1. |
Cloud
03:20
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CLOUD
by John Hovorka
Under a cloud of suspicion
A cloud of foul feelings
A miasma an obscured location
Like behind a locked door in a quiet subway station
Who is locked in to their miasma?
Who has locked up this miasma?
Their drugged time of constant sorrow
OK constant concern
Constant commentary
Forever clouded like a judgment
Who was ODB?
He was on the subway
Known then unknown
Loved then unloved
Missed then forgotten
Under a cloud of obscurity
Sometimes a cloud of obscenity
Obscured by clouds
Neither side now
I will not accept this judgment in a while
I will not accept this judgment in a while
But first I’m going out drinking
On this cold night
Obscured by judgment
Under a cloud of suspicion
You’d better find a cloud to love
You’d better find a cloud to love
You’d better find a cloud to love
You’d better find a cloud to love
Under a cloud of suspicion
A cloud of foul feelings
A miasma An obscured location
Like behind a locked door in a very quiet subway station
Who is locked in to their miasma?
Their drugged time of constant sorrow
Constant commentary
Forever clouded
Like a judgment
Who was ODB?
He was on the subway
Known then unknown
Loved then unloved
Then missed then forgotten
But first I’m going out drinking
On this cold night
Obscured by judgment
You’d better find a cloud to love
You’d better find a cloud to love
You’d better find a cloud to love
You’d better find a cloud to love
Under a cloud of suspicion
A cloud of foul feelings / GOTTA GET AWAY
A miasma EVERY WORKING DAY
An obscured location
Like behind a locked door in a very quiet subway station
Who was ODB?
He was on the subway
Known then unknown
Loved then unloved
Then missed then forgotten
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2. |
I'm Not A Scientist
03:22
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I‘M NOT A SCIENTIST
by John Hovorka
Revolt of the wavicle it will know better
In this mythology and when it knows
when this myth is spread it will be ascertained if it is alive or dead
But don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
No
You are making me scream, making me watch this, making me watch this
Decisions of the hive mind
are buzzing on this rising storm / you know I don’t believe it but so I hear
This stupid hot water some island is in it
But I can’t see it from here
Nor can I understand why you care
I’m not a scientist I’m not a scientist
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist / I’m not a scientist
I’m not a scientist
Social rationale of the week
The rebellion that gets constantly forgotten
And the color of its decline is unsteady
Versus the consensus
That is trashed within the hive mind
Your puppets raise it up
Like a fetish object yet again
How do I watch this?
How do I watch this?
Your puppets raise it up
Like a fetish object yet again
How do I watch this?
How do I watch this?
I'm not a scientist
I'm not a scientist
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
I’m not a scientist I’m not a scientist
Not a scientist
Revolt of the wavicle it will know better
In this mythology and when it knows
when this myth is spread / It will be ascertained If it is alive or dead
if it is alive or dead
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
Don’t ask me I’m not a scientist
I’m not a scientist, no, no
I’m not a scientist, no, no
I’m not a scientist, no, no
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3. |
Industrial Way
03:39
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THE INDUSTRIAL WAY
by John Hovorka
They are dumping black liquids out of large pipes into a huge lake
It is the industrial way
Preferably they say in some other country far away
Don’t ask me to explain my attraction to this mess
Steel mills pop up on long Eurasian steppes
If you want to build something, anything
Then you will have to break some eggs
And to buy the final products
is like paying to break someone’s legs
Because the workers jump out
of the industrial dormitory windows
Not to prove a point
They won’t be there to see that photo op
After they die from their fall
But perhaps the mined out loess
With its increasingly rare earth
Has it the worst of all
I allegedly talked
with the evil industrialists
To buy supplies from them
I talked to them on the phone
Paper goods suppliers with their trees, not so nice
But the chemical companies’ service reps
Made me feel right at home
Because they are dumping black liquids out of large pipes into a huge lake
It is the industrial way
Preferably they say in some other country far away
Preferably they say in some other country far away
Preferably they say in some other country far away
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4. |
Machine Beer
03:09
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Machine Beer
There is a fine house on the hill
All waiting and ready
For a man whose intentions are clear
And whose gaze is steady
And I have heard of such a place
Whose gates are open to those sincere
But I’d rather be a big fat liar
Chokin’ down machine beer
The parties there were good
For those who feel normal
They drank fine wine
Get me a funnel!
