Click on the thumbnail to view a printable cd sleeve.- Title: Alcan Back
- Artist: Trex
- Timespan: 2001
- Theme: from Alaska to Washington
- Length: 64:58
- Tracks: 40
- Lyrics: 36
- MP3s: 40 play all locally
- Rating: **½ [2.5] (1 rating) rate this album
Track List
- Coming Down from Denali
- Road Under You
- Gotta Snippet
- Caffeine
- White Line Yellow Line
- Tourists
- Cruise Control
- Verse Chorus Bridge
- Just Kidding
- Caffeine Pellets
- Radio Scan
- Talk Radio
- Staple
- Back to the Land
- From Alaska
- Elitism
- Needapee
- Smellow
- Gas Station My Salvation
- McMurray Arrival
- McMurray Cancun
- McMurray Routine
- McMurray Fade
- Zesty Jogging Tempo
- Pick Up the Book
- Process
- Boxer Bad News
- Bad Job Blues
- I Know Me
- Alberta Clouds
- Broken Clouds
- Make Your Own Music
- Down the Road
- Sitting at a Desk
- Debt
- Road Rage
- Old Blue is Dying
- Run Away
- Looking Back
- Crash
Notes
After two weeks in Alaska, it was time to head back. This was a bittersweet moment for me. I was sad to be leaving Alaska, but still had a couple weeks in Canada ahead of me. The logistics of the upcoming move were starting to weigh on my mind, and my job was looking less secure, which added a bit of gloom. Yet, the sun was shining and the hills were beckoning.
The first batch of a cappella ideas and improvs was recorded in Alaska, and is silly and hyper. Ten days later, in Canada, my mood was much gloomier. In the middle are piano tracks from Fort McMurray, where I visited a friend.
Songs
Coming Down from Denali
- Alcan Back track 1
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 5:16
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I was leaving Denali, and a bit bummed. That's one of my favorite places in the world, and I was sad to leave it.
Lyrics to "Coming Down from Denali":
[scat] i'm driving down i'm driving down from denali drivin' down the highway towards talkeetna oh i'm coming down i'm coming down from denali and the sun's coming out the sun's coming out on denali oh i'm driving down i'm driving down from denali the sun's coming out the sun's coming out on talkeetna [scat] oh i'm driving down i'm driving down from denali oh i'm driving down towards the kenai sun's coming out trees are in shadows but the mountains are not staring in ??? the sun glistening white [scat] i'm coming down i'm coming down from denali but the sun's coming out the sun's coming out on denali and while i'm coming down i'm driving down from denali the sun's coming out the sun's coming out all over it's getting hot in the car as i'm driving i thinking of putting the window down, yes really last night i was freezing but now i am starting to sweat i guess that's the way things go when you're by yourself you let things get to the extremes before you change you tell yourself you will adapt but with no prodding you don't it's okay if you continue that way as long as you reflect on it when you're in doubt it's okay if you smile all the time i'm coming down i'm coming down from denali and the sun's coming out the sun's coming out on denali so while i'm coming down i'm driving down from denali i hope the sun's coming out the sun's coming out on me on me on me
(c) 2001 Trex
Road Under You
- Alcan Back track 2
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 2:07
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
A driving song.
Lyrics to "Road Under You":
driving down the road in my little car tiny little wheels get me so far getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you getcha getcha getcha getcha road under me getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you road under me driving down the road but my mood is coming up i'm driving down the road but my mood is coming up i'm driving down the road but my mood is coming up gotta getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you getcha getcha getcha getcha road under me getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you everybody is looking at me singing singing singing in my little civic looking like a lunatic i broke the rhythm but do i look like i care i did it again but do i look like i care? all i got is a little snippet all i can do is repeat it getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you i gotcha gotcha gotcha gotcha road under me getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you road under me i'm driving down the road but my mood is coming up i'm driving down the road but my mood is coming up i'm driving down the road but my mood is coming up i hate repeating myself more than three times driving down the road in my little civic speaking to a tape recorder, look like i am sick all right that was stupid, a stupid lyric well if you don't like it you can suck my tailpipe getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you i gotta gotta gotta gotta mic on me getcha getcha getcha getcha road under you i gotcha gotcha gotcha gotcha mic on me driving down the road in my tiny little car redudant little phrases don't carry me so far driving down the road in my beat-up little car tiny little wheels they carry me so far
(c) 2001 Trex
Gotta Snippet
- Alcan Back track 3
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:27
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is how songs start.
