Jump the Fence
lyrics – credits – awards – reviews
Rome
Never a Harbor
Secrets of the Burgh
Spotlights
Up to You
Self Portrait
Boston and Alone
Chicago
Rome
As you sit solemn faced,
sonnets scrawled in your book and you’re
Determined to keep chaste,
as me and the boys call you out in the street
You’re heartbroken and hard-nosed
with your brim pulled low so your eyes won’t show
And you’re stuck ‘cause you believe
that she’s the woman of your dreams (well)
I’ve got news… yeah I’ve got news
she’s far from the best, you could do…
Through all your Rosalyns and your Tybalts,
built for you like bookends
After your star crossed loves, I’ll be your brother
You’ll be my Romeo
And I’ll drag you out to the bars
and I’ll carry your leaden heart
If boys step across that line
don’t flinch a bit you know you’re back is mine
So let your words seek my ear
and stain my collar with your tears
‘Cause when I’m low and at my worst
I’ll look to you to see our roles reversed (well…)
Never a Harbor
love is not water
my will is not the wind
i aint no castaway babe
i know just where i am
and my tears aint nothing
like a good heavy rain
but from this vantage point
they could be the same
but i am no sailor
i lack a ship
you were never a harbor to me
you were a girl and that’s it
and i am no captain
drunk at the wheel
but i owe you the truth though babe
that’s just how it feels
so take me away
yeah take me away
take me away
from these metaphors i’m livin for today
yeah you lost me
but nothing is dying
and there’s life in our bones
i’ll be with you st. valentine’s day
as you’re al capone
i am not a christian child
losin my faith
i’m simply leavin you
and i’m tryin to save face
this car gives me the freedom
i’d expect from a boat
but i’d not take her anywhere
you couldn’t follow
if one day in my travels
i’m back at your port
i’d offer you riches babe
to let me back in your door
Secrets of the Burgh
Love you baby but you’re so hard to please
Love you baby but you’re torturing me
I see you walking down by the river side
By a black and gold bridge, I know as my own
Secrets of the burgh, are what I’ve been thinking
Down to the point and back, out on my own
Will I see you when I wake up in the morning?
Can I deal with another one all on my own?
Will I see you when I wake up in the morning?
Can I deal with another one so far from home?
I Love you Baby but you’re so hard to please
Love you Baby but you’re torturing me
Feels like fall, cool leaves are fallin’
Catch the cold river breeze, down in my hand
Blue skyed field, time it’s taking
Love, sweat, and grit, all part of my home
Spotlights
Spotlights
Hot night
That leather miniskirt
keeps sticking to your thighs
Runways
Clichés
You find disgust with each
manikin’s disguise
But you’re with me now
V.I.P. now
And there’s a price tonight
for every crooked smile
Gotta impress
Gain access
But the prize tonight,
I’m convinced it makes it all worthwhile
But you aint gonna buy it
You tell me no, no, no
I step into the party
And you just go, go, go
So I’ll start dancin’ on these tables
Drink ‘till I am able
To careen into the sun
And when the interrogation starts
I’ll recite repentant parts
But I wont tell them what you’ve done
… to me.
