Louie Fleck - First Taste Is Free

What is this? I've been writing songs since, in my twenties, I lived in a fifth floor walk-up in the West Village. There were all the usual influences: Beatles, Dylan, Kinks, Grateful Dead and even musical theater. I played some instinctual version of rock music in several bands. One day, after purchasing a bunch of LPs from a guy on the street for next to nothing, I discovered the most amazing record: Bunny Wailer Sings The Wailers. A revelation had been delivered to me. Despite the appearance of simplicity, the music was disciplined and organized and even a two or three chord groove could be inspirational! I tried to learn about Reggae and bought every record I could afford. I sat down and figured out chord changes and bass lines. I struggled with the notion of how a white Jew from the Upper West Side could write Reggae songs. Hearing bands like UB40 and Sublime made me feel like I had permission to simply write the songs and play them in my interpretation of a Reggae style. All songs and music by Louie Fleck © 2012 all rights reserved Recorded, mixed and produced by Louie Fleck in NYC Mastering: Alan Douches, West West Side Music Original Art: Erica Harris For bonus tracks and more: LouieFleck.com Many thanks to those who have encouraged me, especially: Laury Webb, Marcia Davis, Simone Gordon, Anton Bernard, Andrea Goode, Maggie Roche, Paul Brantley, Cornell Marshall, Earl Appleton, Paul Vlachos, Linley McKenzie, Kevin Williams, Jason Kessler, Andrew Van Dusen, Sharon Lehner, Shannon Holman, Amanda Barrett, June Reich, Joseph Bradshaw, Julia Ignatenko, Donna Brodie, Trish Clark, Marisa Butler, Jesse Dowell & Richard, Sandy Imhoff, Family: Joe, Bela, Abby, Sascha, Erin, Cole, Gianluca and Mom. In Memoriam: Ellen Page Wilson and Maura Robinson Listen (4:32) Listen, I am asking you to listen It is starting to be clear I am asking you to listen Something I want you to hear Listen, (over here) I am asking you to listen I will not tell you what to play I am asking you to listen Would not change you anyway The wind passes through the trees, and the mist begins to freeze While the sun burns silently away When words refuse to do, what I wanted for them to Could there be another way to say listen? I am asking you to listen Can not help, but it is true What could mean so much to me and be not a thing to you? What could be so much to me and be not a thing to you? Watch Out (3:07) drums: Cornell Marshall, keys: Earl Appleton Most pills are bitter, too few of them sweet Watch out, it could happen to you Wake up one day, find you're living in the street Watch out, it could happen to you If you're well you get sick, then you're sick for a spell Watch out, it could happen to you When you're calling for heaven, but, you end up with Hell Watch out, it could happen to you Watch out, watch out, there's a lot of it about Don't be fooled or alarmed Prepare, prepare and always be aware Some are cursed while others are charmed Some days blessed, but, many are not Watch out, it could happen to you You can hope for the best, better plan for the worst Watch out, it could happen to you If you're a one eyed king in the land of the blind Watch out, it could happen to you Keep your mind on your money and your money on your mind Watch out, it could happen to you Some are Demapublican, some are Republicrat Watch out, it could happen to you They supply you with lies and leave you there flat Watch out, it could happen to you Prepare, prepare and always be aware It's never too early to start Watch out, watch out, there's a fever in the air Seductively breaking your heart When the bank account says you are suddenly broke Watch out, it could happen to you Do you feel like the victim of a very cruel joke? Watch out, it could happen to you Watch out, it could happen to you Watch out, it could happen to you Watch out, it could happen to you Down Facing Dog (3:57) cello: Paul Brantley I'll be your down facing dog, you are room and I am floor I'll be your down facing dog, I am wall, you are door I'll be your down facing dog, my fingers push away I'll be your down facing dog, a waiting for his day Now I'm rolling like a ball and then swimming on dry land I am flapping like a seal, I await your next command I'll be your down facing dog, you don't pet me like you should I'll be your down facing dog, and it could be very good. (rise) I must rise once again and struggle with the fears Let you lead me on the path, you are wise beyond your years (yes you are, dog is facing down) So what can I do now (what can I do?) to connect with you somehow? Is this another dream or am I awake? Is there another class I need to take? I'll be your down facing dog, I thought I knew the score I'll be your down facing dog, I am tears on the shore You are queen and I am pawn, I am dark and you are dawn I am push and you are pull, I am empty, you are full You are right and I am wrong, I am weak, you are so strong I am sky and you are sea, is there a place for me? I'll be your down facing dog, strange and yet so true, I'll be your down facing dog, but I guess you always knew I'll be your down facing dog, but, I can only go so low I'll be your down facing dog, oh, please don't let me go Down facing dog, Down facing dog, Down facing dog... Down facing dog, Down facing dog, Down facing dog... It's All About You (4:10) It's all about you, and so, lonely and blue is the life I know The teardrops flow, it's