You should run while you can This isn’t a life You wanna take on Look at this mess
You should run while you can I tend to cry in the kitchen Once the kids are in bed Wake up and do it all again
Loving me will never be easy baby I come as a package Got the heaviest baggage Loving me will never be easy babe These four little hands Pull me a million ways
So you should run while there’s time Mistakes are contagious You don’t wanna catch mine Besides, you gotta make your own
Throw your tent in the car and drive You say you’re missing the mountains The freedom and quiet Well that’ll never be you and I
Loving me will never be easy baby I come as a package Got the heaviest baggage Loving me will never be simple babe These four little hands Pull me a million ways Loving me will never be fun You’ll never be my number one And you deserve that from someone
I’ve made it easy for you The door’s open wide But I’m wondering can you see through To this fear in my eyes Here’s my body Here’s my scars Now show me what kind of man you are
Cos loving me will never be easy babe I come as a package Got the heaviest baggage Loving me will never be easy babe You’ll never be my number one
But if easy’s not your way God, I’d love you to stay
The trees are swaying out the window and you’re not with me today You’re with him and that’s okay. That’s okay. I hope you’re running round in circles, hope you’re laughing till you drop Hope you’re feeling safe, I hope you’re feeling loved
The days are longer when you’re not here, I’ve been staring at the sky Wondering what I used to do with all my time You’re a universe of starlight bursting out of every seam And the house is so damn quiet when you leave
You’ve been asking lots of questions lately, trying to figure out Why the endings in your books don’t match ours And it breaks my heart trying to find some words you’ll understand Cos baby nothing about this was in the plan
All that I can tell you is a complicated truth I’ll always love your daddy, cos together we made you
From the moment I first met him I knew everything would change Your daddy woke my heart up in the kitchen that day He wore no metal armour, rode a vesper not a horse But I’d never felt so seen and so adored
We loved each other’s faulty parts, we kissed each other’s wounds Till one day we were opening them too And I know your books don’t end like that, I know it’s hard to take A promise is a promise you say
And all that I can tell you is a complicated truth I’ll always love your daddy But now our love is something new
Now I’m walking past your empty bedroom, turning off the lights And I’m hoping that he’s tucked you in tight Because I haven’t had the answers lately Haven’t known what to say When you ask me why love runs away
And all that I can give you are these complicated truths Sometimes happiness is the hardest thing to choose But I’ll always love your daddy, cos together we made you
Every light inside me’s on Kiss me now until I’m gone Hold my hips up, take my speech Guide me where the light don’t reach
But you should know I hate myself For once believing in someone else You should know a part of me Got left behind when four became three
Turn the lights out, close my door Toss the evening on the floor Show me there’s infinity Hiding in your love for me
But you should know I hate myself For once believing in someone else You should know a part of me Got left behind when four became three
Careful what you love
Be my saviour, be my friend Help me to black out the end Kiss me on my deepest cuts Inside I’m screaming out for us
But you should know I hate myself I once believed I was someone else You should know I’ve burned that dream No-one ever recovers from the hole that leaves No-one ever recovers from the hole that leaves No-one ever recovers from the hole that leaves
So careful what you love Careful what you love Be careful loving me
There’s a crater in my living room floor I have to walk around just to get to my front door And it’s embarrassing having people over Watching them politely trying not to fall Trying not to fall
There’s a crater in the middle of my chest I’ve had to rearrange each organ and I confess It’s been a little hard having people notice Everything I feel Deep inside me when I’m just trying to pretend
I know one day they’ll fill in I know it will be fine I know by now becoming whole again Just takes time
We all need a story of hitting rock bottom sometimes And these craters will be a part of mine
There’s a crater on the left side of my bed I have to lie facing the right side or I get upset And it’s humiliating having lovers over Watching them retreat backwards down the hall Not mentioning it at all
I know one day they’ll fill in I know it will be fine I know by now becoming whole again Just takes time
We all need a story of hitting rock bottom sometimes And these craters will be a part of mine
But I’m gonna launch right off the bottom Of the deep holes that you left Gonna use these scrappy wings I found while cleaning out my chest And I’m gonna soar so beautifully It’ll hurt your eyes But today it’s just these craters and I
I know one day they’ll fill in I know that I’ll be fine I know by now becoming whole again Just takes time
We all need war stories to look back on and smile And God damn it, these craters will be mine
Each morning I wake up wondering if it’s time Is today the day I leave it all behind? Cos I want that feeling people talk about When you finally let it go When you finally put it down I no longer love him and that’s the truth So why can’t I step forward? Why can’t I seem to move?
