1. |
WHITE NOISE
04:05
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WHITE NOISE
I WANT A BABBLING BROOK INSIDE MY DREAMS!
OH PLEASE, DEAR MORPHEUS, DIVERT IT TO ME
THAT I MIGHT BE LULLED TO SLEEP
VS.1
GIVE ME THE SOUNDS OF THE BEACH THAT I CAN’T AFFORD
LET ME HEAR THE FREEDOM THAT I AM WORKING TOWARD/FOR
CHORUS:
AND WHAT IF I HEAR THE PATTERN REPEAT
WHAT IF THE WOOD GRAIN PRINT SMILES BACK AT ME
WHAT IF ALL THE SONGBIRDS REFUSE TO SING
WHAT IF I CRY WOLF INSTEAD OF COUNTING SHEEP
VS.2
GIVE ME A NOISE THAT WILL BLEACH WHAT I CANT IGNORE
I WANT THAT DUMB HUM TO NUMB ME TIL I SLUMBER AND SNORE
VS.3
PLAY ME THE SOUNDS OF THE SEA, SO FAR FROM THE SHORE
LET ME SLEEP NEATH THE WAVES, FOREVER DEAF TO THE ROAR
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2. |
MISS AMERICA
04:26
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3. |
LIVING THE DREAM
03:56
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LIVIN’ THA DREAM
I guess it makes sense That I wasn’t awake
The whole time I was Living the Dream
Lately I’m not Living in my dreams
Dreams were the Reason but now they are a chore
Now they don’t seem feasable,
That is not unreasonable
For a dream, In fact it is required
I’m like a red tailed hawk With my beak into the wind
Riding those highs and pulling out of the lows
Onward and Upward Forward without flapping
A better view of the future I have no defenses for
I’m talking bout horizons
Seeing stars and feeling fine man
Heavier than air; It’s quite a thing to fly
A dark block away, It looks to be snowing
But the flakes don’t fall They Fly
Must be bugs looking for Salvation under a street light
And I guess it makes sense, that I wasn’t awake
The Whole time I was living the dream
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4. |
NO HIDING PLACE
04:55
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Listen and the City will Tell You, Watch as they push us away
Out to some slice of Heaven, Knows where, and 1 8 3
Some slanted strip of No mans land where they welcome machines
Machines don’t care if you’re happy to see them, I wish they did cause I’m not and I will leave
Well I run to the Rock just to hide my face but the Rock cried out, no hiding place
THERE’S NO HIDING PLACE DOWN HERE
You can wipe us from the gutter, Shovel us onto a bus
Dump us out, past the place, where it’s too late and no point, in return
Then you’ll be so fresh and safe I hope you never escape
And we’ll live til we die, Beyond these lights, Cause there’s no hiding place
Well I run to the bridge just to find a place but the trucks slung mud, No Hiding Place
THERE’S NO HIDING PLACE DOWN HERE
I keep to myself, and I keep it weird, but it sure feels like they don’t want me here
I’m Somebody’s baby, I ran away and joined the Navy,
I Never was a fighter but Im fighting for my life
I have my demons and my vices, just like every guy
But you can take yours home and I have nowhere for mine to hide
So Look At Me! Right In The Eyes! And tell there’s nowhere for me to reside
WELL I RUN FROM THE COPS TO SAVE MY FACE, LOUDSPEAKER SPOKE LOUD:
NO HIDING PLACE! THERE’S NO HIDING PLACE DOWN HERE!
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5. |
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MECHANICAL BULL SHIT ( A# Mind)
It must’ve hailed waves of granite razorblades
It must’ve rained red oil based paint til the streets shone
and the green of the trees faded
Well I made my mark, I burned down a few bar(ns),
I scrapped shiplap, turned around and sold it back,
to the folks who don’t smoke they just like the smell in their clothes
WE Rode the Mechanical Bull Shit Wave for over a decade
Our crystal towers, trophies to a time that never quite came
The boom in this town never got a noise complaint,
And we complained, we complained
Greedy for the good times, We could’ve been a franchise,
They’ll never notice from their high-rise,
Lifestyles of the rich in Texas, its an expensive Pez dispenser
Better eat up, as you eat up,
all the ways we made to make a wage
to escape this shit in the first place
Most of Us Rode the Mechanical Bull Shit Wave for OVER A decade….
