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Okay, Crawdad.

by Nick Shoulders

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    PRE-ORDER - ships in November

    Includes unlimited streaming of Okay, Crawdad. via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $25 USD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Okay, Crawdad. via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $22 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Cardboard sleeve case with artwork, photos and design by Nick Shoulders.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Okay, Crawdad. via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Cassette + Digital Album

    'Okay, Crawdad.' cassettes featuring expanded layout and artwork designed by Nick Shoulders. Professionally dubbed by National Audio Company

    Includes unlimited streaming of Okay, Crawdad. via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 USD  or more

     

1.
Rather Low 03:00
Rather Low

 My eyes adjust, my joints are rusty, sheets are awful cold and dusty, roll over folks it must have been another night on the bend. Kick rocks, slept in socks, BooLahLah and levee walks, this couch is my kingdom and I swear there’s bugs in my head. Sick sad and sentient, a penny saved a penny spent, asleep at the wheel sure beats being awake in my bed. Last call to feel small, I dread the sight of alcohol, I don’t know where this train stops but I want off. Been rather low, out here together. Reckon that we’ll keep trying if rock bottom it never shows You’re not alone, if there’s a storm to weather I aint welcome at home, I don’t know about you Double takes and double stops, I double dare ya call the cops, I’ll die where I stand if I hear wagon wheel again. 40 days of foggy nights, withered by the city lights, I don’t remember existential crisis being part of the deal. I told you once I told you twice, I’m steeped in verse and cursed in vice, I traded my 40 acres for a mountain of pain. Hotdamn Hamm’s can, blinded in the promised land, I don’t mind if I do declare: we’re as good as dead. Been rather low, out here together. Reckon that we’ll keep trying if rock bottom it never shows You’re not alone, if there’s a storm to weather I aint welcome at home, I don’t know about you
2.
Hank’s Checkout Line Some would try to claim that hard living aint hardly a life, some would fantasize and fetishize about curating ideal strife. But there’s a place out there, where all famished souls may go, and it glows with a light above and a fire below. So pull a chair up against the cold, your dreams like mine are bought and sold, there’s no expiration date on original sin. So keep on self improving, I swear to God that I’ll be fine. Judge me at the pearly gates, not in the Hank’s checkout line. To the masses, the bread and fish are multiplied, and forbidden fruit can be tasted at a discount price. You can’t juice cleanse your conscience, I can’t wipe the grease from my soul, so settle down, stay in town, I swear you never had control. So pull a chair up against the cold, your dreams like mine are bought and sold, there’s no expiration date on original sin. So keep on self improving, I swear to God that I’ll be fine. Judge me at the pearly gates, not in the Hank’s checkout line.
3.
Too Old to Dream Some days are long, some nights never end. I’ve mourned the fleeting second’s flight, I’ve prayed to the coming wind. And time like snow, it never stood around for me, I’ve loved every sky I’ve ever seen, and I know I’ll never grow to old to dream. So if you’re low, from the years that didn’t stay. If you trace the shadow’s passing if you fear each breaking day. If you worry about worry, worry never let you be, if devil calls I hope that you can see, somehow to never grow too old to dream. If you’ve grown cold, sitting in the headlight’s glare. If you long to see the stars again, kicking in the hunter’s snare. Beloved be not loving, love it never set you free, and don’t forget that the lost shall be redeemed somehow, and never grow too old to dream.
4.
Miss'ippi 03:23
Miss’ippi Under every yellow moon, by your side I sweat and swoon, every evening closes slow, we guide our way by city’s glow, if you’re lost and low as I, be the road I walk at night, I hope you’re resting where the willows all grow. Where you’ve been, I’ll never pry. Fallow land and bigger skies, all I ask of you tonight; is guide each wandering light. I will not die in Louisianne, I’ll gaze upon you while I can, roll along big water, roll low. You’re high above me while I sleep, I sing my secrets to your deep, an endless front porch lying naked before doom. Every lower I spend my days, for your mercy the crescent prays, don’t forget all of the ones you laid low. Where you’ve been, I’ll never pry. Fallow land and bigger skies, all I ask of you tonight; is guide each wandering light. Be it Natchez or Creole Queen, on your banks we softly sing, roll along big water, roll low.
