We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Citizen Dance

by The American Automobile

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
My blood flows like the Detroit River And my veins are the highway systems And all the cars that populate them They’re all the stolen medication. There’s something in my eye There’s something deep down in the water Like some terrible, prophetic crime You know he’ll never do time. Everyone in Michigan’s a sinner And they’re having heart attacks for dinner A discount in the microwave Gas guzzlin’ superstore slaves. Hang yourself with the shackles of boredom You weak chaos children Will you do the Citizen Dance for me because I’ve got an American Spirit, I’ve got an American heart Will you do the Citizen Dance for me? You do the Citizen Dance right now.
2.
Porch Light 03:22
There’s a boy in your bed And a heart in your chest, I know. And you’re far from home And I’m all alone, you know. But the moon makes me shiver And you come closer to me. I’m so American I swipe this card, and throw this back. And I’ll be outside Smoking under the porch light. But the moon makes me shiver And you come closer to the sun. But the moon makes me shiver And you come closer to me.
3.
If the morning brings me death Like it's been known to do Please don't make a scene Just see that my grave's kept clean. I'll be the type of ghost That'll love you until you die; Until you've turned as blue As the light polluted sky. You know I could wait all night I've already waited my whole life. So spread out your blankets Set up your lawn chairs Empty out your pockets 'Cause you, you are a bottle rocket, oh no. You, you are a bottle rocket.
4.
The sand is cocaine And the Great Lakes are rum. I don’t know where we stand But kid you better run. You’ve got no money, You’ve got no friends, This old town will be the end of you. Part-time drunk And full time forgotten, Get a job with your time allotted Swallowed whole by the factories Swallowed whole by the industry. Toss your shoulders over the bridge And breathe the factory smoke, Because you are liar With a light head and hard hands Gotta go in today So cancel all your no-man-plans.
5.
Saint Johns 04:22
It's hard to be sympathetic When this place is so pathetic I don't want to live here any more I don't want to live here much longer. I think that I'm just gonna lay in bed instead Think that I'll just call in, for seven bucks an hour I won't sell my dignity. Walking home this place has been fucked by Strip malls, interstates, and one too many road signs I want to quit my job But there's nothing here for me.
6.
Commodity 05:40
Well you can’t live forever off of TV-dinners and drugs And someday you’ll find that out when the liquor store screams in your face. But now your veins are tight from loss Too many nights of fingers crossed. You don’t want to live like this anymore You don’t want to live at all. Now the whole world’s gotten paved Your house, your mother’s grocery store, could not be saved. Now you’re staring at a shopping mall so depraved And tomorrow they’re going to ask you to vacate, You couldn’t pay your rent. You don’t want to live here anymore You don’t want to live at all. How much money do you think they make? Probably enough to pay my rent for a lifetime or two. Now they’ve got me hooked on prescription pills. I really think they’re trying to kill. Pump in the poison so the poor folks don't rise up.
7.
I don’t know what’s behind the wine We’re passing out to pass the time And I can’t remember what your laughter sounds like. We’ve been known to do the Citizen Dance, Stuffing pills down our pants to get high Not any more. Well I don’t need to know Just where you were last night You were already there. The black breath on my bed Of a good friend of mine And the thought that he could’ve died. His shoulder pressed to mine On the wooden chest His cough’s been suppressed Passed out in Ella’s hospital bed Of all the beds that I could die in, None is more empty than mine, Just blame it on my softened mind. The walls are all magnets, I keep falling into them at night. My veins are tight. I’ve been dancing with the white lady And you know she’s gonna step on my toes. Well nothing hurts anymore It’s all become commonplace Isn’t that how it should be?
8.
We was field workin' Knees in dirt Dirt on hands Needs in dirt These black problems They don't understand Plant a black life and we grow the land If we dying then we holdin' hands Stand tall Brick buildings and water dams We humans are great We just fuck ourselves What you accomplish That God ain't conjure? Money is evil I be off the juana And don't apart the Father I do my work on a Sunday til' Friday And rest on my Saturdays My Sabbath days be twappin' I believe if you believe and work to top it The universe will stop and help a cause if it be proper So work Good fruits And ya fruits ah work Good too And it will last forever Because that is what Good do And you blessed cause you could choose Oh, I cry, I cry for the workers Oh, we are the great adapters. Oh, I cry, I cry for the workers Oh, we are the great adapters.
9.
I’ve got these cheap motel blues Better than a hospital room. I lived in the bottle Straight out of an American novel. I’ve been a slave almost my whole life To the things I think and the goods that I buy. But nothing has held me down Quite like this failed industrial town. It’s not like I’m waiting around But I’m not doing much else. Everything is a moving part You are just a beating heart for a while. Everything is a moving part You are just a beating heart for a while.

credits

released August 4, 2016

IF YOU'D LIKE A CD COPY OF THIS ALBUM, PLEASE EMAIL: theamericanautomobile@gmail.com

All songs written by aidan
All lyrics written by aidan, but abram co-wrote tracks 1,4,7. Nathan Elliott co-wrote track 5, Tajhmahal Robinson co-wrote track 8.

Produced by Nathan Elliott (2), Brant Boettger & Brendan Seyka (3,5,8,9), a (1,4,5,6,7,8,9)

Recorded between February 20 and July 29, 2016 in multiple locations.

Brant Boettger - vox (8)
Nathan Elliott - guitar (2,5), vox (5)
abram - drums (1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9), vox (8)
Emily Noël - vox (2)
aidan - organ (1,2,6), aux. percussion (4,6), banjo (1,2,5,8), bass (1,6), guitar (all except 9), harmonica (3,6), lap steel (5), piano (2,5,9), vox (all)
Tajhmahal Robinson - vox (8)
Brendan Seyka - organ (5,8), bass (3,5,8,9), lap steel (3), glockenspiel (5), vox (3,8)
Chance Timm - vox (4)
Miles Winchester - trombone (8)

Mixed and Mastered by Nathan Elliott (2), Brant Boettger & Brendan Seyka (3,5,8,9), Randie Strouse (1,4,6,7)

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The American Automobile Michigan

The American Automobile came out of small town isolation. Quiet depression and substance abuse and long drives and light pollution. Truck stops and Laundromats and grocery stores and gas stations. Squatting in abandoned grocery store. Came out of long talks on back porches and basement jam sessions. Learning from friends, breaking up, healing. ... more

contact / help

Contact The American Automobile

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

The American Automobile recommends:

If you like The American Automobile, you may also like: