Sprayed paint scrawled on a bent wall,
Tagger took a fall and her word cut short.
Raid Fort Knox, town from a box
Drinks getting’ toxic dirty new port.
He’s too clean so what’s it mean
That he caught green and he got busted
Can’t be, fine family. I agree
But he shouldn’t be trusted.

City folk know that the town’s broke
Nothin’ in the poke all got spent.
Things they thought that’d been bought
Have or have not they were on rent.
Little bit o’ tide bout a foot wide
Hits from the side and ya get swept.
You can throw your file into the pile
If you walk a mile’s worth of footsteps.

No doubt a shame, but the hand’s been washed.
Who’s to blame, names get tossed.

Hear them shout you can tune it out
Wanna still doubt just don’t listen.
No quick fix in the bag of tricks
Already sick best keep distance.

Orders came from the middle of the top.
Some take aim at the one who’s boss.
Partner’s in fame, away they’ll walk.
It’s a well-rigged game, they haven’t lost...

Recorded at Priori Sound, Denver, CO

Flintlock

Lyrics:

Such a character, the man´s pushing our luck.
Sure can´t turn a phrase, somehow he made a buck.
We threw em all against the wall, he´s the one that stuck.
The swollen head of the GOP

Howls when he speaks, don´t carry much stick.
Sure can´t take a joke, guess his skin´s not very thick.  
He´ll run to his lawyers and sic em on ya quick.
Making sure that free speech isn´t free.

Got a beauty for a wife, third time around.
When he tries on his suits asks ´how´s it look, do I make ya proud?
She don´t have much to say, maybe she´s not allowed.
A lotta people think that, you tell me.

He´ll tell you bout the terrorists, comin to your town.
They´re runnin over borders, but he can take em down.
Long as you stay terrified of anyone too brown, 
Don´t ask questions, follow his lead.

Cause he played soldier in school, knows what it´s about.
Even though he skipped the war and had a doctor keep him out.
His feet might be flat, but they still fit in his mouth, 
He´ll be chewin´on his toes until they bleed.

The King of clowns, down to the painted face.
He was just a broken ankle in a 3 legged race.
We´re all goin´ downhill, and he´s gonna set the pace.
Roll the dice, with the GOP.

Elephant on a Tightrope (Pt. 2)

Lyrics

Got a lady drinkin on one shoulder
Fellow rollin bones next to her.
They can stay til it gets late, balance out each other's weight, 
I don't mind the company of three.
Their conversation seems a little colder,
Miss the cooler whispers and the burn.
But they don't talk the way they did, he won't try and she stays hid.
They hardly get along and I'm between.

Grew ever closer into springtime, 
they kept to emselves and stayed at home.
In a room where curtains hung, dancin while a record spun,
Even matching steps now and again.
Ever other evenin'd see em drink wine, 
Just a glass or two to tie a bow.
When it wouldn't taste the way it did, bitterness they couldn't rid,
Started thinkin things they weren't sayin.

But I heard it all, and it won't leave me.
They built a wall, scratchin words in the sides.
Breakin bricks into dust with every letter.
I suppose they'll tunnel through in time.

Know a lady thinkin on her next step,
Fellow's got a plan laid ahead.
While none of his bets are hedged, she's just walkin off a ledge
Tryin to catch a hold halfway down.
I imagine both are gettin restless,
Tossin through the night in different beds.
Might agree they wanna fly, opposites direction-wise, 
Neither's gettin far while they're bound.

Been a year, lady's movin onward, 
off to bring the world what she can.
Fellow thinks he'll stick around, make the most of what he's found, 
Can't keep walkin' off when he feels.
I'ma give em time, let em wander.
It's all far beyond my hands.
But even if they meet again, bet they'll never just be friends, 
After spinnin miles on matchin wheels.

I spun em all, and they won't leave me.
Once we stalled, had to pull aside.
They set off, one west the other southward, 
I suppose I'll see em round in time.

You heard it all, I hope it leaves soon.
Go build a wall, climb it til you fly.
Makin bricks out of the love that's still around you, 
And I hope I might be one in time.

- J. McDermott, January 2015

with: Tiger, Johnny Mac, and Michael
Recorded Summer 2016 in Massachusetts

In Time

Lyrics

Paradise, skin deep with a big old scar on the underside.
Some weep for the way it was they've been denied, 
While others hide with pretty colors painted over grey.
But your town, I can't wait until we can stomp our old grounds.
We can talk late, jabber til the words get back around, 
The same old sound, nothing covered, nothing we can't say.

