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The Present Imperfect

by John Rose

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1.
When sticks were guns, We'd rarely bleed. Our bicycles Were built for speed. Where sticks were guns, Our roots ran deep. When battles ended, We'd get to sleep. My old friend, He works for me, Fighting for a philosophy. I've shot him a thousand times. Next time, he might not survive.
2.
Serge 03:29
There’s a wall. It’s been built up between you and Serge, So I decided to pen this filthy dirge About the two of you. For a time, I thought the two of you were doing well. Someone slipped on the peel of another’s spell, So head over heels Now all I see is you in the frame, Standing in the positive space. It was not A single word that he said It was simply that he might as well have been dead So inaccessible Now you’re off Like the bumper of my old red car You’re chasing down dreams and swallowing stars You try to stay As far away from other people as possible, So you can pretend to be alone And all I see is you in the frame, Standing in the positive space.
3.
Carlton Arms 04:48
You wouldn’t stay there. I guess you were too scared, Even though I found that room overlooking the city. The walls of that room Were of a violet hue. I wish you could’ve seen the tiny steel balcony. It was too much city Hard and too real, I see. Your turning it down Was only disappointment. Lady, We were never meant to be. So it is a cliche, but a shame We made a cute couple. I can always, I can always say, I never loved anyone No, no-one else when we were together. You were too much, girl. Too much girl for me. I didn’t ever mean to hurt you.
4.
Carolyn 04:11
Oxygen tank, I’m yelling, “Take it away!” I’m telling you to breathe, Breathe on your own again. Carolyn, I love you, I miss you, you’re ever in my mind Carolyn. I would slice off a piece of my flesh, If it would make you okay again. Grind it up into a tonic, A healing sweetmeat medicine. If only one thought would steal away Your feeble mindedness Fly me away, I am a babe in your soft caress Carolyn, I love you, I miss you, you’re ever in my mind Carolyn. Remember that summer I went fishing with Bill And you took me to the Farmer’s Market? Colorado carrots taste so sweet. And when I think of you, I think of Chocolate and cartoons and teddy bears. Carolyn, I love you, I miss you, you’re ever in my mind Carolyn.
5.
Stay away from my table Quit licking my shoe I know that you love me I love you too I love you too The freeway is busy with the ghosts My first kiss was on this night There were leaves and shaving cream in my hair But I can’t have you around Your innocence stinks Despite your Sailor’s breath I wonder who told you what I told you Thirteen more steps to the edge of the tank When you’re broken You’re so broken it’s easy to drink It’s easy to drink It’s mischief night It’s mischief night tonight So I wipe my chin And take off my clothes You say you’re my girl But no one knows, no no one knows So stay away from my table Quit licking my shoe I know you love me I love you too I love you too I love you too It’s mischief night It’s mischief night tonight
6.
Softly as starlight looked up to from dew coated meadows at dawn Spoken to me Are your words through the breeze As we greet on your lawn Our hands embrace As they meet at the neck Of an old guitar Once I was young On steel rails I would run Never thought I would die Let go of lovers In each passing town And would silently sigh Waited for nothing And nothing escaped My creaking cage With nothing to show them Except for myself and the bed I’d made Slowly excite me ’Til tension has built me A new routine Butter tastes so good It’s locked up In octogenarian dreams Just don’t be me ‘Cause you are your own show In this hit parade You’ve nothing to show me Except for yourself and the bed you’ve made
7.
Rodeo Shirt 03:45
If I were Las Vegas I’d scream my lungs out If I owned the Golden Nugget I’d blow my brains out Because a million dollar bill Won’t win me over And a billion dollar thrill Just ain’t the best time If I were New York City I’d cry my eyes out If I were those towering buildings I’d want to fall down People say I’m not a lock to win Forever more I’ll take my knocks right on the chin Because a million dollar bill Won’t win me over And a billion dollar thrill Just ain’t the best time
8.
Haunting You 04:15
You’ll shift through sawdust at your feet Tears will walk down your face to the beat Your friends will see that you are through Long before loneliness starts haunting you You’ll follow lust from end to end Of every street and back again There is only one place to find your heart Only then with no success you’ll stop and start You’ll sift through pictures of you both And read between lines of notes she wrote Memory will flood all that you do Long before loneliness starts haunting you You’ll feign your freedom now and then Only to find yourself come back again Through introspection you can find your heart And the one true love with which you’ll never part Memory will flood all that you do Long before loneliness starts haunting you

about

The Present Imperfect was a tape released by Natrix Natrix Records (Austin, TX) in 2006. It was recorded in the house on John Campbells Trail using an 4-track TASCAM. My favorite moments in the recording are the wooden chair squeaks and Rell's dog Sailor sighing, but you have to listen really hard to find that last one. The songs on this album had been rattling around in my head for several years before Rhonda and Seth encouraged me to finish them. I appreciate all their help with the project, and I am grateful to all of those who participated. The tapes are all owned now, and with no re-release scheduled.

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released March 1, 2006

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John Rose Austin, Texas

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