Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson
Purchase: https://lnk.to/BuryTheLede

Vocals recorded at Instrument Landing and The Birdcage
Engineered by Andy Thompson and Dessa
Mixed by Joe Mabbott at The Hideaway 
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering

Photography by Sam Gehrke
Layout and design by Andy McAlpine

Executive Producers: Dessa, Lazerbeak, and Andy Thompson
Management: Becky Hoffmann

dessawander.com
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©2023 Doomtree Records

Dessa - Bury the Lede (2023)

dearly beloved, 
here is another outtake from 1999. take 2 of the song TO THE TEETH. there’s no band kicking in to play an outro at the end. it’s just me and my bass player JASON MERCER sitting on the landing above the stairs at kingsway studio in new orleans (now long gone) playing the song.
a few notes on this 23-year-old tune:
"every year now like christmas, some boy gets the milkfed suburban blues"
THERE HAVE BEEN 38 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN 2022 SO FAR.
"open fire on hollywood, MTV, NBC, CBS, ABC…"
the glorification of the gun-wielding cowboy, gangster, vigilante… the reinforcement on the nightly news of the threat of poor people, black people — turning the terrorized into the image of the terrorizer is NOTHING compared to the toxicity of FOX NEWS and an unregulated internet. i just had no idea — as none of us could’ve in 1999 — how far fear-mongering and hate speech could lead us. 
when you encounter hate online — say something —do something. when you see fox news on in public spaces — complain — say something — do something. when you hear the lies of fox news regurgitated out of people’s faces — say something — and most importantly: VOTE.
VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT GUN CONTROL. STOP VOTING FOR PEOPLE WHO TAKE MONEY FROM THE NRA.
voting is our superpower and it is under threat. the very foundation of democracy is under threat. there are more and more brilliant, young, diverse, dynamic and courageous people stepping up and running for office every day. support them, get behind them, spread the word — wherever they are. we are all connected.
it is within our power to stop white supremacy, fascism, patriarchy and the slaughter of our sisters and brothers — our children. it is within our power to stop the death and destruction of climate change. VOTE like your lives depend on it. MY FELLOW VOTERS — i love you. i think you. i honor your service to your country.
love, ani

to the teeth take 2

How Do You Burn?

Domino and Jimmy

Angels In Science Fiction

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak, Andy Thompson, and Dessa

Preorder the album: https://lnk.to/BuryTheLede

LYRICS
Fill the kiddie pool 
up with Prosecco 
Get the LEDs on
need the spectacle 
Gotta beat the one last week 
let’s get a record
If you’re tryna be a go-getter
you gotta go and get it
Desperate times 
call for desperate pleasures 
Some legitimate headlines
mostly cries for attention
The camera speeds
copy ready to read
oughta be a good night 
We’re live in 3, 2—
fuck, man, busted on a hot mic 

Cuz it’s a hurricane 
a hurricane party
End days 
every other Wednesday 
Live girls dance 
dead men float
A hurricane party 
gold dust, sex, and Bacardi 
DJ says don’t hold back
because the water won’t

Looks like someone leaked the password
too much tea to clean earl grey disaster
Campaign manager come walks it backwards
but he’s the one who tipped TV—clever bastard 
Shots fired in the echo chamber  
rico-ricochet
The other side puts kids in danger 
don’t matter what their argument, that’s what they always say
Front of the parade girl spins a baton 
band leader conducts with a corn on the cob
The new sound gets everybody out on their lawn
composed for french horn, cash register, mob

Hook

Okay, who broke the chain letter 
too much bad luck to try to get away with it 
One more plague, nobody goes to recess 
Chatbots away take out your paper pieces 
longhand 
Gimme an essay on the living conditions in Oz written by the Strawman:
housing shot up, looking for a soft land
Dorothy comes to, couldn’t give a goddamn 
Looking for a few recruits 
to do what must be done 
So if you got the heart and a pair of good boots 
meet me at the food court by Forever 21 

