Moses

by Patrick Bloom

Moses cover art
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1.
00:58
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2.
05:16
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3.
04:00
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4.
04:40
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5.
05:07
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6.
02:53
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7.
04:53
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8.
04:50
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9.
04:35
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10.
03:03
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credits

released 01 April 2008
Liner Notes

Patrick Bloom- vocals: all songs, acoustic guitar: all songs, percussion: 2, 4, 5, 9, bass: 7

Eric Straumanis- electric guitar: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9
Bo Ramsey- electric guitar: 2
Chris Poma- bass: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9
Billy Valencia- bass: 2
James Robinson- drums: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Nate Basinger- organ: 2, 3, 5, accordion: 10
David Zollo- piano: 3, 5, 7
Bob Black- banjo: 7, 10
Tara Dutcher- violin: 9, 10
Amy Finders- harmonies: 2, 3, 7, 10
Beth Amsel- harmonies: 3, 8, 9

Produced by Patrick Bloom
Recorded by Justin Kennedy and John Svec at Minstrel Studios in Iowa City, Iowa
with additional recording by Craig Corona at Sawmill Sound in Longmont, Colorado
and Patrick Bloom in his basement in Iowa City, Iowa
Mixed by Justin Kennedy
Mastered by John Svec

All songs written by Patrick Bloom
© 2007 Small Man Music (ASCAP)
Mud Dauber Records MD0002

Cover art based on 'Bird' stippling work by Jason Yi-Bing Lin
Photography by Matt Kollasch
Graphic design by Dustin Duwa

Lyrics and additional information available online at www.patrickbloom.com

Thanks to:
-The excellent musicians who took part in the making of this record.
-Eric, Chris, Billy, James, and Tara for all of the time and energy playing together.
-Justin, John, and Craig for twisting the dials and being obsessive.
-Jason, Matt, and Dustin for the stippling, the photos, and the beautiful design.
-Everyone who listens.
-My friends and family.
-Nancy and Tula for keeping me humming.

This project was support in part by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

tags

tags: americana folk roots-rock folk Iowa City

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Track Name: Corner Of The World
the frost is on the window now and everything seems bare
birds circle above me and they fold their wings in prayer
the fallen oaks of winter storms are frozen men in fields of corn
out here in my corner of the world
out here in my corner of the world
Track Name: Million Miles Away
you are a great divide the bitter side of Memphis
and Mussel Shoals has never looked so fine
fire in the sideview and the Mississippi shimmering
the Mississippi shines

you in a flowered dress fluttering before me
this is still the way it always starts
we spin around each other like satellites in tandem
until we fall apart

18 months gone unremembered
to think that you are dead unto me now
drunken words from the book of Hank
I have all my stars to thank
you are a million miles away

there is no diary of you and me but what you see
you bury everything you think you love
beneath the tangled roots and marrow of the hanging tree
I’ve watched you dig for hours in the mud

18 months gone unremembered
to think that you are dead unto me now
what a modest way to be
you are the perfect tragedy
you are a million miles away

I shall be a witness to this strange emancipation
I shall be a witness to the spillage of this soul
I shall share the burden of every tear between us
I shall be a witness to this all

18 months gone unremembered
to think that you are dead unto me now
everything I’ve ever said
falling out of me like mercury
you are a million miles away
Track Name: Queen Of Oklahoma
the headlights are busted the body is rusted
the engine turns but it won't go
a couple more paychecks she can get the brakes fixed
and maybe drive to Toledo

what will they say when she goes when she goes
what will they think if she don't if she don't
what will they care if she's gone if she's gone
if she's gone

four white walls in Cleveland metal chairs to wait in
too much time to change her mind
a landslide of bother a few hundred dollars
a broken heart and she'll be fine

what will they say when she goes when she goes
what will they think if she don't if she don't
what will they care if she's gone if she's gone
if she's gone

in the Western Star corona sits the Queen of Oklahoma
a dirt road sparrow and her father's best lie
she finishes her letter buttons up her sweater
reaches towards the dresser and she cries and she cries

what will they say when she goes when she goes
what will they think if she don't if she don't
what will they care if she's gone if she's gone
if she's gone
Track Name: Heaven On The Radio
2 a.m. and the dashboard lights are failing
crucifix swinging from the rear view mirror low
I'm just sugar blood and bone and the a.m. morning show
a little bit of heaven on the radio

100 miles and I nurse the dial sideways
hoping for Willie or Johnny or maybe sweet EmmyLou
Gulf Coast Highway sung with a honeysuckle tongue
a little bit of heaven on the radio

