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Paul Jacobsen And The Madison Arm

by Paul Jacobsen

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Rich Roberts
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Rich Roberts I lost/misplaced this CD (which I still prefer to use because I'm old), but today, as I drove into the canyon, I needed to hear the tragic, wrenching beauty of "Time" and its gorgeous harmonies and that banjo. Filled with refined songs that are exposed and vulnerable, it remains one of my favorite albums from the last decade. Favorite track: Time.
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1.
Lung 03:55
The kidnappers said Within a couple hours I'm dead If nobody pays the ransom. So of course I called you. There's no one else I know who would dare to slip in through the transom. You say you love when your heart is missed Melodramatically like this. And the situation worsens, But if you came here in person, They say they'll let me go. I lied. It was worth a try. Oh, I just called to feel your heart, that's all. 'Cause I miss you. I always do. Nearly to death, like a lung misses a breath. My doctor said I shouldn't even try to leave my bed. I'm as grave as a cemetery. He says my only hope is for you to come home tonight; He says I might Survive, Stay alive, Not be so sick of watching watches tick. 'Cause I miss you. I always do. Nearly to death, like a lung misses a breath. I miss you to death. Like a lung misses a breath.
2.
Time 04:40
Well, I left a kind of innocence that couldn't tag along, Left her like a burning cross on someone's mother's lawn. Shifting up to second gear, I try hard not to look At shadows in the rearview, burning like a pile of banned books 'Cause that smoke can blind you. Trouble still finds you. You just might curse your eyes, But time will let you see all the misery that you start. I was wishing I could bury every history book in flames, Every almanac in the ocean, every whisper round my name. I've been building a tall coffin, toppling redwoods for the frame, Hinging it with fear and the rusty nails of blame And when the night comes With those city sirens Howling at red light moons, Time will let you see all the tragedies in your heart. But time won't let you see your fine tapestry fall apart. And every passing year is just a deeper shade of grey. And the kid in all the polaroids slowly fades away. I miss Ruth's Diner. My Radio Flyer. When eyes were brighter than now. There's no skywriter here, No story spider to spell it out for me. And time will let you see all the treachery in its heart. But time won't let you see all the dignity in your heart.
3.
Haven't you already stepped past the lines you never drew? Now all the limits you never set are laughing back at you. You're saying things that you'd never say if you could stop your mouth from running off and on all about the shards you're spitting, so unwittingly. You're kidding, but even you don't get the joke. Or see all the damage you've done, wielding your mouth like a gun. With an overlubed id and a tongue that needs brakes, I bet it really aches in the morning, in the morning. Spitting out your lowdown Like a proper noun. On your misery-go-round, dizzy people drown. What a little indie rock miss, slip-on checkered vans, dropping such a nonchalant list of your favorite bands– Sleater-Kinney, David Bowie, Some band from Sweden and The Cars. You donate your guts to the bath. You never were too hot at math. You fall asleep in your fabulous dress and your makeup makes the pillows a mess in the morning. Spitting out your lowdown Like a proper noun. On your misery-go-round, dizzy people drown. If you wanna go now, I can show you how. On your misery-go-round, dizzy people drown like a proper noun.
4.
I heard the greatest joke, laughed so hard I nearly choked. Just thinking about the punchline, Man, it gets me every time. I heard this great new band from Chicago or from Switzerland. They've got melody and soul and they're gonna save rock 'n roll. All these stupid things Seem to lose their wings When there's no one to talk to Like you. I wrote this brand new song. Someday maybe you'll sing along. The bridge? Well, it ain't quite done. But I feel it riding shotgun. All these stupid things Seem to lose their wings When there's no one to talk to Like when I'm covered in ice Reasons, excuses, useless pride. You play salt and sun, melt every last one 'til I'm standing in puddles of stupid little things. They're just stupid little things when there's someone. All these stupid things Seem to lose their wings when there's no one to talk to like you.
5.
Please Forgive my shaky knees, Warm my cold, cold feet Or just ignore them Please Chase me when I run Towards the broken sun. And when I jump the gun, don't shrink. Wait. Don't blink. Every day rewinds. Everything reminds me You're the song I can't keep out of my mind. Notes Creeping from my throat. Not sure I ever wrote A song as sad or sweet as you, Fine and true. Every day rewinds. Everything reminds me You're the song I can't keep out of my mind. And I belt you like a carol, loud, The kind you sing the whole year round, A tune I've known forever now And never wanna live without. Every day rewinds. Everything reminds me You're the song I can't keep out of my mind. Can't keep out of my mind.
6.
I don’t wanna go out there tonight I don’t even know why Never been one to duck from a fight Fists are nothing when you’ve already died, a few times, The threat of death can lose its bite With every punch I kill the pain Of when life ripped my mom away. And every punch I pull Is for her, she was beautiful And every round’s a piece of that day CHORUS Hook and a jab, bruise and scab Crimson and anger flow fierce through my veins You know I can Drop any man It’s just the demons that keep me awake I thought I was fearless But I’m not Don’t got nothing to prove here tonight There ain’t no belt on the line I’m just swinging to stave off the night Maybe win or maybe just buy some time to try to live Before they kill the lights Tape my hands and take a breath (falling, scarring red) Kneel at the hands and feet of death (voices in my head) Shake off the needle chill Wash it down with a pill Sink to the tile, soaked in guilt and sweat CHORUS I don’t know the last time I felt peace in my weary heart Mama, you left holes so big I’ve felt like an empty shopping cart Lost and waiting and wanting so badly to be found
