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Searching For the Stranger

by Ben Kunder

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  • T-Shirt/Apparel

    One of a kind hand tie-dyed T's. The artwork is one of Ben Kunder's tattoos done while on tour in Berlin.
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1.
Berlin 04:04
BERLIN – Words and Music by Ben Kunder I was in Berlin on the anniversary, Of some forsaken tragedy, shadows of my past, You told me to relax, look out at all the scenery, Take in all its majesty and try not to look back, Walk down the cobble streets to the Christmas market, So pretty when it’s dark out and you can see the lights, I began to cry, I hide it so you can’t see me, So you don’t even notice me, it’s hard but I’m alright, Tear down the walls, You don’t have to hide anymore, I’m alright now babe, I’m alright now babe, Up four flights of stairs to the fotostudio, Filled with faces we didn’t know and may not see again, You shared with me your broken dreams and I sang my song for you, We were not so different then, no we all bleed the same, Tear down the walls, You don’t have to hide anymore, I’m alright now babe, I’m alright now babe, Tear down the walls, You don’t have to hide anymore, I’m alright now babe, walking these streets they’ll save us, Can we walk these streets where it all happened? Can we walk these streets where the walls once stood? Or are we just going out for the weekend? Tell me I’m alright, tell me I’m good, Tear down the walls, You don’t have to hide anymore, I’m alright now babe, I’m alright now babe, Tear down the walls, You don’t have to hide anymore, I’m alirght now babe, I’m alright, Tear down the walls, You don’t have to hide anymore, I’m alright now babe, walking these streets of East Berlin with you, I’m alright now babe, walking these streets, they’ll save us.
2.
Stranger 04:23
STRANGER – Words and Lyrics by Ben Kunder No one told me, How hard this would be, Like learning how to swim, By being thrown right in, Wake up early, Before the day comes, I want to go outside, And bury all my pride, I went searching for the stranger, You were calling me back home, Thought I went looking for salvation, I just wanted to be alone, This worn down city, Has got me thinking, If I pick up and leave, Will you remember me? Your clothes are lying, Out on the pavement, Kids ride their bikes so fast, You’re naked on the grass, I went searching for the stranger, (No one told me, how hard this would be) You were calling me back home, (Wake up early, there’s so much to see) Thought I went looking for salvation, (Worn down city, ahs got me on my knees) I just wanted to be alone, (If I could just pick up and leave) For your love, I would leave the words unspoken, For your love, I would live inside my head, For your love, I would fight ‘til I was broken, For your love, for your love, For your love, for your love.
3.
Ghost 03:59
GHOST – Words and Music by Ben Kunder & Maia Davies Why can’t you get out of my head? You know I’m trying to sleep, Flying like a ghost above my bed, just killing me, Tell me what you’re doing tonight, are you out with those East side boys? Tell me are you laughing so hard you cried, I miss your voice, Just the moon and me, And my heart locked deep, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you, You call me over when you’ve got nothing better to do, Watching movies in the dark, And singing to the stars, And drinking wine too, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you, Why am I the only one who seems to be acting strange? Seeing all our friends out at the bar, feels like nothing’s changed, Tell me when you’re coming tonight so I can get out of here, Telling myself it’s not worth the fight or all the tears, Just the moon and me, And my heart locked deep, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you, You call me over when you’ve got nothing better to do, Watching movies in the dark, And singing to the starts And drinking wine too, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you, Good things come as quickly as the go, And I know I’ll be on the other side of all this tomorrow, Yes, I’ll be on the other side of this badge of sorrow, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you, You call me over when you’ve got nothing better to do, Watching movies in the dark, And singing to the stars, And drinking wine too, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you, I’m feeling fine when I’m not thinking about you.
4.
Year 03:26
YEAR – Words and Music by Ben Kunder Can you believe that it’s been a year? I’m still changing for the better, Just like the changing summer weather, I don’t want to stop loving you, Can this be true? Or is this the end for us? Don’t tell me, cause I don’t wanna know? Hard to believe with all I put you through, You’d still want me around, Hard to believe with all I put you through, The year is over, Can you believe that I lost my ring? Hands are bare the skin is showing, And every time you see me going, You ask me to stop leaving you, Can this be true? Or is this the end for us? Don’t tell me, cause I don’t wanna know, Hard to believe with all I put you through, You’d still want me around, Hard to believe with all I put you through, Another year over and I’m still lost in the sound, Can you believe that it’s been a year? I’m still changing for the better, Just like the changing summer weather, I don’t wanna stop loving you, I don’t wanna stop loving you, Don’t tell me, cause I don’t wanna know.
5.
Breakers 04:21
BREAKERS – Words and Music by Ben Kunder It’s the secret of mind power to see only the shadows of myself, There’s a whole lot of people dreaming tonight, Trying to find a way out, What did you sacrifice to pursue your dreams? Did you know what you were losing? Did you think your hands were clean? Did you think your hands were clean? Can we become? Or will we surrender like breakers in the night? Are we becoming? It’s the afternoon sun breaking through the window, Can you measure the weather like you measure your soul? I’ve got the worried man blues, Waiting for a midnight kiss, I’ve got the little brown jug, This is how it always is, This is how it always is, Can we become? Or will we surrender like breakers in the night? Can we become? Do you remember what it means to fight? Are we becoming? Are we becoming? I thought I’d seen it all but I was standing in one spot for too long, Solid ground for you to stand on is gone, My body changes, the earth it changes, I’m not the same and I won’t be again, Is it the wind or am I blowing off steam? We change in time, we light the lights and power goes off in the night, Reach into the dark and find your light, find your light, Can we become? Or will we surrender like breakers in the night? Can we become? Can we become? Can we become? Or will we surrender like breakers in the night? Can we become? Do you remember what it means to fight? Are we becoming? Are we becoming?
