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Flirting With Azrael

by John T. Baker

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1.
The Cage 01:53
He came home drunk one time too many and she could not control what she did then she was done and it was over the only way to stop the skid Oh she knew she loved him or the man he used to be she loved so much she had to kill him she unlocked the cage and set him free she felt his drunken heart stop beating still was wasn't satisfied
2.
The Plan 04:22
In my quest for satisfaction this is only the first act it's a step in the right direction but it doesn't change the facts you held me down for so long I've got a ways to make it right But heaven knows it's all wrong this wicked plan that's come tonight (chorus) Again and again I think I'm starting to feel whole Over and over again It's all about regaining my control I have tasted victory even if it's a sin With open eyes it's clear to me I've gotta cool you down again I've got so much left to give You deserve more than you got And if you think it's all relative I can assure you that it's not (chorus) I once thought you were my friend but when that went away there's no way to pretend there's nothing you can say (chorus)
3.
What have I got to do to bring you back So much to know and where to go to bring you back (chorus)and time is of the essence every minute of every day you get further away I can still feel your presence but not your touch to have you in my hands again is it too much? (chorus) There's got to be a way to make you come alive again but you don't have the years it takes to learn the proper science (chorus)
4.
I was trapped in a cage then I had the plan the only way out was to kill the man It felt so good if I had my way He's gonna live to die another day Don't want no stinking or leaking from this body that I've been sneaking So keep cool for this before rigamortis I gotta put that body on ice Nobody knows you just killed the man no one's gonna notice for a couple of days you know you got a little bit of time Nobody give nothing away and we can put that body on ice No time to sweat, or live with regret I made my bed and I slept in it and now it's time to get ready and set to ice that body down Well sometimes you gotta do a little work Gotta get through to the other side We'll look back on this and be alright What we got to do tonight is put that body on ice I gotta head to the supermarket then buy a cooler from Target If it's not big enough well then enlarge it then set that body up and fill it up to the brim to the brim! to the brim! Come on baby drop the M bomb! Embalm! And speaking of M, it was me or him and there's only so long that you can take that shit and you gotta do something about it put the body where nobody and find it and put the body on ice Flatfoot dicks are on my trail I don't care I swear nothing's gonna stop me from putting the body on ice Put him in a dark cold drawer somewhere lock him up and swallow the key then go talk to the flatfoot dicks until they're gonna leave me be I can pull him out later and kill him over and over again over and over...
5.
Word is I need an operation I'm told but I don't know To make a minor variation to the way my feelings flow but I'm scared the lights are on but no one's home Relax the procedure is painless just a memory or two that demands too much attention just a slight change of view nothing out of the ordinary i can assure you Just relax the procedure is painless of course not that you would notice anyway you'll live to fight another day I'm giving you the full array Nothing will harm you while you float away So just relax Relax The procedure is painless On your feet inside a week Now go home and get some sleep You're on a different frequency than me Do me the decency to just relax
6.
Black Magic 03:54
Conjure up a spell you might just as well neck deep in this necromance involved as you are in this evil dance Some will call this magic black And point to signs of the zodiac I only want to bring you back again and even if I have to sin I'll complete this unholy transaction I'll achieve your resurrection Past practitioners of the ancient art come tease a beat from this silent heart I call upon the shamans from the pit of Hades No matter what it says in Deuteronomy I killed you once and it wasn't enough And I 'm not afraid of all this evil stuff Light the candles for this dark ceremony And I will give my awful testimony to justify this abomination Let God make his determination Lock me up with the lunatics But not before this black magic Assemble all the chemicals and machinery we need Build a laboratory where we won't be seen And then when all the elements are right We'll commence this wicked work away from the daylight Eye of toad Tongue of newt One dead body in a leisure suit Candles lined up in a pentagram- check Ear-marked Necronomica- mm hmm I'll be raising the dead tonight Then torturing him till the morning light then I'll cut his head off with a razor knife Then we'll do it all over again tomorrow night That magic's black...
7.
Hand 05:28
Hand doesn't get to have a say What it wants to do It acts in service You think and your muscles move The heart beats on All the fibers contract Hand never gets to tell anyone how to act Hand doesn't say a thing while the day goes on It can only manipulate and wait for your intention Legs and feet for transport Mute stupid power Waiting for the master during normal working hours (chorus) I am only corporeal with nothing of the spirit I can make the music real but I could never hear it and as your third arm I am your extra limb Making no plans of my own I only have your whim The wheel never learns where it is to go its only duty is to turn it only knows its role/roll The lever that can move the world cares not that it's needed Without comment it does the work no celebration on its succeeding (chorus)
8.
I need controlling Someone from without doing the controlling I need restraining Keeping me alive in my skin takes some explaining Doing it again and again and again (chorus) X2 Not pouring but it's raining nothing but the sound of the drill doing the trepanning being too empty to refill I need controlling interest in my life gotta keep it rolling a baby in need of a midwife I need retraining you want me to get it done I've been refraining doing what needs undone
9.
Wake Up Call 03:45
Baby, your killing me was the wake up call I needed Baby, my eyes are wide open and I can see that I did you so wrong (chorus) I'm alive and I've never been more grateful Looking back I can't believe I was so hateful Baby, I don't blame you for hating the way I used to be But Baby, I'm telling you that I have changed in a way I can't explain (chorus) I hope I can find a way To make you forgive me forgive me Baby, I think if you give me a chance I can make you glad you brought back again (chorus)
10.
Bullshit 03:31
You were talking about how bad you were to me before this started Funny how your words have changed since I took control of things And even though you say you've changed No matter how you dress it up to say it my opinion of you is circling the drain You said you'd never been more grateful You looked so pretty when you said it Likely as that is to disable my defense I remember that Even though you say you've changed No matter how you dress it up to say it You can't undo what you became and I can see right through your bullshit It's all bullshit I can see, I can see right through your bullshit And even though you say you've changed No matter how you dress it up to say it my opinion of you is circling the drain Last time I saw you You were begging me for mercy Never killed anyone Didn't have it coming Even though you say you've changed No matter how you dress it up to say it You can't undo what you became and I can see right through your bullshit It's all bullshit I can see, I can see right through your bullshit
11.
Even though you did your best Well it wasn't good enough Every day it's something else and I try to be tough But this body is failing me and I don't have much time The love that's prevailing has become a pantomime I'm falling apart Every day comes complete with brand new pain Each passing sunrise I'm a little less together Because when you brought this body back it wasn't supposed to be forever I'm falling apart Every day comes complete with brand new pain My head to my feet My heart and my brain I'm falling apart I know you're not qualified It's a miracle that I'm here at all And I know that I should be satisfied But it's like banging my head on a wall I'm falling apart Every day comes complete with brand new pain My head to my feet My heart and my brain I'm falling apart I can't control the rate of descent Paying the toll won't make a dent I've paid for my soul but it's already spent We've taken on roles that are hopelessly bent I'm falling apart Every day comes complete with brand new pain My head to my feet My heart and my brain I'm falling apart
12.
I put you down picked you back up so I could put you in your place again But now you're back You come around Turned out not to be the same as you were before Now I can't get no satisfaction I swear you got what you deserve But you don't act like you need to learn to behave again I saved it up to dish it out and I expected you to be begging for another round Now I can't get no satisfaction

