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Bonfire to Ash

by Porter Nickerson

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1.
Old Red Barn 03:49
I smell the earth & the scent lingers Feel the midday sun on my skin Glass is sweating between your fingers Come on baby, you’re reeling me in Paint’s going to peel on the old red barn Sirens will moan, sound the alarm Your hand brushes up against my arm Nothing in the world could do me harm I see your face and all the tension goes slack When you reach for the sun, it reaches right back When you reach for the sun, it reaches right back There’s an invisible hand, at the helm Leaning into the shade of this old Dutch elm Taking a nap, to the sound of your heart There’s plenty of time darling, before it gets dark Paint’s going to peel… Pull down the shades before it gets too hot Paint’s going to peel on the old red barn Sirens will moan, sound the alarm your hand brushes up against my arm nothing in the world could do me harm I see your face and all the tension goes slack When you reach for the sun it reaches right back When you reach for the sun Come on reach for the sun I want to reach for the sun It reaches right back
2.
We all live in a big dome Fuzzy little creatures set out to roam We dance around like puppets who won’t cut the string Like cancer kills the host, we destroy everything I wanna plant a garden in the sun Wheels keep spinning and spinning around But there’s a better way I’ve found I’m gonna take these seeds and plant them in the ground And stop spinning and spinning around You can modify, but love still wins You can change the form, but Mother Nature steps in After all the trees are gone & there are no birds in the sky Your granddaughter's gonna take your hand and Look you in the eye and say I wanna plant a garden… When the water covers this land again We’ll climb aboard the garbage scow The flotilla of trash we’ve thrown away That’ll be our new home now Like Noah sailed for 40 days We’ll climb on two by two There won’t be any animals left It’ll just be me & you
3.
I Need You 04:03
I’ve been dreaming and the dream never lets me down The air feels heavy when I awake like the angel won’t come around Where should I go? With this heart that won’t keep time on its own This kick drum needs a bass line I need you There’s a river that flows from everywhere If I listen I can see it electric on the air You see it all To you it all makes sense trust is the only option The one true covenant I Need You Need your smile to look forward to bridge the miles, to pull me through When all is lost in the weeds you have all the light that I need
4.
Living Proof 05:06
He came home from Korea, left his boots outside the door A soldier changes clothes, but he can’t wash off the war If he had his demons, he kept them to himself Farming 18-hour days to put food up on our shelves So don’t say it can’t be done, Because I know that isn’t true My father didn’t give up, and I am living proof My brothers all played football After their chores and homework Mama kept the books at the grain exchange & we all sang in church I don’t know how she did it, Cooked three meals and raised 6 kids People think the world owes them something, My mama never did So don’t say it can’t be done, Because I know that isn’t true My father didn’t give up, and I am living proof Sister, I’ll leave a light on for you Brother, don’t let them bury your truth The Northern Lights keep shining down even when I can’t see through I know you’ll never give up And I’ll never give up on you We are living proof Living proof that love sustains us, Living proof that love survives That we’ll find safe passage Through the darkness in our lives It takes more than me and you These sweet fields of St. Ansgar Hold the seeds of my soul I see my sister in the kitchen As she pulls the window closed My father smiles and waves, Parks the tractor for the night Tomorrow they’ll do it all again, Be up before first light So don’t say it can’t be done, The sun is rising soon You’re not the only one, I’m right here with you So don’t say it can’t be done, Because I know that isn’t true Those before us didn’t give up And we are living proof
5.
Echo Of Love 05:09
I’m skating by myself staring down through the clear Laying down & waiting for the stars to appear You seem to want to be everywhere but here How could so little love hurt so much? I’ve been wounded angry at the slow speed of grace I screamed in the mirror at my own reflected face Tried to take credit for my role in this play But our little run on Broadway is a bust Oh I can’t explain what became of us 14-dollar flowers in a vase by the door Dry gone-grey petals are scattered on the floor We both walk by not seeing, not hearing anymore Someone has to bend to pick them up Maybe I should be the one to stand up and say When the dream was broken I left the pieces where they lay But my voice has been stolen And my hands feel like clay When silence is all I can offer up I can’t explain what became I can’t explain what became of us I want to reach across this room, but my hands are tied I hear the echo of love in the back of my mind I took a walk down today to our secret place I thought I saw the ghost of love, I thought I saw your face In the long willow branches as they bent in the breeze Made my heart feel so full of rust If this illusion ever lets me go I’ll forgive myself as the sun melts the snow There is no absolution in the echo of love Just freedom from shadows in the dusk I can’t explain what became of us
6.
Wasting Time 05:57
