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.

First Elephant

by Grant Swift

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $8 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes with a special thank you note from Grant

    Includes unlimited streaming of First Elephant via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $30 USD or more 

     

  • T-Shirt/Apparel

    T-Shirt inspired by the song "I'm The Man" off of First Elephant. Original artwork by Daniel Contreras (also seen modeling the shirt). This is a Gildan "Heavy Cotton" T-Shirt. Well-made and very comfortable.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $30 USD or more 

     

  • Includes 1 Audio CD of First Elephant, complete with liner notes and lyrics, 1 "I'm The Man" T-Shirt, made of Gildan Heavy Cotton, size of your choice, and a special note from Grant for a discounted rate of $50
    edition of 31 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $50 USD or more 

     

1.
I Wanna know what it’s like To feel the same way everyday 'Cause I I keep showing the same face To the world, but they don’t treat me the same way And I I wanna figure it out Wanna take a vacation to avoid the ominous drought Yeah I'll I’ll say I know all about Not giving thoughts to anyone who won’t help me out Can’t I? And I I wanna see it like you A grand opportunity to catch a beautiful view 'Cause I I don’t know what I’ve learned Though sometimes it feels like I can’t keep a stone unturned Oh Why? I just can’t honestly figure it all I just can’t honestly figure it all And I I wanna get something else 'Cause this isn’t working with my self And I Don’t wanna let it all out If someone can keep it in, sit still, be happy without Can’t I? I just can’t honestly figure it all I just can’t honestly figure it all I just can’t honestly figure it all Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh
2.
Why do you always wanna know what I’m thinking? But why do you never wanna see what I’m seeing? I think you’re always getting sore on me I know that I really just want you to be what I want to be Why do you never wanna chill with the talking? Keeping it up 'cause I’m jotting it down while I’m walking You know we really can't stay that way forever I swear you sound like you’ve been defeated You’re not the man that you were last season Last season Why do you never wanna know what I’m knowing? You can’t understand when you can’t understand where I’m going I can’t believe you’re walking out on me I want you to see what I want you to see and it’s got to be I swear you sound like you’ve been defeated You retreat, get deep, and stay where you’re seated You let your mind go deep into fever You’re not the man that you were last season Last season I swear you sound like you’ve been defeated You retreat, get deep, and stay where you’re seated Where do you go? 'Cause I know it’s the reason You’re not the man that you were last season Last season
3.
As It Waits 04:20
I drove out in the morning A fear of what I left behind A river runs through my way to the other side I fell in The frigid air and shallow breath My central nervous system keeping me from death Oh, is there nothing more to find within? Why did I leave the outside of your skin? The outside of your skin As it waits I lie awake Shivering and praying in the dark What does it take Until I break? I hope I never live to find it out I see The signs beginning right now And then ending right about now We swear we didn't always We didn't always feel this way But some invisible thing has filled this changing space How can we gain reprieve from broken minds When cures create pathology's design? Pathology's design What does it take Until we break? Shivering and praying in the dark I can't wait For what it takes Wanna lay myself before it all If you see it come your way Let your mind subside 'Cause if you try to fight It never goes away Left with nothing else I nearly killed myself I drove out in the evening Two crossing paths where he resides A man of lies to buy this failing enterprise I felt the burden of divergence And he appeared right by my side He gave me something, and I gave him what was mine But as I turned I saw him ride away There was no vanishing, he didn't leave this earthly plane And I wondered Does shame require us to feel resigned To deals we made at crossroads in our minds? Well why not cross the line, and shift the tide? Cross the line, and shift the tide As we wait We'll lie awake Pretending nothing's waiting in the dark It's not too late For us to break Away from where intelligence resigned As it waits We lie awake Shivering and praying in the dark It's not too late For us to break Away from where intelligence resigned
4.
I’m looking through you, where did you go? I thought I knew you, but what did I know? You don’t look different, but you have changed I’m looking through you, you’re not the same Your lips are moving, but I cannot hear Your voice is soothing, but the words aren’t clear You don’t sound different, I’ve learned the game I’m looking through you, you’re not the same Ooh, tell me why, tell me why Did you not treat me right? Yeah, love, it has this nasty habit Of disappearing overnight You’re thinking of me, the same old way Ooh, you were above me, but not today And now the difference, is you’re down there I’m looking through you, and you’re nowhere Oh, tell me why, tell me why Did you not treat me right? Love, it has this nasty habit Of disappearing overnight I’m looking through you, yeah, where did you go? Oh, I thought I knew you, but what did I know? You, you don’t look different, but you have changed I’m looking through you, you’re not the same Ooh, ooh baby, I’m changed
5.
Sunshine 03:45
I bet you wouldn't want to be my friend 'Cause I'm too naive But everybody's seen this shit before And we still don't leave Yeah, 'cause it's alright, where you going? And it's alright, whatcha knowing? Try to walk down Ludlow on your own On a Friday night You can't part the seas, but in a group of ten You know that might makes right Yeah, yeah and it's alright, where you think you're going? And it's alright, whatcha knowing? Sunshine, battling thoughts at the Same time, my phone is blowing up Boom, time to get going, it's Noon time, I need to get out of My mind, people rushing to Lunch lines, can't get hold of the Night time, it's the right time to Make sweet love and fluff and get back for the Sunshine Hungover drunk I ran three miles Just to meet my friend The sun was up, we set up shop and took some shots on East River Park Trying to take it in Pretending it's alright, where you going? And it's alright, whatcha knowing? Sunshine, battling thoughts at the Same time, my phone is blowing up Boom, time to get going, it's Noon time, I need to get out of My mind, people rushing to Lunch lines, can't get hold of the Night time, it's the right time to Make sweet love and fluff and get back for the Sunshine I bet you wouldn't want to be my friend 'Cause I'm too naive But everybody's seen this shit before And we still don't leave Yeah, 'cause it's alright, where you going? And it's alright, whatcha knowing? Sunshine, battling thoughts at the Same time, my phone is blowing up Boom, time to get going, it's Noon time, I need to get out of My mind, people rushing to Lunch lines, can't get hold of the Night time, it's the right time to Make sweet love and fluff and get back for the Sunshine, battling thoughts at the Same time, my phone is blowing up Boom, time to get going, it's Noon time, I need to get out of My mind, people rushing to Lunch lines, can't get hold of the Night time, it's the right time to Make sweet love and fluff and get back for the Sunshine
