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Static Electricity: A History of The Harborrats 2006​-​2021

by Sam Russell & the Harborrats

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1.
a comet in a whirl dusts the sun reaching the earth on its last run lantanas bloom shining, sleep undone by the strobe flickering saying the darkness ain’t won I see three red birds ignite the sky fighting the frost that’s coming tonight they were all born to hurt they’ll burn up tonight put money in, play the jukebox before they wheel it out along with both of us play a sad song heard since the age of ten singing the truth about original sin love starts so good, always ends bad anyone says different, walk away from them we were all born to hurt (just admit) we were all born to hurt (just admit) we were all born to hurt (let the hurt begin) don’t know why nothing ever stays no reason to cry, can’t make the change you can give it all, you could take it back don’t believe what you saw don’t leave it at that heartbeat’s detained order’s disjointed crossfire exchanged across the checkpoint your partner hold til the dance hall is sold what breaks the fall when the promise is broke you said that you’d had had enough but I said it first and I said it because we were all born to hurt we were all born to hurt we were all born to hurt leave it where it lies don’t ever disturb it we were all born to hurt oh oh oh we were all born to hurt whoa whoa whoa born to hurt, born to hurt
2.
baby I can’t see you anymore ‘til it’s been a hundred years or maybe more but I can still think of the good times the longer it’s been, the more they’re on my mind let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while close our eyes and travel a whole mind forget about worries and cares, where they’re not we will be there we’ll go ridin’ down the sugar nile you gave me the blanket you had as a child with rainbow stripes, pink lines and yellow tiles I took it as promise you’d be faithful but you weren’t and I have that blanket still let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while close our eyes and travel a whole mind forget about worries and cares, where they’re not we will be there we’ll go ridin’ down the sugar nile one more time before it fades away memories from the magic days you’d be sick and by the locks we’d lay and I’d put my lips to your ear and say let’s go down the sugar nile, sail it for a little while close our eyes and travel a whole mind forget about worries and cares, where they’re not we will be there we’ll go ridin’ down the sugar nile
3.
I always wanted Ferris wheels turning when Jackie stood in front of me against backdrop of a summer sun setting and roller coaster by whizzing up to her daddy’s office in highrise we’d ride the men at their desks smiled as she walked by with the blue eyeshadow that might have been applied a door swung shut when I looked up from van to porch where she waited from got bored with me unlocking break gunning motor, wheels spinning in place we rode the train back and forth and went into her room no one else in the house but I couldn’t make a move and a couple years later, I got caught in a lie about her though it felt so right at the time Jenni stopped when she saw it was me standing there she stammered and nervously reached to her hair she said, ”my God Josh you’re all grown up” but I turned back around to deal with something else forgetting blue eyeshadow while listening taking part in conversation debating why a life was taken, why a rope was tied and why sometimes we don’t get to say goodbye and she tapped my shoulder and asked me if I’d received that card she’d sent way back when after she’d broke my heart and I looked up at you and saw blue eyeshadow in plain view
4.
some things never seem to go right when they’re done for the very first time but if you work hard and try to get better to the very top you can climb from magazines you’ll learn all the ways certain things ought to be done but when the moment finally arrives a fear is there you can’t outrun : all the years you’ve waited so patient for the one to make your heart go numb and take you to the top of the mountain here it comes here it comes here it comes and this is what it’s like and this is how it feels if this is what it’s like, is this how it should feel oh darling let me know how you want it go if this is what it’s like and this is how it feels people always want to talk about what they heard about what went wrong how could they know, who would have told a secret that only two were supposed to hold pressure inside builds to exploding it could burst out with just one touch as revenge for a promise now broken that you wanted kept so much and this is what it’s like and this is how it feels if this is what it’s like, is this how it should feel oh darling let me know how you want it go if this is what it’s like and this is how it feels I’m listening and I hear an engine outside passing by it moves so slowly and never stops at red lights many times I’ve broke down and cried when I realized how they all lied and that love will never be true and each time won’t feel brand new and maybe some things sometimes go right even on the very first try but if they do they’ll never get better time after time and night after night and this is what it’s like and this is how it feels if this is what it’s like, is this how it should feel oh darling let me know how you want it go if this is what it’s like and this is how it feels don’t hurt me one more time...
5.