Lyrics to "Gotta Snippet":
i got a snippet i got a snippet but not much else i can repeat it i can repeat it but not much else i got a snippet i got a snippet but not much else i can repeat it i can repeat it but i'll spare you
(c) 2001 Trex
Caffeine
- Alcan Back track 4
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:09
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Too much coffee.
Lyrics to "Caffeine":
caffeine, caffeine, in my head caffeine, caffeine, make me drive caffeine, caffeine, make me hyper yeah
(c) 2001 Trex
White Line Yellow Line
- Alcan Back track 5
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 4:13
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Trying to stay on the road and make up songs at the same time is hard! So is the pavement.
Lyrics to "White Line Yellow Line":
white line yellow line white line yellow line white line yellow line stay between oh man i'm gonna try that again white line yellow line ooh, going 75 white line yellow line white line shoot, i screwed up again yes you're gonna hear this another time at least okay? here we go white line yellow line white line yellow line stay between the lines and you'll be fine white line yellow line going 75 slow it down put both hands on the wheel well maybe just one at some point the caffeine rush with crash i hope i won't here's a little song i sang last night or was it the afternoon? i don't care while i was jogging or actually i was walking up the mountains in the air this is how rap was born they can think a lot faster than i can this is pathetic and i think i will edit it out because it's sad, it's very sad it's an indication of my inability to improvised the enthusiasm is outrunning the mental agility that was really bad basically imagine this toddler who is very enthusiastically beaming at a pile of presents and he's running, running towards the presents running towards the presents and he trips and he falls and he cries except i don't cry; i just sing that's my way of crying; i sing and sing: please pay attention to my emotions although i don't think this has much to do with emotions it has more to do with caffeine on an empty stomach see? little toddler jumping, running, hopping, skipping nothing i say is turning out right nothing i say is coming okay nothing i say is working today white line yellow line white line yellow line stay between the lines and you'll be fine see the sign: 65 see the sign: 65 driving 60 or 65 and you'll be fine white line yellow line white line yellow line drive between the lines and you'll be fine see the sign: 65 see the sign: 65 drive 60 and 65 take your time and you'll be fine white line yellow line see the lines between the lines don't try to improvise or you'll screw up your rhymes white line yellow line don't try to be clever see you blew it, you ruined it you killed the song it's all your fault fall back on the same notes because you cannot improvise with your voice this time white line yellow line stay between the lines look at the sign and look at the sky take your time and you'll be fine see the trees and the hills oh this is tough rhyme and i think i should stop while i'm behind
(c) 2001 Trex
Tourists
- Alcan Back track 6
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:26
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I was getting progressively irritated by tour busses.
