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13 North & South EP

by Pelican Johnny

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1.
On a narrow strip of land Between two coasts 13 runs north and south but somehow, it's just the end of the road My father was a prison guard I know I will be one too Like the people of the Kentucky coal mines There's just nothing else to do If I could save up, I'd be heading out But I've got nowhere to go 13 runs north and south but somehow, it's just the end of the road The neighbor is breaking into our house And he's pushing us around The sheriff don't give a good goddamn In this lawless town Keep it up man, just keep on pushing until you're making me explode 13 runs north and south but somehow, it's just the end of the road My best friend before he died was a wise & simple man He said "Son, don't you be like me. You better get out while you can" Still I do my best to forget that I've got something to lose I do my best to forget with help from this bottle of booze Sometimes on the edge of town Where the marshes meet the street I can see way past this place To where I wanna be So I'll be saving up and I'll be heading out To where I don't know 13 runs north and south but somehow, it's just the end of the road
2.
Staying afloat beside a boat In the Gulf of Mexico With no work to think about today Many times when I’m feeling down I just turn this head around And the good times are on their way It’s not right, it’s never right But we’re all happy, deep down inside When I’m singing a song with my friends Because I can, then I know I’m happy tonight Late at night with my friends Hide and seek will never end No one will be leaving here ‘till two No booze or drugs are needed Especially when the music’s bleeding A melody the whole night through Walking with a girl who’s pretty Down the sidewalk of the city It makes me feel like a lucky guy She’ll be there when times are wrong And help me sing this special song On a big beach under a bright blue sky
3.
Oh no, I’ve ran my mouth Someone else wants to kick my ass again And I do care But who are they to ruin my day When you’re around, things are going my way And you know, you make me smile My spirit’s high and I know why ‘Cause she’s providing A reason to look the other way Looks like I’ve scratched my guitar My glasses are gone and my ego is scarred pretty bad And I do care But when you’re in my car It helps me to know where my priorities are And it’s you on the top of my list We'll be heading west to the country But that’s another day Right now the busy river city Will soon be calling my name But let’s walk in the park Sneak around after dark Come on baby, let’s enjoy today
4.
Traveling through this bumpy lifelong journey There are folks who will take and act unkind They will try and get to you No matter what you might do There's a jerk in sheep's clothing all the time Gossip fiends tell everyone around them Fairy tales about things I haven't done I try and take the higher road But it goes so goddamn slow So I sing this song and helps me to carry on I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died Straight up your ass would be the place for this web of lies I've never met someone like you who treats me like you do I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died Supremacy is an oxymoron Especially when it's assumed by shits like you Intelligence you can't tolerate A poor substitute for hate Hitler is dead and you should be too I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died Straight up your ass would be the place for this foolish pride I've never met someone like you who treats me like you do I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died
5.
I'm Not Mad 03:37
Seven o’clock in the morning But I’ve been up since way before I’ve been awake, yeah man I know Head straight for the shower Last refuge before the end of the hour Into the day I go And so I’m satisfied I won’t be obliged To say Maybe the reason why I am pacified today I’m not mad because I’m not allowed to be mad And so, a smile on my face Anything else would just go to waste It’s the only way, yeah man I know Don't bother to try and fight When you can’t look forward to the things you like Don’t even try, yeah man I know
6.
I’ve got an empty house for an Empty heart I don’t know where it began so Where do I start? And I’m tired of waiting for your Mind to change So I’ve made up by my mind to be the Biggest pain again It’s not that you didn’t know It’s not that I didn’t show I care My thoughts just got one place to go But at least I didn’t quit Anonymous bitch
7.
I grab my bike and I head out into the fog My conscience would kill me if I stayed Alone, so I called - do you still care at all? I’m reaching out for help on my birthday “Don’t try and fight” is what they tell me But I can’t keep it all inside Lay down to rest this memory today I’m hoping that this soul will survive I’ve spent been fifty nights crying That pretty ghost won’t let me get no sleep A relentless heart will never stop from trying To get back what was taken from me To get back my sanity In the cool autumn air when I combed up my hair And I was looking like the day when we first met I plead and I beg to take me back again A night ensued I won’t soon forget On that very last night when you held me And I fell asleep squeezing you tight Please don’t tell me that this is the end Let me down easy if you can I’ve got a missed connection with myself Chances blown and a controversy made I can’t seem to help myself Gone too far and now it’s too late Please don’t let today be too late Seven months and a million letters later I’m looking back to see how far I’ve come Driving five states now to make myself feel better I’ve sought and found a little bit of fun But don’t get me wrong, something’s missing Like a child who’s been taken from his home An endless soundtrack that keeps me coming back To the one I love: this heart will never roam
8.
I started out on the wrong side of the tracks so I followed them tracks and I ain't looking back until I see the smoke of the textile mills I know some folks, got a place to stay Jen sells the hooch, thats a place to play And I'm never too far from escape by the rails It don't matter where I lay When I lay my body down As long as I hear that train whistle sound It don't matter where I sleep If I hear that whistle weep I can remember the days spent on those Richmond streets Burlesque show on a Friday night The drunks will drink and the [edge] boys will fight And the broken hearts, they will go unnoticed My bicycle's locked next to yours Lets get out of here and ride to the shores of the James River and sing away our blues Follow the river down I think about the years I let others down I hope they don't remember me this way I stand on a rock and I look around I'm thankful for the happiness that I've found I won't fuck it up this time or at least I'll try

about

Before "Relentless Heart" comes "13 North & South" - an eclectic hook-laden 8 song EP from one-man-band DIYer-to-a-fault, Pelican Johnny. Featuring new songs off the upcoming album as well as remastered old songs which were recorded in cold bedrooms, played on old guitars not completely in tune, and sang during the darkest - and medium brightest - of times. Ups and downs. Good and bad. North and south.

credits

released November 22, 2013

All lyrics and music by Pelican Johnny Roberts (BMI).
Recorded at Snake Oil Recording Studio (Richmond, VA) by Dan-O Deckelman and No Outlet Studio (Chesapeake, VA) by Pelican Johnny Roberts.
("BYB" and "50 Nights" recorded live in a bedroom on Cary St, Richmond, VA. "Where I Lay" recorded in a lesser equipped No Outlet Studio.)
Produced and mixed by Pelican Johnny Roberts.
Mastered at Whiskey Bear Studio (Virginia Beach, VA) by Chris Kendrick with additional mastering at No Bed Studio (Austin, TX) by Pelican Johnny Roberts.
Original Artwork by Rose Haywood. Concept/Layout by Pelican Johnny Roberts.
Special thanks to Greg and Nicole Mones for being totally awesome effin' people! and for contributing background vocals on "Happy Tonight"!

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Pelican Johnny Richmond, Virginia

Returning from a 7 year stint in Austin, TX, one-man-band and bandleader, Pelican Johnny, is back in the ol' River City, He had previously spent his musical career playing drums and guitar (recording and touring) in a diverse array of bands from around the country. Now, as a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he employs the same raw energy in his brand of folk-punk Americana. ... more

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