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Whatever it is I'm against it

by Jim Wake & Sleepwalker

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1.
Shopping Cart Man (Wake) I got a broken down dog and shopping cart two pair of shoes and a deck of cards a pocket knife and a can of mace and if I gotta hide I gotta hidin’ place The dog don’t bark but he knows how to growl Ain’t no one to bark at anyhow. Couple months back I even had me a girl She and I were gonna conquer the world She took off looking for the secret to life Sent me a postcard from paradise She said she was working in a grocery store Didn’t mention if she found what she was lookin’ for. Me and the girl were never really gonna hit it off An earth mother child and an old alcoholic She was too young to know how brutal life can be But was smart enough to know that she was smarter than me Smart enough at any rate to get out of town Hanging with me was only gonna bring her down I got a broken down dog and shopping cart two pair of shoes and a deck of cards a pocket knife and a can of mace and if I gotta hide I gotta hidin’ place The dog don’t bark but he knows how to growl Ain’t no one to bark at anyhow.
2.
Back to the Coast (Fransen) Back to the coast, I’m going back to the coast I need the sea, the sand and the sun, back to the coast That’s where I belong, that’s where I came from That’s where I belong, that’s where I came from Back to the coast, I’m going back to the coast, yeah I need the sea, the sand and the sun, back to the coast I’m gonna get there, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m gonna get there somehow I’m gonna get there, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m gonna get there somehow Children play by the seaside Sun slowly sets in the West Seagulls screech in the distance I’m gonna get there, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m gonna get there somehow I’m gonna get there, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m gonna get there somehow I need the sea, the sand and the sun, back to the coast That’s where I belong, that’s where I came from That’s where I belong, that’s where I came from I’m coming home, I’m coming home, I’m coming home, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m coming home, I’m coming home, I’m coming home, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m coming home, I’m coming home, I’m coming home, don’t you worry ’bout it I’m coming home, I’m coming home
3.
Empty bottles (Kemner) When I woke up this morning I found myself alone I reached to touch her hand but she was gone she was gone And there upon my pillow was the smell of her perfume and a note that said goodbye to me goodbye I’m sure I did the right thing I thought I had it made but here I am and she is on the run on the run and there upon the table are the only things she left: empty bottles and a pack of cigarettes Whatever she might choose to do I wish her all the best She treated me fine for a while for a while My house is just as empty as the bottles left behind but it’s full of time and shadows and regrets. and there upon the table are the only things she left: empty bottles and a pack of cigarettes empty bottles and a pack of cigarettes
4.
Hangover blues (Wake) I got a pain in my belly, got a pain in my head I was feeling no pain when I went to bed I was feeling nothing, a feeling I confess is nothing new I got the top-shelf, gold seal, single malt hangover blues When I woke up this mornin’ my mouth was dry I was lyin’ on the floor and I didn’t know why I was feeling nothing, a feeling I confess is nothing new I got the top-shelf, gold seal, single malt hangover blues Top shelf hangover blues top shelf hangover blues gut-churnin’ heart-burnin’ never gonna learn Top shelf hangover blues Top shelf gold seal single malt hangover blues The last thing I recall before I closed my eyes was a promise of salvation on the telephone I was feeling nothing, a feeling I confess is nothing new I got the top-shelf, gold seal, single malt hangover blues Now this poundin’ in my head makes it tough to think But I know I’ll feel better once I get me a drink Cause I’m feelin’ nothing, a feeling that is nothin’ new I got the top-shelf, heart felt, gold seal, real deal, single malt, no fault, hung up, hangover blues Top shelf hangover blues top shelf hangover blues gut churnin’ heart burnin’ never gonna learn Top shelf hangover blues Top shelf gold seal single malt hangover blues Top shelf hangover blues top shelf hangover blues gut churnin’ heart burnin’ never gonna learn Top shelf hangover blues I got the top shelf - heart felt - gold seal - real deal - single malt - no fault - hung-up - hangover blues
5.
Knock, Knock, Knock (Fransen) I had a fine old car and mansion on a hill a hundred thousand dollars to spend Living close to the edge and high on the hog had the world in the palm of my hand I had it all … and I let it slip away I had it all... and let it slip away Knock knock knock is that the dealer at my door He’s got my money but he still wants more He’s taken everything I got but he still wants more He’s gonna slit my throat and leave me bleeding on the floor While Homo Rapiens were robbin’ the planet I was zonin’ out in front of my tv A parade o’ pundits telling nothin’ but lies But it didn’t matter much to me Getting’ higher than kite and drunker than a skunk I had it all …and let it slip away Knock, knock, knock … the collector’s at my door He’s got my money but he still wants more I got nothing left to give but he still wants more My life’s a ruin I got nothing left to live for Had a look in the mirror at my blood shot eyes staring’ back from a face that I didn’t recognize Prozac, smoking crack, Johnny Walker, Heineken, heroin and methedrine, any kind of medicine at all – I let it slip away I had it all – I let it slip away Knock, knock, knock … the undertaker’s at my door he’s got my money but he still wants more he’s got a hold of me and he won’t let go He gonna bury me alive even if it’s premature.
