Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth

Featured Songs

I don't care about the press
And music magazines
I don't like teachers
I never read fanzines
I wanna live on the road
I wanna die on stage
Just let me play my guitar
I do the best I can

Don't slander my name
Don't stab me in the back
Don't tell me what's good or bad
Let me do what I please
Let me do what I like
Let me up I'm satisfied...

--THE DOGS ("Satisfied")

Title
08.29.22: ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO (CRACKERBOX OASIS)_SIDE 01	08.29.22: ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO (CRACKERBOX OASIS)_SIDE 01 SIDE 1 (if this were a vinyl record): Preamble (0:46)/Welcome To The City (4:14)/ The Rent Is Too Damn High (0:53)/Crackerbox Oasis (4:27) <PREAMBLE> Shoppers are ending subscriptions, and looking for ways to deal with soaring inflation. Last month, inflation accelerated at its fastest level in 41 years. The cost of meat has risen 20% from last year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Gas prices have eased slightly in recent weeks, but remain at a record high national average of $4.85. $4.85 per gallon, $4.85 per gallon, $4.85 per gallon, according to AAA... <WELCOME TO THE CITY> >VERSE 1< You got a boss at your back, and he just won't quit The jury's at work, and you cannot shirk But your express train to fame's stopping dead in its tracks It ran down your Doberman half a mile back! <PRE-CH> Those urban termites really did a number on your dreams: Cutting them right down to size, w/the rest of your schemes <CHORUS> I say, welcome to the city (Where the sidewalks shake down the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for nothing (if you please) >VERSE 2< A shootout downtown's put the bounce on your check You feel the seconds tick-ticking up on your neck Crawling through the rubble just to soak up some lunch The sidewalk's in pieces, and so is your tongue <PRE-CH> Bullets of hail beat you down, right all the way back Your banker and the clock never cut any slack, they say... <CH> Welcome to the city (Where no sees the forest the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for nothing (if you please) <BRIDGE> Once upon a time, you took on almost anything Now it seems to me, you can live with almost anything Once upon a time, you took on almost anything Now it seems to me, that you put up with almost anything Once upon a time, you took on almost anything Now it seems to me, you can live with almost anything You feel like 25 going on 45... It's time you learn, no one here gets out alive <BREAK> >VERSE 3< The bell tolls five, and you snap back to life You feel on the rebound, till the bus breaks down You schlep five more blocks to your little gray box You fall asleep the second that you stretch yourself out <PRE-CH> You do your best to shout love back at the world But you learn, it's gonna take more than prayers to part these swine from their pearls <CH> Welcome to the city (Where no sees the forest the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for nothing (if you please) Welcome to the city (Where the forest never meets the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for (if you please) >CODA< Really, it was nothing (Oh, God, it was nothing) Nothing from nothing – you can do the math on that one, I think so Go on, it was nothing, I feel like I've been here for nothing Really, babe, it was nothing Tell me now, it was nothing Nothing from nothing – oh, I won't finish the sentence, You know what it means The city leaves you with nothing But you were right, you get nothing <THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH> Intro: The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago now is currently $1,795 a month. The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high Three-quarters of my check goes up in smoke, and why? The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high Every time I see go out of the bank, I have to cry The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high Three-quarters of my check is spent, no matter how hard I try The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high These bills have got to come down, by and by and by, because... The rent, the rent, the rent is too damn high! <CRACKERBOX OASIS> >VERSE 1< Faces come and go in this revolving door That's spinning faster and faster, as it spits out all the poor Trying hard to keep up, but it's never good enough When your stove goes on the fritz, and the bathtub's plugging up <CH> Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack spaces Because that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis >VERSE 2< Run, run, run in place, just so you keep up Three-quarters of your paycheck goes up in smoke for rent (Hey, that's never enough) Shell out for your parking space, electric, gas and then – Next month rolls around, and you get to do it again! <CH> (Repeat as above) <BRIDGE> The refrigerator is melting, what else is new? Time to get out the waste can, it's plugging on you Can't sleep at night, what else is new? It's the mice behind the stove, they're spying on you >VERSE 3< Your life feels like some jigsaw puzzle you don't understand So you head out on the sidewalk w/your head right in your hands But don't sit down too long, my friend, the way things work right now They'll charge you by the minute, by the hour, by the pound (Just for sitting down...) <CH> Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack spaces Because that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack faces Because that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis <CREDITS> Chairman Ralph: Vox, Guitar, Rhythm Box, Special Effects (+All Words/Music) Track 1: Recorded 8/28/22 Track 2: Recorded 8/24/22 Track 3: Recorded 8/28/22 Track 4: Recorded 8/25/22 All tracks recorded at home via DVR/Audacity. 