1. |
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the dark cloud is a hunter
waiting to unload
memories pierce the fog
like a switchblade at your throat
hear the reflection in the mirror
whisper there are no secrets here
the dark hides the sting
of every feeling left unsaid
feeling like a soap bubble
trapped in a summer spider web
the crows in the road show no fear
they know there are no secrets here
hold your breath and you will find
you can’t suffocate that fear out of your mind
been driving all night, looking for you baby
I've been drinkin all night, I wish you were here
watchmen of the blood moon
thin like a cigarette
you sing about your demons
but you don’t sound possessed
well I don’t believe you, you’re not sincere
and we know there no secrets here
the granite and the greenery
another season in the sod
the angels rattle on and on
while the devil pick pockets God
and wilted blossoms exhale despair
and they prove there are no secrets here
hold your breath and you will find
you can’t suffocate that fear out of your mind
been driving all night, looking for you baby
I've been drinkin all night, I wish you were here
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2. |
Come On Angels!
02:53
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You don’t have to worry about nothin’
when nothin’s all your ever gonna amount to
my pockets were empty and on fumes I was runnin’
runnin’ down those dotted white lines to you
because I wanna be more tonight
than just background noise in my own life
So come on Angel
and pour the whiskey
come on Angel
sing it with me tonight
My head was a school bell that was constantly ringing
we slid off the bus in Baltimore
steel eyed and determined to pick up where we parted
as peanut shells on the bar room floor
were gonna crawl that neon mile
until the crack of the cue ball breaks your cemetery smile
So come on Angel
and pour the whiskey
come on Angel
sing it with me tonight
your call for surrender’s an empty prayer
well, I must be out of practice ‘cause I’ve forgotten how to care
So come on Angel
and pour the whiskey
come on Angel
sing it with me tonight
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3. |
Cold and Bitter Tears
02:09
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Wondering why you left me
After all I've tried to do
You know I miss you baby
And the children miss you too
Tonight we done the dishes
Just to keep your memory clear
I cooled the hot dishwater
With my cold and bitter tears
The words which I've just spoken
Is the truth, I swear to God
I'm sorry if I hurt you
Sometimes I'm nervous, I work so hard
I still love you, my darling
But we're lost without you here
I cooled the hot dishwater
With my cold and bitter tears
It's wintertime already
Christmas will be here soon
It'll be a sad, sad occasion
If you're not in the dining room
I hate to do the dishes
And I know the reason why
Putting on your apron
Makes me want to cry
To keep our home together
I done the best I could
Your true reason for leaving
Honey, I never understood
I still love you my darlin'
But the children want you here
I cool the hot dishwater
With my cold and bitter tears
I cool the hot dishwater
With my cold and bitter tears
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4. |
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like the darkness gives in to the dawn
and the carcass surrenders to the ground
or the silence begs mercy from the sound
I stand before you with my arms laid down
for your forgiveness soaked in gasoline,
I took the long way home and dropped back into town
to pay my respects to our haunted battle ground
under the spell of those whispering bells
the ghosts of 7th street, the secrets they’d tell
about our bodies and the distance in between,
shining machete among the lillies of the rain
they flocked to you like moths to a flame
your heart was broken, my was tied up in your chains
nocturnal animals seeking refuge from the rain
in the pages of some dirty magazine
but who could ever see through
your little smoke and mirror shrine
from your side of the finishing line
so like the darkness gives in to the dawn
and the carcass surrenders to the ground
or the silence begs mercy from the sound
I stand before you with my arms laid down
for your forgiveness soaked in gasoline,
but who could ever see through
your little smoke and mirror shrine
from your side of the finishing line
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5. |
For Every Setting Sun
05:07
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everybody’s lost on their own road
trying to lose whatever baggage they can unload
their thumbs are out in the hot sun, and everybody’s looking to catch one
but you won’t find love within asphalt and bone
maybe Jane was just listening to the rain
dance along that greyhound window pane