7.
Oh, my laws. Life is such a wretched, reckless albatross Round your neck, swinging like an anvil chandelier And you’re spinning straw from mines and mines of gold Who knew you could make poverty out of that prosperity? Wait until your heart is broken, Wait until your baby’s choking Then you’ll know you know the world unkind. Black on black, funeral procession down the block and back To mourn the loss of every shooting star you never saw. Maybe one day you will lay them in their plot, But the procession never stops. Wait until your heart is broken, Wait until your baby’s choking Then you’ll know you know the world unkind. So cuff that wrist to St. Sebastian [and shudder just a little bit] To watch the sun eclipsed by arrows falling. The Saint is calling, But you won’t step away Wait until your heart is broken, Wait until your baby’s choking Then you’ll know you know the world unkind. Wait until your heartbeat breaks, Wait until your whole soul aches, ‘Til you suffer and nobody minds Then you’ll know you know the world unkind.
8.
In the sun, Everybody feels alright, Everybody sees the light. My skin melts to bones. By the stars, Everybody knows the night, Everybody sleeps so tight, Sandman’s throwing stones. But I could use some western skies tonight To help me feel alright Not so alone. In New York, Everyone’s a burning sun, The only one who gets things done. I’m stuck underground. But I could use some western skies tonight To help me feel alright Not so alone. 'Cause I know all about the western skies And how they’ll burn your eyes Just with the dawn. If it’s a case of grass is greener, Pennies drowned by fountain dreamers, Or just some wasted discontent Someday you’re gonna wake up, wonder where your good times went. I could use some western skies tonight To help me feel alright Not so alone. 'Cause I know all about the western skies And how they’ll burn your eyes Just with the dawn. Someday you're gonna wake up.
9.
You Were 04:07
Dressed up like the King, New York Halloween. I could barely see your face, hardly even note a trace. A couple months would pass, snowfall melt to grass. Finally I’d see you again, wrapped around your new boyfriend Baby, if you wanna then I think you oughta Just let him float on down that stream. I don’t know how to put picture to sound, But I know you’ve got all that I need. How I wish that you were my baby. The yellow line uptown used to bring me down. Mighty how some things just change. Blue sky wipes your mind of rain. I’ve got this heart that has spent a good part of its life in motels all alone, Crashing on couches and cashing in vouchers, just dying for a place to call home. How I wish that you were my baby. If you left today Don’t know what I’d say I would probably light my heart on fire cause My world spun so scattered, still, I know nothing mattered until you were my baby. And I could not let go 'Cause you might never know.
10.
Frank faked his wings, passed the bar and bad checks- A genius thief with a Peter Hood complex. He deadheaded across the country, round the world, round the law. He hung paper like pictures, sucked the world like a straw. With faith in the misquotes of W.C. Fields. Life fast and large like an aeroplane wheel. But I guess you run out of suckers when you’re reaching for the sky. And anything pecked to death will die. Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner, Boone, and The Babe- The “b” in Beantown might as well mean bridesmaid. A curse is a curse is a curse is a curse. But those pinstripe parades dig the scar that much worse. “No, No, Nanette” to a 0-3 wreck. Cue “Enter Sandman,” Big Papi’s on deck And as Babe Ruth rolled in his grave even he realized Anything pecked to death will die. My love for you is strong. It is live. It is stout. And it’s got enough fire to put the great ocean out. It ain’t simple, ain’t perfect, but it’s true and it’s right. Your love’s a flashlight, a flash flood, a floodlight. Some people feel conned and some people feel cursed I feel like I got a river in a world of thirst I don’t understand it and I’m not so naïve to try. No, I’ll never understand love and I’m not about to try Anything pecked to death will die.
11.
Home 03:52
At first it’s like a fairy tale– Confetti, stars, and wishing wells. Pretty soon it’s like a firesale and everything burns. And everytime it sucks me in, Convinces me that I can win. Pretty soon I’m begging back again for another turn. And I could believe it’s wasted time, Cashing in all my dollars, dimes. Calm, sweet. You warm my heart and my cold feet. I may never have to roam. Now I’m home. I get nervous, detonate, scalpel out to separate, Sever everything I hate about myself. I reap the whirlwind, sow a breeze, Fill my head with eulogies, I’m throwing back a world of remedies and none of ‘em help And I could believe in symbols, signs Or I could just leave those things behind Calm, sweet. You warm my heart and my cold feet. I may never have to roam. When I was younger, even last year, I never once thought that I’d ever find somebody so... Calm, sweet, you warm my heart and my cold feet. I may never have to roam. Now I’m home.
12.
At That Day 05:46
At that day When buildings bend, Heave like a chest, And people get dressed And everything ends And colored stripes Paint tv sets On every street, And slowly we’ll see This time it’s no test. But until that day how the devils play, How they think they run the place In their cardboard crowns, raining acid down, wearing holes into the souls of all below. Overnight, When all are healed– The eyes the weep, The broken down feet, The hands that must steal. And they’re singing upstairs. And it’s a perfect sound. The only thing close Is "God Only Knows" When they sing in a round. But until that day how the devils play, How they think they run the place, Shove us into thoughts maybe we are not Something bigger than the sum of all our sins The circus tents, flat, billowed down. Feet and trunks beat Down 34th Street To the trains homeward bound. Oh, until that day how the devils play, How they think they run the place. But the bells will ring, ring out everything, and we’ll never think to feel alone again. Under tables, under doorframes We’ll find what we’re looking for At that day.