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08.29.22: ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO (CRACKERBOX OASIS): SIDE 02	08.29.22: ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO (CRACKERBOX OASIS): SIDE 02 SIDE 02 (if this were a vinyl record...): Hey Mr. Sandburg (4:30)/Snapper In The Road (3:44) BONUS TRAX: Bonus Greeting (0:53)/Welcome To The City (Unplugged) (4:23) Crackerbox Oasis (4:27) <HEY, MR. SANDBURG (YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG)> Woo-hoo! Yeah, woo-hoo! Chicago – Getaway – Express – stops at the Miracle Mile right now, and... >VERSE 1< I'm getting older here before my time These bad days just keep on skipping by 45 minutes on the bus line (back and forth) Someone else's idea, not mine We came here during the heat wave 99 degrees in the shade No A/C to keep the world at bay I think they finally got it right on the eighth day < PRE-CH> I got a commuter job that just don't pay And there's really nothing else I have to say (except) <CHORUS> Mr. Sandburg, you got it all wrong I don't see no big shoulders here Just endless time wasted in line, and parking fines I'll be paying off for years >VERSE 2/3< Every week's like a merry-go-round Hold your head now, before they pull it down My pockets empty every time I turn around Silent conspiracies make the loudest sound We've burned up two summers here The reason why ain't exactly clear We've saw all the museums our first year Now it's time to plot our jailbreak from here <PRE-CH> And they don't understand our point of view I guess there's only one thing we can do <CH> Mr. Sandburg, you got it all wrong I don't see no big shoulders here Just endless time wasted in line, and parking fines I'll be paying off for years <BRIDGE> Possession's nine-tenths of the law I guess that's why we don't have a car anymore We can't float the impound fees or the trip to the lot – The repo lot, the repo lot, brn it down! Let's get out while the getting is good Before they pound us down in the ground for good Let's close the book on this chapter of city life for good <CH>* (Repeat as above) (2X) <SNAPPER IN THE ROAD> <CH> There's a snapper in the middle of the road Let's see just what he wants There's a snapper in the middle of the road Let's see if he gets up and walks >VERSE 1< We stopped our car, and we stared for awhile He stared right back, and it didn't crack a smile He didn't seem to have any objective in mind... <CH> There's a snapper in the middle of the road Let's see just what he wants There's a snapper in the middle of the road Let's see if he gets up and walks (or maybe even talks!) >VERSE 2< We watched that turtle just inching and slithering Its way right across the road He kept on staring straight ahead w/out anywhere to go <BRIDGE> Though that moment was 20 years ago, We talk about it even now That was our introduction to our new town Though we finally left the city behind, And took ourselves some time to unwind, It seemed this time around, we finally turned the ride <CH> There's a snapper in the middle of the road Let's see just what he wants There's a snapper in the middle of the road Let's see if he gets up and walks (or maybe even talks!) >VERSE 3< Just before he slid off the pavement, He turned in the middle of the road & it seemed to me, that the snapper knew what was going on... He blinked and he winked once or twice at us, Then he turned and hurried down the road We watched him disappear in the brush, & then we got back in the car <BRIDGE> Though that moment was 20 years ago, We talk about it even now That was our introduction to our new town... When we finally left the city behind, And took ourselves some time to unwind, This time around, it felt we'd finally turned the tide <WELCOME TO THE CITY (UNPLUGGED)> >VERSE 1< You got the boss at your neck, and he just won't quit The jury's at work, and you cannot shirk But your express train to fame's stopping dead in its tracks It ran down your Doberman half a mile back! <PRE-CH> Those urban termites really did a number on your dreams: Cutting them right down to size, w/the rest of your schemes... <CH> I say, welcome to the city (Where the sidewalks shake down the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for nothing (if you please) >VERSE 2< A shootout downtown has put the bounce on your check You feel the seconds tick-ticking up on your neck You crawl through the rubble just to soak up some lunch The sidewalk's in pieces, and so is your tongue <PRE-CH> Bullets of hail beat the crap out of you on the way back The bankbook and the clock never give you any slack, they say... <CH> Welcome to the city (Where no sees the forest the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for nothing (if you please) <BRIDGE> Once upon a time, you took on most anything Now it seems to me, that