What is this? I’ve been writing songs since, in my twenties, I lived in a fifth floor walk-up in the West Village. There were all the usual influences: Beatles, Dylan, Kinks, Grateful Dead and even musical theater. I played some instinctual version of rock music in several bands. One day, after purchasing a bunch of LPs from a guy on the street for next to nothing, I discovered the most amazing record: Bunny Wailer Sings The Wailers. A revelation had been delivered to me. Despite the appearance of simplicity, the music was disciplined and organized and even a two or three chord groove could be inspirational! I tried to learn about Reggae and bought every record I could afford. I sat down and figured out chord changes and bass lines. I struggled with the notion of how a white Jew from the Upper West Side could write Reggae songs. Hearing bands like UB40 and Sublime made me feel like I had permission to simply write the songs and play them in my interpretation of a Reggae style. All songs and music by Louie Fleck © 2012 all rights reservedRecorded, mixed and produced by Louie Fleck in NYCMastering: Alan Douches, West West Side MusicOriginal Art: Erica HarrisFor bonus tracks and more: LouieFleck.comMany thanks to those who have encouraged me, especially:Laury Webb, Marcia Davis, Simone Gordon, Anton Bernard, Andrea Goode, Maggie Roche, Paul Brantley, Cornell Marshall, Earl Appleton, Paul Vlachos, Linley McKenzie, Kevin Williams, Jason Kessler, Andrew Van Dusen, Sharon Lehner, Shannon Holman, Amanda Barrett, June Reich, Joseph Bradshaw, Julia Ignatenko, Donna Brodie, Trish Clark, Marisa Butler, Jesse Dowell & Richard, Sandy Imhoff, Family: Joe, Bela, Abby, Sascha, Erin, Cole, Gianluca and Mom.In Memoriam: Ellen Page Wilson and Maura RobinsonListen (4:32)Listen, I am asking you to listenIt is starting to be clearI am asking you to listenSomething I want you to hearListen, (over here) I am asking you to listenI will not tell you what to playI am asking you to listenWould not change you anywayThe wind passes through the trees, and the mist begins to freezeWhile the sun burns silently awayWhen words refuse to do,what I wanted for them toCould there be another way to say listen?I am asking you to listenCan not help, but it is trueWhat could mean so much to meand be not a thing to you?What could be so much to meand be not a thing to you?Watch Out (3:07) drums: Cornell Marshall, keys: Earl AppletonMost pills are bitter, too few of them sweet Watch out, it could happen to youWake up one day, find you’re living in the street Watch out, it could happen to youIf you’re well you get sick, then you’re sick for a spellWatch out, it could happen to youWhen you’re calling for heaven, but, you end up with Hell Watch out, it could happen to youWatch out, watch out, there’s a lot of it about Don’t be fooled or alarmedPrepare, prepare and always be aware Some are cursed while others are charmedSome days blessed, but, many are not Watch out, it could happen to youYou can hope for the best, better plan for the worst Watch out, it could happen to youIf you’re a one eyed king in the land of the blind Watch out, it could happen to youKeep your mind on your money and your money on your mind Watch out, it could happen to youSome are Demapublican, some are RepublicratWatch out, it could happen to youThey supply you with lies and leave you there flatWatch out, it could happen to youPrepare, prepare and always be awareIt’s never too early to startWatch out, watch out, there’s a fever in the air Seductively breaking your heartWhen the bank account says you are suddenly broke Watch out, it could happen to youDo you feel like the victim of a very cruel joke?Watch out, it could happen to youWatch out, it could happen to youWatch out, it could happen to youWatch out, it could happen to youDown Facing Dog (3:57) cello: Paul BrantleyI'll be your down facing dog, you are room and I am floor I'll be your down facing dog, I am wall, you are doorI'll be your down facing dog, my fingers push awayI'll be your down facing dog, a waiting for his dayNow I'm rolling like a ball and then swimming on dry landI am flapping like a seal, I await your next command I'll be your down facing dog, you don’t pet me like you shouldI'll be your down facing dog, and it could be very good. (rise) I must rise once againand struggle with the fears Let you lead me on the path, you are wise beyond your years(yes you are, dog is facing down)So what can I do now (what can I do?) to connect with you somehow?Is this another dream or am I awake? Is there another class I need to take?I'll be your down facing dog, I thought I knew the scoreI'll be your down facing dog, I am tears on the shore You are queen and I am pawn, I am dark and you are dawnI am push and you are pull, I am empty, you are fullYou are right and I am wrong, I am weak, you are so strongI am sky and you are sea, is there a place for me?I'll be your down facing dog, strange and yet so true,I'll be your down facing dog, but I guess you always knewI'll be your down facing dog, but, I can only go so lowI'll be your down facing dog, oh, please don't let me goDown facing dog, Down facing dog, Down facing dog…Down facing dog, Down facing dog, Down facing dog…It’s All About