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Before You Were Born

by Instant Bingo

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1.
Jeremiah 04:33
When I was younger I somehow befriended a man who looked like he was a killer Told me he’d pay me just to look after his overgrown grass and greenery And as I got closer I realized he was older Than he imagined or pretended to be And as I got closer I could smell the odor From all the guilt that he hid by the sea Old Jeremiah said I was welcome anytime I wanted coffee I’d sit and listen, hear all of his sins I’d tell him I’d pray and I’d say I was sorry We would go driving mostly through Gloucester to look at the ocean or pick up groceries Those days were quiet, cranky, and silent Splitting a sandwich, covering stress Some days were freeing, he would be crying Explaining his life and how it was a mess And some days near Christmas we would be laughing At the tree lighting before the blood test [Chorus] And then the end times were hard with pain; his beard grew out, his voice would strain Dragons and skulls tattooed to his arms, stretched regret linked to his charm We watched the train cut through the yard, the tracks were laid across his heart I heard him bellow before he died “I deserve this, I have lied.” And then he whispered in my ear all the things that were unclear How the cancer took his wife, why he lost control of life And how the ocean became blue, why moon waits up for you How we’re rushing through our time like we’re running from a crime [Chorus] (x2)
2.
Feathers 04:06
Sippin’ summer nights on the front porch with my lover Cherishing these months, although humid and depressed But the fall is her favorite After all she deserves it Well maybe we can be happy We can fly higher than the pine trees but lower than the sun And that way help will come When our wings give up and our feathers drop to the earth It’s an awful surprise to spill wine in you eyes One burns as you dry the other We’re waiting on rain to wash away pain Our neighbor is offering water Well the fall is her favorite After all she deserves it [Chorus] Well there’s a red tailed fox coming right toward us He says, “Hey there, I know your secrets!” There’s an eight point buck saying, “Yo, what’s up? I’m a dad now, my doe is pregnant.” And there’s a big black bear giving us a stare saying, “Patience, it’ll get better, I can’t stand to see a couple honeys too nervous to live, Oh, wake up kids, there’s a place for a finch, There’s a place for a finch” [Chorus] (2x)
3.
11th & Arch 02:11
Do you remember when we were younger? Chasing trains was nothing much Back then, you wore a yellow dress Soft in the summer, bright to the touch Now the days are getting shorter And the winter’s getting longer Do you remember when we were younger? All the change was nothing much Back then we were driving through the night Lost in the dark, but our lights were enough Now the days are getting shorter And the winter’s are getting longer Hold, hold fast my love, fast my love Hold, hold fast my love, fast my love Do you remember when we were running? Through the city like a fuse with a spark Our love was set to explode As we kissed the future on 11th and Arch Up! Wake up! Get out of bed! Today you’re alive, tomorrow you could be... (x2)
4.
When cocaine turned to rain, I was there You explained everything while you combed your hair Should I shut up, or should I speak up? You put on your makeup and didn’t care about arriving on time We’ll be late, and they’ll be fine So, get your coat dear while it rains I’ve got a plan that sounds insane I sunk our savings in a covered wagon Shake the dust off our feet, let’s find a new land Ride, we can make it if we try Let’s ride, I don’t want to stay here the rest of my life I want to die, I want to die breathing the air of Oregon (x2) When we came to the hall there was no line The music played and there was love for valentines And some were high and some were gross, I held you close, I held you close And some were drunk and some verbose, I held you close, I held you close It’s okay to take our time We’ll be late, and they’ll be fine So, ford the river, take the pass The rapids between us will soon be passed We’ll do what we can to survive the cold We’ll say our prayers and shoot buffalo [Chorus] And when I lay on the floor of my life Give all my praise and regrets behind the skies And smile back upon my youth, that I found you, that I found you And smile back upon the youth, to know the truth, to know the truth And smile back upon my youth, that I found you, that I found you And smile back upon the youth, to know the truth, to know the truth To be sand and stars to shine, We’ll be late and they’ll be fine
5.
The Musconetcong River’s strong It flows to where our souls belong Against my will, I can’t sit still Would you like a cup or a cone? I walk along the banks Along Our bicycles were painted brown We pedaled up, we pedaled down We found a cannonball out by the woods Outside the school What should we do? Remember Brother Joe before he passed? Hooked his head when he cast A fishing rod out too fast His tears are in the water The Musconetcong River’s strong It flows to where our souls belong Against my will, I can’t sit still Would you like a cup or a cone? I walk along the banks Along When I was seventeen I had a dream that I flew Like when I first met you thought you were me Reflecting off you
6.
Dust 04:13
I told you before my son died climbing the mountain Reaching for something worth living for Or so he thought, but at the top was a lack of oxygen A tick bite infused him with muscle aches and such So to the earth he left his poor mother Clutching a picture, with water in the dust When you look at me think of your mother Oh how she loves you, loves you very much Breathe into me So dust can rise from sleep (x2) Promise this old man that you’ll give up on farming You have my blessing to follow your heart Or better yet, you will follow something greater than yourself More than any wealth, or your pride, or your health Behold my fields, glance at my kingdom The dust of the nation cries out in thirst Keep on filming son and keep on working hard And I’ll see you in the movies from the hay bales of my heart [Chorus] (x2) We fell in love on Easter morning down by the ocean; a sunrise sermon I walked her home and she kissed me on the mouth How familiar now? For over fifty years Now she’s close to sleep and our apartment is a mess I haven’t dusted, I haven’t swept; it’s been hard, I confess Look at me boy and hear what I have to say: You know nothing about love until it’s free to fly away You know nothing about love until it’s free to fly away (x2)
7.
Harrison 04:17
Run Harrison, Tommy Lee is after thee (x2) You know the train it crashed and burned, so escape to the sewer And you’ll run, Harrison; Waterfall, Tommy Lee I’m running for my life I did not kill my wife Run, Harrison! (x2) Prosthetic Arms, are the clue! (x2) I’m running for my life I did not kill my wife Run, Harrison! (x2) You’re gonna run, run, Harrison (x8) Run! Run! Run, Harrison!
8.
Tapping his foot to his favorite song in the back of the club where he belongs In the back of his mind where that came from He writes in the journal of his mind to distract him from all the times Where he thought he failed or fell behind Oh well! Look at 3PO, he shimmers on the dance floor So well! I wish that I could be like him Oh well! I’m too afraid to try and take the microphone Oh well! I’ll just blink in the back of the raptor disco Yesterday was the worst day, today he’s afraid it could be the same Heard tomorrow it might rain He sweats and he shakes when his boss screams, his colleagues laugh and slap their knees Confidence is what he needs [Chorus] His pretty wife throws bird feed, the greedy grackles eat the seed His dog yelps and whines and pleads She looks at him as he turns his head to the pachysandra by the shed The tennis ball is lost again Oh well! You know I don’t mean to neglect you Oh well! You know there’s still joy in my heart Oh well! You know my eyes just get so sensitive Oh well! I think about myself too much Oh well! And in the times when I am paralyzed Oh well! I’m trusting you to break the roof Oh well! Place me on a mat when I’m insane Oh well! You lower me, I’ll lower you Oh well! Look at 3PO, he shimmers on the dance floor So well! Maybe we’ll be friends with him Oh well! And someday we can try and take the microphone Oh well! And we can laugh in the back of the raptor disco
9.
Lord, I’m in Your care Lord, I’m in Your care Your loving arms around me Evil cannot harm me Lord, I’m in Your care All day long I’m in Your care All day long I’m in Your care Your loving arms around me Evil cannot harm me Lord, I’m in Your care When I was sick I was in Your care When I was sick I was in Your care Your loving arms around me Evil cannot harm me Lord, I’m in Your care I’m a friendless child but I’m in Your care I’m a friendless child but I’m in Your care Your loving arms around me Evil cannot harm me Lord, I’m in Your care Lord, I’m in Your care Lord, I’m in Your care Your loving arms around me Evil cannot harm me Lord, I’m in Your care (x3)
10.
Day Off 03:27
Just when you thought you were free Your wife, she gets a flat tire And on your day off, you’re sitting in the shop For a solid hour, or two, or three, or four Just when you thought you were free (so freeeee) The principal’s calling the Father And on your day off, your son’s smoking pot And got caught in the locker room shower Oh, No! Oh No! Well, hard working men of America You must be on your guard on your day off! You must fight for your family and be on your toes Because nobody knows when you’ll be told the unexpected On your day off Day off (x3) Just when you thought you were free (so freeeee) You’re fishing, or golfing, or something Your boss calls your phone, he knows you’re at home Even though PTO was requested Oh, No! Oh No! [Chorus] And just when you thought you were free (so freeeeee) You’re eating at your favorite diner But the eggs benedict in your stomach Does not mix well with maxwell coffee Oh No! Oh No! So you run to the men’s room, but it’s out of order Try the ladies room but the door! It is locked! So you sprint to your car, but it’s double parked Now you’re squatting behind a dumpster on your day off Day off! (x5)