6.
My accomplice (Wake) Ever since we got together you and me been through a lot together dreaming up our secret plots together Even when we’re not together seems like there’s a knot that tethers me to you. This sentiment will not expire I’m overwhelmed by my desire. The only thing that I require is your commitment to conspire with me to depose of the realm of liars, fools and thieves. My accomplice, my accomplice, so much for me and you to accomplish. Coups to arrange and schemes to conceive, wrongs to right and rogues to deceive. Residing in the world of the strange and illicit in every breath a plot implicit consumed by emotions non-specific, in everything with you complicit, possessed by the dream that we’ll commit the perfect crime. My accomplice, my accomplice, so much for me and you to accomplish. Coups to arrange and schemes to conceive, wrongs to right and rogues to deceive. My accomplice, my accomplice, so much for me and you to accomplish. Coups to arrange and schemes to conceive, wrongs to right and rogues to deceive. Ever since we got together you and me been through a lot together dreaming up our secret plots together Even when we’re not together seems like there’s a knot that tethers me to you. Seems like there’s a knot that tethers me to you. Seems like there’s a knot that tethers me to you.
7.
I got the blues for you (Kemner) I can still can feel your velvet hand cuddlin’ my cheek. I see your face in the moonlight glow there’s one thing that I know. What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams that’s right -- I got the blues for you. The road is rollin’ under us your seat is next to mine. We both are starin’ into the night and drinkin’ lots of wine. What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams that’s right -- I got the blues for you. What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams that’s right -- I got the blues for you. I can still recall your voice whisper in my ear. I’m all twisted up inside I’ve got the blues for you. What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams that’s right -- I got the blues for you. What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams What you’ve got is what I need You’re on my mind and in my dreams that’s right -- I got the blues for you.
8.
No fool like an old fool (Bebop swing) (Wake) There are fools who claim to know the secret to life and others don’t know their name. Fools for money and fools for love and fools who are just insane. There are fools for power and fools for fame. There’s no fool like an old fool. You call me a scoundrel, call me a thief, call whatever you like. You can’t insult me cause I’m immune – immune at this stage in.my life. You can call me crazy but I don’t mind cause I’m a fool for you. When it comes to money I’ve had my share and thrown it all away. I’ve had my chances to make my mark but wouldn’t you know – I blew them all. I’ve been waiting for hours, waiting for days, waiting since I don’t know when. It’s now or never, there’ll be no regrets gonna close my eyes and count to ten. Gonna bebop doodle op bebop swing before I get to old. When it comes to money I’ve had my share and thrown it all away. I’ve had my chances to make my mark but wouldn’t you know – I blew them all. I’ve been waiting for hours, waiting for days, waiting since I don’t know when. It’s now or never, there’ll be no regrets gonna close my eyes and count to ten. Gonna bebop doodle op bebop swing – There’s no fool like a, no fool like a see what I mean about bebop swing singing no fool like an old fool.
9.
When I ride into the sunset (Wake) When I first left home I didn’t know why but I sure was glad to be gone I didn’t know yet how trouble feels when you find it on your own When I came back to my surprise I really didn’t mind it Now I’ve found trouble lurking where I never thought I’d find it Got a first rate deal on a second hand life and I make just enough to get by Got a small time job and big time dreams and lots of time to get high There’s nothing here to hold me but a girl I hardly know she loves me more than I deserve but I don’t have the guts to tell her so When I ride into the sunset It won’t be like Hollywood No white hat, no cloud of dust no one sayin’ he done the best he could Just classic rock and all news talk and right wing crazies on the radio a pile of maps on the passenger seat to help me figure out where to go. Every night I go to bed with the girl I hardly know and wake up in the middle of the night and promise myself to let her go I want to run away but I can’t get out of bed When I think about it long enough I break out in a sweat All the wheeler dealers fled to Vegas, certain they can beat the odds The old man at the shoe repair says put your faith in God Frank the tailor tells me I should find a girl and settle down But I’m scared to death of growin’ old and dyin’ in this town When I ride into the sunset It won’t be like Hollywood No white hat, no cloud of dust no one sayin’ he done the best he could Just classic rock and all news talk and right wing crazies on the radio a pile of maps on the passenger seat to help me figure out where to go.
10.
Signs 03:39
Signs (Wake) I took it as a sign that I better move on but maybe it was just another storm Now I’m livin’ in a trailer in Kalamazoo And I aint goin’ back no more There was thunder and lightin’ and the sky turned black but then the storm blew over Now I miss my woman and my two little girls But there’s no goin’ back no more I took it as sign that I better change my ways But I’ve heard since it happens all the time So I quit my job - I started goin’ to church Now I aint got as much a dime There was a ring around the moon and the air was still and the dogs all started to bark Now my soul’s been saved but I feelin’ so hungry Cause I don’t got as much as a dime I been seein’ signs since I was young and hearin’ voices too It’s not for me to judge them when they tell me what to do I took it as a sign that the world would end But it was only the Fourth of July I don’t know what got into me But I was sure that I would die The air was cracklin’ and streaked with red fire lit the night So I hid myself in fallout shelter And I lived on crackers and wine I took it as a sign of things to come But maybe it was all in my head So I borrowed some money and I got me a gun And kept it with me when I went to bed I started dreaming in black and white everybody's speaking in tongues Now I’ll rot in prison for the rest of my life Cause I shot my little lady dead.
