Annotated lyrics for The Hold Steady song 'Records & Tapes' - She appeared as a wraith in the drapes / Still life with cigarettes and morbid mistakes / Trying to suppress a small case of the shakes / Some nights St. Paul seems so holy / Fell in love with the records and tapes / Staying out late, summer '88 / She disappeared with some kid in the cape / He's the one that always gets her the highest / We were nervous and restless but not really bored / We brushed our teeth but it gushed from our pores. / Falling on the floor just like Saul on his sword, spooked by the spirit of Samuel. / Everybody cried when they first saw the bride / Right song at the right time / The banquet seating with emotions and wine / Same program on both sides / 'The Beat Goes On' into 'Switchin' to Glide' / Right song at the right time. / Over and over 'til the tape deck dies. / Over and over 'til the tape deck died. / Saw the sun through a crack in the curtains / She stood up crooked, all high and uncertain. / Every single story has a few different versions. / You tell the one that makes you look better / You tell the one that makes you feel better / It goes on in an infinite loop / Panic in private / Disputable truth / They killed some dude for his basketball shoes / Remember that song 'Self-Destruction?' / Everybody cried when they first saw the bride / Right song at the right time / The banquet beers with emotions and wine / Same program on both sides / I could see the silver splinter in your eyes / Losing ground in a landslide / Over and over until somebody dies / Over and over, then the two kids died / Saw the dawn through the crack in the curtains / She came up crooked, all high and uncertain / Every single story has a few different versions / You tell the one that makes you look better / You tell the one that makes you feel better / Silver metal flake up on Lyndale and Lake / The boots and braces and the kid in the cape / That dude from the crew, he was always awake / I'm pretty sure I know how he did that / Now, now, now