DISCOGRAPHY
Are We Rolling
Esquela’s follow-up effort to The Owl Has Landed showcases the band’s hard work over the past two years, fine-tuning their musical chops and refining their songwriting skills. Check out our raspy-voiced lead singer Rebecca Frame as she belts out songs co-written by band co-founders John “Chico” Finn and Keith Christopher. Todd Russell takes to the drums with a vengeance while Ira McIntosh and Brian Shafer attempt to best each other on guitar. Matt Woodin puts the finishing touches on Esquela with his twangy mandolin, while Chico shares the vocal space with Frame and handles the bass with agility.
Born into crisis: Kent State,
Oil Shortage, Watergate.
Go to school, sit at a desk.
Air-raid whistle blows, hit the deck.
CHORUS:
Commies Stink. Yeah, yeah.
Commies Stink. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Commies Stink. Yeah, yeah.
Commies Stink. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
All the while a Cold War raged:
Two nations staring, face to face.
We’re gonna die, so what’s the point?
Get me drunk now and pass that joint.
CHORUS
Bombs to kill a thousand times over:
Proliferation, annihilation.
Communism, how it loomed
Over our Generation of Doom.
CHORUS
Preacher says: “thou shall not kill”
Except for the wars, voted down on capital hill
Standing in the trenches, waiting to take that hill
When the whistle blows, how far will you be ready to kill?
Don’t ask no questions, just do what your told
If you follow these simple rules, you just might sell your soul
It’s the law of the jungle in this civilized world
But how does he turn it off when he’s back home with his girl
How many poor bastards have gone before?
Think of what they might have done had they not died in war
Don’t ask no questions, just do what your told
If you follow these simple rules, you just might sell your soul
Now i’m not saying some wars aren’t just, some you may even need
But if your given the choice would you kill the enemy?
Don’t ask no questions, just do what your told
If you follow these simple rules, you just might sell your soul
Ass, gas or grass–There ain’t no free ride
At least that’s what I’ve heard
But there is one thing in this life that is free
And that is this here free bird
A welfare state sounds ideal
Bailouts, free housing and health care too
If it sounds too good it probably is
As the ‘q said, “there ain’t no free”,
Ass, gas or grass - There ain’t no free ride
At least that’s what I’ve heard
But there is one thing in this life that is free
And that is this here free bird
Been retired for longer than I worked
On one of them good old boy, get rich quick schemes
But my investment advisor stole all of my money
And as the ‘q said – “there ain’t no free!”
Ass, gas or grass - There ain’t no free ride
At least that’s what I’ve heard
But there is one thing in this life that is free
And that is this here free bird
She kissed me with her fist today, that’s what she had to say
She kissed me with her fist again and said “so long boyfriend”
Now I walk these streets in town
Wondering how it went down
An icepack on my head, red from embarrassment
Chorus:
She kissed me with her fist today, that’s what she had to say
She kissed me with her fist again and said “so long boyfriend”
See I left my phone at home, and with it she did roam
She found some explicit texts, asking if I wanted more sex...
Chorus:
She kissed me with her fist today, that’s what she had to say
She kissed me with her fist again and said “so long boyfriend”
Now folks, take it from me, I was a fool, obviously.
If you leave your phone at home, make sure you leave the password on!
Chorus:
She kissed me with her fist today, that’s what she had to say
She kissed me with her fist again and said “so long boyfriend”
In November, 1950, just north of the 38th boundary
A line called the “dmz”, Sent north to crush the Korean army
Chorus:
We were chosen the frozen chosin
We were frozen the chosin few
Truman’s doctrine said “stop the red spread”
So we joined a civil war
Better off dead than red, was it really worth all the gore
Chorus
Pushed north to the yalu river, Mao tse’s men had us ten to one
D mac said “be home by Christmas”
So we had to fight our way back home
17 days of brutal fighting in this forgotten war
10,000 of us were lost, 10,000 of us paid the cost
Chorus
Where does it go? After its served its use
If it’s broke don’t fix it, that’s no excuse
Throw that junk over the hill
Or bury it in the ground
Put it on a barge and sink it
Years later to be found
Chorus:
Out of sight it’s out of mind
Bury it or burn it down
Out of sight it’s out of mind
Send it to another town
The past two hundred years
Has seen the rise and fall
Of mankind and earth
Time to fix is small
Chorus
Out of sight it’s out of mind
Bury it or burn it down
Out of sight it’s out of mind
Send it to another town
Where does it go? After its served its use If it’s broke don’t fix it, that’s no excuse
In 1814 rhoda mallet stole george loomis’ heart
Settled in sangerfield, down in 9 mile swamp
She gave birth to the loomis gang
12 all in all, the first and the last
They named harriet
Both died at age two, of the fever that everyone knew as genesee fever….
