1. |
Rock & Roll Call
03:01
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[Verse 1]
Well, you’re dancing on a sinking ship
You nod the head that people said you should be thinking with
You shake the body that you’re probably working to the bone
You move the feet you’re always keeping in the danger zone
‘Cause, baby:
It’s all whatever when it’s said and done
You either live or wait for moments that may never come
If they don’t feel it, let ‘em be and sing along with me
We’ll keep it rolling ‘til we’re soaking in the shining sea
[Hook]
This is a rock & roll call for all my folks stuck in a new world spinning out of control
A bunch of old souls that just won’t fold
And that’s... and that’s… and that’s set in stone
[Verse 2]
Well, we’re living in a no man’s land
The time is sinking, sinking, sinking into the sand
The people going crazy, tryina’ get what they can
But we keep stickin’, stickin’, stickin’ right to the plan
Now tell me:
[Bridge]
Can you feel it in the big city?
Can you feel it on down-home?
Can everybody on the top feel it?
Can you feel it on the ground floor?
Can you feel it in the big city?
Can you feel it on down-home?
Can everybody on the top feel it?
Can you feel it on the ground floor?
[Verse 3]
Well, I’m singing for those people now
I know you’re tired of getting up for them beat you down
I know you’re feeling blue, your eyes are red, the sky is grey
I know you’re sinking but you’re dancing through it anyway
‘Cause, baby:
It’s all whatever when it’s said and done
You either live or wait for moments that may never come
If they don’t feel it, let ‘em be and sing along with me
We’ll keep it rolling ‘til we’re soaking in the shining sea
[Hook]
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2. |
Will It Play In Peoria?
03:23
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[Hook]
You are on my mind… everywhere I go…
All these things I’ve done… just so I could hope…
That I made you proud… oh, my home, sweet home…
I wanna play… I’m gonna play… I gotta play… I gotta play… in Peoria...
[Verse 1]
‘Cause ever since… way back… down at St. Francis where I got my name at..
I’ve found love that I gotta return
I gotta make good on the stuff I learned
Starting at Valeska, way before the pressure... you made sure I always gave an effort
The smart kid, yeah, there I was
Slipping on the playground ‘front of my first love
On the wintertime ice that we know so well; they thought it was a gag when I fell
Simple times; me and Rahmell
At five years old, man, you couldn’t tell me one day things would just up and change; Discovery Zone would turn into a bank
And Northwoods Mall would get the nickname of "the old mall" once the new mall came, but that’s life
[Bridge]
I reckon so… but I know this town… and I know it’s soul…
So time can pass… through young and old…
What stays the same… are streets of gold…
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
‘Cause I cannot… ever forget… coming into town across that bridge
Red brick buildings in the Harrison showed
And right across from it, my grandma’s home
Rest in peace, and one day, please, send down a little luck for the Par-A-Dice boat
Man, I wanted to be a Richwoods Knight
Instead, I had to wear dress shoes and tie, and that’s life
Like how I had to move away at 14
All the way in Cali, crying into my sheets, just praying I would have a P-Town dream
Of summer nights, fireflies, lighting up the dark
Or old field trips to Glen Oak Park
Or one day coming back to bring a concert to the Civic Center, where I’d sing:
[Hook]
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3. |
Feel It Out
03:35
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[Hook]
Hey, now, you gotta feel it out
You gotta feel it out
You gotta feel it out
Well, now, you gotta feel it out
You gotta feel it out
You gotta feel it out
[Verse 1]
Okay, now, you’re lost in the jungle
Concrete and lights, where can you run to?
Get a slice and a pop, and you sit down
Thinking “What a thin thing for a big town!”
But stuff was getting deep where you came from
Had to leave, so you left, now it’s day one
In a new world; you’re on a new tack
Got a new plan; you’re gonna do that
But this is where you’re stuck in motion
Don't know where to start, you can't focus
Train passing, sounding like thunder
Skyscrapers fill you with wonder
Saying one day, you'll be on the top floor
You'll be lucky if they even let you mop floors
Took your leap of faith, you're in mid-air
Wishing you had a second to just sit there
[Bridge]
‘Cause now you're moving so much faster than before
And there's no one there to tell you how it's all supposed to go
Well, here's some game if it ever was told
Pal, I been around the block, so there's one thing I know:
[Hook]
[Breakdown]
Ain't no one way, you gotta feel it
It's all up to you, you gotta feel it
Ain't no one way, you gotta feel it
It's all up to you, you gotta feel it
[Verse 2]
But this where you almost lost it
Your apartment’s smaller than a closet
New job, but they're paying you chump change
Got robbed last week on the subway
Can't find a friend, you're so lonely
Night five of Kraft macaroni
Naw, you won't tap out and go home
But, man, how much longer can you hold on?