I’m not who I used to be Not yet who I’ll become This is the in-between I guess I’m not who I once was Not sure who I’ll be But it seems time will not be rushed When you’re in the in-between
I’ve been craving affection lately, yeah the adult kind Someone to kiss me hard enough to bruise my mind Yeah, I want that feeling they write songs about Someone to break my ribs, find my dark and pull it out But I can’t seem to open, can’t seem to find Any space for love right now, in this here heart of mine
I’m not who I used to be Not yet who I’ll become This is the in-between This is the re-writing
I’m not who I once was Not sure who I’m gonna be But it seems time will not be rushed When you’re in the in-between
How long, how long does it take to leave? How long, how long does it take to leave? The in-between
When you want something you’re not ready for Guess the only choice you got is To surrender, let go And feel it all
I think I’m ready for whatever comes next How long can I scold myself for flunking the biggest test I think I’m ready for the turning of the wheel Find fresh waters for these old wounds to heal
All that it took to try to succeed Then when I failed, what it took from me But it’s intermission, life’s calling me back I think I’m ready for the second act
I think I’m ready for the story to change Don’t know what I believe anymore, maybe that’s ok I think I’m ready to forgive myself Nobody knows what they’re doing, they’re just acting well
All that it took to try to succeed Then when I failed, what it took from me But it’s intermission, life’s calling me back I think I’m ready for the second act
All that it takes, to do what we must Then when we fail, what it takes from us But it’s intermission, life’s calling us back I think we’re ready for the second act Hey, are we ready for the second act?
I’ve been trying not to want you I’ve been trying not to care But you don’t seem to be letting me No, you’re not playing fair
I’ve been trying to run the numbers Use my head and not my heart But then you kiss me, my mind turns liquid And I’m back to the start
Can’t you see I’m only half repaired Held together by string and glue I’m a work in progress honey Don’t make me love you
I’ve been trying to be a bad choice Make you gamble in the red I’ve been giving you my body’s fire When it’s cold inside my head
Cos I’m trying hard to show you That I’ll tear you from within I’m a crack filler from way back But I’m in remission
Can’t you see I’m only half repaired Held together by string and glue I’m a work in progress honey Got so much mending to do Don’t make me love you too
Oh, why aren’t you letting me go? Silly boy Oh, why aren’t you letting me go?
Oh, why aren’t you letting me go? Silly boy Oh, why aren’t you letting me go?
Can’t you see I’m only half repaired Held together by string and glue Yeah, I broke in half once Falling for someone like you
Can’t you see I’m only half stitched up Held together by threads of truth Got my work cut out pretending I’m good as new So, don’t make me love you Don’t make me love Please don’t make me love you too
I said it out loud 23 times I’m not gonna make the same mistakes I promised the river Held my child and whispered in her hair Life is not a poem, it’s a war
And I’m not gonna fall for the broken ones anymore Anymore
I pay a stranger every two weeks To repackage my thoughts for me But now there’s a razor between your lips That kiss will make my heart unzip And I want it like I need it
But I’m not gonna fall for the broken ones anymore I’m not gonna fall for the ones like me With darkness in their bellies I’m not gonna fall for the broken ones No, I’ll be smarter from now on So much smarter from now on
Two people trying to save each other Only pulls them both further under Don’t waste your strength waving at me I’m a life jacket made of concrete Got darkness I’ve been trying to run from Only thing keeping me sane are these songs I don’t want to touch the open skies I just need a safe place to hide
Cos I don’t wanna fall for the broken ones The luminescent wild ones The dancing on electric wire ones Tumbling through the sky ones Chasing the essential fire ones The haunted agonised ones The tortured juggling knives ones Beautiful crazy-eyed ones Death tugging at their mind ones
No, I’ll be smarter from now on So much smarter from now on Only problem that I got now is Who’s gonna fall for this broken one
It was never meant to be like this No, it was never meant to be like this You were never meant to leave and I was never meant to cry Clutching my heart, scratching at my eyes
It was never meant to be like this I thought that our story was written, I knew it by heart The parallel arrows together escaping the dark That was you, that was me That was our story arc
I don’t know why I thought This couldn’t happen to me I don’t know why I thought there’d be pages more to read But the book went up in flames And I got blisters on my cheeks
Cos it was never meant to be like this We were gonna last, I’d already inked you under my skin Like the deeper the needle, the longer you were locked in It was never meant to be like this So how do I do it, how do I un-see it all? The future was painted, I’d hammered it into my wall It was never meant to fall
