We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Secondhand (EP)

by David Ullman

/
1.
I’ve been searching, can’t seem to find my way Seems the nights get darker each and every day This time I’ve wandered too far from home Friends all around me, but I feel alone I feel lost and broken, bent out of place Shall I stay, or do you need some space Different means all lead to the same end How can we even try to pretend I need a secondhand heart Only slightly ripped apart I need someone who will always be around Unrequited from the start Feel I was born to play the part Give me someone who will never let me down Sure I don’t miss what was missing But oh how I miss kissing you (of course I do) I miss your lips, your hips, your thighs Miss the sparkle of your eyes I know it’s gone now but I don’t know why How did this become of me How was I too blind to see That the one you loved was no longer me Was my heart in your hands just a pawn Feelings faded like the night at dawn Where was it that we went wrong How am I supposed to heal When I don’t know what it is I feel Was it really ever real I know kindness is contagious So come on be courageous Give your love away With a secondhand heart Only slightly ripped apart Gotta somehow get my feet back on the ground Unrequited from the start No one’s born to play that part Just find someone who will never let you down Don’t let me down
2.
Safe 03:21
Here I sing just trying to express In the way I hope that I do best All these ideas, they are floatin’ round Trying to keep one, I gotta choke it down Still I’m not saying that I feel fine About the way you waste your precious time Transitory, just like shooting stars All the deepest wounds seem to leave no scars Do you believe you’re safe from me? Be what you want to be All I want is for us to remain Times are tough, and love it is always rough You give your all, but your all is not enough Like a book on tape, digital escape Won’t you be my TV-dinner date Culture satiated with celebrity All trying to look like the models in the magazines Where normallacy is the fallacy Why can’t we make this dream reality See things as they are Not as we’d like them to be But as they were Were they really Do you believe you’re safe from me? See what you want to see All I want is for us to remain Do you believe you’re safe from me? All I want is to believe That what was lost just might be regained
3.
Start Anew 04:09
Come on make me feel like I believe A blind man once, but now I see Oh you set me free Won’t you set me free Come on make me feel like I belong To feel like this just can’t be wrong And if you say you want me to I’ll spend my life with you Oh to be with you With you I’ll start anew Together forever and a day For you I’ll find a way Carry on my wayward one From behind the clouds bring forth the sun And with you I’ll start again Both my love and my best friend You make me feel like I’m alive And for you I’ll take the dive Oh to be with you With you I’ll start anew And if you just say the word Sweetest voice I’ve heard It cuts right to my heart We will never part And after all is said and done My dear, my only one Come aboard my sweetest friend On this trip that never ends Ocean of love strong and true Rolling waves brought me to you You make me feel like I believe Once a blind man now I see What you’ve done for me And how you’ve set me free Now I know where I belong And to you I sing this song How happy we will be Come away with me And if you say you want me to I’ll spend my life with you Oh to be with you With you I’ll start anew
4.
Who Cares 03:55
Just cause you love her Doesn’t mean she cares I know you love her But it doesn’t mean that there’s Not another Doesn’t mean she cares Just cause you want him Doesn’t mean he cares Although you want him I know that it’s not fair Just cause you want him Doesn’t mean he cares Chorus: Seems we always want what we’ve not got And what we’ve got we cannot want till it’s gone We want the truth but need the lie If we love enough, we’ll change their mind Just cause you need them It doesn’t mean they care Even though you love them It doesn’t mean they share The same convictions Doesn’t mean they care Chorus Sometimes it’s just not to be But still you pray and you believe That I’ll love you, cause you love me That I’ll love you, cause you love me Seems we always want what we’ve not got And what we’ve got we cannot want till it’s gone If you could only open up your eyes You'd know you’ll never change their mind You know you’ll never change their mind

about

Q: Can you list each song and tell me about the meaning behind each song?

A: “Secondhand” - It's about trying to find hope when you feel hopeless. The line "Kindness is contagious, so come on be courageous and give your love away" is something I always feel good singing.

“Safe” - I'm not sure what 'safe' is about. The chorus came out of some “scat-type” improvisations I did while I was searching for the vocal melody. I just kept it. I have some inclining or feeling about what it might mean, but it's nothing I could articulate. "Won't you be my TV-dinner-date" is a line that gets a lot of attention. It's a live favorite for some and loathsome to others.

“Start Anew” - A lovey-dovey ballad that I wrote almost ten years ago. It was the first song that I’d written since I was a pre-teen (back then I wrote 50’s-style Buddy-Holly knock-offs!). The guitar part is something I’d been playing for years, and the vocal came about in a similar scat-type way as “Safe.” Actually, it’s because of “Safe” that I chose to include “Start Anew” on DOG DAYS in the first place. After switching the key to the one that you hear on the single, rather than an earlier, m ore up-beat full-band rendition (dubbed the “O.C. Mix”), it ended up reminding me of “Start Anew.” That’s why it re-appears on the EP—that, and because I had a new, beautifully re-mastered recording that I want to share.

