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Free Throws

by John Gannon

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1.
Butter 04:30
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BUTTER My heartbeat flutters I turn to butter When I’m thinking of you You make think I’m a nutter ‘Cause I turn all to butter When I’m drinking with you It’s more than the perfect reduction It’s gathering a mighty function I turn to goo at the sight of you I’m like butter My pulse starts to quicken And my arteries thicken When we’re hanging out and making a meal My nose starts to tingle I could hit a clutch single When we’re walkin’, it’s a pretty sweet deal I’ll make a perfect roux with you There’s nothing else that I wanna do You make me wanna fly south You melt in my mouth, like butter Let’s go fishing, we’re gonna catch a big one Let’s go wishing, we’re gonna have some big fun But my heart can’t take it anymore It’s so big, I can’t squeeze through the door I need some butter! My knees start knockin’ My heart thinks of stopping When I’m asking you for a dance I’m getting rich by the hour I could use a cold shower What a luxury to have a second chance It’s more than a simple deduction It’s gathering a mighty function I turn to goo at the sight of you I’m like butter Let’s go fishing, we’re gonna catch a big one. Let’s go wishing, we’re gonna have some big fun But my heart can’t argue anymore It’s getting so big I can’t fit through the door Let’s get living, we’re running out of time now Let’s start giving, we’ve got a lot of dimes now Gonna trade my house for a shack It don’t matter ‘cause you got my back You’re butter This is no other You are my rudder Oh, butter Yeah, bacon grease is kind of groovy But I need my butter when I'm at the movies Oh, butter!
2.
Lovesick 03:17
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LOVESICK I shiver in the summertime Sweating in the winter Eat until I’m hungry Dream until I’m tired I’m reading ‘til my eyes hurt And seeing what the books say I’m doing what I’m told But I can’t think because I’m wired I’m not lovesick I’m telling you I’m over it I’m strong and I’m going long So throw me the ball I’m standing so tall Though my cape is at the cleaners It’s not dimming my demeanor I’m not lovesick... I sleep when I’m awake I’m awake when I’m asleep I’m close to a discovery Closer to the way I’m seeing all the experts And making lots of progress I’m doing what I’m told And getting nearer to the day Not lovesick Telling you I’m over it I’m strong and I’m going long So throw me the ball I’m standing so tall My hamstring’s getting tight But I’m still limber for the fight Let’s talk about the weather Let’s talk like we’re together, yeah, yeah Let’s shout about it Let’s cry about it Let’s laugh until we’re better I’m not lovesick Telling you I’m over it I’m strong and I’m going long So throw me the ball I’m standing so tall Though my heart is getting heavy It’s not stopping this old Chevy… ...Though my eyes are getting watery I feel I’ve won the lottery
3.
Smoked Salvation 04:17
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SMOKED SALVATION I’m in trouble again I lost another job Can’t stop drinking Can’t stop thinking I lost my father just months ago But I found my brother and we’re taking it slow It’s just a beer I can handle it Never fear I won’t gamble it It’s all gonna be just fine Lead me to the fence of salvation Why don’t you lift me up and push me to the other side? Lead me to the fence of salvation If I fall behind I’ll catch another ride My house is a mess But I’m on top of it I’ve got it covered Let’s have another ‘Cause I lost my father just months ago I found my brother and we’re taking it slow It’s just a phase I’ll work through this Don’t you worry I’m gonna do this It’s all gonna be just fine Lead me to the fence of salvation… (The art of the sober The dance of clean living The music of motion The path to forgiving)
4.
And Then The Lions Came 03:15
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AND THEN THE LIONS CAME Too many missed shots From the free throw line Too many no shows In these bottles of wine Take a closer look In the review mirror Read another book To make it all come clearer Sometimes we’re stuck inside of it And rolling to the right of it And fleeing from the fight of it It got all too quiet And then the lions came Too many points of view Not enough making up Too many opportunities To take my bishop Take a different stance Try another move Read through all the evidence To find the proof Sometimes we end up in a maze And lose our way in a velvet haze And pass the blame and waste the days It was all going badly And then the lions came The cat needs laser toys And balls that roll around outside The heater’s drying out the plants are Browning slowly It’s all too good for you It’s not so bad for me We could live in Venice Sinking in the sea And all we’re looking at All that lies ahead All the words around us Hanging by a thread Sometimes the path we walk gets bent We cannot see what heaven sent To quench a lifeless argument There was nothing breathing And then the lions came Sometimes we're stuck inside of it...
