back to Massachusetts from time to time, or found a suitable sofa for him to sleep on when he dropped by to check on me, probably unannounced knowing how my dad was- he had nothing but good luck and well wishes for me. I feel like holding myself back by not doing what I truly want to do, or going where my heart is telling me to go would make him so disappointed if he were still here- and I want so much to make him proud of me, wherever he is.
During my recent stay, I discussed the possibility of going through with the move with a couple of friends out there. They were so unbelievably eager, as well as helpful, with giving me advice and ideas of where to look for a safe, suitable place. One of my longtime friends, Duncan, even suggested we become roommates- which, if anyone knows Duncan- knows that it would be AWESOME.
Nothing is set in stone just yet, but I’m staying optimistic and positive that things will work themselves out in due time. I’m going to continue saving my money, planning, and preparing- and hopefully soon, I’ll be a permanent California girl, and not just a frequent visitor.
I had mentioned in my last entry that in lieu of a traditional birthday cake, some of my family surprised me the other night with those tasty red velvet and salted caramel cupcakes. Unbeknownst to me, however, my mom had a surprise (belated) birthday cake custom-made for me for another small get together she’d planned at her house last night. I have a bit of an infatuation with Tiffany & Co., so my mom had the cake shaped and frosted in the design of one of their trademark light blue gift boxes with white ribbon.
I had to take a couple pictures of it before I guiltily cut into it. It was just so cute- and so were the very bright and colorful flowers I received as a belated-birthday present, too. The whole evening was such a wonderful surprise!
Today, I bundled up and headed out to explore and photograph the old abandoned Medfield State Hospital. Unlike other locations I’ve been to, the grounds of the hospital are open to the public from 6 AM ’til 6 PM daily. Entering any of the buildings is strictly prohibited, and there are security personnel who routinely patrol the area, but for the most part- you can roam freely without being hassled. The place is monstrous, and very spaced out, which left me with a lot of ground to cover.
Because of the cold, I was the only one up there today- which made the whole experience a little eerie at first, especially when I was hearing metal clanging from inside the buildings whenever the wind blew, or seeing animals run by when they heard me approaching, but it proved to be a really cool adventure. I’d like to go back when it’s a bit warmer out so I can stay and poke around a little longer.
The hospital was built in 1892, and stayed open and operational until 2003, which explains why it’s still in relatively good condition (sans a couple of broken windows here and there) compared to other abandoned hospitals & asylums in New England.
The grounds were also apparently most recently used as a filming location for the movies “Shutter Island” and “The Box”.
Down the street, a couple of miles away from the front entrance of the grounds, is the Medfield State Hospital Cemetery, where patients who died between 1918 and 1988 have been laid to rest. I had wanted to stop and respectfully take a look, but it looked like the front entrance was closed off as I drove by a couple of times. Maybe next time.
One of my favorite things to do in the winter is head up to New Hampshire (usually Hampton, Seabrook, and the surrounding areas), and cruise along the coast, park by the ocean, and just relax with a hot cup of coffee and some good music. The boardwalk and most of the seaside motels are closed, which makes the place look like a ghost town, a sharp contrast to how it typically looks come July and August- but it’s so peaceful.
I headed up there earlier this afternoon for a few hours to take in the scenery before the snow started to fall, and made a quick stop in Portsmouth a few miles away to photograph the long abandoned Portsmouth Naval Prison:
I first saw the prison last Spring/Summer after taking a wrong turn in an attempt to head back towards Boston from Portsmouth. I was in awe at it’s size as I drove over a bridge that ran along the water across from it and knew that I wanted to come back to photograph it at some point.
The prison was built in 1908, and was used until it’s closure in 1974. Since it would be too expensive to either renovate or demolish, it sits alone, weathered by the elements and decaying from lack of maintenance. It’s a beautiful structure, although getting close to it is tricky since it’s located on the grounds of a restricted federal facility, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
The facility was actually referenced to in “The Last Detail” (1973), starring Randy Quaid and Jack Nicholson, as well as Stephen King’s story, “The Body”, which was later filmed as “Stand By Me”.
Monday night was, by far, one of the most amazing, intense, unique, debaucherous, and fun New Year’s Eve experiences I’ve had in recent memory. I think I’m actually still in the process of recovering, and this is coming from someone who usually bounces back fairly quickly after a wild night or a crazy weekend.
I have Sean to thank for all of it. For those who didn’t follow my old blog, Sean has been one of my best friends for the past sixteen years. He moved in next door to my parents’ house when we were little kids, and we’ve been pretty much inseparable since. As the years go by, we’ve continuously tried to outdo each other in terms of finding really cool, can’t-be-topped events and parties to go to.
As big fans of Punchdrunk’s “Sleep No More” (we’ve seen the play three times now), when Sean heard they were throwing an extravagant New Year’s Eve soiree at their new home in NYC, entitled “The Royal Huntman’s Ball”, he knew I’d be up for it and jumped at the chance to get us tickets.
I’ve never spent New Year’s Eve in NYC before, and wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but when I walked out of Port Authority after a four hour bus ride from Boston, and saw the Empire State Building twinkling multi-colored lights, and heard people yelling “Happy New Year!” to the NYPD Officers who were lining Times Square, I knew I was in for a memorable night that would go down in history.
And I was right.
Of course, such an unforgettable night called for an unforgettable dress. Enter Modcloth’s (my ultimate online shopping addiction) “Glitz All or Nothing” Dress, which garnered a lot of attention and compliments over the course of the night with it’s sparkles.
