Free Country
“Alias James is a rough and tumble character, a renegade rocker whose take on Americana brings him into that special sphere where Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson chose to reside while inventing what came to be called outlaw country music.” – Goldmine Magazine
“There’s no doubt James has been influenced by many genres within the country frame. Alias has his Merle Haggard & Buck Owens solidly in his soul. He has value-added.” – Americana Highways
“The best news is how powerful songs like “Another Last Chance,” “Catch Myself,” Kickin’ Up a Shitstorm” and “Where You Used to Be” are. There is a feeling like there was in the mid-1970s when artists like Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver and a few others said the hell with how things were being done in Music City and decided to do it their own way.” – Bill Bentley
“He has good dark lyrics & creative poignant lines. “Kickin’ Up a Shitstorm,” is striking, while “Where You Used To Be,” is distinctive & penetrating, a great country song…simply great.” – Americana Highways
“Free Country is traditional country for tomorrow, and as close to the real thing as modern times will allow. Well done.” MIDWEST RECORD
“Hell (If I Don’t Cry),” is a bonafide country-rocker & first single released. That will get feet moving & bosoms shifting in their peasant blouses. Love it.” – John Apice
From reviews of the first single “Hell (If I Don’t Cry)” –
“It’s impossible to not clap and belt out along with the chorus.” – THE COUNTRY NOTE
“Hell (If I Don’t Cry)” boasts an infectious chorus enhanced by a traditional country-leaning production, with enough steel guitar to make any listener instantly fall in love with the song. I can’t wait to see where Alias goes.” – OK COUNTRY
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Credits
ALIAS JAMES
FREE COUNTRY
produced by Alias James
engineers: Alias James, JP McLean, Pablo Quintero
mastered by Mark Fuller
album art: Mariah Lander
Alias James: vocals, guitars
Dave Zirbel: pedal steel
JP McLean: bass
Ezra Lipp: drums
Jenee Fleanor: fiddle on “Free Country” and “Temptation (Vision To The Blind)”
Candy Girard: fiddle on “Shenandoah Farewell” and “Blues Up”
Prayer Chapel singers: chorus vocals on “Temptation (Vision To The Blind)”
contact: ravenhoodmusic@gmail.com
Lyrics
ANOTHER LAST CHANCE
end of the summer comes slow until the day
chilly wind starts to blow
but it takes forever until you know
you could have it all and never know
and it’s another last chance
comin back again
comin by like a satellite
and how long has it been since you had
somethin makes you want to stay
up all night
life in the saddle means broken bones
that take forever but somehow mend
and it’s been forever since you been alone
watchin a dream go round the bend
are you gonna hang on
to a world that’s gone
and bury me not on the lone prairie
is it a last chance
or just a cowboy song
that keeps you hangin on
to wait and see
and it’s another last chance
comin back again
comin by like a satellite
and how long has it been
since you had
somethin makes you want to stay
up all night
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
FREE COUNTRY
he said I’ll be in your dream
if you’ll be in mine OK
she said boy open your eyes and tell me
whose dream it is anyway
it’s a free country
and you can see what you want to see
it’s a free country
she said boy you got a ghost town heart
empty streets and swingin doors
and I’ll let you know when I find what it is
I might be lookin for
it’s a free country
I can go where I want to be
it’s a free country
late night flashin lights
hands on the hood
what you doin here anyway
guess you must’ve misunderstood
hey even if you look like me
it’s a free country
team ropin champ in a one horse town
dreaming of the rodeo
ain’t nothin what it used to be
and California’s sayin let’s go
he says it’s a free country
ain’t nothin stoppin me
it’s a free country
it’s a free country
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music/ ASCAP)
TEMPTATION (Vision to the Blind)
bout a half past crazy
slow motion fallin from grace
just a touch and just a taste and just a night sweat
just a dream about the wasteland and can’t get
walkin on a thin line
holdin back the ocean
through the battle through the war better levitate
wake up lookin for something to get your head straight
pushin down on me
maybe to you it don’t matter
how it’s gonna be
if someone’s life gets shattered
temptation
I can take it
temptation
there’s a man in prison
says he wouldn’t do it again
comin at you like a twin tornado
all you need now is an anchor and a halo
and you’re like a vision
to the blind
it’s a lonesome world
sometimes for everybody
and what’s it gonna hurt
if they never know
temptation
I can take it
is heaven callin
or am I fallin down
from my perfect cloud
if nothin’s broken
why am I hopin
you are comin back around
temptation
I can take it
temptation
and you’re like a vision
to the blind
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
CATCH MYSELF
dirt road and a two room shack
only thing keeps me comin back
then I catch myself
go on and be all you can be
last thing you said to me
and then I catch myself
could it be that I’m mistaken or
maybe it’s the world that’s breakin
like a heart can’t handle the memory
like a bullet through my soul
leavin an empty hole
leaves tremblin in the tree
I can feel it coming over me
and then I catch myself
out of the corner of my eye
I can see you holdin up the sky
then I catch myself
sunrise I wake up callin
sundown and I’m still fallin
and I know that’s all that it’s gonna be
like everywhere I go
and everything I used to know
hold my fever down
hold on
come on baby
hold on
it’s all good as it can be
when you’re ridin right next to me
and then I catch myself
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
KICKIN UP A SHITSTORM
the weather woman’s laughin like it’s gonna be just another day
and the sun comes up and everybody sleep walkin in a dream