Did you hear the one about the divine Doug Hood Who sang you’ll get to heaven by doing deeds that are good He was born named Josh, Doug he went by calls himself Sam now, livin’ a lie he should stand where once stood divine Doug Hood He says you can call me Josh, you can call me Doug You can call me Sam or whatever you want Call me your heathen friend, your holy fool best of all call me your blue blue blue blue moon blue blue moon, blue blue moon, blue blue mooooooooon sixteenth spring of the century, I was pinballing between my past and future lovers, dragging them below with me Started thinkin’ on back to Captain Mike’s, a hangout in my hometown where I once saw future in the flames as the heat started to surround Christy was frying Julia was burning Eva was aching Isabelle was hurting you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's and the dancing seemed to be done but since we’re here let’s grab a beer and try to have a little fun Christy never judged me, Julia didn’t care to try Eva argued I always judged myself by always asking why Isabelle was young and didn’t know the tricks used to fool myself into thinking I didn’t lead them all to the fire where in they fell Christy was frying Julia was burning Eva was aching Isabelle was hurting you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's and the dancing seemed to be done but since we’re here let’s grab a beer and try to have a little fun we could go to Hattie’s and crash Conor Byrne get high on the back deck of the Tractor til time and space doth blur and convince ourselves today’s tomorrow and tonight is yesterday and in one of these Ballard bars one more soulmate awaits there she waits there she waits there she waits she can call me Josh Sam or Doug too call me Casey Ruff or call me your blue blue moon I woke my folks to tell them someday I’d be famous from singing gospel of the Lord and the women I’d resist cashed in the Christian life for a little bit of money and Christy but when both were gone, I began to cough out the smoke trapped in me Christy was frying Julia was burning Eva was aching Isabelle was hurting you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's and the dancing seemed to be done but since we’re here let’s grab a beer put the jukebox on, Doug Hood we’ll hear if the bar burns down there’s one more near where we could have a little fun if you’ll just be my blue blue moon
6.
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” 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 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”
7.
when there was a spark that started this thing, I took the moment and I turned it into a ring that I’d have always to give just to you during a walk on an Elizabeth Street sight of sign on the corner would greet and be perfect vision to finally descend as we’re glad to be back at a place that we’ve never been time changes the words said so much til they’re gone or they’re used as a crutch to walk past every girl that goes floating by so I don’t have to think, I don’t even try to let search begin and in action drown I’m first flying high and then crashing down on Elizabeth Street, where the sidewalks never grow cold on Elizabeth Street where I’ll watch you grow old I want to be on an Elizabeth Street I need the hope to lift grip and pass so I can try to see in the glass the reflection that right now I need to be arrow to finally lead back to to Elizabeth Street where we’re finally off on our own brother and sister sharing same road as a home in the evening on an Elizabeth Street
8.
if a little light shines under door it don’t mean it’s not dark anymore just because there’s a little light to be found don’t mean there’s a beacon yet shining down but I won’t be swayed by spark gotta shape up, start actin’ smart not let charge to heart convince me write it off as static electricity rub feet on carpet and what do you got but a shock that don’t last beyond touch particles-in-motion still surround if you look past jolt and that crackling sound but I won’t be swayed by spark gotta shape up, start actin’ smart not let charge to heart convince me write it off as static electricity from blue to red, the sphere jumped ship and I started to shake with the power shift static built in the cloud up high filled it with lightning ready to strike but I won’t be swayed by spark gotta shape up, start actin’ smart not let charge to heart convince me write it off as static electricity
9.
nighttime comes, I don't know what to do I get alone and I just think of you I started to worry a long time ago I started to worry about what, now I know I was waiting, I was waiting Sean & Chris were my best friends all the way from that summer on to the end taking in sights we could not believe to roll back the tongue and choked all the cheese we were waiting, we were waiting for some dirty light to come through the door nail the nylons to the floor pop the puff let the filling poor soon as we find where the bread is stored we’re waiting, we’re waiting I've been waiting on the waffle to come around, I've been waiting on the waffle to fall right down I've been waiting on the waffle to pop right up, I've been waiting on the waffle to come if I had some jam, I'd get me a jar and bury it deep down in my backyard and dream all day of that sticky sweet at home come night waiting for me yeah waiting, yeah waiting to be whatever fruit I might be thinking of a peach apple cherry banana or plum taking it straight off the back of the truck where I'm hanging around and pushing my luck and waiting, waiting I've been waiting on the waffle to come around, I've been waiting on the waffle to fall right down I've been waiting on the waffle to pop right up, I've been waiting on the waffle to come when I think of the chances I've had, I get lost I stop thinking of you and start paying the cost think back to Chris Moon leaving town a new life headed for Texas-bound and I'm waiting, waiting for some dirty light to come through the door nail the nylons to the floor pop the puff let the filling poor soon as we find where the bread is stored we’re waiting, we’re waiting (repeat over and over to build) I've been waiting on the waffle to come around, I've been waiting on the waffle to fall right down I've been waiting on the waffle to pop right up, I've been waiting on the waffle to come
