1. |
Should
03:37
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Should
© 2001, Jason Johnston
Got a quarter in my pocket, got a half note at my side
Got the beauty of the western world, I’m the effervescent child
See the old man by the beer store, asks for help as I go past
Says his life has been a little rough, but he doesn’t want lunch,
He prefers the cash
And I swear, as I take a second glance
And I curse, when the truth invades my sense
Then I bend, a little lower than I would
If I hadn’t been accosted, by some should.
Stupid car is, in my way now. Someone should learn how to drive.
Looking backwards as I honk my horn, I see the fear in the old man’s tired eyes
And I swear, as I take a second glance
And I curse, when the truth invades my sense
Then I bend, a little lower than I would
If I hadn’t been accosted, by some should.
Got a guitar on my back now, swing it round and bat some truth
You listen to it from your bar room seat,
but you better watch out before it gets you in the tooth.
And I swear, as I take a second glance
And I curse, when the truth invades my sense
Then I bend, a little lower than I would
If I hadn’t been accosted, by some should.
Some good ol fashioned sense of good, I should, I should, I should…
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2. |
Spin
04:01
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2. Spin
© 1995 Jason Paul Johnston
You’ll never believe the mess that I’m in
Took so long to get where I’m standing
Ya better believe it hurts - it strikes down to my very Soul
Put on the blindfold, give me spin
Chorus:
Give me a spin, just give me a spin,
Tie that blindfold tight and give me a spin
Now they say that faith works not by sight,
I guess, I’ll find out if they’re wrong or right
Put on the blindfold, give me a spin
A little pain will do the heart wonders
A little more might just put me under
Now I thought I found a light, but it seems I’m left here in the dark
The hand that I held was no hand at all
Chorus
I’d never choose to stand in my place
But anywhere else I would be misplaced
Cause pain is a builder and this bridge is going straight to heaven
So put on that blindfold and let’s take a spin
Chorus
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3. |
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Morning to Evening
© 2003 Jason Paul Johnston
It’s 9:34 and I’m hitting the floor,
I just wish it was PM not AM.
I like to hit the ground running,
but I was running now I’m slapping –
The pavement, the pavement, the pavement
But there’s a warmth in the gravel
that sticks in and travels
Much deeper than I had intended
And a comfort in knowing, that there’s nothing below me
To fall to, to fall to, to fall to
To fall to, to fall, to, to fall to
Chorus:
I know the higher path is buried beneath these sidewalk cracks
I guess the brightness of my night it darkens all of my daylight...
The clock says 3:10 and I slip to the basement,
Just wish it was PM not AM
But my life is a flipping, of morning to evening
My timing, my timing, my timing
Head in my hands catching tears, catching plans
Catching brainwaves that might just slip deeper
I’d let go if I could help it, I would strip if I could shed it
Right off me, right off me, right off me
Right off me, right off me, right off me
Chorus:
I know the ancient path is buried deep beneath these sidewalk cracks
I know the way of light is covered by my darkened sense of sight
Bridge:
I know you are true. And I know you are you.
I have seen you in the shadows, felt your moisture in the dew.
I guess I'm just a flake. I’ve got this habit of mistaking that I don't see you making...
A way for me when I'm lost, a sail for me when I’m wave tossed
A rudder for this wandering soul, a little better me...a little more whole
It’s 8:24 and I walk out the door- It’s morning, it’s morning, it’s morning
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4. |
Kick
03:29
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Kick
© 2001, Jason Johnston
Gotta come through this somehow and turn around
To the light that’s chased me through a hole or two
Am I gonna leave it behind, and cross the line
To the way around the corner there for me and you
And I can’t see what you’ve got up your sleeve
But it’s gotta be much better than this
And I can’t find as I grope through my mind
A consolation that just lets me exist
Looking for something unknown, Throwing stones
Into the water just to watch them ripple it
Wish it could change my point of view, or latitude
But I’m left here on the shores of “nothing yet.”
And I can’t see what you’ve got up your sleeve
But it’s gotta be much better than this
And I can’t find as I grope through my mind
A consolation that just lets me exist
Flipping through pages and see, the life to be
Has got a lot more teeth than I have ever used
Living in hope and poverty, and it seems
That they did it all in life together too.
And I can’t see what you’ve got up your sleeve
But it’s gotta be much better than this
And I can’t find as I grope through my mind
A consolation that just lets me exist
And I don’t know when this side of me will go
Cause I saw it in the mirror last I check
And I need a kick to put me to my knees
And a hand of grace to help me up again
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5. |
Sweet Somethings
02:32
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Sweet Somethings
© 1994 Jason Johnston
You say you love the way I look, I love your blindness
You drown this thoughtless soul with senseless acts of kindness
And all the times your reaching out combats my reaching in
I’m humbled by the thought of your love shining from within
Chorus:
A symphony of praise to my heart
A line of words that drown the tears
A note of laughter to my soul
Whisper sweet nothings in my ear
Whisper sweet somethings, charm my fears
How could one so wonderful be wondering about me
And writing notes, and saying things that I just cannot see
Words from your hand or from your mouth they mean the same
But I’d give anything to see them roll right from your lips today
Chorus
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6. |
Side Note
01:35
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Side Note
© Jason Paul Johnston
My deepest lines ~ are not contrived They point to who ~ I am inside
Skirting through the blockades ~ wrestling with the Ghost
They turn and twist to penetrate ~ revealing what’s hidden most
The truest mask ~ that I can wear
Is one that bears ~ a naked tear
A flash of fleshly colour ~ before I turn away
And dim the lights down slowly ~ so I just fade to grey
Chorus:
But I could let the walls down slowly
And I could peel facades back wholly ~ If you want me to
You’ll have to take your arms and hold me
And feel my pulse, and whisper softly ~ If you want me too
Just wading through ~ so many tears They make it hard ~ to see past the fears
Consumed with my own ego ~ till ID overcomes
I’m left here overwhelmed now ~ but feeling quite alone
Chorus (...but do I want to....)