Lyrics to "Tourists":
it is a tour bus, a tour bus, full of tourists this is a honda, a honda, full of travis another tour bus, a tour bus, full of tourists but this is a honda, a honda, full of travis look at the tourists, look at the tourists, look at the sleepy tourists see the travis, see the travis, see the smiling travis look at the grumpy tourists, the grumpy tourists, the grumpy tourists see the laughing travis, the smiling travis, the singing travis look at the old tourists, the smelling tourists, the grumpy tourists see the beaming travis, the happy travis, the hyper travis look at the old tourists, the crippled tourists, the staggering tourists see the awesome travis, the clever travis, the smiling travis look at the hideous tourists, the glum tourists, the odious tourists well, travis is a tourist what? at least he's doing it himself and not relying on the navigation skills of others because when you rely upon the navigation skills of others you are no longer holding the reins you are a mere passenger in life thank you that is why i am smiling and hyper that, plus the caffeine
(c) 2001 Trex
Cruise Control
- Alcan Back track 7
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:05
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Still hyper, listing things that would make road trips more convenient. This was before the astronaut diaper incident. :)
Lyrics to "Cruise Control":
i want cruise control and i want a/c i want a radio, that sounds good to me i want the gas and the break on the steering wheel one had should control it all, and either hand shall do i wanna an exercise bike as i drive down the road and i'll never have to leave the car i want a laptop computer and a built in commode and i'll never have to leave the car i want cruise control and i want a/c i want a radio, that sounds good to me i want the gas and the break on the steering wheel one had should control it all, either hand shall do i want an exercise bike as i drive down the road i wanna pedal in the car i want a laptop computer and a built in commode and i'll never have to leave the car i want a built-in espresso machine
(c) 2001 Trex
Verse Chorus Bridge
- Alcan Back track 8
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:52
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
The anatomy of a song.
Lyrics to "Verse Chorus Bridge":
this is the verse this is the verse the verse comes first the verse comes first this is the chorus it's different from the verse which is worse: the chorus or the verse? this is the verse it comes first which is worse: the chorus or the verse? this is the chorus it's different from the verse which is worse: the chorus or the verse? this is the verst the verst? the verst verst I ever wrote this is the verse it comes first which is worse: the chorus or the verse? this is the chorus it's different from the verse which is worse: the chorus or the verse? the bridge is worse the bridge is worse i think we'll agree that the bridge is worse this is the verse this is the verse it comes first yes, this is the verse and this is the chorus it's different from the verse which is worse: the chorus or the verse? the bridge is worst the bridge is worst i think we'll agree that the bridge is worst oh this is the verse repeat the verse oh this is the verse repeat the verse
(c) 2001 Trex
Just Kidding
- Alcan Back track 9
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:12
- Travis Emmitt - talking
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Hmm. Does it feel like I'm wasting your time?
Lyrics to "Just Kidding":
all right i'm gonna spare you the rest of that it went on for about 15 minutes just kidding, it only really went on for about 14 and a half just kidding, it only really went on for about 14 minutes oh, i'm just kidding, it only really went on for about 13 minutes and 30 seconds no, i'm just teasing, it only went on for 13 minutes nah, it only really went on for about 12 minutes and 30 seconds nah, i'm just joshing you, it only went on for 12 minutes eh, it only went on for about 11 minutes and 30 seconds actually, to be honest, it only went on for about 11 minutes no, seriously, 10 minutes 30 seconds or actually, you know, 10 minutes well, 9 and a half is actually a better estimate but to be precise, 9 is better uh, 8 and a half is more realistic 8's even better, even closer 7 and a half, now that is my reevaluation of the time it took to finish that song although 7 minutes might be closer i think i've reevaluated everything and it sounds like 6 and a half minutes.. all right i'm gonna shut up now
(c) 2001 Trex
Caffeine Pellets
- Alcan Back track 10
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:56
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Yeah, blame the chemicals!
Lyrics to "Caffeine Pellets":
got the little caffeine pellets in the head they make you obnoxious got the little caffeine pellets in your head they make you obnoxious got the little caffeine pellets in the head they make you too talkative got the little caffeine pellets in the head they make you too obnoxiousw and if anyone is around they'll take you to shut up and if anyone is around they'll take you to clam up and if anyone is around they'll take you to hush up and if no one's around you'll just wear your voice out got the little caffeine pellets in the head and they make you obnoxious got the little caffeine pellets in the head and they make you too talkative got the little caffeine pellets in the head and they make you distracted from what you're supposed to be doing which is slowing down to 50 or 45 or 30 or whatever it is here it's a red light ok
(c) 2001 Trex
Radio Scan
- Alcan Back track 11
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:39
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
My radio wasn't picking up anyuthing. Fortunately I had some tapes, but it was hard to reach them.
