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Year of the Crow

by State Radio

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1.
Guantanamo 03:03
Heard you sold your friend, got a good price at the local store, you know he could’ve turned you in, could have been you on the concrete floor. Jefferson roll over and tell ol’ Stalin the news, they got ‘em locked up in Castroland redefining abuse in shades of gray. Torture advocate. Got his dick up in a chickenhawk, life is what he’ll get, war president is a criminal. Still the years they go by, no charge or trial date, you’re accused of whatever you confess to, until then you won’t see the light of day. There must be another way. The weathervanes are charging down the hill, in some quixotic cavalry and the war is shaking in its sleep and the homesick ghost of Geronimo, I fear is taking all the absinthe, there must be another way. Since Geneva’s nearly drowned, since the tinsmith was gagged and bound, since the rich boys got away, two shovels and a skull of the widower brave. Another indefinite detention, anther tradition saved, all hail the line of crooked white chiefs, whose father stole the bones from an Indian grave. There must be another way.
2.
Unfortunates 02:21
Come all the unfortunates, come on with your throwaway youth. They say it’s written for you, no matter what you do. Something happened up in robin hood hills, the devil had his way but the locals say they’re on to something. They say they know the name. Did you happen to see the paper today, and see what them troubled boys had done. Another unidentified youth, mistaken for something he’d never done. Come all the unfortunates, come on with your ghetto youth. There’s talk on the police radio, any suspect will do. There was an on scene deputy and he had it in for the West Memphis Three, got them for murder of the first degree, but the crowd wanted more. Did you happen to see the paper today, and see what them troubled boys had done, another unidentified youth mistaken for something he’d never done. So get goin’, get gone. So get goin’, it’s time to move on. So get up get going, see what them troubled boys have seen. ‘cause the future is all knowing but get too close and too close you’ll be.
3.
On a brig loaded with timber headed for the north Maine coast, they took on some rough seas. The captain and his slave fought back the heavy waves but they were threatening to break her up so badly. Two days before they left the outer banks, and made good time up to Boston. But just north of Essex the sky grew dark – he missed his mark he was making, life can change so fast. The captain had seen many a day, when the winds blew and the waters raged. But it was just a part of the life he made for himself, running the coast of New England. The ship heaved and cracked, threw the men on their backs as the water came rushing in the captain fought hard yet. He yelled above the splintering wreck, I have done you wrong son. I should be forsaken for what I have done. But Ben reached a timber to stay afloat. He grabbed the captain’s braided coat, he swam him to the nearest shore. Dragged him up ‘til he couldn’t pull no more, and left him breathin’ dry. The captain said in all my days, I never seen anybody save the very person who kept him enslaved. God damn it Ben, you should have your freedom for what you have done. I should be forsaken for what I have done. Somewhere off the Maine coast, at the mouth of the New Meadows River there’s an island, where a marooned man lived out his life quietly under tide and sky, never forgetting when the sea rose up so high. The captain said in all my days, I never seen anybody save the very person who kept him enslaved. God damn it Ben, you should have your freedom for what you have done.
4.
CIA 03:38
Ma Ma Mama don’t look now, there’s red blue coming up along. I might recommend that when the protests are over, you will not expect to be so well. When the capital is crowded with effigies, and they might do you in if you don’t know your country. Don’t you ever let us down CIA. I know you’ll never let us down CIA, as you all sit on the crowd and keep them workin’, and say again. Ma Ma Mama don’t you see. ‘Cause it’s just one of them lonely days, when we say how we fear that the last fence has fallen. You will not expect to be so welcome to life of a foreign national, where are the Americans now that they fractured your country. Don’t you ever let us down, CIA. I know you’ll never let us down CIA, as you sit and call in sick your empire needs protecting.
5.
