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Stomp Your Feet

by Brother Jack

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1.
Hen House 01:54
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I went down to the hen house, the hen house, To see what I could happen to see. There's my old chicken, my chicken, Good old Martha, that hen of mine. Her nest was empty, it's empty. There were no eggs to be found. So, I had to sit and wait, Wait for her to lay an egg down. I sang to her this song And she gave one brown egg to me. Just goes to show you, show you, Nothing in this world is free. I took the egg to the kitchen, the kitchen, Cracked it in the frying pan. This song's now over, it's over, Don't ask for any bacon.
2.
Boom Boom Ticka Ticka 03:37
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He walks down, hat tipped back, an old broom stick in his hand. He's dragging along that one dead leg, kicking an old soup can. Everybody knows him, they see him coming around. But long before you see him, I know you'll hear his sound. Scrapping on an old stop sign post with some dried up chicken bones. Shaking an old tobacco tin that's full of little tiny stones. Every morning, he's outside the house scrapping on my fence. He's been at it for so long, his rhythm is starting to make sense. Early one morning, I'm down at the garage working on a car. I invite him in, give him a hammer and my 20lb digging bar. I got a couple of rusty brake drums and an empty plastic tub. I grab my old six string and Uncle Leroy is blowing on a jug. We cleaned all the junk out of the garage, my wife is happy about that. We swept the floor, learned some songs, we all got us a matching hat. Every Friday after suppertime, the whole neighborhood is coming in. Every girl grab your best fella, even Grandma is shaking her skin.
3.
Jug Handle Hill 04:21
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He lived in words. He lived in quiet solitude. He spent his days, With a little dog named Napoleon. It would be easy to explain it away, And to say that he had just snapped. But it was more like the ocean, The waves just wearing him away. He liked to look out the window, Watch the birds pecking at the earth. He was partial to prose. He was a sucker for a romantic verse. They praised him as a sensitive boy. Maybe he just cried too much. She was the only one who ever Looked him in the eye. He wore her heart on his sleeve. Their bloodlines are forever entwined. He carved her name across his bare chest. He's the butcher poet of Jug Handle Hill. He lives in words, Words that were screaming in his head. He liked the quiet monotony Of working down at the store. And everyday he passes her house, He's draining out like an hourglass. But it was more like a pen, scratching paper 'Till the ink was all gone. He wore her heart on his sleeve. Their bloodlines are forever entwined. He carved her name across his bare chest. He's the butcher poet of Jug Handle Hill. He liked to look in her window And see her dancing across her room. He sent her prose, Scribbled down on some butcher paper. One night he stepped out of the shadows. He came knocking on her door. She was the only one who ever Looked him in the eye. He wore her heart on his sleeve. Their bloodlines are forever entwined. He carved her name across his bare chest. He's the butcher poet of Jug Handle Hill. He lived in words. Her words calmed his scattered mind. She loved his words. She was a sucker for a romantic verse.
4.
Kiss Me 03:03
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Kiss me softly. Kiss me warm. Kiss me like it's the first time again. Kiss me hard . Kiss me fast. Kiss me like you know it's gonna be your last. Kiss me now. Kiss me quiet. Kiss me like it's a big, big secret. Kiss me loud. Kiss me passionately. Kiss me like you want the whole world to see. Kiss me again. Kiss me with your eyes. Kiss me like you hate saying goodbye. Kiss me in the dark. Kiss me to sleep. Kiss me like you know I'll never leave.
5.
Meet Me at the River 02:50
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Your peace is a river, I'm swimming to shore. You threw me an apple, I'm chewing on the core. I'm treading water, I can see the horizon line. Keep my head up, fighting for what's mine. With a bit and a bridle, you can't make me drink. Hold me under, I'm starting to sink. Meet me at the river Meet me at the river Meet me at the river Down by the riverside The wind in my hair is your breath on my face. I'm dancing through a field of queen anne's lace. Dig a hole in the ground, that's where my rest lies. Mix up some mud and smear it on my eyes. Take a bath in the river and scrub my rotting skin. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, dunk away my sin. Meet me at the river Meet me at the river Meet me at the river Down by the riverside Fighting the current, I'm trying to get out. Your peace is a river, I'm choking on my doubt. My last mouthful of bread, I spit up at the sky. Your body and blood, even you had to die. The mud is your grace, I'm slipping back in. I can't fight anymore, I give up, I give in. Meet me at the river Meet me at the river Meet me at the river Down by the riverside
6.
Jonah 09:36
