“Oh Cecilia” was written shortly after the Toronto-based indie rockers Born Ruffians released their 2013 album, Birthmarks. An earlier version of the song only ever appeared on the deluxe CD version of Birthmarks but it very organically took on a life of its own. Songwriter Luke Lalonde describes it as an “orphan song” - he knew it wasn’t going to make it on a full length record because it didn’t really feel like it fit. The concept of the track is a meta-poetic thing - the narrator is trying not to write a certain kind of song, but he keeps drifting into this love song. Over the years, the track has become a real fan favorite that people are often requesting at Born Ruffians live shows and talking about online, which is why the song has now been given new life and is being released digitally for the first time.
lyrics
Everybody's singing their songs about
Singing their songs about
Singing their songs about who?
Hold me back Mitch I'm sick of that kid's stuff
Here we go, something new
Everybody's sick of my bad moods
Walk around mad moods
"Why you look sad dude?"
Who ... me?
I'm just killing my time
'Til I get on the line
With Cecilia
How I can't wait to feel ya
Ain't nothing like your real, real love
Same things I always say
Same promises I make
When I'm away you are on hold
Don't even look at other girls
I blow them off like a shotgun
Oh, Cecilia you're the one
There I go again with the love songs
Same as above songs
Sick of that nothing new
Huh
Okay shake it off man
Back to the first plan
Think of important views
Philippines, bad dreams, girls screams, misery
Angsty teens, drag queens, hipster scenes
Getting blown to smithereens
Wait - I can't hesitate
'Cause then I'll start slowly drifting back to Cecilia
How I can't wait to feel ya
Ain't nothing like your real, real love
Same things I always say
Same promises I make
When I'm away you are on hold
Don't even look at other girls
I blow them off like a shotgun
Oh, Cecilia you're the one
One more time before I leave
Put my hands up your dress and just squeeze
When I'm away you are on hold
Don't even look at other girls
I blow them off like a shotgun
Oh, Cecilia you're the one
credits
from Oh Cecilia,
track released September 13, 2022
2022 Born Ruffians Inc. under exclusive license to Yep Roc Records.
Recorded and mixed at Boombox Sound by Roger Leavens.
Produced by Roger Leavens and Luke Lalonde.
Engineered by Marcel Ramagnano.
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