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1. |
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Old white man
in a dirty white van
drivin down the highway
goin to Aztalan
He's singing
"i like the purdy girls
but the purdy girls down't like me
i like the purdy girls
but the purdy girls don't like...
Every good thing casts a shadow
in the light o' love, the light o' love
And the hard times hardly matter
in the light o' love, the light o' love
All the days go by
thirty thousand if we're lucky
as we try to live and hope to die
in the light o' love
in the light o' love...
History rides a mail train
in the light o' love, the light o' love
And the mystery flies an aeroplane
in the light o' love, into the light o' love
Ans the time rolls on
it flows in both directions
and Einstein's on the beach
tryin to count all the colors
in the light o' love
in the light o' love...
And the days go by
thirty thousand if we're lucky
as we try to live and hope to die
in the light o' love
in the light o' love...
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2. |
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I picture a sunset
That turns the town red
As the last leaf of autumn
Lands on my head
The red slowly fading
Til there's nothin to see
But I can't imagine
A world without me
I can easilv envision
An end to it all
Time running wild
Right into a wall
Or just fizzling out
Into eternity
But I can't imagine
A world without me
I can picture God
Here after I'm gone
Pointing and shouting
"The show must go on!"
And a singer who's singin'
To nobody - he's singin
"I can't imagine
A world without me."
I see dance halls
and strip malls destroyed
Cathedrals and casinos
All empty and void
A faceless oasis
from the mountains to the sea
But I can't imagine
I can't imagine
No, I can't imagine
A world without
me me me.
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3. |
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When i'm lonely
or just feelin blue
i think of all the other colors
I think of you
And when i'm tongue tied
without a whole lot to say anyway
I think about you
the way you move
the way you play
And sometimes i get lost
drivin in my car
Lost and loaded down
with all the memories of a lifetime
and there you are
Rainbow jellyfish
always somewhere in sight
Rainbow jellyfish
you lighten my day
and color my darkest night
You color my darkest night
My darlin rainbow jellyfish
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4. |
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Alcohol
Alcohol
Alcohol is a mean green light
and the monster trucks are out tonight
Alcohol
Such a sexy little wreckin ball
Empires fall
As you're flyin' all around
If you wanna tear up the town
go on and do it with some love
in your heart
and if you wanna run me down
just try to do it with some love
in your heart
Alcohol
Alcohol
Alcohol is a mean green light
and the monster trucks are out tonight
Alcohol
Such a funny, runny valentine
Empires fall
When you lay it on the line
Aaaaaaaaaal-cohol
Aaaaaaaaaal-cohol
Alcohol
Better beware if you answer that call
Cause alcohol is a mean green light
and the monster trucks are out
every night
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5. |
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I can’t tell the temperature
a better time to rise
I can’t tell the stars above
to sparkle up your eyes
I can’t tell the fires to stop
or make the siren start
I can’t even slow the beating
of my racing heart
but I say
Moon, there’s a better way
Moon, there’s a better way
Moon, there’s a better way
to light up the town
Moon, there’s a better way
Moon, there’s a better way
Moon, there’s a better way
to light up the town
I can’t paint the cloudy sky
a better shade of grey
I can’t make the bridge stand up
and dance across the bay
and I can’t tell the Animals
to sing a different song
when “please don’t let me be
misunderstood” plays all night long
Still, I say
Moon, there’s a better way
Moon, there’s a better way
Moon, there’s a better way
to light up the town… (x2)
Aww but who the hell am I to say
moon, there’s a better way
a better way than shining down?
Shining down
Just shinin
down
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6. |
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One light dimly flickerin
One light flashin all about
One lightly dozin by the fireside
One gettin ready to go out
And she's singin
Street lights hummin
There's a new day comin
somewhere down the line
Time's not runnin out
She's takin her sweet time
This day is not over
It's barely just begun
It's getting darker
but the night is young
Change is somethin Time don't think about
It's just pennies rattlin around in her pack
tappin out a rhythm on her pocket knife
soarin down that elevated track
Steel rails ringin
Street lights hummin
There's a new day comin
somewhere down the line
Time's not runnin out
She's takin her sweet time
This day is not over
It's barely just begun
It's getting darker
but the night is young
The night is young
One light dimly flickerin
One light flashin all about
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7. |
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You send me your love in a letter
that somehow makes its way to my guitar
and weaves a melody that binds us together
That finds you, wherever you are
These vibrations
This radio station in my heart
keeps me ridin these waves on the blue
as the the wires carry all of my love
to the speakers that blow sweet kisses
through the air, back to you
You send me your love in a letter
that turns my every breath into a song
All my longing into expectation
A brighter day, a sweeter voice to carry on
These vibrations
This radio station in my heart
keeps me ridin these waves on the blue
as the the wires carry all of my love
to the speakers that blow sweet kisses
through the air - and back to you
All right through the air
and back to you
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8. |
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I didn’t wanna be worshipped
but I liked being loved
I didn’t always know the difference I admit
Like a beautiful dream, it seemed
to spring up all around me
I don’t remember the day of creation
or the moment when it all turned to shit
Now I’m done with it
It was fun while it landed
til it felt like i was stranded