6.
I'm The Man 04:24
There were nerds at the table, my nerves felt more stable As I walked in to the interview Despite an open work couch, we walked to his office I was humble and honest, had only entered few There was nothing canned of what I brought, I told the man what I thought And when I walked to the open window he said, "Get used to the view." Well, right then and there, they offered me the money They said the nephew ran things, a man they called Mr. Lucky I shook their hands and left, wept at my new paycheck And descending from the elevated floor, more and more, I said I’m the man, I’m the man I rock so hard, I’ll make tons of money I’m the man, I’m the man I rock so hard, I’ll make tons of money A few weeks of meetings inside a shiny glass case Until the fortunate son had made his entrance in haste I saw him through the glass wall, and of course, I am tall But he was short and understated, I didn’t understand I saw him peeking out from behind the catered lunch Then I saw the look in his eyes, and I had more than a hunch This man was the real deal, he opened all the seals He couldn’t be held back, he had a talent for feels And then he burst into the meeting, he was stinking of gin And he proceeded to lie on the table And tell us it was an exercise of will He wouldn’t move until he was sure we could realize our desires Because this wasn’t about him, no, it was about Raising us up, filling our cups, raising our bucks And that the frothing of his artisan cocktail was a metaphor for class And how life was more than all that “But before I go on,” he said, “I need another drink" And he turned to uncle and said, “You know what I think?” I'm the man, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man I rock so hard, that's why I make tons of money Now the payouts and accounts of uncle’s frequent advances Left the family feeling fragile about their foreign finances And they knew better than to leave the kids with uncle alone But as life goes, things were busy, they let it go, and let it go And uncle kept coming and coming over, watching the kids Having fun with them made him feel that it was actually his 'Cause Sam was a part of the fam, they were no better, just hustling debtors Federal contenders for never-ethical-trend-setter Same hot guest list? You betcha Cold public interest? Don’t sweat her Just better cut Sam in to cut out cause for a vendetta So a little incentive arrives to keep their scent by your side While we decry, and sit by, and our money resides Inside a box we all believe in, just a stand-in for the scene In which displays of power get devoured by our coward monkey heads If there remain any doubts, let’s put those doubts to bed, Ha I'm the man, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man I rock so hard, that's why I make tons of money I'm the man, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man I rock so hard, that's why I make tons of money I'm the man, I'm the man I rock so hard, I make tons of money I'm the man, yeah, I'm the man I rock so hard, that's why I make tons of money
7.
Searching for lines left by artists’ design, I’ll notice Something a higher register opens and closes Flying tones that float so eagerly On tepid grounds 'Cause I know, nothing flies for me If you don’t want me around Yeah, I'm waiting on your everything Oh, oh, someday they’re gonna hear me sing I’m walking, and it cuts me And I can’t help, that it hurts And it wakes me, and it cuts me And it hurts And it wakes me, in the seabreeze Searching for lines left by artists’ design, I’ll notice That you don’t arise when the feeling of God is closest It feels like I’m stuck in a land Where honesty is never cool And my heroes are being dragged in the street While the jester is begged to rule And the cynics start to do their bit Stuck feeling in the dark and full of shit And it wakes me, and it cuts me And I can’t help that it hurts And it wakes me in the seabreeze If it'll only bring me fear to carry me over the water (And it hurts, and it wakes me, and it cuts me) Then would you please let me know what you intend to do with me (And it hurts, and it wakes me, in the seabreeze) If nothing changes, I don't get better, and you don't see me anymore (And it hurts, and it wakes me, and it cuts me) 'Cause no new views arise from this careful mind, would you still carry me (And it hurts, and it wakes me, in the seabreeze) In your seabreeze? (And it hurts, and it wakes me) (If it'll only bring me fear) In your seabreeze (And it cuts me, and it hurts) (To carry me over the water, then would you) In your seabreeze (And it wakes me, in the seabreeze) (Please let me know what you intend to do with me) In your seabreeze (And it hurts, and it wakes me) (If nothing changes, I don't get better) If you hear my pleas, catch me in your seabreeze (In your seabreeze) (And it cuts me, and it hurts) (And you don't see me anymore, 'cause no new views arise) 'Cause I long to be where you’re going to be (From this careful mind, would you still carry me) (In your seabreeze) (And it wakes me, in the seabreeze) In your seabreeze? (And it hurts, and it wakes me) (If it'll only bring me fear) If you hear my pleas, catch me in your seabreeze (In your seabreeze) (And it cuts me, and it hurts) (To carry me over the water, then would you) 'Cause I long to be where you’re going to be (Please let me know what you intend to do with me) (In your seabreeze) (and it wakes me, in the seabreeze) In your seabreeze (And it hurts, and it wakes me) (If nothing changes, I don't get better) If you hear my pleas, catch me in your seabreeze (In your seabreeze) (And it cuts me, and it hurts) (And you don't see me anymore, 'cause no new views arise) 'Cause I long to be where you’re going to be (From this careful mind, would you still carry me) (In your seabreeze) (And it wakes me, in the seabreeze) In your seabreeze? (And it hurts, and it wakes me) (If it'll only bring me fear) If you hear my pleas, catch me in your seabreeze (In your seabreeze) (And it cuts me, and it hurts) (To carry me over the water, then would you) 'Cause I long to be where you’re going to be (Please let me know what you intend to do with me) (In your seabreeze) (and it wakes me, in the seabreeze) In your seabreeze (And it hurts, and it wakes me) (If nothing changes, I don't get better) If you hear my pleas, catch me in your seabreeze (In your seabreeze) (And it cuts me, and it hurts) (And you don't see me anymore, 'cause no new views arise) 'Cause I long to be where you’re going to be (From this careful mind, would you still carry me) (In your seabreeze) (And it wakes me, in the seabreeze)