It was ruff nite, turned into years in an unknown land. Just a grudge fight, cooked up by the DC suits on hand. We had a hard time but we tried to understand these born-again gunpoint libertines. Then they sold us down the face of the mighty river, sold turpentine for tea. Hold me now it’s the evil liberator and he’s coming with a gang of thieves. In the firelight of the torched out refineries, he sat upright the poster boy for the IMC, a poor man fights and dies for what a rich man only believes, sure as a blind man does not see the floor. Then they sold us down the face of the mighty river, sold turpentine for tea. Hold me now it’s the evil liberator and he’s coming with a gang of thieves. And they say, no battleship too big for the war emporium. It’s give it all you got son and go back to where you’re from. ‘Cause we’re hiding in the wings, we’re the super neocons, we got bombs and they got barrels of gasoline. You know you’ll have it coming if you say that there is nothing to see. In the desert night they listened for the baying of the hounds. But it wasn’t quite right no sign of the weather underground (but there was not a sign), and they were keepin’ a sharp eye (but) they never saw what they had found. At last it was only you and me. Well they sold us down the face of the mighty river, sold turpentine for tea. Hold me now it’s the evil liberator and he’s coming with a gang of thieves. ‘Cause they say, no battleship too big for the war emporium. It’s give it all you got son and go back to where you’re from. Cause we’re hiding in the wings, we’re the super neocons. We got bombs and they got barrels of gasoline. ‘Cause you know you’ll have it coming if you say that there is nothing to see.
6.
On behalf of the resistance, and all of our existence as the wanted man, the conquered man. We know not of your borders, but you push us to your corners. This is not your land, this isn’t anybody’s land. Some will live and some will last. Some will cry out for the past but my oh my the answers are falling fast, I will give if this pain won’t last. So from where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. How you choose to meet your fate, for I will fight no more forever. Gov’t agents arrivals, pale chief and his disciples. The crooked tongues, the acid lungs. We know not of your borders, but the world is getting colder. This is not your land. Some will live and some will last, some will bleed like Looking Glass. My oh my the answers are falling fast, I will give if this pain won’t last. So from where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. How will you choose to meet your fate, for I will fight no more forever. And the sun will set sad and sick, break these chains I don’t want them no more. Said he died of a broken heart.
7.
My father was a haystack man, always said son go find what you can. Said the guns get jammed up in the sand, don’t let them try to fool you. I said but daddy we ain’t fightin’ the cong no more. He said you’re going over there to lose the very same war. I said nothin’ you can do is gonna make me stay, gotta let others have their glory day. But you know the whole town’s getting’ together in Leeland’s barn. Everyone’s getting’ their nice shoes on. Girls are all cuttin’ up their confirmation dresses. Streets will be empty tomorrow as the whole town confesses. It’s a barn storming yeah – gonna leave my bed tomorrow, it’s gonna be a barn stormin’ yeah, won’t hold a head of sorrow. ‘cause it’s a lovely heartbreak, a lovely heartbreak. Now Ginny she was up to no good, as up to no good as she could sometimes be. I used to lie awake at night, just thinkin’ about her being up to no good with me. But tonight she said just like the flower to the bees, I’m gonna give you a little somethin’ before you go overseas. All I could do was stammer, yes yes please and look in the other direction.. It’s gonna be a barn stormin’… ‘Cause I never been laid and so it goes, never danced before so stoned. It was the first time I didn’t want to go, now I wish I could take it all back again. She spit in my hand, said boy I’m gonna make you a man. It was all I could do to stand and ask the levy to hold. It’s gonna be a barn stormin’… Gonna leave my bed tomorrow. A barn stormin’ yeah, gonna hold a head of sorrow, it’s a lovely heartbreak.
8.
