The band had been busy promoting Gordon, but they came to record their second with lots of new material: "By the time we got into the studio, though, we had 21 songs that the band really felt good about. It's like, way too much material. But we just picked what we thought were the best 12 songs for right now.¹"

This time around, the ladies had the backing of a major studio. The same elements that existed before were still there, but the end result was an album very different than Gordon. When examining the record, focus ultimately lands on the Ben Mink influence. During the recording, Steve commented on the producer, "Ben is really the captain of the ship, steering it around. We're still the bands everything we play is ours, the parts are ours, but I feel like he's at the helm.²"

Looking back, Steve's thoughts about the recording process weren't quite as warm, "We did most of the last record in Burnaby, a cold and industrial wasteland, with a huge budget we really didn't need," Page says. "All a huge budget does is put you further in debt. Imagine if they raised your VISA limit to $5,000 and then you had to give your card to a professional shopper-let's call him a producer in the case-and he said, 'OK, let's spend the whole thing.³'" According to Ed: "I think we got a little off track. It's an interesting album and there's a lot of great songs on it but I think it misses the energy of the band and our uniqueness.⁴" Even though Ed feels like it might be lacking in energy, lyrically and musically it is up to par with any ladies album.

The title of the record seems to come from various sources. It is a tribute to Ed's brother who died in a car accident, and it also a reference to literary work. Also, it may be an offhanded comment about the recording process.

Sadly, Maybe You Should Drive always seems to be the quiet, neglected child hiding among all the popular kids. Don't go to a concert expecting to hear it chock full of mysd nuggets. ~~However, please join the campaign to convince the band to play "A," dammit.~~ (victory. muahaha.)

"I inserted Ben Mink's balls...and I still haven't gotten them out."
--Tyler Stewart

¹"Sorry, We're Clothed" by Dan Amrich. 14850 Online Magazine"
²"The Barenaked Ladies" by Craig Janus. Canadian Musician 8/94
³"Barenaked Ladies Spontaneity and Surprise" by Jennie Punter. Impact
⁴"Up front and naked" by Steve Berketo. Extreme vol.1 no. 10 May 1996

(top)

Jane
(Duffy/Page)

The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
It wasn't long before I lived with her
I sang her songs while she dyed her hair
Jane, divided, but I can't decide what side I'm on
Jane decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane, Jane

I'd bring her gold and frankincense and myrrh
She thought that I was making fun of her
She made me feel I was fourteen again
That's why she thinks it's cooler if we'd just stay friends
Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane, Jane

I wrote her a letter, she should have got it yesterday
That life could be better by being together
Is what I cannot explain to Jane

The girl works at the store sweet Jane St. Clair
Still dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there
No promises as vague as heaven
No Juliana next to my Evan
Jane, desired by the people at the school and work
Jane, is tired, 'cause every man becomes a love sick jerk
Jane, Jane

(top)

Intermittently
(Page)

Someone somewhere has unglued our epoxy
Someone somewhere has unglued our epoxy
And how I'm kissing you by proxy,
Hope you don't mind
Somewhere someone is dreaming of me
Tries to love me,
Hope you don't mind

I love you
Intermittently
I love you
Intermittently

She's a lot like you but she don't look like you
Okay, she's not you,
But she'll do fine
I put my life on hold to avoid confrontation
But should I tell you to your face and
Risk my hide?

I love you
Intermittently
I love you
Intermittently

When immeasurably
Turns to intermittently
There's no use in going on
Except for fear of being wrong
Every morning I just hit the ground yawning...

Stick around if you enjoy disaster
'Cause if you can't see what I'm after,
You must be blind

I love you
Intermittently
I love you
Intermittently

Didn't have the heart to say goodbye
So I continued in my charlatan ways
Did I say heart? I meant to say guts
So now I'm on my own and I'm sorry that you're gone

(top)

These Apples
(Robertson)

A friend brought me flowers, she said they were lilacs,
But I've never been good with plants
Her next presentation, a new dictionary
She circled the word "romance"

So enthusiastic, a little bit drastic,
I shaved her name in my head
As she beheld it, she said I misspelled it;
Need more be said?

These apples are delicious!
"As a matter of fact they are," she said
Can all this fruit be free?

She wrote me a letter as big as a phone book
I've never been big on mail
I sent her a postcard from somewhere near Lethbridge,
And wondered if it still went by rail

I've never been frightened of being enlightened
But some things can go too far
Though sometimes I stammer and mix up my grammar,
You get what my meanings are

These apples are delicious!
"As a matter of fact they are," she said
Can all this fruit be free?

