Get all 5 Ben Sparaco releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of There Is No Them, Wooden, Bring The Jubilee EP, LIVE Vol. 2, and Live Vol. 1.
1. |
||||
|
I took my seat on the 8:30 flight from somewhere to I don’t know
It’s been a long day with two different nights
To play a 500 dollar show
In the air I take a look at the markings on the floor
And I think about the movie effect of opening up the door
Make me feel alone tonight before I go away
It might be your job, I know
But I like it anyway
I didn’t buy my ticket tonight, so I don’t really know my plan
All I know is sometime soon I’ll be listening to some other band
But I have some time coming up, my flight doesn’t leave till one
I got a hundred dollars and a real nice watch, so I hope we can get this done
Make me feel alone tonight before I go away
It might be your job, I know
But I like it anyway
I said “this place has a nice atmosphere” stammering through my words
She asked me to relax and take a seat but I didn’t feel reassured
“Clearly you’re not used to this, but I promise I won’t bite”
She said that and asked me how she could help so we stayed up talking all night
I told her I started to struggle with the feeling of being in the light
How the persona and the upkeep were causing me so much strife
And about 6 hours later when the sun came up in town
And I had told her all of my troubles
She said "I’ll take that watch from you now”
Make me feel alone tonight before I go away
It might be your job, I know
But I like it anyway
|
||||
2. |
||||
|
Drifting through the town, kicking dust up off the ground
A stranger to this land, just to wander relief bound
Three ounces of gold in pouches are not enough to make the rough old traveler tough
As he falls into the sand
Oh how? Not now. Is there anyone around?
In the shell of a hollow sound, a man beneath a shroud
Eccentric billionaire, no traces in his hair
Travelin’ alone the drone of home leaves a trail of broken bones
Hot iron pocket, a leaden rocket, meant to keep the gold in hand
The salesman’s plan is already down the tracks
Oh how? Not now. Is there anyone around?
In the shell of a hollow sound, a man beneath a shroud
Steam and dream for what it’s worth, competence is in it’s hearse
Away from the right and towards the wrong, a land without the haze and smog
Facade of a medicine man, trying to teach him what he can
Telling him he’s not alone, but he will never make it home
Right now, here’s how, with everyone around
In the shell of a hollow sound, a man beneath a shroud
|
||||
3. |
Wooden
04:43
|
|||
|
Take a piece of advice from the men that you grew up with
That told you how to live and how to die
Take a look at yourself, count the faces in the mirror
If it’s more than one you’re living in a lie
You Make a dash for the door, try to make a quiet exit
But you trip and drop a bottle on the floor
No turning your back on the place that you grew up in
You never gonna make it out the door
With only an axe in hand you try to do the best you can
You were taught real young to bite your tongue if you didn’t wanna work out in the sun
And you didn’t, you knew that for sure
Yeah you knew that for sure
Made a dash for the door
Taking a cheap souvenir, just a tiny piece of plastic
But it represents the world that you have left
Pressed up to your chest, not a moment goes by quickly
But you know that what you’ve done is for the the best
Running like a wanted man, you try to do the best you can
You were running away from a loaded gun that was fired from a man that called you son
And you didn’t even care at all
No you didn’t care at all
You didn’t answer any calls
|
||||
4. |
Soul Miner
03:31
|
|||
|
If I fall down again, take anything you want
But all I ask of you is to leave my loving cup
But that won’t happen, no, you’ll have nothing to leave
A soul miner doesn’t quit, he works until he bleeds
Everything I got, I got from working in these mines
And I feel you’re mine
Everything I have, I worked so damn hard on my knees
For a soul miner’s keep
The dust on my face is from the ore I’m scraping away
To mine you out of here will take the rest of my days
But that’s my job, they say if I work it won’t take long
To mine you out and spill the beans with you till dawn
Everything I got, I got from working in these mines
And I feel you’re mine
Everything I have, I worked so damn hard on my knees
For a soul miner’s keep
I feel, I feel the walls coming down (Coming down around me)
|
||||
5. |
Things Happen
03:35
|
|||
|
I could go on talking or I could stop
Wring out each memory ‘til I get every drop
Sift through the details of the others involved
The true crime would be thinking it’s just one person’s fault
Like an honest signature on a fake I.D.
Like the guilty conscience with the innocent plea
You can just ignore it, put it out of mind
But ain’t it funny how the past won’t ever let something lie?
