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2: IBG YBG

by Clay Russell

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1.
Uncle Sam 04:03
(intro) D D G I was the spokesman of a wealthy company D G I loved the mayor’s wife and she said she loved me Bm D B7 When she returned with the tape, I found the fire escape G Em D Won’t you excuse me, Uncle Sam. I’ve got to go. I took the train to Maine to see what I could find I had been told the locals may not be too kind They asked me what was my name I told them Valerie Plame Won’t you excuse me, Uncle Sam. I’ve got to go. Bm A Bb Bm Now that you’ve moved out of the city Bm A Bb And you’re drinking out of pity D G A Bb Bm All on your own Bm A Bb Bm As your hands slipped from the ceiling Bm A Bb And you wonder what you’re feeling A When you’re alone A7 Well, I told you so! I had a friend that left his family for Iraq In all the sand and smoke, he lost his paper flag What was the reason he died? That’s up to you to decide Won’t you excuse me, Uncle Sam. I’ve got to go I took the Fung Wah bus to Washington DC Where all the folks yell quotes they wrote for MTV I met a man who died with nothing in his hands God rest his soul and all the children that he had He tried as hard as he could, but he was misunderstood Won’t you excuse me, Uncle Sam. I’ve got to go. Ends with D G D A7 D
2.
Am Hard times find hidden tales in this town She can't tell why her hair's so black Dm Dbm But she never forgets - shes got nothing to remember Three chords with pretentious phrasing And the voice of a silent film sings the sound-bite lyrics that can only catch up with you This is America singing to the darkness The cocaine on a pop star who stopped robbing banks 'cause she steals from her own home One time takes a street light spotlight A callback and they ask for more As she screams her story to a private school The cold steel of a Deep Ellum hold up They build Walmarts on cemeteries Why rob a bank when you can steal from your home I'll be gone You'll be gone
3.
A E/A My old man told me of a tale about the city There was a kid who always hid around the city Bm E Never was much for watching news Bm E Kicking the dirt with Prada boots G7 A I’m on a roll Stay the same, stay the same No, I’m never gonna change Who’s to know where to go? Amaj7 No one’s ever gonna change Jump forward nine and cross the line - he owns the city Buying a ranch to clear a branch - outside the city Photo-ops have been all the rage Driving his truck on a soundstage I’m on a roll Stay the same, stay the same No, I’m never gonna change E A The dark clouds appeared just like the Bible said E A Rain washes away his hat, he scratched his head Then turned his back and went to bed E G “It’s so hard to change, so I guess I’ll stay the course” George is a Conn. - been all along, he’s from the city Swinging a bat and cowboy hat, he’s from the city Lands on the screaming folks below That’s just the way that these things go I’m on a roll Stay the same, stay the same No, I’m never gonna change Who’s to know where to go? No one’s ever gonna change
4.
G / F A Bb Please don’t let me die alone. Oh, please don’t let me die alone. G / F G / F A Bb Try to find a place to sleep – you keep your Rockefeller dream. G / F A DIAMOND RINGS LOOK BEST ON CORPSES A Bb Please don’t let me die alone. Oh, please don’t let me die alone. G / F F G / F
5.
Washington Square C Gm7 C Gm7 C Gm7 Suits on a Saturday C Gm7 My friends are out late C Gm7 C Gm7 She was sitting on a couch, singing to the mirror on Am the wall C7 G I’d seen her once before C G#m7 C Asked her why she was here She’s friends with the band “They’re supposed to be good live” Maybe that just means they’re not great So let’s get out of here C G#m7 C C B/C E Am Passing Fifth Avenue E Am A6 Damn these cold city nights Am7 D7 Dm7 They’ll freeze out our hearts when we’re gone Walked by the neighborhood where we used to play But now it’s just a name All that we have left is the snow that’s covered up the sign She starts to laugh again and points to the stairs “This city’s good as dead. Now let’s pour a drink on the roof.” And stare up at the night Passing Fifth Avenue Holding hands in the dark The arches of Washington Square
6.
C F Am G (x2) C F Am G I was horrified to find her C F Am G When she caught the gold disease C F Am G Broken knees in West Virginia C F Broken hearts in Tennessee Am G F History repeats [x2] Am G C [w/ stutter C/B/A] F Am G History repeats You've got nothing to remember When you're looking somewhere else Is it high class or repression? I swear to God it feels the same - the same History repeats [x2] Am G C [four bars] History repeats History repeats F Am G I can't tell you when I'm wrong (history repeats) [x8] C [w/ stutter C/B/A] F Am G [x2] Reading spanish dictionaries Another word for broken hearts Broken knees in West Virginia Broken hearts in Tennessee History repeats [x7, then go into middle part and play out]
7.
C B Bb A The Woodstock women bought a flower dress Its sweatshop tags were hidden from the press And Primal Scream is all that I hear Because the Glastonbury hippies stole the lead singer's beer E Flower children killed the nation D D w/ C bass note A You're the death generation Off to the races as the Hummer roars With peace sign stickers pasted on its door The folk song station tells her of her life But sweetie, its no longer 1965 E Flower children killed the nation D D w/ C bass note A You're the death generation A Amaj7 What have I done? The keynote speaker gives his keynote speech The crowds held silent to the words he preached Says he knows things that you will never know That asshole hippie is a CEO A Amaj7 A7 Amaj7 What have I done?
8.
Christmas 03:49
(bass note B/A minor slide to G) Screens that flicker on to show a man in black & white who stares in silence to the fact he is surrounded by these fences James Dean in the Ready Room - The Agents groove the latest tune to optimistic cats that bat the acorn till it falls to the tracks (hold on A minor) Cut a hole into a fence so ghosts can get out to the football pitch. The coaches watch the soldiers from their trucks with chandeliers. Corner shops sell liquor from a casualty who sees all of the ghosts but doesn’t know that they can look at her ‘cause she’s one of them (D minor/Dbmaj.7/Cm7) If you go to the laundromat on Sunday morning, the children play on the railroad tracks.
9.
A E Take the train to Edgecombe Avenue Stare upon the city lights below And stares as blank as windows wait alone for you But when I closed my eyes, I heard her sing Harlem Let’s sneak out the costume party doors You can leave your shield behind the wall Do you think a face like mine would lie to you? Honestly - I never tell the truth Harlem Take the train to Edgecombe Avenue Stare upon the city lights below No one ever goes there anymore I know But when I close my eyes, I hear her sing Harlem
10.
D# Fm7 Gm7 D# Don't you worry dear, cause I'll take all the blame Fm7 Gm7 D# Like a broken hand that holds a picture frame G# G#(G bass) Fm Fm7 Bb As your high heels meet their match on cobblestone G# Bb Baby - we know things will never change D# / D#(D bass) / D#(C bass) / D#(A bass) I'm on the subway feeling like a killer Bb Db And she knows where I'm going too This ghost town heartache wishes you were dead As the kids play target practice with your head I'm a circus host who speaks to empty rooms Baby - we know things will never change I'm on the subway feeling like a killer And she knows where I'm going too D# / D#(D bass) / D#(C bass) / D#(A bass) G# Bb (x3) Baby Bb We know things will never change D# / D#(D bass) / D#(C bass) / D#(A bass) / G# / Bb / D#
11.
Farewell To Guitars E riff = E / F# / G / E / F# / D / E E C# C Miss USA has lost her way / smiling in the darkness E C# C Caught in between her history / with a different witness E riff E C# C I burned a sound into the ground / I don't have a story E C# C I burned the ground with broken sound/ in a morning glory A G#/A F#m E It's the first thing that you listen for / and you're not dead A G#/A F#m B A/B G#/B F#/B And the only thing that you're left with is the ringing in your ears B A/B G#/B F#/B You can take your pen and write a poem / but it won't tell you where you'll sleep tonight E riff A G#/A F#m B A/B G#/B F#/B (x2) E C# C Miss USA has lost her way / smiling in the darkness E C# C Caught in between her history / with a different witness E breakdown, then E riff
12.
SEPTA 03:29
G C Cm G I got so lost - South Street I roam You can go there - but you’ll C never go home Cm Try a little patience with me As I grow up, I’m feeling so down Obsession runs high in an obsessive town Try a little patience with me G Will you be here when you’re A7 older? C B/C G I’ve got some things left to do G And when you’re away, please A7 be careful C B/C Am G/Am F#/Am Am You’re not the one you used to be (instrumental) G E F F# G G F#/G Em G Sometimes you hurt yourself for F#/G Em things you don’t know G F#/G Em Cm And when you walk away - when G theres nowhere to go (last line x3)

credits

released January 1, 2011

Produced & mixed by Gary Atturio except “Christmas” by John Davis & Gary Atturio
Co-produced by Clay Russell & Anthony Watkins
Mastered by Gary Atturio
Recorded Spring/Summer 2010 in Brooklyn, NY at GaluminumFoil except “Christmas” recorded at The Bunker Studio and GaluminumFoil

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Clay Russell Brooklyn, New York

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