11.
Too Young to Die (Fransen) Sneaking up the stairway, knocking on my door Caught in the act like like I been caught before I’m guilty as sin – there’s no denyin’ Better make my escape cause it’s better than dyin’ Yeah – I’m living again – oh yeah, I’m loving again I’m livin’ again cause I’m to young to die Nasty rumors and an electric buzz Something tells me that they’re talking ’bout us I been saving my money for a rainy day There’s a storm on the horizon so let’s fly away
12.
Don't shout 03:23
Don’t shout (Fransen/Wake) Might be something that you think is wrong better shut your mouth or before too long might just have to hide away better bite your tongue and play their game Might be something makes you gasp and groan beg for more and sigh and moan might be something makes you want to shout but you might wake your neighbors if you shout Oh baby don’t shout so loud oh baby don’t shout Oh baby don’t shout so loud Oh baby don’t shout so loud oh baby don’t shout Oh baby don’t shout so loud Might be something to cause you pain weighs on your shoulders and burdens your brain might be something makes you wanna shout but you might wake your neighbors if you shout Oh baby don’t shout so loud oh baby don’t shout Oh baby don’t shout so loud Oh baby don’t shout so loud oh baby don’t shout Oh baby don’t shout so loud Jim Wake – lead vocal Ruud Fransen – bass, backup vocal Egbert Kemner – guitar, backup vocal Eelco Flapper - drums Arnoud van Buuren – organ, backup vocal The Push-up Brass
13.
Factory town 03:42
Factory town (Wake) Back when beer was just a quarter and I was barely old enough to drink I got me a job in a barrel factory clearin’ ninety bucks a week I stumbled through a summer romance – I was headed for college in a couple month’s time I punched a clock and joined the union, I worked my ass off but I didn’t mind Now the coolest thing about that barrel factory was a creek out back that glowed in the dark It smelled like week-old sausage sandwich but I thought it wouldn’t do no harm. A year went by and I came home from school and got myself another job I worked all day and drank all night and dated the daughter of a guy in the mob The job I had was out in the sticks in place they once called Model City They dealt in acids and surplus solvents, heavy metals and PCBs Back in the days of the Manhattan Project, Model City was a dumping site By the time I got there they’d sent in men with Geiger counters to set things right Those Geiger counters clicked away and then they hauled out loads of earth and told us everything was fine. I felt relieved and reassured I finally finished up my studies although I didn’t have a clue of how to make a living or of what the fuck I oughta do I moved back home and got a job in a factory makin’ grease and wax but I spent my time playing 500 rummy and getting high in a shed out back Across the street was a factory making chlorine gas and PVCs It never even crossed my mind that all that poison caused disease Most of the factories now have closed, headed south or moved offshore The jobs are gone, the city lifeless, but the air is cleaner than before For forty years it’s been like that – an unremitting sad decline But here and there you still can find a sign of what they left behind Silhouettes of rusty tanks and pipes and cranes along the river Toxic dumps, abandoned houses and cirrhosis of the liver Broken dreams and alcoholics but no one prepared to answer for the poverty and the ruined lives and the elevated rates of cancer.
14.
You don’t know what my daddy do (Wake) You don’t know what my daddy do You don’t know what my daddy do You don’t know what my daddy do You don’t know ’n I aint gonna tell you When he takes me downtown people shake his hand They look ’m in the eye and say you’re my man They slap ’m on the back and say see you around That’s what people do when we go downtown Cause everybody knows he’s a man about town. I aint never told ya ’bout my Uncle Joe I aint never told ya ’bout my Uncle Joe I aint never told ya ’bout my Uncle Joe I aint gonna tell you so you’re never gonna know My Uncle Joe aint nobody’s fool He’s got a job you don’t learn in school He’s got a scar on his shoulder and an eagle tattoo Goes to Vegas in the winter for a month or two But nobody knows what my Uncle Joe do I ain’t never told ya bout my Uncle Bill. I ain’t never told ya bout my Uncle Bill. I ain’t never told ya bout my Uncle Bill. I ain’t never told ya ’n I never will He wears two-tone shoes and a Stetson hat He’s got a Doberman Pinscher and a Siamese cat He smokes fat cigars and he can wiggle his ears He buys a brand new Cadillac every year ’n everybody knows he’s a man to fear. He’s a man to fear He’s a man to fear He’s a man to fear
15.
I’m Against it (Harry Ruby & Bert Kalmar) I don’t care what they have to say, it makes no difference anyway: whatever it is – I’m against it! No matter what it is or who commenced it, I’m against it. Your proposition may be good, but let’s have one thing understood: whatever it is – I’m against it! And even if they change it or condense it, I’m against it. I’m opposed to on general principles, I’m opposed to it! He’s opposed to it in fact if he say he’s opposed to it. For months before my son was born I used to yell from night to morn “whatever it is – I’m against it!” And I’ve kept yelling since I first commence it: “I’m against it!”