Hook

Decoy

Not a sidepiece 
or a wifepiece
I’m a thinkpiece
If you’re done then 
take your dishes to 
the sink please 
Wash to the right
dry to the left 
mind is a kite 
and the fall is a mess 
Out of office
out of body
out of fucks to give 
sorry not sorry 
With a busted rib 
ain’t a thing to do about it 
just tape and time and then you take the turn again 
Lean in harder 
hope the road won’t burn 
so bad this time
you read your curve 
fast as fuck 
fit to swerve
put the money to the metal come and get your girl 
Til the lights blur
til the lines meet in the middle of the high beams
and the wipers 
keep time with the heartbeat
Til you hit a nerve 

I’m falling 
don’t catch me
don’t touch me 
don’t call me
Not much we 
let go 
even when we should and we know it
I walk the wall 
with both hands open 
I’d leave it all

Smokey eye because 
the mind’s on fire
Break glass and pass the axe skyward 
Stone the satellites
drones versus battle kites
Here goes 
the next past life
There’s a speaker 
in a decoy 
at the heart of the mine 
that rewinds
the same birdsong
Tell the back of the line  
that the digging is fine
let’s get the third shift on
They say that a rising tide
when it comes in
will lift every ship
But they skipped
the bit about wildfire
how it burns every bridge
Panic tryna find 
a little dry ground 
big back ups everybody outbound
Not me 
I’m like the good witch
bring the motherfucking house down

Looks like I hit a nerve
I hit a nerve

No patience I stay laced up and 
I’m running 
Learned a phrase in
every country 
I’ve lived and died, been revived like this

That game you taught me how to play 
I won it
Moved out East 
and I stayed hungry
And when the magic’s on me, I can’t miss

I can’t miss

Bury the Lede

Hurricane Party

Decoy
Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson


Not a sidepiece 
or a wifepiece
I’m a thinkpiece
If you’re done then 
take your dishes to 
the sink please 
Wash to the right
dry to the left 
mind is a kite 
and the fall is a mess 
Out of office
out of body
out of fucks to give 
sorry not sorry 
With a busted rib 
ain’t a thing to do about it 
just tape and time and then you take the turn again 
Lean in harder 
hope the road won’t burn 
so bad this time
you read your curve 
fast as fuck 
fit to swerve
put the money to the metal come and get your girl 
Til the lights blur
til the lines meet in the middle of the high beams
and the wipers 
keep time with the heartbeat
Til you hit a nerve 

I’m falling 
don’t catch me
don’t touch me 
don’t call me
Not much we 
let go 
even when we should and we know it
I walk the wall 
with both hands open 
I’d leave it all

Smokey eye because 
the mind’s on fire
Break glass and pass the axe skyward 
Stone the satellites
drones versus battle kites
Here goes 
the next past life
There’s a speaker 
in a decoy 
at the heart of the mine 
that rewinds
the same birdsong
Tell the back of the line  
that the digging is fine
let’s get the third shift on
They say that a rising tide
when it comes in
will lift every ship
But they skipped
the bit about wildfire
how it burns every bridge
Panic tryna find 
a little dry ground 
big back ups everybody outbound
Not me 
I’m like the good witch
bring the motherfucking house down

Looks like I hit a nerve
I hit a nerve

No patience I stay laced up and 
I’m running 
Learned a phrase in
every country 
I’ve lived and died, been revived like this

That game you taught me how to play 
I won it
Moved out East 
and I stayed hungry
And when the magic’s on me, I can’t miss

I can’t miss

Decoy

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson
Bass by Ian Allison

Preorder 'Bury the Lede': https://lnk.to/BuryTheLede

LYRICS
When I’m good, I know it
When I’m bad I don’t know why
If you like it, you should show it
before we run right out of night 
Tired of the bar scene 
the stupid parties
getting makeup off my face
and glitter out the carpet    
Meet me in the elevator, let’s press all the buttons
we can say our goodbyes later
place is faded won’t remember nothing
 
Visine, cab fare, dry shampoo
I’ll take another like déjà—you
should let your guard down
I laid all my cards out 
Bells are ringing last round
but I’m not turning back now

This might be love
it’s still too close to call
But when the lights come up
don’t wanna be the flower on the wall 
Our nights are numbered 
you can count them as they fall 
But I like the thunder 
I’m here to feel it all