you live with most anything Once upon a time, you took on almost everything Now it seems to me, that you live with almost anything You feel like 25 going on 45... It's time you learn, no one here gets out alive <BREAK> >VERSE 3< The clock tolls five, and you snap back to life You feel on the rebound, till the bus breaks down You schlep five more blocks to your little gray box Fall asleep the second that you stretch yourself out <PRE-CH> You do your best to shout love at the world But you learn, it's gonna take more than prayers to part these swine from their pearls... And you say... <CH> Welcome to the city (Where no sees the forest the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for nothing (if you please) Welcome to the city (Where the forest never meets the trees) Welcome to the city, thanks for (if you please) >CODA< Really, it was nothing (if you please, babe) It was nothing (if you please) Nothing from nothing leaves nothing -- I'll leave you to do the math on that one... The city holds you up, and we feel nothing You're begging a little bit of something, It leaves you haunted w/nothing Really, babe, it was nothing Nothing, nothing, now, nothing Nothing...Nothing <CRACKERBOX OASIS (UNPLUGGED)> >VERSE 1< Faces come and go in this revolving door Spinning faster and faster, as it spits out all the poor You're paddling hard to keep up, but it's never good enough When your stove goes on the fritz, and your bathtub's plugging up <CH> Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack spaces Because that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis >VERSE 2< Now run, run, run in place, just so you keep up Three-quarters of your paycheck goes for rent, it's not enough Then shell out for your parking space, electric, gas and then – Next month rolls around, and you get to do it again! <CH> Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack spaces Because that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis <BRIDGE> The refrigerator is melting, what else is new? Better get out the waste can, the tub's plugging on you You can't sleep at night, yeah, what else is new? It's those mice behind the stove, they're spying on you >VERSE 3< Your life feels like some jigsaw puzzle you don't understand So sit down on the sidewalk w/your head right in your hands But son, don't sit too long, because the way things work now They'll charge you by the minute, by the hour, by the pound (In the name of sitting down...) <CH> Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack spaces But that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis Because you're stuck without a basis, in some crackerbox oasis Doin' time on some 99^th floor, with the hardest of the cases Another hamster joins the wheel among all these sad sack spaces Because that's all you're ever offered in this crackerbox oasis <CREDITS> Chairman Ralph: Vox, Guitar, Rhythm Box, Special Effects (+All Words/Music) Tracks 1-3: Recorded 8/28/22 Track 4: Recorded 8/24/22 Track 5: Recorded 8/25/22 All tracks recorded at home via DVR/Audacity. 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4.29.94 EP: THE DATING-GO-ROUND/SOMEBODY FOR ME X 2 (PLUGGED/UNPLUGGED)	4.29.94 EP: THE DATING-GO-ROUND/SOMEBODY FOR ME X 2 (PLUGGED/UNPLUGGED) 4.29.94 EP (Tracks 1-3): The Dating-Go-Round/Somebody For Me (Plugged)/Somebody For Me (Unplugged) Chairman Ralph (Words+ Music): Beatbox, electric/acoustic guitar, vocals Recorded: 8.27.21 Edited/Produced By: Don Hargraves <THE DATING-GO-ROUND> I'm all alone on the dating-go-round Time's tickin' away, it's never found Every second counts, it's time for me To run the score down... CHORUS Ad after ad after ad sounds the same: "I wanna go bowling or walking in the woods Or strolling on the beach with my future mate": Don't tell me about your downtime, tell me about you! I'm all alone on the dating-go-round A cacophony of words 'n' sounds No wonder I'm always feeling Like the odd man out! CHORUS 2 Round 'n' round, I'm circling the drain (Is this really any way to shop for a soulmate?) Saturday's pickins are lookin' pretty slim I'd better take a break before I do myself in! BRIDGE I can't keep on staring at this screen But I can't go back to the bars, either I'm always caught betwixt 'n' between So what the hell do I do now? Well, good luck on the dating-go-round & Keep your ears pressed right against the ground & pray you don't roll a snake eye on the way out & pray you don't roll a snake eye on the way out & pray you don't roll a snake eye on the way out... <SOMEBODY FOR ME> Deep in the wilderness of Kalamazoo, Gothic Budgie watches 'n' waits: She's dressed in black, always on the attack, Armed with her brushes & paints She's out of the shadow of Mom 'n' Dad's thumb, Away from all their bad taste... Now she's laying it on the line in a personal ad (she's got no time to waste:) CHORUS There must be somebody for me, Somebody who loves art & poetry: There must be somebody for me... There must be somebody for me, Somebody who sees what others can't see: There must be somebody for me! Lost in thought at the campus coffee shop, Gothic Budgie sips again & sighs: She's been scanning those ads all afternoon, But nothing really catches her eye She's looking for some action, Some deeper satisfaction, someone closer to her taste: This latest ad of hers had better do