You (4:10)It’s all about you, and so,lonely and blue is the life I knowThe teardrops flow, it’s got to be true, it’s not about me, it’s all about you.It’s all about you, and so, I haven’t a clue, hello?Wherever I go, it’s got to be true, so now I know, it’s all about you Is it truth or daring? I want to know where I’m going to landIn this game I’m despairing, about as much as I can standI’ve been the monkey in the middle, I’ve seen my face on the floorI hear a sizzle on the griddle, what are we playing for? (chorus)When I give you my heart, you gotta throw it right backWe spend a lifetime apart (away), until you launch an attackThey said I had the potential, to be the fool you despiseThe future may be confidential, but it surely won’t be a surprise (chorus)I’ve been your Rock, Paper Scissors, Cat’s Cradle, Bad Egg, Four SquareI’ve been a Sleeping Lion, thrown from a Musical ChairPin the Tail on the Donkey, Kick The Can to the Blind Man’s BluffAnd if I fail to be your flunky, will Simon say enough is enough? (chorus)Someone's Gonna Lose Their Job Today (3:49)Ever since that accident, when the first car flipped the trackEveryman is for himself, you know, you really got to watch your backNow we all got mouths to feed and plenty bills to payAnd if you think you seen enough, well, I heard somebody saySomeone's gonna lose their job todaySomeone's gonna lose their job, you seeSomeone's gonna lose their job todaySomeone else, ‘cause it can't be me, no it can't be me.Next time you hear that whistle blow,a grown man's gonna cryEverybody's gonna turn away, no one ever says goodbyeIt comes down to the dollars, I know you know what I meanThey would-a sent us home, long time ago, if they could-a found a cheaper machine (chorus)Don't you know I'd rather be wrong?Do you think that you are immune?Before long if you want to be strongYou better learn that union tune(I do it all for you)Someone ought to speak up, about the way they run this placeAnyone down in a coal mine, gonna come up with a dirty faceBut look here comes the foreman, saying I should give him a liftI can keep my big mouth shut, sure I'll take an extra shift (chorus) That's What Crazy People Do (5:15)I take a walk with out a coat when it's fifteen belowStand there on the street muttering to people I don't knowGive a greeting of “good morning” in the middle of the nightWishing on a star and then, there are no stars in sightBring out the salt and shovel when there's no trace of snowUnlock and lock the door again, twenty two times in a rowRush off to Saint Marks Place for another Catcher In The RyeLaugh out loud obscenely, perhaps I ought to crySay it hardly matters, oh no, when it comes to you, oh noAdmit that I'm in love, dear? Oh no, that's what crazy people do – You might find me wearing Ray-Bans, while reading in the darkCould even catch me fishing at the frozen fountain in the parkOr clipping words and pictures from a tattered magazineDriving through the red light or waiting on the greenSay it hardly matters, oh no, you know I'm green and blue, oh noAdmit that I'm in love, dear? Oh no, that's what crazy people doTwo can play this cold game for all eternityWin or lose, it's all the same eventually I am known to complain about all my non-existent illsSpend an evening at the fireplace, burning hundred dollar billsSleeping in the daytime and leaving on the light (of course)When everything seems perfect I know it can't be rightI'll deny a million times, dear, oh no, as if it weren't true, oh noAdmit that I'm in love, dear? Oh no, that's what crazy people doSay it hardly matters, oh no, when it comes to you, oh noAdmit that I’m in love dear, oh no, that’s what crazy people do That’s what crazy people do, that’s what crazy people doFirst Taste Is Free (4:39)There’s a face is peering from a doorway, many souls have passed through beforeSome were looking for answers, others searching for the cureUp, up, up to the top of the mountain, or you could take the path down belowWhat, what, what you find here in the moment, you never want to let it goNow I know how to chase the dragon, first taste is free (First taste is free)Now I know what she meant by “One day you’ll see.” (First taste is free)The holy man with his holy water, that joker hasn’t got a clueAny prayer to anyone who might be up there will not have the desired effect on youGo, go away, you’d be so much better off, but, I can’t take my own adviceNext stop: oblivion… you’re going back at any priceNow I know how to chase the dragon, first taste is free (First taste is free)Now I know what she meant by “One day you’ll see.” (First taste is free)I will be here forever, I will never leaveI will love you forever, this you must believeSlow down the wheels of time, before the days turn into yearsIt all began in the weakest of moments and it ends in a rain of tearsI tried to paint a vision of the infinite living in a grain of dustUntil your heart is so damn empty, there’s no one you can trust (CH repeat)Those Countless Tears (4:05)You were the inspiration for a verse I wrote with hope Despite the devastation, always thought that I could cope The days are gone, the weeks dragged on, and the months turned into years Your invoice was long since marked paid with all those countless