1. DIVE BAR BLUES (CROSSING RUSSELL ROAD)
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam & James:
I had the dive-bar blues when Diana disappeared
I had the dive-bar blues, I was filling up with fear
Sam:
Katie became Libby
while I had to wait
to go crossing Russell Road
back into my home state
south of Kenosha County
on Wisconsin border lies
a road with bridge over
you stand on between two sides
Katie became Libby
years after the courtroom
Katie sat next to Mom
Dad was missing from the pews
a softball game in summer
Libby in bleachers
I told her if she'd come
I'd tell my real name to her
Sam & James:
I had the dive-bar blues when Diana disappeared
I had the dive-bar blues, I was filling up with fear
of crossing Russell Road
of crossing Russell Road
of crossing Russell Road
Sam:
don't misunderstand me
I just needed to be
back in the water and again baptized
Sam & James:
I should have been a brother
but tried to be a lover
when the faith I was born in got left behind
Sam:
Libby in the light
points to sundial
Katie in picture
burning in the pile
it's unfair to consider
and wrong to reminisce
how a past did once vanish
with just one perfect kiss
Sam & James:
I had the dive-bar blues when Diana disappeared
I had the dive-bar blues, I was filling up with fear
of crossing Russell Road
of crossing Russell Road
of crossing Russell Road
crossing Russell Road
crossing Russell Road
crossing Russell Road
crossing Russell Road
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
James Apollo-vocals, keyboards, harmonica
Michael Spaly-electric violin
Allison Tulloss-vocals
Kjell Anderson-fiddle
Carey Rayburn-trumpet
Toby Hanson-accordion
Ken Nottingham-upright bass
Schuyler Jones-electric bass
Dave Forrester-drums
Isaac Chirino-percussion
recorded and mixed by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle WA
2. DINNER RUSH/E.L.L.
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam & James:
every guy in the place tonight
and at least four girls
pick her out from sights in room
as center of caramel swirl
her smile begins the greeting
and the tone precise starts releasing
cues to think in defense automatically
“everyone loves Libby but me”
in the effort to be unique
and not just a body that breathes
they’ll claim they’re not entranced
by the grace into which she taps
and those working by her side each night
will have even more to deny
and think to themselves dismissively
“everyone loves Libby but me”
Sam, James & Allison:
cause they wouldn’t fall for same reason
that pulls in everyone else
who wouldn’t see what makes her so special
they’d be the only ones that could tell
cause they wouldn’t fall for same reason
that pulls in everyone else
who wouldn’t see what makes her so special
they’d be the only ones that could tell
Sam & James:
when her shift comes to a close
she’ll probably just go home
watch some TV and go to bed
frightened of connection
around Seattle hearts quickly beat
after a single glimpse from the seat
vowing before admitting defeat
“everyone loves Libby but me”
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
James Apollo-vocals
Michael Spaly-violins, guitars
Carlos Tulloss-bass
Dave Forrester-percussion
Allison Tulloss-vocals
recorded and mixed by Michael Spaly at Monkeystack Studios, Seattle, WA
3. ANGELS 'ROUND THE THRONE PT. 1
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam:
he saw I made her cry
and led her to the swings
I took hand of girl at my side
and tied around her finger a blue ring
made out of the strands
of a shattered water balloon
she laughed and threw it down
I looked away and suddenly saw you
and in the courtroom Katie watched
my old name out being crossed
replaced by mom’s maiden and my middle one
Dad said son do this we’ll be through
my heart’s a water balloon
leaking out tears I baptized you in
that washed away your original sin
if you throw away the name I gave to you
you’ll break my heart like a water balloon
once I knew a girl who'd just turned eighteen years old
I was twenty-two couldn’t be with her so I’d been told
she took me home from party after the funeral
asked me if Chris Moon was in Texas still
we drove through Kenosha, I told Katie about my name
how everything was different she wouldn't be the same
didn't see her again til I stopped back at the Chancery
she was last one left from summer stood there shocked to see me
