1. |
American Dream
04:06
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All my life I've been doin as I've been told
if you ask me that shit sure is gettin' old
stand up straight boy and do your chores
if you work hard this whole world could be yours
well I've been slavin' away and gained remorse
cuz that American dream well it's run its course
My hands are scarred and my back is sore
I work so hard while all my debts they soar
and I'm on my knees
and on my own
cuz that American dream well it's good as gone
And I can tell by the look in your eyes
there ain't no difference between you and I
we've all been sold a bill of lies
and that American dream has all but died
We got crooked politicians with their nefarious schemes
their lining their own pockets and killing our dream
and I'm holding on for my dear life
cuz that American dream well it's passed me by
Well its land of the free and home of the brave
but we're building walls and they've got us all afraid
and that Amercian dream is fading away
and it'll spit you out on your final day
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2. |
She Thinks It's Funny
03:23
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She's movin northward and I cursed the f-word
it appears we're coming undone
I drank away my sorrow until it was tomorrow
and I awoke along with the sun
and I awoke along with the sun
Now she thinks it's funny that she took all my money
my wallet's as dry as the ground
so broke I can't pay attention but it's worth a mention
I am richer without her around
I am richer without her around
What's it like being always right
well she thinks she's the one to know
I hate the way she entered my life
but holy shit
I'm lovin to see her go
Well boy you should've seen us nothin came between us
like leaves we were fallin in love
so imagine my surprise when I saw in her eyes
that she was never the one
that she was never in love
What's it like being always right
well she thinks she's the one to know
I hate the way she entered my life
but holy shit
I'm lovin to see her go
I feel a little used and my heart's been abused
but I'm thinkin it's time to move on
her crooked little soul makes me sure as hell know
that she was the one who was wrong
that she was the one who was wrong
What's it like being always right
well she thinks she's the one to know
I hate the way she entered my life
but holy shit
holy shit
holy shit
I'm lovin to see her go
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3. |
Ah Ha
03:31
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I'm thirty years in on a life long drag
and my head it spins and my heart it aches
I don't care what my friends say
this life is mine just to waste away
Ah Ha
I said I'd quit her just the night before
well the trouble is I only want her more
I don't care what the neighbors say
we're gonna fuck so hard the walls they'll shake
Ah Ha
I ain't the man I used to be
now I stumble through life carelessly
I don't care what my doctor says
this liver was built just for drunkeness
Ah Ha
Don't judge me for wastin my time
as you slave away at your nine to five
I don't care what my boss says
he can shove that job right up his ass
Ah Ha
On the day
that I should die
would you let the grim reaper
know I stopped by
he's gonna have to kill somebody new
I got a message for him
well it's a big fuck you
The future seems much closer now
when I was a kid it was so far out
I don't care what my parents say
I'm not a fuck up no I turned out great
Ah Ha
So wind me up and watch me spin
this shit will be over before it begins
I don't care what anyone says
I'm gonna run through this life
like a goddamn man
I'm gonna run through this life
like a goddamn man
I'm gonna run through this life
like a goddamn man
I'm gonna run through this life
like a goddamn man
I'm gonna run through this life
like a goddamn man
Ah Ha
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4. |
Sweet Ol' Sandy
04:13
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Sweet ol' Sandy was addicted to drugs
the kind that'll really fuck you up
and I could tell by the white on her nose
she'd fallen again boys that's the way she goes
she'd fallen again boys that's the way she goes
And I ain't one for sayin grace
for her I'm prayin heaven's a sober place
for her I'm prayin heaven's a sober place
Her old man used to beat her ass
the love of his life was his bottle of Jack
and then one night he got into his car and drove
and he swerved that shit right off the road
he swerved that shit right off the road
And I ain't one for sayin grace
for him I'm prayin heaven's all outta space
for him I'm prayin heaven's all outta space
Dear old Danny was the love of Sandy's life
he had every intention to make her his wife
cancer set in and he got sick as sin
and it's stealin his life before theirs can begin
it's stealin his life before theirs can begin
And I ain't one for sayin grace