In no time at all, the Salt of the Earth, Dissolves
Newspaper screams from the front page. folds up and throws it self away
Crumpled up, like a tumbleweed, washed away by the wind, Blowing in
From the places we are going. (reimagining, rejuvenating, revitalizing,
revolting,yes! but not evolving)
Too Soon To Tell What Part Of Hell
And How far can ya get, On a nickel you spent,
waiting in line when you couldn’t pay rent, Just to RIDE The Mechanical Bull Shit Wave
COME AND TAKE IT; CAME AND TOOK IT.
WHILE WE WERN’T LOOKIN’, NOW THIS FLAG IS BUT A BOOKEND,
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6. |
STICK IT TO THE MAN STAN
03:18
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STICK IT TO THE MAN, STAN COPYRIGHT BEN BALLINGER - 2015
1. STARDUST AND DIRT, SKINCELLS AND BLOOD,
TIMBER AND BRICKS, COTTON CORN AND RUST,
AMERICA WAS MADE OF THIS STUFF
2. MY GRANDPA PAID HIS DUES, MY FATHER PAID THEM TOO,
I SEE WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND I SEE HOW IT IS USED,
AND I WANT THE MAN TO KNOW THAT I REFUSE
3. WELL THE JOBS I’VE HAD JUST GETTIN’ BY
WOULDA BROKE THE MAN'S BACK OPEN HIS EYES
I DIDN'T CHEAT OR STEAL TO EARN MY KEEP,
I DIDN'T BEG OR BORROW OR LIE
AND THE MAN HASN'T WORKED AND HONEST DAY IN HIS LIFE
(I WORKED FOR A LIVING, I FUCKING WORKED OUTSIDE)
CHORUS:
SO ROUST THE RABBLE ROUSERS,
WEAR YOUR FAVORITE DIRTY TROUSERS,
WEAR A WIG AND BRING A LIGHTER,
ALL YOUR REAL FRIENDS PLAY WITH FIRE
STICK IT TO THE MAN STAN, STICK IT TO THE MAN x2
OUR’S WILL BE THE SHIT THAT HITS HIS FAN
STICK IT TO THE MAN STAN, STICK IT TO THE MAN
4. THIS TIME I'M VOTING WITH MY FEET , GONNA MARCH UNTIL I'M FREE,
THERE ARE SOME TRUTHS I HOLD TO BE SELF EVIDENT TO YOU AND ME,
OR AT LEAST IN THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON DC
5. SO OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS, ITS NOT ABOUT LEFT AND RIGHT,
WHOEVER'S LEFT MUST DO WHAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE ALL HUMAN HAVE SOME PRIDE, LETS ALL JOIN UP AND GIVE THE MAN A FIGHT
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7. |
A MODEST PETITION
03:59
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A MODEST PETITION
COME ON BEZOS! WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
That the other richest man in the world will fund a private rocket shaped like his privates and beat you in the space race? What a shame. Your life must be so lame.
I’d love to see your shiny face, as a satellite, reflecting from space.
I hope the launch goes well, I hope nobody gets hurt, I JUST HOPE THAT YOU LOSE REVERSE
If I had the wealth you do, I’d buy the whole world lunch, new shoes and a roof.
Your brother seems ok, why not let him stay,
and for the sake of Humanity, Take Tucker and Hannity.
Go big and don’t come home. Why don’t you go to the moon? I hope you overshoot.
Then you and the two douches can be the first dudes on Neptune. with no food. boo hoo.
COME ON BEZOS! WHAT! ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
I HOPE THE LAUNCH GOES WELL, I HOPE NOBODY GETS HURT,
I JUST HOPE THAT YOU LOSE REVERSE!
I hope you have 9 months of supplies, I want y’all to have time, to reflect on your life,
Before you start eyeing each others thighs. I say don’t each the rich, just give it time,
You know in space there ain’t no Amazon Prime!
COME ON BEZOS! WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
I HOPE THE LAUNCH GOES WELL. I HOPE NOBODY GETS HURT.
I JUST PRAY THAT YOU LOSE REVERSE. I JUST PRAY THAT YOU LOSE REVERSE.