6.
Lunenburg 04:33
LUNENBURG – Words and Music by Ben Kunder Sitting by the phone in Lunenburg waiting for you to call me back, But I can’t get through and I can’t keep track, I sleep while the rooster crows, played so many shows, No one comes and no one knows except for you, Breathe in, breathe out, I’m lucky I guess, I’m lucky I guess, It’ll all work out, I’m lucky I guess, I’m lucky I guess, If I can make it through the next week or two it’ll be alright, But I’m down on my luck and the well’s dried up, With only fifteen pounds and this lithograph from 1835, Of the hills and the sky to remember all the times I tried to prove it to you, Breathe in, breathe out, I’m lucky I guess, I’m lucky I guess, It’ll all work out, I’m lucky I guess, I’m lucky I guess, Every street I go down it’s the same direction, Every window I see the same reflection, If I can make it through maybe I’ll come home to you, Breathe in, breathe out, I’m lucky I guess, I’m lucky I guess, It’ll all work out, I’m lucky I guess, I’m lucky I guess, Lonely Lunenburg, lonely Lunenburg, Lonely Lunenburg, lonely Lunenburg.
7.
Seul 03:40
SEUL – Words and Music by Ben Kunder I don’t know why you came, To the hospital, that wasn’t the plan, I’m feeling fine, you can go on home, You don’t have to explain, Sometimes things just work out this way, We’ve both been unkind, trying to right these wrongs, Why you make it so hard? You make it so hard, I feel so alone when I’m with you sometimes, Why you make it so hard? Laying down your whole deck of cards, Calling me names without even saying a word, Why you make it so hard? You make it so hard, I feel so alone when I’m with you sometimes, Why you make it so hard? You make it so hard, I know, I know you love me, You tell me all the time, Take your time, I want to tell you everything, all that scares me, all my hopes and dreams, Take your time, Kids are playing outside, looking for a getaway, take all the time you need, Take your time, Take your time, Why you make it so hard? You make it so hard, I feel so alone when I’m with you sometimes, Why you make it so hard? You make it so hard, I know, I know, you love me, You tell me all the time, Why you make it so hard? You make it so hard, You make it so hard.
8.
Colours 04:37
COLOURS – Words and Music by Ben Kunder You don’t fit in here, The box is full already, Keep walking in a straight line, Keep your head steady, You go out to the party, Before it begins, You’re welcome but you feel sad, You’re needles and pins, Surprise me, Change your colours in the sun, Surprise me, Change your colours in the sun, There is no one like you, Cut off all your hair, Put it in a bag for later, I tell you that I don’t care, But I can’t recognize a stranger, Surprise me, Change your colours in the sun, Surprise me, Change your colours in the sun, There is no one like you.
9.
Tornado 02:27
TORNADO – Words and Music by Ben Kunder, Maia Davies and Tom West I was caught in a tornado trying to get out, But it didn’t want to let me go, No, it didn’t want to let me go, I was caught inside a fever, a fever dream of sound, But it didn’t want to let me go, No, it didn’t want to let me go, God I got to let it go, Cause I’m losing what I used to know, Throwing rocks in the river, But the stone’s getting bigger, I can’t be your savior until I know I’m safe, Until I build my shelter, Until I recognize my own face, I am only human you know I make mistakes And the hurtful things you say Are the thoughts that hang over me God I want to let it go, Cause I’m losing what I used to know, And the wind’s no forgiver, She’s a natural disaster, I come to get you, but you’re locked so far away, This house is spinning, But I’ll miss you, yea I’ll miss you, yea I’ll miss you, I was caught in a tornado trying to get out, But it didn’t want to let me go, No, it didn’t want to let me go.
10.
Spring 04:21
SPRING – Words and Music by Ben Kunder Maybe it’s Spring back home, Maybe Winter’s still hanging on, Maybe Dad’s doing alright, Out of body and out of sight, Can’t be strong all of the time, Maybe it’s the time of year, When the seasons change it’ll all come clear, Maybe it’s just my luck, Pour it over me like a dump truck, Cover my body ‘til I’m good and stuck, You have to grow up, You have to grow up too early sometimes, You have to grow up too early sometimes, Maybe you’re too smart for me, How can I give you what you need? So teach me your new tricks, This old dog still needs a fix, Got my bone and I got my stick and that’s all, You have to grow up, You have to grow up too early sometimes, You have to grow up too early sometimes, I’m learning how to love you better each day, I’m learning how to love you better each day, I’m learning how to love you better each day, You have to grow up, You have to grow up too early sometimes, You have to grow up too early sometimes, You have to grow up, You have to grow up too early sometimes, You have to grow up too early sometimes.

credits

released October 2, 2020

Produced by Aaron Goldstein, Chris Stringer and Ben Kunder at Baldwin Street Sound and Union Sound Company, Toronto | Mixed by Chris Stringer at Cereal Box, except 'Berlin' mixed by Graham Walsh | Mastered by Jeff (Fedge) Elliot

Guests include, Loel Campbell (Wintersleep) Anthony Carone (Arkells), Carleigh Aikins, Aaron Goldstein, Chris Stringer.

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Ben Kunder Toronto, Ontario

With the release of his beautiful third album, Searching For the Stranger, Ben Kunder expands his ability to soundtrack both the ordinary and the extraordinary in luminous detail. Kunder crafts intricate folk-pop that’s hugely accessible, relatable, and almost ridiculously melodic. ... more

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