Then tell me “from a distance”
Of your good intention
And I will be a character
Of less than one dimension
But after all the wine is gone
I will shed no tear
“Cause I’d rather be down on the street
Chokin’ down machine beer
Machine beer / Fresh, bold
Machine beer / Ice, Cold
Machine beer / Low Price
Machine beer it’s so nice!
I throw the empties in the trash
‘Cause I’m a good citizen
Don’t wanna end up
In a holding pen
Because there is no future in
eating hot Beefaroni from a can
That machine stands there
And that is not the plan
I wanna be in a special place
Where billionaires run free
But ‘til that day comes
Machine beer’s all right for me
Machine beer / Fresh and bold
Machine beer / Ice Cold
Machine beer / Low Price
Machine beer it’s so nice!
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5. |
Change Of Status
03:58
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CHANGE OF STATUS
by John Hovorka
Noses pushed against the glass
Half a million strong
A tired waiting throng
Wondering what went wrong
Wondering what went wrong
They have waited for it too
And they don’t know what to do
Amongst the chosen few
Next time allowed to go…
Next time allowed to go…
The creaking of the boat,
the splashing of the water,
the cries of the passengers
stuck in their cramped quarters
Far too many rhymes
For too many times
There was a time
There was a time
For St. John’s Infirmary Blues,
And for Stormy Weather,
And take me to the river,
and for I’m Going Down
and for I Don’t Know Why
But the creaking of the boat,
the splashing of the water,
the cries of the passengers
stuck in their cramped quarters
But noses pushed against the glass
Half a million strong
A tired waiting throng
Wondering what went wrong
Wondering what went wrong
They waited for it too
Amongst the chosen few
Next time allowed to go
But the creaking of the boat,
the splashing of the water,
the cries of the passengers
stuck in their cramped quarters
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6. |
Zero Sum Game
03:05
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Zero Sum Game
When two plus two is five
And the point of things is dead, not alive
Day to day I’m onto it
No matter how I strive
Just do the math
Opportunities cut in half
You take your part
I’ll take mine
Precisely torn in half
But there is no point in being this way
It’s a zero sum game
But there is no point in being this way
It’s a zero sum game
The last kid on the block
Says it is a lock
Out of town, feeling down
Need math rock
Or cubist jazz
It’s got what no one else has
Precisely keeping time
Like a syncopated clock
But there is no point in being this way
It’s a zero sum game
But there is no point in being this way
It’s a zero sum game
So sick of seeing minions
Whose facts are all opinions
Who say what they say just to say it
When they might as well just about] spray it
Yeah I’m so sick of seeing minions
Whose facts are all opinions
Who say what they say just to say it
When they might as well just about spray it
But there is no point in being this way
It’s a zero sum game
But there is no point in being this way
It’s a zero sum game
When two plus two is five
And the point of things is dead, not alive
Day to day I’m onto it
No matter how I strive
Just do the math
Opportunities cut in half
You take your part
I’ll take mine
Precisely torn in half
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7. |
Get A Job
01:37
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GET A JOB
By John Hovorka
For maximum convenience
And total control
Still have a long way to go
To the victor
Goes the schmo
Like a bitter pill
the voice gets shrill
the voice gets shrill
the voice gets shrill
Do not talk to these silent walls
expensive to maintain
with sensors and microphones
and sheets of aluminum
propped up on the barren plain
Wherever they go
forced march
across the amazon valley
forced march
and the apple-dappled plateau
oh oh
Oh revolt
don’t bother me
oh revolt
don’t bother me
I'm am so sick of hearing about them
Get a job yeah
Get a job yeah
Call and response like on an automated hotline
Call and response like busted neurons
For maximum convenience
And total control
Still have a long way to go
To the victor goes the schmo
Get rid of workers / Oh no
Ger rid of workers / Oh no
Get rid of workers / Oh no
Don’t!
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8. |
This Is Your Country
02:45
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THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY
by John Hovorka
This is your country sad and lonely
until you tried to get there you tried to live there
Bringing your light feeling your love
overcoming your fears and answering their questions
For extracting the oil an engineer has suggestions
and recommendations yes recommendations
Come hand in hand or then torn apart
in a large car you both have come far
The Lincoln is luxury but buzzards are hovering
storm clouds lowering economies recovering
Around and around then deep underground
your hammers they pound without a sound
heard from above without a care
then gasping for air until no one is there
The four lane roads again they hurt
the fires go out so you're leaving this dirt.