Chorus:
Genesee fever, coming after you
Genesee fever take your life
She taught the art of stealing to her lot
Everyone steals, only the stupid are caught
She was high french and liked fine things
She believed that everyone had a price
They stole horses and furs
Passed counterfeit bills, bribed sherriffs and judges
The pioneers of organized crime
But they couldn’t stop the fever from taking harriet’s life….
Chorus:
Genesee fever, coming after you
Genesee fever take your life
We all read, sinclair’s jungle - and steinbeck’s grapes of wrath
Too much work, too little pay - headed down the wrong path
Gave the working man his fight - that’s why woody sang his songs
Too far left, abuse of power turned a right into a wrong
Not about, the worker no more - served a purpose years ago
Now it’s just about the coffers - a bloated, black hole
Slit their throats, with their demands - don’t agree, then you don’t belong
Too far left, abuse of power turned a right into a wrong
(bridge)
Now the tables have turned - the unions now are strong
Too far left, abuse of power - turned a right into a wrong
Union bigs, sit back and relax - wake up soon or you will learn
All the jobs have left this country - now how are you gonna earn?
No sense in voting to make a change - mess with them and you are gone
Too far left, abuse of power, turned a right into a wrong
Solo
Too far left, abuse of power, turned a right into a wrong
Turned a right into a wrong
Turned a right into a wrong
Well he’s funny as hell and smart as a whip
Don’t give him no lip, he don’t give a shit
Work is for jerks is what he’d say
Find someone else to pay his own way
Touring with the dead was his greatest feat
20 years ago and it can’t be beat
A carpenter, a farmer, barkeep, bookkeep
Done it all before, but not for long
If you tell him how it is, he’ll beat you flat
There’s no tellin a psycopath
Here’s to hoping grandpa dying
Gonna cash in on that ticket to ride
He’s made fortunes for others except his own
Blame everyone else, so forlorn
Midlife crisis coming up soon
Looking for his next silver spoon
Burn them bridges a thousand times, gonna road out of road sometime
Burn them bridges a thousand times, gonna road out of that road sometime
Lyrics soon to come!
ALBUM CREDITS
Producer Eric “Roscoe” Ambel Musical Director Keith Christopher Recording Engineer Mario Viele Mixer Eric “Roscoe” Ambel at Evie’s, New York City, New York Mastering engineer Paul Gold at Salt Mastering, Brooklyn, New York Basic Tracks Recording Back in the Hole Studios, Bovina, New York Rebecca Frame Lead vocals Chico Finn Bass, vocals Brian Shafer Lead guitar Todd Russell Drums, vocals Ira McIntosh Guitars, mandolin, vocals Matt Woodin Guitars, mandolin, vocals Song Writers Chico Finn and Keith Christopher; Rene Malov (track 10) Publisher Livestock Music (BMI) & Big Daddio Music (BMI); Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corporation (Track 10) Album Art Design Harlo Bray Esquela Cartoon Becca Frame Truck Chico & Wendy Special Thanks to Wendy, Cloe, Emmylou, Andris Balins, Molly, Laurie, Alexis, Roscoe, Ed & Sally, The Andes Hotel, The Shire Pub, Brett Masteller, and Leslie. Very Special Thanks to Keith Christopher—This album was made possible because of you!