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unfinished thoughts (album)

by the caretakers

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1.
It's thinking time in the daytime It's thinking time in the night It's thinking time in the daytime It's thinking time in the night Sitting at home and listening to the radio High-grade grass you know it was from Ontario The man in stereo says the news is bad, but we’re so glad Northwest winds moving in, you know that can't be so bad So you've got to sit at home and listen to the radio Smokin' high-grade grass you know she said it came from Ontario Chorus Skies coming down all around, makes the streets so damn pretty No school no books no roads you're off the hook, in a snow-blinded city Word on the wild wild web says you might as well head on back to bed There's nothing you can do no matter what your IQ sleepyhead So you've got to sit at home and listen to the radio Smokin' high-grade grass you know she said it came from Ontario Chorus
2.
Pretty rows of houses With lots of pretty lights Pretty people having five and dime affairs With the pretty no names of a lonely night Pretty cars in driveways With pretty double-car garage Pretty storefronts selling cocaine candy To pretty people in the Land of Oz Chorus Can’t find love, you can’t find love No you can’t find love, anymore Can’t find love, you can’t find love No you can’t feel love, anymore Look at all the pretty steel towers With lots of pretty glass Pretty teams making fame and fortune For pretty priests at the Wall Street mass Chorus Pretty rows of houses With lots of pretty lights Chorus
3.
Blue skies in a daylight daydream Freedom fighters, fighting for you and me In the name of the twenty-first century (you're gonna see) Blue skies in a daylight daydream Breakdown at the border crossing lines Playgrounds of guns and mortar and might Shakedown of law and order tonight (there's gonna be) Breakdown at the border crossing lines Chorus Peacemaking here, there and everywhere There’s a fever, feel it risin’ in the air So fragile got to handle with loving care or it will be War weeping, no peacekeeping anywhere Chorus
4.
Tall lankey grass higher than I have grown Findin’ my way back to where I think I came from Daddy and fishin’ poles, lemonade, waterin’ holes Braids in my hair, velvet rock on my soles Chorus Daddy, daddy it’s cold in the water Silly, silly you’re silly my daughter Daddy laughed, daddy laughed daddy laughed Daddy laughed, oh my daddy laughed Minnows are slippin’ through fingers to freedom Face getting’ freckly, the sun is the reason Sit on the tailgate, eat my fried chicken Sleep with my canopy, willows are breathin’ Chorus
5.
dark roads 03:06
Did you trade your god for guns? Did you sell your daughters for sons? Have you washed away the tears with rain? Have you packaged your pity with their pain? Did you give away day for night? Did you lose humanity in a fight? Have you turned your back to the morning sun? Will you take your blindness on the run? Chorus Dark roads going nowhere Dark roads everywhere Dark roads going nowhere Dark roads you don’t care Did you peddle your freedom for fame? Did you find your truths in a poker game? Have you walked away from a child in need? Do you laugh when you turn and hear them scream? Tell me what you believe What makes you cry, what makes you bleed? Dark roads going nowhere Dark roads everywhere Dark roads going nowhere Dark roads you don’t care Did you trade your god for guns? Sell your daughters for sons? Have you washed away the tears with rain? Package your pity with their pain? Chorus
6.
Just a cold grey city It doesn’t look pretty A trash can of sleeze And social disease Rejects in the gutter The kids choose another Playing games of amazement In Manhattan’s basement Chorus New York City Rotted to the core New York City I’m going back for more Walk in central park But you don’t go after dark It’s a green paradise of preservation Where the trees and birds are saved from urbanization From Strawberry Fields to Grand Central Station Chorus
7.
Are you free on Sunday? I’ve got to talk with you I’ve got to walk with you Can I see you, can I meet you Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday? I’ve got to demonstrate Across from Heaven’s gate Can you see us, can you meet us Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday? Guess you’ve got to stay there Cause everybody prays there Can we see you, can we meet you Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday? Are you free on Sunday?
8.
animal fever 04:36
Locked at will in pens and cages Factory farms and circus stages Sad and cold as winter rain When does it stop, when does it change? So much pain, so much suffering Leaves my mind numb, leaves me wondering Peacock feathered hats of sorts Endangered coats and wraps and so much more Yes Grade A meat is murder There’s no defense for the butcher, or the sheepherder Must be their sad, cold pathology A disordered hurt, and personality Fake fur hunts and pet store training Cats and dogs but hey it's not raining Watchful wildlife welfare cops Suspicious minds and body shops Pools of sorrow, hands of tyranny Cries from nature of injusticies Locked at will in pens and cages Factory farms and circus stages Sad and cold as winter rain When does it stop, when does it change?
9.
why oh why 02:52
Why does it seem The world paints in shades of grey and green That's what they say, what does it mean? What does it mean, When life becomes a freak show Well I just don't know Got no time for rainbows Don't know which way to go It's not what you're sayin' It's not what you're thinkin' I'm goin' insane you know Can't you see it's breakin' me Why oh why, will I die, should I cry? Why oh why Lord, why oh why? I'm goin' insane you know Can't you see it's breakin' me Why oh why oh why? And why do they say Count your blessings each and every day Think I lost you somewhere 'long the way Along the way You walk before you run You learned to use a gun Shot a man in cold blood Outside the lonely hearts club It's not what we’re sayin' It's not what we’re thinkin' I'm goin' insane you know Can't you see it's breakin' me Why oh why, should I cry, will I die? Why oh why Lord, why oh why? I'm goin' insane you know Can't you see it's breakin' me Why oh why oh why?
10.
The fields are flooding across the Plains First Nations rise, avenging blame The currency traders are putting us all to shame Kyoto’s deep-frying in Japan The world’s on alert “Beware of Man” The carbon makers are getting mad, it’s so sad The Queen had tea and a fall from grace Advertising men always in your face The Washington Post died I heard on Tuesday The mad scientists are now making a case New gods in the Frankenstein race Even good looks won’t get you there it’s bad taste Helen Keller liked what she couldn’t see Karl Marx paid he didn’t write for free Now court jester’s on the loose, it’s a tragedy Kennedy died in a mystery What can you do he said to me It’s not about you my son it’s not about me The doctors put a madman inside my head Some heavy baggage but I’ve got no trip I said, I’ve got Seven monkeys on my back, a new working class Seven monkeys on my back, a new working class Seven monkeys on my back, a new working class The fields are flooding across the Plains First Nations rise, avenging blame The currency traders still putting us all to shame The currency traders still putting us all to shame

