SIDE ONE INTRO TO ROMANTICO!
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS PRESENTED TO TOMMY FOR SIDE ONE
2. PISSING POISON
3. DOUBT #7 PART I
4. DOUBT # 2 PART II
5. BLOOD
6. I CAN’T SWIM
7. THE DENOUNCEMENT
8. GROW HOLE
SIDE TWO OUTRO TO ROMANTICO
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS PRESENTED TO TOMMY FOR SIDE TWO
2. INTERGALACTIC SPACE TRAVEL TAKE -2
3. IT WAS THE GOOD TIMES
4. INTENTION IN TENSION #3 (15 years musically)
5. REASON #2
6. IT’S NOT SO HARD
7. KILLER BEAR
8. THE KINDNESS #37
x
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS PRESENTED TO TOMMY FOR SIDE ONE
2. PISSING POISON
3. DOUBT #7 PART I
4. DOUBT # 2 PART II
5. BLOOD
6. I CAN’T SWIM
7. THE DENOUNCEMENT
8. GROW HOLE
SIDE TWO OUTRO TO ROMANTICO
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS PRESENTED TO TOMMY FOR SIDE TWO
2. INTERGALACTIC SPACE TRAVEL TAKE -2
3. IT WAS THE GOOD TIMES
4. INTENTION IN TENSION #3 (15 years musically)
5. REASON #2
6. IT’S NOT SO HARD
7. KILLER BEAR
8. THE KINDNESS #37
x
1. SIDE ONE INTRO TO ROMANTICO!: While recording ROMANTICO! Gub and Jughead
spontaneously began to use the song titles as a product. During one of the later sessions
the two of them recorded these spontaneous recreations of the initial joke.
These exchanges are not actually in the order of the record, because the band didn’t think
about that till it was too late. HA!
spontaneously began to use the song titles as a product. During one of the later sessions
the two of them recorded these spontaneous recreations of the initial joke.
These exchanges are not actually in the order of the record, because the band didn’t think
about that till it was too late. HA!
The following is an assignment Gub and Jughead conceived where they described to our
artist, Tommy, an image that, to them, best represented the songs they had written.
Tommy based the front and back cover of the record on these descriptions, without having
heard the songs.
artist, Tommy, an image that, to them, best represented the songs they had written.
Tommy based the front and back cover of the record on these descriptions, without having
heard the songs.
2. PISSING POISON - A Wizard pissing poison, or something flaming, or also into a jar
marked with a skull and crossbones.
marked with a skull and crossbones.
3. DOUBT: Figure standing on the top of a wobbly tall tall ladder reaching over one side
holding up 4 other people.
holding up 4 other people.
4. DOUBT 2: Four people huddled together on a bridge holding onto a falling fifth person.
5. BLOOD - A mechanical heart with pieces missing.
6. I CAN’T SWIM- half man half woman on a diving board ready to jump into a giant
paper shredder.
paper shredder.
7. THE DENOUNCEMENT: a couple yelling at each other so loud their mouths are
torn open.
torn open.
8. GROWL HOLE - a sunflower with fists as it’s leaves in a flower pot made of metal.
In Bergamo, Italy.
2. PISSING POISON
by Jughead
by Jughead
I’m pissing Poison Ima long way from home
You take a break and I see that I’m weak.
I can use this to change.
Or I can bring you down to me.
(After my big 50th birthday party in Chicago, an incredible weekend that I don’t think
anybody who attended will soon forget, [This is where EIB reunited after 8 years.]
I returned to my job in Osaka, Japan, as a Wizard in the Harry Potter World.
Something changed in me. I started feeling older and my body was showing signs of
wear and tear. I just wanted to go home and be with my friends, loved ones, and my
bandmates. The band had put aside too much time, and I believe we all began to feel
that our separation was not quite the right thing to do. But life and responsibilities took
ahold of of us. That was the inspiration for the title. The words themselves are about a
more general topic of resisting change and choosing to hurt others instead of improving
oneself.)
anybody who attended will soon forget, [This is where EIB reunited after 8 years.]