Lyrics to "Radio Scan":
the radio scan goes around and around again the radio scan goes around and around again middle of nowhere, picking up nothing middle of nowhere, picking up nothing the radio scan goes around and around again the radio scan goes around and around again middle of nowhere, picking up nothing middle of nowhere, picking up nothing the radio scan goes around and around again the radio scan goes around and around again middle of nowhere, picking up nothing middle of nowhere, picking up nothing the radio scan goes around and around again get your tapes out, get your tapes out again we're in the backwoods, in the backwoods again middle of nowhere, picking up nothing middle of nowhere, picking up nothing get your tapes out, get your tapes out again get your tapes out, get your tapes out again middle of nowhere, picking up nothing middle of nowhere, singing about nothing middle of nowhere, picking up tapes again grab those tapes and pick your tapes again listen to tapes again and again and again i'm in the middle of nowhere, picking up nothing picking up nothing, picking up nothing middle of nowhere, picking up nothing again
(c) 2001 Trex
Talk Radio
- Alcan Back track 12
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:22
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I was getting bored.
Lyrics to "Talk Radio":
when i drive long distance i want talk radio npr or even christian stations when i drive long distance, yes i want the radio to keep me entertained and/or awake awake is preferable entertained is secondary i need some more tunes for my head 'cause i'm starting to repeat every single thing with a stupid accent stuck in a rut, need some influx something, something, something i'm crying out for something something, something, something crying out for something i need something, something, something crying out for something ooh i saw the mountain it was glorious a very clear day and like an idiot i'm driving away from it here comes this fake accent for no particular reason or maybe it's because my direction is south and subconsciously i try to get myself prepared to go to the lower 48 not that in bellingham they speak like this and my voice is starting to go and you say praise the lord, pray to the lord that travis shuts up, that travis shuts up
(c) 2001 Trex
Staple
- Alcan Back track 13
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:08
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I'm my own heckler.
Lyrics to "Staple":
music's my staple so staple your mouth shut music's my staple so staple your mouth shut
(c) 2001 Trex
Back to the Land
- Alcan Back track 14
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:28
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Making fun of Canadians' "oot and aboot". :)
Lyrics to "Back to the Land":
back to the land of the can-canadians back to the oot-oot-oot back to the land of the can-canadians back to the oot-oot-oot gas has high prices food has high prices books have high prices but the oot-oot-oot is free back to the land of the can-canadians back to the oot-oot-oot back to the land of the can-canadians back to the oot-oot-oot
(c) 2001 Trex
From Alaska
- Alcan Back track 15
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:52
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I was getting tired of Alaska drivers.
Lyrics to "From Alaska":
hey man, i'm from alaska, and i won't ask ya, i'll just pass ya hey man, i'm from alaska, and i won't ask ya, i'll just pass ya double line, schmouble line, it's a double line yellow line, schmellow line, it's just a yellow lines hey man, i'm from alaska, and i won't ask ya, i'll just pass ya hey man, i'm from alaska, and i will tailgate ya forever because you're from the 48, the inferior 48 you're a peon, a tourist, a miniscule ant hey man, i'm from alaska, and i won't ask ya, i'll just pass ya hey man, i'm from alaska, and i will tailgate ya forever double line, schmouble line, yellow line, schmellow line who cares, i'll just pass ya, that's my answer, i'm from alaska
(c) 2001 Trex
Elitism
- Alcan Back track 16
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:53
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Very tired of Alaskans.
Lyrics to "Elitism":
elitism, elitism i've gotta a little bit of elitism i've gotta a little bit of elitism elitism, elitism i gotta a big bit of elitism in the moutains of today elitism, alaskan elitism elitism, latitude-based elitism i gotta little bit of elitism latitude-based elitism i got elitism and i can't finish that thought
(c) 2001 Trex
Needapee
- Alcan Back track 17
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:15
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
All that Coffee...