I know something’s missing 
I know something isn’t right
Seems like the good ones always hidden
somewhere just outta sight 
I think I’m ready, but I can’t say that I’m not afraid 
I got a sense of direction that gets in my own way 
I know at best it gets messy
nobody’s got an extra heart on hand to break

Dark eyes, allspice, hey look who
walked in shark fin headed for the pool table 
oooh maybe 
we could shoot a few later 
I got things to do but this game is better two-player
 
Hook

Chopper

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Additional Vocals by Aviva Jaye
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

LYRICS
You keep in touch
but out of reach 
You know me
I always did like hide and seek 
This crush
I’m underneath 
it gets lonely
more hand to mouth than cheek to cheek

Tell me again and
this time try to mean it
Tell me again and
This time try to mean it
 
You call me up 
from far away 
though it’s so late 
you don’t seem to have much to say
I think you must 
have news to break 
I can take it 
I’d rather hear it from you, baby

Hook
 
If we’re just play fighting 
how come that blade’s shining 
how come my eyeliner’s running 
Then all of a sudden
you strike lightning
You turn me outside in
then I’m hit 
I’m in trouble
Now it’s
just a matter of time
 
It’s just a matter of time
It’s just a matter of time
 
I hope you love somebody
Even if that body isn’t mine
 
Even if that body isn’t mine
it isn’t
Even if that body isn’t
if that body isn’t
Even if that body isn’t
that body isn’t mine
 
Oh, just a little liquid courage and
Ooh, just a little powdered faith
I’ve been in and out of trouble  
while you have been walking away 
Oh, just a little liquid courage and
Ooh, just a little powdered faith
And oh, you’ve been running out of patience
And me, I’ve just been dancing in place

Tell Me Again

Lyrics and vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

LYRICS
Don’t be shy
I already like you
Don’t care what you drive
I’m attracted to the IQ
Not my style to make the first move
Haven’t felt this type of way since maybe high school
Sealed with a kiss
Signed with an Epipen
You gotta tolerate some risk
If you wanna make a margin, wanna make a friend 
We could live a little larger
Split the dividends
 
Wheels up
Let’s go
Already missed too much
To take this thing too slow
I already like you
There’s no sure bet
You just ride, ride, ride roulette
And I like you
I already like you
 
It feels right
Because it’s true
Don’t have to try when
I’m with you
You’re not the type to bend a rule
But I’m your bullet
And the proof
 
This city can feel like a little town
Think a marathon’s on, way they’re running all their mouths
But let em talk,
Let em wear their selves out
My book stays open
I know ‘cause I wrote it
Fucked up the trust fall
Caught a concussion
Run it off, that ain’t nothing
But the cost
The cost of doing business  
And I can take a hit with the big kids
Back up off me and count your own fingers
 
Wheels up
Let’s go
I could be your bullet and the proof
Bullet and the proof
I already
I already like you

I Already Like You

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

LYRICS
I ran away young 
with a kite and a water gun 
looking for a fight
pretty quick to find some 
Hair tucked up in a Lakers cap
flip the lucky in a soft pack
smoked it last 
Walking down the yellow line
g’head write your traffic ticket
I thought I was hard as fuck  
I thought I was on a mission
Jump cut to the present day 
still got the same sharp tongue
same long face 

Pride 
is my problem
I know that’s right
but that don’t solve it

I don’t like favors
I don’t like debts I can’t repay
I don’t like making
anything less than my own way
What if I’m not ready

What if I’m not ready
for all that I’ve been waiting for
Hold it all against me 
push me through the only doorway
I’ve been here too long by now
and that’s how time runs out 

On the phone with a friend
says worry where you're going don’t worry where you’ve been
Sounds like he’s reaching out a hand 
are you reaching back to him
Maybe you’re too attached to your freedom
truth is you don’t let anybody in cuz you don’t like em leaving 

My pride 
is my problem
I know that’s right
but that don’t solve it

Hook

My battle cry 
just one last time
My signal fire 
this life of mine

My pride
is my problem
My battle cry
I don’t like favors 
I don’t like debts I can’t repay 
My signal fire
I don’t like making anything less than my own way
For all that I’ve been waiting for
What if I’m not ready

What If I'm Not Ready

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