I returned to my job in Osaka, Japan, as a Wizard in the Harry Potter World.
Something changed in me. I started feeling older and my body was showing signs of
wear and tear. I just wanted to go home and be with my friends, loved ones, and my
bandmates. The band had put aside too much time, and I believe we all began to feel
that our separation was not quite the right thing to do. But life and responsibilities took
ahold of of us. That was the inspiration for the title. The words themselves are about a
more general topic of resisting change and choosing to hurt others instead of improving
oneself.)
3. DOUBT #7 PART I
by Jughead
We write our songs to understand how we feel,
Putting words into each others mouths that get into our heads
I am lonely when you leave me, but I’m alive when you are near.
I’m so alive when you are near.
We keep it together, beat nostalgia into a bloody pulp.
my integrity is tall, without a pedestal your still above us all.
I am lonely when you leave me, My sister my brother, my friends.
My sons and daughters, my muse.
My burly bearded man, hand in hand, with my bedazzled princess in a tiara.
Fuck this doubt that sends me spinning far away… from you. Fuck this doubt
that sends me spinning far away… from you. Spinning far far away from you.
Far away away away away away from you.
that sends me spinning far away… from you. Spinning far far away from you.
Far away away away away away from you.
(Doubt started out as an exploration of my 17 year working relationship with Liz.
It soon branched out to encompass Gub, and then my thoughts continued on to all the
shit each band member had been dealing with over the years, with family, tragedy, jobs,
location changes, and just trying to get by one day at a time.)
It soon branched out to encompass Gub, and then my thoughts continued on to all the
shit each band member had been dealing with over the years, with family, tragedy, jobs,
location changes, and just trying to get by one day at a time.)
4. DOUBT # 2 PART II
Words: Jughead - Original Music: Gub
I’m like a sibling who is angry at the world because he is more like his parents
than he is willing to admit So I hold my hand out, grab you all, wrap you in a fishing
net, and feed us to the endless engulfing creatures at the edge of the sea.
We cry and smile, laugh as we are chewed up by the tragedies that come from
just being human.
than he is willing to admit So I hold my hand out, grab you all, wrap you in a fishing
net, and feed us to the endless engulfing creatures at the edge of the sea.
We cry and smile, laugh as we are chewed up by the tragedies that come from
just being human.
I am lonely when you leave me, but I’m alive when you are near.
I’m so alive when you are near.
The sadness I feel when away from you only turns to fear when the time before
i knew you somehow becomes the time when we forget who we are. Is it punk to
say I love you? Is it wrong to not want to hate? Do we lose our edge when we hold
our hands together? Do we lose our edge when our hands our held?
i knew you somehow becomes the time when we forget who we are. Is it punk to
say I love you? Is it wrong to not want to hate? Do we lose our edge when we hold
our hands together? Do we lose our edge when our hands our held?
Fuck this doubt that sends me spinning far away… from you. Fuck this doubt that
sends me spinning far away… from you. Spinning far far away from you.
Far away away away away away from you.
sends me spinning far away… from you. Spinning far far away from you.
Far away away away away away from you.
(John: I wrote the lyrics to both Doubts as one “song.” But I ran out of music and didn’t
want to repeat any part of the song again. I sent the rest of the lyrics to Gub and asked
him to write music for a Part II.)
(Gub: I was excited for John and I to make a song from scratch together. The best part was that it was done 5000+ miles away from each other and it is one of my favorite songs.)
want to repeat any part of the song again. I sent the rest of the lyrics to Gub and asked
him to write music for a Part II.)
(Gub: I was excited for John and I to make a song from scratch together. The best part was that it was done 5000+ miles away from each other and it is one of my favorite songs.)
5. BLOOD
by Jughead
(Fit something about breathe in here.)