and they don’t know how but it always turns out OK
wonder what’s gonna happen when there’s nothin moving on the screen
are you gonna wake up
when it starts to shake up
and the lifeline to your eyes
starts to break up
are you gonna wonder
when you hear the thunder
and it starts kickin up a shitstorm
wonder what you gonna get under
the old man says boy can you pass the mirror test
when the zombies come you know you’re gonna have to wake up
do you wanna push a button pop a pill kiss the screen like the rest
what you gonna do when your last good reception starts to break up
see it on a hashtag
gonna be a big drag
when it blows up in your face
like a fucked up airbag
are you gonna show up
when it starts to blow up
when it’s kickin up a shitstorm
and everything around you gettin tore up
well it’s just another dream and that’s all that it ever was
and it’s a long way back from a ride on the nightmare side
but you wonder when you’re out lookin for another buzz
bout the leaves shaking in the trees
and the ripples in the water down where the river’s wide
are you gonna wake up
when the lifeline to your eyes starts to break up
are you gonna wonder
when you hear the thunder
and it starts kickin up a shitstorm
wonder what you gonna get under
when it starts kickin up a shitstorm
and everything around you gettin tore up
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
BLUE ENOUGH FOR TWO
I’m blue enough for two
don’t let it get to you
no don’t catch my cold
you know I’d love to hold you
but I’d feel bad
to see you sad
better go before I do
I’m blue enough for two
it’s hard to start again
when I remember when
she said she wanted more
as she walked out the door
and I don’t know why
I bought the lie
bout a dream won’t be coming true
I’m blue enough for two
your sunshine eyes
sunny skies
the only blue on you
is in my eyes
it’s no surprise
cause all I see is blue
if I get up this hill
I’m climbing still
and I get to the view
another one more time
when maybe I am through
bein blue enough for two
I’m blue enough
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
HELL (if i don't cry)
sittin on a tailgate listenin to George Strait
should woulda coulda but it’s lookin like it’s too late
dude’s got a broken heart tryin not to fall apart
lifeline flat line fallin right off the chart
takin off time for livin
second on chances right before you see
I had the sound of a thousand angels singin to me
now I’m guessing that this is the way it’s gonna be
hell if I know
hell if I know why
hell is where I go
and hell if I don’t cry
downhill no brakes hello Alabama Shakes
gravity draggin me into the land of heartaches
broke down tough guy in for a rough ride
all alone dead phone sittin by the road side
they say the devil used to live in heaven
once upon a time before he fell
oh yeah I was lovin that living with an angel
now I’m waking up every day and I’m in
hell if I know
hell if I know why
hell is where I go
and hell if I don’t cry
wake up in a truck stop listening to hip hop
turn the key misery laughing and it won’t stop
heartache’s calling Tom Petty’s Fallin
radio preacher sayin call me if you’re stallin
got a heart like the Titanic
goin down to the sound of violins
but that iceberg icecold icewater’s like a sweet dream
down where the flames are burnin up their sins
hell if I know
hell if I know why
hell is where I go
and hell if I don’t cry
maybe it’s a guy thang
just a little more twang
universe in reverse
headed for the big bang
runnin outta rewind
takin over your mind
cruisin while you’re losin
what you know you ain’t gonna find
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
WHERE YOU USED TO BE
well I’m walking uphill
with a trunk on my back
full of our dreams
and your beautiful clothes
and the ground around me
is startin to crack
and I hear hear a door
behind me swing closed
and if you’re gone
who’s walking next to me
there’s a hole in my heart
where you used to be
are you behind my eyes
or are you a ghost
a chalk silhouette
that fades in the rain
a shadow I know
that follows me close
everywhere I been lookin in vain
and the sun comes up
but I can’t see
there’s a hole in my heart
and if you’re gone
who’s walkin next to me
there’s a hole in my heart
where you used to be
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
THOUSAND HEADLIGHTS
thousand headlights from Tennessee
eyes on the road but it ain’t what I see
and it looks like it takes more than miles to get free
I don’t know why
it keeps on killin me
after all of this time
I know highway signs telling me I’m moving on
and I know I could drive for days and still ain’t gone
and I know what they call this road that I’m on
but I don’t know why
it keeps on killin me
after all of this time
hey there you better get off here
I can see you’re all alone
you know if you lived right here
you’d be almost home
and behind every headlight’s a world of pain like me
who would do anything in this world to get free
and I don’t know why
it keeps on killin me
after all of this time
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
SHENDANDOAH FAREWELL (Instrumental)
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
BLUES UP
gseven to eleven
like the weather man says
no silver linin to it
better blues up
better get ready
better look out below
some like to love the leavin
here it comes again
blues up
about to fall like the final judgement
I been about to hell and back
got a double line to lose me baby blues up
like a tornado comin
seein is believin
gimme back my loving soul
oh better get ready
ready to be feelin bad
blues up
some bound to love the leavin
blues up
keeps the honky tonk in business
bartender sees a friend
like the beginning sees the end
blues up
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)
GATHERING CATTLE
night comes kickin and screamin
for what you ain’t done
soon to be dreamin
of missing the very last one
you look out slowly
far as you can see
ain’t it funny
how the last one can turn into three
gathering cattle
(c) 2022 ALIAS JAMES (Ravenhood Music / ASCAP)