I don’t know why I thought This wouldn’t happen to me I don’t know why I thought There’d be more pages to read But the book went up in flames I got blisters on my cheeks Guess our story for the ages Had a twist I couldn’t see
All the chairs are on the tables And they’re asking me to leave I would stand if I were able But I simply can’t believe That our story for the ages Is now ashes at my feet
Hush now my little baby Time to sleep Time to forget everything Hush now my little baby Time to sleep, it’s the safest place to be And may the years carry you gently May the wonder never leave your heart May the colours of the darkness not scare you And may the sound of my voice always hold you Long after I can’t Long after I can’t
Wake now my little darling Time to see Time to begin everything Up now my little darling Time to see all the things this world can be But how I hope some things stay hidden Until your sweet heart has strength to see For below all these soft clouds there’s darkness And a poison that looks oh so sweet Oh, stay close to me Won’t you always stay this close to me
Come now my little grown boy Let me see you Tell me about everything Come now my little grown boy I know you’re strong but today it seems I’m not For the world feels like it’s running And I’m back here, two feet in mud Can you believe I once thought I’d protect you? When the truth is you’re stronger than I ever was You’re my son, my moon Won’t you promise me you’ll come back and visit me again soon
Standing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge Wearing my blue velvet dress, peach on my lips Holding my black guitar like without it I might break That’s the night everything changed
Feeling your eyes behind each lens Smiling so well no-one knows that it’s pretend I’d painted over every red streak down my face That’s the night everything changed
And I’m still stuck at New Years Eve 2021 It’s killing me Up there in my favourite blue velvet dress Singing to strangers, my heart in shreds
Cos nobody knew that I’d just lost you
But holding white knuckles to the past Like if I squeeze tight enough, it’ll change it’s path Living like I never stepped down from that stage Well, it’s time something changed
Cos I’ve been stuck at New Years Eve 2021 And it’s killing me Still wearing that favourite blue velvet dress Singing to strangers, my heart in shreds
But I’m seeing it now like I couldn’t before Blue velvet was the colour I wore
But I don’t wanna wear this damn dress anymore I’m zipping it down, I’m taking it off I’m finding a new one, something sparkling and bright Something for the future and not for that night
Cos I’m seeing it now Like I couldn’t before That blue velvet ain’t my colour no more
Hey everyone. I’m excited to announce that I’m going to be a part of a pretty special show to commemorate Mushroom’s 50th anniversary. I’ll be sharing the stage with an incredible line-up of Aussie artists to perform 50 songs for 50 years, at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday November 26. Will be a rippa night!
Thanks to everyone who tuned in to my performance of Steer for ‘ABC 90 Celebrate’ the other week! Rungutjirpa (Simpson’s Gap) in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) would have to be the most epic, magical location I’ve ever performed in. Apologies to all the old tourists we had to keep nudging out if the way, haha. You can watch the full performance on YouTube, and you can still see the whole ABC 90 Celebrate on ABC TV + iview catch-up, with heaps of other incredible one-off performances all round Australia.
MISSY TO FEATURE IN ABC’S 90TH BIRTHDAY TELECAST THIS THURSDAY
Missy Higgins will feature in the ABC’s 90th Birthday Telecast this Thursday evening at 8pm with a special performance from the breathtaking Rungutjirpa (Simpson’s Gap). Her appearance alongside an Australian Arts and Culture ‘who’s who’, extends a long association with the national public broadcaster, stretching back to winning Triple J Unearthed 20 years ago while she was still at high school.
More recently Missy composed and sang for both series of the ABC’s award winning political drama, “Total Control”. The program has attracted worldwide acclaim with The Wall Street Journal applauding “…its biting vision of the prevailing codes, and what passes for right and wrong in political society.”Stuff NZ said: “Total Control offers a scathing examination of Australian politics [and] a clarion call for social justice” and said the music was “a magnificent showcase for the songwriting and singing skills of Missy Higgins”.
This week Missy will release the final track from that celebrated collaboration – a song of empowerment called “I Take It Back” drawn from her “Total Control” mini-album. That ARIA Top 3 hit was inspired by musical fragments Missy initially pieced together to fit certain scenes in the TV show. What started as brief instrumentals gradually grew lyrics and some expanded into full songs across 2020 and 2021 as the show’s themes reverberated publicly in the Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins cases. Missy’s unusually deep association with the show included her fierce lead single “Edge Of Something” which featured as the main promo for Season Two and was premiered live as part of the ABC’s 2022 New Year’s Eve telecast from the Sydney Opera House.
