My present to The Bam Bams.  You're welcome.

You've been gone so long, where did you go? Whenever you play out, I'm at your show.  I asked if you'd be my cherry pie and you said no.  Bam Bam, Bam Bam, thank you Ma'am.  You don't start revolutions baby you keep them going on.  At least til the end of the night, and maybe into dawn.  When we finally fall to bed you keep the lights on.  Bam Bam, Bam Bam, thank you Ma'am.  We had a tickle party wearing wrestling masks.  We had a wrestling party dressed up like black cats.  It'll always be just you and me in case anyone asks...       -C. 2012 Mark Zimin

BUBBLE MACHINE GUN - "BAM BAM MA'AM"

another hand-held recorded masterpiece...

Father told me avoid the pretty boys, they'll just hurt you then make a lot of noise.  Daddy what do you know? What did you do?  Is this how it goes every time you love?  Daddy are you queer?  Are you queer for them?  Were you ever in love like me and Sandy?  Mother told me avoid the tough girls, they'll just confuse you and then up-end your world.  Mama, what do you know?  What did you do?  Is this how it goes every time you love?  Mama are you queer?  Are you queer for them?  Were you ever in love, like me and Sandy?  When we go to the movies you never want to sit close.  I try to hold your hand but you think it's a joke... Sandy aren't you queer?  Aren't you queer for me?  Oh my Sandy, be my baby.  In the heat of the summer I'll share my twin-pop.  You'll take any color that you can suck on...  Sandy aren't I queer?  Queer enough to love?  Oh my Sandy, be my baby.    -C. 2012  Mark Zimin

BUBBLE MACHINE GUN - "SANDY R U QUEER?"

I can still remember the day the first time that I saw your face: Two green eyes and chestnut hair, a quiet smile that was hardly there.  My friends ask why I still care, chasing a girl who was hardly there? Well I say you're just not around, but friends all just shake and frown.  I can't recall was it a dream? Too good to be what it seemed?  Well you did run away from me, but setbacks are temporary...   C. 2012 Mark Zimin

THE FINISH - CHESSIE'S THEME

old ship to shore it’s never enough: the signal’s dead so I’m shutting off 
you have my spirit if the words can’t convey: the love we have and the love we crave
10 o’clock and my car won’t start!  you’re in my thoughts and you have my heart
the way life is I may never get there, but tell me truly did we ever part?
ground control there’s a problem up here: I can’t get down and may never again
tell my true love to never fear: to go on home because I’m already there

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN

BUBBLE MACHINE GUN - "SPIRIT"

sharpen the scissors and cut the ties
and cut away ‘til I’m down to size
don’t we deserve separate lives?
I believe what you say
I believe in brand new days
I believe that we’ll never change
wait around ‘til I feel numb
sharpen the scissors ‘cause here I come
cut away everything that’s wrong

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN


BUBBLE MACHINE GUN - "CUTS"

Give me a ride baby
In your car
We'll drive for a few miles
We'll drive to the stars
We'll drive for a few miles, girl
We'll drive to the stars, not very far
Give me some blues, babe
Take my blues away
Give me some blues, baby
Drive my blues away
You take the reds, I'll take the whites
Firecracker lights
Yeah, Forth of July
In our sky
Give me some blues, baby
Drive my blues away
Get in the car and drive
Drive, drive, drive all day
You take the reds, I'll take the whites
Firecracker lights
Yeah, Forth of July!

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN

BUBBLE MACHINE GUN - "FOURTH OF JULY"

ten to six 
ten til dawn
I stretch my arms out
turn the radio on

I stay in bed
but I stay awake
my eyes burn 
and my body aches

national news
weather report
outside it’s raining
and I’m late for work

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN

THE FINISH - "NEW DAY"

you looked at her, she looked at you
you hold hands between classes at school
until the next week
you saw her kissing someone on the cheek

incorporated
separated, 
how can the one you love
be so hated?
some things sound stranger than they are
some things end better than they start

you liked her so you met her friends
you end up sleeping with one of them
while thinking of her
off with her boyfriend

engagement may, wedding june
it started quick and ended too soon
remind me again, 
when was the honeymoon?

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN

THE FINISH - "INCORPORATED"

we’re blessed and we’re cursed
we’re both straight and reversed
how could we be any worse
than we started?

we should’ve been sure
to be more mindful of words
that seem so absurd 
now we’ve parted

but just as I can do without
I find myself missing you
just when I begin to doubt
you say that we’re not through

til death do we part 
doesn’t seem very smart
but to know know us
is to like us

we fight and we curse
could it get any worse?
than our friendship which
seems so uninvited

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN

THE FINISH - "WE LOVE YOU"

I pass town after town
as the sun goes down
the train rolls on
through the witching hour
drift the moon and stars
in and out of my car
until I get home

since the break of day
I’ve been heading your way
shaking off the cold
down familiar roads
surrounded by song
as I walk along
the birds say:

Why are you even out here?
When we told you to go home!
the one who dearly loves you 
well, she’s waiting all alone

I walk from store to store
down the boulevard
thinking so hard
about what I’m about
a face in the crowd 
a baby’s breath in the clouds
until I get home

I walk past hallways and doors
the upstairs floors
thinking about words
‘til the witching hour
when smoke from your mouth
drifts through the house
I know you’re home

C. 2012 MARK ZIMIN

THE FINISH -"COMING HOME"

A dedicated addict of lo-fi... Bubble Machine Gun comes to you from the 2nd floor of an old Baltimore house.  Somewhere between 2-4 chords there's a song thats been written for you.  Favorite equipment: Harmony Rocket, Ampeg Gemini II, Hofner Senator, Vox Bossman, Silvertone Twin-Twelve, analog delays, reverb & tremelo & tambourine.

THE FINISH 
(Baltimore 2005-2010) 
the low-fi pop trio of Mark Zimin (guitar) Andrew Histand (cello) Ryan Sterner (drums)
recorded at home & at Lord Baltimore