From the J. Briozo album Deep in the Waves (2017)
Blind
You’re right back in the thick of it
With a sweet soul song to set things right
But when you left
It was all bad blood and goodbyes
You live your life up in the stratosphere
With no regard for what is right
You’ve got to come down another mile
Just to see the light
Now that you’re here, I know, I know
I must have been blind
Well, it’s too late to repair the hurt
To erase the marks of damage done
You say you’re sorry
But your heart still beats for one
To see you now, I know, I know
I must have been blind
Hey, soul sister, I thought you might be the one
When your sunlight spread across my earth
But when the rain came
Your flame flickered and flickered and flickered to embers
Now that you’re near, I know, I know, I must have been blind
Now that you’re here, I know, I know, I must have been blind
To see you here, I know, I know, I must have been blind
But I won’t, no I won’t, be blind next time
Credits:
Jeff Crandall: Vocals, Piano, Organ, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr: Bass
Justin DeLeon: Drums
Brett Hansen: Lap Steel
Tyson Allison: Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Deep in the Waves
Storm clouds
Have a way
Of bringing me down
Feel my path slip away
Hide and seek
Can’t see me
Hiding deep in the waves
Go time
Feel light
So right
Rising up
To the top
Rising up
To the top
Rising up
It’s a sign
Rise up
Soul child
Away from here
To the day
So right
A way to shine
So alive and awake
Can you feel it?
Yeah, you feel it
Can you feel it?
Yeah, you feel it
Don’t weigh me down
Don’t pull me down
Don’t weigh me down
Oh, the waves
They crash on down
They don’t slow me down
These waves of sound
Feel so right coming down
Credits:
Jeff Crandall: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Bass, Electric Guitar
Aaron Kerr: Cello
Justin DeLeon: Drums
Brett Hansen: Lap Steel
Tyson Allison: Electric Guitar
Beautiful Mess
She knew all the words
To Miss Misery
And that’s who I saw
As she sang them to me
She stared right through me
As she asked me again
If I thought she was crazy
And I told her hell yes
My god, she was a beautiful mess
But if she asked it of me
I would drop everything
I would stand by her side
Yeah, I would come running
Though she lived in a world
I could hardly perceive
Or make a good guess
At the depths of her excess
My god, she was a beautiful mess
She said, “We all roll the dice
You don’t have to play nice”
I said, “Take my advice
You don’t have to lose twice”
I could see all the pain
In her face as she strained
To hold back the tears
From these horrible years
I just couldn’t believe
She was giving up now
She was coming apart
As the clouds blew away
My god, it was a beautiful day
The ghosts that had haunted
Her all her life
Gathered around
She was losing the fight
She screamed, “Drink up, Baby
Stay up all night”
We were in between bars
So, the words felt just right
She wanted to end it
But was this all a test?
Should I break the news
Elliott’s been laid to rest?
My god, she was a beautiful mess
My god, she was a beautiful mess
My god, she was a beautiful mess
Credits:
Jeff Crandall: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Organ, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr: Bass, Cellos
Justin DeLeon: Drums
Brett Hansen: Electric Guitars
Tyson Allison: Backing Vocals
Spinning Out
Just stop for a minute
You don’t know what you’re doing
You don’t know what you’re saying
You don’t know why you’re spinning out
It doesn’t count as breathing
‘Til you let the air out
Just hang out for a moment
You can’t save everyone
Take the world off your shoulders
And let somebody else step up
You can’t feed the masses
With a broken heart
No you’re gonna crash land the plane
And take us out
Throw your hands in the air
You can you can’t take it
You say you won’t make it
You say you’re gonna drink it off
Gonna shove it in a bottle
And keep the cap on
You’re damn lucky to have
All you’ve got
And you’re not gonna tear this down
For what it’s not
Ohh, under pressure
Ohh, spinning out
Ohh, It all comes back around
You’re wrong when you think
You do more harm than good
When you can’t follow through
When you can’t
Find a way to keep up
With the chorus of needs
That wear you down
Gotta know what you’re giving out
Is love enough
Gotta know what you’re giving out
Has added up
Ohh, under pressure
Ohh, spinning out
Ohh, It all comes back around
Credits:
Jeff Crandall: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Maracas, Tambourine, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr: Bass
Justin DeLeon: Drums
Brett Hansen: Electric Guitars
Tyson Allison: Organ, Backing Vocals
Rain Song
Take a look out
See it coming down
Big, wet drops falling
Hitting the ground
Well, I know
I won’t be going out
I’ll try to relax
Maybe take in a book
While the storm marches on
And the ground soaks it up
Well, I know
Sometimes it’s good to stop
Stop all your moving
Dreams of heading back West
A time to be patient
A time to reflect
‘Cause I know
Life keeps moving on
And I can’t be part of
Somewhere I’m not
The grass always greener
Than my little plot
Well, I know
A good gardener cares a lot
When the storm passes
I should go see
If the wind and the rain
Have damaged the trees
Broken a window
Flooded the block
Unearthed all the flowers
On my little plot
‘Cause I know
A good gardener cares a lot
Yeah, I know
I can’t be where I’m not
Yeah, I know
Sometimes it’s good to stop
Yeah, I know
Sometimes it’s good to stop
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars
Aaron Kerr – Cellos
The Big Parade
Woke up on Monday to the news that Peaches was dead
Like most everyone, I thought about Bob and how he’d lose his head
You wonder how many times the same man can grieve
Before he closes up shop, bolts the door and takes his leave
Of course it’s not right for a dad to lose his daughter
After spending half his life dealing with famine and slaughter
And whatever went down with Paula and Michael
You’d think Bob’s a guy who could use a big reprieve
‘Cause it’s pretty hard to find a good man
Who gives a god damn…
When he’s treated like Job by the powers that be
What are the rest of us fucks to believe?