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The good Lord came to me and said, "Boy, you got to go where you don't want to go." The good Lord came to me and said, "You got to do what you don't want to do." He said, "I'm sending you, you got to go where you don't want to go." I tried to run. I tried to hide. I did go where no one could find me. And he sent a great big fish to swallow me whole. In the belly of a whale, its so deep, deep, deep. The bottom of the sea is so deep, deep, deep. The pressure is crushing me, it's so deep, deep, deep. The ocean is closing in now, it's deep, deep, deep. Squeezing my skin, it's so deep, deep, deep. It's the heartbeat of a whale going beat, beat, beat. All I can feel going beat, beat, beat. It's taking over now beat, beat, beat. Everything going dark beat, beat, beat. All I want to do is sleep so deep, deep, deep Beat, Beat, Beat I got out. I want to tell the world that I survived. I got out. I want to tell the world that I am alive. Pull up my socks and I wipe my eyes. There is hope on the other side. Pull up my socks and I wipe my eyes. There is hope on the other side. The muses spoke to me and said, "Boy, you got to sing a song you don't want to sing." The spirit is moving me, it says, "You got to stand where you don't want to stand." They said, "you got to sing a song you don't want to sing." I tried to run. I walked away. Shut my mouth, got nothing to say. He sent a great big song that swallowed me whole. I'm in the belly of a song, it's so loud, loud, loud. Hit bottom again, it's so loud, loud, loud. Force a goofy grin, it's so loud, loud, loud. Starting to panic now, it's so loud, loud, loud. Got to get out, it's so loud, loud, loud. It's the heartbeat of a song going beat, beat, beat. It's taking over now going beat, beat, beat. All I can feel going beat, beat, beat. Everything going black beat, beat, beat. All I want to do is sleep so deep, deep, deep Beat, Beat, Beat I got out . I want to tell the world that I survived. I got out. I want to tell the world that I'm alive. Stomp your feet and hold someone's hand. There is hope on the other side. Stomp your feet and grab someone's hand. There is hope on the other side. Brothers and Sisters, if you’re down and out, Old Brother Jack’s got a story for you today. Brothers and Sisters, if you’re floating on a pond enjoying some sunshine. You’re floating on your back looking up at the sky and somebody comes along and drains all the water out of the pond. Now you’re lying on your back in the mud, surrounded by old tires and rusty refrigerators. You’re lying in the mud and it’s as thick as cement. You can’t stand up, you are stuck (it’s a metaphor children, figure it out). Well, things are as bad as they’ve ever been. There’s no way out. You don’t know how you got here. You’re full of despair and woe. You’re thinking about giving up on this whole thing, thinking about turning your head to the side and taking a big swallow of mud to end it all. Hold on children. I’m urging you now. Just be patient. It’s as bad as it’s ever been but pretty soon that sun will come out and dry up that mud. You can stand up, dust yourself off, and move on. You say, "but Brother Jack, I’m not that patient. What if the sun doesn’t show up? What if... What if..." Then holler for some help, children. This world’s a messed up place but there’s still some good people in it. If you holler for help, somebody will come along and give you a hand, pull you up out of that mud. You can stand up, brush yourself off and move on. Maybe you’ll even make a new friend. "But Brother Jack, what if nobody hears me?" Holler louder! Maybe you can put a little rhythm to it. Hum a little melody in between shouts. Turn it into a song. It can’t be any worse than some guy yakking over top the same chord for six or seven minutes. Before you know it, the sun will show up and dry up all that mud. You can stand up, dust yourself off and move on. You'll be singing your brand new song. "But Brother Jack, what if I holler for help and somebody comes along and they slip and fall and they’re stuck in the mud too? Brother Jack, that’s the worst evil in the world. Wouldn’t it have been better to swallow that mud rather than drag somebody down with me?" Hold on children! We all end up in the mud at some point and now you’ve got somebody to talk to while you’re both laying there in the mud. Pretty soon that sun will come up and dry up all that mud. You’ll both stand up. You can dust each other off and move on. You definitely made a new friend now. I’m not trying to make light of a serious topic, children. Brother Jack’s been there before. I’ve been floating on the pond when somebody drained all the water out. Matter of fact, I think I drained the pond myself on more than one occasion. I’ve been laying in that mud, surrounded by old tires and rusty refrigerators. Things are as bad as they’ve ever been. No way out. I was stuck. Just when it couldn’t get worse, I looked up at that sky and it started to rain. I was up to my eyelashes in mud. Old Brother Jack thought about taking a big swallow of mud and ending the misery. Something urged me to wait. Hold on, don’t give up. There's something more for you to do. It might not be much but this world’s a better place with you in it. To my surprise, the sun came out, dried up all that mud. I stood up, dusted myself off and moved on. I got out. I want to tell the world that I survived. I got out. I want to tell the world that I am alive. Clap your hands and we'll sing together. There is hope on the other side. Clap your hands and shout together. There is hope on the other side.
7.
The Locket 03:30
