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Blue | Green (2018)

by James Dean Cotton

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1.
Songs 03:37
How many songs can there really be? This one must be a hundred for me. It’s a need to resonate and share a common truth. Or hide it in a metaphor and paint it with my youth. Oh, how many songs can there really be? How many stars have I really seen? Shimmering in shattered shades of pink and water green. Though all are doomed to fade away long eons after me. How many stars can there really be? To think that I could get up here and send you something new. Or wrap it in a story that you'll never know is true. Guess I’m throwing out a life line, Not sure who is pulling who. All I know is I keep writing and it’s like I’m always fighting. These Little songs don't last for long so I’m sending them to you. Hey, thanks to you for listening. That is, if you’re still here. I understand that you just came to talk an’ have a beer. But if we dare to keep it down, ain’t fooling anyone... How many songs have we never sung? To think that I could get up here and send you something new. Or wrap it in a story that you’ll never know is true. Guess I’m throwing out a life line, Not sure who is foolin’ who. All I know is I keep writing and it’s like I’m always fighting. These little songs don't last for long so I’m sending them to you.
2.
We're tearing down the hills Just feeding foreign mills Pulling down the shingles And the shelter in the way Just digging in the dark Leaving one last mark Just salt within the wound Clear cut away... Goodbye to love Goodbye to home Goodbye to wings that carried you up all along Goodbye to love Goodbye to home Goodbye to everything and still you let it go Goodbye to love Like windows on a ridge, They’re bending like a bridge, And holding out a cup To catch the water in the way And we’re barely keeping track, of the The bones that broke your back Just salt within a wound, Clear cut away... Goodbye to love Goodbye to home Goodbye to winds that carried you up all along Goodbye to love Goodbye to home Goodbye to everything and still you let it go Goodbye to Love Instrumental... Goodbye to love Goodbye to home Goodbye to winds that carried you up all along Goodbye to love Goodbye to home Goodbye to everything and still you let it go Goodbye to Love
3.
Though I have tried my best to find my way, I have made a mess of everything to date. Despite all the promises of good I’d do, Oh, the best that I could hope for was to be as bad as you. Thought I was finally free and full of light. Thought I’d cut it all away with an imaginary knife. But this blood is thicker than a wish that never will come true. Oh, the best that I could hope for was to be as bad as you. I have never found A lightness of the heart that keeps your feet set on the ground I may never lose All the injury that seems to be perpetually reviewed. These colors only grew from grey to blue, and The little bird I loved she turned and flew. What the travelers I trusted never knew, is that The best that I could hope for was to be as bad as you. I have never found A lightness of the heart that keeps your feet set on the ground I may never lose All the injury that seems to be perpetually reviewed. Though I have tried my best to find my way, I have made a mess of everything to date. Despite all the promises of good I’d do, All the best that I could hope for was to be as bad as you. Despite all the promises of every bit of good I’d do, All the best that I could hope for was to be as bad as you. Oh, the best that I could hope for was to be as bad as you.
4.
Tiny Houses 04:26
I know you. You used to be me. Draw a distinction, but Upon this one thing agree. I know you. You made the deal. Somebody’s little boy Flying low-down in The Field. Some are unlucky and others are broken or sick, Addicted to chasing the sky, or living too quick. They say, till you lose everything nobody is free. But, these tiny houses hold tinier pieces of me. And I know her, Veronica Jane, Feeding the shadows of freeways With nowhere to to stay. I know us. Dare you to dream, Looking away while Trying to say what you mean. Some are unlucky and others are broken or sick, Addicted to chasing the sky, or living too quick. They say, till you lose everything nobody is free. But, these tiny houses hold tinier pieces of me. Not too far from the couch here to the camp. Blue tarp, billowing breeze of the trucks on the ramp. Not too far from the couch here to the camp! Oh, anyone, anyone, anyone could wake up like that! Some are unlucky and others are broken or sick, Addicted to chasing the sky, or living too quick. They say, till you lose everything nobody really is free. But, these tiny houses hold tinier pieces of me. These tiny houses hold tinier pieces of me.
5.
Insomnia 05:22