10.
grenadine red dye #40 mixed with Coke shot straight from gun following the trail splattered under Texas sun from a punk posing as line cook always with burned hand what you didn't know yet aw you tried to understand grenadine you call me up from Portland waiting for rush to return south of Seattle where I’ve spent years now trying to learn how to sweeten up shift with just right amount poured in sweetening what might be but never what has been at your and Dave's place, after close, we’d set sail up a sugar nile to look back from way on down the rails I’d had fill first summer at Boathouse, to Santa Fe back I did leave and the morning my train left, I got high with Kimmy on grenadine in Indiana, on your parents back deck, we drank to change after I felt called back home to The Chancery to face Wisconsin highway full of wrecks to come and years to waste but that summer we found courage used since in cherry taste grenadine she showed me how to dance in New York our hands pressed she said you'll probably use this on some waitress you find your friends and lovers working on the job and everyone you know works in a restaurant you moved to Austin and I moved to Chicago I got a tattoo to commemorate parting ways for growing old and you came back all fucked up and I turned my back on you cutting off my past, to be a man and a brother I did lose in grenadine you went to my dad's church craving but he wasn’t there it was just that one Sunday he wasn’t preaching I swear I'd take that train an hour north and cross border to see you stuck, think I couldn't help you anymore I’d see you stuck, think I couldn't help you anymore I'd see you stuck, think I couldn't help you anymore
11.
I run a comb through my hair and step out in the street and the city’s the color of flame in the midsummer heat Jennifer, she’s got daddy’s car, she’s playing uptown on the stereo we go cruising so close, the way they did long ago we put the top down low beneath the moon in the sky and the wind is so hot in our hair like a fire in July Jennifer’s singing "Stand By Me" and she knows every single word by heart was love always this good or could this be just the start? turn the radio up for that sweet sound hold me close never let me go keep this feeling alive, make me lose control when I look in your eyes, I go crazy the fever’s hot with the lights down low take me over the edge, make me lose control "Be My Baby" come on and we’re moving in time and the heat from your touch makes me feel like I’m losing my mind and then they play "Back in My Arms Again" we close our eyes, we start remembering when and then we kiss and the feeling’s intense and we just pray that this night never ends turn the radio up for that sweet sound hold me close never let me go keep this feeling alive, make me lose control when I look in your eyes, I go crazy the fever’s hot with the lights down low take me over the edge, make me lose control. make me lose control turn the radio up turn the radio up turn the radio up
12.
Mt. Prospect 03:02
early in the morning I’ll come to you I’ll be up all night thinking only of you at the funeral home you’ll be waiting there standing by casket letting out tears but while you’re breaking down, I’ll get off train I’ll start walking around but get lost on the way I’ll be lost in Mt. Prospect all night tryin’ to make it to you I’ll be walking through the snow ‘round town I will go talking to myself and the listening ghost he’ll point the direction but I’ll circle ‘round stranded in same place I’m standing now I’ll be going up hills of Mt. Prospect trying to get to the top of Mt.Prospect over and around Mt. Prospect trying to make it to you and at the Starbucks now I’m standing outside I broke down, went in and called for a ride I’m watching all the cars pass right on by if they don’t stop park right under the sign a clerk comes out, smokes a cigarette puffs on it a bit then he goes back in 5 minutes 10 minutes 4 more people go in without saying a word, what kind of town is this Mr. Prospect, they’re not going to ask you “Why ya dressed in black are ya going to a funeral?” “No, just a wake tonight, just a wake just a wake but a party’s in the morning!” I’ll be back in Mt.Prospect at a drugstore waiting on a cab to get me to the funeral home back in Mt.Prospect for that ceremony on my way to see little Katie I’ll make it there, however I don’t care back to Mt.Prospect all the boys sing,"we're in the mood," all the boys sing,"we're in the mood" all the boys sing,"we're in the mood," all the boys sing,"we're in the mood" all the boys sing,"we're in the mood," all the boys sing,"we're in the mood" I’m gonna sit right down and write a little letter, explain why for the worse or better yet the better why I ain’t been back, back at all to see my friends or give ‘em a call I said when I left, won’t be back anymore I ain’t gonna go back down the Mt. anymore I’m gonna stay up here til weather gets hot stay up here and be a big shot only go back down to brag about my fame then get back on the train the very same day get drunk, get stoned, make my getaway wave goodbye Katie, I’m going away back to Mt. Prospect whadda know back to Mt. Prospect, whew here we go you say it’s all just a worthless scheme but it’s all that’s left of my teenage dreams to escape one fact, to learn and know it’s back to Mt.Prospect we gotta go
13.