5.
The Loser Boys 04:43
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THE LOSER BOYS We’re setting into the jungle And it’s gonna get fungle The animals are starting to holler So stand up tall and be brave Hold your ground and don’t cave ‘Cause it’s getting hot under the collar We’re outside the mold Not doing what we’re told We’re the last to leave We refuse to believe We’re not gonna give it up We are the loser boys, we won’t give up our toys We’re gonna play until we say , not gonna drop until we stop We are the loser boys, we’re making all the noise We’re gonna groove until you move, we’re gonna shout until it’s out We’re hangin’ on The Queen Mary And it’s gettin’ kind of scary ‘Cause the ghosts are stirring down below So raise a glass to the spirits There’s the bar, grab a spirit! ‘Cause this party’s gettin’ ready to blow We color outside the lines And we’re doing fine We take a different train And the ride’s insane We’re not gonna disembark We are the loser boys... Playing in the sandbox It’s only been a minute Now what you talkin’ about you saying that you want to get in it? Get in line, take it easy, let your mind take the time to get breezy ‘Cause we’re only getting’ going and we’re not really slowin’ it Down, don’t frown, don’t ask, don’t talk about the Weather, don’t cry, don’t pout, don’t put it all Together, we can make a difference Or maybe not, maybe not, maybe not Maybe this box is gonna rot We are the loser boys... Raise the flag of the loser boys Raise your glass to the loser boys…….
6.
Hippie Girl 03:45
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HIPPIE GIRL I was dragged, kicking and screaming to the contact dance Rolling around, sharing my space, spiritual vertigo I didn’t need to know There she was, kicking and screaming in a blessed trance Whirling around, breathing the space, casting spells in her wake I forgot to hesitate And fell in love with a hippie girl I fell in love with a hippie girl I fell in love with a hippie girl Despite my best intentions And my noble inventions I’m in love……… I’m in love………. We stumbled into an African eatery, she knew all the dishes Laughing out loud, sharing my space, soul-swishing vertigo I didn’t need to know A moonless night, a chill in the air, too many words in the sidewalk Walking together, walking alone, walking around what we’re saying I didn’t know who was playing Still fell in love with that hippie girl... Sitting at the bar and wishing that I’d brought my car ‘Cause I don’t want to walk in the….rain I fell in love with a hippie girl... I see her all the time In every phrase and every rhyme I’m collecting all her dimes And inserting them in my…..heart
7.
Keep Your Head Down 04:34
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KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN Welcome to your new home Every office is a shared space Eat your lunches in the lunchroom We want you to socialize We want you to win the prize Let us show you how it works Press these buttons see our glee There no need to leave your space now Just talk through your computer screens Everything is how it seems We’re one big happy family Suck it up, grin and bear it Keep your head down close to your desk Keep your head down Every hour is a new day Every day brings us victories So take pride in your appearance We need every labor hour You need to dump those stinky flowers You’ve got to reach your monthly benchmarks You’ve got keep your eyes on the prize Take pride in your performance Be the first to believe And be the last one to leave We're one almighty family Suck it up, grin and bear it Keep your head down close to your desk Never frown, never share it Keep your head down just like the rest Keep your head down... Don’t you like my modular design? Everything is perfect Stay, I’ll make it worth it Keep your head down (we don’t pay you to complain).,…head down Keep your head down (we don’t care if you’re in pain)…..head down Keep your head down (don’t want to see you shake your head)……head down Keep your head down (just drag yourself out of bed)……head down  
8.
The Highway 05:05