got to be true, it's not about me, it's all about you. It's all about you, and so, I haven't a clue, hello? Wherever I go, it's got to be true, so now I know, it's all about you Is it truth or daring? I want to know where I'm going to land In this game I'm despairing, about as much as I can stand I've been the monkey in the middle, I've seen my face on the floor I hear a sizzle on the griddle, what are we playing for? (chorus) When I give you my heart, you gotta throw it right back We spend a lifetime apart (away), until you launch an attack They said I had the potential, to be the fool you despise The future may be confidential, but it surely won't be a surprise (chorus) I've been your Rock, Paper Scissors, Cat's Cradle, Bad Egg, Four Square I've been a Sleeping Lion, thrown from a Musical Chair Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Kick The Can to the Blind Man's Bluff And if I fail to be your flunky, will Simon say enough is enough? (chorus) Someone's Gonna Lose Their Job Today (3:49) Ever since that accident, when the first car flipped the track Everyman is for himself, you know, you really got to watch your back Now we all got mouths to feed and plenty bills to pay And if you think you seen enough, well, I heard somebody say Someone's gonna lose their job today Someone's gonna lose their job, you see Someone's gonna lose their job today Someone else, 'cause it can't be me, no it can't be me. Next time you hear that whistle blow, a grown man's gonna cry Everybody's gonna turn away, no one ever says goodbye It comes down to the dollars, I know you know what I mean They would-a sent us home, long time ago, if they could-a found a cheaper machine (chorus) Don't you know I'd rather be wrong? Do you think that you are immune? Before long if you want to be strong You better learn that union tune (I do it all for you) Someone ought to speak up, about the way they run this place Anyone down in a coal mine, gonna come up with a dirty face But look here comes the foreman, saying I should give him a lift I can keep my big mouth shut, sure I'll take an extra shift (chorus) That's What Crazy People Do (5:15) I take a walk with out a coat when it's fifteen below Stand there on the street muttering to people I don't know Give a greeting of "good morning" in the middle of the night Wishing on a star and then, there are no stars in sight Bring out the salt and shovel when there's no trace of snow Unlock and lock the door again, twenty two times in a row Rush off to Saint Marks Place for another Catcher In The Rye Laugh out loud obscenely, perhaps I ought to cry Say it hardly matters, oh no, when it comes to you, oh no Admit that I'm in love, dear? Oh no, that's what crazy people do - You might find me wearing Ray-Bans, while reading in the dark Could even catch me fishing at the frozen fountain in the park Or clipping words and pictures from a tattered magazine Driving through the red light or waiting on the green Say it hardly matters, oh no, you know I'm green and blue, oh no Admit that I'm in love, dear? Oh no, that's what crazy people do Two can play this cold game for all eternity Win or lose, it's all the same eventually I am known to complain about all my non-existent ills Spend an evening at the fireplace, burning hundred dollar bills Sleeping in the daytime and leaving on the light (of course) When everything seems perfect I know it can't be right I'll deny a million times, dear, oh no, as if it weren't true, oh no Admit that I'm in love, dear? Oh no, that's what crazy people do Say it hardly matters, oh no, when it comes to you, oh no Admit that I'm in love dear, oh no, that's what crazy people do That's what crazy people do, that's what crazy people do First Taste Is Free (4:39) There's a face is peering from a doorway, many souls have passed through before Some were looking for answers, others searching for the cure Up, up, up to the top of the mountain, or you could take the path down below What, what, what you find here in the moment, you never want to let it go Now I know how to chase the dragon, first taste is free (First taste is free) Now I know what she meant by "One day you'll see." (First taste is free) The holy man with his holy water, that joker hasn't got a clue Any prayer to anyone who might be up there will not have the desired effect on you Go, go away, you'd be so much better off, but, I can't take my own advice Next stop: oblivion... you're going back at any price Now I know how to chase the dragon, first taste is free (First taste is free) Now I know what she meant by "One day you'll see." (First taste is free) I will be here forever, I will never leave I will love you forever, this you must believe Slow down the wheels of time, before the days turn into years It all began in the weakest of moments and it ends in a rain of tears I tried to paint a vision of the infinite living in a grain of dust Until your heart is so damn empty, there's no one you can trust (CH repeat) Those Countless Tears (4:05) You were the inspiration for a verse I wrote with hope Despite the devastation, always thought that I could cope The days are gone, the weeks dragged on, and the months turned into years Your invoice was long since marked paid with all those countless tears Those countless tears, I loved you like a friend Those countless tears, they never seem to end Those countless tears, will never let me be, it's a daily misery and you never seem to see