Lyrics to "Needapee":
i needapee, i needapee, i needapee, i needapee i needapee, i needapee, i needapee, i needapee i needapee, i needapee, i needapee, i needapee i needapee, i needapee, i needapee, i needapee needapee, needapee, needapee, needapee needapee, needapee, needapee, needapee needapee, needapee...
(c) 2001 Trex
Smellow
- Alcan Back track 18
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 0:04
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I don't remember what this meant.
Lyrics to "Smellow":
silver plus yellow is smellow yes, silver plus yellow is smellow
(c) 2001 Trex
Gas Station My Salvation
- Alcan Back track 19
- recorded: 2001-07-06
- location: Alaska
- length: 1:06
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Getting to the critical point...
Lyrics to "Gas Station My Salvation":
gas salvation, my salvation gas salvation, my salvation fireweed inspires me the sound of "e" makes me wanna pee i need a gas salvation, my salvation need a gas salvation, my salvation fireweed inspire me the sound of "e" rhymes with "pee" i need a gas salvation, my salvation need a gas salvation, my salvation psst psst, hey what psst psst, hey what psst psst, hey what you talking to me? reminds me of pee i need a gas salvation, my salvation! the mountain's out today did you say "pee"? i need a gas salvation, my salvation!!!
(c) 2001 Trex
McMurray Arrival
- Alcan Back track 20
- recorded: 2001-07-13
- location: Fort McMurray
- length: 7:44
- Travis Emmitt - piano
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I was visiting a friend in Fort McMurray, Alberta (from 2001-07-11 to 2001-07-13). He worked at the local university. One day he took me there so that he could do a little work, and I hunted around until I found the practice rooms. I hopped on a piano, and started recording.
This song's okay. It's tuneful and trancy, but sounds a little tentative to me. Maybe that's because I was self-conscious from being in a strange place. Or maybe it's because this was my first time on a piano since Bellingham (2001-06-21).
Towards the end it gets faster, but also more boring. Oh well.
McMurray Cancun
- Alcan Back track 21
- recorded: 2001-07-13
- location: Fort McMurray
- length: 3:07
- Travis Emmitt - piano
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is a sloppy piano rendition of "Christmas in Cancun". It's more upbeat than the last song, but very clumbsy. And a little too safe for my tastes. How many times must I record this song, anyway? Well, I guess I can always regard it as an exercise.
The ending is very repetitive and boring.
McMurray Routine
- Alcan Back track 22
- recorded: 2001-07-13
- location: Fort McMurray
- length: 3:06
- Travis Emmitt - piano
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is mysterious and kinda trancy. Not too bad. Or good. Just kinda there.
McMurray Fade
- Alcan Back track 23
- recorded: 2001-07-13
- location: Fort McMurray
- length: 0:36
- Travis Emmitt - piano
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Here's the final improv from Fort McMurray. It's tuneful but short. I faded it in and out, but don't remember why.
Zesty Jogging Tempo
- Alcan Back track 24
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:10
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I left Fort McMurray and was driving down towards the Canadian Rockies. I wanted to record some songs which I could sing when jogging.
Lyrics to "Zesty Jogging Tempo":
third of a jar of salsa ha ha zesty all right this is jogging tempo deh deh deh deh deh deh here, let me close the window so i can beat on something
(c) 2001 Trex
Pick Up the Book
- Alcan Back track 25
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 3:04
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I think the idea was to put down the book and look out the window. Not a problem when I was driving.
I later used some of these lyrics in a Tripecac song: "Puff".