Solarium malaria lookin’ for the stereo, wanted to save being excommunicated from the area. A it’s ok. In the city said he cut a cord of wood, no bigger than thimble but still plenty good. A it’s ok. ‘Cause it’s just a bump on a rash of robberies. On account of the world economy that’s makin’ us sick. Go get the man who said he’s on to me, he thinks we’re in the kitchen with our stick. But he don’t know that Paris is burnin’ down, you’d never know it in this town. The governor’s walkin’ around like he’s got tricks for you. Catch as Casius never become the killing machine. Run him over ruff shod ‘til he bleeds army green out. So devout to the saint that lost his seat he never seen, semi-automatic rosary out devout. ‘Cause it’s just a bump on a rash of robberies. In a world too sad for Solomon we just sit. I’ll watch your economy. I’ll tell you when the police have it fixed. Paris is burnin’ down, you’d never know it in this town. The governor’s walkin’ around like he’s got tricks for you. So take a minute to laugh it over, we’ll make sure it’s all true, just like she said behind the barn last December eve. Baby falls 40 ft caught by a street cleaner coming home from the union hall, he saw the fall. A it’s ok. JP Sousa found a radio, a radio, Sousa found a place to go, a radio in his head that said… It’s just a bump on a rash of robberies, an old sand lot anomaly that’s savin’ this day. In a world too sad for sodomy we’re just sitting in the kitchen with our stray. But Paris is burnin’ down, governors are walkin’ around, we’ll make sure that they do right by you. So you think you might go to Beatrice even though the letter was never found, maybe it will come tomorrow noon. She is askin’ her fallen saint to please return her straitlaced fighter who don’t know who she is, he don’t know who she is where are you my sweet Desmond Doss, have you softly gone to winter, here I’ve brought you your two 2 dollar bills back, but I’m not waiting for sweet Eliza. She can have her water colors back, I found them on last December eve you look strangely quite so familiar, the way you talk of suppertime but I don’t know who she is, don’t know who she is. And you, you’ll bring this beloved stranger at the foot of this pile on Gideon’s bed, she gave me a needlepoint motorbike. So go and take this to sweet Eliza, it was written and gently given to the courier pending arrival soon. Could you hold me just one more older then I’ll go as your fallen fighter waiting at the door, can’t see you anymore. Here my dear a sweet Nostrovia, in a letter sent to December. I will wait for you to just humble me home.
9.
Omar Bay 04:14
Dear Mr. Omar Bay, got news that you left today. You still countin’ all them taxicabs, takin’ you back to the time you have left? Do you well remember Vietnam, when you had a mother who loved her son. Did you have to leave us all and go away? Omar Bay, I think I’m fallin’ to pieces. Won’t you help a good man get up and back on his feet. Five winters, five winters in New York is plenty. I’d even say it’s four too many. Won’t you help a good man get up and back on his feet. Dear Mr. Omar Bay, I saw your old friend from the war today. He said you want to seek God in a church or to get some warmth, whatever came first. And now your standpipe it stands alone. If where you place your cap is your home, did you have to leave us all and go away? Omar Bay, I think I’m fallin to pieces. Won’t you help a good man get up and back on his feet. Five winters in New York is plenty…
10.
As with gladness men of old did the shining world behold. And so she took us down to the water’s edge, said if we are not, careful with what we do, we will reach a final end— She gave him everything but he held her down and he tore her coat. I shouldn’t have loved you, I shouldn’t have loved you. As with gladness men of old did the shining world believe. And so took them down some bread, but when he up and threw away the seed, you could see her look away and sadly shake her head. She gave him everything but he held her down and tore her coat. I shouldn’t have loved you. We want for the blood of the earth to cure up the vine, but we roll it aside.
11.