Bridge:
But the words that I hear they sing out loud and clear
Move a little closer baby
Come to me, not by sight, follow my voice, follow the light
I'll Try to keep the ...
Chorus
1x ~ cause you want me to
2x ~ cause you love me too
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7. |
Not About You
03:54
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Not About You
© 2001, Jason Johnston
Every morning, I put the milk away for you
Every evening, I leave the porch light on for you – I do
Every morning, I try to make the bed for you
Every evening, I waiting up past nine…
For You, I do it all for You, And what do you do?
You leave me all alone here,
Leave me all alone here,
Just leave me all alone
In every rainbow, I, see a little color of you
In every sunset, I think of all the days with you, They’re through
And in every thunderstorm,
I tried to be the calm for you
Through every moonbeam,
I staring at the clock…
For You, I do it all for You, And what do you do?
You leave me all alone here,
Leave me all alone here,
Just leave me all alone ...
Bridge
Just leave me high & dry, and I don’t wonder why
It’s very clear to see, It’s nothing about me
So as you turn to go, With your back against your home
Just tell me that you’re all alone, all alone – like me
Starting to wonder, will it ever change for you?
Thinking about it, did you ever love me like you use to? Did you?
I’m still carrying something, that’s pointing to a life with you.
You’ll think nothing about it, cause all you think about is…
You, I do it all for You, And what do you do?
You leave me all alone here,
Leave me all alone here,
Just leave me all alone here.
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8. |
Cascade
03:06
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Cascade
© 1999 Jason Johnston
Living Between Cascade emotions
Dodging behind rolling commotion
I can’t see past my own devotion
And where it is point I don’t know…
Chorus:
But I know when I’m pinned down
And I know how pain is found
And I can tell you, when I’ve hit the ground
Faceless grin, unpainted smile
Gazing past, I’m gone for a while
What will suffice, a little denial
I wish I knew, what was left to deny…
Staring between, these lifeless strings
What they give back is just what I bring
But never more than I can sing
And I’m left without words, la – la – la
I’m on the ground - I surrender...
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9. |
Over Now
02:28
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It’s Over Now
© 2004 Jason Johnston
Well it’s over now, wish I’d seen it coming
Guess it’s like the train you hear
But can’t understand it’s rumbling
It’s tumbling, like a weed down a dusty path
Guess I could chase it
But it’s slipped beyond my grasp
So I take a long gasp, as I figure out my plan
It’s been a little clearer
Since I took a harder stand
When I take all I can, seems there's one more thing learn
There's a lesson in the fire, and a telling in their words
--- break ---
Though the arrows sting and burn, It's the cost o f honesty
There's another way but it's the truth that sets men free
And the fog is all I see, wrestling with the constant hour
Looking for a minute I can stop and smell the flowers
But all I smell is this here coward, who lets it all just go on past
So I’m left here all alone
Catching tears in an empty glass...
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10. |
Crumpled
05:23
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Crumpled
© Dec 2001, Jason Paul Johnston
Jacked up then kicked down, Tires bouncing off the ground
I could have been underneath but I somehow escaped – unscathed now
Your voice is a mile away, can’t hear a word you say
But I can hear the tone and it’s calling out, but will I follow?
I’d rather not
Chorus:
I’ve balled it up and tossed it on the floor
Can you make sense of this crumpled page well then it’s yours (it’s yours)
You gotta start with something, It’s not much of nothing
But it is all I’ve got and it’s slapped up on the table
Screwed up again today, I’d like to start yesterday
But then I’d be counting back the days and weeks until I was one day
And that can’t be
bridge:
I don't know...what else that you want
I've got notebooks of resentment, my ink has filled in every spot
I guess I'll take what I've got
And just let more unfilled pages, just drift on in endless haunt
You’ve got everything now, everything and the farm
There isn’t anything else I haven’t spilled out for you – that you know of
My pockets are out turned – My piggy bank upturned
Every penny I’ve got has gone your way now are you happy?
Well you don’t say….
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Jason Paul Johnston Lexington, Kentucky
Jason is the son of a preacher from the Great White North (Canada) and a music teacher from Tennessee, giving his muse northern and southern winds. Jason released his first album "Willows Motel" in 2009. It was an americana inspired album of eleven originals and one old gospel tune. Jason is now working on a series of follow-up albums: 100 Stories Volumes 1-10 ... more
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