To a new country where economies recover
you and your lover like buzzards you hover
This is your country sadly and lonely
until you tried to get there you tried to live there
This is your country this is your country
gasping for air until no one is there
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9. |
The Big One
04:18
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The Road Of Death
by John Hovorka
Along the shore, across the sea
And being who they appear to be
Faces fresh, and well composed
And whatever that may mean to me
The message short and well received
And whatever you may believe it to be
It is said, without regret
If it makes no sense,
To those who view it sensibly
Across the land, of waving grain,
Feel their pain, expressed expressively
They might attack, and won’t hold back
They are as he wants them to be
With no choice he is their voice
When their music is heard vocally
Or an instrument, they have been sent
For the parts they feel instrumentally
I don’t want to be here, all that much
So out of touch except for things on TV
And I don’t know, if it is so
But I know, how it looks to me
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
Yeah, you just watch me, yeah!
He’s in the air, he’s in the sky
He’s landing here because it’s where he wants to be
Impress the crowd, talk loud
With emphasis exactly where he needs it to be
His message clear, and never queer
And always right, until you think a bit
And ponder on, his well kept lawn
And whoever he is keeping off of it
I don’t want to be here, all that much
Stay informed, about things on a screen
I don’t know, if it is so
But I can tell, when its meaning is mean
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
Yeah, you just watch me, yeah!
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
It’s the road of death, and I’m going down it
Yeah, you just watch me, yeah yeah yeah!
It’s the...
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10. |
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The Dawn of Mechanized Farming
When your meat is someone else's poison
And the rains are flooding in
Your wasted time continues
But all you ever do is win
Yeah all you ever do is win
Residual benefits are there
As if in proof that you care
You live your life in suspense
As vegetation grows dense
Vegetation grows dense
It's the dawn of mechanized farming
A tractor showing up in every yard
It's the dawn of mechanized farming
Why did life used to be so hard?
When your poison is someone else's meat
Please do take a seat
You're nearly as untouched as a god
Until you feel that cattle prod
Until you feel that cattle prod
It's the dawn of mechanized farming
Silos popping up on every street
It's the dawn of mechanized farming
Why does that put me off my feed?
In a field where your seed has spilled
Whole continents and countries populate
No, keep your head straight
No, keep your head straight.
It's the dawn of mechanized farming
A combine parked on every blade of grass
It's the dawn of mechanized farming
Why does that make me want to kick some ass?
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11. |
Corporations
04:06
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Corporations
I can understand the beauty of it
Things you acquire and how much you love it
Then I find it hard, to even think of you
Seen through the pain
Of how much I love you
Do corporations control what we think?
I don’t have a clue, how the hell should I know
Do corporations control what we think?
You say, No.
It’s not like you’re still talking to me
Your life consists of new-found prosperity
Desire mediated by financial wealth
But heaven help you if you don’t help yourself
Do corporations control what we think?
I don’t have a clue, how the hell should I know
Do corporations control what we think?
You say, No.
Way off track I confuse myself
way off track I need to be with someone else
no way back I need to be with someone else but you say, No.
no way back I need to sleep with someone else but you say, No
Way off track I confuse myself
way off track I need to be with someone else
no way back I need to be with someone else but you say, No.
no way back I need to sleep with someone else but you say, No
I can understand the beauty of it
Things you acquire and how much you love it
Desire mediated by financial wealth
But heaven help you if you don’t help yourself
Do corporations control what we think?
I don’t have a clue, how the hell should I know
Do corporations control what we think?
You say, No.
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John Hovorka New York
John Hovorka played guitar and bass guitar in bands first in Geneva NY but mostly in Boston then in New York City. After he started writing songs he was the leader of The 2x4's (1978 - 1980), then Noise Pencil (1982), Turbines (1983 - 1987), Hovorka (1988 - 2002), John Hovorka And The Dawn Of Mechanized Farming (DOMF) (2003 - 2016), and also made solo albums. He is now in Massachusetts. ... more
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