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Na, na, na, na, na, na
How can we just let it be?
Woke up on Wednesday to hear a bunch of kids had been stabbed
Out in rural Pennsylvania by a boy who stole the knives from his mom and dad
Of course, everyone was shocked when they surveyed the scene
How could a nice kid like that suddenly snap, become killing machine?
For a whole news cycle they forgot about the plane
That was lost in the ocean and the submarine
With a fancy new device that can scan the Indian Ocean floor
But who’s keeping score?
Peaches and Bob flashed in my head just for a moment
Before I lost my…. did we survive the polar vortex?
Wasn’t there some big thing about a climate report?
That night everything went black
Thought I was never coming back
Thursday came and everything seemed so serene
We all watched the markets
As the world returned to its normal routine
Then a school bus crashed up in Northern California
Near the Emerald Triangle where they all grow marijuana
And I started to wonder if it was all a bad dream
Are you coming along? Well, you’d better bring your bible
‘Cause we’re headed to the tent where they’re holding the revival
Heard everybody else is going to the big parade… ’cause it’s a beautiful day
To hear the marching bands, watch the girls in tight sweaters
See a whole happy crowd just standing there together
Beats the hell out of dying in in any ol’ way
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Who are you wearing to judgment day?
Yeah, everybody’s got their own means of survival
We can fuss and fight over verses in the bible
While the Lady Liberty sinks down into New York Bay… No, not today!
Well, we can’t control the weather but we’re all in this together
So, it seems high time that we should all come together… right now
Is there another way?
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Hey, hey, hey
Na, na, na, na, na, na
It seems about time we find our way….
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr – Bass
Justin DeLeon – Drums, Tambourine
Brett Hansen – Electric Guitars, Lap Steel, Backing Vocals
Tyson Allison – Backing Vocals
Jim Baldrica – Trumpets, trombone and saxophone
Kimberly Vang – Backing Vocals
Kallie Bruett – Backing Vocals
Catalonia
Where I’m traveling
I don’t know
What roads to wander
Which paths to roam
Wheel spinning
Round and round
Place my bets
On a Spanish town
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
In Catalonia
The warm wind blows
From the Pyrenees
To the sea below
I drink the wine
I drink it down
My soul yearns
for fertile ground
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
In the south
I taste the Moorish air
Feel the strange
Pull of Tangiers
My restless soul
Can’t settle down
Keeps me moving
From town to town
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
Oh, drink it on down
Drink it on down
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Bass, Backing Vocals
Justin DeLeon – Drums
Brett Hansen – Electric Guitars, Lap Steel
Tyson Allison – Backing Vocals
Las Cruces
It was a long night
Held you ’til the morning light
Said everything will be alright
If you stay here with me
But you knew it couldn’t last
Nothing can erase the past
Already broken when the die was cast
Some things weren’t meant, meant to be, meant to be
And in the bright, clear sunlight
When we aren’t moved by star shine
Hard lines reveal the truth
Miles and miles from our youth
Checked out of the motel
You were dreaming of a better hell
Shut the door and I wished you well
I knew you wouldn’t come, come with me
Drove across the Rio Grande
Watched the sun light up the desert sands
Morning star fade into distant lands
Let the miles flow, flow through me, flow through me
I felt you shaking in the bed last night
Caught your sad eyes stained with tears
I know you feel all alone
No one cares and no one hears you call
No one at all
Got held up at a red light
Still hurting from the drinks last night
Checked the rear view, then I hung a right
Smelled you in the air next to me
Alarm went off at 9 AM
You woke up, downed a shot of gin
You knew I wasn’t coming back again
Some things weren’t meant, meant to be, meant to be
You put the razor on it
Pushed the blade until the skin broke
Watched the color seeping through
Just to feel your blood flowing
You let the candles burn low
Watched the shadows on the walls
Wet your fingers to put the flames out
Felt the sting
And then felt nothing at all
Nothing at all
Nothing at all
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Organ, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr – Bass
Justin DeLeon – Drums
Brett Hansen – Electric Guitars, Lap Steel
Tyson Allison – Backing Vocals
Firefly
Brightest light
Where did you go?
