1. |
Canal and 14th
02:34
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There were clouds in the puddles,
smoke in the sky,
fire on the alley on the fourth of July
the celebration chaos muddled his mind
as he wandered from the mission that night
mentioning a time he slept in the rain
a laugh from his gut matched his smiling face
something in me turned from the look in his eye
searching for the mission that night
at the neon lighthouse on Canal and 14th
twilight approaching, he gathered his things
at the offer of money
i politely declined
outside the mission that night
outside the mission that night...
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2. |
Cricket Hill
02:18
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the scorching of the jungle was fit into the bill
hypodermic needles pile up on Cricket Hill
and the victory of nothing is met with a parade
the schools are closed
the kids are bused away
the shooter at the church house had an alabaster face
all the while the rebel flag hung high above the state
just ask them how it's lookin' down on Calhoun Street
like Birmingham, 1963.
refugees are crossing the Aegean Sea
with rubble on their shoulders they drag through foreign streets
to fall asleep in subways and flounder in the wake
like smoke and steel and the city by the lake
where a schizophrenic is roamin' around Douglas Park,
padlocks on the clinic doors down back of the yards
from where the sick were banished
where dignity was killed
climb up to the top
look out from Cricket Hill
climb up to the top look out from Cricket Hill.
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3. |
Fire Weather
02:37
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evacuate the mountain
the fire is circlin' around
evacuate the mountain
the fire is circlin' around
terrebonne is sinkin'
i'm huffin' poison clouds
run for your life
the fire is circlin' around
pass the ammunition
defend your blessed land
pass the ammunition
get that rifle in your hand
and the evidence is present
take the fountains from the sand
through crooked sights
defend our blessed land
what's the use in tryin'
when the truth defeats itself
tell me what's the use in tryin'
this whole place has gone to hell
'cause our invalid doubt
shut every light here out
give up, boy
the truth defeats itself
fire caught the highway
your last chance to get out
fire caught the highway
your last chance to get out
get water to the tower
before it's ashes in the ground
fire took your last chance to get out
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4. |
State Street Preacher
03:31
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papers show the riots and the fire in the streets
thank God for weather and the experts on t.v.
nobody is in the dumpster
somebody sucks his teeth
belly on the table and slippers on his feet
liberated fish flop on the buckling floor
if it took one bullet then the clip has plenty more
i wasn't really countin' so i can't be so sure
hide the heater
there's police at the door
(Introducing Mr. Samuel Chambers...)
a deadbeat's $20 turns to nothing fast
to scratch offs lying in piles by the trash
he's back on to concrete where he'll shuffle and laugh
one eye on the corner, another on his back
by now i'm old enough to know
when to leave well enough alone
when to give a hungry dog a bone
they'll beg ya out of house
they'll beg ya out of home
leave ya with nothing
cold and alone
la la la la...
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5. |
70 Excuses
02:44
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the holy home is a war zone
and the Pope is in New York
thousands gathered on 5th Ave.
the Tribune is suing City Hall yet another time
for 7 times and 7 times again
i'll make 70 excuses for the crooks that i call friends
the hallowed water is tarnished
and the Prophet is on trial
there's a stampede in the land of Abraham
where Mother searched for water 7 times through scorched sand
for 7 times and 7 times again
i'll hide fruit beneath the silence from all my thirsty friends
suicide brings Paradise
and water is catching fire
nearly every levee left in disrepair
and i've squandered in kind
any good left in my mind
and i am the Roman pawn
and i am hither and yon
for 7 times and several 'til the End
i'll make 70 excuses and sleep soundly in my bed
i'll make 70 excuses and sleep soundly in my bed.
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6. |
Belly Blues
02:41
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Lord, if i feel tomorrow like i feel today
Good God, i'm gonna pack my suitcase and walk away
the Creek bed has gone all muddy and the Well has gone all dry
i've got a hunger in my Belly, and I ain't got a dime
if'n she'll love me tomorrow as i love her today
i just might turn my mind around and stay
and if'n she don't love me tomorrow
Lord, I could never stay
Good God, I'm gonna pack my suitcase and walk away
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7. |
Two Bedroom Apartment
03:25
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I hear gunshots in the distance
and an ambulance tear by
the upstairs neighbors fight again
sometime after midnight
and the radiator rattles
the wood floor moans
i know not who i was
i know not where i'll go...
the other name coming off the lease
left eggshells and a mess,
a cheap dining room table
and a former lover's dress
everybody else moved on
now i've no one to part with
and i inhabit all of this two bedroom apartment
David got divorced and Cindy moved away
to chase a better payin' job and lives somewhere upstate
oh, the Boulevard is empty
the traffic lights glow
my pockets are light
somehow i've got to go
the other name coming off the lease
left no forward address, all the bills still comin'
i had no choice but acquiesce
everybody else moved on
now i've no one to part with
and i inhabit all of this two bedroom apartment...
everybody else moved on...
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8. |
Fire Hydrant Wrench
02:50
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i wait all winter for a sunny day
and glowing flowers at the end of May
the cricket lullabies through June
July leaves it seems before it blooms
there's a heavy heat on August's breathe
well boys, i've got my fire hydrant wrench
September calls out loud and clear,
"All Hollows is gettin' near."
November says, "Boy, grow your beard."
and the Prophet's birthday disappears
and I ride like hell into a New Year
before February calls back old fears
and the cacklin' caw of the Full Crow Moon
means the steelhead are runnin' soon
i'll spring back unto my feet
and go run wild through the boiling streets
i'll stash the winnings from that kid i bet
and come back with my fire hydrant wrench
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9. |
Ruts
03:21
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ruts in the floor
i carve ruts in the floor
i carve ruts before i carve some more
ruts in the floor
i got tears in my eyes
i got tears in my eyes
i won't sleep a wink until these tears dry
tears in my eyes
and i've got locks on the door
i've got locks on the door
i'm never gonna knock these locks off the door
and ruts in the floor
it's all, "Hurry, hurry. Boy ain't you heard me?"
everyone is a critic, the judge, and the jury
and i've got this worry on my mind...
ruts in the floor
i carve ruts in the floor
ruts are all i seem to have anymore
oh, ruts in the floor
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Gar Clemens Greensboro, North Carolina
Gar Clemens' delightful Americana-influenced-folk debut full-length may be simple, sleepy and comforting, but it is also thematically captivating, and all too capable of stirring up the kind of nagging life sentiments usually reserved for when your head hits the pillow. (Jamie Downes // 07/01/14//United Kingdom) ... more
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