about

John T. Baker- Flirting With Azrael

Act 1 in which our hero decides to exact revenge for all the wrongs done to her.

Is satisfaction to be had? Can she even the score? What will it take? Is it even worth it? What monsters are born from the effort? Can they be controlled?

Dream analysts suggest that everyone in your dreams is some aspect of you. Could that apply here? Can you kill off a part of yourself in order to regenerate a stronger you?

Flirting With Azrael concerns itself with these ideas. Born of a spontaneous song creation described in Act 1, I have learned that when an idea starts to emerge, the best thing you can do is get out of its way and let it out. Once out of the box, that idea assumed vectors in a multitude of directions. I made no attempt to corral these things, just following each to its (il)logical conclusion. Some morphed into cartoonish macabre pieces (Put The Body On Ice and Black Magic). Some were more genuine & heartfelt, at least on the surface (Time Is Of The Essence, I'm Falling Apart). Some took on an angrier, more sinister character (Bullshit, I Can't Get No Satisfaction).

One thing's for sure: this is a departure from albums I've made before. I struggled with it at length. I've been working on it for three years. Without the participation and encouragement from many friends and fellow artists, it would never have been finished.

May we all retain the ability to reinvent ourselves when necessary.

credits

released January 27, 2015

Recorded at Baker Acres, Knoxville TN by John T. Baker
except "Wake Up Call" which was recorded at Top Hat Recording, Austin TX by John Harvey and Mary Podio and "I Need Controlling" which was recorded at DBLF Studio, Knoxville TN by Doug Campbell. Mastered by John Harvey at Top Hat East, Knoxville TN. Artwork and design by George Middlebrooks at Aside Project www.asideproject.com

JTB all instruments and vocals except:
Jason Thompson- Saxophone on 2
Emily Parkeer- Bassoon on 3 & 7
Tim Lee- Guitar on 7
Jeff Caudill- Backing Vox on 7
Doug Campbell- vocals on 4 & 6, Banjtar on 11
George Middlebrooks- drums and bass on 5, electric guitar on 8 & 9
Gray Comer- Trap Set on 9 & 12
Jason White - Vocals on 6
Bill Ardison-vocals on 6
Bo Ratliff- vocals on 6, bass guitar on 10
John Harvery- Electric bass guitar on 9
Mary Podio- vocals on 8, tongue drum on 9


Thank you to Leslie, all the musicians involved and anyone who has listened to me go on and on about this project for the past 3 years and anybody who encouraged me to finish this when I was about to give up on it. This is a work of fiction. Me and my wife are just fine, thanks.

www.baker-acres.com
www.thearborstudio.com

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John T. Baker Knoxville, Tennessee

John T. Baker is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and recording producer in Knoxville TN. He's been making original music since since the 80's. Owner of The Arbor Studio in Knoxville, he has recorded many prominent artists in the East Tennessee area. ... more

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