What is bloody red and jealous
hiding in a chest of malice
Beating out it’s last chance, my heart my heart.
my heart my heart my heart.
I could take it all for granted
get a mechanical organ implanted.
keep silent that murmur in my heart my heart.
my heart my heart my heart.
Solo?
Your words stabbed at me until I was impaled
Your kisses were like a mouth to mouth that never failed
But now you’ve hit the road and beaten my heart.
my heart my heart my heart.
my heart my heart my heart.
Can’t you see that I'm bleeding, I’m weeping, I’m failing at life’s test
I’m pounding at the pavement, I’m beating on my chest.
But this rhythm only rhymes of shallow thoughts at best.
My heart has gone numb
no pulse rate
My heart has gone numb
No pulse rate
My heart has gone numb
No pulse rate
My heart has gone numb
(I think these are my best lyrics. Not the most meaningful, but definitely the way
they flow and the continuing of a metaphor is the best I have done. My heart while
writing this song was literally hurting. I didn’t know if I was having a panic attack or a
heart attack or both or neither. I still don’t know. And I do have a heart murmur.
I was born with it.)
they flow and the continuing of a metaphor is the best I have done. My heart while
writing this song was literally hurting. I didn’t know if I was having a panic attack or a
heart attack or both or neither. I still don’t know. And I do have a heart murmur.
I was born with it.)
6. I CAN’T SWIM
by Gub
YOU MIGHT GET UPSET THAT I AM SAYING THIS
BUT YOU CAN NEVER HELP ME AND I CAN NEVER HEAR IT
WE GET TRAPPED IN THINGS THAT WE CAN NEVER SEE
BUT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME
I AM WAITING FOR YOU I AM WAITING FOR YOU
I AM WAITING FOR YOU TO SEE ME
I GET UPSET WHEN YOU TRY TO MAKE ME SELL IT.
BECAUSE I COME FROM A DIFFERENT PLANET
I WALK DIFFERENTLY
NOTHING MORE THAN FREE
NOTHING MORE THAN FREE
YOU NEVER WANTED ME
YOU NEVER WANTED ME
I NEVER WANTED YOU TO
I CAN'T ACCEPT
NO SYMPATHY, NO EMPATHY, NO SYMPATHY
I CAN'T ACCEPT
INVISIBILITY
THIS FEELING OF ENDLESS MISERY
I SWEAR I CAN'T
I CAN'T SWIM
(This song was written in a bathroom on top of a bathtub while really being intoxicated. Thinking about how hard the pressures of life can be. Conclusion is you better learn how to swim.)
(This song was written in a bathroom on top of a bathtub while really being intoxicated. Thinking about how hard the pressures of life can be. Conclusion is you better learn how to swim.)
7. THE DENOUNCEMENT
by Jughead
I’m Not For It
I’m Against It
Up against the wall
Wall
Wall
Up Against the wall.
I can’t fight what’s in my head
I can’t take back wants’ already been said
And I know you’ll think I’ve planned this all along
But I’m not that smart I’m dumb
I’m a dumby dumby dumby dumb.
I’m Not for it
i’m against it
(repeat)
(up against the) Wall
(up against the) Wall
Up against the Wall.
(Occasionally I try to write a pop punk song. I usually fail. It is just not my
talent as a songwriter. And I feel if I can’t write one as good as Ben Weasel or
Dan Vapid, then it is best to put my talents elsewhere. But I tried once again with this.
I attempted to tackle it more from an older school punk rather than a Weasel/Vapid
approach. (ala DOA/Stiff Little Fingers) So it doesn’t make me cringe as much.)
talent as a songwriter. And I feel if I can’t write one as good as Ben Weasel or
Dan Vapid, then it is best to put my talents elsewhere. But I tried once again with this.
I attempted to tackle it more from an older school punk rather than a Weasel/Vapid
approach. (ala DOA/Stiff Little Fingers) So it doesn’t make me cringe as much.)
8. GROW HOLE
by Gub
WRAPPED UP IN ROMANCE
LIVE LIKE THERES NO PAIN
GIVE ME ONE MORE REASON
TO PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE
DO YOU WANT TO LOVE MY GROW HOLE
WHEN DO YOU WANT TO FEEL LIKE A MEMORY
SO I CAN SLOWLY WIPE ME FROM YOUR FUCKING DREAMS
DO YOU WANT TO LOVE MY GROW HOLE
WE LIKE THE WILD RIDE WHEN WE CLIMB BACK OUT OF
THE DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT OF LIFE WITH THE LIVING
WE ALL REALLY WANT TO DANCE TANGOED UP TWISTED
ENLISTED YOU INSISTED I WILL SURVIVE
PUT OURSELVES ON A SHELVE QUIETLY STEP AWAY FOR REALITY THE
FATALITIES AND ALL THE THINGS TO STAY AWAY FROM WITHIN
THE DARKNESS…….
FATALITIES AND ALL THE THINGS TO STAY AWAY FROM WITHIN
THE DARKNESS…….
(I wanted to write a song where Liz would sing out of her element. The feeling of some early Detroit garage with a twist of strangeness. All in the arms of empowerment….)
1. SIDE TWO OUTRO TO ROMANTICO!: While Gub was living in Louisville with his family
before John began working as a Wizard in Osaka, the two of them decided to write a few
songs to get the band back together after 8 years, just for a short time, before Jughead
had to leave. The experience went so well that Gub and Jughead continued writing and
sharing songs while they were separated. The pain of being apart over many years is
apparent in the writing of these songs.
before John began working as a Wizard in Osaka, the two of them decided to write a few
songs to get the band back together after 8 years, just for a short time, before Jughead
had to leave. The experience went so well that Gub and Jughead continued writing and
sharing songs while they were separated. The pain of being apart over many years is
apparent in the writing of these songs.
The song titles on this lyric sheet reflect the number of takes it took to get the songs to
the place Gub and Jughead wanted in order to present them to the rest of the band.
They decided to keep track of those different incarnations and to indicate the process
within the title of the song. We have left those here for the lyric sheet but not on the visible
title presented to the audience at large.
the place Gub and Jughead wanted in order to present them to the rest of the band.
They decided to keep track of those different incarnations and to indicate the process
within the title of the song. We have left those here for the lyric sheet but not on the visible
title presented to the audience at large.
At Punk Rock Raduno, in Bergamo Italy. Stefano Iannone from Kill Time is singing.
2. REASON: a stack of opened books sprouting weeds and limbs.
3. IT WAS THE GOOD TIMES- a mermaid giving an x-ray and other medical devices like
theme park attractions.
theme park attractions.
4. INTERGALACTIC SPACE TRAVEL - a faucet with one drip coming out into a swirling
bowl of soup like galaxy.
bowl of soup like galaxy.
5. INTENTION IN TENSION: A weasel looking woman with sun in her hair holding a baby
made out of tears.
made out of tears.
6. IT’S NOT SO HARD - a homeless man giving food to a businessman laying in
a cardboard
home.
a cardboard
home.
7. KILLER BEAR- A bear dressed like he’s in road warrior on a surfboard on a wave with
his hand doing the Shaka.
his hand doing the Shaka.
8. THE KINDNESS: An old mother and grown son hugging, but mother is fading away.
EIB touring with full band plus former guitarist, Dan Lipman.
2. INTERGALACTIC SPACE TRAVEL TAKE -2
by Gub
IT WAS ONLY MOVIES AND WORDS THAT MOVED ME TO
OUR SIGNIFICANCE
SPOKEN SOFTLY
LOUDER THAN SIMPLE THOUGHTS CONNECTED TO
MY INNOCENCE
EACH TIME WE TRIED
WE TIED OUR TANGLES INTO KNIVES
WHERE IS THE LIGHT
AT THE BEGINNING OF EXISTENCE
HOW MUCH DISTANCE MUST WE ENDURE
(This song wasn’t originally picked to be on the album. Liz loved the song and requested it. I am so glad she did.)
3. IT WAS THE GOOD TIMES
by Gub
WOKE UP THIS MORNING MISSING YOUR SMILE
IT’S REALLY BEEN A LONG TIME
TRYING TO REMEMBER THE LAST TIME
WE WERE LAUGHING AND THINKING ABOUT
THE GOOD TIMES
TAKE ME TO THE X-RAY CENTER
TO GET RID OF ALL MY MERMAIDS SO
I CAN PRESS PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND
YOU KNOW SHE’S NOT WASTING
YOU KNOW I’M NOT WASTING OUR TIME
OH NO IT’S NOT OUR TIME
DOWN THE ROAD WE WENT
DIFFERENT WAYS
LIFE IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND REARRANGING OUR MINDS
YOU REMIND ME OF LIFE
YOU REMIND ME OF , GOOD TIMES
YOU HOLD A PLACE IN MY HEART, THOSE MEMORIES IN MY HEART
TAKE ME TO THE X-RAY CENTER TO GET RID OF ALL MY
MERMAIDS SO I CAN PRESS PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND
YOU KNOW SHE’S NOT WASTING, YOU KNOW I’M NOT
WASTING OUR TIME OH NO IT’S NOT OUR TIME
THE MEMORIES MIGHT FADE , BUT THE FEELINGS WILL
ALWAYS STAY
THEY KEEP MAKING ME A BETTER PERSON
AND MAYBE IT’S A GOOD TIME RIGHT NOW TO SLOW DOWN
OH NO I CAN'T SLOW DOWN
(Part of the lyrics to this song my daughter wrote when she was going off about
something. This concept of this song was written with EIB in mind. Of how we
need to keep playing together and do more. Also dedicated to a friend i lost a
long time ago …Miss ya Lucky Dog!)
(Part of the lyrics to this song my daughter wrote when she was going off about
something. This concept of this song was written with EIB in mind. Of how we
need to keep playing together and do more. Also dedicated to a friend i lost a
long time ago …Miss ya Lucky Dog!)
4. INTENTION IN TENSION #3 (15 years musically)
by Jughead
Sunshine was a mother so young.
A gutter punk living in muskegon.
She made me laugh at our show.
oh Sunshine
oh Sunshine
I wanted to know her more.
Sunshine sent me a letter.
I took a train that very same day.
to Sunshine
to Sunshine
instrumental voice short
Sunshine asked me to sleep in her bed,
With her baby by our side.
She kissed me with unbridled
passion
passion
instrumental voice long
You can make me turn around and go right home.
I can sit right down and write a song for you.
We can run away and escape this day.
Ah Ah intention
Ah Ah in tension (earlier note part)
I’m no rock n roll loving and leaving type.
It felt so wrong I couldn’t sleep
I never dreamed of being such a thing.
Oh my
Oh my
Sunshine never hated herself
She was strong but fragile.
Beautiful as the song goes.
my Sunshine
my Sunshine
instrumental voice short
I left the very next day.
We smiled and said goodbye
But I was too young and too immature
to read the signs
behind her eyes.
to feel the sadness
I left behind.
You can make me turn around and go right home.
I can sit right down and write a song for you.
We can run away and escape this day.
Ah Ah intention
Ah Ah in tension (earlier note part)
instrumental voice long
(While in Japan, thinking about EIB, and its revitalisation, this led me to contemplate
Screeching Weasel, like I so often do. I listened to Boogada Boogada Boogada.
Sunshine was one of my favorite songs from that record. The song, more than likely,
is an amalgam of different people, but one of the main people was a girl Ben and I met
in Michigan. I visited her after the tour and told Ben about it. He then wrote Sunshine
based on a few different thoughts on his mind at the time. After listening to it, I found
myself writing down these words in response.)
Screeching Weasel, like I so often do. I listened to Boogada Boogada Boogada.
Sunshine was one of my favorite songs from that record. The song, more than likely,
is an amalgam of different people, but one of the main people was a girl Ben and I met
in Michigan. I visited her after the tour and told Ben about it. He then wrote Sunshine
based on a few different thoughts on his mind at the time. After listening to it, I found
myself writing down these words in response.)
5. REASON #2
by Jughead
It’s not the reason
There is no reason why.
Oh Oh Oh.
Who needs a reason
Who needs a reason
to watch it all pass by
to never have a reason
Why.
(Repeat)
(This was the first song I wrote when Gub and I decided to start writing again
for EIB. It came out fast and short. It was about the band, it was about philosophy,
it was about frustration, it was about fear, it was about the fear of attempting to conquer
fear. I wanted everyone in musically and vocally from the first note to the last.
That was the idea. All of us together from beginning to end.)
for EIB. It came out fast and short. It was about the band, it was about philosophy,
it was about frustration, it was about fear, it was about the fear of attempting to conquer
fear. I wanted everyone in musically and vocally from the first note to the last.
That was the idea. All of us together from beginning to end.)
6. IT’S NOT SO HARD
by Gub
YOU MIGHT THINK THERE’S NOTHING LEFT IN THIS WORLD
ABANDONED, ABANDONED
NOTHING LEFT BUT YOUR DIRTY SHIRT
ALL THE TIMES
YOU TRIED TO GET HURT
NOW IT’S TIME TO GO
ALL THE TIMES
YOU TRIED TO GET HURT
NOW IT’S TIME TO GO WHERE
I CAN’T THINK ABOUT ME
CAN’T THINK ABOUT YOU
CAN’T THINK ABOUT ALL THE LONELY FACES THAT LOOK LIKE THERE
SMILING IN THE SUN
AND IT GOES ON AND ON
(This was one of the first songs I wrote when John and I were discussing possibly writing a new album. I like that people seem to be smiling at each other even though there thoughts might be full of self destructive behavior. Life is so complicated so stop trying to figure out what everyone’s doing.)
(This was one of the first songs I wrote when John and I were discussing possibly writing a new album. I like that people seem to be smiling at each other even though there thoughts might be full of self destructive behavior. Life is so complicated so stop trying to figure out what everyone’s doing.)
7. KILLER BEAR
by Gub
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOUR MY KILLER BEAR
I’D LIKE TO TAKE YOU TO THE PARK
AND LET YOU RUN AROUND FREE
BUT IF I LET YOU OUT OF THIS CAGE
YOU WILL PROBABLY TRY TO EAT ME,
EAT MEAT, EAT MEAT
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOU’RE WITH ME
YOUR MY KILLER BEAR
YOU USED TO WORK AT THE CIRCUS
YOU DANCED AND BOUNCED ON A BALL
BUT ONE DAY YOU WENT CRAZY
YOU TRIED TO MALL THEM ALL
(Why would a young child get a killer bear for a pet? The world may never know….)
(Why would a young child get a killer bear for a pet? The world may never know….)
8. THE KINDNESS #37
by Jughead
And soon all of this will be done
the sight, the scent, the touch
And soon all of this will be gone
the memory, the kindness, the sound
I’m a witness
to visions so sad
the passing of a saint
and soon all of this will be done
Oh mother night
with the darkest wit
You will be missed
the memory, the kindness, the sound
and soon all of this will be gone
The wink of an eye
The taste of a tongue
The storm of a cloudy mind
Dark voices:
the numbness of a touch
the holding of a cold cold hand
the smirking of a face
the sting of fucked up thought
the crumbling of the stone of a bridge over a sinking ship
the putrefied bones of a little kitten forgotten and never fed.
And soon all of this will be done
the sight, the scent, the touch
And soon all of this will be gone
the memory, the kindness, the sound
(This is about my mom. About watching something, or imagining yourself especially
somebody you love.)
somebody you love.)
