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Almost There

by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

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1.
On the 1st of January, crawling out of bed Like a half-inch staple is sticking in my head I don’t see my dog curled up on the floor Stumble on his belly and slam into the door On the 2nd of January, got to get to work Finish up a project for a freakin’ jerk Yeah, he knows it’s my vacation, but after all Gotta have it by tomorrow or the sky will fall Hey now, won’t you meet me by the river Hey now, won’t you throw me right in Hey now, won’t you please deliver Got a sinking feeling but I got to swim On the 3rd of January I lock myself out I’m banging on the window with a desperate shout But the only one listening inside my place He wags his tail when he sees my face On the 4th of January my baby is trying To explain about a fellow she met online Such a perfect stranger, no history Not a heap of baggage like she got with me Chorus On the 5th of January I’ve got to ask why Staring in the mirror I find this guy Needs a freakin’ coffee and a freakin’ shave Got one foot down in the freakin’ grave On the 6th of January I hear a little tone From a new text message arriving on my phone On the airport taxi all my baby has to say Are these six characters: C U L 8 R J On the 7th of January a storm blows in Finally shovel out the driveway, the plow comes again Leaves an icy bank about six feet high I throw my shovel and begin to cry On the 8th of January I come across this song So freakin’ cheerful can’t help but sing along Such a perky melody and chipper little chords I sing it and I sing it like I'm out of my gourd Chorus
2.
There’s a black wing circling a brown dirt hill And the crunch of gravel in the noonday still With the bottle empty and the hour so long Taking the wrong way home The fog has lifted and the signs are clear We’re halfway going from there to here There’s no mistaking which road we’re on Taking the wrong way home Taking the wrong way home Where the sea runs dry under blackened sky I hang my soul to the wind When the edges fray, I blow away Ah… There’s a time for running and a time for rest There’s a deeper valley when you reach the crest And you can see nothing but to get along Taking the wrong way home Taking the wrong way home Where the sea runs dry under blackened sky I’m bound against my will Try to save a life with a rusted knife Ah…
3.
Closer 03:49
On a slow train to the edge of the city In the lurching of an empty car Your jaded eyes, a thin disguise You’ve never gone this far You hear the punch punch of the hole in your ticket And the old man sings a station song And when you dare descend the stair Your shadow will grow long This is your time, this is no test You’ve got no crime to be confessed There’s only love for evermore Will take you back to the core When you stand alone in the crush of the city When your heartbeat is a distant drum You never know that you must go Until the time has come In the cold light of insinuation You’re a cartoon of what they say You take your stand when you demand Just who the hell are they Chorus The drum drum is taking you back...
4.
Don’t think that I can say goodbye So I’ll just go Can’t figure how to quite forget So much that I know Some silver lining Is out in this storm, I’m sure But all I see are clouds So I’ll just go We reach for the reasons And find only traces and shards Trifles or treasons We can’t tell just what they are As the days blow by Let the pieces fall And crumble to dust under our feet We reach for forever But nobody shows us the way We think that we’re clever Believe all the things that we say But the painted lines Are in shades of gray Dissolving away into the night Don’t think that I can say goodbye So I’ll just go Can’t figure how to quite forget So much that I know Some shiny morning Out on a distant shore Nothing to say There will be nothing to say at all
5.
Almost There 04:29
I am almost certain that I’m almost there Almost across the line I am almost wishing that I cut my hair Guess I’m looking almost fine Check it If this is almost heaven, then I’m almost dead Off to a better place I could be almost famous for the life I led Or vanish without a trace Check it Ooh yeah Anytime you call me you will find me standing by Any situation I will almost be your guy Check it Almost told you how I almost feel Almost every night Sang my confession on a reel-to-reel Almost got it right Check it Ooh yeah Anytime you call me you will find me standing by Any situation I will almost be your guy The time is coming when I’ll cross that line With the banners waving, the sun will shine As I raise the cup, celebrating the day Balloons are rising in the azure sky In the blur of faces I catch your eye and then All the other voices fade away Away Anytime you call me you will find me standing by Any situation I will almost be your guy Any way you want me I will try to satisfy Anything you ask me You know this is my reply Ooh yeah
6.
Well, enough about you Yeah, enough about you And all the stuff you do Enough of that too On this at least We can all agree: What about me How cool that you came on by So awesome you searched my name Don’t bother to tell me why It’s all the same (Yada yada, ooh yada yada) (Yada yada, ooh yada yada) Catch up on my latest news Thumbs up and a wink wink wink You’re loving my brand new show Tell everyone what you think (Like-a like-a, ooh like-a like-a) (Like-a like-a, ooh like-a like-a) Yeah, enough about you Enough about you And all the stuff you say Can’t hear it anyway So sorry for your troubles Whatever they may be But what about me Yes, I will be your friend If you will be my fan And in the final count I will be a bigger man They’re buzzing like a hive of bees All about my new brand (Like-a like-a, ooh like-a like-a) (Like-a like-a, ooh like-a like-a) Enough about you Yeah, enough about you And all the stuff you do Enough of that too On this at least We can all agree: But what about me What about me (me me) What about, what about me (me me) What about, what about me (me me) Me me (papa's got a new brand)... All about, all about me