“This song is about reclaiming your story, identity and power as a woman. It draws on the history of women being forced into a cultural narrative that diminishes their power. It creates space for all that fury, resentment and uncomfortable emotion to finally rise to the surface. But it’s also a celebration of everything we have inside us and everything we can achieve once we’ve harnessed this power.” Says Missy of the track.
“This song is about reclaiming your story, identity and power as a woman. It draws on the history of women being forced into a cultural narrative that diminishes their power. It creates space for all that fury, resentment and uncomfortable emotion to finally rise to the surface. But it’s also a celebration of everything we have inside us and everything we can achieve once we’ve harnessed this power” – Missy Higgins
Missy Higgins today releases her new mini-album “Total Control” – listen here.
The songs from this new mini-album pick up themes of exploitation and female empowerment that run through “Total Control” and which also dominated real world headlines last year as a string of abuse allegations emerging from Parliament House.
Appearing on the TV show “Q&A” late last year, Missy noted that the strong calls for change by leading voices like Brittany Higgins and Australian Of The Year Grace Tame had been a further inspiration for new songs like “Watch Out” and “I Take It Back”.
The latest single to be lifted from “Total Control” is “The Collector” which is described as Missy as “a raw rollicking, stomping sing-along with unashamed venom. It’s the Kill-Bill-esque revenge fantasy of a woman who NEVER forgets”
The “Total Control” mini-album was inspired initially by musical fragments Missy pieced together to fit certain scenes in the ABC’s Total Control soundtrack. What started as brief instrumentals gradually grew lyrics and some expanded into full songs across 2020 and 2021. Missy’s unusually deep association with the show included lead single “Edge Of Something” which featured as the main promo for Season Two.
The program has attracted worldwide acclaim with The Wall Street Journal applauding “…its biting vision of the prevailing codes, and what passes for right and wrong in political society.”Stuff NZ said: “Total Control offers a scathing examination of Australian politics [and] a clarion call for social justice” and said the music was “a magnificent showcase for the songwriting and singing skills of Missy Higgins”.
Over coming months Missy Higgins will headline two separate touring festivals at once – the beachy “Summersalt” and a new all female event called “Wildflower”. The beloved singer/songwriter will also play gigs in cities from Darwin to Torquay, from Birdsville to Broken Hill.
Aptly enough Missy ushered in 2022 with a pre-fireworks performance of the title track on ABCTV’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza – literally starting this busy year with a bang.
“Like lots of people I guess I’m trying to make up for lost time”, Missy explains. “The last two years made me realise how much I missed playing music for people so I want to get out there and do it while we all can. I’m not taking anything for granted anymore.”
Want to ✨WIN✨ framed + signed handwritten lyrics ✍️ to ‘Edge Of Something’? Order any item from missyhigginsstore.com, and fill out the competition form at missyhiggins.com/competition before March 10 to enter the draw.
Those who’ve already pre-ordered a Total Control mini-album (download / CD) OR a Total Control signed merch pack from missyhigginsstore.com, are also eligible for entry via missyhiggins.com/competition.
Missy’s new mini-album ’Total Control’ is out next Friday March 4.
Missy Higgins today announces the release of her new mini-album “Total Control”set for release on Friday March 4 and available to pre-order now.
The songs from this new mini-album pick up themes of exploitation and female empowerment that run through “Total Control” and which also dominated real world headlines last year as a string of abuse allegations emerging from Parliament House.
Appearing on the TV show “Q&A” late last year, Missy noted that the strong calls for change by leading voices like Brittany Higgins and Australian Of The Year Grace Tame had been a further inspiration for new songs like “Watch Out” and “I Take It Back”.
The mini-album’s title track – a cover of the Motels’ 1980’s classic – takes on a whole new meaning in light of this backdrop and is sure to be a live highlight of Missy’s forthcoming shows.
The “Total Control” mini-album was inspired initially by musical fragments Missy pieced together to fit certain scenes in the ABC’s Total Control soundtrack. What started as brief instrumentals gradually grew lyrics and some expanded into full songs across 2020 and 2021. Missy’s unusually deep association with the show included lead single “Edge Of Something” which featured as the main promo for Season Two.
