Get all 12 Ben Roque releases available on Bandcamp and save 45%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Mad Andalusia, Charmed I'm Sure, Hatchetfish, The Old Hush, Money in the Doll, Off Your Tiltawhirl, Amuser, Jackals, and 4 more.
1. |
Charmed I'm Sure
03:03
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She's a roulette wheel
in Amarillo, an Apache motel
in wise blood
homemade pen, red ink
her gun went click
through a tuxedo
blue rose, a gold moon
around her neck
leave that wreck
on the beltway by an old mattress
wine stained
charm that wheel, cue that crow
hammer that bell
another K.O.
any money, LaMotta went four
charmed I'm sure
slept in a bottle of rain
and Blackwell irons
next subject
the motto's moot, Bishop's dead
in Redwing boots
just an accident
the station clock, a quarter past four
charmed I'm sure
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2. |
No More Red Than A Rose
02:44
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That old tiger blood jumped on the dust
that phony buck will get you far enough
that crooked mile between you and her
bent El Paso out of shape, a bottle and a blur
my hands will be no more, no more red than a rose
Madam found a fortune there in your palm
she'll play percussion with a cherry bomb
hijack a Buick for New Mexico
that old diamond dancing on the barrel of a gun
while the devil sang along
my hands will be no more, no more red than a rose
my hands will be no more, no more red than a rose
a melody out of her clothes
I got no diamond up my sleeve, but I'm leaving like a thief
that yellow woodbird gonna pay to drag the lake
my hands will be no more, no more red than a rose
Vanish for Good pinned a note to my shirt
sunrise will put you in a hearse
one eye on Reno and one eye asleep
roulette spun you out of town, red and black around
a clock is all they found
my hands will be no more, no more red than a rose
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3. |
Spilled Perfume
02:23
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I got no small talk left for you
a wishbone broken in two
it's nothing but spilled perfume
that sleeping wino on the midnight train
his tattoo once said her name
it's nothing but spilled perfume
an old paperback
in pages that once pressed a rose
moonlight turned black
a scarecrow is dressed in your clothes
an old blind Joe taps on the road
oh I think that siren went that way
forgive me I didn't catch your name
it's nothing but spilled perfume
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4. |
Hatchetfish
03:23
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I live alone above a jewelry store
I take a marrowbone banister home
beyond the epilogue is Tijuana
I raise my hatchetfish in bottles of gin
no Cadillac has ever come back
without a pocketful of oblivion
my baby always kissed the mirror goodbye
well keep an eye on Firefly on bible night
obituary's got me all wrong
I burn a halo like a neon sign
you'd never know without a certain light
what's supernatural about a burning motel?
the butcher only had a jawbone to sell
I seen a gypsy with a copperhead whip
she said a snake got diamonds to spit
this time of year the dogs go mad here
with out of state plates I'll disappear
my baby always kissed the mirror goodbye
well keep an eye on Firefly on bible night
obituary's got me all wrong
I burn a halo like a neon sign
you'd never know without a certain light
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5. |
Spanish Burgundy
03:56
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Well he wore a dead man's hat
she was a poet with a broken laugh
he never knew a natural blonde
until the light on Bishop Street came on
he made a ring from a cracked eight ball
she just waited for the ax to fall
and waited there all night
say goodbye for me Spanish burgundy
well I've seen her face of pearl
by the light of the burning world
broken down in diamond rain
while the radio still plays on
a weathervane at midnight turns
she met a blind man with a silver urn
he said "Please describe the moon for me"
just trick a melody Spanish burgundy
well I'm a stranger every time
had to bury my boots beneath the pines
Sierra says you might as well
just ask the dust and shotgun shells
but if you pay for all this twice
you'll be shaking hands after midnight
a reflection in the knife
say goodbye for me Spanish burgundy
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6. |
Bishop's Night Cap
01:36
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(Instrumental)
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7. |
Mad Andalusia
02:48
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She's the world but I keep on moving
she's amnesia with a revolver
now the moon throws dice on Andalusia
mad Andalusia
nail me a map to the door
leave my hat in Baltimore
ride through a needle
her dart hit the board
and I keep on moving
she put hell in the corner pocket
she's stolen air in ice blue mascara
lay your Sunday best out on a ruin
mad Andalusia
it's a bad accent on a preacher
and high heels she left by the stairs
Saginaw smoke and a bottle of prayers
and I keep on moving
mad Andalusia
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8. |
Both Glasses
02:58
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A quarter past the wicked laugh
there's only thunder in the almanac
we're daring gin and laying down all kings
I made a toast and both glasses broke
we're daring gin and laying down all kings
I gave a toast that scattered the crows
scattered the crows yeah
when both glasses broke
a pair of wings special for you
some madonna told the avenue
she'll break a watch for an hour with you
I'll keep a torch and asbestos suit
a yellow note nailed to the door
said I won't come back no more
they found him mummified in the Mojave
I made a toast and both glasses broke
we're daring gin and laying down all kings
I gave a toast that scattered the crows
scattered the crows yeah
when both glasses broke
laid away in the blazing moon
I bet he wasn't there for the view
Ann Bonny let the room be consumed
I made a toast and both glasses broke
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9. |
A Lullaby Away
02:33
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Riddle me this luck in Baltimore
she'll settle him for a dollar more
and suicide doors on a coffin Ford
heaven will be a lullaby away
delirious like a moth in a bell
Scarlett called the old motel
mercy's a boxing glove filled up with nails
how long have I been away?
ring around the bottle, riddle in the world
said she never dig enough to bury it
I'm in the lotto for a Cincinnati pearl
shaking down the devil just to go home
shaking down the devil just to go
nobody moved when the bulb burned out
I seen the halo that she handed out
jackal and buzzard came and circled around
heaven will be a lullaby away
there's nothing like a shadow to howl like a rose
said I'm in the mirror with the smear and smoke
she got the devil in her pocket in the cold
said beyond the winter lies a blank page
said beyond the winter lies a blank
delirious like a moth in a bell
Scarlett called the old motel
mercy's a boxing glove filled up with nails
how long have I been away?
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10. |
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Ashtray moon, boxcar roof
between trains since '82
wrong bottle in Baton Rouge
lost my days on dice I threw
she's murder in a black jacket
from this angle nothing happened
up close it's all stage makeup
just a silk scarf the blood was made of
Savannah, matching scars
left on Atlas, shoes on a wire
a keyhole knows her face of pearl
striptease show, what's left of the world
pull that rug out, midnight owl
sound of snapped piano wire
the Georgia moon's all she's scared of
Cabernet's all the blood was made of
cut the cards, pickpocket
cross out lines on a bucket list
shout timber, chop that guitar
the train never came
she took the news hard
and took it too far
she's murder in a black jacket
from this angle nothing happened
up close it's all stage makeup
just a silk scarf the blood was made of
what the blood was made of
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Ben Roque Burlington, Vermont
Noir/Lo-fi influenced musician, author (The Midnight Cabaret, Calliope Steam, Living Paint), and collage artist.
Booking/All inquiries: ben.belldrive@gmail.com
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