7.
I know I’ve got it here somewhere I might have left it on the table I’m fishing into every pocket But just as soon as I am able I’m gonna blow down the road I had it on the city street back when All my time was all there was to spend Weaving through the crowd And I knew I’d find my place A book of dreams, a touch of grace I was on my way I know I’ve got it here somewhere It might be spinning in the dryer But if I dropped it on the trail Might be sinking in the mire Still I’ve got to blow down the road I rifle through the memories again Swear I had it when she held my hand Looking up ahead Moving on to who knows where Without a doubt, a double dare We were on our way Groove along my thumb Only for only one Swing on a shiny chain Open the way again I know I’ve got it here somewhere I might have left it on the table I’m fishing into every pocket But just as soon as I am able I’m gonna blow, blow I will blow down the road I know I’ve got it… It might be sinking… It might be spinning… I know I, I know I I know I’ve got it here
8.
My Bad 03:16
Yeah, it’s me, I did it, I am the one Left my fingerprints on the smoking gun Used a candlestick in the billiard room When I see my chance I will resume To the rhythm of your tell-tale heart Tell me how it went so I can play the part I’ll be the kind of man that you never had My bad... Mama, mama Yeah it’s me, I did it, all my fault I filled the sugar bowl with a mound of salt When the seat’s left up and your fortune’s down You know for sure I’ve been around I put the wrinkles in your tailored plans My every wish is your command In every compromise that you ever had My bad... Mama, mama Try to catch me I am gone Never catch me I I got the superpowers that can’t be matched When I’m not even there, I leave the door unlatched Tear the pages from your book of dreams You know reality is never how it seems My sneaky moves are unsurpassed You will never see ’cause I move so fast I’m the shadow of the doubts you always had My bad... Mama, mama
9.
Somehow 04:02
I want your hair on my shoulder I want to breathe you now Feeling our hands getting bolder Somehow somehow I want to fall like a feather Onto the silver ground I want to rest there together Somehow somehow Eyes at the window I’m caught in the frame Watching and waiting For a flicker of change I want a place at the table Feeling so hungry now And I want to serve while I’m able Somehow somehow I want a song for the aching I want to sing it loud Over the cracks in the breaking Somehow somehow Fog in the window I’m writing your name Brush of the fingers Wipes it away Glow of a headlight Halo of gray Sometimes a song Is all I can say
10.
Turn Away 03:39
Turn away You know this scene by heart Every frame and phrase Is still the same And nothing ever goes Better than before Turn away No secret’s hiding there Inside the rusted past If you remain How will you ever know Better than before Turn away Tomorrow calls without explaining Up ahead you’ll see Take a chance Your memories will not sustain you Turn away with me Turn away Those cutting words were said And we all have our scars Let ’em fade And maybe we will grow Better than before Chorus If I sing this song for you Will you sing with me? Turn away Tomorrow calls without explaining Up ahead you’ll see Take a chance Your certainties will not sustain you Turn away with me
11.
Proof 03:27
I’ve been so certain I know what I’ve known I’ve felt the barb on the wire Soft expectation torn down to the bone I’ve been so sure of a lie You’re proving me wrong Proving me wrong On a day by day On a day by day I've been so certain I know what I’ve known (never know) I’ve seen the cracks in a smile (piecing together in time) A shattering window, a fist on a stone (slowly releasing it all) Sure of the weight of denial (lighter and floating) You’re proving me wrong Proving me wrong On a day by day I’ve been a framer and I have been framed A prisoner in my own backyard Slowly forgiving the blade and the blame I am releasing the guard You’re proving me wrong On a day by day
12.
At the end of a dirt road At the end of the line Where all of the stars still shine Gone are the roaring motors The blinding speed My two legs are all I need Gone is the tick-tock torture My wrist is free To feel the pulsing of the day Hey No gaze in the mirror And no blade upon my skin No web of illusion to spin Clear as the snowmelt In an icy stream Hard as the rock beneath my feet Ambling close and closer To sanity And all I really have to say Is hey

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2015 Sammy Award winner for Best Americana. Featuring "Eight Days in January," with Rani Arbo on fiddle and harmony vocals.

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released October 14, 2014

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Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers Syracuse, New York

John Lennon Songwriting Contest grand prize winner and founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine.

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