and her careful body was swallowed by lobby I had to cross
light from window made it seem as if no time had been lost
I could feel the rest there with us, as I saw her down they'd flown
Sam & James:
all the angels that were once gathered round the throne
Sam:
I met Diana through Joanna who with I worked weddings
cleaning up at end of night Joanna and Adam would start to sing
Di was back from New York, I asked her out after shift
we were in front of bar smoking watching the smoke lift
a year later I messed what I had by messing round with
Di went back to New York thinking I'd already done it
when she came back to Seattle, she ran to Adam after I told
Sam & James:
I was searching for the angels that were once gathered round the throne
Sam:
I told Katie in the letter world will treat you rough
Di said remember I'm the one that you really love
Sam & James:
I want no moment to be wasted and each one to be atoned
by the presence of the angels that are gathered round the throne
Sam:
Libby sat on steps by lockers back from Italy
barely worked with her 'for she left, I was turning thirty
even though I know now I had to be alone
I still wanted angels that were gathered round the throne
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
James Apollo-vocals
Allison Tulloss-vocals
Michael Spaly-mandolin, fiddle
John Tomlinson-Hammond B3
Kjell Anderson-fiddle
Toby Hanson-accordion
Ken Nottingham-upright bass
Schuyler Jones-electric bass
Dave Forrester-drums
recorded by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
additional recording by Johnny Sangster at Crackle & Pop, Seattle, WA
slow section mixed by Johnny Sangster at Electrokitty Studios, Seattle, WA
fast section mixed by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
4. DON'T COME TO NEW YORK CITY
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam:
have you ever been hurt
and wish someone close would come
see, pull you back in
through loss death drugging and mugging
Sam & Allison:
after rug's been pulled from under
the feet of a sworn protector
the snow makes me a cold goddess
tap-dancing for her breakfast
Sam:
“he started there ‘fore you and I in high school with his best friends
he worked so hard, was full of hope, I thought of him as just a kid
on his 21st birthday, he said he’d marry me and Joanna too
you broke my heart like a water balloon
he saw that I was sad when you confessed everything
he said ‘Diana you’ll cheer up if you meet me on the swings’
I said’ I'm going back to Brooklyn,’ he said ‘I'm coming with you’
Sam & Allison:
you broke my heart like a water balloon
Sam:
you should plan a trip
that's what you need
to break away from need to complain
and being up all night
your radar crammed with lights
don't come to New York City
don't come to New York City
there's a fish swimming in your pond I bet
Sam & Allison:
don\'t come to New York City
don't come to New York City
don't come to New York City yet
Sam:
you said I should call you
you didn’t know what to do
you were still acting young but old enough
to know the risks
of not choosing to resist
don't come to New York City
don't come to New York City
I’ve been walking on a wire without a net
Sam & Allison:
don\'t come to New York City
don't come to New York City
don't come to New York City yet”
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
Carey Rayburn-trumpet
Michael Spaly-fiddle
Justin Roeser-guitar
James Apollo-guitar
Allison Tulloss-vocals, flute
John Tomlinson-Hammond B3
Ken Nottingham-upright bass
Schuyler Jones-electric bass
Isaac Chrino-drums
Dave Forrester-percussion
recorded by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
mixed by Johnny Sangster at Electrokitty Studios, Seattle, WA
5. WATER BALLOON
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam:
well I was dying fast like a snowflake in June
trying to patch up the leak and fix the water balloon
Lloyd and Tom were a waiter and a busser
who opened the place but went down
to gutter, given second chance
in their own balloon's burst they drowned
Sam & Allison:
Tom loved the Oxy Cotton and the chef he loved the meth
Lloyd really loved heroin and I had my own addiction
I was craving from a heart broken like a water balloon that I'd fill up
with grenadine to remember sweet and cover all that was to come
Sam, Allison, James & Michael:
and the water balloon