about

The Caretakers emerged from one of the original hubs of Canadian music—Hamilton, Ontario in 2007—although the trio could just as easily have stepped off the stage of Café Wha? in Greenwich Village circa 1964. With folk music at their roots and the cultural grit of a working-class-city upbringing, Jeffrey C. Martin, Lena Montecalvo and Norm Van Bergen fuse rich Peter, Paul and Mary-style harmonies with REM-inspired melodies and swampy ‘70s southern rock grooves.

• • • • • • •

The band describes their first full-length offering, Unfinished Thoughts as “a snapshot of the world we live in today.” Lyrically, the album is a cutting statement on contemporary western society—war, politics, animal cruelty, propaganda and urban chaos. But it also evokes thoughts on God, spirituality, love and family. Martin’s lyrics are thought provoking, Montecalvo’s vocals are powerful, and Van Bergen’s 12-string acoustic guitar provides an anchor for the trio’s lush harmonies.

• • • • • • •

"Making obvious comparisons to the likes of Peter, Paul and Mary would be a little misleading, as the music of the Caretakers is a little more complex. Their name says it all – they write about issues that matter and they sing because their hearts are on their sleeves. As the Caretakers get on their proverbial soapbox, there’s that definite ‘60s folk influences that permeates some of the protest feel to the songs on Unfinished Thoughts but you could mix in some ‘70s southern rock or even early ‘80s new–wave/neo–psychedelic into the mix."
Ric Taylor, VIEW Magazine

• • • • • • •

“The Caretakers debut album captures the spirit of easy going indie folk-rock with a poignant message. Unfinished Thoughts is fresh, offers up some diverse songwriting, and has groove and intrigue. The Caretakers album release party was one of the year’s best."
Michael Keire, Co-producer, Vibewrangler Studio

credits

released July 1, 2010

All songs © 2010 Jeffrey C. Martin (SOCAN) except Daddy Laughed © 2010 Jeffrey C. Martin and Lena Montecalvo
Produced by Glen Marshall and Michael Keire
Engineering by Jon Daly
Recorded at Vibewrangler Studio and Catharine North, Hamilton, Canada
Mixed by Glen Marshall and Michael Keire at Vibewrangler Studio
Mastered by Tim Branson at Joao Carvalho Mastering, Toronto, Canada
Concept by Jeffrey C. Martin
Album design by Kara Smith
CD Jacket Photography: Bob Hatcher
Photography Bob Hatcher, Kara Smith, Al Cannon

Vocals | Jeffrey C. Martin, Lena Montecalvo, Norm Van Bergen
12-string guitar | Norm Van Bergen
Acoustic guitars | Jeffrey C. Martin, Jesse Lewis, Nick Cino
Lead guitars | Ed Mitchell, Mike Ventimiglia
Slide guitar | Barry Mac
Bass | Carl Jennings, Dave Marini, Jesse Lewis
Drums | Tim Jennings, Dan Stadjuhar
Mandolin | Mike Trebilcock, Mike McCurlie
Percussion | Lena Montecalvo, Tim Jennings

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