when somewhere along I-95, the sigh in her lungs met the tear in her eye
as she rubbed her hand where your ring used to be
but she keeps shining on, just like every setting sun
keep shining on, just like every setting sun
our days are numbered and these nights keep raging on
but keep shining on, just like every setting sun
an umbrella thrown forms a cross with the yellow line
torn pages float over windshields into the sky
the silence sounds it’s own alarm, like stretcher waiting with open arms,
until the flashing lights break the night open wide
but keep shining on, just like every setting sun
keep shining on, just like every setting sun
our days are numbered and these nights keep raging on
but keep shining on, just like every setting sun
some men tread water and some just drown
some never leave the shore at all
but come hell or high water, when they lower me down
I’ll be smiling with wide open arms
but the heavens rarely offer any sign
or relief from these anxieties of our time
but go tilt your head up to the stars and you'll fail to make sense of this life of ours
maybe it’s better to drop than rot on the vine
but keep shining on, just like every setting sun
keep shining on, just like every setting sun
our days are numbered and these nights keep raging on
but keep shining on, just like every setting sun
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6. |
June (90 degrees)
06:29
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I don’t wanna be tied down - the only difference I see
between a leash and a noose is just 90 degrees.
now we all got our demons, but when the spirit took command
he danced with the serpent, holding death within his hands
he was a born again sinner, the congregation was his rock
but the shame of the shepherd is the stray of the flock
and at the Moon Winx Lodge, he saw them with his own eyes
a leaf reveals it’s true color only days before it dies
he was fresh from the county on that Alabama night
he turned a new leaf, it was love at first light
he found comfort in her arms, on those winter afternoons
and with his grandmother’s ring, they were married in June
but jealousy burns like venom over time
when power over death is just a trick of the mind
June, June, my June
Not you, no no not you Juney Juney
My June, no no not you
My June
songs of the serpent chase the meek from the well
he said “belief in the Devil’s just an easier sell”
he returned to the pulpit, took a swig of strycnine
repeated Mark 16 the verse 18 line
headlights in the window, poured another round
the shed remained silent save the rattling sound
Wiped down his pistol, with a prayer for mankind
you know it must get lonely being Jesus sometimes
well he drew back of his hand and he called her whore
blood filled her mouth and she ran for door
grabbed her by the wrist, threw her hand in the cage
dragged a pipe along the edge, whip the serpent into rage
flames tossing embers, playing catch in the breeze
while another fallen angel lies drowning in the weeds
June, June, my June
Not you, no no not you Juney Juney
My June, no no not you
My June
parasites dance along the hoof of the hog
and the stench of gunpowder penetrates the morning fog
diamonds on it's back, she screamed out his name
the rush of the venom against the Pentecostal flame
the room began spinning, he fell to his knees
the clap of the thunder shook him from his reverie
when the cops found her crawling out on Lee Highway
the blood of the shepherd marked the one that got away
The one that got away was
June, June, my June
Not you, no no not you Juney Juney
My June, no no not you
My June
to be the glass of a mirror is the ultimate disguise
a leaf reveals it’s true color only days before it dies
a leaf reveals it’s true color only days before it dies
a leaf reveals it’s true color only days before it dies
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7. |
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I never wanted you to tell me I was crazy
I never wanted you to tell me I was wrong
I never wanted youto look so beautifully lazy
I never wanted you to pack up and move home
but I’ve got mileage on my side
and your legs won’t catch no ride
and to swim is suicide
so why not just give in this time?
and these folks across the street
dissect the nights they heard us weep
they keep their gossip on the cheap
why not just give in this time?
I never wanted you to become terminally bitter
I never wanted you to loose all your lucky charms
I never wanted you to be the superstitious sister
I never wanted you to feel so vacant in my arms
but I’ve got no where left to hide
and these friends just wonder why
I’m always last to take your side
so why not just give in this time?
take that long walk into town
turn their heads then turn around
put your brains back in your crown
why not just give in this time?