5.
Honey Let’s Stay In The night is burning low, and my blood is pumping slow, where do we begin, honey let’s stay in. Its been too long I know, since we danced till the rooster crows, take one on the chin, honey let’s stay in. I’d never dream of stopping you from walking out that door, if TV’s what a’grabbin you we can stay in and watch 10 more. I’ll catch tomorrow’s show, I’m the lazy one I know they tell me sloth is a sin, so honey let’s stay in. Our friends will surely scold, how’d your bare feet get so cold will they comprehend; honey let’s stay in. So put your little hand in mine, we’ll stroll ‘neath the evening skies, New Orleans stars are dim, so honey let’s stay in. I’d never dream of stopping you from walking out that door, if TV’s what a’grabbin you we can stay in and watch 10 more. Another night spent out of bed, makes me that I’m already dead, my pants are off again, honey let’s stay in. Though the bright lights often call us, what’s one night off the floor, guaranteed tomorrow you can stay and dance 10 more Though its getting good and late, all the other folks can wait they’d like to give you a spin, but honey let’s stay in.
6.
G For Jesus 03:07
G for Jesus On a lowly night like any other in a place I’m known to go, to croon a song to a patient throng of folks that you might know. I sang the songs of hard times, hard feelings and hardened hearts, but nothing seemed to grab them until a patron he remarked: won’t you play it in: G for Jesus, and let your holy spirit show. Keep your pains and your midnight trains and onto higher ground you’ll go, don’t sing the songs about whiskey and I’m so lonesome that mama tried, play it in G for Jesus and you might leave this bar alive. So I swallowed hard and scanned the bar for an exit that I might tread, it occurred that I might could see the light if it meant I could earn my bread. So strummed this chord to the waiting lord, and fixed him in my gaze, and no minor key escaped me as Gabrielle’s trumpet played: and I played it in: G for Jesus, I let my holy spirit show. I kept my pains and my midnight trains and onto higher ground I’ll go. I won’t sing the songs about whiskey and I’m so lonesome that mama tried, I’ll play it in G for Jesus, though you don’t leave this world alive, no you won’t leave this world alive, none of us leave this world alive.
7.
Ding Dong Daddy I’m a ding dong daddy from Dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff. I’m a wild papa from polecat holler, I don’t wanna get rough. You ought to see just what we got, we got decent rhythm and we swing it hot, I’m a ding dong daddy from dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff. I’m a ding dong daddy from dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff, I’m a wild papa from polecat holler, I don’t wanna get rough. An old state trooper tried to put me on the run so I had to burn him down with my thompson gun, I’m a ding dong daddy from dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff. I’m a ding dong daddy baby and liquor is my racket, lots of times when things are dull I deal in other traffic, I can get you morphine, coke or snow, take a little rip and you’re ready to go, I’m a ding dong daddy from dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff. I’m a ding dong daddy baby from dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff, I’m a ding dong daddy from dumas, I don’t wanna get rough. I’m a ding dong daddy from dumas baby and you oughta see me do my stuff.
8.
Ira 02:32
Ira You might love too hard, chase embers ‘neath the stars, when thunder comes you can always lean on me. Don’t bite the hand that feeds, I won’t damn you for your deeds, you can stay all night if you just don’t lick my knees. Chase every glint upon the wall, we love to see you when we call, guilty eyes shine through precious dark, hail chaos queen, wounded but never mean, kindness hiding behind every bark.
9.