Big shots
Blind spots
You say you’re stuck between my dreams
And expectations
Just get me cheap drugs
And a little scene buzz
And hype me up
On my own congratulations
Adoration – compensation
Far too much alike for me than you’re willing to allow
They adore me like a first date, you adore me like a vow
I know I shouldn’t need it but I know I need it now
And I’ll leave all these suited snakes
Let them slander my escape
And slither to the latest trend
And I’ll jump all these velvet ropes
Make my break with just the hope
To make you smile again
Up to You
if the sun
becomes too much to bear
i’ll be your shade
if the road
is backed up for miles
i’ll be your train
but when you’re knee deep in water
looking for something to blame
i am your rain
my body is a garden
and my body is a graveyard
and you love to think you’re just passing through
and that it’s all up to you
if the door
is bolted and menacing
i’ll be your key
if the night
is dark and is lonely
i’ll be your dream
but when you’re washed up on the coastline
your life lost amongst the debris
i am your sea
my body is a garden
and my body is a graveyard
and you love to think you’re just passing through
and that it’s all up to you
Self Portrait
Chase the pills with a drink from the faucet
then sit back and wait for sun to break through the blinds
I need a calm heart to breathe deep count sheep
shake my head, saying it’s just a dream
in the corner catch my eye
stands a man with a knife
send a prayer to the sky
no he’s come for my life
now there’s nothing
gotta fill it
with the beating
of my heart and I’m alone
now I’m fighting
to confront it
now I’m running
but click click click click time is out
jaw set, teeth clenched, eyes narrow
praying hands, pleading knees, kissing feet
begging for pity but met with resolve
and now I’m pumping warm blood to cold tile
let me walk away
and survey what I’ve done
Boston & Alone
Madeline,
hope the city treats you well
the ghosts on new york
hang on your shallowed shoulders.
temping’s rather tempting
but it screws you to the wall
turnpikes and tollbooths
and the fear of another
mad, mad cousin of boston
seems you’re settling in.
switch from tea to coffee
call me and i’ll pack my bags
in the stairs of my dorm
reciever to my ear
ride the six, dress in black
elevator to your flat
empty fridge with chinese food
filled up closet – forty shoes
mad, mad cousin of boston
seems you’re settling in.
but the city is beautiful
and you can’t look away
it’s staring right at you
and you can’t break it’s gaze
cuz the city’s brighter in the night
take the train cuz no one drives
get husteld for watches
prada bags and leather gloves
trade chowder for bagels
harvard yard for central park
keep your red sox baseball cap
pizza but you won’t get fat
from walking to forty blocks
it takes you to get home
i’d prefer new york too
to boston and alone
mad, mad cousin of boston
seems you’re settling in
Chicago
My life’s a train
of bad mistakes
But it all seems so easy baby
by the lake
You know that I do not know why
But who could blame me now
that I want to stay
in Chicago
Climbing mountains
I just try not to fall
But those big tall buildings
never make me feel small
You know that I do not know why
But who could blame me now
that I want to stay
in Chicago
Produced by Brian Humphrey and Cobalt
Mixing and Engineering by Brian Humphrey
Additional Engineering by Jeff Piper
Recorded and Mixed at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL
Mastered by Gary Cobb at ARS Studios, Alsip, IL
Horn Arrangements by Craig Dreyer and Alie Plotsky
Album Art Designed by Louisa LeMauviel
Cover Photo by Andrew Plotsky
Piano, Keyboard, and Organ – Josh Lava
Tenor Sax – Craig Dreyer
Cello – Meg Risso
Trombone – Dan Gingold
Organ – Pete Foss
Mandolin – Brian Humphrey
Additional Percussion – Jeff Piper
“Rome” has been played on Q101, 101.1 FM, Chicago
“Never A Harbor” was featured on Chicago’s NPR show Eight-Forty-Eight in preparation for the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival.
“Up to You” voted #1 overall song on OurStage.com for May, 2008 – taking home the Grand Prize and banking the band $5,000, plus 10,000 plays in the month. “Up to You” also won the #1 Folk song award in November, 2008. “Boston & Alone” voted #1 Punk/Ska song in July, 2008
“Spotlights” selected for the iGo Sampler CD along with tracks from Wilco, Kid Sister, and Brighton MA.
“[Jump the Fence is] a smooth-jumpin’ blast of pure straight-up cookin’ basic rock’n’roll, this album goes down easy with a good deal of flair and spark to spare. There’s no dreaded pretense or needless flashy razzle-dazzle to speak of … The pleasant vocals, clean and crisp arrangements, and proficient playing keep things bubbling along throughout. A solid and worthwhile album.” –The Jersey Beat [read the full article]
[While listening to "Secrets of the Burgh"] “What do we know about these guys? I know that they ROCK! Yeah, it’s a hit!” -The Brooklyn Paper [watch the video review]