erased a blue moon
at the backyard baptism
on a Sunday afternoon
well I was dying fast like a snowflake in June
trying to patch up the leak and fix the water balloon
Sam & Allison:
well I was dying fast, liquid slipped through hands, I got hired on April Fool's
Lloyd Tom Myrriah and me on the first day as the chef went over the rules
Myrriah was special from New Mexico not Santa Fe but near
she seemed full of hot desert air but up close you’d hope maybe it was lack of fear
she got Libby hired in early summer and let Lloyd crash at her place
she knew Libby from the U and liked to eat food from trash rather than let it go to waste
when Libby came back from Italy, Myrriah’d been fired and Lloyd left for winter
he came back begging staff for the cash to patch with during rush in dinner
Sam, Allison, James & Michael:
and the water balloon
erased a blue moon
at the backyard baptism
on a Sunday afternoon
well I was dying fast like a snowflake in June
trying to patch up the leak and fix the water balloon
well everybody's heard this before
who’s tried to resurrect
a love shattered into pieces
that you won’t admit is dead
Sam:
a year and a half after we had opened, Tommy and the chef went into rehab
Aaron and Shauna saw Lloyd walking downtown skinny and ragged
his family from New Jersey called us up for just a little help in finding him
I think back telling myself I was in no shape to try and be a friend
Sam & Allison:
I felt the light streaming from Libby that once through me had flowed
reflecting off a sugar nile I’d fill balloon again with and hold
at Libby's birthday party there you stood, Elizabeth by another name
for that moment I was free of trying to force another heart to feel the same
Sam, Allison, James & Michael:
and the water balloon
erased a blue moon
at the backyard baptism
on a Sunday afternoon
well I was dying fast like a snowflake in June
til you reached out and offered me the water balloon
but I couldn't see you right away
cause I was still waiting for the day
for my dad to call me back down in the pool
made out of tears saved up in the water balloon
he’d say don’t worry son it’s OK
I don’t understand but I still love you anyway
if this world ever put you in the path to ruin
think of the tears in me, the tears in the water balloon
in the water balloon, in the water balloon
all I’m asking is have some faith in me
open up and embrace the mystery
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
James Apollo-vocals
Toby Hanson-accordion
Kjell Anderson-fiddle, backing vocals
Michael Spaly-mandolin, fiddle, guitar, backing vocals
Allison Tulloss-vocals
Carey Rayburn-trumpet
DJ-trombone
John Tomlinson-Hammond B3
Ken Nottingham-upright bass
Schuyler Jones-electric bass, backing vocals
Dave Forrester-drums, backing vocals
Isaac Chirino-percussion
recorded by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
mixed by Johnny Sangster at Electrokitty Studios, Seattle, WA
6. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WAITRESS!
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Michael:
see her laughing when she walks in
joking around with the cooks in the kitchen
even though she's having a bad day
she's got a light shining that makes manager say that
Michael, Allison & Sam:
she's Libby with an L
and anyone can tell
she's good as a waitress can be
she's Libby with an L
her presence like a bell
ringing out happily
Michael:
she started working here while finishing school
never waited before now she knows all the rules
she graduated it's already been a year
no idea where or when she's going from here
Michael:
she was throwing herself into the job
always working never having fun
then one day a light did reflect
a light she hadn’t seen herself yet
Michael, Allison, & Sam:
she's Libby with an L
and anyone can tell
she's good as a person can be
she's Libby with a L
she's come out of her shell
for the whole wide world to see
Nathan & Allison:
Katie don’t come around here anymore
after all the different uniforms she has worn
she started as a hostess, wound up on the floor
Katie don’t come around here anymore
Katie don’t come around here anymore
I know she doesn’t mean all of us to ignore
it’s just like any place well you’re gonna get bored
Katie don’t come around here anymore
Nathan, Allison, Sam & Michael:
Katie don't come around here anymore....