Wicker Plane 04:05
In the park there’s a wicker made plane that crashed down just the other day. The pilot had lost his way, got disoriented and crash landed in the middle of the city. He’d never seen buildings so tall and wondered why. They even didn’t ever think to lean over and fall, and wondered how he’d manage to navigate through them all like he did. But oh how they seemed to lean over him now, as if to peer down on the broken scene. As if to question the innocent invasion of the stranger brought down in the hurricane. He said wherever I am, please you must explain, just hours ago I took off in my wicker plane. Night fell and with it came the rain. Down on the buildings, the pilot, the plane. Rain ran down his hair, hangin’ so low makin’ circles in the puddles where the drops would go. A little boy came along, took him to a tree on a gentle slope said this tree is a misfit like you and me. On rainy nights like this the bark comes off like rope. They bundled up the bark, each took a load. Took it to the high rise where the little one lived. Tossed it down the park with a mighty throw and watched it unroll to the ground round. The pilot ran down, tied the bark to the prop and then promptly left the park to go back to the top. There they hauled the plane clear up to the roof. The boy said the place you come from that’s where I’ll be from too. Wherever I am Lord…please you must explain, just hours ago, I was taking off in my wicker plane…now you’re in a lovely garden, it’s such a lovely garden. Wherever I am, I know where I am. Wherever I am Lord…please you must explain. Just hours ago, I was taking off in my wicker plane.
12.
Sudan 03:52
Downwind there is a comin’, a rumble in the sand, sets our feet to running, for fear of the faceless man. But if I had an arsenal and if was ten feet tall, then I would put an end to it all. And if I had wheat to burn, and if I had a lot to learn, it still would not matter what color you were. And if I but one wish on which to stand, I’d have the weapons all turn to sand. And I’d see the gunners watch their empty hands fall down to their sides. Downwind they come up lonely, all hungry for the kill. The horses do the pounding but it’s a blood that’s going to spill. It’s a dark blood that’s going to spill. But if I had an arsenal and if I was ten feet, then it wouldn’t matter what color you were. And if I had but one wish on which to stand, I’d see the weapons all turn to sand and I’d see the gunners watch their empty hands fall down to their sides. If I had but one wish on which to stand, I’d see the weapons all leave Sudan and I’d see the gunners wash their empty hands down by the riverside. Ghost town in my homeland, I will come back again, if you make a ghost out of me, I will still be free. If I had but one wish on which to stand, I’d see the weapons all leave this land. And I’d see the gunners watch their empty hands fall down to their sides. If I had but one wish on which to stand, I’d see the weapons all leave Sudan and I’d see the gunners wash their empty hands down by the riverside.
13.
Did you get the invitation, the swan song of a nation, everyone’s waiting for you inside. We got soda pop and hickory stills. Quinn the Eskimo in espadrilles and Sally makin’ you feel alright. The baroness and her bayonets, the madhatter hedgin’ bets against the good judgment of the swinging king. It’s the fall of the American empire, but don’t you worry honey you didn’t miss a thing. Juiced up on dignitaries getting’ loose like Thelonious did. We get our own sanctimonious kid and he could suck the diamond off a diamond ring. Just send in the farmers in the national guard, we’ll be in the war room getting’ hard. Just wear your dress, blues you know you look so damn dashing. Don’t be shy, sally won’t bite you ‘cause she got her pants on fire and she got rabbit baby calling your name. Fall of the American empire it should’ve…but me, I’m just workin’ a sound bite, just rolling my smokes tight. You know they said it was all right, all right. ‘Cause Lucy’s in the nude with senator’s son you know the one from Massachusetts, she was pleased to come his advances, for he was a man of wealth and taste. But she got so cut up by the man who would not stop. Thought all she needed was love but it was like nothing she thought and when Lucy came to get her, in the corner she lay. Fall of the American empire, it should’ve been all right. Me I’m just working a sound bite, just rolling my smokes tight. You know they said it was all right, all right, all right. Where you going Mr. Holy? All right, say where were you going Mr. Holy. Lucy girl I found your diamonds, they shine like sirens singing from the shoals of Buzzard’s Bay. It’s worse than we know, how I wish it wasn’t so, that all tomorrow’s parties have gone away. Fall, all in for the fall of the American empire…you said it would never go away. Fall…Lucy girl can’t you just stay.

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released September 25, 2007

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