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1. |
Chorus: Prelude
03:21
|
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Oh, Johnny is up to his tricks again—
worst thing you can do is let him in.
And he’s sellin' that snake oil medicine,
But nobody’s buyin’ to his chagrin.
But he’ll be gone
before he wins the fight.
It almost happened last night.
But he’ll find himself
somewhere else tonight, yes he will.
And he’ll start over in the morning light.
Saw him once long after we were grown.
He said "you can take my girl" after drinkin' alone.
And she smiled at me sadly 'cause she knew he was gone,
and I took my leave of them and soldiered on.
But he’ll be gone
before he wins the fight.
It’s almost happened
oh so many nights,
But he thinks he’s fine
‘cause after all there’s always morning light.
He was gone before he won the fight.
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2. |
John Now
06:23
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I stood right here
on this old street
a million years ago.
Hours passing by,
just killing time
‘til streetlights start to glow.
His elder man’s pipe
stained the walls—
his blackened fingertips
switched through the channels,
browsed the pages,
and kept that cherry lit.
The room inside
was our domain.
Old lady made the beds.
Now here he sits
not quite alive,
but also not quite dead.
———
The two of us
pose in a picture
hanging by the stairs.
Standing by that
old oak tree
now cut down for many years.
He’s unimpressed
though years have passed
since last he saw my face.
I’m taken back to see
him like this,
and back in this old place.
I try to get him talking,
but it’s clear
he won’t oblige.
I tell him I’ll come
back around
before I say goodbye.
———
I can’t just leave
and so I turn back,
then he lets it go.
His sorry luck
has led him here...
he’s never been so low.
By now he figured
he’d be gone
with everything he’s done.
Instead the tubes
and chair before me
ruined all his fun.
The days are years
and night’s a scoundrel,
passing by so fast.
The darkness is
the only thing that
ever seems to last.
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3. |
The Years Between
05:50
|
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Smokin’
by the tree line
Senior’s
stash my first time
Set in
walkin’ back
I just couldn’t
help but laugh.
Didn’t hang
around that much.
Somehow still
kept in touch.
Then we “grew up.”
— — —
Mama
stopped to say
Senior
had early lain.
Old man,
gone himself.
Johnny
was somewhere else.
No sign.
It was strange.
Never came
to scrounge for change.
But he was dazed.
— — —
Lady
on his arm.
Didn’t mean
to do her harm.
She would
prop him up.
‘Til she
had enough.
Kids and
mother gone.
Movin’ on
‘Cause he was gone.
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4. |
The Kids
04:23
|
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I can’t see the kids anymore.
I can’t even remember what for.
I’ve cried wolf so many times before
that they won’t even answer the door.
And the old man’s gone,
and his mama too.
And I don’t even think about you.
I can’t see the kids anymore.
——
I’m here in this room most days.
I can’t really go very far.
I might just have dug my own grave,
but there isn’t much life left to save.
Can’t remember what I did,
but I guess I get the gist.
Can’t they come around once more
with my life reduced to this?
I can’t see the kids anymore.
———
I feel like I’m wasting away.
Same old shit just another day.
Ain’t no goddamn good to pray,
but they tell me to anyway.
But enough about me,
how the hell have you been?
Sorry for the doom and gloom,
but I think I’m near the end.
I can’t see the kids anymore.
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5. |
Mice in the Basement
04:55
|
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Well there’s mice getting in the basement
So there’s mice getting in my dreams
And if I don’t get up and deal with ‘em
They’ll be chewing holes through my jeans.
But maybe they’re just a metaphor
for how I don’t really care anymore,
the mice getting in the basement
and getting into my dreams.
Well it’s getting to where it feels like
something’s pressing down on me,
but when I wrestle with my demons,
I can feel a great relief.
But maybe the pain is literal,
maybe I just don’t feel very well.
It’s getting to where it feels like
something’s pressing down on me.
The last of the bridge is burning
maybe tonight’s the night.
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6. |
Chorus: Interlude
01:44
|
|||
Well they thought he was up to his tricks again—
Pullin’ a con for medicine.
But he was hurtin and no one’s listenin’
so he shuffled off to the curb again.
And there he lay
until they realized
this wasn’t like the last time.
So they’ll fly him off
somewhere else tonight, oh yes they will.
And he’ll be broken in the morning light.
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7. |
||||
I’m falling apart
at the seams.
I’m driftin’ away
just like my dreams.
Fading like the day.
And I slept it away.
Nightmares in my head
and the dark’s the key.
Lost out in the wind
and it knocks me down.
Try getting back up
but I’m sinking down.
Tempted just to lay back,
but I can’t leave just like that.
Now falling awake,
comin’ back around.
— — —
I try to get up,
but I’m stuck in place,
blinded by the light
shining on my face.
The pressure is relieving,
but I can’t help believing
this was just a dream
in a nightmare’s place.
— — —
I’m falling apart
at the seams.
I’m driftin’ away
just like my dreams.
|
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8. |
Damage Done
03:33
|
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Damage done.
Now I’m finally come undone.
Damage done.
No more living days like the last ones.
Damage done.
End has finally begun.
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9. |
Chorus: Postlude
04:40
|
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Well Johnny gave up on livin’ then,
Waitin’ it out till it came for him,
oh...
And I never got back to see him again
‘fore I finally found out he’d given in
Oh...
He was gone
before he won the fight.
It finally happened one night.
When he finally slept,
his mother wept—
she’d barely said goodbye.
He was gone before the morning light.
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Alex Hall's Figurehead Ohio
Alex Hall's Figurehead is a guitar-driven, progressive rock band drawing from progressive mainstays and rock 'n' roll royalty. Now the front for the music of its sole member—Alex Hall—it features the first studio-specific project from the band, entitled "Johnny." With its classic and modern progressive rock fusion sound, the music is sure to captivate even the most discerning listeners. ... more
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