Michael Spaly-vocals, guitar, fiddle, toy piano
Nathan Wade-vocals
Allison Tulloss-vocals, flute, cheerleader
Sam Russell-backing vocals, guitar
Schuyler Jones-bass
Dave Forrester-drums
Isaac Chirino-percussion
Carey Rayburn-trumpet
John Tomlinson-Hammond B3
Toby Hanson-accordion
Lorelei & Rory Gilmore-cheerleaders
Kjell Anderson-fiddle
recorded by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
mixed by Johnny Sangster at Electrokitty Studios, Seattle, WA
7. THE SUGAR NILE (REVISITED)
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam & Allison:
let's go down the sugar nile
sail it for a little while
close our eyes and travel a whole mile
forget about worries and cares
where they're not, we will be there
we'll go riding down the sugar nile
Sam:
baby let's sail away on a red river that flows
with a beat-up Elmo doll you got when just two-years old
he'll lead us on a cow to a boat in the harbor
and we'll sail towards we what can't yet remember:
the taste of Grandma's candy
an unscattered and close family
I was swallowed by the harbor when I was just a child
Uncle Joe would walk us there and I'd see my mother smile
then cinnamon would fall and I'd keep trying to get back to
that moment as life's mission I'm trying to tell to you
baby I want you to believe
understand I was born with need
Sam, Allison, James & Michael:
to ride ride ride on the sugar nile
to ride ride ride on the sugar nile
to ride ride ride on the sugar nile
to ride oh to ride
Sam:
and I know you're worried I keep craving and I'll never be done
as I worry I take too much and baby you're too young
to want to shatter prisms sweet and fight to find in mystery
a clear path as a way back that so easily could lead
Sam. Allison, James & Michael:
to ride ride ride on the sugar nile
to ride ride ride on the sugar nile
to ride ride ride on the sugar nile
to ride oh to ride
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
Allison Tulloss-vocals, flute
Michael Spaly-mandolin, fiddle, vocals
John Tomlinson-Hammond B3
James Apollo-harmonica, vocals
Schuyler Jones-bass
Ken Nottingham-2nd bass, vocals
Kjell Anderson-fiddle
Toby Hanson-accordion
Carey Rayburn-trumpet
Dave Forrester-drums
Isaac Chirino-percussion
recorded by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
mixed by Johnny Sangster at Electrokitty Studios, Seattle, WA
8. THE ELIZABETH BAPTISMAL
(words and music by Sam Russell)
Sam:
I was swallowed by the harbor but escaped to Interstate
worked with my sister Liz and Chris at the Chancery off highway
another waitress named Elizabeth with red hair through mind would run
but when I moved away that winter, Katie I couldn’t stop thinking of
5 years later in Seattle, a DJ played “It's Time to Say Goodbye”
as we were cleaning up the wedding, me and Adam tore the dance floor tiles
Joanna stood up straight, like an opera singer sang along
as her youngest sister walked in, me and Adam’s hearts were gone
Sam, James, Allison & Michael:
you broke my heart, you broke my heart
you broke my heart like a water balloon
you broke my heart, you broke my heart
you broke my heart like a water balloon
Sam:
brown hair under bright sun sipping a salted caramel shake
Libby looked just liked Diana but Katie’s memory she did wake
just when I told her one sweet sip could always be enough
I collapsed from crash of sugar then no longer in the blood
Sam, James, Allison & Michael:
you broke my heart, you broke my heart
you broke my heart like a water balloon
you broke my heart, you broke my heart
you broke my heart like a water balloon
Sam:
I’d fill from the sugar nile to forget and try and wash away
‘til at party with blonde hair sat Elizabeth with another name
I was scared of dipping toe in water for fear that I’d drown
then my father’s hand pushed me in and again it pulled me out
love can be a rushing flood, whole soul gets rearranged
but in wreckage and rubble, you’ll see only beautiful change
our love was a water balloon we let back and forth be tossed
‘til it slipped and hit the ground and then all we had was lost
Sam, James, Allison & Michael:
you broke my heart, you broke my heart
you broke my heart like a water balloon
you broke my heart, you broke my heart
you broke my heart like a water balloon
you broke my heart like a water balloon
let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while
close our eyes and travel a whole mile
dip toes in and be baptized
come out full hearts and clear eyes
we’ll go riding down the sugar nile
let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while
close our eyes and travel a whole mile
on the rock candy river we will go
to Mt. Prospect it will flow
we’ll go riding down the sugar nile
let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while
close our eyes and travel a whole mile
plant a salted caramel kiss on me
God didn’t want me to be lonely
we’ll go riding down the sugar nile
let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while
close our eyes and travel a whole mile
let breeze blow away the truth
Mama don’t take away my pink booth
we’ll go riding down the sugar nile
let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while
close our eyes and travel a whole mile
see clearly with both eyes
once again we’ll be baptized
we’ll go riding down the sugar nile
Sam Russell-vocals, guitar
Michael Spaly-guitar, vocals
Carey Rayburn-trumpet
Toby Hanson-accordion
Allison Noel-vocals
James Apollo-vocals
John Tomlinson-Hammond B3
Ken Nottingham-upright bass
Schuyler Jones-backing vocals
Dave Forrester-drums, backing vocals
Kjell Anderson-fiddle, backing vocals
recorded and mixed by Conrad Uno at Egg Studios, Seattle, WA
additional recording by Johnny Sangster at Crackle & Pop, Seattle, WA