on this curious planet
This vessel did not come
to save anyone
Only to find a place to play
under the sun
God is not dead - only retired
Still motivated - just a little less inspired
since Justice was devalued
that day on the cross
we held onto the principle -
only the interest was lost
lost
lost
I didn’t wanna be worshipped
but I liked being loved
I didn’t always know the difference I confess
I plead ignorance more or less
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9. |
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Old white man
in a catamaran
singin to the sea
"you only love me"
You only love me for conversation
You only love me for my deviant mind
I only use you for inspiration
and that's the reason i'm singin all the time
I fell in love with love's illusion
long before you caught my eye
so don't worry, i'm ok dear
It's a lovely bubbling day here
where standard rules of romance
need not apply
You know i'm not that guy
and that's why
You only love me for conversation
You only love me for my deviant mind
I only use you for inspiration
and that's the reason i'm singin all the time
The reason I'm singin all the time
All the time
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10. |
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I don't wanna get older
but i don't wanna die
That's the dilemma
i face every day
No third way out
And the slivery moon
that smug little smile
says it's death or decline
No third way out
There'll come a time when i will gladly trade
all bitter truth for one sweet lie
All hopes of heaven for just one more night
staring out at the starry sky
I'll take any distraction
I'm along for the ride
tossing and turn
still hoping to find
a third way out
There'll come a time when i will gladly trade
all bitter truth for one sweet lie
All hopes of heaven for just one more night
staring out at the starry sky
I don't wanna get older
I don't wanna get older
I don't wanna get older
but i don't wanna die
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11. |
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LOVE IS THE BRIDGE
BETWEEN PLEASURE AND PAIN
SHE WHISKS YOU OFF TO ONE SIDE
AND THEN BACK AGAIN
AND I’VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH
ALL AROUND THE SUN
SO LONG IT NO LONGER MATTERS
WHICH SIDE I’M ON
AND SHE NEVER LETS ME SLIP
WHEN I’M OFF THE CLIFF
AND ALMOST GONE
SHE KEEPS ME IN HER GRIP
SHE JUST CRACKS THE WHIP
AND I’M BACK ON
ON
Love is the bridge
between the sun and the rain
The thorn of the rose
and the blood stain
that never shows
on black bead rosary
So no one knows
except for you and me
AND SHE NEVER LETS IT SLIP
WHEN I’M OFF THE CLIFF
AND ALMOST GONE
SHE KEEPS ME IN HER GRIP
SHE JUST CRACKS THE WHIP
AND I’M BACK ON
ON - ON
MADAM BLACK, MADAM BLACK
MADAM BLACK, MADAM BLACK
MADAM BLACK, MADAM BLACK
SHE JUST CRACKS THE WHIP
AND I'M BACK
MADAM BLACK, MADAM BLACK
MADAM BLACK, MADAM BLACK
MADAM BLACK, MADAM BLACK
SHE JUST CRACKS THE WHIP
AND I'M BACK ON
LOVE IS THE BRIDGE
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12. |
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There's a string i will follow
no matter how high or how far down i go
Another real thing i will swallow
to track the shadow of everythhing i know
Wasn't there something
something that we missed?
Something simple
but something more than a kiss?
More than this
There are wings on my sorrow
to carry me through, to carry me to
the other side
All these whisperings from the hollw
They're calling to me
a hunger to be satisfied
They remind me of something
wild and yet divine
Something beautiful
i feel a tug on the line
i feel a tug on the line
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13. |
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I'll never sing you a handsome man song
I'm too complicated and too far along
My face is outdated - my hair's all wrong
and i
I can't fake a smile or tell a good lie
I'm too old to dog around but too young to die
Too old to woo you, yet fool enough to try
Fool enough to try
Fool enough to try
Can't say that i could ever make you happy
but i'm just fool enough
Fool enough to try
Fool enough to try
Can't say that i could ever make you happy
but i'm just fool enough to try
I'll never sing you a handsome man song
You're too complicated and too far along
for some inebriated songbird passin by
You can't fake a smile or tell a good lie
No damn fool notion's ever gonna fly
but now and then, there's a fool such as i
Who's fool enough to try
Fool enough to try
Can't say that i could ever make you happy
but i'm just fool enough
Fool enough to try
Fool enough to try
Can't say that i could ever make you happy
but i'm just fool enough to try
Try
Try, try, and try
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The oldest recordings of me that best stand up today were the most basic - just me singing and playing guitar. This album attempts to renew that old feeling of self-absorbed solitude. I thought it would be fast and easy, but wasn't taking my recent peculiarities into account.
I tried lots of ways to record - live in the Tambourine Lounge, one mic at the kitchen table, two mics in various places - and finally settled on two mics in my room, four feet from where i sleep. These tracks were picked from countless takes recorded in the past year or so. Some pieces were added for continuity, and finally i overdubbed a few harmonies and hired a professional mastering engineer. I think it's a better post- than pre-election set of songs, so it's good that it took a while to come out. :)
released December 1, 2024
I recorded this album in the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Ten of the songs, i wrote myself and three are co-writes: "Waves On The Blue" was with Eric McFadden, "Madam Black" with Connor MacDonald, and "A Tug On The Line" with Marina Lima.
The cover image is adapted from the 1902 film "Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon)" by Georges Méliès. I added the can and Stephanie Trenchard touched up the moon surface.
Thanks Jeff, Joe, Anna, and Stephanie, and Will for your ears, Kate and Eric for helping to select and sequence the songs, melaniejane for everything she does, and Adam and Jen for unused cover art (it will all come to light). <3
Mastering was done by Nathan James at The Vault in Phoenix, Arizona.
