Cold Hope, Early Thaw

Well, my frickin album is DONE - eleven original tunes that I wrote and recorded between December of 1999 and June of 2000. And I invite you all to listen to it. Well, at least a few tunes anyway. The music is heavily Beatles and Beach Boys influenced, and if you want to cut to the chase, I recommend “Crossed”, “Cold Hope, Early Thaw”, “Your Side”, and “A Bit Bitter”. But there is also some heavy guitar-based stuff. If you download one of my songs, I will personally come over to your house and french-kiss you. I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Lielock is a phony name for a band. Lielock is me. If you hate my music, blame the band. It isn’t my fault.

As I said, the “band” called “Lielock”, is actually me, myself, and I. I did all the vocals, instrumentation, production, and even cleaned the toilets during the breaks.

The album took a little longer than expected, because I couldn’t seem to leave well enough alone.

My main focus is getting a “buzz” out there, and to be heard. Think of the new CD as an “upgrade” from the previous version that I released. Some songs are the same, but many have vast improvements. Maybe you’ll notice them, maybe you won’t. But I do know the new CD is *better* in every way, and the new songs I added fit in quite nicely.

Keep in mind, as I said, that the new “Cold Hope, Early Thaw” is an “upgrade”- no different than Microsoft getting rid of bugs on Windows ‘95. But you’ll hear some signifant improvements, and I truly do want the definitive version of my CD in people’s hands, and not the ones that were circulating before.

I’ve decided not to use my own printer to print up CD covers this time. Looks like i’ll get them done at a Kinko’s or something, because I go through ink like crazy.

LYRICS

Here are the lyrics to my new CD. The name of the record is “Cold Hope, Early Thaw”, and a few ampf’ers have already heard it, and well, I was lazy and didn’t include the lyrics with the disc. After reading them, I find that I have a lot of angst. But angst SELLS. So here they are:

1) PROLOGUE (instrumental)

2) YOU’RE NO MORE

We were friends since we met back in high school
It’s looking like it all was just a phase
You’re seeing someone else and I’m feeling like a fool
I never thought we’d go our seperate ways
But you closed the door
And you’re no more
I saw you both having fun really late at the bar last night
Looked you in the eye, but you couldn’t see me
I guess I really should just stop and give up the fight
But I really thought you and I were meant to be
And then you closed the door
And you’re no more
I gave you my love
And later I learned
No matter how I tried
It didn’t get returned
Then you closed the door
And you’re no more

3) COLD HOPE, EARLY THAW

Outside the snow is falling
It’s about ten below
I feel so melancholy
More than you’ll ever know
It’s just too dark today
And it’s only a quarter to four
The sun won’t shine for me since
You won’t talk to me anymore

4) ALL-TIME LOW

You didn’t get a wink of sleep last night
All wired and flying higher than a kite
Just can’t seem to ever quit
Then you try to drag me through your shit
It’s time for you to go
Your life has reached an all-time low
Don’t have a dime to pay your debts
Don’t have a dime to buy cigarettes
I knew right away that you were done for
The very second I opened my door
It’s time for you to go
Your life has reached an all-time low
Thirty rings on my telephone
You know I’m pretending that i’m not home
I can’t hear you knockin’, you’re as good as gone
Every time I put my headphones on
It’s time for you to go
Your life has reached an all-time low

5) FALL

Been thinking all day
I should have told you back in May
I can’t live like this
We’ve had our share of fun
But when it’s all said and done
I can’t live with your cruelty
You cut me down to inches
When I was ten feet tall
It’s the end of summertime
And now we’re going to fall
I sure do wish you well
Try not to kiss and tell
You won’t make a fool of me again
There’ll be other guys
Who’ll put up with your lies
Time to dust off the old black book
You cut me down to inches
When I was ten feet tall
It’s the end of summertime
And now we’re going to fall
Can’t figure out why
The world just passes you by
You don’t have my sympathy
Now you’re on your own
I’m sure you’ll find a home
Time to live with your ex again
You cut me down to inches
When I was ten feet tall
It’s the end of summertime
And now we’re going to fall

6) GREAT DEPRESSION

Where oh where did you sleep last night
You walked away in the middle of our fight
I’d pack your bags if you had a posession
I’d forget you if you weren’t my obsession
You’re the cause of my great depression
It’s hard living 24 hours a day
Having to listen to what you say
I have to say i learned a lesson
I’d forget you if you weren’t my obsession
You’re the cause of my great depression

7) TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY

I guess you think you’re really mean
Taking everything I own except my drum machine
You can count my money you may think you’ve won
But count my blessings every day that you’re gone
I used to pray for answers up above
How could I live without your love?
You wondered how long the fire would last
And then someone lit a fire underneath your ass
You tell all your friends that i’m the one to blame
Meanwhile, you don’t get picked on The Dating Game
I used to pray for answers up above
How could I live without your love?
(When she leaves, you can breath)
There’s two sides to every story
and your story is boring me to tears

YOUR SIDE

The way you look, the way you smile
You make my day turn out worthwhile
When I face a cold, dark day
I feel the sun when you walk my way
You show it
I know it
Every single day
Your love is
So priceless
How can I repay?
When all hope seems to go astray (i’m on your side completely)
I’ll seek it out and bring it your way (i’m on your side completely)
I love you more with every passing day (i’m on your side completely)
The way you look, the way you smile
You make my day turn out worthwhile
When I face a cold, dark day
I feel the sun when you walk my way