[Bridge]
[Hook]
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4. |
Boulevard
03:25
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[Verse 1]
They’re at your window, telling stories that could win Pulitzers
(You’re on the boulevard, boulevard, boulevard)
You give ‘em $5 and hope they don’t run off and buy some liquor
(You’re on the boulevard, boulevard, boulevard)
But who could blame ‘em, man, it’s getting harder every day
It ain’t no different than you clutching on your IPA
‘Cause everybody’s just a moment from a roof of clouds
‘Cause everybody’s just a second from it falling down
[Hook]
And it ain’t no hiding that
In the place where it’s all colliding at
Where the black and the white both fade to grey
And the world gets right up in ya’ face
No, it ain’t no hiding that
In the place where it’s all colliding at
Where the black and the white both fade to grey
And the world gets right up in ya’ face
[Verse 2]
The youth are up in arms, fed up with the way it is
(You’re on the boulevard, boulevard, boulevard)
The elders roll their eyes, they ain’t tryina’ hear no kids
(You’re on the boulevard, boulevard, boulevard)
The kids got answers ‘cause they cannot see what’s coming up
They’re gonna find out life is waiting with an uppercut
The elders question if they’re weak and just wanna complain
I think they’re scared to death the world they knew is not the same
[Hook]
[Verse 3]
You’re walking with him and you stop and share a pair of kisses
(You’re on the boulevard, boulevard, boulevard)
Now they’re starting mess ‘cause they don’t wanna mind their business
(You’re on the boulevard, boulevard, boulevard)
And you’re so angry that they just won’t let you be in love
And they’re so angry ‘cause of how they think it should be done
And I’m so angry ‘cause I’m walking and y’all in the way
And straight up, wake up, man, it’s 2020: people gay
[Hook]
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5. |
Looking For A Reason
04:03
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[Verse 1]
Got the coffee on the table... pancakes with the maple...
But there must be more
Working down on Jackson... you pay the bills and the taxes...
But there must be more
People say you look decent
"Take it easy, just breathe in"
But there must be more
Everything's so uniform
But there's nothing that you adore
So there must be more
There must be
There must be
There must be
[Hook]
Oh, oh, oh...
You're looking for a reason
You can't shake it, ‘cause:
Oh, oh, oh…
You're looking for a reason
[Verse 2]
Got the trophy in the glass case... they never catch you with a sad face
But there must be more
Loved all through the nation... you've got a fine reputation
But there must be more
Something saying you should calm down
Live it up; you got it all now
But there must be more
‘Cause there’s something ever louder... saying you ain't got the power...
So there must be more
There must be
There must be
There must be
[Hook]
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6. |
Seventeen
04:42
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[Verse 1]
You were at our same ol’ place
I was at the Pere Marquette downtown
All the times we joked about how that's a dead scene
Now, these days, it's the only place I'm found
[Hook]
Yeah, I'm in with a new crowd
But you know it's not my speed
Put me back in your green Toyota
Yeah, I think that's what I need
Yeah, I'm in with a brand new crowd
Doing all these crazy things
But it's nothing like what we did
Way back when we were seventeen
[Verse 2]
Say, I know you remember... how we had it all figured out
Everything’s so mixed up now... but it makes sense anyhow
Making plans over BBQ chicken
Tough-talking, playing Halo 3
Just kids with eyes wide open
So sure of what we’d be...
Now look at you, look at me, look at...
[Hook]
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7. |
I Think You Should Stay
02:50
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[Verse]
Come sit down a while...
Take a load off... if you’re able, friend
I know you’re playing with a losing hand...
