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Be Nice to Everyone

by Gentle Hen

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1.
Now and then Now and then it seems like we’ve got no friends Then again Then again we know we’ll always have friends It’s not wrong to long to belong Won’t be long until we belong again All we know All we know is that we don’t know it all All we do All we do is what we always do After all Aren’t we all after all After all aren’t we all after all the same things The same things Don’t doubt it we’ve got the goods Let’s shout it Let’s do it Let’s do something we’d never do but should Woah oh oh We got the goods (repeat)
2.
Jenny’s always looking for a sign Simple has to be the first in line She’s got it. She’s got it bad. Spends the morning listening to a voice Lines her glasses up and makes a choice She’s got it. She’s got it bad. She’s got it. She’s got it bad. Record store, flipping through the T’s Making sure, making sure he sees that she’s Already got Bandwagonesque Cranes her neck, head bobbing to the Pixies So she can check all the picks that he’s Already started to collect. Jenny emulates a retro charm Gently rest her hand next to his arm She’s got it. She’s got it bad. She’s got it. She’s got it bad. What does she need another vinyl copy for? She puts the record back once he’s left the store Finds a spot just outside the venue Hears the shot of a snare drum in and empty hall It’s the greatest sound that she knows Claims her space listening to the soundcheck Checks her face maybe he’ll remember her Standing in the front row. Jenny’s always looking for as sign Snaps a photo of herself in the line She’s got it. She’s got it bad. She’s got it. She’s got it bad. She’s got it. She’s got it bad.
3.
Save us, darling. It’s so cold outside. Help us, baby. It looks so nice inside. Can’t you see we’re dying to get… Knock knock knock What you want We wanna be let in Knock knock knock What you want We wanna be let in How you gonna be our best friend If you won’t let us in? Knock knock knock What you want We wanna be let in Save us, darling. The sun is going down. Help us, baby. The saddest part of town. Can’t you see we’re dying to get… Knock knock knock What you want We wanna be let in Knock knock knock What you want We wanna be let in How you gonna be our best friend If you won’t let us in? Knock knock knock What you want We wanna be let in
4.
This could only happen to you This could only happen to you All the junk you’ve put us through This could only happen to you This could only happen to you This could only happen to you All the junk you’ve put us through This could only happen to you How did you get into this mess It’s classic it’s magic Your timing is tragic We’ll help you out again I guess What will it cost us You’re gonna exhaust us This could only happen to you This could only happen to you All the junk you’ve put us through This could only happen to you This could only happen to you This could only happen to you All the junk you’ve put us through This could only happen to you You read the room wrong once again Grudges you’ve earned them Bridges you’ve burned them What was that thing you always said? Permission is harder Forgiveness is smarter And you, you can’t see That the only thing that all the awful moments have in common Is you This could only happen to you This could only happen to you All the junk you’ve put us through This could only happen to you This could only happen to you This could only happen to you All the junk you’ve put us through This could only happen to you
5.
Take you time and save your time if you can Because time doesn’t mind if you’ve made some other plans Stop. It won’t be this way forever. Stop. You’ve got to dig it like a treasure. On those nights when the hours ignite in the clouds, And you’re afraid you might wake the world, you’re thinking so loud, Wait. Don’t commit the greatest crime and Say. I’ll do it better next time. A few more lifetimes is all we need. A few more lifetimes that’s all we need. Try to see what’s slipping right through your hands. And someday soon you’ll wish you had taken a chance. Wait. Don’t commit the greatest crime and Say. I’ll do it better next time. A few more lifetimes is all we need. A few more lifetimes that’s all we need. A few more lifetimes is all we need. A few more lifetimes that’s all we need.
6.
Doused in citronella scratching a mosquito bite Pass the frikedeller, leftovers from Tuesday night Sing it acapella, something doesn’t sound quite right I don’t like the way they do the drums. Picky Cinderella shoeless on a Friday night Picking out a fella, Mr. Left or Mr. Right Opens her umbrella, maybe she could be a kite Grab the scissors, cut the string and fly There’s a world in the world Where the sweetest people are recognized A world in the world Where the kind and caring win a prize The empathetic always rise and rule the world Go down to the cellar, looking for a fake moustache Automatic teller, we trust the robot with our cash I don’t want to tell her, don’t do anything too rash Mosquitoes mean that summer’s finally here There’s a world in the world Where the sweetest people are recognized A world in the world Where the kind and caring win a prize The empathetic always rise and rule the world There’s a world in the world Where the sweetest people are recognized A world in the world Where the kind and caring win a prize The empathetic always rise and rule the world
7.
Overused hues Orange and blues In a rolled up poster lassoed with a rubber band Telescope Eye You be the spy In the circle scenes of a move that was unplanned You’re always talking to yourself but you’re never listening Standing on the edge of a big decision Lean, then catch your fall Looking at a life you have to disassemble Bravery is doing things that make you tremble Lean, then catch your fall. Lean, then catch your fall. A last look around We don’t make a sound Until the onramp fires us out onto the open road. You’re always talking to yourself but you’re never listening Standing on the edge of a big decision Lean, then catch your fall Lean, then catch your fall Lean, then catch your fall Lean, then catch your fall
8.
They know, they know, they always know They know, they know, they know I didn’t want to be alone again today So I called some friends and they called some friends We gathered in a field where the corn stalks grow so high We could only see our hands, we could only see our hands They know, they know, they always know They know, they know, they know The wind was like an uncle it tousled all our hair There were dead leaves on the ground and pumpkins all around Someone got an apple from the back seat of the van They threw it in the air, it never came back down They know, they know, they always know They know, they know, they know We didn’t have much to do So we didn’t do much But we did it really well Leaning on a pole Leaning on a car Walking across the parking lot listening for a bell They know, they know, they always know They know, they know, they know They know, they know, they always know They know, they know, they know
9.
Beneath the surface Feeling nervous Straightens his tie and backs against the wall Eyes on the exits Ears on the echos Of all the footsteps that are coming down the hall Rise You’ll be the tide Building in waves Smashing against the old old stones Can’t stop a flood You’ll clean it all up Rinsing away the ancient bones. Can resist them Start a new system Don’t care about the way things have been down He’s feeling jilted Table’s been tilted He is no longer the only golden one Rise You’ll be the tide Building in waves Smashing against the old old stones Can’t stop a flood You’ll clean it all up Rinsing away the ancient bones. They know better They do worse They know better They do worse Rise You’ll be the tide Building in waves Smashing against the old old stones Can’t stop a flood You’ll clean it all up Rinsing away the ancient bones. Rise You’ll be the tide Building in waves Smashing against the old old stones Can’t stop a flood You’ll clean it all up Rinsing away the ancient bones.
10.
We all know what you took took Read your face just like a book book We all know that you’re a crook crook We all know what you took took You can’t take it back, you can’t take it back You can’t take it back, you can’t take it back We all heard what you said said We all saw you turning red red We all saw you turn your head head We all heard what you said said You can’t take it back, you can’t take it back You can’t take it back, you can’t take it back How can you take it back we all heard what you said That was more than just a joke joke It was a fire made the smoke smoke Wasn’t laugher made us choke choke That was more than just a joke joke You can’t take it back, you can’t take it back You can’t take it back, you can’t take it back
11.
Photograph It proves a memory But what’s is the truth gonna get me? Memories They’re not quite static Some of them are coy, some of them emphatic What we did and what we didn’t do What we did and what we didn’t do What we did and what we didn’t What we did and what we didn’t do. Anyway It doesn’t matter You can let it go or you can get madder. Arguments There’s just no winning The only way to end them is to not begin them What we did and what we didn’t do What we did and what we didn’t do What we did and what we didn’t What we did and what we didn’t do. You put your crossword down and look out at the yard Who knew that living on your own would be this hard But you can chose to do anything you want to any time But what is it? Compromise, Might equal freedom You won't know your soulmates if you never meet 'em. What we did and what we didn’t do What we did and what we didn’t do What we did and what we didn’t What we did and what we didn’t do.

