What's Behind the Grizzly at the Door?
Stories and Lyrics
Our first album was built over years of playing and writing at our northern cabin retreat. The title track is inspired by a true story, (thankfully one that didn't happen to us!) but a Grizzly at the Door could be any challenge that rears up in life — a common thread running through the album. We hope you to enjoy the lyrics, stories and secrets behind it all. - Lorne and Sharon Craig
Track 1:
Ashtrays
©Lorne Craig 2023 Socan
THE STORY: When I was a kid, my folks moved around A LOT. In fact, they used to say, when the ashtrays are full, it's time to move. They were Beatniks, my father following his artistic vision, my mother pursuing education and a career in government. We lived in 12 different places by the time I graduated high school. But I never resented the nomadic lifestyle, and it has forever instilled in me a love of new places, fresh experiences and the freedom of the open road.
LYRICS: You said drinking.... on a empty stomach is never a good sign You fed me sandwiches with folk songs and red wine I said let’s get out of here, so we walked out it the rain Left our cigarettes burning down and never looked back again (Chorus 1) When the ashtrays are full it’s time to move on When we get where we’re going it’s time to be gone Two cups of coffee we’ll sleep in the back Tires are humming like a railroad track I’ll get a job painting some signs You get your mother on the telephone line Tell her not to worry cause love came along And the ashtrays were full... it was time to move on I’ll sell my pottery.... from the back of a van You go to University, living your big plan We were making love and making babies Natural as the tide Kept moving with the seasons to the next circus ride (Chorus 2) When the ashtrays are full it’s time to move on When we get where we’re going it’s time to be gone Two cups of coffee, kids in the back Tires are humming like a railroad track I’ll find a job painting some signs You get your mother on the telephone line Tell her not to worry our love is still strong But the ashtrays were full... it was time to move on Goin’ Edmonton to Toronto, Calgary to Kelowna, Whitehorse to Victoria, all the way to YVR. It’s everywhere I want to be as long as we got you and me we’ll smoke em if we got em And we’ll roll.... Oooh baby let’s roll, ooh baby let’s go… One day we both turned gray, the kids out on their own We’ve been living here a thousand days it’s time to blow this town Now I got to go where you cannot follow but baby don’t you grieve We’ll be together on some road tomorrow You just gotta believe... we’ll just up and leave (Chorus 2)
Track 2:
2 Jackrabbits
©Lorne Craig 2018 Socan
THE STORY: This whole song is a true story. I was on a business trip, staying at a warehouse hotel on the outskirts of Edmonton. In search of some food, I wandered the vast, dark parking lots of nearby industrial zone big box shopping malls. Two jackrabbits were my only pedestrian companions. I felt a strange affinity for them at that moment.
LYRICS: First guy I met in this one horse town Rode up on a bike to shake me down Took 2 dollars, said ‘Thanks, big shot’ Left me standing in a big box parking lot This hotel is a warehouse of salesmen’s dreams Industrial park expansion schemes Pitch for a piece ... of the next long shot I saw two Jackrabbits in a big box parking lot Two…….. jackrabbits Run rabbit run Two…… jackrabbits Lookin’ for the sun Two….. jackrabbits Don’t get yourselves caught Two jack rabbits in a big box parking lot I dreamed I lost you in the night Went for a walk in the neon light Thinking about .... this life I bought I saw two jackrabbits in a big box parking lot Built for speed and made to run From a hungry wolf or a hunter’s gun Now they eat French fries ... the rats forgot Two jack rabbits in a big box parking lot Two…….. jackrabbits Hop those parking lines Two…… jackrabbits Past the discount signs Two….. jackrabbits At least they know what they’ve got Two jack rabbits in a big box parking lot It’s almost cold enough to snow Just two more hotel nights to go Before I back ... to what we got We’re just two jackrabbits in a big box parking lot Two…….. jackrabbits Run rabbit, run. Two…… jackrabbits Frost heaves kickin me out of this town Two….. jackrabbits We only get one shot Two jack rabbits in a big box parking lot
Track 3:
The Village
©Sharon Craig 2017 Socan
THE STORY: This song started as a simple instrumental, but the words came out as I thought about our changing neighbourhood. There were small businesses that we could go walk to – to dine at, purchase our fruit, veggies, meats, flowers and shop for our shoes and clothes. All before shopping local was a thing. Now, as neighbourhoods change and property values rise, gentrification drives out many of these small shops and characters. This song was a collaboration to bring together memories and recognition of how things evolve, find joy in what we do have, and share our Village with others.