Stunning and impressive, you had me at hello Passive and aggressive, you think by now I'd know The best-laid plans of fools like me are crushed like grinding gears The gift that keeps on giving, with all those countless tears Those countless tears, when I hear you speak Those countless tears, rolling down my cheek Those countless tears, I can't call your bluff, I'm made of weaker stuff, now, isn't that enough? You sneak into my dreams each night, when I need you the most The morning rain it waits for me I'm reaching for a ghost I wish one day you'll wake up and admit where we went wrong I promise then I'll never write another lovesick song We'll come up with a game plan for our few remaining years And leave it to some other souls to cry those countless tears Those countless tears, I love you like a friend Those countless tears, one day they have to end Those countless tears, in love there is no shame, Where there's a burning flame, my number's still the same Donkey Dance (4:50) drums: Cornell Marshall, keys: Earl Appleton Doesn't it make a pretty little picture? A bunch of perverts and her alone Now all we need is a man with a camera... To call 'em up later on the blackmail phone. Off on a side road, far from the main drag We'd be closed in a minute if they only knew Keep your hands to yourself or we'll cart you away And you'll never get to see what the world has come (down) to. Without American dollars, you might as well leave Use that door that you came through, if you want romance Maybe someone, somewhere's got a hidden agenda But, everybody's here to see the donkey dance Dance. Dance little donkey I've been working this dump for a long time Every stinkin' word that you heard is true If you can't take the worm, don't drink from the bottle Sure, I could get a shot of crystal meth for you. You don't need to look far, if you're looking for trouble Make sure you always pack an extra Jack or an Ace Maybe this girl doesn't play with a full deck Have you ever seen such an innocent face? (1st chorus) The windows in this room have been painted black If the sun ever shines again, we'll never know One day she'll be found on the floor of the bathroom But for now, have a seat, let's get on with the show With traveler's checks and credit cards, you might as well leave A guy like you doesn't stand a chance Happy hour in the hotel lounge might be kind of nice But, everybody's here to see the donkey dance. (1st Chorus repeat) Dance little donkey. Do you know how to samba? Dance little donkey. Do you know how to conga? Dance Except For The Tears The better angels of my nature must have flown the coop I can't even act concerned, or jump through one more hoop I don't think (much) about what made me think we could get along True love... true love is beautiful, True love is so damn beautiful, but, I've been wrong So watch and wait as the ending nears Hold your breath while the smoke screen clears Swear and vow, wipe your brow, don't forget to take a bow And it's all over now, except for the tears... Yes, I hardly ever notice, now, that you are even gone And I never think about you, when the lights are on The thin file of our good times should've been carbon dated Your opinion of your powers might be slightly overrated (Chorus) I hear that you've been busy with your numerous affairs And what have I been up to? Ask some one who really cares There's still a bit to figure out, but, I'm open to suggestions That "crazy bitch theory" didn't answer all my questions You left me with a stack of bills, but really that I didn't mind But, it's hard to see what's become of me... someone must be blind Your promise was worthless, that's why it appears Bouncing around like a check that never clears You were right, go fly a kite, have a good life and good night And it's all over now, except for the tears From your crumby little room, filled with souvenirs The curse of knowledge never disappears... I'll keep the seconds, you can have the years And it's all over now, except for the tears And it's all over now, except for the tears And it's all over now... You Know Where To Find Me (3:57) You know where to find me You know where to find me You know where to find me, girl I'll be with you when you want me to You know where to find me Some people search for a guiding light I'd like to make it through one more night Some people don't know what they've really got... Until it slips away, until it slips away You know where to find me You know where to find me You know where to find me, girl I would trust in you if you could be true You know where to find me Everybody's got hopes and dreams But never the same ones it seems Like we could ever get what we really want Before it slips away, before it slips away It wasn't so long ago I felt your touch But now it seems as though I am asking too much... I will always want the best for you May your happiness last a thousand years What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it... calls for tears (Seneca) You know where to find me You know where to find me You know where to find me, girl I'll be right here when you reappear You know where to find me.

1) Listen
2) Watch Out
3) Down Facing Dog
4) All About You
5) Job Today
6) What Crazy People Do
7) First Taste Is Free
8) Countless Tears
9) Donkey Dance
10) Except for the Tears
11) Where to Find Me
12) Watching
13) Facing
14) Knowing
15) Working
16) Doing
17) Tasting
18) Counting
19) Dancing
20) Finding
21) Listening