40 miles and I might get a public station
just an hour and a half outside of the city's edge
a little more caffeine NPR and the BBC
a little bit of heaven on the radio

the gospel station wanes as I draw nearer
the static and crackle of the Hummingbirds' vinyl song
Take Your Shoes Off Moses and the milk and honey flows
got a little bit of heaven on the radio

the mile markers blur into the distance
a minister's calling for my dark and tender soul
I have found mercy on the dial I might listen for a while
to a little bit of heaven on the radio
to a little bit of heaven on the radio
to a little bit of heaven on the radio
Track Name: Moses
crawled down from your fire escape several stories to the ground
fell the final 15 feet spread out like an evening gown
when I looked up where you stood I felt the cold air fill my lungs
mounted bloodless in the night a thousand empty stars had hung

Moses

what strange circumstances leaving what odd little songbirds singing
with eyes of green and speckled wings like brokered deals between us weaving
sometimes I think of Moses skipping stones into the sea
remembering the other side and all the things he left behind

Moses
Track Name: Jerusalem
lay your head down Moses
lay your head down low
lay your head down Moses
it's time for us to go

lay your cross down Jesus
it ain’t your cross to bear
lay your cross down Jesus
soon we shall be there
lay your coat down Joseph
lay it right on down
lay your coat down Joseph
paradise is found

Jerusalem

lay your head down Moses
lay your head down low
lay your head down Moses
it's time for us to go
it's time for us to go
it's time for us to go
Track Name: Iowa
he steps between the pumps pulls his brim down low
machinations underneath the faded Texaco
his fingers nicotined and slowly turning brown
yellow slicker for a husk and the rain is coming down

his every breath exhaled tinged in crimson from the light
of a buzzing neon star dangling in the oily night
he takes the change in hand counting as they pennies fall
every word a rosary sons of bitches one and all

Iowa
spilling blood into the soil
plastic flowers on a cross
liniments and pennyroyal
Iowa
waking from an early freeze
shifting bodies in degrees
she changes everything

these buildings that we see standing bones above the dirt
fingers to the firmament welded fossils and cement
the pavement drawn below pigeons up above
flutter gently and reply Iowa is passing by

Iowa
spilling blood into the soil
plastic flowers on a cross
liniments and pennyroyal
Iowa
waking from an early freeze
shifting bodies in degrees
she changes everything

the apparitions blur the rain is slower now
his heels sink in the mud sculpting patterns in the ground
he leans over the match cradling the flame
and Iowa remains and Iowa remains

Iowa
spilling blood into the soil
plastic flowers on a cross
liniments and pennyroyal
Iowa
waking from an early freeze
shifting bodies in degrees
she changes everything
Track Name: Dixie Royal Lanes
Ronnie's looking good in his pompadour
seven feet high measured from the floor
short sleeves rolled around tattoos pouring down
and a leather belt borrowed from the lost and found

check out his bowling shoes polished and red and new
nicest things he's owned in the last year or two
everybody’s staring from their plastic tables in the lounge
half of them are jealous the other half spellbound

life stumbles on at Dixie Royal Lanes
they line them up divinely taking aim
each keeping score tragedy in every frame
they roll again

next Saturday is the High Roller Tournament
Omar's Dry Cleaning will challenge Tri-City Cement
and if it’s like last year Jane will choke and hang a pin
Omar's team will drink too much Tri-City will probably win

life stumbles on at Dixie Royal Lanes
they line them up divinely taking aim
each keeping score tragedy in every frame
they roll again

there's this lady here must weigh 400 pounds
maybe a little more nobody knows for sure
but when she's on the lane she floats like she's the lightest bird
like she's a precious thing like no one ever laughs at her

life stumbles on at Dixie Royal Lanes
they line them up divinely taking aim
each keeping score tragedy in every frame
they roll again
Track Name: Green Lantern
monsters outside Tokyo
Green Lantern does not go
his head sways with complex relations
he pulls into a filling station

Maria kicks his mud flap Maria finds his gas cap
he sets his eyes upon her and soon his heart's a goner
tape cassettes of country classics candy bars and cheap sunglasses
hot dogs turning coffee burning cigarettes and camera flashes

Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Green Lantern he ain't coming now
coming now

Maria smiles sweetly Maria moves discreetly
she steps behind the counter and Green Lantern's glad he found her
Green Lantern hands her twenty Maria takes it gently
writes her number on his palm and blushes very evidently

Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Green Lantern he ain't coming now
coming now

velvet Elvis gold lamé painted windows Jesus Saves
colored sun paper mache everybody here loves Burma Shave

she comes running down the stairs
bright purple curlers in her hair
lays her head against his chest
and Green Lantern is impressed

Maria dances beautifully she moves her small hips easily
the radiator whistles and above their heads the neon sings
they slip across the wooden parquet waltz and flitter in the hallway
she wraps her arms around him kissing leaves Green Lantern's breastbone missing

Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Green Lantern he ain't coming now
Track Name: Mississippi River Lullaby
I watched you under the Iowa moon
you were something to see something to see
oh Mississippi the river for me

and you crooned humming a Midwestern tune
you moved patiently wide as could be
oh Mississippi the river for me

rolling by
rolling by

I watched you under the Iowa moon
you were something to see something to see
oh Mississippi the river for me