the trick, 'Cause she ain't got a minute left to waste: CHORUS There must be somebody for me, Somebody who loves art & poetry: There must be somebody for me... There must be somebody for me, Somebody who sees what others can't see: There must be somebody for me! <BRIDGE> The weeks roll by In the blink of an eye But Budgie's found nothing that catches her eye Will she find that someone in her dreams? The jury's out while she waits & sees Caught between classes at Western Michigan, Gothic Budgie cuts herself a break: She's gone on a date or two (or three) From hell, is this worth the time it takes? She's looking for some action, Some deeper satisfaction, someone closer to her taste: She's tired of living life one gray day at a time, She hasn't got a second left to waste... CHORUS There must be somebody for me, Somebody who loves art & poetry: There must be somebody for me... There must be somebody for me, Somebody who sees what others can't see: There must be somebody for me... There must be somebody for me! Description	Download
4.29.94 EP: THE MATING GAME/4.29.94	4.29.94 EP: THE MATING GAME/4.29.94 Remainder of 4.29.94 EP: The Mating Game/4.29.94. So, if you're still thinking like the old days, in sides -- this would be side two, essentially. Recorded: 8.28.21 Chairman Ralph (Words & music): Beatbox, guitar, vocals Edited/produced by Don Hargraves >THE MATING GAME< Lemme tell you about date from hell #1, The night crashed 'n' burned just like this: My dad took the car, I was three hours late, All I got was the pity hug (and a kiss)! >CHORUS< These are the hits & the misses of the mating game These are the hits & the misses of the mating game... Who could forget date from hell #2? My night crashed 'n' burned just like this: She sold lots of "brown product," Or that's what she called it: She & her ex did box office biz! >CHORUS< These are the ways & the means of the mating game These are the ways & the means of the mating game... <BRIDGE> My world's bubbling over, w/overexposure, I hear the same tired stories & jokes: Every soggy weekend, over & over, Will this ever work out? I don't know... Last but not least, date from hell #3: She seemed so put out When I skipped a shift to show up She rolled her eyes & switched off When I strayed from the small talk Another Friday night just blew up >CHORUS< These are the hits & the misses of the mating game These are the hits & the misses of the mating game... These are the ways & the means of the mating game These are the ways & the means of the mating game... >ENDING< Over & over, w/overexposure: Over & over, how it will end? Over & over, w/overexposure: Over & over, where will it end? >4.29.94< Another Saturday of going through the motions, Tryin' to find someone or something that'll grab me Preferably someone who hates going bowling or golfing... Suddenly at the bottom of column one, I see Five words in cold print that just grab me Sounding like somebody I might really wanna meet: >CHORUS< 4.29.94, it all started When she walked right through the door: The bow in her hair & the red 'n' yellow jumper Promised more... So the ad read: "Eccentric, Single White Female, 25: 300 lbs. (what's that?), queen size, Artist, student, educated... "Likes Gothic/Modern Rock," I said, "Oo-wee, what a shock." (Go on:) "Intellectual pursuits, like SCA... Seeking Single White Male who's drug- and girlfriend-free..." >CHORUS< 4.29.94, it all started When he walked right through the door: The hair past his shoulders & the black warmup jacket promised more... >BRIDGE (X 2)< And to think, you almost didn't show Weary of the wannabes you'd entertained before But I was running late, and you said I was cool enough to call... We were singin' for our supper Till we found one another, Aren't you glad you rolled the dice & stuck around? The night we went home, We knew we weren't alone, We wouldn't look back... >CHORUS (X 2)< 4.29.94, it all started When she walked right through the door: The bow in her hair & the red 'n' yellow jumper Promised more... 4.29.94, it all started When he walked right through the door: The hair past his shoulders & the black warmup jacket promised more... Description	Download
A BUDGIE'S LIFE_BIRDS OF PLENTY_CALLING ALL TOMORROWS_DAYS LIKE THESE	A BUDGIE'S LIFE_BIRDS OF PLENTY_CALLING ALL TOMORROWS_DAYS LIKE THESE Track 1: Birds Of Plenty (1:03) Recorded 8/29/20 and rerecorded 9/13/20. Written by Lisa D. Quinlan and I for a mindfulness workshop. Track 2: Calling All Tomorrows (4:03) Recorded 8/25/20. Words & music: Chairman Ralph. Premiered 12/29/19 at Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (St. Joseph, MI). Track 3: Days Like These (2:25) Recorded 7/28/20, and played at BUUF service (8/09/20). Words & music: Billy Bragg. Chairman Ralph: All guitars, effects, rhythm box, vocals. Words & music, except as noted. Don Hargraves: Production and editing. LYRICS <Birds Of Plenty> Birds of plenty, Tell me, how many? Up in the skies, Or down on a branch No telling what's happening In the nest w/this bunch, & this particular branch: Birds of plenty, Tell me, how many? Looking down below, In no particular hurry: Against gleaming mobiles that reign, silver & supreme, Running ragged down the road, Nervous & hurried, worrying, scurried: Birds of plenty, Tell me, how many? I haven't stopped to count them, But I'm not really worried: It's another sunny Saturday, & I'm not really in any hurry... Time to take time: Hey, thank you, Birds of plenty! <R. Heibutzki/L. Quinlan> <Calling All Tomorrows> Another New Year's Eve feeding frenzy They dropped the ball live on TV What's this countdown got to do w/me? I stumbled home & slouched On the couch, but (I couldn't find much to watch, so) I popped a cork & finally called it a day CH: I'm calling all tomorrows, Clear the smoke from yesterday I'm not trying to turn the clocks back, I'm just trying to turn the page: I'm calling all tomorrows, Clear the smoke from yesterday I'm not making resolutions I can't keep anyway! Woke up again, sweatin' & stressin' Trying hard to count my blessings This New Year's dream Feels harder than it seems... (CH) >BRIDGE< I went & crashed myself a party But the company didn't agree w/me I beat it back, looking for a Plan B: That old acquaintance you forgot, You must mean me... One of my running buddies just called me For the first time, in a couple months Makin' plans, we know what that means: Turn our guitars up, not the TV Taking no trips to Blackout City This new tradition sits way better w/me... (CH) (2x), to fade <R. Heibutzki> <Days Like These> The party that became so powerful By sinking foreign boats Is dreaming up new promises Because promises win votes And being resolute in conference With the ad man's expertise The majority by their silence Shall pay for days like these The right to build communities Is back behind closed doors 'Tween government and people stands The right arm of the law And shame upon the patriot When the mark of the Bulldog Breed Is a family without a home And a pensioner in need Those whose lives are ruled by dogma Are waiting for a sign The Better Dead Than Red Brigade Are listening on the line And the liberal, with a small L Cries in front of the TV And another demonstration Passes on to history Peace, bread, work, and freedom Is the best we can achieve And wearing badges is not enough In days like these <Billy Bragg> Description	Download
A BUDGIE'S LIFE_WE GOTTA GET OUTTA THIS PLACE_TITLE TRACK	A BUDGIE'S LIFE_WE GOTTA GET OUTTA THIS PLACE_TITLE TRACK Track 4 (per original running order, as I split the files up): We Gotta Get Outta This Place. The Animals classic (3:28). Recorded 4/16/20, played at Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellow (BUUF), 4/19/20. Track 5: A Budgie's Life (5:24). Words & Music: Chairman Ralph. Chairman Ralph: All guitars, effects, rhythm box, vocals. Words & music, except as noted. Don Hargraves: Production and editing. <A BUDGIE'S LIFE> I wake up at nine, I'm feeling fine, I'll go online, and find What's happening on the ex-Christian grapevine... Then I fry me a egg, wrap my leg & answer my fan mail by 10:00 or 11:00 CHORUS This is a budgie's life, you just live in it This is a budgie's life, I have an idea a minute This is a budgie's life, you're welcome to it! Now it's one o'clock, and it's time To wake up my man Who's always got some kind of vision or plan... But right now, I just want him To rattle some pots 'n' pans So I can slap up This punk rock sandwich on command! CHORUS This is a budgie's life, you just live in it This is a budgie's life, I have an idea a minute This is a budgie's life, you're welcome to it! <BRIDGE> Don't you sell me some positivity spiel 'Cause I can't fake for you what I don't feel: Don't tell me which emotions of mine Aren't real -- that program Isn't part of the budgie's deal! Come 4:00 p.m., I'm back in my den Playing with stamps from Mozambique & Japan, & a rogue nation I forgot! Now I'm painting this pic Of a bright green lily pad -- I might sell it for 75 bucks (or maybe not)! CHORUS This is a budgie's life, you just live in it This is a budgie's life, I have an idea a minute This is a budgie's life, you're welcome to it! Now it's eleven o'clock & my motor's running out I blew up the kitchen, So we got ourselves a takeout! I go back online for one last go-round, Then I pull up the nest by 1:00, Lights out! CHORUS This is a budgie's life, you just live in it This is a budgie's life, I have an idea a minute This is a budgie's life, you're welcome to it! <CODA> I'm the hardest working budgie in show biz Some day, the world will soon know this... I'm the hardest working budgie in show biz Some day, the rest of you will all know this... We Gotta Get Out Of This Place In this dirty old part of the city Where the sun refused to shine People tell me there ain't no use in tryin' Now my girl, you're so young and pretty And one thing I know is true You'll be dead before your time is due, I know Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin' Watched his hair been turnin' grey He's been workin' and slavin' his life away, oh yes I know it And I've been workin' too, baby (yeah!) Every night and day (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!) We gotta get out of this place If it's the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place 'Cause girl, there's a better life for me and you Now my girl you're so young and pretty And one thing I know is true, yeah You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin' Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah He's been workin' and slavin' his life away I know he's been workin' so hard Every day baby (yeah!) Whoa! (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!) We gotta get out of this place If it's the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place Girl, there's a better life for me and you Somewhere baby Somehow I know it, baby We gotta get out of this place If it's the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place Girl, there's a better life for me and you Believe me baby I know it baby You know it too <Barry Mann/Cynthia Weill> Description	Download