credits

released July 29, 2017

Executive Producers: Ben Drake, David Drake, and Alec Lewis
Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Ron DiSilvestro
Forge Recording, Oreland, PA
Mastered by Steve Corrao
Sage Audio, Nashville, TN
Design by Alyssa Beard
Photography by AnneMarie Pelosi, Tori Kelly and Sarah Drake
Manufactured by Forge Recording
© & ℗ Benjamin Drake. All Rights Reserved.

Ben Drake - Guitar/Vocals
Sarah Drake - Vocals
Luke Drake - Drums
Kevin Kelly - Bass
Dave Drake - Lead Guitar
Uri Frazier - Lead Guitar
Darrell Jennings - Mandolin
Jon Chin - Violin
Lucy Drake - Production Assistant

Some Tracks Featuring Honorary Members:
Steve Vetter - Bass - The Musconetcong River, Lord I'm in Your Care, Day Off, 11th & Arch
Sheryl Marshall - Vocals - The Musconetcong River
Betsy Young - Piano - The Musconetcong River
Vince Pelosi - Gang Vocals - Day Off
Alec Lewis - Gang Vocals - Day Off
Tori Hines - Gang Vocals - Lord I'm in Your Care
Lauren Park - Gang Vocals - Lord I'm in Your Care

A very special thanks to our friends from the 2016 Kickstarter Campaign!

This album is dedicated to all the babies in the room.

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Instant Bingo Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hyper-Folk-Rock band of family, and friends playing songs about movies we love and things we find beautiful, wacky-dacky, or true.

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