LYRICS: There’s a coffee shop where I buy my coffee There’s bakery where I buy my bread A newsstand where I get my paper And a park bench where I get it read Near the playground where the children are laughing There’s a toy store where I buy a balloon The Popcorn man is feeding the pigeons The Busker who’s playing let’s me hum a tune Come to my Village Come sing with me Come to my Village That’s where I’ll be The boys in the fire hall wave to the children The Iranian Grocer sells flowers all year I still drop my letters in big old red mailbox Though my postman just got downsized I hear We know we weren’t the first here There were Nations before Lived and loved in these valleys Cast away from these shores (Now) malls and highways get closer Seems that’s just the way (But) if we all come together, We’ll sing… and we’ll dance… and we’ll play… The cobblers window is covered in cardboard The Butcher shop, well it closed down last spring The bookstore still sells some Canadian novels But the discount store sells most anything!!! Come to my Village Come walk with me Come to my Village That’s where I’ll be Come to my Village Come visit me Come to my Village Just come and see That’s where I’ll be Yes that’s …..where we’ll be
Track 4:
Grizzly at the Door
©Lorne Craig 2022 Socan
THE STORY: I was doing a songwriting challenge with colleague Brian Musgrove, and our prompt was to create a song from a news headline. A CBC story told the harrowing tale of an Elder in northern BC whose cabin was invaded by a grizzly bear while they were still in it. i took this premise, seasoned it liberally with my own imaginings and made it into a crowd favourite sing-along. Underneath the fun is a realization that we're all just a door-knock away from Nature, fate or fortune crashing through our front door.
LYRICS: I’m sittin here alone in my northern cabin home 10 feet on each side and 8 feet high I’ve seen many winters long... sang the elders songs But I ain’t quite ready to die When a knock comes at my door, Rumbles through the floor Big fur coat and eyes as black as coal Splintering the wood, the lock it ain’t no good Damage is way beyond control There’s a grizzly... (a grizzly!) at the door (knock knock knock!) Scratching at the latch and Knocking There’s a grizzly... (a grizzly!) at the door, (knock knock knock!) And he ain’t here for playin cards He’s staring through that crack, Like a big brown one-eyed jack Breath smells worse than a half tanned hide I have a cardiac then I crawl on out the back High tailing it down the mountainside He starts with an appeteaser as he chews up my old freezer Searching for the goods like the FBI He would have driven to the bar but he couldn’t start the car If he found the keys he might have tried There’s a grizzly... (a grizzly!) at the door, (knock knock knock!) Scratching at the latch and Knocking hard There’s a grizzly... (a grizzly!) at the door, (knock knock knock!) Too bad we can’t hunt ‘Em any more. There once was a time, when I was in my prime We cared for this land and all its kin Now they manage species, track em by their feces Another government department dropping in Now you in your concrete towers, with your poodles and fresh flowers our life in the south just ain’t the same You should take a northern trip, come see the silvertip Just remember that you’ll also be fair game There’s a grizzly... (a grizzly!) at the door, (knock knock knock!) A big furry kid in a candy store There’s a grizzly... (a grizzly!) at the door, (knock knock knock!) Here to settle a few scores Skippin the dishes that’s for sure And he ain’t no damn herbivore
Track 5:
Honey Honey
©Sharon Craig 2023 Socan
THE STORY: What do you do when you have about a half hour to meet a deadline and all of a sudden a melody and words pop into your head? Get writing! The lyrics were melodic, repetitive and created an earworm tune. Lost love, but with hope and twists of feisty promises bring a chance that your honey can really ‘come on back’. Oh, and to be clear, this song is NOT autobiographical! Lorne ain't going nowhere... if he knows what's good for him!
LYRICS: Honey Honey oh where’d you go... Honey Honey when will you come home Honey Honey Why so sad? Come on back I’ll make you glad Honey Honey What’s her game?Honey Honey well, who’s to blame? Honey Honey Please run away... Come in back I’ll make you wanna stay Dreams pass like clouds so fast... Matches burn but they don’t last Honey Honey I’ll make you smile... Even if it takes a while Honey Honey I’ll get the car... Honey Honey know you’re at the bar Honey Honey We’ll share a glass... Come on back... please don’t pass Honey Honey tell her goodbye...Honey Honey we’ll I’ll tell her why Honey Honey We’ll hug and kiss...Come on back I’ll show you what you’ve missed Dreams pass like clouds so fast... Matches burn but they don’t last Honey Honey I’ll make you smile... Even if it takes a while (solo over verse and intro) Dreams pass like clouds so fast... Matches burn but they don’t last Honey Honey I’ll make you smile... Even if it takes a while Honey Honey.... Honey Honey.... Honey Honey.... Honey Honey.... Come on back... Come on back (x2) Come on back baby.... Come on back... oh Honey Honey
Track 6:
Self Inflicted
©Lorne Craig 2025 Socan
THE STORY: All my best song inspirations are stolen. This one came from a friend who once said, 'All of my wounds are self inflicted'. This stopped me in my tracks and when I got to the sketchbook, the whole thing poured out in about an hour. It turned into a Sum-41 / Green Day style punk tune, which was really fun to record.