I ain't seen you for days, but we're singin the same tune.
We howl at the same moon, every night.  Long as the distance keeps us
arm's length away, I'll miss your style and your rhythm,
your words and the way you've got with em. Til it's light
I'll listen for the Luna callin your name...callin your name.

I'd say, I picked the sweetest bloom that your turf raised. 
You were fulla tricks, lit up the room with a dozen shades.
Thought they'd never fade, smoked silver laugh, eyes of jaded sea.
Appears, the weeks can feel like months that seem like years.
We can speak or even write, but once that time is clear, you'll be near.
I'll travel halfway, can you meet with me?

I ain't seen you for days, but I'll be with you soon.
We'll share the same noon, every day.  Can't wait to listen while you
take me away.  We'll travel for miles til we're hidden.
Then wait til the moonlight's risen, 
while the stars croon their perfect kind of strange.

Hop across the time we've taken, step around the space between.
Hop across the bridge while it's breakin, gotta make a run before we're seen.
What's the cost of trickery and fakin, what's it worth to patch the seam.
Only costs the time that we're wastin, but we don't have enough that it's free.

I ain't seen you for days, and that's how it stays now.

- J. McDermott, March 2014-February 2015


With: Tiger, Danny, Johnny Mac, and Michael
Recorded Summer 2016 in Massachusetts

Luna

Lyrics:

Grace got torn from her house and home
The one who threw her out can't stand to be alone.
Couple of days, girl took her place,
she's wearing Gracie's clothes.
Drove 'til she ran out of gas,
Sleeps under the overpass
Nerves are thin, can't settle in,
The neighbors move too fast.

Danny's in a fix that's becomin a mess,
Turnin into hell full of girls and debt.
Young man stuck with a lifetime's woe.
One year that'll haunt the rest.
Turned down hands that'd drag him up,
Thought they'd rip his gold link cuffs.
A helpless man who says he can,
The dumbest kind of tough.

Tommy's in deep with some dirty folks,
They're catchin up fast and he hustles too slow.
Can't help but drag his feet,
Sold his shoes to pay off loans.
A pair of hunters givin chase,
Tryin to make him hatchet-faced.
Lookin slick and movin quick,
No time, got lives to waste.

Polly left town and the Earth I guess,
Needle in the arm, spring in her step.
Hit the right ticket in the wrong lottery,
Lotta reasons to lose that debt.
Crowded church when we said goodbye,
Fulla long speeches and longer lines.
Polly woulda loved em couldn't stand to be above em,
Shame they were so fine.

- J. McDermott, July 2016


With: Tiger, Danny, Johnny Mac, and Michael
Recorded Summer 2016 in Massachusetts

Hard Luck

(France)

Bow down, all hail the guns,
Shells fallin' through the smoke cloud blockin' out the sun
Land in a coal mine, standin' in a bread line,
Cookin' up a bath fulla kerosene rum.
Well's dry, and the sand's creepin in. 
Born and raised here but the rent's risin.
Can't feed my girls and our boy left the world.
They're asking where he went I gotta say he's hidin'.

(Japan)
Dig low, til you hit the cold ground.
There's a wall of people screamin' and we gotta cut em down.
Back to my day job, joinin' with the paid mob,
Driving home alone to a white picket town.
Cruisin', my date's lookin' nice. 
Movies at the drive-in but we've seen em all twice, 
Rollin' at the same speed up and down Main Street, 
Rock n roll radio jugglin' the dice.

(Vietnam)
Fly high, til we're outta sight.
Droppin' gas on trees settin' fires in the night.
Handmade signs, people spittin' in my eye,
Only got one cause a bullet took the right.
Leavin', I don't care how.
3 against the world, it's not a fair bout.
Took me outta school and they made me a tool but they
Trade me for another when I snap and wear out.

(Always)
Beggin' for more to take that dare.
Dreadin, when the son might start to glare.
Tiring, last to a burnt out post.
Steady, the thunder's gettin' close.

Hidin' from the 15 mile stare
Dreadin' when it's time to keep our share.
Sirens, bracin' for a storm.
Best be ready when the thunder marches home.

Candlepin Slim

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