BUDGIE IS A GOTH_01_TITLE TRACK_02_WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS	BUDGIE IS A GOTH_01_TITLE TRACK_02_WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS Budgie Is A Goth Budgie is a goth at heart, She's off to a flying start Her tastes are painted black, From her music to her art Budgie is a goth Cloaked in a black coat after dark She felt most at home In centuries-old Victorian parks Sinning and spinning w/Sisters of Mercy Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Mission UK & (oh yeah) Love & Rockets is always hot on the box... I remember our first dates On the moors of Kalamazoo Walking hand in glove after sundown, Me & you Music was our refuge Against a world w/out a clue Walking out w/out a safety net W/nothing left to lose... Angry little Budgie Lives life at the speed of sound Dressed in black, her peers taken aback Toting her paintings all around the town... Sinning and spinning w/Sisters of Mercy Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Mission UK & (oh yeah) Bauhaus is always hot on the box... She's pounding a soundtrack That nobody else can hear Sketching away w/The Sisters Of Mercy Ringing in her ears.... Sinning and spinning w/Sisters of Mercy Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Mission UK & (oh yeah) The Cure is always hot on the box... <10/11/12, 2/11/13> ©Ralph Heibutzki (Words & Music) I think the title's self-explanatory -- it's not just about digging a particular genre. It's also a way of life. :-) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What Tomorrow Brings Another birthday drops, & I gotta confess Number fifty feels like a stone cold mess Everyone in your class has tasted some success You were gonna do this, you were gonna do that You made up your mind, you were staying pat Now your fiftieth's here, and it doesn't feel ...you did much of that But it helps to remember, in moments like these You didn't follow the crowd, & you didn't aim to please So happy birthday, you made it here to stay I can't wait till you see my card today It's not about yesterday, it's only about today So happy birthday, you made it here to stay I can't wait till you see the likes of me today See what tomorrow brings, then you'll feel okay Another birthday hits & it knocks you sideways How the hell'd you get so old anyway Another year flops w/the leaves falling on the sidewalk Now, when the calendar drops, it sure feels atomic Do you take your disappointment w/a gin & tonic Before you take a drop, I want to tell you something right now: But it helps to remember, in moments like these You didn't follow the crowd, & you didn't aim to please But it helps to remember, in moments like these You don't answer to anyone else, that's all you need So happy birthday, you made it here to stay I can't wait till you see my card today It's only about tomorrow, it's not about yesterday So happy birthday, you made it here to stay I can't wait till you see the likes of me today See what tomorrow brings, then you'll feel okay <break> So happy birthday, you made it here to stay I can't wait till you get my card today It's only about yesterday, it's only about today So happy birthday, you made it here to stay I can't wait till you see me today See what tomorrow brings, maybe you'll feel okay <Coda> & I don't wanna live forever, I wanna live for real right here That's where you come in, I know, loud & clear I don't wanna live forever, I wanna live for real right here I think that's where you come in, loud & clear You're all that I've got, everything I want is right here You're all I've got, everything I want is right here Everything I want is right here (x 2)! ©Ralph Heibutzki (Words & Music) We tend beat ourselves up a lot on birthdays -- call it the Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda Club, right? But here's my take on that idea, including why we should take a step back and think again, before we paint ourselves all black 'n' blue. This version is take III. Take V had more energy, but I decided to go with this one -- Billy Bragg-style -- because I thought it had a better vocal, and you could hear the words a little better, too. Description	Download
