We began writing this song a few years ago whilst contemplating the closing of Sydney music venues.

At the time it was common to hear and read that the music scene was dead. Years on and in the context of a pandemic the same rhetoric can be heard. Again the pressure has led some major contributors to Sydney’s music culture to close their doors.

But the spirit of music still flows through the veins of the city. All over, musicians are creating amazing music in their bedrooms, studios, laptops, parks and stages of venues that have endured the difficulties of restrictions. Personally some local artists carried us through the challenges of lockdown, via the escape of headphones.

Dead City was inspired by these creators and music fans that keep delivering great work - even though they are reported to be dead.

Bo Jo Jones & The Great Lummox - Dead City

Strum for Strife explores the addiction-like drive to chase the high of creation. The road is long - with all its frustrations, agitations and deep pain - illuminated by fleeting moments of joy and success that reignite the desire to get back in the ring.

Ups and downs. Highs and Lows. Ebbs and Flows.

LYRICS:

Parking Lot
Looking like she’s just been hit by a 
Thundershot
Inspiration flooding into her
Fingertips
It rolls through her hips
Pours out her tongue
Fire she spits
She’s like

Don’t wreck yourself
Running again through your mind
Don’t wreck yourself
Running that shit all the time
Don’t wreck yourself
Your expectations they are pulling you down
Don’t wreck yourself
Your expectations they are throwing you ‘round

All those magic potions you pour
One and two and seven then more
Find meaning inside or above
Baby now you’re moving in love

I got
Lost in the Andes
Homegirl
Couldn’t stand me
Spit bars
We start jamming
All G 
Now we family

On me
Hang your problems
Maybe
I can’t solve them
But problems
I’ve got all them
So I found a pretty dope
Place to store them

Run that
In the back track
Rewind
Feel the backlash
Spill blood
In the cash grab
Money bags rocking 
A shitty mustache

Rally
Around the hashtag
Profit
From the cashtag
Homegirl is preaching truths 
But there’s no way you’d
Share or like that

You might though
It’s goodnight though
You’re right though
Goodbye y’all

Moving in love
Moving in love

All those magic potions you pour
One and two and seven then more
Find meaning inside or above
Baby now you're moving in love

Baby now you’re 
Baby now you’re moving in love
Baby now you’re moving in love

The waves they are starting to swell tidal
The waves they are starting to swell tidal
Did not hear a word you just said
I was lost in the melody
Pumping on the radio

The drums they are heavenly, echo like a melody
Got me spinning like this room is on fire
This music is my love and my enemy
This music is my love and my enemy

The waves they are starting to swell tidal
The waves they are starting to swell tidal
The waves they are starting to swell tidal
The waves they are starting to swell tidal
Got me spinning like the room is on fire
The waves they are starting to swell tidal
Got me spinning like the room is on fire
This music is my love and my enemy

This music is my love and my enemy.

Strum For Strife

Bo Jo Jones & The Great Lummox are proud to present "Long Ago".

LYRICS:

Last minute racket
Severely miss managed
Little miss danger
Is a little miss manic

Depression
Is guesting
The MC this evening

Pharaoh head
Tattoo up on his sleeve and

Bars got this sleepy dazy dopey creepy feeling
Stumble through your doors 3am on the weekend
Dimly lit, Every floorboard creaking
Bo Jo feels at home eyes plastered to the ceiling

But the clock keeps ticking
Lights keep flicking
Should have left long ago
Yer dude I'm in control
Just gonna have one more roll

But the clock keeps ticking
Lights keep flicking
Should have left long ago
Yer dude I'm in control

He’ll never let you go
You know that
He’s holding on for good

Had a pocket full of gold
Had a pocket full of silver
Had a pocket lined with linen
Now there's nothing left in it

Last minute racket
Severely miss managed
Little miss danger
Is a little miss manic

Depression
Is guesting
The MC this evening

Pharaoh head
Tattoo up on his sleeve and

Bars got this sleepy dazy dopey creepy feeling
Stumble through your doors 3am on the weekend
Dimly lit, Every floorboard creaking
Bo Jo feels at home eyes plastered to the ceiling

But the clock keeps ticking
Lights keep flicking
Should have left long ago
Yer dude I'm in control
Just gonna have one more roll

But the clock keeps ticking
Lights keep flicking
Should have left long ago
Yer dude I'm in control
Just gonna have one more roll

He’ll never let you go
You know that
He’s holding on for good

Don't tempt the pull she has
Just know that
If you don’t run you’re done

He’ll never let you go
You know that
He’s holding on for good

Don't tempt the pull she has
Just know that
If you don’t run you’re done

Long Ago

I know these monsters on a first name basis...

LYRICS:

I know these monsters on a first name basis
We knew the curse but we keep chasing
Sea in my lungs consumes my taste buds
Waves shaking us ‘round again

Nobody wants us that's fine with me
I’d rather be lost at sea
Land is a fantasy
Sandcastle dreams

Deep blue down we go

Deep blue down we go
Dive into a vast bath of insanity

Deep blue down we go
You’d have to be a monomaniac to follow me
You’d have to be a monomaniac to follow me
You’d have to be a monomaniac to follow me
You’d have to be a monomaniac to follow me
You’d have to be a monomaniac to follow me

Harpoon’s coming to kill the beast
On the shore they prepare the feast
Sharpening their blades an aquatic war
But the poor old soldiers don’t know what they’re in for

Turn up to the battle with a lousy banana
But instead of DK you get a motherfucking King Kong
Paddle in the water and get eaten by a monster
Get yourself featured in a Fred Dyer sing-a-long

End of his tail
Was the end of their tale
With the fishes now they all sleep

Deep Blue

Bo Jo Jones & The Great Lummox - Deep Blue

All our little dreams fall through....

