Under City Lights

by John Nels

Under City Lights cover art
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1.
03:12
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2.
03:29
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3.
03:43
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4.
04:11
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5.
04:51
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6.
03:57
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7.
05:45
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8.
03:21
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03:40
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10.
03:05
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11.
04:15
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12.
04:42
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13.
06:37
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about

Latest album from Maine native, John Nels.

credits

released 11 November 2011
All instruments and vocals by John Nels Blanchette with the following key exceptions:
Charles C Gagne - drums (all tracks)
Tim Beaulieu - keys (track 13)
Susanne Gerry - vocals (tracks 2+6)
Sarah Klomparens - vocals (tracks 7+11)

Musical composition by John Nels with Chuck Gagne (drums), with the exception of track 4 accredited to John Nels Blanchette, Dylan Verner, and Adam Swain.

Recorded, Mixed, and "Mastered" by John Nels Blanchette.

tags

tags: acoustic rock cambiata dominic and the lucid folk rock grand hotel marie stella pop rock portland space vs. speed the lucid Portland

license

all rights reserved

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about

Born in Caribou, Maine- John Nels Blanchette is a proponent of home recording on a budget- with more than seven album under ... more his belt.

John Nels is a recent transplant to the Portland, ME area and has performed with members of Grand Hotel, The Cambiata, Dominic and the Lucid, Line of Force, Space vs. Speed, and Strange Pleasure (amongst others). less

contact / help

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Track Name: Under City Lights Part I
Under City Lights
We walk the long wide streets
Intersections turn into one-ways
and we move those feet to the city beat
Commercial connects where tourists mark their spot
Congress resides at the center of both you and I

Where I can find an honest friend
Where I can pretend to live
At Monument Square I send
My mind and body to transcend


Just listen to my rant
It ain't short but sure is sweet
My time I fear is running low
For the possibility to meet
At High and Free Street we must confide
Past the Dooryard we'll find our stroll
Once you take a look we'll go inside
There ain't no heat so we'll hold our souls

Where I can find an honest friend
Where I can pretend to live
At Monument Square I send
My mind and body to transcend
Track Name: Big Day Out at the Picnic
It's a busy scene dear if I've ever seen one one
Painted canvases for father and sons
To each their own devices left to find
In a sea of oiled pigments
Most, unkind

It's a big day out for, the whole family unit
Full of tents and friends you know they're all into it
We tread for miles in, persistent focus
Just hope to stumble on, some hocus-pocus

Come out and play today, ring the bells and say
Come out and play today, come out to play, play

Pass that smile around, to the neighbors please
Share a moment, sure to appease
Pass that smile around, to the neighbors please
Share a moment, sure to appease you
Track Name: Dance! On Command!
Be proud- of the id we've come to know
It's not so easy when you've got a lot of reaping to sew
Made a list- of enemies gained here and there
Gotta smile when they notice; not so much when they don't care
Gotta smile if they notice; whenever and anywhere

Parade around, mr. sideshow
Comfort us per oral demand
Dance the dance for entertainment
Dance the dance on command
Dance the dance on command

Tap them feet- keep relative harmony
Got a feeling that the limelight won't keep your seat
Playing the circuit is playing the circus
Elastic men with rubber hands extend their reach
Sketchy men with dirty hands; remember what they preach
Silence isn't gold
Violence shakes the hold
Persistence is the key
Persistence let's them free
Track Name: Port Rock City
In the age of reason, came a man from New Sweden
And he sought to leave his world behind
So he moved to the land, where the people would understand
That it didn't matter where he really came from

Open up your hearts; it's over-run- with love and soul
Open up your hearts; it's over-run- with love and soul

Soon after he found a home, where he'll never be alone
Surrounded by new friends and family
He rejoiced in his findings, wrapped in greetings and yule tidings
In this great town called Port Rock City

Give it back- give it back -give it back... to you
Just relax- just relax -just relax- he loves you
Track Name: Modern Table
Broke another string again- chords unable to
Sing out in perfect harmony- We'll still be fortunate to
bring the charming lyrics to life- from the stable
pass off verse in perfect time- hear those god damn fables

(Out loud)- join the chorus as they cry- for tradition
(Out loud)- join the chorus as they sigh- for redemption
Around our modern table
Around our modern table

Write a tune to carry on- our ambition
Take our turns to start aloud- the sensation of
Love in our hearts it's just too strong- to contain it
keep stomping on those feet- keep on god damn yelling

(Out loud)- join the chorus as they cry- for tradition
(Out loud)- join the chorus when they sigh- for redemption
(Out loud)- join the chorus as they cry- for tradition
(Out loud)- join the chorus when they sigh- for redemption
Track Name: Albino Holyfield
Sunday-- is fucking tense. A day to start the work week.
Exhausts me, Consumes me
Before I can contain my thoughts and conclusion on the weekend

Well time's a-- killing joke; worth a token of blame
Insults me, Confronts me
One last horrah to pace the next five days; and start the next endless pace

Well I don't give a damn
About the modern man
He moves too fast for his own good
Moves too slow for those who should
Pass, pass, pass his ass
Track Name: The Girl With A Dull Face
Well I recall the days spent inside
Just to be sure i was the only one who could hear me yell
Restrained my body and my mind all the time
Pretend that I am born of the flesh- born of flesh
I was born for something more- for something more
more. more. More.

But you see the storm's coming closer
The clouds are almost there; prepare
so be aware of this heavy storm
so beware of the heavy pour.
I was born for something more: for something more

We've become too slow to notice we've failed
Gotta try now to find another way out
Another way out
Another way out
Way out of the fire
of the fire
Track Name: Coffee & Cigarettes
Coffee and cigarettes start off my day
It's a means to an end from a selfish way
Ironed shirts and pants make a man feel proud
Until the lack of a bed cuts smile down to a frown
Cause I've garnered no success, A path that feels disappointed
And anointed- by

Foolish ways
Foolish ways
If you could please- interject
Please intercept me
If you could please- interject
Please intercept my foolish ways

The non-nicotine and caffeine pawn off the rest
Of the bad influences- high-strung and high-test
I'm waiting for the man, his tune carries loud
I'll take a shot in the head, or a stab in the brow
I've garnered no success, A path that feels disappointed
And anointed- by

Foolish ways
Foolish ways
If you could please- interject
Please intercept me
If you could please- interject
Please intercept my foolish ways
Track Name: The Victor
Why do I bother- writing this song for you
Why should I cover- thoughts that I deem true
If you feel- it's too honest to share aloud
If you feel- those moments were lost in sound
Then I guess I'll reconsider

But why when I could be- off forgetting you
But why when I should be- the wiser of the two of us
...As if it really mattered now
I know that I will be- I know that I will be the victor

Succeed with my inner battle- a little less room for hate
Proceed with the matter- just for my own sake
Well I have found- at this stage in time
I used to remind you- of what we've been through

Respect me, don't contest me
Regret me, but don't forget me


But why when I could be- off forgetting you
But why when I should be- the wiser of the two of us
...As if it really mattered now
I know that I will be- I know that I will be the victor
Track Name: Dear Employer
Come back tomorrow
Vacancies rarely congeal
Have the manager check the call log
If an opening haphazardly appears
Hit the corner stores for beers
Trade your hopeless tears for fears

Ten dollars to the name and soul
Hang up the pants- on the couch and smoke a bowl
See some friends for drink or two
While I stare at the phone and hope for a cue
Hoping for a message out of the blue
But none are directly asking for you

Dear Employer; please reply
Give your number- another try
A perfect reference, in perfect form

Find yourself in- dire form
Wait for calls ya- waited too long for
Wanna be off of- State and need
So long, it's been so long

Weeks and months- have gone by
Feeling down and out- as if you didn't try
Try one last time- to get a hold of
Try one last time- to get a hold of
Track Name: Continue On The Good Fight
There comes a time- where we start to notice
That nothing is what it seems
When the tides that are turning undo the seam
This sullied light has grown a bit dimmer- it's now time to spark into night
Raise your arms and start brooding- prepare for the fight
But if we're hoping for.a battle
Rest your weary rest your weary Arms around me

For reasons, uncertain, this time we'll carry on the strife
It's not as bad as it seems- we'll carry on
The belief that we're just as strong as steel- we'll carry on
The belief that we're just as strong as steel (carry on)- ohh I feel..
It's in these times we all need to heal

Combat the suits and litigation, combat the dead end armory
File complaints against the ruling class to forfeit the jealousy
It's not as bad as it seems- we'll carry on
The belief that we're just as strong as steel- we'll carry on
The belief that we're just as strong as steel (carry on)- ohh I feel..
It's in these times we all need to heal

It's in these times we all need to heal
The belief that we're just as strong as steel- we'll carry on
It's in these times we all need to heal
The belief that we're just as strong as steel- we'll carry on
It's in these times we all need to heal
The belief that we're just as strong as steel- we'll carry on
It's in these times we all need to heal
The belief that we're just as strong as steel.

Rest your weary. Rest your weary. Arms around me
Rest your weary. Rest your weary. Arms around me
Track Name: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Harder times are coming
Faster than we'd like to see
Softer skins are folding
Graphed and rooted to the tee
But we'd all like to be
The cause and root of evil
Of evil
Of evil


Endless summer rages on
Apart from callused hands
We all belong to a sacred part
Of all the world commands
I'd give you my all, I'll give you more
Of the season's delicate end...to fall

You're evil.
Track Name: Under City Lights Part II
Pardon me dear- the day's end is near and my scatterbrained head is shot.
Escort you home in a subtle constant tone- lean on me when you black out.
Almost there- cover that face that you wear- past the cobble stone we walk.
You're body feels tough- we're almost to the loft where I'll drop you off.


But no- you whispered
'You know- I need to go'- you whispered
'No.'- you whispered
Softly; out of mind and context
Partly; due to needs and circumstance in my mind

I tucked you in- the bed's broken in -and I begin my walk home.
Past the storied heights in this starry night- they are a comfort to me
Past the boulevard, past the colored cars- Drunken Man; Move Briskly

We're under city lights we walk the long wide streets
Intersections turn into one-ways and move those feet to the city beat
Commercial connects where tourists mark their spot
Congress resides at the center of both you and I
Where can I find an honest friend?
Where can I pretend to live?
At Monument Square I send
My mind and body to try to transcend
Under City Lights