But don’t fold; hold off... ‘cause I need you at the table, man
Growing up, you would say that you hate how their expectations were so high
And you’d hang with me to hide
Well, I’m sorry; I never told you, but I, too, believed the hype
And to me, you’re still that guy
But if you say your world is ending soon
You gotta let me fight the end with you
And though you wanna leave, I understand
If we're talking brother to brother, man:
[Hook]
I think you should stay
(Stay, stay, stay)
Yeah, I think you should stay
(Stay, stay, stay)
‘Cause even a bad world
You’re always have one friend
So if you start falling
You can grab my hand
[Outro]
And that's my promise
I'm by your side
As long as we're breathing
I will not leave it
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8. |
The Projectionists
04:52
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[Verse]
I heard some news this morning ‘bout a building just torn down
An old movie theater where I used to work with all my pals
And I… had to think about them ‘cause I ain’t seen them in quite a while
We all did the same job... a job you can’t do now
There was Lonnie, there when I started; there since ‘95
He showed me the deal; and only worked reels that'll leave you terrified
Black nail polish; big horror fan, always pranked us late at night
Some said the man was strange, but to me, he was alright
2001 came around, and Emilia joined the crew
She was a... quiet girl, quick to help; but always seemed real blue
When she told me why she only worked reels that’ll make crack you up, it broke my heart
Said seeing that audience laugh was the only time that she was out the dark
2008 brought Sean; what a bro, that crazy guy
Rode a red sports bike, so you’d always hear him pull up outside
Not a reel the kid ain’t work that was an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride
Almost got fired when they caught him in the booth with a girl that time
Then in 2012 came Alex; said she wouldn’t be there long
Only saving up to go Hollywood so she could sing her songs
Drama queen that worked drama reels and any film she could sing along to
And, man, altogether, at the end of the day, it was a family that we belonged to
I think of that time when Blair Witch dropped, and Lonnie told me it was real and had me in fear
The time Emilia joked about him being a 40-Year-Old Virgin and had us in tears
The time when Sean decided he was the new James Bond, and his bike went up in flames
And the times when Alex made us all "Les Mis", but we loved her just the same
Well, one day, we got phased out; no reels and brand new tech
So, one by one, we got let go... and I was the last one left
In 2014, on the edge of tomorrow, I turned in my key
The sci-fi guy staring down a future that suddenly didn’t need me
Now here I am, five years later, still without my place
Wondering what they’re up to now, hoping they found their way
But we were all projectionists, so we knew one thing was true
Whether or not your story keeps rolling is only ever up to you
[Bridge]
So don’t let your reel run out...
So don’t let your reel run out...
So don’t let your reel run out...
So don’t let your reel run out...
[Hook]
So don’t let your reel run out
I know you’re gonna find the plot somehow
It ain’t too late for your big break
You’re on set, the world’s a stage
So don’t let your reel run out
I know you’re gonna find the plot somehow
It’s your movie after all
Only you fit the casting call
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9. |
My Life
03:46
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[Verse 1]
Moonlight on my front porch, I do not feel no pain
Just humming to the wind, this tune don’t need no name
It took a real long time for things to get this way
So I’ma soak it up, I don’t care what you say
Came up a crazy child in a Midwest town you know
Pops had to make me proud; the Marines is where he’d go
My momma held things down with Granny and Papa, so:
Right where you see me now is all thanks to those folks
And that’s why I do me, unafraid and to the max
[A] young bold American; how could you hate on that?
But even if you do, some real ones got my back
And even if they ain’t, I’d keep on track
[Hook]
‘Cause it’s my, my, my, my life and I live it
Just how I wanna live it
Right on down to the limit
‘Cause it’s my, my, my, my life and I live it
Just how I wanna live it
Right on down to the limit
[Breakdown]
You gotta move to the groove of what matters to you
You gotta move to the groove of what matters to you
You gotta move to the groove of what matters to you
You gotta move to the groove of what matters to you
[Verse 2]
Been 26 long years, and they ain’t stop me yet
Dun’ traveled coast to coast, yeah, east side to the west
North Carolina, California -- so, what’s next?
I give ‘em what I got, and still got so much left
I chose to entertain, so that is what I do
Come see the music man who lives his life for you
[Bridge]
My life... in song; sing along
My life... in song; sing along
My life... in song; sing along
C’mon and sing along
[Hook]
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