9) MY SLIDE

We’ve known each other a long long time
I always confided in you
Then I lost my way
Then I hate to say
That I don’t deserve you

10) I NEED TO SEE A SHRINK

I see your face in my rearview mirror
But you’re not in the backseat
You’re not even near
My mind is on the blink
I dont know what to think
Oh lord, I need to see a shrink
How would you feel if I wrote you a letter?
You can help me write it,
If it makes you feel better
My mind is on the blink
I dont know what to think
Oh Lord, I need to see a shrink
You always visit me late at night
But why am I the one
to leave a pillow-bite?
My mind is on the blink
I dont know what to think
Oh Lord, I need to see a shrink
You’re strong enough to part the red sea
But not strong enough to part with me
My mind is on the blink
I dont know what to think
Oh Lord, I need to see a shrink

11) DEAD END BRIDGE

There are some things we need to face
And memories we try to erase
The ink in my brain that writes your name
Won’t wash away
Well, they say that this is good for my character
But I look at my life and i’m not so sure
Bitterness is there and I don’t care
Go away
It’s just another dead end, turn around
Don’t cross the bridge i’m burning down
There are times when we must move on
And this time is certainly one
As hard as you tried
My love for you has died

12) A BIT BITTER

I see that look that’s on your face
And I know it all too well
The bitterness hasn’t gone away
Your life’s been a living hell
Well, here’s advice from me, my friend
Stick around life offers more
With that happiness that lingers near
You’ll soon forget about before
Day turns to night, it’ll be alright
Darkness goes away
Tears will be gone, you must move on
Things will go your way

JOHN’S CATCH-22

I’m in a pickle now. See, death isn’t pleasant, and I love life. So death ain’t going to cut it.

My record company is trying to put me in a no-win situation:

- If I die, I will sell records. But i’ll be dead, and can’t collect my money, which I don’t think I could live with.

- If I don’t die, I will *not* sell records, and they will dump me from their label, and I will be out of a job. This could lead to depression, which might be so severe that I may kill myself….

Which means that I might sell more records.

What’s disturbing is that all of the options available to be successful in the music business leads to me DYING. Cripes. I feel like Drew Barrymore in “Scream”.

Here’s what my record company says:

John’s record company has deadly promotional ideas

Subject: Congrats (and our new strategy)
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 02:00:07 PDT
From: “Jim Feltnek”
To: johnnydupe9@yahoo.com

John,

Congratulations on the re-issue/re-vamping of your new CD issue “Cold
Hope, Early Thaw”. All of us at “Trailer Trash Records” are proud of
your work, and really feel we have a winner here.

We will work on new strategies with our marketing division to get your
record heard, and we are confident this will lead to bigger and better
things for everyone involved.

I was in discussions with Bill Marshall, our CEO, and we agreed on a
marketing tactic that has been proven in the past to break new acts.
However, it is controversial, so I thought i’d run it by you in email
before we meet next Tuesday.

John, we want you to die.

Now don’t get upset so quickly. Hear me out.

There is nothing that creates a stir in the music business more than an
artist who dies a premature death, and has a new record out. John Denver
sold two million records within a two week period after his death.

Kurt Cobain? Jeff Buckley? The cash registers were ringing so loud, they
could probably hear them in heaven. We feel your album is strong enough
that after your death, it could sell into the millions.

Yes, you won’t be around the spend the millions, but you said you always
wanted to be a millionaire, and I am showing you the way to do it. I
hope you accept this as a sincere suggestion, and all of us at Trailer
Trash Records are thinking about your well-being.

Possible scenarios:

1) Write a really, really long letter about a groundbreaking musical
idea you have that you can’t wait to work on. Leave it in your guitar
case.

2) Do yourself in (preferably by a gunshot or by sticking your head in
the microwave).

3) Call 911 afterwards so someone can come around and haul you out.

Your local newspaper will first report the news, and Trailer Trash
Records will take care of the PR from there. We can mention something
along the lines that you were going to sign a $10 million dollar
contract with our label, and that your future world tour would have
garnered another $50 million.

We will send faxes to all major publications about the tragedy, and
we’ll even hold a memorial for you in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle,
and of course, Oshkosh Wisconsin.

VH-1 has already promised to do a “Behind The Music” special on you
should you decide to kick the bucket. We feel that success is so close
for you, you can practically touch it, John.

Remember, death is only an option for you. We feel it is the best way to
sell records, and that is our job, as well as your job.

Please write me back at your earliest convenience, John. I’d prefer to
hear from you before Tuesday, though, since that is the official release
day. I’d like you to be dead before then.

Otherwise, if you want to continue doing what you’re doing with your
music, we can work that out too. Hopefully, you will sell more than
eight records this time. If not, regrettably, we’ll have to kick you off
our label.

Looking forward to hearing from you (or possibly not hearing from you).

Sincerely,

Jim Feltnek
Trailer Trash Records

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Note - in locating John’s music, we discovered that he had actually released at least three different versions of his album, Cold Hope Early Thaw. The version above is the final/master version. We also have version 2 (see the download link on the right), but we have had no success to date in finding version 1. It apparently includes an instrumental of ‘Band on the Run’…..that is how you can identify it easily. If you have this version of the album, or even just the ‘Band on the Run’ instrumental, please get in touch. TIA.