Paradise Is Free

by Rome 56

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
• Housed in a sturdy 350g digipack (perfect for international travel)
• 8-page lyric booklet - because Lamonica's words deserve more than a squint at your phone screen
• The ideal format for both spontaneous sing-alongs and deep, introspective listening sessions

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Includes unlimited streaming of Paradise Is Free via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

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Purchasable with gift card

$6 USD or more

1.	The Man Behind The Man With The Gun 02:56 video	lyrics	buy track
Who is the man behind the man with a gun? Who is the man behind the man with a gun? He hides behind his shades, While others find their grave, But no one knows where he’s from. Who is the man behind the man with a gun? Who is the man behind the man with a gun? He hides inside the dark, He never leaves a mark. He carries an ace of spades in his heart. Well, who’s that man? Well, who’s that man? Who is the man behind the man with a gun? Who is the man behind the man with a gun? He hides inside the dark, He never leaves a mark. He carries an ace of spades in his heart. Well, who’s that man? Well, who’s that man? Who is the man behind the man with a gun? Who is the man behind the man with a gun?
2.	Hustle Of The Crowd 03:20	lyrics	buy track
Take a look around the neighborhood, I’d walk around only if I could. My heart is light as I tumble through my mind, Shut out the lights when the sun it shines. The hustle of the crowd, I climb up to the rooftop, look out below. We can’t escape into the night, I said, oh no. The hustle of the crowd. I hear the sounds of laughter floating up to me, I cannot tell if the voices are in front of me. The hustle of the crowd, I climb up to the rooftop, look out below. We can’t escape into the night, I said, oh no. The hustle of the crowd.
3.	Fire In The Sky 04:45	lyrics	buy track
THERE’S A FIRE IN THE SKY BABY DON’T YOU CRY THERE’S A FIRE IN THE SKY BABY DON’T YOU CRY YOU BETTER RUN AND HIDE YOU BETTER STAY INSIDE YOU BETTER GO AND FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER LIFE WHEN THE RAIN FALLS DOWN IT WILL NOT BLESS YOUR FACE WHEN THE RAIN FALLS DOWN IT WILL NOT BLESS YOUR FACE IT’S A SHOWER OF FLAMES IT’S A SHOWER OF FLAMES AND THE SHOWER OF FLAMES WILL NEVER REMEMBER YOUR NAME THERE’S A FIRE IN THE SKY FORGET WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE SHOW FORGET WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE SHOW YOU KNOW YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR BEING TOLD FORGET WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE SHOW THERE’S A FIRE IN SKY CHILDREN PLAYING GAMES PLAYING GAMES IN A BROKEN LAND
4.	Seattle 03:38	lyrics	buy track
READ IT IN THE NEWSPAPER SAW IT IN ON THE TV I THUMBED THROUGH A MAGAZINE WATCHED IT ON THE SILVER SCREEN NO I NEVER EVER BEEN TO SEATTLE NO I NEVER EVER BEEN TO SEATTLE READ ALL ABOUT THE SPACE NEEDLE AND PIONEER SQUARE WHOLE LOT OF JOHNNIES PLAY GUITAR EVERYWHERE NO I NEVER EVER BEEN TO SEATTLE NO I NEVER EVER BEEN TO SEATTLE READ IT IN THE NEWSPAPER READ IT ON THE WEB TOOK A RIDE ON THE MONORAIL ONLY IN MY HEAD NO I NEVER EVER BEEN TO SEATTLE NO I NEVER EVER BEEN TO SEATTLE
5.	The End Of The Street 03:35	lyrics	buy track
SOMEWHERE HIDDEN FROM THE LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF A RETREAT WINDOWS SCAN THE MISTY RAIN AT THE END OF THE STREET SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH THE SKY STATUES STANDING ALL ALONE BURNING IN THE YELLOW HEAT AT THE END OF THE STREET OVER WHERE THE CORNERS MEET OLD MEN GRASP THEIR WORRY BEADS TILL THE DAYLIGHT DISAPPEARS INTO A WHISPER IN YOUR EARS GUARDED BY A PICKET FENCE FAR BEYOND THE ALLEY WAY CONCRETE COVERS UP THE LEAVES AT THE END OF THE STREET OVER WHERE THE CORNERS MEET OLD MEN GRASP THEIR WORRY BEADS TILL THE DAYLIGHT DISAPPEARS INTO A WHISPER IN YOUR EARS METAL WHEELS UPON THE TRACK GRINDING THROUGH THE MORNING AIR SOMEONE SLIPS INTO A DREAM AT THE END OF THE STREET
6.	Paradise Is Free 03:31	lyrics	buy track
YOU CAN COME TO MY SHORE WALK IN THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR YOU CAN SIT ON MY LIVING ROOM FLOOR YOU CAN SLEEP IN MY BED BREAK BREAD AND BE WELL FED HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR ANYMORE CAUSE PARADISE IS FREE.... YOU CAN STAY UP ALL NIGHT SLEEP WHEN THE SUN IT SHINES YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO ACT BENIGN YOU CAN TRY TO ENGAGE OR STEW IN A QUIET RAGE YOU CAN STORM OFF THE WORLD’S STAGE CAUSE PARADISE IS FREE... PARADISE WILL GIVE ADVICE PARADISE IS SO NICE PARADISE IS FREE YOU CAN SEEK OUT THE TRUTH SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE PROOF YOU CAN STAND AT THE BAR SO ALOOF YOU CAN FIGHT FOR A CAUSE SETTLE FOR LESS THAN MORE AND GIVE THE REST BACK TO THE POOR CAUSE PARADISE IS FREE... YOU CAN TRY TO LIVE IN PEACE OR GO HUG A TREE HANG OUT AND SHOOT THE BREEZE YOU CAN SAIL THE SEVEN SEAS DO AS YOU PLEASE AND TRY NOT TO GET IN TOO DEEP CAUSE PARADISE...
7.	Invisible Man 04:30	lyrics	buy track