BUDGIE IS A GOTH_03_HOUSEBOUND AGAIN_04_BABY BIRD	BUDGIE IS A GOTH_03_HOUSEBOUND AGAIN_04_BABY BIRD Housebound Again First I freeze, then I fry I shudder & shiver in the blink of an eye The mercury slides up & down The temperature bounces all around I can't breathe & I'm clammy w/sweat & I haven't seen the last of it yet When am I going out again? I'm not taking any bets I'm housebound again, when's my cabin fever ever gonna end? Going on 1-2-3-4-5 days, I'm housebound again You know it's not easy being me It's a condition, one I can't break free I can't breathe & I can't even see Why's this happening to me I can't breathe & I can't go out alone: Another asthma attack, I hope I don't see black (And when it strikes:) I'm housebound again, my cabin fever's never gonna end 10-9-8-7-8 days, I'm housebound again <break> Another climate bomb drops The summer blast is never gonna stop But now, in my heart of hearts, I know the switch is going up Another winter blast is now about to drop We have a short fall & then I feel that the switch goes up I shiver & I shudder & I sputter I can't tell one day from another Winter is a no go zone I'm sitting here cooped up at home June, July, August, I'm shaking & sweating to the bone Just like (in winter), it's TV& artwork for me When I'm trapped in my home I'm housebound again, glued to the forecast, When it's gonna end? 5-4-3-2-1, I'm hoping that I'm going out again I'm housebound again, I'm glued to the forecast, Wondering when it's ending 5-4-3-2-1, I'm housebound again <Coda> 10-9-8-7-6 days, can I go out again? 5-4-3-2-1 days, can I go out again? 10-9-8-7-6 days, can I go out again? 5-4-3-2-1 days, can I go out again? 5-4-3-2-1 days, I'm going out again! ©Ralph Heibutzki (Words & Music) As simple as all get out, bouncing between a B/D/A, B/D/E, B/D/A/B sequence...but as always, we throw in a few curveballs, too. When Budgie can't leave her nest, the results can be touch and go...as you'll see from the lyric. ============================================================================================================================================ Baby Bird You thrill me like no other, Our lives move now in technicolor You're here to stay, & I wouldn't have it any other way How could I forget you when I met you How they tried to shake you down & sweat you A vision in black who couldn't ever run with the pack Baby bird, fly home with me Spread your wings & you will see The possibilities between you & me Baby bird, fly home with me Take a chance and you will see We know what it means to kick in the doors that set us free You kick-started a sensation That gatecrashes my imagination Your paintings & your drawings, Your comics too Your Victorian outfits & feelings Rock me harder than ever, leave me reeling After that first night out, I couldn't wait for another date Baby bird, fly home with me Spread your wings & you will see The possibilities between you & me Baby bird, fly home with me Take a chance and you will see We both know what it means how to set ourselves free Not for us the life lived in vain Keeping secrets 24/7 Don't talk about this, don't talk about that, oh, no! Not for us the live lived on a dime Doing what you're told till the day you die “Do this, don't do that, 'cause you're mine, all mine” The years keep on running faster But we stand taller knowing how it's lasted I'm just really glad you waited for me on the date The years keep on running by faster But we stand taller knowing how it's lasted I'm just so glad that you waited for me when I ran late Baby bird, fly home with me Spread your wings & you will see The possibilities between you & me Baby bird, fly home with me Take a chance and you will see We now know how to kick down the doors That set us free... ©Ralph Heibutzki (Words & Music) A Heartbreakers-style raveup anchored around a C/D/A, C/A, C/D/G-style chord sequence for the verse, and C/G, C/F, C/G/F for the chorus -- as Glen Matlock says in his memoir, when you're writing something simple, be as simple as you can. A good rule to follow, I think. This song is about the exuberance of meeting your one 'n' only for the first time...and what that feeling is like, knowing in your bones that your instincts are paying off. Description	Download
CHAIRMAN RALPH: "WHAT'S IN A NAME?/MAKE THE ECONOMY SCREAM"	CHAIRMAN RALPH: "WHAT'S IN A NAME?/MAKE THE ECONOMY SCREAM" Part history lesson, part free-form exploration, part mood piece, I created this song as a summary of what Chileans often call "the other September 11th" -- September 11, 1973, when the military, led by General Augusto Pinochet, overthrew the legally elected government of President Salvador Allende, aided and abetted by the U.S. government, which vowed to "make the economy scream." Allende died by self-inflicted gunshot wound, as the military closed in on the Presidential Palace, as one of roughly 3,000 killed, either that day, or shortly thereafter. Notable victims included the folk singer, Victor Jara, whose defense of the revolution saw him joining some 40,000 political opponents herded into the National Soccer Stadium, which functioned as a torture and killing center. Jara was among 70 opponents murdered there. Other victims included two Americans, Frank Teruggi, and Charles Horman, who disappeared after doing his own investigation of the events leading up to the coup. (His story became the subject of the 1982 film, "Missing.") They joined the dead, along with 15 bodyguards and aides taken from the Palace, and remain unaccounted for; and Air Force official Alberto Bachelet, father of future Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, who briefly joined her mother in detention, and eventually, torture. The coup unleashed an orgy of violence and repression on an unimaginable scale for such a small country. In the first three years after the coup, Pinochet's regime arrested some 130,000 people, as it tightened its grip, and strove to present itself internationally as a reliable anti-Communist partner in South America. The opening half