credits

released October 14, 2012

Jim Wake: lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Egbert Kemner: lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Ruud Fransen: bass and backing vocals
Arnoud van Buuren: keyboards and accordion, backing vocals
Eelco Flapper: drums and percussion
Konstantin Iliev: tenor saxophone

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ernst van Wageningen at the
Basement Studio in The Hague, The Netherlands, ©2012.
The Push-up Brass, with horn arrangements by Egbert Kemner, on
Shopping Cart Man, Knock Knock Knock, No Fool Like an Old Fool, Too Young to Die,
Don’t Shout, and Whatever It Is I’m Against It.
Ruud Peper, trumpet
Mauk van der Woude, trumpet
Eric Dekkers, trombone
Konstantin Iliev, tenor saxophone
Egbert Kemner joins the Push-Up Brass on alto saxophone on Don’t Shout.
Corné van Woerdekom plays violin on Ride into the Sunset and Factory Town.
Jim Wake plays guitar and Egbert Kemner plays harmonica on Hangover Blues
Ruud Fransen plays guitar on Back to the Coast and Too Young to Die
Arnoud van Buuren is second voice on Back to the Coast and Knock Knock Knock.
Egbert Kemner is second voice on Too Young to Die.
Additional backing vocals on Factory Town by Jim Wake.
Konstantin Iliev plays clarinet on Whatever it is I’m against it.
Packaging and booklet design by Jim Wake. Photos by Egbert Kemner, Philippe Olivier, Ernst van Wageningen, and Jim Wake
Our thanks to all sources of support and inspiration, named and unnamed, present and past.

jimwakeandsleepwalker.
contact: sleepwalker@telfort.nl

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Jim Wake & Sleepwalker Netherlands

Jim Wake and Sleepwalker, like the musical traditions in blues, rock ’n’ roll, and rhythm blues from which the band draws inspiration, is an experience defying easy description. It is music that swings, drives, bumps and grinds, moans and groans, screams and shouts, and then steps back and turns introspective, plaintive, or nostalgic. ... more

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