Lyrics to "Pick Up the Book":
1 2 pick up the book actually put down the book put down the book open your eyes, lift up your chin and take a good look you put down the book put down the book open your eyes, pick up your chin and take another look put down the book ok so it's very simple put down the book it's gotta be very monotonous put down the book part has to be simple enough so that it's not irritating when you hear it billions of times you might just want to get rid of everything and have it be: put down the book put down the book put down the book put down the book ok all right now you might have something also like: put down the book put down the book put down the book put down the book and the idea is gotta be just krautrock, very repetitive put down the book and of course the moral of the song is: put down the book and pay attention to what's going on around you at the end of the song we want: pick up the book and either the song ends abruptly i don't like that because it's kinda cheesy or you can have a point to it another option is to go: pick up the book and immediately segue into the next song which is gonna be p.u.f.f. or puff and of course this is an anti-drug song p.u.f.f. stands for: pick it up, fast-forward the whole point of this song is that when you are doing drugs or anything that is kind of a something that picks up the pace then what you are doing is fast-forwarding through life and you're just simpling going blblblblb and you're just gonna die that much sooner so it's kinda anti-drugs or it can also be considered anti-smoking i don't know, whatever pick up the book pick up the book open your eyes, lift up your chin and take another look gotta pick up the book leaf through the book put down the book and pick up the book and put down the book and pick up the book pick up the book pick up the book close your eyes, lower up your chin something something something something ook put down the book put down the book open your eyes, pick up your chin and take a good look
(c) 2001 Trex
Process
- Alcan Back track 26
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 1:21
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is silly. I was making fun of new age therapy.
Lyrics to "Process":
every thought is a process a chemical process, a physical process and every emotion is a process a chemical process, a physical process some people believe there are residues left in your body after each process some people think there are residues left in your body after each process some people like to clean out the residues left in your body after each process some people think crying is a process that cleans out the residues from another process and some people think hugging is a process that cleans out the residues from another process some people thinking anger is a process a chemical process, a physical process some people think hate is a process manifested deep down in your body some people think enemas and colon therapy are a really good process to remove the residues from another process, a chemical process some people think gentle waters is a good process, a chemical process to remove the residues from another process a hateful process
(c) 2001 Trex
Boxer Bad News
- Alcan Back track 27
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:18
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
My work was having layoffs. I and was driving too fast.
Lyrics to "Boxer Bad News":
everything was fine until 2 days ago boxer told me the bad news, that 18 people had to go i just passed a cop but he didn't ever slow i didn't see any lights so i think i'm okay to go
(c) 2001 Trex
Bad Job Blues
- Alcan Back track 28
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:28
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Not feeling very happy about my job and the end of my trip.
Lyrics to "Bad Job Blues":
i'm in bad mood today post-andrew depression i feel uptight today tired of the situation i really want some stability i want a job that will last and not take a huge toll on me but that will instead be something fun oh god
(c) 2001 Trex
I Know Me
- Alcan Back track 29
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 3:38
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Very self-centric. Silly at the end.
Lyrics to "I Know Me":
i know me i need stability dependability i need me own routine i know me and symbolically it seems a tragedy to go from we to me but i know me i'll get stability i'll have dependability and you will see, i'll be happy i'll be happy, i'll be happy i know me i can be happy in fact right now that may be but symbolically it is a tragedy to go from we to me but that's okay, i'll be happy sing along that's okay, i'll be happy everybody that's okay, i am happy i must manifest my happiness we all must manifest our happiness this is a stupid song that line does not contribute anything that you haven't heard before not even an ounce of humor or anything more this is called beating the horse i do it until my voice is hoarse yes, this is called beating the horse repeat myself until my voice is hoarse this is beating the horse repeat until you're hoarse if you are smiling then you are seriously ill well, maybe you're not but maybe you had your fill of this and you think it's time for travis to try something different because when you beat beat beat something over the head when it is dead other people all they see is a cloud of red dried up red blood cells red spread spread over the air from the dried up head that you're beating beating beating beating beating beating beating the horse is dead the horse is dead beating its head stomp on its head see the red spread spread dead dead dead you're thinking travis stop, please, stop, please, stop, please you're thinking travis no, stop, no, stop, no it's time to stop, yes yes yes you've overstayed your welcome you cannot sing worth anything in fact you sound like a foghorn that is a stupid stupid lyric foghorns don't sound like this foghorns might sound like this but i don't know i've never heard a foghorn i don't think i have and i'm being really obnoxious i just see birds in the road travis shut up now you've gone on far too long now you're acting like a drunk persisting, persisting, persisting insisting that you be heard you are a really bad nerd
(c) 2001 Trex
Alberta Clouds
- Alcan Back track 30
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:20
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Clouds. Mmm.