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My love carries a photograph In a locket made of silver. It delicately hangs around her neck. So precious to her is that locket And the treasure of the likeness of the man that she loves. Often in the morning, she can be found Polishing with a piece of silk Taken from a dress she used to wear. Seldom does an afternoon pass, Where she can't be seen with the locket Laying open in the palm of her hand. Every night, before she sleeps, She kisses her love and gently she hangs The locket on the post of her bed. My love carries a photograph In a locket made of silver. And the likeness is not of me.
8.
Johnson's Reel 03:19
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The band is on the back porch, Picking Johnson's reel. All the girls are in the yard, Kicking up their heels. So what, if you don't know the steps. Stomp some ground and fake it. Grab what your momma gave you And shake it. Old Uncle Leroy is under the old oak tree. He's got a bottle wedged between his knees. When no one is looking he takes a great big swig. While the rest of the time, he's chewing on a twig. He says, "the spirits willing but this flesh is so weak." Half a bottle gone now, he's headed to the creek. He's baptized his demons and splashed around a while. Now he's running, naked through the yard, looking for a towel. Before the night is over and his bottle is all gone, We'll get him up on the porch. He's drunk enough to play along. Old Uncle Leroy likes to thump the bass. But he has a real hard time keeping a steady pace. Grandma's got her laundry hanging up on a string. Dresses, shirts, and socks, and all her lacy underthings. On laundry day she scrubs up everything except what she's got on. When evening comes she's ready for some dancing on the lawn. Everybody knows Grandma is the best dancer in the land. She's stompin' the yard to beat the band. Stomping and a twirling, she spins round and round, She spins her skirt too fast and ends up on the ground. Eyes up, boys or you may get to know, Grandma's got no undies on. It's a laundry day peep show.
9.
Older Vinyl 04:08
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We're sitting in your living room, Listening to old vinyl records play. We get up and practice our dancing moves, As we so often have a tendency to do. As the record spins around, I put my hand on the small of your back. With a pop and a crack, a hiss and a kiss, It goes something like this: Warm soft light is coming from the lamp in the corner. I will hold you tight. Music is soft and low but it's pounding in my head. I will hold you tight. We spin across the carpet, with your hands on my shoulder. I'll hold you tight, did I mention I'll hold you tight. Oh-Oh, this is home. It's been so long since we played that old song. We've been too busy just running round. It's Friday night, the kids are in bed, you're dozing in your chair. I whisper softly, "do you remember how it goes?" As the record spins around, I put my hand on the small of your back. With a pop and a crack, a hiss and a kiss, It goes something like this: Warm soft light is coming from the lamp in the corner. I will hold you tight. Music is soft and low but it's pounding in my head. I will hold you tight. We spin across the carpet, with your hands on my shoulder. I'll hold you tight, did I mention I'll hold you tight. Oh-Oh, this is home.
10.
Taco Time 02:35
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What time is it? It's taco time, down at my house. Everybody's coming over tonight. It's taco time. I called up Grandma and said "why don't you come over tonight? We're having a great big party." It's taco time. She said, "I wouldn't miss it. Boy, I love you so. What should I be bringing? I know, a meatloaf!" It's taco time, down at my house. Everybody's coming over tonight. It's taco time. Uncle Leroy said he'd be there. He loves a good theme night. He said he had to stop on the way and pick up some tequila. I said don't worry about Uncle Leroy, it's not that kind of party. He said, "what you talking about, boy? It's taco time!" It's taco time, down at my house. Everybody's coming over tonight. It's taco time. Guac-guac-guac Guac-guac-guac My wife makes really good guacamole. I heard a story the other day, about avocados. They said all the avocados in Mexico are controlled by the drug cartels. It made me feel bad to give my money to organized crime. But avocados are so green and I love guacamole. Guac-guac-guac Guac-guac-guac My wife makes really good guacamole. It's taco time, down at my house. Everybody's coming over tonight. It's taco time. We got cheese and beans. We got chicken and beans. We got lettuce, onions, and beans. Did I mention we got the beans? My wife says its the same thing every time. "You eat too many refried beans, you're sleeping on the couch." It's taco time, down at my house. Everybody's coming over tonight. It's taco time.

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During the winter and spring of 2017, I posted one new recording per week on Sound Cloud. These are the ten songs that got the most plays.

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released January 1, 2018

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Brother Jack Altoona, Pennsylvania

Brother Jack gleans inspiration from old fashioned gospel music, foot-stomping drinking songs, and long winded storytellers. He has a love for words, both written and sung. If you like weird folk music and storytelling, check out Brother Jack!

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