The program has attracted worldwide acclaim with The Wall Street Journal applauding “…its biting vision of the prevailing codes, and what passes for right and wrong in political society.”Stuff NZ said: “Total Control offers a scathing examination of Australian politics [and] a clarion call for social justice” and said the music was “a magnificent showcase for the songwriting and singing skills of Missy Higgins”.
Over coming months Missy Higgins will headline two separate touring festivals at once – the beachy “Summersalt” and a new all female event called “Wildflower”. The beloved singer/songwriter will also play gigs in cities from Darwin to Torquay, from Birdsville to Broken Hill.
Aptly enough Missy ushered in 2022 with a pre-fireworks performance of the title track on ABCTV’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza – literally starting this busy year with a bang.
“Like lots of people I guess I’m trying to make up for lost time”, Missy explains. “The last two years made me realise how much I missed playing music for people so I want to get out there and do it while we all can. I’m not taking anything for granted anymore.”
Well, yet again, god it’ll be good to get this year behind us, huh. I hope you can all find some joy and connection with each other finally over this holiday season. It’s so hard to know what we can look forward to at the moment and what the future holds, but I have a feeling we can safely say that things ain’t going back to what they were. These shows next year will be our chance to dance, sing and shake off the shit show that has been the last two years! To quote myself, the Machine has Started up again, and it ain’t stopping till us ladies sing, and not even then damnit. I’m so bloody excited to get out there and play for you all. I’ve missed it terribly. There’ll be plenty of new songs being played, like my latest single Edge Of Something, as well as of course the good ol’ hits from days of yore.
Below are the show dates (so far) booked for next year, hopefully there is one near you (unless you live in Timbuktu) and I will see you there!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all you lovely people. And on the theme of being festive, my good friend Ben Abraham and I have recorded a little ditty to soundtrack your bon-bon popping and pudding scoffing. If you’d like to check it out here’s the link: https://benabraham.lnk.to/HYAMLC
Sending love and can’t wait to see your faces next year.
Missy
xx
UPCOMING SHOWS
Sun Dec 19Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point QLD (with Paul Kelly) Sat Jan 29Lighthouse Festival, Norah Head NSW Sat Feb 5SummerSalt Festival, Royal Botanic Gardens, Hobart TAS Sun Feb 6SummerSalt Festival, Royal Botanic Gardens, Hobart TAS – SOLD OUT
Sat Feb 12 By The C, Torquay Common, Torquay VIC (with Icehouse) – SOLD OUT Sun Feb 13Stomping Of The Grapes, Gerringong NSW Sat Feb 19SummerSalt Festival, Coffs Harbour NSW Sun Feb 20SummerSalt Festival, Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta QLD Sat Feb 26SummerSalt Festival, Stage 88, Canberra ACT Sun Feb 27SummerSalt Festival, North Gardens, Ballarat VIC – SOLD OUT Sat Mar 5Castelli Estate, Denmark WA Sun Mar 6SummerSalt Festival, The Esplanade, Fremantle WA Sat Mar 12Wildflower Festival, Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley VIC Sun Mar 13SummerSalt Festival, Don Lucas Reserve, Cronulla NSW Sat Mar 19Wildflower Festival, Riverstage, Brisbane QLD Sun Mar 20 By The C, Keirle Park, Manly (with Icehouse) NSW Mon Mar 21Great Southern Nights, Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW Sat Mar 26SummerSalt Festival, Mildura VIC Sun Mar 27SummerSalt Festival, M.O Moran Reserve, St Kilda VIC Sat Apr 2Wildflower Festival, Roche Estate, Hunter Valley NSW Sat Apr 16Bluesfest, Byron Bay NSW
Sat May 7 Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns QLD Sat May 28Darwin Amphitheatre, Darwin NT (with Icehouse) July 5-7Big Red Bash, Birdsville QLD Aug 18 -20Mundi Mundi Bash, Broken Hill NSW Sat Oct 29Wildflower Festival, Craigmoor Winery, Mudgee NSW
This was such a wild experience. Not only to play live music for the first time in ages, but to do it in such a magical zen kind of a place: The Peninsula Hot Springs. In one of the songs I’m literally performing on top of a hot springs bath with my feet in the 45 degree water (!!), while watching the sun going down and a 360 degree view over the velvety rolling hills. It was other-worldly. @thesoundau just make the coolest live music videos, I love this show so much. Tune in this Sunday to see my performance and heaps of other great artists perform in crazy beautiful places.