tears Those countless tears, I loved you like a friend Those countless tears, they never seem to end Those countless tears, will never let me be, it’s a daily misery and you never seem to see Stunning and impressive, you had me at hello Passive and aggressive, you think by now I'd know The best-laid plans of fools like me are crushed like grinding gears The gift that keeps on giving, with all those countless tears Those countless tears, when I hear you speak Those countless tears, rolling down my cheek Those countless tears, I can’t call your bluff, I'm made of weaker stuff, now, isn't that enough? You sneak into my dreams each night, when I need you the mostThe morning rain it waits for me I’m reaching for a ghostI wish one day you'll wake up and admit where we went wrong I promise then I'll never write another lovesick song We’ll come up with a game plan for our few remaining years And leave it to some other souls to cry those countless tears Those countless tears, I love you like a friend Those countless tears, one day they have to end Those countless tears, in love there is no shame, Where there’s a burning flame, my number's still the same Donkey Dance (4:50) drums: Cornell Marshall, keys: Earl AppletonDoesn’t it make a pretty little picture?A bunch of perverts and her aloneNow all we need is a man with a camera...To call ‘em up later on the blackmail phone.Off on a side road, far from the main dragWe’d be closed in a minute if they only knewKeep your hands to yourself or we’ll cart you awayAnd you’ll never get to see what the world has come (down) to.Without American dollars, you might as well leaveUse that door that you came through, if you want romanceMaybe someone, somewhere’s got a hidden agendaBut, everybody’s here to see the donkey danceDance. Dance little donkeyI’ve been working this dump for a long timeEvery stinkin’ word that you heard is trueIf you can’t take the worm, don’t drink from the bottleSure, I could get a shot of crystal meth for you.You don’t need to look far, if you’re looking for troubleMake sure you always pack an extra Jack or an AceMaybe this girl doesn’t play with a full deckHave you ever seen such an innocent face? (1st chorus)The windows in this room have been painted blackIf the sun ever shines again, we’ll never knowOne day she’ll be found on the floor of the bathroomBut for now, have a seat, let’s get on with the showWith traveler’s checks and credit cards, you might as well leaveA guy like you doesn’t stand a chanceHappy hour in the hotel lounge might be kind of niceBut, everybody’s here to see the donkey dance. (1st Chorus repeat)Dance little donkey. Do you know how to samba?Dance little donkey. Do you know how to conga? DanceExcept For The TearsThe better angels of my nature must have flown the coopI can’t even act concerned, or jump through one more hoopI don’t think (much) about what made me think we could get alongTrue love… true love is beautiful,True love is so damn beautiful, but, I’ve been wrongSo watch and wait as the ending nearsHold your breath while the smoke screen clearsSwear and vow, wipe your brow, don’t forget to take a bowAnd it’s all over now, except for the tears… Yes, I hardly ever notice, now, that you are even gone And I never think about you, when the lights are onThe thin file of our good times should’ve been carbon datedYour opinion of your powers might be slightly overrated (Chorus)I hear that you’ve been busy with your numerous affairsAnd what have I been up to? Ask some one who really caresThere’s still a bit to figure out, but, I’m open to suggestionsThat “crazy b**ch theory” didn’t answer all my questionsYou left me with a stack of bills, but really that I didn’t mindBut, it’s hard to see what’s become of me… someone must be blindYour promise was worthless, that’s why it appearsBouncing around like a check that never clears You were right, go fly a kite, have a good life and good nightAnd it’s all over now, except for the tearsFrom your crumby little room, filled with souvenirsThe curse of knowledge never disappears… I’ll keep the seconds, you can have the yearsAnd it’s all over now, except for the tears And it’s all over now, except for the tearsAnd it’s all over now…You Know Where To Find Me (3:57)You know where to find meYou know where to find meYou know where to find me, girlI'll be with you when you want me toYou know where to find me Some people search for a guiding lightI’d like to make it through one more nightSome people don't know what they've really got... Until it slips away, until it slips awayYou know where to find meYou know where to find meYou know where to find me, girlI would trust in you if you could be trueYou know where to find me Everybody's got hopes and dreamsBut never the same ones it seemsLike we could ever get what we really wantBefore it slips away, before it slips awayIt wasn't so long ago I felt your touchBut now it seems as though I am asking too much... I will always want the best for youMay your happiness last a thousand yearsWhat need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it… calls for tears (Seneca)You know where to find meYou know where to find meYou know where to find me, girlI'll be right here when you reappearYou know where to find me