Outro:
Hello You’ve reached the customer service hotline for earth. If you are calling to make a return please press one. If you are calling about a refund please press two. If your name is Jeff and you are a greedy asshole trying to return from space, please press any number you want cause it won’t matter. You are up Shits Solar System without the respect of the people. The people that make your paddles.
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8. |
KEEPER OF THE KEY
04:23
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Chorus/Intro
G c b a G D/F# G
You lived a real full life on your first try, You were the keeper of the key
G c b a G D/F# G
A kick in the pants of the clown at the dance, spiking the punch with your own poetry
C D/F# G
We were hopeful soldiers, headed for greener pastures
D D/F# G
On a floating ferris wheel lined with Astroturf
G c b a G D/F# G
1) Now you’re not around, They tell me you’re gone, and all I can ask is Where?
Must it be me again, asking for proof, I think it’s all just fake news
D/F# G D/F# G
We’re gonna turn this peach around; Dance in the air and kiss the ground
C D/F# G
He had diamonds on the souls of his Bowling Shoes
D D/F# G
Smarter than the smartest bear that there ever was anywhere, Ever.
G c b a G D/F# G
2) Quickly a kindred spirit to me, but I was special to him,
D/F# G D/F# G
Just like everyone he met; And now all of us are Blessed
C D/F# G
He must have been done here, No one could keep up
D D/F# G
I know that he’s somewhere, spreading the greatest love
(Breakdown Waltz)
G c b a G D/F# G
You taught me to look over the falls and then pushed me to my death
A joke for a smoke and now all I have left is twice the cigarettes
G G C B A G
3) And I ask you! Who?! Who is worse off
D/F# G
And what do I do now that you’ve left?
C D/F# G
There is one less monkey jumping on the bed
D D/F# G
One man flew the coop above the rest
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9. |
CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
06:28
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CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
NOTHING TO OPEN, NOTHING TO CLOSE
NOTHING THAT NOBODY DON’T ALREADY KNOW
I’VE GOT NOBODY AND NOBODY KNOWS
NOTHING TO OPEN AND NOTHING TO CLOSE
NO INVITATION, NO WAY TO ATTEND
AND NO WAY TO GET THERE AND NO MEANS TO AN END
I NEVER EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ANYWHERE
I AM TOO RECKLESS AND TOO HELPLESS TO CARE
PLEASE TELL MY MOTHER I’LL BE BACK IN THE FALL
DON’T TELL HER I AM GONE
FOR GOOD, FOR BAD, FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL
I’VE GOT NO DIRECTION, NO PLANS TO SUCCEED
A HALF LIFE OF KNICK KNACKS I CAN’T SEEM TO LEAVE
I CAN’T REMEMBER IF I WAS EVER WELL
IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENDING AND I NEVER CAN TELL
NOTHING IS OPEN, NO BAR DOWN THE BLOCK
AND NO ONE TO DRINK WITH THAT AIN’T ALREADY SLOSHED
THE MORNING IS MARCHING, I’M PLUGGING MY EARS
TODAY IS A DAY AND THEN IT’S A YEAR
I’VE GOT NO DIRECTION, NO PLANS TO SUCCEED
A HALF LIFE OF KNICK KNACKS I CAN’T SEEM TO LEAVE
I CAN’T REMEMBER IF I WAS EVER WELL
WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENDING, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENDING,
IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENDING AND I NEVER CAN TELL
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10. |
DISINTEGRATION SYMPHONY
05:09
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DISINTEGRATION SYMPHONY
Chaos will billow, Blind and slow
Displace the air and Erase the foothold
Destroy the fruit, Rejoice in the juice
You want all of the sweet, Without having to chew
Every ending has a story, A tangled thread we weave
Stop praying for the credits, Suspend your disbelief
IF I FALL SOMEDAY, LET IT BE,
LET IT BE, WITH AMA- ZING - GRACE
LOOK at US Filming Ourselves, FILMING OURSELVES
Another movement in the Disintegration Symphony
Ya better buy a brighter bulb, that’ll never burn out
You got a closet of flammable candles, That We’d love to throw out
And the sun doesn’t shine, When you need to see
But it Beams thru the shades, When You’re trying to sleep
Al-ways stan-ding around, Al-ways Sta-ring down
Trying to stand up for your friends And out from the Crowd
BUT YOUR BRAIN IS DYING IN YOUR HANDS,
YOUR THOUGHTS….ARE BURIED IN THE CLOUD
Some Bright Day, the curtain crumbles
Giving up the ghost in the machine
Into the eyes of innocence, Disintegrating
Great plains of half men, Leagues of sad Ladies, and their babies
All stumbling in the dark, Til they decide to sing
The roars of joy, And the cries of pain
They all ring out, In the peoples key
STILL HUNTING FOR THE HAR - MONY,
BIG HEARTS…. AND TERRIBLE MEMORIES
So we Film ourselves, FiGHTING Ourselves,
Another way to forget that we’ve learned no less-ons yet
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11. |
WATER AND OIL
04:15
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WATER AND OIL
We are Born with a brain What a Lion to tame
With a mind of its own and a head for a cage
Better feed that machine, For it holds all your dreams
What a time to be alive, What will you do? With your life?
