Get all 13 Quartjar releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Life's Not Pretty, End-Times Tango, The Money: Shot, Summer Groove Hits, Squatch: An Odyssey In Space and Time, Ascension, Kraken at the Time, Rough Squatch, and 5 more.
1. |
What Becomes a Whore?
04:19
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One or two fine lines
come to mind
Soup or stew?
Gentile or Jew?
If you make it,
where are you at?
Are you sellin'?
What have you got?
Chorus:
What comes between you and your money?
What comes down for you, honey?
What comes between you and your money?
What comes down for you?
Who is your master?
What does he pay?
Do you get time off
if you behave?
Do you do it for money?
Do you do it for love?
When you bend over,
what are you thinkin' of?
-- Chorus repeat --
Is a skill?
Or is it art?
Would you say free will
plays any part?
Do you do it for money?
Do you do it for love?
What's it mean to you
to give it up?
-- Chorus repeat --
-- interlude --
-- Chorus repeat --
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2. |
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The waitresses at the Bistro
used to have the best tattoos
They'd share 'em with you
and bring you stuffed mushrooms
I used to date your cousin once
way back in the day
She got to know me pretty well
but we're still friends today
The staff at the Tomato Head
are a sexy bunch of folks
Mahasti puts lovin' in the food
gives 'em all a healthy glow
Local legends great and small
worked there in their time
Scott's in the kitchn makin' me a pizza
Mayor's gotta wait in line
Up gay street on a Saturday mornin'
Harold cooked up a nosh
For all kinds of Jews and a Catholic or two
Volunteers all in orange
Endless cup of coffee and a toasted bagel
there's ol' Estes Kefauver
Scrambled eggs & lox hot on the grill
and everything's kosher
Chorus:
Won't you bring me another unsweet iced tea?
I'm gonna sit here a while
I've got a good book to read
Won't you bring me another unsweet iced tea?
I'm starting to like you smile
and it might be all I need
The waitresses at the Bistro
used to have the best tattoos
They'd share 'em with you
and bring you stuffed mushrooms
You oughtta see them haulin' ass
When there's a Bijou show
The Man on the Stairs gets outta the way
When they hit the rock and roll
I used to date your cousin once
way back in the day
She got to know me pretty well
but we're still friends ... anyway
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3. |
Staring at Your Woman
03:41
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Yes, I'm starin' at your woman now
as we sit here in this bar
Wondering if I could be around
when she leaves you
If I could meet her in some bookstore
and talk about the band
that we all saw that night
when she was yours
Well, it's first come first serve
the early bird gets him some
and I'm just lookin'
for some
I know I should not covet
my neighbor's wife
But you've not lived on my street
any time in your life
I know you fought for what you have
I know you've earned what you got
But I am prepared to pick up
whatever pieces that you drop
I am just a lonely man
I've been lookin' all around
You must know that your love lost
could be my love found
-- interlude --
Yes, I'm starin' at your woman now
I wonder how long it will it be
Before she's sick of you
but not yet sick of me
I'm counting the hours
'Til your love life sours
and your misfortune
is my new relief
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4. |
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5. |
Arab Moon
04:18
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There's an Arab moon in the sky tonight
and the Southern stars are shinin' bright
and the only thing missin' for me
is the smell of you
I was there, but now I'm here
Familiar ring is in my ear
and nothin' more has to be
to make me blue
It's a dusty trail as far as I can see
there's a million miles between you and me
and I won't be near a phone
anytime soon
Sirens wail and I duck my head
I wish I was back home in bed
Dreamin' of Saturday's
ice-cream spoon
Chorus:
I was thinkin' / the times we've had
Mardi Gras and mountain lakes
My destination is downtown Baghdad
and this delivery I got to make
My ol' dog is barkin' loud
He's happy to be free, black and proud
You won't find anything
Any more true
Burger & fries and American thighs
I'm a sucker for big brown eyes
and a soft voice whispering
"I pick you."