I'm not trying to sing a love song -- I'm trying to sing in tune
I know I am sometimes headstrong
Falling in love, catching fire -- I want to be consumed
Wondering will I ever tire, will I ever tire?

These apples are delicious!
"As a matter of fact they are," she said
Can all this fruit be free?

(top)

You Will be Waiting
(Page)

As we walk together through the autumn, nearing winter
Through the dying leaves and trees we call our home and native land,
You say you don't believe a thing I say, I say you don't believe a thing
You say you can't believe how I don't understand

But I know that you will be waiting
Oh I know you will be waiting
You will be waiting, waiting there for me

You say you cannot live with me, you need your own identity,
And now we air our laundry on national TV
And so you hate my arrogance, my smothering and sitting on the fence,
But I'm afraid of the hard permanence of letting you go free

But I know that you will be waiting
Oh I know you will be waiting
You will be waiting, waiting there for me

I'm so sick of fighting and that effigy you're lighting looks
An awful lot like someone whose name I just can't quite place
And though you say it's not supposed to be me or any entity,
Still through the flames and smoke I see I recognize that face

But I know that you will be waiting
Oh I know you will be waiting
You will be waiting, waiting there for me

And you were someone who would always tell me things I don't know,
And tell me where to go. But there I'll always go
Always go there, whether or not you're waiting
I don't care if you'll be waiting
But please say that you will be waiting there for me

(top)

A
(Page)

A is for angry, which is what you are at me
A is for adult, which is what I'll never be
A is for applesauce, my favorite meal
A is for Adam, which is how I sometimes feel;
Like I'm the only man on earth, and I've forgotten what that's worth

A is for Arthur, he's a lovable drunk
A M & Azing, like Thelonius Monk
A is for argument, A is for apparent
A is for antagonism that's not even there and
It's just you begging for attention or something I won't even mention

And I don't even know why you keep on trying
Like I don't even know why I keep on lying
There are millions of people in worlds of their own
And two of them can't let go

A is for algebra, I learned it in school
A is what Fonzie said, 'cause he was very cool
A is for adversary, A is for alection
A is arousal, you are giving me an arection,
C'mon I'm trying to show affection for longer than a half an hour

And I don't even know why you keep on trying
Like I don't even know why I keep on lying
There are millions of people in worlds of their own
And two of them can't let go

I met a woman I used to know
Long before you, long ago
All I could say, after hello
Was "are you still single?"

A is attitude I can't help but wield
A is for arrogance; emotional shield
A is for acting, A is for abhorrently
A is for asshole, which is what I am, how rude of me,
I owe you an apology I'm sorry

And I don't even know why you keep on trying
Like I don't even know why I keep on lying
There are millions of people in worlds of their own
And two of them can't let go

(top)

Everything Old is New Again
(Duffy/Page)

Learn to lose, it's easier that way
We've paid our dues, but we can't make life pay
All across the world, people going mad
In their mother's cars, the kids are feeling sad
That's how it is, and I'll see you later

Everything old is new again
Everything under the sun
Now that I'm back with you again
We hug and we kiss
We sit and make lists
We drink and I bandage your wrists

Wasted youth -- there wasn't much to waste
Down to the bone, and still losing weight
With all the wishing in the world glistening in her eyes
But when I say I love her, she thinks I'm telling lies
Is it all lost? No, we never had it

Everything old is new again
Everything under the sun
All of our fears come true again
Recycle reuse
Resent and refuse
Our parent's ideals and views

She thinks the afterlife might just be where the action is
With high schools built like prisons
She can't find a way to live

Moved back home to fill the empty nest
Afraid to roam, in love with second best
While somewhere in the world, she's hosting her own show
And everyone she questions never seems to know
Who they are and where they are going

Everything old is new again
Everything under the sun
Now that I'm without you again
I wake up and eat
I go back to sleep
And let all my nightmares repeat

All across the world, people going mad

(top)

Alternative Girlfriend
(Duffy/Page)

You're in an all-girl band
Your futon's second-hand
Your parents understand, but you don't care
I have a job in a shop
I'm an undercover cop
I make sure the customers aren't thieves

Old at being young
Young at being old
Everything's on hold within our evolution

You're my alternative girlfriend
I love you, and now you cannot pretend
There's nothing left that won't cross over

Last night we slept on the lawn
You woke up and I was gone
Back to the dream I dream to leave
My life with her is a bore
A worn-out metaphor
No more surprises up its sleeve

We're old at being young
Young at being old
Everything's been sold to others' revolutions

You're my alternative girlfriend
I love you, and now you cannot pretend
There's nothing left that won't cross over

You live above your dad's four-car garage
With your vinyl and imaginary entourage
If I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick
So we can get out of this town, 'cause it makes me sick

You're my alternative girlfriend
I love you, and now you cannot pretend
There's nothing left that won't cross over

You're my alternative girlfriend

(top)

Am I the Only One?
(Robertson)

Am I the only one who gets to make you laugh,
Laugh until you cry?
Am I the only one who asks you to go,
Go on without me?
Am I the only one who loves when you leave
Your hair down in front of your eyes?