CHORUS
Get outta your head and look around and down at the ground
See the weeds and seeds and plant your feet in the fertile soil
And we’ll all be filthy rich, Living it up on this spaceship
Yeah we’ll all be filthy rich, Living it up on this spaceship….(Earth)
VS 2
A few famines and bad actors,
Our good times and our bad habits
We fight like jackals, and breed like a virus
What a time to be alive, What will you do? With your life?
Get outta your head and look around and down at the earth
See the weeds and seeds and plant your feet in the fertile soil
And we’ll all be filthy rich, Living it up on this spaceship
Yeah we’ll all be filthy rich, Living up on this spaceship
I see Monstrous Moonshine and Mother Goose rhymes
Our universe , tuned so fine
Everywhere a Garden, Every shade of green, This mess of milky stars spilled and spun into you and me….
What a time to be alive, What will you do, With your life
Get outta your head and look around and down at the earth
See the weeds and seeds and plant your feet in the fertile soil
And we’ll all be filthy rich, Living it up on this spaceship
Yeah we’ll all be filthy rich, Living up on this spaceship
Yeah we’ll all be filthy rich, Living it up on this spaceship….Earth
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12. |
CHANGE THE EMBRACE
03:45
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CHANGE THE EMBRACE
I REALIZED TODAY I HAVEN’T HAD A HUG IN A MONTH
I NEVER THOUGHT IT’D BE SOMETHING TO THINK OF
AND IT MAKES ME MISS THE PEOPLE I LOVE
I CAN REMEMBER VERY WELL THE LAST ONE I HAD
IT WAS A BIG OLD BROTHERLY BEAR HUG
FROM MY COURAGEOUS DEAR FRIEND ADAM
I THINK OF THE NURSES AND DOCTORS
WHO CAN’T HUG THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS,
WHO ARE WORKED TO THE BONE AND DRAINED OF THE SOUL
AND COME HOME AND HAVE TO EAT AND SLEEP ALONE
I THINK OF ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE HOMELESS
WHOM WE’VE ALWAYS TREATED LIKE A VIRUS
I HOPE WE’RE NOT TOO AFRAID OR ASHAMED
TO EMPATHIZE AND MODIFY OUR KINDNESS
NOW IT’S ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT
TO WAVE AT NEIGHBORS WHEN YA PASS EM
TO SMILE WITH YOUR EYES IF YOU’RE WEARING A MASK
AND PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR VOICE IF YOU GET THE CHANCE
IT SHOULDN’T BE NEWS THAT WE
HUMANS WORK BEST AS A COLLECTIVE
AND NESSESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF CONNECTION
AND I INTEND THIS SONG TO SHARE THAT SENTIMENT
I HOPE THAT SOON WE WILL BE BETTER
SO WE ALL CAN GET BACK TOGETHER
I HOPE OUR LIVES GET SLOWER AND WISER
I HOPE OUR HEARTS GET BOLDER AND KINDER
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Ben Ballinger Austin, Texas
Ben Ballinger makes roots music with an uncommon emotional depth and songwriting mastery. A balladeer in the truest sense, Ballinger is a craftsman, building fine-tuned melodies out of roughhewn passions. After digging deep into the Austin, Texas scene for the past few years, Ballinger stands out among the pack of would-be Country soulmen with an undeniably genuine, and original delivery. ... more
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