Lyrics to "Alberta Clouds":
i see the clouds in the sky and they are so pretty alberta is so dry but the clouds are so pretty they are dramatic and i see colors too in white shadows all around me i can't carry a tune
(c) 2001 Trex
Broken Clouds
- Alcan Back track 31
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 1:55
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Another rambling tune.
Lyrics to "Broken Clouds":
white clouds they look impressive now but i think they're not as white as they're supposed to be i think they're gray clouds i still think they're pretty i hate to rhyme on accented syllables but i must do it or maybe i should stop repeating myself because it doesn't contribute anything to break a word unnaturally is really bad but every once in a while i have to do it or so i tell myself if i were smarter then maybe i would not have to break up words just to fit a stupid meter in a stupid song but that's ok, i will not carry much longer don't you hate when people break up really normal words and make them stupid and staccato because they separate the important parts because it's the connections between the syllables and the emphasis and the way it rhythms yeah amen [scat]
(c) 2001 Trex
Make Your Own Music
- Alcan Back track 32
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:23
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Singing along to the radio. Any idea what song it is?
Lyrics to "Make Your Own Music":
make your own music in your head make your own music in your head i got my own music in my head i make my own music in my head make your own music in your head make your own music in your head
(c) 2001 Trex
Down the Road
- Alcan Back track 33
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 1:25
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is kind of an interview with myself. It bangs on the "one man's trash" theme.
Lyrics to "Down the Road":
why're you going so slow? well i don't even know guess i'm having too much fun driving down this road but all i see is trees well, everybody sees different things and different scenes driving down this road why do you like driving alone? well, i don't even know i think one time i cared about it a long time ago why are you driving so far? well, first of all, i like the car for me it's a little home on the road like a stool at the bar how can you spend so much money? now that isn't even funny sometimes i think it's just cents down the sink but let's not talk about money no, let's not talk about money come on, now, let's not talk about money
(c) 2001 Trex
Sitting at a Desk
- Alcan Back track 34
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:15
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
Riffing about day jobs...
Lyrics to "Sitting at a Desk":
'cause we're sitting at a desk 40 hours a week and that gives us the impression that our time is cheap and yes, we're making money but if we don't know how to save it then it just means we're giving away our lives for free
(c) 2001 Trex
Debt
- Alcan Back track 35
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 3:56
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This trip and the upcoming move to Bellingham cause me to go into debt. Not fun.
Lyrics to "Debt":
there is no way to avoid this debt gonna gonna go down into debt there is no way to avoid this debt yes, i'm gonna go down into debt i'm gonna, gonna go down into debt gonna, gonna go down into debt gonna, gonna go down into debt gonna, gonna gonna go down but maybe i won't feel a fret maybe i won't frown maybe i won't see a ??? maybe i won't go into debt but i'm gonna go down yes, i'm gonna, gonna go down into debt or i'm gonna go down either it's bellingham and in debt and virginia and not and if i stay with bellingham i'll go into debt but if i retreat then i won't but i retreated last time and look what it got me got me two years of nothing maybe this time i'll stick to my guns and stay out in bellingham but i'm gonna go, gonna go down into yes, i'm gonna go down well, it's either that or return to the east well, i'd rather go down i'd rather take my money down into debt than take my mood down but will the money and the mood go down into debt at the same, same time well, i'm gonna gonna go down into debt yes, i'm gonna gonna go down gonna go down into debt well, i'm gonna go smiling gonna gonna go down into debt will i go with a frown gonna gonna gonna go down into debt or will i go smiling when i'm in debt will i ever ever fret about ever ever not being in the debt and when i'm not in debt will i fret about going back to the debt is it like when you're fat and you always fret about getting fat again or is debt something that is easier to avoid because you can't really dip into debt in a way but can you really get fat in a day? no and i find i worry about fat fat fat fat will i always fret about debt and fat and fat and debt will there be worries, will you always have worries will you worry, worry, worry will everybody worry about every other worry and we all we do is worry will we go into debt, do we all go into debt are we all in debt is a money debt something over which to fret or is a money debt just something that's artificial like a little bit of fat or is a money debt something over which to fret is it really really bad see, i don't know, because i've never been in debt this will be my first time in debt debt debt debt makes me wanna fret debt sucks debt sucks
(c) 2001 Trex
Road Rage
- Alcan Back track 36
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:14
- Travis Emmitt - talking
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I've got a mighty car!
