Seat (Broken Chair Legs)

from Samples by Heather Aubrey Lloyd

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Heather often says her songs are "aspirational" - She writes what she wants to, but does not as of yet, believe. Apparently, other people need that, too, and folks have been telling Heather for years that this album really "got them through" something. "Seat" is about reclaiming the ruling chair in one's own broken heart after someone has abdicated the throne. Most of the song's imagery was inspired by a quote from "The Scarlett Letter:" "My heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but lonely and chill, and without a household fire. I longed to kindle one! It seemed not so wild a dream ... I drew thee into my heart, into its innermost chamber, and sought to warm thee by the warmth which thy presence made there!” (This same reference, quoted almost word-for-word, also appears in Heather's song, "Pine," from ilyAIMY's album, "The Fifth Circle.")

Footnotes:

- "Pine" on ilyAIMY's bandcamp:
ilyaimy.bandcamp.com/track/pine

- "This place was always yours" line was inspired by Hugh McGowan's song, "This Place is Hers:"
hughmcgowan.bandcamp.com/track/this-place-is-hers

lyrics

This house is falling down
you took the fire when you went out
left the tables and the silverware
But what's it matter if no one's there?

They've given me this warning
so young and my bones so thin
and what when I can't tent the skin
who will come home to me then?

This will always be your house
even if you never live in it again
some fool is keeping up the rent
And this heart is like a chair
even empty it's still there
as long as it's not broken into too small a piece
you will always have a seat
you will always have a seat.

And if I asked you to sit down
I mean nothing too untoward
as you probably figured out
this place was always yours

and you could smash it into kindling
but wouldn't that be such a waste
it could warm you for an instant
when you could be warm here all your days

This will always be your house
even if you never live in it again
some fool is keeping up the rent
And this heart is like a chair
even empty it's still there
as long as it's not broken into too small a piece
you will always have a seat
you will always have a seat.

But why should you have rest
when you took out all the fire
and left all of the smoke damage?
Why should you have shelter
when you took it all for granted
and burned all of the furniture?

This has always been my house
and you're never gonna live in it again
this girl is tearing down the fence
and this heart is my throne
I can stay here on high and alone
as long as it's not broken into too small a piece
as long as it's not broken into too small a piece
as long as it's not broken
even if it's broken
I will always have a seat.
I will always have a seat.

credits

from Samples, released August 1, 2010

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Heather Aubrey Lloyd Baltimore, Maryland

Recovering reporter turned songwriter, Heather Aubrey Lloyd also co-fronts Baltimore’s ilyAIMY. Her 2017 solo release, “A Message in the Mess,” spotlights Lloyd’s emotive alto and a polished departure from her band’s alt-folk grit. Awards from the likes of No Depression Magazine, Telluride Troubadour, National Women’s Music Fest, etc. soon followed. Lloyd will release new music in late 2020. ... more

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