Hardly Feelings If a note I sing falls upon you I hope its softly, if your tender things flew on leather wings I was there, if the lightning’s glow on the north shore grows dimmer on some hours, I’m the echo that you’ll only hear over street light’s glow. I hear your bare feet on the tile, I swear I’ll meet your eyes in a little while, things I wove out of bending grass I’ve let them drift at last, and if you’re spitting mulberry seeds I’ll be chasing lizards through the tumble weeds, I’ll hold on to what I can but I won’t hold you. If a soul out there waits upon you I know its not me, I am not your keeper I did not seek to keep you so long, and like those before I walked on the floor in your shadow, there were wolves at the door while we drank in the pale gold light. I hear your bare feet on the tile, I swear I’ll meet your eyes in a little while, things I wove out of bending grass I’ve let them drift at last, and if you’re spitting mulberry seeds I’ll be chasing lizards through the tumble weeds, I’ll hold on to what I can but I won’t hold you.
10.
Bound and Determined I am so weary, I’m as glum as I can be. All y’all have lost it, I meet your madness with pity, I don’t blame you for being scared, but its the wrong direction that your teeth are bared. We’re fully busted, we know the ship has run aground, the things your trusted, they burned the farm and moved to town and though I might eat all of my steaks rare, I never sold my soul to a billionaire. I keep the door, open for you. Bound and determined, you can’t lie to me. Bound and determined, to ruin everything. You say you’re country, you lay a claim unto the soil, if you were country, you’d save your land from being spoiled, do you drink water, do you breathe air? I think if you were really country you would fucking care. I’d be just like you, if I were fed the things you’re fed, I’m just as frightened, we’re off the rails we’re in the red, you’ve got opinions but your proof it lacks, and only one of us is dealing in alternative facts I keep the door, open for you. Bound and determined, you can’t lie to me. Bound and determined, to ruin everything. Do you love freedom? Or security in dreams, is life worth living if there’s lead in the last stream? To a glutton what’s allegiance worth, if the meek like me are to inherit the earth? Its not oppression, to ask for basic decency, you’ll learn your lesson, while we’re repeating history, and if this song get’s me shot, at least my voice it wasn’t silent you’ll forget me not. I keep the door, open for you. Bound and determined, you can’t lie to me. Bound and determined, to ruin everything.
11.
12.
The World Needs Sissies Too I hope you choke upon that red pill, I hope you go on and wait your turn. I hope you go on singing dixie dear while the oceans boil and churn. Don’t make us pay for all the lies your fathers told to you, I never claimed to be a hard man and the world needs sissies too. We’ve been lying to our lovers like we’re lying to ourselves, bottling our misgivings like they’re jars upon the shelf, normalizing decency is all I ask of you, keep swinging at the windmills ‘cause the world needs sissies too. Stop screaming at the mirror, stop beating yourself blue, when you’re catcalled by the reaper will your conscience bother you? My rage will not be impotent if its the least that I can do, oh mama didn’t raise no monster and the world needs sissies too.

about

Once again, recorded mostly live to tape and firmly below sea level: this is the first full length effort by wandering whistler and warbler Nick Shoulders and the gang, featuring 10 original songs of sorrow and solace from the American Southland, a yelp against the mire of a withering world.

credits

released December 19, 2019

Recorded and mixed by Ross Farbe in May 2019, mastered by Timothy Stollenwerk at Stereophonic Recording, album art and all songs written by Nick Shoulders (except: Ding Dong Daddy (public domain) and Surf De Mardi Gras (traditional fiddle tune arranged for guitar by Cass).
The Band: Grant D'Aubin - bass/harmonies/mandolin. Chelsea Moosekian - drums. Cass P. Ian - lead guitar. Nick Shoulders - singing, strumming and whistling.

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Nick Shoulders Fayetteville, Arkansas

Here to put the "Try" in country. Wielding a high yodel and whistle crafted from a lifetime chasing lizards through the Ozark hills, Nick combines his family's deep ties to southern traditional music with years singing to empty street corners to create this hybridized form of raucous country music: born of some dark holler and bred to be stomped into the New Orleans dancefloors it now calls home. ... more

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