And who, who do you think I am?
And who, who do you think I'll be?
Without you?

Am I the only one who had to dress you up
To see how you fell down?
Am I the only one who needs you to go,
Go on about me?
Am I the only one who loves when you leave
Your hair down in front of your eyes?

And who, who do you think I am?
And who, who do you think I'll be?
Without you?

(top)

Little Tiny Song
(A. Creeggan)

Hey I'm a cow, I'm curious
Hey watch me now, I'm furious

Hey I'm a cow, I'm curious
Hey watch me now, I'm furious
Hey I'm a cow, I'm full of hate
Hey watch me now, I'm on your plate

(top)

Life, in a Nutshell
(Page/Robertson)

[One, two, three]
When she was three
Her Barbies always did it on the first date
Now she's with me,
There's never any need for them to demonstrate
She's like a baby, I'm like a cat;
When we are happy, we both get fat and still
It's never enough, it's never enough,
It's never enough.

But I don't tend to worry about the things that other people say,
And I'm learning that I wouldn't want it any other way
Call me crazy but it really doesn't matter
All that matters to me is she

Her life, in a nutshell
No way would she want it to change me
It's not that easy 'cause
My time is often decided for me
For me

She memorized every pencil crayon color in the box
Her blue-green eyes complement the burnt sienna in her locks
She's at the movies, I'm on the phone;
When we're separated we're never alone, but still
It's never enough, it's never enough, no it's never enough.

But I don't tend to worry 'bout the things that other people say,
And I'm learning that I wouldn't want it any other way
Call me crazy but it really doesn't matter
All that matters to me is she

Her life, in a nutshell
No way would she want it to change me
It's not that easy 'cause
My time is often decided for me
For me

I fell down
With no one there to catch me from falling
Then she came 'round
And only her tenderness stopped me from bawling my eyes out
I'm ok,
And that's why

Her life, in a nutshell
No way would she want it to change me
It's not that easy 'cause
My time is often decided for me
And I don't tend to worry 'bout the things that other people say,
And I'm learning that I wouldn't want it any other way
Call me crazy but it really doesn't matter
All that matters to me is she

(top)

The Wrong Man was Convicted
(Duffy/Page)

Who's lonely now? Which one of us is suffering?
Who's in his cups? Which one of us recovering?
Who likes to look at pictures and cries, but way too late?
Who doesn't want to change a thing, accepting it was fate?

The wrong man was convicted,
You know I did the deed
I thought that you would wait for me,
Your wants I needn't heed
The wrong man lies beside you
And waits for you to wake
And all because I lacked conviction,
The judgment's my mistake

Who's breathless now? Who only hyperventilates?
Who'd die for you? Who's dying inside anyway?
Which one of us is sunshine and which one's growing dim?
When two men dream of you at night, do you just dream of him?

Who's lonely now? Who's reaching out to no one?
Who's lonely now? It takes one to know one.

I changed my mind; you said that I could change it back
I wanted space, and now change has fallen through the cracks
If I'm again beside your body, don't tell me where it's been
It's cruel, unusual punishment to kiss fingerprinted skin

(top)

Great Provider
(Words: Page/Robertson Music: J.Creeggan/Page/Robertson)

You and I have been through this before
I owe you my whole life, nothing more
I never said that I liked you the most
You're my father, I'm your son, who's the Holy Ghost?

Where does the time go when it's not around here?
Here we stand at the edge of the drive
I'm just waiting for my ride to arrive
I wait to see if you've any last words
We pulled away, I called your name, I don't think you heard

Where does the time go when it's not around here?
I don't know
Where does the time go when it's not around here?

You and I never shared all that much
When I leave I'll be all right, I'll keep in touch
As your road narrows, so mine grows wider
As I leave I turn and wave to the Great Provider

Where does the time go when it's not around here?
I don't know
Where does the time go when it's not around here?

(top)