Lyrics to "Road Rage":
this is funny just now i got so mad at another driver he was passing me i was going the speed limit and he passing me aggressive, aggressive, aggressive so i decided i'm gonna honk i'm gonna honk and i pounded on the steering wheel and it went deep
(c) 2001 Trex
Old Blue is Dying
- Alcan Back track 37
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 2:43
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is based on a story I was "writing" in the car (by dictating to the tape recording). The story was in turn based on a dream.
Lyrics to "Old Blue is Dying":
old blue is dying old blue is dying dying old blue is dying dying old blue is dying old blue is dying old blue is dying dying old blue is dying dying old blue is dying old blue is dying and i'm feeling nothing old blue is dying and i'm feeling nothing why can't i feel anything why can't i feel anything why can't i feel anything why can't i feel anything old blue is dying and i'm feeling nothing old blue is dying and i'm feeling nothing why can't i feel anything why can't i feel anything turn my back on old blue don't wanna watch him dying walk back to my house walk down through the village see the flames afar see the house on fire see the flames are raging see the houses dying all my things are burning all my things are burning all my things are burning all my things are burning see my life dissolving see my life is burning see my life disappearing see my life is gone what am i gonna do now how am i gonna carry on how am i gonna do now what am i gonna carry on all my things are burning so what am i gonna carry on all my life is burning what am i gonna carry on
(c) 2001 Trex
Run Away
- Alcan Back track 38
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 1:50
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This follows up the story idea in "Old Blue is Dying". Mostly scat.
Lyrics to "Run Away":
run away that's the best thing to do gonna run away gonna leave all my stuff gonna run away that's the best thing to do gotta get away gonna start all again gonna head to the beach that's my way out gotta head through the briars listen for the shouts gonna head up the hill no one behind gonna climb up the cliff it's a long way down gonna make it gotta make it gonna make it gonna get away gonna leave it all behind 'cause i can't take it i've made up my mind
(c) 2001 Trex
Looking Back
- Alcan Back track 39
- recorded: 2001-07-14
- location: Canada
- length: 0:21
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
This is the third part of the story idea started in "Old Blue is Dying".
Lyrics to "Looking Back":
i'm looking down at my old town and from this perspective i'm standing rather tall oh thinking back through my memories and my worries are seeming rather small
(c) 2001 Trex
Crash
- Alcan Back track 40
- recorded: 2001-07-15
- location: Canada
- length: 2:34
- Travis Emmitt - vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
I was returning from a hike near Jasper. It was a scary hike, with lots of fog. I was worried about bears, and needed to make noise. I chanted this song to scare away bears (or, rather, to make myself feel better). When I got back to the car, I recorded it.
Lyrics to "Crash":
hiking song that i made up while i was hiking down the mountain it was at the opal hills, lake maligne so crash watch out where you're going or you'll crash watch out where you're going or you'll crash pack out your trash don't forget to pack out all your trash don't forget to pack out all your trash splash when we find some water we'll go splash when we find some water we'll go splash rash watch out for the plants, they'll give you rash watch out for the bushes and the rash but the idea is that it's a hiking song and it's extreme repetitive and it's gotta be at the pace of walking along 1 2 1 2 left right left right and the idea is that as people actually see these things whether it's bushes or trash or they trip or something that they'll immediately think about the song and they'll start singing
(c) 2001 Trex