for him I'm prayin heaven's a healthy place
for him I'm prayin heaven's a healthy place
My man Mikey was Sandy's only son
she loved him like a mother more than anyone
he turned eighteen and they sent him away
he died fighting for freedom that he'll never see
he died fighting for freedom that he'll never see
And I ain't one for sayin grace
for him I'm prayin that heaven is safe
for him I'm prayin that heaven is safe
Sweet ol' Sandy's had a hell of a time
just righting her ship and stayin alive
nobody said that life is fair but
for sweet ol' Sandy it's too much to bear
for sweet ol' Sandy it's too much to bear
And I ain't one for sayin grace
for her I'm prayin that heaven can wait
for her I'm prayin that heaven can wait
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5. |
Smile
04:18
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Of all my mistakes
and I've made a few
but the biggest one yet
was hurtin you
and I've stared down a clock
and I've fucked with the dial
tryin to turn back the time
to get a look at your smile
If I beat you to the grave
by a foot or a mile
well babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
cuz I'll see you again
when you cross that white aisle
and babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
When days get hard
and my heart turns blue
there ain't no better cure
than rollin home to you
but if I should get lost
and life hurts for awhile
my saving grace
is that goddamn smile
If I beat you to the grave
by a foot or a mile
well babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
cuz I'll see you again
when you cross that white aisle
and babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
Our time here is short and
when mine's almost through
well if I get a choice
my last thought'll be of you
and I've lived for a lot
but if any of it is true
the best thing I got
is that smile from you
If I beat you to the grave
by a foot or a mile
well babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
cuz I'll see you again
when you cross that white aisle
and babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
I said babe don't you dare let the time change your smile
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6. |
Becoming an Expert
03:18
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Cheers to all
the days that've passed
the good ones they warned son
would never last
and my favorite color
was a shade of you
the day you departed
it quickly turned blue
the day you departed
it quickly turned blue
And I might not be good
at all that I do
but I've become an expert
at missin' you
I've become an expert
at missin' you
You were gone too fast
you were gone too soon
and I still need you here
like the night needs the moon
your heart it stopped beating
just memories remain
well I'll carry on
but I won't be the same
well I'll carry on
but I won't be the same
And I might not be good
at all that I do
but I've become an expert
at missin' you
I've become an expert
at missin' you
I've cried every tear
until these eyes they've run dry
and I've chased down bottles
and I've cursed at the sky
Your soul has moved on
and I'll never know why
but I'll see you again
on the other side
I will see you again
on the other side
And I might not be good
at all that I do
but I've become an expert
at missin' you
I've become an expert
at missin' you
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7. |
Diamonds
03:21
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You brought all
your fancy things
and I left mine at home
cuz what good's livin'
in a world like this
that'll judge you by what you own
it'll judge you by what you own
Well all the greatest things in life
are things that you can't buy
and you've been holdin' your possessions high
but your diamonds won't shine
through the dirt
when you die
As you roam
this great big world
I hope that you will find
someone to love
to laugh to hold
well it won't cost you a dime
no it won't cost you a dime
All the greatest things in life
are things that you can't buy
you've been holdin' your possessions high
but your diamonds won't shine
through the dirt
when you die
I'm richer by far
than anyone I know
spendin' time with those that I love
cuz all that glitters
is not gold
no I swear to god it's the love
well I swear to god it's the love
All the greatest things in life
are things that you can't buy
you've been holdin' your possessions high
but your diamonds won't shine
through the dirt
when you die
No
your diamonds won't shine
through the dirt
when you die
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8. |
Merry Go Round
02:57
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I've been thinkin' of leavin' this town
and heading far up north
cuz I've never quite fucked up this bad
and I'm sorry for what it's worth
Tell my mom and tell my dad
well I'm sorry I never call
and they've always been real good to me