Well, I know that you come here from Columbia And you think that you're all that. Through all the warm-water towns they would pass you around Like a street-show Saturday hat. But it started out breezy, if a little bit greasy, That little cup shaken and stirred. Now, it's three times daily, a barista named Bailey, Hanging on my every word. 'Cause loving you's insomnia, A bittersweet amour. A natural phenomenon. I'm coming back for more. The cost don't matter, when you're always up, batter And a buzz in your head, like a crown. 'Cause it's the smell of your skin, it's the tannin and tin, Keepin' me coming around. ‘Cause loving you's insomnia, A bittersweet amour. A natural phenomenon. I'm coming back for more. Instrumental But you're kind of an addiction, a fair-trade affliction, And I know I'm going to get burned. Still, you're good for me baby, everybody says, "maybe" To sugar-sweet tingle and churn. ‘Cause loving you's insomnia, A bittersweet amour. A natural phenomenon. I'm coming back for more.
6.
Everyone's a writer. We sing of all the rights that were wronged. Yeah, everyone's a writer, Praying for the pilgrims to be strong. They were thrown upon the shore. And we don't see them anymore. Everyone's a lover. Looking for the place where they belong. Yeah, everyone's a lover. Memories all stapled in a song. They were thrown upon the shore. And we don't see them anymore. Yeah.. We're all in this together, funny birds all of feather, Raise a glass to mom, and lets wait out the weather , cause We're all in this together, funny birds all of feather, in the World. Everyone's a person. Color or persuasion, if you've got the DNA. Yeah, everyone's a person. Though you may disagree with what they do or what they say. They are thrown upon the shore. And we won't see them anymore. Yeah... We're all in this together, funny birds all of feather, Raise a glass to mom, and let's wait out the weather , cause We're all in this together, funny birds all of feather, in the World. Everyone's a critic, If you're not a lover or a writer otherwise. Yeah, everyone's a critic. But, what the hell, just as well cry and criticize. You were thrown upon the shore. And we don't see you anymore. Yeah... We're all in this together, funny birds all of feather, Raise a glass to mom, and huddle out the weather , cause We're all in this together, funny birds all of feather, in the World. Birds all of feather, in the World. Birds all of feather, in the World.
7.
I went down to say goodbye to Annie today, But she didn't meet me at the door. There were people around, throwing their stories all down But all I could hear was wheels upon the floor. The faces on the wall told it all. 'Cause in every one you were standing tall. Couldn't see it all, but I can still recall The faces on the wall. Took a 20 year run, and you're finally done In a garden that bloomed for a day. People loved you with pride, in an old school vibe, A still life living for the day. The faces on the wall told it all. 'Cause in every one you were standing tall. Didn't know it all, but I can still recall The faces on the wall. The faces on the wall. And the dust will settle on the windowsill. Leaves come down in the fall. People and homes, everybody's on loan And goes sailing out to sea, and that's all. Last time I saw you alive, it was mid oh-one-five. But you let me help you to the door. Of the 122. You were pushing on through. And all I could hear was your feet upon the floor. The faces on the wall told it all. 'Cause in every one you were standing tall. Didn't know it all, but I can still recall The faces on the wall. The faces on the wall. The faces on the wall.
8.
Tongue-Tied 03:03
Sometimes I don't know what to say. And sometimes I can't say enough. So sometimes I don't say anything. It's a crazy game and a shame to rush. Saw your red light flashing on Queen Anne, Dancers laughing in the bars below. Sit here thinking 'bout this stuff too much. Probably make you laugh; sure hope so. Mmm... I'm tongue-tied...mmm Tell me what you think, where you're bound. What's that gypsy heart tell you to do? I come up with a thousand things to say, 'Til I finally sit in front of you. Mmm... I'm tongue-tied...mmm Sometimes I don't know what to say...
9.
Life in Hawaii is a song. A breeze that plays among the palms. A lullaby you hum along. Life in Hawaii is a song. While the sun set on Lanai, Bought everything that I could buy, Kissed a girl and made her cry, While the sun set on Lanai. Climbed Haleakala today, While Pele’s fire burned away, All the things I didn’t say. Climbed Haleakala today. While rain fell from the sky, We cut the cane and waved goodbye. And mothers wept for Molokai, While rain fell from the sky. Life in Hawaii is a song. A breeze that plays among the palms. A lullaby you hum along. Life in Hawaii is a song. Outro: Instrumental (tune of ‘Aloha oe’)

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You can be blue and green at the same time.

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released April 12, 2018

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James Dean Cotton Seattle, Washington

James Dean Cotton hails from the Missouri Ozarks where bluegrass and Americana infused an easy, 70's acoustic style. He writes and performs solo and with the acoustic duo, American Sons, in the Seattle area.

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