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else you wanted me to say to you
Things happen, that’s all they ever do
In a different time, on a different floor
I might mourn the loss of who I am not anymore
So I’m driving out to Oakland for a good look back
And a few revisions to my plan of attack
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else you wanted me to say to you
Things happen, that’s all they ever do
I think I see a lily, I see where she stands
I can’t help how I feel I don’t think anyone can
Sometimes we’re lovers, sometimes we’re friends
Behold the magnetism between two dead ends
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
(We could qualify the spirit guides we listen to)
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
(Or why a mom’s compelled to bronze your baby shoes)
I don’t know what else you wanted me to say to you
Things happen, that’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
That’s they ever do
That’s all they ever do
|
||||
6. |
||||
|
Welcome down to the underground
Where all your friends are hanging around
As for me, you won’t see me there
But you have fun getting nowhere
You won’t see me hanging around in your town
But I won’t tell what goes on in the Cypress Hotel, no I won’t
“We’ll be here to welcome you back,” they said
I tell ya I’d rather live in some kinda shack
I got a delta lady and an angry dog that help me through
But none of them are here and none of them are you
You won’t see me hanging around in your town
But I won’t tell what goes on in the Cypress Hotel, no I won’t do that to you now
Welcome down to the underground
Where all your friends are hanging around
As for me, you won’t see me there
But you have fun getting nowhere
You won’t see me hanging around in your town
But I won’t tell what goes on in the Cypress Hotel, no I won’t do that to you now
|
||||
7. |
Sycamore Jones
04:06
|
|||
|
Honey if it’s okay I’d like to show you around
This crazy old world here that makes all these sounds
This place that I live in right here underground
Nobody will tell you has always been around
It’s been a long time with these friends of mine living in all parts of time
But when I’m alone my thoughts are my own and I think of you Sycamore Jones
So this is the parlor where the ringleader maps out his plans
In the corner’s his daughter teaching the maid how to dance
Through that door is the pantry it’s organized by some ants
And over here is the table where I usually sit in a trance
It’s been a long time with these friends of mine living in all parts of time
But when I’m alone my thoughts are my own and I think of you Sycamore Jones
We’ll get to my bedroom but I don’t wanna take you too soonx
So here is the staircase it’ll take you straight to the moon
If you play your cards right maybe I’ll show you the pool
But the gardener is using it to cook up his hospital stew
It’s been a long time with these friends of mine living in all parts of time
But when I’m alone my thoughts are my own and I think of you Sycamore Jones
I’m walking alone through drainpipes I call home
With nobody there it’s been years since miss jones even cared
What caused my life to end? With no dignity left to defend
Sticking needles into my bones in my house I’m all alone
A young man turned to stone, I miss you sycamore jones
|
||||
8. |
Heartless Home
03:48
|
|||
|
Your body lays so still
It’s hard for me to tell if it’s even real
Don’t make this your last breath
You’re missing the best things in your life yet
Your last thing that’s gone from your heart
Won’t you take your time?
Won’t you take your time, my dear?
You’re alone in a heartless home
The universe will heal
The wounds from a bullet that shot you by the ear
Carry on dear
The river will rise and take you from here
The last thing that’s gone from your heart
Won’t you take your time?
Won’t you take your time, my dear?
You’re alone in a heartless home
|
||||
9. |
Don't Try To Wake Me Up
03:28
|
|||
|
I fell out of bed on an early Sunday morning
Wondering what it was that woke me up
A knock on the door was followed by a gentle woman's voice
Asking "don't you think you've slept enough?"
I pulled the sheets back over my head and tried not to listen
Hoping I would drift into a dream
That would wake me and show me the illusion of my peace
But instead I hear the stomping of angry feet
Don't try to wake me up from this fantasy
Half awake, I'm living in my dreams
Tucked away it's all okay to never come downstairs and never face the fears of an average day
It's only 20 degrees but it's warmer in my bed
Where I’m dreaming I’m a castaway with a busted head
But I'm lying here by myself and I'm in picture perfect health
That's real life, sitting in a living hell
Don't try to wake me up from this fantasy
Half awake, I'm living in my dreams
Tucked away it's all okay to never come downstairs and never face the fears of an average day
When I hear footsteps up the stairs, I lay here frozen scared
Hoping that she'll start to raise her tone
Only so the kids would start to know
Why their father needed to go
And she opens the door to find only my ghost
Don't try to wake me up from this fantasy
Half awake, I'm living in my dreams
Tucked away it's all okay to never come downstairs and never face the fears of an average day
Yesterday she found a way to make me hang upstairs so I could never face the fears of an average day
|
||||
10. |
I Know That
02:19
|
|||
|
10 to 11 when the waves called out to me
And I'm headed out to sea
The docks were empty as they showed themselves to me
I'm where I need to be
Too many people are counting on me
I don't even trust me
Too many ghosts are following me
I wouldn't even haunt me
Just past noon when the trees began to sing
And my phone began to ring
I was called into the pines beyond the city
That's where I'll be sitting
Trying to qualify the target on my back
I realized changes to my predetermined track
All of my guides aside from you are howling back
But there's no time for that
I Know That
You know that
We all know that
The kids know that
The world that I am living is lives right beside yours
With all of the same chores
But children laugh economic reports
And cry when playing sports
We research chemicals that are in us all at birth
To make the thrills not hurt
What's taken years has only just been heard
That's how I know it's my turn
I know that
You know that
We know that
But they don't know that
|
||||
Ben Sparaco Nashville, Tennessee
Ben Sparaco is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter from South Florida living in Nashville Tennessee. Ben's music combines influences from the folk songwriters of the 50s and 60s, legendary blues/rock guitarists, seminal jazz horn players, and much more. ... more
If you like Ben Sparaco, you may also like:
24th Street Blues
by Tom Heyman
Tom Heyman documents life in San Francisco circa 2023, refusing to succumb to easy characterization & instead capturing the city’s nuance.
go to album
Downey to Lubbock
by Dave Alvin
Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
go to album
Choice Tapes Vol. 5
by Taper's Choice
featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 17, 2023
go to album
Echo Dancing
by Alejandro Escovedo
The legendary Alejandro Escovedo returns with another country-rock scorcher.
go to album
Following up their excellent comp of Bay Area talent, OIM release Whiskerman's new gospel-tinged LP.
go to album
Play It On The Tannoys
by Stranger The Horse
Rich and carefully-sculpted songs that cross-wire country and roots music with jazz, samba, and more.
go to album
Thoughtful and poetic folk with a Cosmic Americana flavor from the Brooklyn singer-songwriter.
go to album