I'm a lonely driver on the road tonight
and I can't even read the highway signs
and the only think shinin' on me
is the Arab moon
Chorus:
I was thinkin' / the times we've had
and all the love I've got to give
My destination is downtown Baghdad
My first job is just to live
There's an Arab moon in the sky tonight
and the Southern stars are shinin' bright
and the only thing missin' for me
is the smell of you
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6. |
Crosstown Waltz
05:46
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Well, the west side is rich and the east side is poor
It's hard to get home when you're drunk on the floor
And someone's insulted your most sainted whore
La di da di da da
The north side is way out and the south side is down
it's hard to drive straight with your head spinnin' around
and your lover tells everyone you're just a clown
La di da di da da
Chorus:
Crosstown is too far away from you
and I only feel at home when I'm with you
Please tell now what in the world should I do
cuz crosstown is too far away from you
Downtown is copper and the county is brass
& you wonder will I ever get up off my ass
& the devil on my shoulder says you're out of my class
La di da di da da
Main Street goes straight through, the bypass goes around
and everyone questions the truth in my frown
The question on my mind, "Do you wanna get down?"
La di da di da da
-- Chorus --
Well, the west side is rich and the east side is poor
It's hard to get home when you're drunk on the floor
The north side is way out and the south side
it's hard to drive straight with your head spinnin' around
I'm sitting here in my room on one side
thinkin' about you and takin' that ride
-- Chorus --
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7. |
Evolution Works
04:10
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Evolution works, why don't you try it sometime?
Stand up on your own two feet
Grab hold of something with your opposable thumbs
And you'll admit it's pretty neat
Took seven days and 400 billion years*
To get this far down the track
We're sittin' pretty on top of the food chain
And we're not goin' back (I hope)
Chorus:
I was a skinny little monkey
Now I'm a grape old ape
I was a skinny little monkey, once
Now I'm a ripe old ape
Evolution works and it's a pretty good deal
Time can heal all wounds
Swinging in the trees and swaying in the breeze
The mating season swoons
Darwin and Jesus never had harsh words
Between them that whole time
We're all in the same place, planet Earth's in outer space
That's the truest line
-- Chorus repeat --
Evolution works, why don't you try it sometime
It's a pretty good deal
Evolution works, why don't you try it sometime
We've all got a niche to fill
-- Chorus repeat --
*Songwriter's note: More accurately, the Earth's age is thought to be 4.54-ish billion years old. Hyperbole that the 400 billion may be, it's what's on the recording. C'est la vie.
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8. |
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I spent one Saturday evenin'
in Zurich, Switzerland.
There was not a whole lot to do.
I walked down to the lake,
man the Alps looked great!
It was a breathtaking view.
Amazing Swiss cuties
with amazing Swiss booties,
must be somethin' in the cheese
I knew if one of them looked at me
it would be my catastrophe
I'd go wholly weak in the knees.
Chorus:
I was strollin'
Patrollin'
Downtown Zurich on a Saturday night
Stone-cold chillin', man,
Swiss-time killin'
Downtown Zurich on a Saturday night
A little band played the rock'n'roll
down by the sailboat dock, you know
They did Dylan and The King
And as the sun set in the west
the Swiss put on their party dress
10 o'clock by their Swatch, it started to swing
This one nice-lookin' lady Kraut
she came over to check me out
I was feelin' like a winner
Chatted me up for just a minute
But I was foreign and her heart wasn't in it
I went and had Chinese for dinner ... alone
-- Chorus --
-- guitar interlude --
-- Chorus --
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9. |
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I got drunk last night just on the thoughts of you
It was just like having a stiff drink or two
The hangover is rough, and hair of the dog ain't enough
I'm gonna have to have another round
I've been strung out all day just on the thoughts of you
There were so many things I needed to do
But if I could get a real fix with you in the mix
I'd shoot up and never leave home
I've been gamblin' for a while now just on a chance with you
Hopin' the ball would fall on a number for two
The odds are pretty high, but I'll bet the whole sky
If you'll deal me your winning hand
If you'll deal me your winning hand
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10. |
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My dad's bigger than your dad
I don't care how big your dad is
My dad's bigger than your dad
That's just the way he is
My dad can build a house or
my dad can fix a car
My dad'll tell you how to get there
if you really want to go that far
'Cause
My dad's bigger than your dad
I don't care how big your dad is
My dad's bigger than your dad
That's just the way he is
My dad can lead a horse to water
my dad can make him drink
my dad'll tell you what you oughta
he'll tell you what he thinks
'Cause
My dad's bigger than your dad
I don't care how big your dad is
My dad's bigger than your dad
That's just the way he is
-- guitar --
My dad'll knock you on your ass
and he'll tell you just why
He don't care for you to know
and he'll never tell a lie
My father, he's another story
he ain't one to fear
When the going got tough, he hit the road
and my dad stayed right here
'Cause
My dad's bigger than your dad
I don't care how big your dad is
My dad's bigger than your dad
That's just the way he is
Yeah!