about

".. a straight-ahead winner of an album, full of fine songs, including such highlights as the sad, majestic 'Time,' as well as 'The World Unkind' 'Stupid Little Things' and 'Anything Pecked to Death Will Die.' Drawing upon strong lyrics and gorgeous backup vocals...The Madison Arm has made an album deserving of a larger audience."
-Scott Murphy, Salt Lake Tribune

credits

released September 27, 2008

Engineered, produced, mixed by Scott Wiley @ June Audio in Provo, UT
Mastered by Gavin Lurssen @ Lurssen Mastering in Hollywood, CA
All songs written by Paul Jacobsen ©2008 Madison Arm Music except The World Unkind written by Paul Jacobsen/Ryan Tanner, Western Skies written by Paul Jacobsen/Dan Reneer, and Home written by Paul Jacobsen/Dustin Christensen.

Paul Jacobsen: songs, vocals, guitars, keyboards, harmonica, percussion
Scott Wiley: guitars, banjo, vocals, keyboards, bass, drum programming
Patrick Campbell: drums, percussion, broom
Ryan Tanner: pump organ, acoustic guitar, vocals, wurlitzer
Scott Johnson: piano, Hammond B3, wurlitzer, pump organ, battle cry on "Anything Pecked To Death Will Die"
Brian Hardy: piano, Hammond B3, vocals
Dustin Christensen: piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals
Marcus Bently: vocals
Dylan Schorer: bouzouki, pedal steel
George Brunt: bass, vocals
Dominic Moore: vocals, spoken word on "Like A Proper Noun"
Darin LeSueur: spoken word on "Like A Proper Noun"
Amy Gileadi: vocal on "You're The Song" and "You Were"
Aaron Anderson: drums on "Fearless"
Rory Carrera: drums on "The World Unkind"
Ryan Tilby: upright bass, vocal on "Time"
Fronck Mantegari: drums on "You Were", additional drums on "Western Skies"
John Hancock: horn arrangement on "Western Skies"
Reed LeCheminant: trumpets on "Western Skies"
Dan Reneer: keyboards, percussion on "You Were"
Sam Cardon: upright piano on "Anything Pecked To Death Will Die"
Becky Jean Williams: vocals on "Home"

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Paul Jacobsen Salt Lake City, Utah

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