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THE HIGHWAY You gave me the finger on the highway I gave you the finger right back At 8 o’clock in the morning The day was already fading to black You’re writing a check at the market The line is getting longer The cashier’s checking out Our numbers grow stronger Can you see the rage coming? Can you stop it all from running out of you? You’re always getting in the way You’re oblivious Do you need to ruin my day? You can’t be serious, can you? Take a hike, take a break, take an hour, please be late You’re invisible to me You can do what you’re gonna do You’re divisible and free Can’t you see the day is coming? Why can’t you work it out? It’s coming now for you Be kind Everyone’s fighting a battle Everyone’s fighting a battle Everyone’s fighting…. I’m a jerk, I am a work in progress I think it’s getting easier I’ll show you all I’ve learned so far Let’s not get nastier, can’t we try? Can you see the rage coming? Can you stop it all from running out of you? Be kind...
9.
Loud Life 04:57
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LOUD LIFE All of the crickets and all the cicadas Are making a racket like they’re gaming in Vegas All I wanna do is climb in a ditch I haven’t got a clue, ain’t this a…. Gonna take a minute, gotta climb right in it I’ll hold my breath until ‘til my face turns blue Gonna build a boat, gonna dig a moat Whatever it takes, that’s what I’m gonna do To live a loud life… Gonna live a loud life… All of the books, all of the articles They shatter in step, they scatter like particles All I want to do is play the perfect game I’m talking to you, but it sounds all the same Gonna take a minute, gotta climb right in it I’ll hold my breath until ‘til my face turns blue Gonna learn to fly, gonna touch the sky Whatever it takes, that’s what I’m gonna do To live a loud life… Step up close, I got you figured out Nose to nose, we don’t have to shout Take my hand, leave the fight behind Take a stand, it will change your mind Gonna take a minute, gotta climb right in it I’ll hold my breath until ‘til my face turns blue Gonna build a boat, gonna dig a moat Whatever it takes, that’s what I’m gonna do To live a loud life… Step up close, I got you figured out Nose to nose, we don’t have to shout Take my hand, leave the fight behind Take a stand, it will change your mind
10.
Slipping Through It All 03:59
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SLIPPING THROUGH IT ALL The walls close in The cycles spin The noises ricochet And have their way And rule the day The shaking begins Slipping through it all… The blood beats sound The minutes stand down The clutter rises high It looks to fly It looks to die The echoes ring loud Slipping through it all…
11.
Why Don't You Shoot Me? 04:04
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WHY DON'T YOU SHOOT ME? There was dense conversation And a fine Italian meal And though it was loud in there We didn’t seem to care We took our turns showing off And we smiled And though I was proud in there You didn’t seem to care I was adorable And lovable ‘Til you said let’s be friends So, why don’t you shoot me? I’d rather be dead Why don’t you shoot me? Can’t get you out of my head Please, please shoot me once, pretty girl? ‘Cause I’ll say I’m strong in a minute And I’m gonna wanna get right back in it There was a funny exchange When you couldn’t find the bar Then we had a drink I didn’t have time to think Globe-trekking scientist And you surf in the Pacific Ocean You were proud in there And I really cared You were adorable And loveable Can’t we pretend? Why don’t you shoot me?... I had a lovely time last night I had a blast Let’s run the experiment again I’m built to last Don’t think of the past With beauty as blinding as the sun And laughter on the run Mission impossible Unstoppable Is this the end? Why don't you shoot me?...

about

Portland songwriter John Gannon’s sophomore effort, Free Throws, is a fresh collection of wonderfully off-kilter pop tunes, featuring a cauldron of musical styles (New Orleans jazz, pop, blues, R&B, and country), all designed to help you sail through a traffic jam or survive another day in the cubicle.

credits

released April 17, 2015

Produced by Jordan Leff and recorded at The Secret Society in Portland, Oregon, the album features John Burk (bass); Dominic Castillo (guitar); Maria Cahill and Heather Keller (background vocals on “Smoked Salvation”); Cory Gray (trumpet and euphonium on “Butter”, “Lovesick”, and “Keep Your Head Down”); Jordan Leff (nylon acoustic on “The Highway”); Jessica Steinhebel (flute on “Hippie Girl”); and John Gannon (vocals, piano, keyboards, clarinet, saxophone, and drums).

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John Gannon Portland, Oregon

Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, and classically trained on the clarinet, Gannon picked up other instruments along the way, moving to Portland in 2005. On Free Throws, he once again deploys lyric-writing that is both sardonic and bittersweet — and also sings and plays piano, keyboards, drums, and the saxophone and clarinet. ... more

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