I never wanted you to tell me I was crazy
I never wanted you to tell me I was wrong
I never wanted you to look so beautifully lazy
I never wanted you to pack up and move home
but these memories of mine
are just a nite-lite in my mind
for all this sleep I left behind
why not just give in this time?
I know you’re still sore
‘cause the frying pans through the kitchen door
but take it on the chin just once more
why not just give in this time?
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8. |
Better Hold Tight
03:44
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you better hold tight
for the winds of change will call
and the gale that howls in the night
will spare no one at all
so I left the comfort of your arms
to go riding on this train
rumbling past the weathered shacks
along America’s veins
as your call for forgiveness
hung unanswered in the dawn
darlin’ you know I’m not that strong
the casket and the mints
the sky was swollen and bruised
I tucked myself into a corner
with the lonely and accused
where I’m forced to remember
every night on Lafayette
the violence of his words
the air was stale with his sweat
and the sting of a confession
and the discharge of one round
I hope you're somewhere sleeping safe and sound
trains don’t get lost rolling down the track
but you disappeared whenever I looked back
now I’m left trying to slow dance with your memory
I watched her fingers as they ran
along the ice that had formed
on that rusted iron railing
behind the funeral home
and things never were the same
on our twisted carousel
It was never really us vs them
only you against yourself
And I’m guilty of enjoying
the taste of licking my own wounds
I hope we get to New Orleans soon
trains don’t get lost rolling down the track
but you disappeared whenever I looked back
now I’m left to slow dance with your memory
so you better hold tight
for the winds of change will call
and the gale that howls in the night
will spare no one at all
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9. |
Angeline
04:27
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"take this advice - throw some salt upon the grave
and just move on son - there’s no one here worth trying to save"
a slap of lightning and love has cursed this still born child
lost and wounded, I crawled into the night to the church bells chimes
'cause I heard a rumor about a waitress across town
who sees your future in the ten cards that she lays down
and if you fail to understand the signs
just slide inside her booth, she’ll activate your mind
‘cause Angeline, Angeline sees everything
retired angel, she hides her face behind her hair
and her silvered fingers dance like knives along the air
she lays the cards down until they form a celtic cross
"ignore the garden ‘cause nothing grows when a seed is lost"
the red light flickers and the hangman appears first
to the repeating cannonade, the chariots reverse
‘cause Angeline, Angeline sees everything
the radio crackles “there’s no moonlight at all”
and the heavens answer “there’s no moonlight at all”
“take devil’s shoestring, tie it nine times in all...”
this was the night I was born
this was the night I was...
the red light flickers and the hangman appears first
to the repeating cannonade, the chariots reverse
‘cause Angeline, Angeline sees everything
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10. |
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snuff out the melting candle
keep the photo, leave the frame
‘cause when it comes to missing people
you know we all disappear the same
but if you’re feeling all alone
why don't you bring it back home?
You know you’ve got it all
so what are you looking for?
bare feet slipping on the wet grass
swayin’ to the rythmn of a DJs tune
went stumbling through the vineyard
just soak in the midnight moon
desire in the scent of jasmine
her flesh soft like caramel
then unzipping her creation
counted the ashes as they fell
but if you’re feeling all alone
why don't you bring it back home?
You know you’ve got it all
so what are you looking for?
in the pull of the brake drum
or voices under piles of dead leaves
that disappear like embattled phantoms
chasing whispers on the breeze
but if you’re feeling all alone
why don't you bring it back home?
You know you’ve got it all
so what are you looking for?
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Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
From Philadelphia, PA, Mighty Joe Castro & the Gravamen is the latest musical project from accomplished collage artist & musician Mighty Joe Castro (ex-The Situation). Heavily influenced by rockabilly, '50s rock-n-roll & doo-wop, the band updates that vintage rock-n-roll sound with a modern lyrical approach & a healthy dose of post-modern guitar effects. Think Sun Records meets Creation Records. ... more
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