Reach for the window Open the good in yourself See diamonds around you In everyone else Sometimes you can hear it Silence of wings on the wind Withdraw your resistance And let my love in Sometimes we’re all lazy and crazy and tired But you’re wasting time, Trying to find A sweet summer mystic To help you forget the past You’ll shed your old skin once again But the healing won’t last Passion burns quickly from bonfire to ash When you’re wasting time Looking behind Sometimes I wonder how far you can bend Before you break Look me in the eye darling you know I’ll be here as long as it takes Wind in the wires Sings as it sighs Reminds us of lovers we knew They never told you that you were a star So stop wasting time Learning your lines So stop wasting time Maybe it’s crazy, I still want to try
7.
In Bloom 04:11
Like mud on God’s feet, a heart leaves no trace Heart knows no boundaries of time or space A lost poet soldier alone in the field My heart will keep on fighting-- no gun and no shield My heart won’t be denied No my heart won’t be denied tonight In the face of danger, in the wake of regret Heart flows unabated, drinking this breath Everything your body does, my heart wants to feel My mind can’t deny what my heart knows is real My heart won’t be denied No my heart won’t be denied tonight Heart will build a castle, heart will tear it down Heart’s a broken compass lying on the ground All of the things I thought I knew They only prove that I’m a fool My heart is trying to see this through But in my mind I haven’t got a clue It’s all in season; it’s all in bloom You walk into the room, there’s a buzz in my ear Up high in a frequency only dogs can hear Everything your body does, my heart wants to feel My mind can’t deny what my heart knows is real All of the things I thought I knew They only prove that I’m a fool Everything’s different around you My heart is trying to see this through But in my mind I haven’t got a clue It’s all in season; it’s all in bloom It’s all in bloom
8.
She says she loves you, her eyes are warm but tired Like she’s been walking on a wire and talking to the sky As far as I can see, you act like you don’t care Like some strip-club millionaire, but a woman like her is rare We both know she’s not the cheating kind She’s tired of this roller coaster ride She’s got loving on her mind Loving on her mind Her eyes are walking all over this bar Loving on her mind She’s flirting on the dance floor Sara left with the car You better show up, she’s starting to unwind She’s got loving on her mind I know you’re hurting, you’ll get another job but you’ll never break free Sleeping ’til noon smoking weed, living in the land of make-believe. What are you afraid of?
9.
Earthquake 03:04
You don’t want my whole heart Just the easy part You say let’s keep it easy just for a while You say it with a smile And I’m ok for a while Sooner or later the truth has got to come out I should’ve seen through you Should’ve been wide awake Before you hit I should’ve felt the earthquake Because you don’t want my whole heart. Don’t want the damaged part You’re no mechanic You’re not going to make no repairs You want to drive it off the lot You want the part that revs and runs hot You want to lay in the tall grass, I guess that’s ok baby. But hey-- I Should have seen through you Should’ve seen the faults and all the breaks Before you hit I should’ve felt the earthquake Let’s burn baby burn baby all night long Come on burn baby burn baby all night long I want to burn rubber baby to the light of dawn Because I Know you don’t want my whole heart I should have seen through you I should have seen the faults and all of the breaks I should’ve known better than that Oh well, what can I say? You don’t want my whole heart, just the easy part You don’t want my whole heart, Just the part that revs and runs hot Everything’ll be fine, don’t want to hear about it Ain't got time for that now, don’t want to hear about it I just want to feel good, don’t want to care about it You don’t want my whole heart I ain’t got time for that now
10.
If You Stay 04:15
Summer had gone, she put leaves in the gutter and an old car out on the front lawn I watched you move in with your bike and your boxes I dropped the tray when you answered your door Such a long road all the way from Ohio I caught the outline of your face in the window I don’t think my heart can beat any faster There’s no way I can’t see you now Watching the sun rise and fall from your window Baklava in a four poster bed The moon keeping time with your body & mine I remember every word that you said Why did you go to her? I don’t know why You pushed me away Biggest mistake of my life It took years for me to trust myself When you left me here for someone else It takes more then words to make this girl believe Are you ok? I can’t hide that from you Can’t hide that from you Does she still have a hold? No, we’re through I remember when I was the only one It’s been a long night, I’ve come a long way I think it’s all right if you still wanna stay I think it’s all right if you stay Why did you take so long?
11.
Sign 04:34
All these habits, creatures they keep We’re all slaves to potions, slaves to sleep When I wake up, I’m going to dance a jig Uncork the poison and take a swig If it’s love you want, I’ll give you some But don’t take it girl, then turn and run Because the morning light against your face Is the prettiest sign I’ve seen of grace You’re the prettiest sign I’ve seen of grace Help me out, I’m falling Pick me up, the wild wind’s calling There’s still time to feel something, that’s true All these fables & all these facts I try to run, but they pull me back Though the lines across my face are real I got a brand new heart going to crack the seal Help me out, I’m falling Pick me up, the wild wind’s calling There’s still time to feel something, that’s true Honey I do, I do, I do believe in you I do, I do believe I do believe in you, I do I do, I do believe Oh Whippoorwill, don’t let go of me I feel your song across the breeze Few have seen, but I believe You’ll show yourself to me help me out, I’m falling Pick me up, the wild wind’s calling There’s still time to feel something, that’s true Honey I do, I do, I do believe in you I do, I do believe I do believe in you, I do In you