about

On April 15, 2018 Brian, Max, and I got together at Rub Wrongways Studios. We opened the curtain to let in the spring light so we could see the finally-winter’s-over green plants blossoming while we set up, tuned up, and started to tackle eleven new songs.

We hit the record button at 12:45 and didn’t stop until we made it through all the songs. A few of them we’d been playing a little bit at shows here and there, some of them Brian and Max had heard in demo form, and at least one of them they were introduced to just moments before recording.

It had been a wild and unsettling year since we finished up our previous album, Sneaking up on the Moon. The days had been flashing by in blurs of news stories, each more absurd and troubling than the last. Nights had been filled with concert-going and movies and binging tv shows and generally trying to keep some semblance of light and creativity in an increasingly cynical and upsetting atmosphere.

We dove into the songs like starving animals, giving in to the parts of our brains that thrive on creating and exploring and making sense of chaos. I’d written the eleven songs during this year of upheaval, there were no oldies being revisited. This was all new territory.

As it turns out, the songs fell into a few different genres of rock. It was unintended, I try not to plan too much. The songs know what they are supposed to sound like. The themes reflect the times. The overall push was a quest for kindness, a call for compassion and understanding. Thus the title of the record “Be Nice to Everyone”.

The listener might not find specifics in the lyrics to justify the album title, but I’m hoping that the overall feel of the collection is human, friendly, introspective, and caring. The songs themselves touch on various subjects. Snippets of lyrics jump out: it’s not wrong to long to belong | Jenny emulates a retro charm | the saddest part of town | you read the room wrong once again | the hours ignite in the clouds | grab the scissors, cut the string, and fly | lean, then catch your fall | the wind was like an uncle | they know better, they do worse | that was more than just a joke | arguments, there’s just no winning, the only way to end them is to not begin them.

Over the next few months, I added decorations and voices and snippets. Ken came in and plowed through a burst of inspired musicianship, painting with new colors, with perfect colors. Andrew Goulet set up his pedal steel and layered on a mournful sunset of sounds. We mixed things and then turned them over to Justin Pizzoferrato who deftly mixed them better. He passed the songs along to Mark Allen MIller who mastered them and made them ready so we could share them with whoever might want to listen.

I hope you enjoy this collection. I hope you feel the humanity in it, the rough edges, the sparkles of light, the personal weight.

-Henning Ohlenbusch

credits

released October 19, 2018

Produced and recorded by Henning at Rub Wrongways Records

Mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato at Sonelab

Mastered by Mark Alan Miller

All Songs copyright 2018 Henning Ohlenbusch (ASCAP)

Art design by Max Germer. Photography by Henning

The people on this album are:
Max Germer - Bass
Brian Marchese - Drums, Percussion, Singing
Ken Maiuri - Guitars, Keyboards, Singing
Henning Ohlenbusch - Guitars, Keyboards, Singing

Andrew Goulet - Pedal Steel on track 5

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Gentle Hen Northampton, Massachusetts

Formerly named School for the Dead.

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