Once we reached the McKittrick, we were swept away to an absolutely delicious three-course dinner where we were sat with other attendees, donned in ballgowns, tuxedos, and top hats. We toasted with Chardonnay and got to know one another before we headed into the performance. Each time I see it, it’s different, but still incredible in it’s own inexplicable way.
For those who aren’t familiar with “Sleep No More”, here’s a pretty good summary taken from the play’s Wikipedia page:
“Sleep No More is set in a building with five floors of theatrical action, putatively called the McKittrick Hotel, though with many rooms and features not normally associated with hotels, including those which resemble an antiquated lunatic asylum, doctor’s offices, children’s bedrooms, a cemetery, indoor courtyards, shops, a padded cell, a ballroom, taxidermist’s menageries, and so on. The actors and their environment all adopt the dress, decor, and aesthetic style of the early 20th century, inspired by the shadowy and anxious atmosphere of film noir. The production “leads its audience on a merry, macabre chase up and down stairs, and through minimally illuminated, furniture-cluttered rooms and corridors.” Audience members begin their journey in a fully operational lounge, the Manderley Bar, from which they enter an elevator that transports them to the major floors of the “hotel.”
Sleep No More tells the story of Macbeth, though the audience is given no programme and there is no speaking from either the actors or audience. The actors (unlike the audience members) wear no masks and perform in passionate, silent, interpretive group settings, solitary scenes, and, sometimes, dance sequences. Audience members are instructed to remain silent and masked at all times once they have boarded the hotel’s elevator up until the time they return back to the Manderley Bar; however, they may move freely at their own pace for up to three hours, choosing where to go and what to see, so that everyone’s journey is unique; they may also exit the premises at any point. Audience members may thus follow one or any of the actors throughout the performance, or they may independently explore the many rooms of the building; in groups or alone. Recorded music plays steadily throughout the building at all times.”
Because the performance is meant to be stimulating to all senses, it should come as no surprise that photography is strictly prohibited, hence the lack of pictures on my part. I left my camera and my cell phone in coat check, since you’re supposed to truly experience everything, not live through a series of photographs.
However, the theater company did have a photographer on site (Monica Simoes) to capture some of the action from dinner and the ball. The gallery can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
After the final scene, it was time to dance and drink the night away until the clock struck midnight, and then dance and drink some more. There were two very different settings to choose from- the jazz lounge, which featured some great live punk Celtic & bluegrass bands, some of which yours truly danced and twirled ’round and ’round to until I got dizzy- and the grand ballroom, which was more club music (and a little too much dubstep for my liking), but still very fun. Sean and I bobbed and weaved between the areas, taking in the sights and sounds, and even stumbled on a vintage photo area set-up where we had the picture at the top of the entry taken together.
We were in the grand ballroom when the countdown to 2013 reached it’s final minutes, some of the cast of “Sleep No More” on stage to take us through the last seconds of 2012 before we were showered with confetti from the ceiling. Truly an incredible moment.
By 2 a.m., we were tipsy and spent. Our feet were starting to hurt, and we still needed to check into the tiny hotel we managed to find and book last minute on the edge of Wall Street. Grabbing our coats and our bags, Sean and I bid adieu to those still partying in the McKittrick, probably until the wee hours of the morning, and braved the cold. Everyone was trying to get a cab since Times Square was still clearing out, so we walked most of the way, meeting all sorts of fun people who were still feeling very celebratory despite the chill in the air.
Side note: I never want to hear another vuvuzela horn as long as I live. Hearing about eight of those at the same time at 2:30 in the morning will forever be burned into my brain.
We overslept a tad on New Years Day (a well deserved rest, in my opinion), and hurriedly got ready to spend a couple of hours in the city before we headed back to Boston. As was the tradition whenever I went to NYC with my dad, I made a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to light a candle and say a prayer to in his honor, and then went to grab brunch at the Cosmic Diner, where Sean managed to snag the first picture of me in 2013- and I’m actually smiling in it!
I also have insanely frizzy bed head, and am about to stuff my face with Greek omelette, but still- all smiles!
Another four hour bus ride shortly after brunch, and I was back in Boston and getting ready to go back to work. Needless to say, I had a blast. It was so incredible to be in a city I love, with one of my most beloved and treasured friends, meeting new and exciting people, and ringing in an entirely new year filled with entirely new possibilities.
If New Years Eve and New Years Day were any indication of how the rest of 2013 will be, then I’m very, very excited.
And to close out this first real entry in my new blog, a silly little tradition of mine is to start the year off with a song, a theme, if you will. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate track than Florence & The Machine’s “Shake It Out”. It’s perfect.
Regrets collect like old friends. Here to relive your darkest moments. I can see no way, I can see no way, And all of the ghouls come out to play, And every demon wants his pound of flesh, But I like to keep some things to myself. I like to keep my issues drawn. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
And I’ve been a fool and I’ve been blind. I can never leave the past behind. I can see no way, I can see no way. I’m always dragging that horse around, Our love is questioned, such a mournful sound. Tonight I’m gonna bury that horse in the ground. So I like to keep my issues drawn, But it’s always darkest before the dawn.
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
And I am done with my graceless heart, So tonight I’m gonna cut it out and then restart. Cause I like to keep my issues drawn. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back- so shake him off.
And given half the chance would I take any of it back. It’s a fine romance but its left me so undone. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
Oh woah, oh woah!.
And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t, So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my rope. And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope. It’s a shot in the dark and right at my throat. Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me. Looking for heaven, found the devil in me. Well what the hell, I’m gonna let it happen to me?
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out. And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back, So shake him off.
Legally Redhead 