“Who Cares” - This one's about taking an objective look at unrequited love. One person is totally consumed with intense feelings while the other is flattered--at best--or simply indifferent. I usually sing about relationships so earnestly. This song gave me a chance to have a bit of fun--maybe poke a little fun at my self.

Q: How was making this CD similar to making DOG DAYS? How was it different?

A: Well, these recordings were initially part of DOG DAYS. As a matter of fact, most of the material for these two songs was recorded in 2005 during the first sessions. It became apparent that "Safe" and "Who Cares" didn't fit the overall vibe of DOG DAYS. A good friend of mine thought "Safe" was too "poppy." He thought it belonged on the "O.C." tv-show. Coming from him, this was not a compliment! This was not the effect I was looking to have, so I tried doing a slightly slower and low-key, more acoustically based recording, which is the one included here. Ultimately, though, neither version fit.

Working with these songs now, in a different context, was liberating. I didn't feel so precious about them as I did when putting together my full-length debut. My brother's a talented producer, and he was particularly interested in finishing “Who Cares,” so I just let him roll with his ideas. I really like what he came up with. Not my best vocal; but, hey... They don't call 'em "B-Sides" for nothin'!

Q: What new experiences did you encounter making the SECONDHAND EP?

A: The drums for this version of "Secondhand" and (the only version of ) "Who Cares" were both recorded in a professional studio, rather than someone's home (like the recordings on DOG DAYS). That was a very good experience for me. After laboring over the tracks and takes on DOG DAYS for three years, it was really cool to go into a recording studio for three hours and come out with high-quality sounds for four songs. Much of that has to do with the talent of drummer Brian Yost, who came in to capture the energy he'd been adding to my live performances at that time (Spring 2008). It makes me really want to the whole process in a studio next time around.

Q: How did you choose which recordings would appear on this CD?

A: Well, “Secondhand’ is the raison d'être this disc. I think of it as a “single,” but more in the traditional sense of the word—indicating a physical release with a lead-track and supporting “B-sides.”

"Safe" and "Who Cares" are the remaining unreleased songs from the DOG DAYS sessions, and I wanted them to have a home—particularly because some folks really like “Safe.” Since it was, for some, a live-favorite, I ran a poll on my website to let listeners choose which version got released (the full-band “O.C. Mix or the more understated “acoustic version.” Hind sight made me really appreciate the full-band treatment, but the acoustic version won the poll—hands down. The “O.C.” Mix is available as an exclusive free download to members of my mailing list.

Q: When you listen to the CD, what excites you the most as its creator?

A: The drums on "Secondhand" and the production on "Who Cares." I also really like the guitar sounds on “Start Anew” and, to be perfectly honest, I’m proud of the artwork. A very fortuitous photo shoot opportunity came my way just weeks before the EP went to press.

Q: What makes you proud to share this with friends and family, and, ultimately, fans?

A: This is the fourth version of "Secondhand" I've released in some fashion, but it is (by far) my favorite!

Q: How will fans react to this CD compared to your previous releases?

A: That's hard to say. People who prefer my solo live shows will likely dig “Safe and “Start Anew.” On the other hand, fans who’ve had a chance to see me with a live band will hopefully appreciate the energy that (Drummer) Brian Yost brings to the table.

Actually, during the studio session when we recorded his parts, Yost predicted people’s reaction. He said that folks would say (reg. 'Secondhand) "Oh that's a cool version of that song I know,” and "Oh! That song" (reg. 'Safe'); then, when “Who Cares” comes on last, they'll just yell 'What the HELL?!?'" I think that pretty well sums it up!

credits

released December 19, 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SECONDHAND (SINGLE VERSION)*
Produced by Brian Ullman, Feb. '05
Drum Recording & Final Mix @ Central 8 Studios,
Akron, OH by Randy Biddle, May '08 / Feb. '09
Vocals & Acoustic Guitar: David Ullman
Electric, Lead & Bass Guitars: Brian Ullman
Drums: Brian Yost

SAFE
Recorded by David Ullman @ Home in Kent, Fall '05
Mixed by David & Brian Ullman
Vocal & Acoustic Guitars: David Ullman
Bass: Brian Ullman
Keyboard Piano: Sean Kammer

START ANEW**
Recorded by David Ullman @ Home '05
Mixed by David & Brian Ullman
Vocals & Guitars: David Ullman
Keyboard Piano: Sean Kammer

WHO CARES
Produced & Mixed by Brian Ullman,
Summer '05 / Oct. '09 @ Home
Drum Recording by Randy Biddle
@ Central 8 Studios, May '08
Vocals & Acoustic: David Ullman
Electric & Bass: Brian Ullman
Drums: Brian Yost

*Exclusive mix of the album version of "Secondhand"
**Also appears on the album DOG DAYS

All Songs by David Ullman / BMI

Photos by Dan Mosora

Layout & Design by DJU

Mastered by Adam Boose @ Cauliflower

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

David Ullman Northfield, Minnesota

"Too rock for folk" and "too folk for rock." Embracing both extremes.

Email: dju@davidullman.net

contact / help

Contact David Ullman

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like David Ullman, you may also like: