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The Ballad of Shorty Long

by Dachshund

/
1.
Bang bang go the drum marking a heart’s time beneath the morning sun climbing a bare sky step to the beat I’m moving feet got to get me somewhere Beyond the Eastern rise upstreet and shimmering my destination lies I know it’s got to be cuz I wear the miles I take while it lingers farther away And I’m tired of breakin’ down on the road less taken How many hills to climb now? And if I stop, I fall, carve seven words on my stone: I always thought I’d find my way Restless I pace around her patience wearing thin tie me to solid ground, turn round I’m gone again It’s every time I come home, can’t keep from pushing away From reaches just beyond strange music speaks to me sweet as a siren-song, cruel as a jagged reef Always so close ’til I find it’s ever-farther away And I’m tired of breakin’ down on the road less taken How many hills to climb now? And if I stop, I fall, carve seven words on my stone: I always thought I’d find my way
2.
No other could seem such a part of myself I guess the wind never stops changin’ Lay claim to the line of somebody else, Illegitimate one… Your mother was not good enough for me I needed the right to roam I gave her the hand of history I left you to curse your home I got no comfort to give and the truth is harder than stone made of the grit of damage done and the will to carry on. I dreamed of the beauty built with my hands but I had no money or meaning I carved out a town like a scar on the land Illegitimate one… I was part of a Manifest Destiny I laid the red-man to rest I wrote what you folks call history I settled your wild west And written all over my skin is the dust and the ashes and blood of who stood their ground when fortune told that the world was moving on. There ain’t no lesson to learn just a world that’s wicked and cruel Men with a motive to turn and fathers of fathers of fools Learn to forgive and forget, child and the world will find a new son And in the ways that you will love, You will find your heart a home.
3.
Divisionary 04:58
Say grace to the Great Divisionary who made us from half of half of a seed ‘Til kingdom come… thine will be done… Cut loose from your mother, set on your feet to long for another gonna make you complete It’s not enough… It’s not enough… I don’t mind I don’t really wanna know I got mine Not about to let it go It’s all part of the planning It’s so divisionary! Allegiance to country, culture and norm A cry for compassion / A declaration of war Whose side you on? Whose side you on? Lay faith in the soothing shadow of doubt I’m sure that somebody gonna figure it out And if they don’t… And if they don’t… I don’t mind I don’t really wanna know I got mine Not about to let it go It’s all part of the planning It’s so divisionary!
4.
When I am old, please help me see how all these complicated knots were the essence of simplicity.
5.
Sleep Tight 05:01
When wine is flowing down a cup full of cheer they’ll hand you the keys to town and shake your hand So why you still running, why you still running now? Why you still running, why you still running? Why you still, why you still, ah — Good night, sleep tight, dreaming moments golden gleaming more than day’s been bringing so good night, sleep tight, yeah… With flowers in your crown you’ll drive a parade, yeah their voices will resound singing your name So why you still running, etc…? Good night, sleep tight, dreaming moments golden gleaming more than day’s been bringing so good night, sleep tight, yeah… Let’s meet the “real you” What’s your fantasy? Let all your secrets out. You’ve got the nation’s ear! So why you still running, etc…? Good night, sleep tight, dreaming moments golden gleaming morning bells are ringing morning bells are ringing oh yeah…
6.
I Know 05:27
Hold your tongue don’t let those words come out your mouth Hold on to those thoughts that lay in your head my child And I know how hard it is I know how hard it is I know that you wanna run but you’re bound here I know that it’s hard but you can’t say a thing Stand by steady your arm you must take aim Focus on the task at hand you must pull the trigger And I know how hard it is I know how hard it is I know that you wanna run but you’re bound here I know that it’s hard but you can’t say a thing
7.
Everything I seem to touch ends up dead and I’ll have the corpse Why don’t they just stop following me? I told them all I knew — well, mostly… Don’t turn the light on ‘cuz I don’t want you to die It’s been so long since I’ve heard someone else’s side Won’t you keep talking and tell me what’s going on? It’s been so long since I’ve been out from under the stairs… I’m sure that they are all watching me I’ve put some things together you see the trash-man he comes daily I think he’s the one they should be following… Don’t turn the light on ‘cuz I don’t want you to die It’s been so long since I’ve heard someone else’s side Won’t you keep talking and tell me what’s going on? It’s been so long since I’ve been out from under the stairs… (ooh) the stairs (ah) the stairs Every time that I wake up I find a new cadaver at my feet I’m running out of spaces to hide them I don’t think the trash-man knows about them yet… Don’t turn the light on ‘cuz I don’t want you to die It’s been so long since I’ve heard someone else’s side Won’t you keep talking and tell me what’s going on? It’s been so long since I’ve been out from under the stairs…
8.
I let my words go don’t let my silence offend you burned all of my cliches all of my hi’s, how-do-you-do’s It’s not that I won’t listen now; I just won’t explain your world to you I’ll try and find the words… (Oooh…) It’s not easy It’s not easy It’s not easy When there’s nothing to say, to say, to say… I thought I told you all of my words escape me it’s not my problem not my solution to seek all that’s left for me now is moronic redundancy so turn off your radio… (Oooh…) And turn off your T.V. It’s not easy It’s not easy When there’s nothing to say, to say, to say…

about

Aswell with heavy guitars, progressive rhythms, and a psychedelic outlook, our debut collects 8 songs into a satisfying showcase of our brand of left-of-center songwriting.

credits

released November 10, 2011

Ryan "Mazus" Dannar: Guitar/Vox
Eric Hartley: Guitar/Vox
Andy Jenson: Bass Guitar
Matt Taylor Chuckles: Drums
Bee Meddler: Drums on "Nothing to Say"

Recorded by Dachshund.
Engineered by Eric Hartley.
Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Ryan Dannar.
Album Artwork and Layout by Chandra Hall and Ryan Dannar.

Lyrics posted online at www.dachshundband.com.

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Dachshund Tulsa, Oklahoma

Dachshund is a progressively-minded rock band hailing from Oklahoma, the gothic-conservative heart of the midwest. We smuggle art-rock ideas into pop-songs, delighting in subtle subversions of the mainstream.

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