I’ll catch you
When the moonlight glows
Ooh ooh, I hear your song
Sparkle, flame
Then disappear
Every time
That I come near
Ooh ooh, I hear your song
Cast my lot
Into the sea
Siren vows
To marry me
Ooh ooh, I hear her song
But the one with
Golden hair
Her fragrance lingers
In the air
Ooh ooh, I hear her song
Burning brightly, then she’s gone
She comes to me
In the dead of night
I can see her
Glowing bright
Ooh ooh, I hear her song
The song she sings
I know it’s true
A song of life
That comes from you
Ooh ooh, I hear her song
Burning brightly, then she’s gone
Ooh ooh, I hear her song
Burning brightly, then she’s gone
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Organ, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr – Cellos
Justin DeLeon – Drums, Percussion
Brett Hansen – Lap Steel
Tyson Allison – Percussion, Backing Vocals
Blue
Blue
Whatcha gonna do
In the dark hours
of winter gloom?
Ice
Coats the window pane
Streets slick with
Frozen rain
Blue
Where ya headed to?
The Arctic winds
Will be coming soon
Pale
From the sunless sky
Tired of
The endless night
Blue
Whatcha gonna do
While the cold days
Of winter bloom?
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Aaron Kerr – Bass, Cellos
Justin DeLeon – Drums
Tyson Allison – Percussion, Chimes, Electric Guitar
Camera Obscura
We found an old photo booth
In the Musée Mécanique
So we sat down for pictures
In the rows of antiques
We made stupid faces
We smiled and we kissed
We pushed back the curtain
Something was amiss
Now it’s gone
Like a thought slipped off the tongue
A fog had descended
Outside the arcade
So we ran for a fun house
With a brash, bawdy maid
You got spooked
By the cackle of old Laffin’ Sal
Which wasn’t too hard
She was a frightening gal
Now she’s gone
Like a verse in a long lost song
Now she’s gone
Like a scrapbook when the house burns down
We got lost for a moment
In the mirror maze
Then I found you again
As we broke through the haze
We were both trapped in limbo
Where we read words of fear
“Abandon all hope
Ye who enter here!”
Now they’re gone
Like thoughts slipped off the tongue
Now they’re gone
Like scrapbooks when the house burns down
We live and we love
And we hardly know why
We tear all it down
With our memories inside
We build and we build
And we build and we build
New towers climb high
Tear down the old
Auctioned then sold
Twisted and turned
Broken and burned
Tear it down, tear it down
Tear it on down to the ground
Tear it down, tear it down
Tear it on down to the ground
We strolled past the Cliff House
Admiring the tide
Discovered a camera
And climbed right inside
We looked through a glass sphere
And then got shanghaied
To the Barbary Coast
In ol’ ’49
Now they’re gone
Like the verses of a long lost song
Now they’re gone
Like scrapbooks when the house burns down
We saw Spider Kelly
and Three-Fingered Jack
Before the Camera Obscura
Faded to black
Alice, we’ve wandered
So far from home
Which road leads us back
From the sand and the foam?
Now they’re gone
Like thoughts slipped off the tongue
Now they’re gone
Like scrapbooks when the house burns down
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Electric Guitars, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr – Cellos
Justin DeLeon – Drums
Tyson Allison – Percussion, Backing Vocals
Jim Baldrica – Trumpet
Santa Cruz
Sea birds rise
Twilit sky
Cool wet foam
Far from home
Warm salt air
Wooden pier
Cast my lines
Outside time
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Organ
Aaron Kerr – Cello
Sun Sun True
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
We build up more when we less
Put too much faith in progress
We try to perfect the things you already do
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
It seems a good time to step back
And take a collective breath
And try to recall some things we already knew
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Sun sun true
Credits:
Jeff Crandall – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Backing Vocals
Aaron Kerr – Bass
Justin DeLeon – Drums
Brett Hansen – Electric Guitars, Backing Vocals
Jim Baldrica – Trumpet, Saxophone, Flute
Kimberly Vang – Backing Vocals
Kallie Bruett – Backing Vocals
Album Credits
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Crandall
Arranged by Jeff Crandall, Aaron Kerr, Justin DeLeon, Brett Hansen and Tyson Allison
Produced by Jeff Crandall
Engineered by Randy Gildersleeve
Mixed by Randy Gildersleeve, Jeff Crandall and Justin DeLeon
Mastered by JJ Golden
Recorded at GilderSound, Forest Lake, MN
Mastered at Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA
© 2017 Jeff Crandall
℗ 2017 Swallow the Music LLC