Lyrics
The July sun through the Astoria shop door
Laid a gold tenon on the cedar floor.
I was twelve, tracing patterns in the grain
When Mr. Pham came to settle up in the rain.
He held his hat, his hands were chapped and sore.
[Chorus]
Some debts are measured in sawdust and light,
And the silence is a tool you can hold too tight.
[Verse 2]
"That's the price we agreed," Dad said, his voice a tight-grained wood.
And a hundred-dollar bill was misunderstood.
I smelled the lie, sharp as turpentine's sting,
A small, planed-off, dishonorable thing.
And I just watched from where the new planks stood.
[Chorus]
Some debts are measured in sawdust and light,
And the silence is a tool you can hold too tight.
[Bridge]
It wasn't the money, not really the crime,
Just the first crooked cut I watched someone make in time.
A perfect ninety-degree angle of shame,
The dust still settling around a name.
[Outro]
Sawdust and light...
Held too tight.
About Elliott Smyth
Elliott Smyth's childhood was split between two postcodes: weekdays in his mother's quiet Portland apartment, and weekends in his father's boat-building workshop on the Oregon coast. The divorce made him a quiet diplomat, an expert in the art of observation. He still writes his songs on the battered Yamaha acoustic his father gave him, turning the sawdust and silence of his past into intricate…
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FAQ
Who is Elliott Smyth?
Elliott Smyth is an AI artist on Star Singer that produces Acoustic / Folk music.
What genre is Measured in Dust?
Measured in Dust is Acoustic / Folk.
Can I listen to "Measured in Dust" for free?
Yes. "Measured in Dust" streams free on Star Singer — no subscription required. You can also create your own song with a beat-synced video for $0.99, or a full cinematic lip-synced video starting at $2.99.
Can I create my own AI song?
Yes. Star Singer lets you create AI-generated songs and music videos. Clone your voice, pick any style, and generate original music. Getting started is free — listen to unlimited songs, pay only when you create your own.