IT’S LAST CALL AT THE MONKEY BAR AND YOU’VE GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE OUT THERE IN THE WILDERNESS BUT YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE WALKING ON A TIGHTROPE AND YOU GOTTA GO HOME THE BAND’S STILL PLAYING BUT YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE LIVING IN THE LEFT BANK IN YOUR MIND BUT YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE STANDING ON THE BOULEVARD BUT YOU GOTTA GO HOME LIKE CASSAVETES IN HUSBANDS YEAH YA GOTTA GO HOME AND THE TRAIN’S LEAVING THE STATION AND YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE THEN YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE REMINISCING WITH WHAT’S HIS NAME THEN YOU GOTTA GO HOME LIKE A FADED PHOTOGRAPH YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE GOING HOME BUT YOU’LL BE BACK YEAH YA GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY BUT YOU GOTTA GO HOME IN THE END YOU JUST WANNA SURVIVE SO YOU GOTTA GO HOME YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN YOU’RE THE INVISIBLE MAN THE INVISIBLE MAN
8.	A Simple Way To Go 03:16	lyrics	buy track
RODE ALONG THE EDGE OF TIME LOOKING FOR THE CELESTIAL SIGN ONCE MISTAKEN AS A GUEST NOW I STAND OUT FROM THE REST NOW I LOOK INTO THE SUN I DON’T LOOK BACK I’M THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN BUILD ME UP OR BRING ME DOWN CROWN THE KING OF THE UNDERGROUND BABY DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A SIMPLE WAY TO GO BABY DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A SIMPLE WAY TO GO A SIMPLE WAY TO GO KICKING BACK WITH A BOTTLE OF WINE TOOK A TURN TO THE OTHER SIDE NOW I KNOW THERE’S NO PLACE TO GO MAKE IT REAL AND TAKE IT SLOW BABY DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A SIMPLE WAY TO GO BABY DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S A SIMPLE WAY TO GO A SIMPLE WAY TO GO
9.	Some Say 04:05	lyrics	buy track
SOME SAY HE’S COMING SOME SAY HE’S GONE SOME SAY HE’S NEVER BEEN SOME KEEP MOVING ON SOME WATCH THE RIVER SOME WATCH THE SKY SOME WATCH THE SECONDS TICK SOME JUST LET IT PASS THEM BY WHY WE RUN WHY DO WE HIDE DON’T ASK WHY DON’T ASK WHY SOME SAY SHES COMING SOME SAY SHE’S GONE SOME SAY SHE’S NEVER BEEN SOME KEEP MOVING ON I SAW HER PICTURE HANGING ON A WALL I CAN’T REMEMBER IT DOES IT MATTER ANYMORE WHY WE RUN WHY DO WE HIDE DON’T ASK WHY DON’T ASK WHY SOME SAY HE’S COMING SOME SAY HE’S GONE SOME SAY HE’S NEVER BEEN SOME KEEP MOVING ON WHY WE RUN WHY DO WE HIDE DON’T ASK WHY DON’T ASK WHY
10.	The Midnight Sun 03:30	lyrics	buy track
HEY WHEN WORDS DON’T MAKE A SOUND AND I FEEL I’M SINKING DOWN THROUGH A TRAP DOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OH AND I CAN’T FACE ANYTHING EXCEPT THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND I FIND MYSELF WOUND UP OH SO TIGHT AND YOUR THE ONLY ONE YOU BRING THE MIDNIGHT SUN CHIMES ARE RINGING IN MY HEAD AND WINTER’S COME AND LEFT THE CRUELEST MONTHS HAVE GONE AND SLIPPED AWAY AND THE JUNE BIRDS HAVE APPEARED THEY’RE SINGING IN THE TREES AND I CAN’T GET EM OUT OF MY HEAD AND YOUR THE ONLY ONE YOU BRING THE MIDNIGHT SUN AND WHEN THE DARKEST HOUR ENTERS IN YOUR MIND UP THERE IN THE TOWER YOU SEE THE CLOUDS UNKIND HEY WHEN WORDS DON’T MAKE A SOUND AND I FEEL I’M SINKING DOWN THROUGH A TRAP DOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OH AND I CAN’T FACE ANYTHING EXCEPT THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND I FIND MYSELF WOUND UP OH SO TIGHT AND YOUR THE ONLY ONE YOU BRING THE MIDNIGHT SUN
11.	Dry Ice 02:54	lyrics	buy track
I GIVE YOU HOPE YOU GIVE ME HELL I GIVE YOU PASSAGE ON MY CAROUSEL YOUR INDECISION IS JUST AS WELL YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE WILL YOU RUN A HUNDRED MILES WILL YOU CRY JUST TO SEE ME SMILE WET TONGUES KISSING THE KITCHEN TILE YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE YOU’RE LIVING IN ANOTHER WORLD SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE STARS ME I’M LOOKING UP BUT I CAN’T TELL WHERE ARE WHAT YOU ARE I LET YOU READ MY HOROSCOPE I GIVE YOU TIME AND YOU SAY NO I LET YOU LOOK THROUGH MY TELESCOPE YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE THE STORY’S OLD IT’S ALL BEEN SAID THE BOOK YOUR READING BEEN ALREADY READ YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE THE KING IS DEAD YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE YOU’RE LIKE DRY ICE
12.	Give Myself Up To You 04:57	lyrics	buy track
CAN I CALL YOU UP CAN I CHANGE YOUR MIND SHOULD I DISAPPEAR OR CAN I REALIGN SHOULD I SEEK YOUR PITY OR SHOULD I PLAY ALONG CAN I SING YOU A SAD SONG FROM MY CATALOGUE COULD I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP TO YOU SHOULD I STOWAWAY ON AN OCEAN LINER OR I COULD HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT LIKE A RUNAWAY CHILD SHOULD I TELL THE TRUTH OR TRY TO BE SO COOL MAYBE LOSE CONTROL AND TURN AND LIE TO YOU COULD I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP TO YOU WILL YOU FIND ME BLEEDING ON OUT AN OPEN ROAD OR WILL YOU SEE ME CRYING IN A PLACE UNKNOWN CAN I CALL YOU UP CAN I CHANGE YOUR MIND IF I BEG FOR MERCY THEN WILL YOU GIVE ME A SIGN COULD I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP TO YOU COULD I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP I GIVE MYSELF UP TO YOU