LYRICS: I had a habit... Thought I kicked it. Blew the landing. Thought I sticked it. My license... got restricted. So I threw a party. Got evicted. Self self self inflicted... Self self self inflicted... every time I tried to fix it Every little wound was self inflicted Saw the clickbait. So I clicked it. Found a stamp, so I licked it. Booked a flight but I missed it. Guess my attention kinda drifted. (Chorus) Why do I do this to myself, I just can’t blame nobody else My parents tried to raise me right, never put up much of a fight My lack of drive drives me berserk My inner critic is a jerk, I’m totally conflicted.... (Chorus) I got older than predicted. I found a scab so I picked it. Found a priest to Benedict it. He Can’t save me, I’m too afflicted. Self self self inflicted... Self self self inflicted... I’ll never get to fix it. My whole life is self inflicted Self inflicted… that’s how I’ll be depicted I’m so self inflicted
Track 7:
Spirits Rise
©Lorne Craig 2019 Socan
THE STORY: We were on an idyllic holiday on the Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, an area once rife with pirates, brigands and maritime mystery. Under swaying palms and a rising full moon, this vision of a ghostly ship appeared, Returning to the studio, I found a treasure trove of sounds and effects to build this cinematic sketch. Sharon's voice sounds deeper than usual here, as she was forced to sing it in my key!
LYRICS: I saw a ship last night, green and glowing I saw a ship last night, float over the ocean I felt a slip last night... Something lost, something broken From the past, dead and gone... Free at last, course unknown Climb the mast, moonlight on bone... Spirits rise... I felt a touch last night, a hand on my shoulder Turned and you weren’t there, the room grew colder I lost too much that night...Brittle hands, growing older From the past, dead and gone... Free at last, course unknown Climb the mast, moonlight on bone... Spirits rise... I saw a ship last night riding a westwind I saw a ship last night a dark bell beckoned I answered with a whitecap voice Hell bound I reckon I boarded in green light, hell bound I reckon Spirits rise...
Track 8:
Hand Me Down Regrets
©Lorne Craig 2019 Socan
THE STORY: Anyone who has children will know, it's all to easy to project our qualities onto them - the best and the worst . I have few regrets in life, but those I do have find a way of leaking out, whether they are appropriate or not. But in reality, they are mine to own.
LYRICS: I can't tell you how to live your life......Sometimes I can't help but try I look at you and see a version of myself .... But I know that's a lie What can I do to show you.. Just how fast it all goes by All I can see are halfway taken bets...Or are they hand-me-down regrets I've had good times you've been there for the best.... But there's so many songs unsung I've spent so many years feathering my nest... I hope my traveling days aren't done I just want to tell you... Everything will work out fine I want to give you every chance to be your best. But all I've got are hand-me-down regrets The sun is chasing its shadow through the yard... And I know you've got to go Your path will lead through passes rocky steep and hard... And soft as freshly fallen snow I'm always here beside you... But it's your turn to break the trail And it's my turn to clean up my own mess.... And throw away All those /hand-me-down regrets.
Track 9:
The Road and Home
©Lorne Craig 2019 Socan
THE STORY: Anyone who travels knows the lure of the journey and the welcome arms of returning home. We have always shared this push and pull, balancing the creation of a stable family home with the desire to run away to far flung adventures. Yet I don't think we would ever want to trade this dynamic for a permanent existence on one side or the other. So with this wistful cut, we hope to send you off and say thanks for listening.... and wherever you end up, watch out for the grizzly at the door...
LYRICS: The road and home... Somewhere between the road and home I'll find a place where I'm not alone Somewhere between the road and home We met and travelled on second class trains Drove for miles through rainbow rains Slept out under the trees and stars Woke up in the backs of cars When I finally asked you for your hand We tied the knot in an eastern land 'm not sure where my heart got owned Somewhere in between (Chorus) The road and home... Somewhere between the road and home I'll find a place where I'm not alone Somewhere between the road and home Every tree must put down roots Content itself to send out shoots But somewhere west and south a ways The road is waiting, long and grey One day we'll roll, one day we'll ride Morning coffee at the highway side Til then we linger, hearts and bones Somewhere in between (Chorus) The road and home Somewhere between the road and home I'll find a place where I'm not alone Somewhere between the road and home The horizon calls like a siren song But the fire is warm and the night is long Cash it in and we'll leave today Come with me or make me stay The clock is ticking on the wall Our shoes are lined up in the hall We may be lost but we're not alone Just somewhere in between... somewhere in between... somewhere in between (Chorus) The road and home Somewhere between the road and home We may be lost but we're not alone Somewhere between the road and home