well I used to love you but I swear I love you more now I used to love you but I swear I love you more now let's move to Wisconsin where we'll never grow old we'll die young and pickled in the beautiful cold and all our friends will drive off the side of the road* let's move to Wisconsin and we'll never grow old oh mother of Jesus I don't want to grow old oh mother of Jesus I don't want to die cold now I'm not yet 40 but I'm still half a man and you're twice a woman the way you fall out of my hands let's get down and dirty I'll be your filthy old man let's get down and dirty I'm your filthy old man let's get down and dirty I'm your filthy old man let's get down and dirty I'm your filthy old man come on dance for me dance for me put your feet in the air we'll do the old Wisconsin Polka put some sweat into your hair come on dance for me dance for me put your feet in the air* we'll do the old Wisconsin Polka get some sweat into your hair* come on dance for me dance for me dance all 'round the room* dance for me dance for me I'm looking at you* just dance dance for me put your feet in the air* do that old Wisconsin Polka ain't no reason to be scared* come on dance for me dance for me put your feet in the air* we'll do the old Wisconsin Polka get some sweat into your hair* oh mother of Jesus I don't want to grow old oh mother of Jesus I don't want to die cold come on dance for me dance for me and die in the beautiful cold* do the ol' Wisconsin Polka and we don't ever grow old*
14.
I am the ghost removed from the love that you once held me in I am the voice of the woman that you wanted to be perfect and now you have her, and now you have her but you keep me hanging around your dreams are a swinging door that I drift in and out of I am the girl that you missed for so long and gave up on in your youth when you met me finally as a man fantasy became the truth you said you loved me, you said you loved me and forever by me you’d stand then you let your grip slide away and I slipped right through your hands I am the ghost that keeps reciting words over and over she once said I am the sadness you let linger on to recall a love that’s dead and now you have her and now you have her so leave me be and with her move on or else she’ll be the ghost that’s haunting you if you don’t admit I’m gone
15.
the Ferris wheel turned when Jackie stood in front of me the Ferris wheel turned when Jackie stood in front of me the Ferris wheel turned when Jackie stood in front of me in front of summer sun and roller coaster whizzing the night turns to Easter, it’s my new birthday the night turns to Easter, it’s my new birthday the night turns to Easter, it’s my new birthday just like the past life that comes back when you say that we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) we know about that, falling off a world that’s small and flat we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) All it takes to give, to die and live as a harborrat c’mon and be my bomp-ba-bom, my shoo-bop-shoo-bop (bomp-ba-bom, bomp bomp-ba-bom) c’mon and be my bomp-ba-bom, my shoo-bop-shoo-bop (bomp-ba-bom, bomp bomp-ba-bom) c’mon and be my bomp-ba-bom, my shoo-bop-shoo-bop (bop shoo-wop, bop bop shoo-wop) won’t you be my moon, my blue, blue moon let’s sail down the sugar nile for a while let’s sail down, down the sugar nile awhile let’s go down, down, down the sugar nile awhile baby close your eyes, I’ll take you just one mile that we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) we know about that, falling off a world that’s small and flat we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) All it takes to give, to die and live as a harborrat remember the alarms when they fall into your arms and they drain you of your power to stay in the waking hours at party there you stood Elizabeth by another name at party there you stood Elizabeth by another name at party there you stood my sister by another name I looked at you, you looked at me, we felt the same when you’re feeling lost on life’s rural routes when you’re feeling lost on one of life’s rural routes when you’re feeling lost on life’s rural routes I’ll save you from being stuck too far in the south that we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) we know about that, falling off a world that’s small and flat we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) All it takes to give, to die and live as a harborrat remember the alarms when they start to lose their charms and the dreams all turn sour meet me in the waking hours There you stood, singing ‘long with the song once more Behind the bar you stood singing ‘long with the song once more Behind bar you stood, singing ‘long with the old songs once more In moment born again, that’s what rock n’roll is for All the blue moon kings and queens through storm swimming All the blue moon kings and queens though the storm swimming All the blue moon kings and queens through the storm to shore swimming The red lighthouse in sight, tonight shining down bright that we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) we know about that, falling off a world that’s small and flat we know about that (we know about that) we know about that (we know about that) All it takes to give, to die and live what it took to live to try and give what it took to live, to die and live as a harborrat meet me in the waking hours hear the foghorns blow

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Celebrate 15 years of Harborrat History with this compilation of fan favorites, rarities and two never-before-released songs "Static Electricity" and "How to Die & Live as a Harborrat"

www.samrussellmusic.com

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released April 2, 2021

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Sam Russell & the Harborrats Seattle, Washington

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