credits

released November 3, 2016

The Band:
Carmen Nickerson: Lead & Backing Vocals, Percussion
Willy Porter: Lead & Backing Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Zev Katz: Acoustic and Electric Bass
Ben Wisch: Acoustic and Electric Piano, Organ and Harmonium
Ben Wittman: Drums & Percussion

Guest Musicians:
Dave Adler: Wurlitzer Piano on “Old Red Barn”
Mai Bloomfield: Cello on “Plant a Garden” and “I Need You”
Knox Chandler: Electric Guitar on “Wasting Time” and “If You Stay”
Sean Williamson: Lap Steel on “Living Proof” and “Loving on Her Mind”

Produced by Ben Wisch & Porter Nickerson
Recorded by Ben Wisch
Additional Recording by Willy Porter
Mixed by Ben Wisch
Recorded & Mixed at Ben’s House and Dog Tracks
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian, NYC
Art Direction & Visual Design by Anjl Rodee, Lucky Dime Design
Photos by Lois Bielefeld Photography, Barn show photos by Rob Steffan
All photos used by permission

Management: Chris Webb at JAMNManagement
Booking: Adam Bauer & Amanda Slaybaugh at Madison House
UK Booking Agency: Nikki Woodhead at imageacoustic,
nikki@imageacoustic.com
Legal: Wofford Denius, Esq. Los Angeles, CA
PR: Sheila Moeschen UK PR: James H Soars

PorterNickerson.com
facebook.com/willyportermusic
Twitter: @WillyPorter
willyporter.bandcamp.com

All songs written by Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson.
©℗ 2016 Porter Nickersongs / ASCAP. All Rights Reserved.

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Willy Porter Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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