credits

released August 6, 2021

“First Elephant” refers to the parable of the Blind Men And An Elephant, in which a group of blind men, encountering an elephant for the first time, try to describe what it is like while each only observing distinct parts of the elephant. They experience and describe the elephant in vastly different ways. Each of them is partly right, but all of them are wrong. In some versions of the parable, they resort to violence against each other over their conflicting accounts.

Photography by Eat The Cake NYC

Grant Swift: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keys, Loops, Programming
Rick Martinez: Drums, Percussion
Eva Walsh: Violin, Viola
Alex Lee-Clark: Trumpet
Alice Johnson: Vocals
Mike Davidson: Programming

Thanks to all my family, friends, muses and musicians who made this album possible by contributing your money, talents, love and support. There are too many of you to fit here, but I am indebted to each and every one of you.

Here’s a few: Alice, Mac, MBXO, GFam, RC, JFam, JG, IFam, KL, B+L, Ludwig VB, DocProc, TriTops, FDT, PV, Parnhash, MHG, Vin, Alex, Ryr, John, Paul, Ringo, George, SeanB, SeanC, Marc, Joe, Murph, Rams, NS, CD+LB, A+CVC, JS, Sarita, NKFam, DDelG, Michelle

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Grant Swift New York

NYC native Grant Swift is an acclaimed vocalist, guitarist, composer and producer. His music is uncanny but warm, inspired by an eclectic mix of 60’s pop and R&B, jazz standards, 90’s alternative, and the choral, baroque and classical music he was trained in as a boy. ... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Grant Swift

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Grant Swift, you may also like: