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Fire and Sound

by Tom Atwood

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1.
Keep Looking for Jesus 02:18
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I used to think I was Jesus Come again to save the world I used to think I was Jesus Come again to save the world Not a broken bone in my body I could be the chosen one. Did you ever think nothing is real Except in your mind? No people around you, no world, No stars when you close your eyes Did you think were Jesus Come again to save the world? It could be true It could be true. (chorus) Keep looking for Jesus Everywhere that you go He could be a man on the street He could be the Man in the Moon Keep looking for Jesus He may come back soon If it’s true If it’s true I mean no disrespect Singing this song I know I might be right Then again I might be wrong I’m just looking for Jesus Don’t you want to come along? Come along we'll look for Jesus Everywhere that we go He could be a man we meet on the street He could be the Man in the Moon Keep looking for Jesus He may come back soon If it’s true If it’s true If it's true If it's true It could be me It could be you ©1997 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Guitar, vocals: Tom Atwood
2.
Clay Street Blues 03:03
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I woke up this morning Looked out the plate-glass window It was so cold and gray I rolled my eyes away And I feel into a dream of you Yes I did Yes I did Yes I did (chorus) Babe won't you please come home to me? I can be anybody that you want me to be I can roar like the ocean I can be as quiet as a mouse Come on babe turn on the heat In my little house Babe there ain't no furnace In this house of mine It's cold and it's lonely all the time Well baby you shut off the heat when you went away And you left me here thinking of you every day Yes you did Yes you did Yes You did (Repeat chorus) Well I never saw her again that year I never saw her face It was a mighty cold winter 1977 Snow and ice all over the place Yes it was Yes it was You know it was ©1978 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Recorded live at Orr Auditorium on April 23, 1978 MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois Guitar, vocal: Tom Atwood Guitar: Eric Berry
3.
The Man Born Blind 03:55
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Jesus spits, spits in the dust, Spits on a Saturday. Jesus! Jesus spits, spits in the dust Spits on a Saturday. Jesus! I once was lost But now I'm found Was blind but now I see Jesus spits, spits in the dust, Spits on a Saturday. Jesus! Jesus spits, spits in the dust Spits on a Saturday. Jesus! He takes his hands Mixes up the mud Puts it on the blind man's eyes He takes his hands Mixes up the mud Puts it on the blind man's eyes. Jesus spits, spits in the dust, Spits on a Saturday. Jesus! Jesus spits, spits in the dust Spits on a Saturday. Jesus! Just as long as I'm in this world I'm the light of the world. Just as long as I'm in this world I am the light of the world. Jesus told the blind man 'Wash your eyes' Wash them in light of God. Jesus told the blind man 'Wash your eyes' Wash them in the light of God. I once was lost But now I'm found Was blind but now I see. The blind man sees, He sees the light He was fixed by the love of God. The blind man sees, He sees the light, He was fixed by the love of God He was fixed by the love of God, etc Just as long as I'm in this world I'm the light of the world. Just as long as I'm in this world I am the light of the world. The Pharisees came and Shook their heads No healing on the Sabbath day! The Pharisees came and Shook their heads No healing on the Sabbath day! 'Was this man blind? Who healed this man? Who did this job? Healing on the Sabbath day!' No healing on the Sabbath Healing on the Sabbath Healing on the Sabbath day! Can this man see? Who healed this man? Who did this job? Healing on the sabbath! No healing on the sabbath day! Just as long as I'm in this world I'm the light of the world. Just as long as I'm in this world I am the light of the world. Wash your eyes! See the light! Wash your eyes! See the light! (Gospel fervor) We've been fixed by the love of God We've been fixed by the love of God We've been fixed by the love of God... ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved (Originally titled "Jesus Spits," based on the biblical story of Jesus healing the man born blind (John 9:1-41). British writer William Shaw describes this song as "visceral, unrestrained, strange American gospel wildness. It builds and builds and builds. I was smiling like an idiot by the time it finished."
4.
In Between 02:50
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Somebody's dead Please stay tuned Somebody's dying Please watch the news Don't go away! Stay right there! While you're watching Here's something for your hair Buy something for your hair 24 hours 7 days a week People are dying Don't you want to take a peek? Please stay tuned! Right where you are! And while you're watching Buy a car Won't you buy a car (Interlude) Somebody bleeds Somebody leads And somebody's selling In between Somebody bleeds Somebody leads And somebody's selling In between In between In between ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved There is an old saying that applies to at least a few of the newsrooms where I have worked: "If it bleeds, it leads." Too often, TV news is about death. Almost always, it is about fear. And always, always, it is about money. This song could have been titled "Confessions of a Former TV Reporter." Or, "Selling the News." Guitar, keyboard, vocals: Tom Atwood
5.
Leo (Was a Happy Man) 02:53
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Leo was a happy man He lived in a garbage can He never watched TV no He was always too busy Swimming in the deep blue sea He never drove no automobile no He had a girlfriend named Lucille Now Lucy was fat she weighed 200 pounds But Leo didn't care about that 'Cause she drove him around In her '72 Delta Olds 88 with the power windows The cassette tape (Chorus) Leo, whoa, whoa, whoh! How'd you get to be such a hap-wahappy fellow? Oh that Leo! Leo marveled at piped in water He laughed at electric guitar He was amused by Edison's constant light You know he didn't know how to gas up his car No he couldn't gas up his car I said he couldn't even gas up his car! Leo, whoa, whoa, whoh! How'd you get to be such a hap-wahappy fellow? Oh that Leo! Well Leo vowed never to divulge the secret of his happiness He said he'd take it to the grave but He said that one small part of his success was knowing Mankind would never be saved He knew that mankind would never be saved Mankind would never be saved Mankind would never be saved... Leo was a happy man Leo was a happy man Leo was a happy man Leo was a happy man Leo Leo Leo Leo ©1979 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved In memory of Eric Berry, who recorded this song with me in his home on New Year's Eve, 1978 in Elburn, Illinois.
6.
18 Games 03:59
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Who wants to push the button That blows up the stadium? Somebody gets to detonate the field of dreams 18 games left 'Til the season ends 18 games left to play 18 games left Then get out of the way Money ain't a game Money ain't a game Who wants to push the button That blows up the stadium? Somebody gets to detonate the field of dreams You can throw a curve ball You can throw a game You can throw everything away You can build a ballpark You can tear it down You can throw it all away You can throw it all away You can throw it all away Orlando Cepeda Willie McGee Julian Javier They're ghosts of a pastime With no place left to play Nothing stays the same Money ain't a game 18 games left 'Til the season ends 18 games left to play 18 games left Then get out of the way Money ain't a game Money ain't a game Who wants to push the button That blows up the stadium? Somebody gets to detonate the field of dreams Field of dreams Field of dreams ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved
7.
I Saw You There 04:15
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I saw you there I didn't know what to say I saw you there I didn't know what to say You had that mean look on your face It scared me away People They seem so far away People seem They seem so distant today All the time they speak to me And I don't hear a word that they say I used to sing 'Things Have Got to Change' You know it's funny when they do All the time you try to look ahead You never see what's in front of you (chorus) Somebody tell me who's singing this song? It sounds familiar I might sing along The melody's odd But it's true I once had a girl Or should I say she had me? I had a girl Or should I say she had me? John Lennon said it once Or was it Paul McCartney? Now John Lennon's dead I never understand why people do the things they do? All the time you try to look ahead You never see what's in front of you (chorus) Somebody tell me who's singing this song? It sounds familiar I might sing along The melody's odd But it's true ©1981 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Guitar, vocals, keyboards: Tom Atwood
8.
Chasing Shadows 04:05
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Walking down Walking down Walking down the road Walking down Walking down Walking down the road You gave a light to me A candle in my hand Its flame is shedding darkness now Shadows on the ground Shadows on the ground Walking down Walking down Walking down the road Walking down Walking down Walking down the road Shadows are chasing me A candle in my hand When will I ever see See the flame again? Chasing shadows Chasing shadows Chasing shadows chasing me Chasing shadows Chasing shadows Chasing shadows chasing me Shadows are chasing me A candle in my hand When will I ever see See the flame again See the flame again? ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Guitar, Alto Saxophone, Keyboard, Vocals: Tom Atwood
9.
Bankroll Blues 04:34
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My baby just left me I said my baby went away, yeah I said my baby just left me You know my baby went away Yesterday Where she went I don't know But she went and took all of my dough Lord knows, you've got to watch out For your bankroll these days. I called the FBI You know I called the CIA I said I called the FBI You know I called the CIA I've got the Morgan County Sheriff baby And his deputy They're gonna find you and my my bankroll for me I've heard it said Love is the finest thing around YesI've heard it said Many times many ways Love is the finest thing to be found yeah That may so I don't know 'Cause my baby's gone to find love In another town Baby, baby Honey won't you please come home to me I said, Baby, baby Won't you come home to me Back home to me 'Cause you got the honey, baby And I'm your little honeybee Babe won't you reconsider? Honey won't you change your mind just one more time? Bring back my heart Bring back my soul And don't forget that little bankroll ©1977 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Recorded in concert with Arm and Hammer on April 23, 1978 Orr Auditorium, Jacksonville Illinois Guitar, vocal: Tom Atwood Tenor saxophone: Ray Vasey
10.
Tadpoles (On My Mind) 02:24
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When I was barely 10 years old I'd rise with the sun And head on out to Tadpole Pond To have myself some fun All I needed to have a good time Was a pickle jar and a friend of mine Cause on a sunny spring day I had tadpoles on my mind (chorus) Tadopoles! Tadpoles! Tadpoles on my mind I wonder how many I can find You know if I had my way I'd hunt for tadpoles every day Well we used to ride out Stingray bikes Through the old cemetery Down an old dirt road and to the pond Behind the meat factory Riding down the road we'd get chiggers in our socks And we'd keep our eyes peeled for crawdads hiding under rocks We always had some fine heart-to-heart talks About the important things in life Like tadpoles and crawdads Tadpoles on my mind I wonder how many I can find You know if I had my way I'd hunt for tadpoles every day Well we used to kick the shoes right off our feet And walk barefooted does the creek Frogs and tadpoles we would seek It was all that was on our minds All I needed to have a good time Was a pickle jar and a friend of mine Cause on a sunny spring day I had tadpoles on my mind But now I'm older and things have changed As a wise old man once stated The older you get things get more complicated But I remember a simpler time When me and a friend of mine Had nothing ate all troubling our souls Except how to catch more tadpoles. (chorus) Tadopoles! Tadpoles! Tadpoles on my mind I wonder how many I can find You know if I had my way I'd hunt for tadpoles every day ©1975 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Recorded in 1975 with Arm and Hammer. St. Louis, Missouri. Originally released as a 45 RPM. (In memory of Don Willi) Guitar: Don Willi Jaw harp: Rick Rhoades Bass, vocal: Jon Montgomery Piano: Ray Vasey Guitar, vocal: Tom Atwood
11.
Roundup® the World 03:30
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Soon all the frogs will be dead Soon all our lawns will be green Soon all the crops will have new genes Soon all the frogs will be gone There’s a company in my backyard Monsanto is its name, Ooooh They make a spray that kills the weeds And anything that gets in its way Anything that gets in its way Roundup® the frogs Roundup® the toads Roundup® the salamanders! Roundup® the weeds Roundup® the world One day we’ll all be genetically altered (Interlude) Gather them two-by-two Take them all with you Take them far away Let them live one more day There’s a company in my backyard Monsanto is its name, Ooooh They make a spray that kills the weeds And anything that gets in its way Anything that gets in its way Roundup® the frogs Roundup® the toads Roundup® the salamanders! Roundup® the weeds Roundup® the world One day we’ll all be genetically altered Soon all the frogs will be dead Soon all our lawns will be green Soon all the crops will have new genes Soon all the frogs will be… One day the frogs will be… Some day we all will be gone ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved My only prophecy, written in 2005. Here’s a brief explanation of the terms in this song: Roundup®: herbicide; kills weeds, grasses and amphibians. Monsanto: local chemical company; manufactures Roundup®, and also genetically alters crops so that Roundup® can be applied, killing everything but the genetically engineered crop. Frogs, toads, salamanders: innocent amphibians; bellwethers of our future.
12.
Exurban Prayer 04:03
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Please Jesus Tell me there’s no asphalt in heaven I’ve been told the streets are made of gold Things here in this blacktop world All look the same Everywhere I go it’s the same: Four lanes are better than two I am better than you Silence, a space to be filled Different, a beast to be killed Please Jesus Tell me there’s no billboards where you are No signs selling at all Please Jesus Tell me there’s no TV in heaven You’re the only light I see Things here in this blacktop world All look the same Everywhere I go it’s the same: Four lanes are better than two I am better than you Silence, a space to be filled Different, a beast to be killed A beast to be killed (Interlude) Please Jesus Tell me there’s trees in heaven Green is just fine by me Please Jesus Tell me there's music where you are Alleluia Things here in this blacktop world All look the same Everywhere I go it’s the same: Four lanes are better than two (Alleluia) I am better than you (Alleluia) Silence, a space to be filled (Alleluia) Different, a beast to be killed (Alleluia) Alleluia Please Jesus Please Jesus Please Jesus Tell me there’s no asphalt in heaven I’ve been told the streets are made of gold ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved A dirge against sameness, this song is not entirely serious, but sort of. Not completely religious, but kind of. Originally titled "Suburban Heaven." At first, I set out to write a funny song protesting all the road construction and urban sprawl around my town. But when I sat down at the guitar, what came out was more like a prayer. Guitar and vocal were recorded together in one take, with the mic placed somewhere in the middle. Harmonies were added later.
13.
Figure Out Love 04:30
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A weight has been lifted baby You know a load is off of me A weight has been lifted baby You know a load is off of me The day I stopped trying to figure out love Is the day I went free Love is like a feather baby As light as it can be Some days love is like a feather baby As light as it can be But then love can be hammer baby And beat up all over me Love is revolution baby It can liberate you and me Love is revolutionary It can liberate you and me But then love can be like a prison baby and build walls around me Love, love, love, Love, love Love, love, love, Love, love Love, love, love, Love, love Love, love Love, love, love, Love, love, love, Love, love Love, love The day I stopped trying to Figure out love The day I stopped trying to Figure out love The day I stopped trying to Figure out love Is the day that I went free ©1997 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Guitars, Vocals: Tom Atwood
14.
What's Wrong With This World 03:43
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Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world I ask, "How are you?" "Busy," you reply I nod my head But I never ask, "Why?" I never ask why Money is what's wrong with this world Money is what's wrong with this world Buy bigger houses Cars built like trucks So much to buy And we never ask, "Why?" We never ask why (Interlude) I know a man named Alley Oop He lives far away I asked Alley Oop if God is real And listened to him say, "I don't think so but I don't really know. I'd like to believe it But I really have to go." Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world What is wrong with this world? Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world Business is what's wrong with this world ©2005 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved
15.
A Photographer's Lament 02:34
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Photographs On the wall Faces I have captured What do they see Their graphite eyes Or do they see at all? Do they see at all? Expressions In a pause Faces I have captured Souls who once Flashed before me Framed in my because Framed in my because (Interlude) And ever they gaze The way they never were And forever will be I have captured faces Fleshed in shades of gray Fleshed in shades of gray Fleshed in shades of gray Fleshed in shades of gray Fleshed in shades of gray Fleshed in shades of gray ©2002 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved
16.
Take My Hand 04:34
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Take my hand Move on up the mountain Don't look back At the world we left behind Don't you know This path is full of changes Take my hand Take my hand Walk with me Feet in the dust One step at a time Higher and higher The air is so fine If you need a rest We can stop by the stream We can drink moving water And dream. (Chorus) Take my hand, take my hand Take my hand, take my hand. Take my hand, take my hand Take my hand, walk with me. Put your hands in the dirt Deep and black, deep and black Put your hands in the dirt Deep and black, deep and black It's where we live (deep and black) It's where we live (deep and black) It's where we live (deep and black) You and me Deep and black You and me Whoa, whoa, whoa Whoa, whoa, whoa Whoa, whoa, whoa Take my hand Move on up the mountain Don't look back At the world we left behind Don't you know This path is full of changes Take my hand Take my hand Walk with me Feet in the dust One step at a time Higher and higher The air is so fine If you need a rest We can stop by the stream We can drink moving water And dream. Take my hand, take my hand Take my hand, take my hand. Take my hand, take my hand Take my hand, walk with me. Take my hand Move on up the mountain Don't look back, don't look back At the world we left behind Don't you know This path is full of changes? Take my hand, take my hand Walk with me, walk with me! Take my hand! Move on up the mountain Don't look back, don't look back At the world we left behind At the world we left behind At the world we left behind At the world we left behind We've left the world behind We've left the world behind ©1997 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Dedicated to Budget (Ellen O'Brien Atwood).
17.
Holy Temple 02:46
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Holy temple Rescue me Save me from the world I see Holy temple Rescue me Sweet tradition Carry me Blind my eyes To what I see Sweet tradition Set me free I am nothing I am free I am you You are me We are nothing We are free We are nothing We are free Holy temple Rescue me Save me from From the world I see Ho, ho, holy temple Won't you rescue me? Sweet tradition Carry me Blind my eyes to the world I see, yeah Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet tradition Set me! Won't you set me free? Oh, I may be nothing But I am free I am you-oo, whoa, yeah You are me Together baby we are nothing We are free, yeah! Holy temple Holy temple Rescue me Blind my eyes To the world I see Holy temple Holy temple Holy temple ©1977 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Vocals: Tom Atwood
18.
These Days 03:51
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We need a little more from you We have to do more with less It may mean more hours It may mean more stress But that's the way it is These days That's the way it is These days These days These days We've had to make a few changes Your pension is going away It costs too much money It cuts into the bottom line And that's the way it is These days That's the way it is These days These days These days (Think about your life Think about time Think about what matters Think about the grind) We need more people just like you People who understand How a corporation works And where they fit in the corporate plan That's the way it is These days That's the way it is These days These days These days These days These days ©2006 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved
19.
No End 03:15
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Never too far Never too old Never too empty Never too cold It goes on and on Love has no end It had no beginning Love has no end Like a stream it flows Nothing can stop it Water keeps moving Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Never too small Never too great Never too soon Never too late It goes on and on Love has no end It had no beginning Love has no end Like a stream flows Nothing can stop it Water keeps moving Love has no end Like the moon that shines Behind your eyes Nothing can stop it Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end Love has no end ©1997 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Guitar, vocals: Tom Atwood
20.
Fire and Sound 02:07
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Morning comes the day So peacefully Stars fade away Then a cloud appears Rising from the ground All fire and sound All fire and sound Then the earth screams Sky disappears and the people ask, "Where are the angels?" And the angels weep Morning comes the day So peacefully Stars fade away Then a cloud appears Rising from the ground All fire and sound All fire and sound ©1979 Tom Atwood All Rights Reserved Guitar, vocals: Tom Atwood

about

We make decisions. Some important, some not. This album is the result of a choice I made almost 50 years ago. It echoes in each song, singing the choice back to me years later, growing old. That young man's choice. Maybe that's why I love these songs. I hope you will, too.

The decision, by the way, was simple: It was to not try to make a living making music. Instead, I did other jobs. I didn't turn my back on music. I just decided to separate music from money. Not to sell it. And that decision freed the songs on this album I am giving to you. I love them even if they are full grown now and no longer little. Please, don't ever say anything bad about them. Give these songs a chance. A chance to do what songs do.

(In memory of Don Willi and Eric Berry)

© 1975-2020 Tom Atwood
All Rights Reserved

credits

released December 25, 2020

Thanks to those who contributed to this album over the years, living and dead.

Don Willi/guitar
Eric Berry/guitar
Ray Vasey/piano, tenor sax
Jon Montgomery/bass, vocals
Rick Rhoades/jaw harp
Mystified/vocals
Peter Greenstone/vocals
Tom Schmitt/vocals
Daphne Kalfon/vocals
Rebsie Fairholm/vocals
William Shaw/vocals
Bill Flynn/vocals
Tom Bronco/vocals

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Tom Atwood Edwardsville, Illinois

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