Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass) Album: Born on a Pirate Ship Release date: 3/19/96 Video link: on YouTube

Lyrics: A key in the door, a step on the floor A note on the table, and a meal in the micro Note says "I'm in bed, please make sure that you're fed if you're taking a shower, you can borrow my bathrobe When I'm asleep I dream you move in next week" I crumple the note and save it to put inside

Chorus:

My shoe box Shoe box of lies Shoe box Shoe box of lies

it's under my bed, it's never been read it's in with my school stuff and my mom never cleans there From my first little fib, when I still wore a bib To my latest attempt at pretending I'm someone Who's not seventeen, doesn't know what you mean When talk turns to single malts, or stilton, or

Chorus

Did somebody tell you This is how it's supposed to be? Or did you just find it And you don't want any more from me?

Chorus

Was it something I said, or was it something you read That's making me think that I should never have come here I can offer you lies, I can tell you good-bye. I can tell you I'm sorry, But I can't tell you the truth, dear And what if I could -- would it do any good? You'll still never get to see the contents of

Chorus

You're so nineteen-ninety And it's nineteen-ninety-four Leave this world behind me 'Cause you don't want me anymore. About the song: Shoe Box was a track on the first soundtrack for the tv series Friends. As such, it was added to BoaPS at the last minute. It's a rather cute song about the secrets and lies we all have.

Born on a Pirate Ship is an interesting album in the BNL library. When it was recorded, the band only had four members. Andy Creegan, who played a variety of instruments, left the band before the album was recorded. His replacement, Kevin Hearn, was invited to join them on the album's tour. This also makes the music video for Shoe Box a little weird. While Kevin isn't on the actual recording of the song, he is in the video for it.

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass) Album: Born On A Pirate Ship Release date: 3/19/96 Video link: On YouTube

Lyrics: On August first, nineteen-eight-one I cycled to Scott's house with a BB gun We were almost twelve, but we looked thirteen He had baby-blue eyes that I shot him between Nature provides for us a safety net Whatever we do, we can never forget

Chorus: I live with it every day Even though we moved away Our yesterdays are on a loop; A marathon of heartbreaking moments I live with it every day For every step I have to pay The only thing that they can't take The guild that spirals in my wake

The day they found me asleep on the floor Engine running, closed garage door Was the day the For Sale sign arrived on the lawn Two weeks later, and we were gone Everyone falls through time and the funnel it makes But I'm staying here inside my biggest mistake

Chorus

The love I put away Like games that children play The hearts you choose to break Like cars dumped in the lake The laugh lines on your face The life I won't embrace The cold house I won't leave The guests I won't receive

Chorus About the song: What can I say about this song? BNL has been pigeonholed as a 'funny guy' group due to songs like One Week, Pinch Me and Another Postcard. Meanwhile a lot of their albums contain deep songs about drunk driving, war, domestic abuse and other serious topics. The lyrics to this song are pretty straight-forward. A couple of kids are playing around with a gun and one of them is fatally shot. The surviving kid has to live with the guilt of killing his best friend.

I Live With It Every Day is a good example of why I love this group. I'd also like to note that in the video I linked above, Kevin was recovering from battling leukemia. This concert was aired on PayPerView and I was lucky enough to be able to watch it. I'm glad Kevin has fully recovered and I look forward to many years listening to the band's music.