My dad's bigger than your dad
I don't care how big your dad is
My dad's bigger than your dad
That's just the way he is
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11. |
Truckstop
03:09
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Pick me up high,
drop me down hard again
Just tell me why
it's gotta be so hard again
Tried to bounce back,
tried to move along
I just fall back off track again,
write another damn song
Now I'm starin' down the barrel of the very same gun that always shoots me dead
I got a million emotions like a truckstop in my head
I give my all
I give my very best
So often I fall (on my face)
so seldom I get to rest
I'm learning how to deal
with my own head
I know just how I feel
Just forget everything I ever said
Now I can't believe what I tell myself lyin' alone in bed
I got a million emotions like a truckstop in my head
I get so wound up
I feel so let go
I make things rough
But I'm tryin' to gow
And I laugh at myself 'caus I know I've changed, but I'm still the same instead
I got a million emotions like a truckstop in my head
Got a million emotions
Got a million emotions
Got a million emotions
Got a million emotions
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12. |
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I want to know all about it.
Where were you
when everything exploded?
Shots rang out and we knew
Things that people say,
yeah, they knew all about it
And there's just a few
things that would surprise me anymore
There's no doubt we'll get under
things people say when they're younger
Chorus:
Have you got something good on me?
Anything at all on me?
I got a thing or two on you.
Well, let's just let all of that be.
Well, I'm tellin' you
in case you did not notice
The call came out and we knew
things that people do
yeah, they talked all about it
And there's just a few
things that would surprise me anymore
There's no doubt we'll get over
things people say when they're older
-- Chorus --
I'm askin' you,
the question is unanswered
Just shout or a breath,
things that people take to their death
Have you got something good on me?
Anything at all on me?
I got a thing or two
Stored away 'bout you
Well, let's just let all of that be.
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13. |
About a Woman
02:59
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I got a woman for the winter
A warm girl in my bed
She is living in my heart
and always in my head
I can see through shadows
growin' long on a Sunday
and the only thing that matters
is when she's walkin' my way
I got a woman for the springtime
A cool girl in the sun
Maidens blossom in the fields
But she's my only one
The whole world turns green again
Pollen dusts the air
And a woman wants to hold my hand
A woman wants to care
I got a woman for the summer
kiss the freckles on her skin
and forget about the other time
before she let me in
(bouzouki solo)
I got a woman for the autumn
brown eyes full of joy
She's everything I asked for
I'm one lucky boy
I got a woman for the winter
A warm girl in my bed
She is living in my heart
and always in my head
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14. |
Science Diction
04:33
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I climbed that old mountain
lookin' for the good thing
Mano a mano, it ain't always so easy
Telephone doesn't ring
Until it rings too much
But nothin' can hurt me in here
I got my shields up
Chorus:
Seems like another good day
To be alone, out of the way and
Seems like the perfect time
To steal away, plan my next crime
I'm against the wall and
I'm lookin' for a route to escape
across the reaches of space,
feelin' kinda warped
Wanna crawl back under my rock
roll days like this away
In my fortress of solitude
with the shades pulled down
No one else could ever enter
But you know that you could stay
We'll float in animation
Locked away safe inside
-- Chorus --
Science fiction saved my soul
Perfect diction for rock'n'roll
I know I love you 'cuz I can't lie
I'm thinkin' of you
when lightnin' strikes
It hits the same place so many times
What are the odds?
It hits the same place so many times
What are the odds?
It hits the same place so many times
What are the odds of that now.
It hits the same place so many times
Just think of them odds.
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Quartjar Knoxville, Tennessee
Quartjar is a mighty rock trio featuring Randall Brown, Malcolm Norman, and Tory Flenniken.
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