of this track, "What's In A Name," was inspired by a news item about a debate raging within the Chilean educational system, on how textbooks should treat the coup -- including whether to call it a coup at all, even though the word translates to, "blow against the state," which describes what happened that day in 1973. Dictators always strive to control how people talk; that is not a new issue. What struck me, in this case, was how an apparently freer Chile still struggled to reckon with its past, which provided my initial inspiration for "What's In A Name." The other half, largely improvised, seeks to convey the scale of the tragedy from a big picture standpoint. In that spirit -- listen, reflect, and learn. And do not forget what happened. Chairman Ralph: lead+harmony vocals, rhythm+lead guitar, bass, drums Jim Dalgleish: secondary drum fills Description	Download
HAPPY 46TH, LITTLE BUDGIE: "BUDGIE WANTS (SOME 9 GRAIN BREAD)"/"EVERYTHING STINKS")	HAPPY 46TH, LITTLE BUDGIE: "BUDGIE WANTS (SOME 9 GRAIN BREAD)"/"EVERYTHING STINKS") "BUDGIE WANTS (SOME NINE GRAIN BREAD)" (LIVE IN THE VAN, 8/28/14) Just as the title says -- a slice of ordinary life, about something that an average person wants, but can't get on a regular basis...recorded in the van...without the benefit of air conditioning, however. HAPPY 46TH, LITTLE BUDGIE: "EVERYTHING STINKS" (LIVE IN THE VAN, 8/28/14) If the Ramones could sing about "Crummy Stuff," I figured that I could have a song called "Everything Stinks"...but there's something else going on here beneath the comedy, as you'll see. Both versions are alternate mixes and edits of the ones previously posted. Description	Download
HAPPY 46TH, LITTLE BUDGIE: "I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF" (7/18/14 REMIX)	HAPPY 46TH, LITTLE BUDGIE: "I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF" (7/18/14 REMIX) For my wife's birthday last year, I recorded my own version of the Troggs classic -- then remixed it, with a little help from Cool Edit Pro, to see where else I could take it...hence, the trick fadeout (and other sleights of hand here). Description	Download
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY..."): 01_ A SANE REVOLUTION_02_HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY	"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY..."): 01_ A SANE REVOLUTION_02_HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY 01_A SANE REVOLUTION Written by D.H. Lawrence and reproduced on the gatefold of Mott The Hoople's 1973 album, MOTT...and here, spiced up with a little reverb. :-) Recorded live (8/28/17) to DVR (Digital Voice Recorder). 02_HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY Chairman Ralph: Acoustic guitar, vocals. Recorded live (8/21/17) to DVR (Digital Voice Recorder). Lyrics included. Description	Download
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY..."): 03_I HATE SUMMER_04_CODA	"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY..."): 03_I HATE SUMMER_04_CODA 03_I HATE SUMMER Chairman Ralph: Guitar, vocals and beatbox. Recorded live (8/28/17) to DVR (Digital Voice Recorder). 04_CODA The basic song, plus coda -- a very Sixties-ish thing to do, isn't it? Complete with reggae "chop" guitar, no less, from the Chairman himself (plus vocals). Description	Download
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY..."): 05_ RUN AWAY WITH ME	"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANYWAY..."): 05_ RUN AWAY WITH ME Chairman Ralph: Guitar, vocals, and beatbox. Recorded live (8/28/17) to DVR (Digital Voice Recorder). Description	Download
I WATCH THE BIRDS_01_TITLE TRACK_02_WISH I HAD STAYED	I WATCH THE BIRDS_01_TITLE TRACK_02_WISH I HAD STAYED I WATCH THE BIRDS Are we watching man's feathered friends, or is it really the other way around, given what we're doing to our environment? Find out in this song! Words: Lisa D. Quinlan/Ralph Heibutzki Music: Ralph Heibutzki Arranged: Chairman Ralph Recorded 8/19/19: Don Hargraves Additional Postproduction: Chairman Ralph WISH I HAD STAYED The words come from a poem from Lisa's that I set to a chord sequence that I'd had knocking around for some time. The sentiments are self-evident. Words: Lisa D. Quinlan Music: Ralph Heibutzki Arranged: Chairman Ralph Recorded 8/19/19: Don Hargraves Additional Postproduction: Chairman Ralph Description	Download
I WATCH THE BIRDS_03_BRING ON THE SUMMER	I WATCH THE BIRDS_03_BRING ON THE SUMMER BRING ON THE SUMMER Just as the title says, a song intended to celebrate the beginning of summer, with Lisa supplying the lyrical content, and myself, coming up again with the chord sequence and arrangement. Originally written and played unplugged -- we'll get around to record a version like that, I'm sure. Words: Lisa D. Quinlan Music: Ralph Heibutzki Arranged: Chairman Ralph Recorded 8/19/19: Don Hargraves Additional Postproduction: Chairman Ralph Description	Download
I WATCH THE BIRDS_04_SUMMER IS HERE	I WATCH THE BIRDS_04_SUMMER IS HERE Recorded 8/19/19: Don Hargraves Additional Post-production: Chairman Ralph SUMMER IS HERE I've always loved this song, by The Outsiders (not to be confused with their equally-named garage rock counterparts from Cleveland, Ohio, and Tampa, Florida), so I figured -- why not put it on. considering that it fits the summer-y vibe of this year's EP? Description	Download