and I swear this ain't their fault
I've been thinkin' of growin' up strong
and I'm scared it's a little late
cuz I didn't keep my nose to the grind
and I gave a little too much hate
Tell my girl and tell my friends
well I'm sorry I up and left
and when I get to wherever I'm goin'
well I swear I'll wish them all the best
Well I've been thinkin' of slowin' it down
and turnin' these thoughts right around
all I really need are those that I love
and a shot at life's merry go round
And I've got just one simple wish
that you can grant me
as we ride this merry go round
won't you save a place
for little ol' me
If this life ever gets you down
and everything seems to fail
take some time to love what you have
it'll always cure what ails
yeah it'll always cure what ails
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9. |
Leaky Eyes
03:16
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Reminded that I'm gettin' old
when I hate this Wisconsin cold
and I still don't know where I fit in
when my dog is my only friend
Things aren't as bad as they seem
just ignore me while I kick and scream
and I don't need you to sympathize
but please excuse my leaky eyes
I've earned all I can call my own
with my scarred hands and my tired bones
and I keep my dreams just out of reach
they're safer there but they haunt my sleep
And I miss the days when I was young
when ridin' my bike was more than fun
but now it's just a way to work
I'd take my car but it's always broke
Things aren't as bad as they seem
just ignore me while I kick and scream
and I don't need you to sympathize
but please excuse my leaky eyes
I met a girl with a beautiful face
I asked her to move into my own place
I kicked her out and blamed her sins
I couldn't stand all those bobby pins
and now I'm sittin' all alone
in an empty house that I call my home
Things aren't as bad as they seem
just ignore me while I kick and scream
and I don't need you to sympathize
but please excuse my leaky eyes
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10. |
Truth Be Told
04:01
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Pack all your things girl and don't be late
cuz I'm gonna take you on the world's best date
Oh we'll Netflix and chill
stay up late
we'll toast to the stars
when the sun goes away
You'd rather kiss oh and I'd rather hug
cuz I'm afraid of germs and fallin' in love
oh but baby I'm thinkin'
that I was wrong
cuz your sweet lips
they stole all my love
Here's to all my used to be's
well I finally found one that's good to me
and I know we're both a little strange
but truth be told I'd have it no other way
Maybe it's the drinks or maybe all the drugs
but I'm havin' trouble just standin' up
oh and she's havin' fist fights
with the air
oh but you know in the mornin'
we'll both still be there
So take all our pictures and hang 'em on the walls
and I'll grab the plates when the cabinet's too tall
and you'll wrap my wounds
whenever I fall
and I'll comfort you
when life gets hard
Here's to all my used to be's
well I finally found one that's good to me
and I know we're both a little strange
but truth be told I'd have it no other way
Stand up straight girl and live your life proud
we beat the odds and made it out some how
let's live together
till we grow old
cuz truth be told
I finally found my girl
Here's to all my used to be's
well I finally found one that good to me
and I know we're both a little strange
but truth be told I'd have it no other way
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JF Zastrow Madison, Wisconsin
JF Zastrow is a gentleman and a Madison, WI based folk-punk singer, songwriter, and musician.
JF Zastrow recommends:
Radium Death
by William Elliott Whitmore
William Elliott Whitmore's music had a huge impact on me from the very first time I heard it. He sings with more conviction and soul than I thought possible from a single voice. My favorite still.
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And The War Came
by Shakey Graves
I asked Shakey how to continue on making music even when it seems no one is listening. He told me to create music that I like and enjoy and if anyone else listens it's a bonus not a requirement.
go to albumIf you like JF Zastrow, you may also like:
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Well Soon
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Summer sounds from San Luis Obispo just waiting for a backyard BBQ, mason jar cocktails, and fairy lights.
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Father and daughter team up to make pretty folk music inspired by the day she was born and the day she'll leave home.
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Sorry I'm So Sensitive
by Bea Stewart
The second EP from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bea Stewart runs from gentle folk to pillowy pop ballads, all perfectly executed.
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