about

When Arthur Lamonica decided to split his time between New York's concrete canyons and Amsterdam's dreamy canals, he didn't just change his address – he created a whole new musical zip code. The CBGB veteran (you might remember him from The Shirts) hasn't just kept his punk spirit alive; he's taught it to speak Dutch and write perfect pop hooks.

"Paradise Is Free" captures the sound of New York swagger getting a European education. Recorded between two cities with enough musical talent to form a United Nations of sound (no security council veto required), these twelve tracks prove that great songwriting is the ultimate passport. From the deliciously ambiguous "The Man Behind the Man With a Gun" to the roots-rock swagger of "Hustle of the Crowd," each song feels like a postcard from a place where classic rock charm meets modern attitude.

This isn't just an album – it's what happens when a punk rock lifer discovers that paradise isn't a destination, it's wherever you plant your musical flag. Lamonica has crafted something that sounds both instantly familiar and impossibly fresh, like Tom Petty and Blur meeting for coffee in a canal-side café. The result? Pure transatlantic alchemy that proves authenticity never needs auto-tune.

RIYL: Tom Petty, Teenage Fanclub, War On Drugs, Blur

credits

released April 5, 2024

All Songs Written And Produced By Arthur Lamonica
Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5 Recorded At Ijland Studio, Amsterdam NL by Tim Visser
Tracks 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 Recorded At Poe Street Studio, NYC
Track 9 Recorded At Pink Crayon Studio, NYC
Track 10 Recorded At Poe Street Studio And Flytrap North Studio, NYC
Mastered By Roger Houdaille For TLAK
Front Cover Art By Bert Tier
Booklet Art Courtesy Adobe Firefly Inspired By Cover Art
Contributing Photographers: Okko Meijer, Ray Brizzi

DEDICATED TO J.R. ROST

©2024 Think Like A Key Music issued under license from Rome 56. ℗2024 Rome 56. Marketed and distributed by Think Like A Key Music.

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about

Rome 56 New York, New York

Rome 56 is vintage yet new. It is yellow and weathered yet crisp and fresh. It combines an old and new feel - almost as if refurbished. I can see Hunter S Thompson sitting front row at one of these shows.