LYRICS:

All our little dreams fall through
You were too green
I was too blue
Fantasies never come true
Throw it on red 
22

Catch me cold calling again
Sleep walking in the hallway again
Dreams talking I'm stalling again
Feel your presence it haunts me again

Holes appearing in the fabric of our picnic blanket
We try and sow it up with the patches we’ve got
I'm always looking for something shiny and new
You’re like “Why you chasing after something you're not?”
Bought a ticket on the rainbow road - all stops
Sight seeing all the stars out on show
Operating from 9 till 5
But if you miss your ride
You have to go

All our little dreams fall through
You were too green
I was too blue
Fantasies never come true
Throw it on red 
22

So now we're walking but this path is windy as fuck
Making a mess of these shoes I just got
All up and down my arms these branches they keep giving me cuts
Scratching my skin tearing my sleeves up

She’s like baby can you fill up my cup
To the brim from the spring of your love
Just keep pouring till I say stop
Just keep pouring I can't get enough

Dancing with me 
Flying free 
Lost in this bright machine
Dancing with me 
Flying free 
Lost in this bright machine

All our little dreams fall through
You were too green
I was too blue
Fantasies never come true
Throw it on red 
22

All Our Little Dreams

So we're chilling on the porch...

Vocals - The Great Lummox
Guitar - Bo Jo Jones 
Keys - Julian Leto
Bass - Tom Townsend
Production - Bo Jo Jones

LYRICS:

So we’re chilling on the porch
Jim pass me the torch
Tryna forget all the stops we flew through
One of them could have led me to you
Hand you a stack
Lead me straight to the back

But she said she only want that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of
She said she only want that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of
She said she only want that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of
She said she only want that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of

Yeah you bet
I read the letter 
No comprehension how your absence could lead me to such depression
But I thought i could make the ill better
But nothing’s iller than me
You make me ill as can be
Every night I wake up in a cold sweat
Feel your weight holding me down even though you left
I still need it to alleviate the tension
I feel so uneasy as soon as your name gets a mention

But the crowd’s clapping along
Fiend’s fapping along
None of your beeswax
But you’re still getting stung
We’re at the end of the tether
But you’re still getting hung
Well
Gone girl be gone

I must have been a clown
For doubling down
Turquoise never fit so well
She sells sea shells 
By the sea side
If you pay the right price
Then she’ll let you ride
So we’re chilling on the porch
Tim pass me the torch
Cut to the scene where I fucking know you
She’s like “I know the man too”
I’m like “bullshit”
You ain’t no home grown chick
Just want that well paid dick

Keep talking like you notice something
Every time I’m feeling your sting
Only heart you feel, is gold bling
Running circles chasing after that ring, with chrome trims

She says she only wants that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of
She says she only wants that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of
She says she only wants that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of
She says she only wants that hot rod
Something she can jump on top of

Porch

Bo Jo Jones & The Great Lummox are proud to present life through the lens of suburbia.

LYRICS:

Record set 
Record straight 
Cut ‘em off

Join the Party
Let your body
Rock

Everybody 
Feeling nasty
Talk

Mind’s racing
Medication 
Block

Catastrophizing
Grip sliding 
Stop

Electrifying 
Feel your body 
Shock

Her body's riding 
Smooth rhythm
Lock

Her body's shining
Rough diamond
Rock

Think about it
Think about it
Just for a minute

Careful now
Careful darling
Don’t overthink it

Ah man
God damn
Now you’re swimming in it

Going under
Going under
Asphyxiating

Skin’s crawling

Knocking on my door
To ask me over
Every phone call is big brother 
Checking in
Veil thin

Every eye
Every sly grin
Is paranoia
If shadows are creeping 
Then we ain't sleeping

Skin’s crawling
Mind’s stalling
Toxic elevation

She's calling
Floor’s falling 
Heavy respiration

Fear’s dawning 
Every morning 
No I can't escape it

Fear’s dawning 
Every morning 
No I can’t escape it

Catastrophizing
Grip sliding 
Stop

Electrifying 
Feel your body 
Shock

Her body's riding 
Smooth rhythm
Lock

Her body's shining
Rough diamond
Rock

Knocking on my door
To ask me over
Every phone call is big brother 
Checking in
Veil thin

Every eye
Every sly grin
Is paranoia
If shadows are creeping 
Then we ain't sleeping

Knocking on my door
To ask me over
Every phone call is big brother 
Checking in
Veil thin

Every eye
Every sly grin
Is paranoid
If shadows are creeping 
And we ain't sleeping

Record set 
Record straight 
Cut ‘em off

Join the Party
Let your body
Rock

Everybody 
Feeling nasty
Talk

Mind’s racing
Medication 
Block

Record set 
Record straight 
Cut ‘em off

Join the Party
Let your body
Rock

Everybody 
Feeling nasty
Talk

Mind’s racing
Medication 
Block