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What I'm Here For

by Jon MacAulay

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1.
Tell me ‘bout the world outside my yard Tell me are there thorns on the roses Cause I ain’t falling but I’m working so hard To step away from where everyone knows us And oh the love I’ve known it ain’t no kind of loving at all And oh the seeds I’ve thrown mostly burn as they fall And I ain’t working for money And I ain’t working for charity If you find something funny Don’t come bitchin' to me For this stage is my calling As I’m running towards the sun You’re my addiction, my folly But I ain’t worried none That’s what I’m here for That’s who I am Daddy run a big rig 'most all his life When he spoke he always spoke the truth He says only the poor man’s gotta walk the line And I hope there’s something better for you And oh the love I’ve known it ain’t no kind of loving at all And oh the seeds I’ve thrown mostly burn as they fall And I ain’t working for money And I ain’t working for charity If you find something funny Don’t come bitching to me For this stage is my calling As I’m running towards the sun You’re my addiction, my folly But I ain’t worried none Cause that’s what I’m here for, That's what I'm here for That’s who I am
2.
The River 02:43
There’s a river running through this town Deep water runs muddy brown Twistin’ and turnin’ in the currents cold Carries the stories of this town I’m told Down by the river is where the people go They lie together some summer nights Down by the shore in the cool moonlight Some say the water can cleanse the soul Some say only the river knows Down by the river that’s where the people go See them dancin’, see them dancin’ down there See them dancin’, see them dancin’ down there When there’s trouble something’s in the air Hear their footsteps in the grass down there Troubled souls holdin’ out their hands Look to the river to help them understand Down by the river that’s where the people go See them dancin’, see them dancin’ down there See them dancin’, see them dancin’ down there Down the street you can hear some voices cry Talkin’ ‘bout somethin’ maybe you and I Every secret has a home I’ve found There’s a river running through this town Down by the river Down by the river that’s Down by the river that’s where the people go
3.
I had to smile when I hit this barroom Just like some distant memory Just like in memory this old heart just skipped a beat When I saw you smiling back at me Times’ been hard around here lately We all get caught up in the race We’ll run together t’wards a better day Just know that when we leave this place I will follow you Though we may be miles apart There’s a place that you can stay here in my heart When you’re down and blue And your world grows cold and bitter When you need a friend I will follow you So when the walls come crashing ‘round you Seems like your world’s been set on fire Burn all those bridges and don’t ever look back No way but forward on this track Rest your head upon my shoulder Lay all your worries on the line Lay ’em on this dance floor ‘neath these worn out shoes And know that when this dance is through I will follow you Though we may be miles apart There’s a place that you can stay here in my heart When you’re down and blue And your world grows cold and bitter When you need a hand I will follow you I will follow you Although we may be miles apart There’s a place that you can stay here in my heart When you’re down and blue And your world grows cold and bitter When you need a hand I will follow you Baby I’m your man I will follow you
4.
Well this hotel room seems a waste without you I missed the show I came just in time for the end Could’ve played the part so well A man who longs to feel your breath upon his skin And the path that lies before me now Is lined with traces of the path I’ve left behind It’s been a long, long row to hoe Please tell me it all hasn’t just been wasted time Take my heart, tear it out Turn it upside down once again Another vain attempt gone South But I’ve come to know this game we play so well My northern belle Though the sun sinks low upon us now It’ll rise again I know, it’s a matter of time And send us off together stealing towards These long lost afternoons of lust and wine I’ve met hosts of lonesome women But they just can’t fill the void you left in me So I’ll send my soul freewheeling Like a gambler bets on what may come to be Take my heart, tear it out Turn it upside down once again Another vain attempt gone South But I’ve come to know this game we play so well My northern belle And if it’s all the same to you I’m gonna kick off both my shoes And let it all play out in scenes of red and blue For if we never break the spell God knows I wish you well Things fall into place or into pieces Only time will tell My northern belle My northern belle My northern belle
5.
Took a walk outside my doorstep Seemed like the first time in years See just what the night had left me Besides the ashes and the tears And it hit me like a freight train I could do it all again Make a fool of myself Or I could learn to live again Now it’s over The storm is over And I’m growing older Since love left town Think I’ll pack up all these memories In a suitcase or a trunk Burn'em by the water While that night sky makes me drunk You can tell me stories 'bout love or pain While I lay these ones to rest Cause right now it all feels just the same In the caverns of my chest Yes it’s over The storm is over And I’m growing colder Since love left town All my friends all tell me to pass you by Like some stranger on the street Wouldn’t even care if I was strung out Reelin' from defeat But at night your face still jumps out Like rays of polished gold Yes your memory’s still so fresh But it’s growing old, growing old Took a walk outside my doorstep Seemed like the first time in years See just what innocence leaves you Besides the emptiness and fears And it hit me like a freight train I could do it all again Fall flat on my face Or I could learn to live again Now it’s over The story’s over And I’m growing sober Since love left town Since love left town Since love left town
6.
Your back is strong you’ll find the work 'least that’s what they told me when I was sixteen Twenty-five years and I’m still toiling in the dirt But times are hard, the budget’s lean Send another man down the line Tell me I’ll be doing fine Can’t believe a word you hear Cause something’s in the water And I don’t know, tell me what I oughta do And I don’t wanna be another victim to the slaughter ‘Cause this time through, it might be me and you Well it just might be I met you on your way to church And I was coming down from a Saturday night My brother tells me that she’s gone and how it hurts Tell me that we’ll win this fight Send another love down the line Tell me we’ll be doing fine Can’t believe a word you say Cause something’s in the water And I don’t know, tell me what I oughta do Don’t want to be another victim to the slaughter ‘Cause this time through, it might be me and you Well it just might be And I don’t know if I can face the night If I can pick up all the pieces in the morning Though your eyes are shining bright Will they fade away from me with no warning Something’s in the water And I don’t know, tell me what I oughta do Don’t wanna be another victim to the slaughter ‘Cause this time through, it might be me and you Just might be Just might be In the water babe, tell me what I oughta do And I don’t want to be, another victim to the slaughter Cause this time through, it might be me and you Your back is strong you’ll find the work 'least that’s what they told me when I was sixteen  
7.
Met a sweet thing at some crosstown bar About three or four nights ago And I woke up reeling with an aching head And she was asking me to drive her home So I said just once more Then we’re out the door And I don’t know what love is I wouldn’t know where to find it I find a temporary fix to the situation Climb on up inside it Wo oh oh That’s how it goes Lord knows The way the wind blows Headin' downtown to the grocery store With the pennies that I’ve got left And the bagman knows he ain’t getting no tip Because it’s coming up as NSF Now maybe I should lace my boots And go to work at the foundry Spend my days with an aching back But I would rather be on MTV Said just gimme one more And I'll show you what for Tell me what it’s like to have to money I wouldn’t know where to find it I find a temporary fix to the situation Climb on up inside it Wo oh oh That’s how it goes Lord knows The way the wind blows Dreamin’ on down the road I’ll have a house that I’ll call home A sweet little thing on the back porch Keeps me satisfied to my soul And though I can't be sure Seems like an open door Gonna find out just what love is Dig up where it’s been hiding I’ll find a permanent fix to the situation Climb on up inside it Wo oh oh that’s how it goes Lord knows The way the wind blows
8.
Montreal never seemed so far away As last month when I touched down in LA Now I’m here beside you baby There’s a hunger in my veins Come sunrise, I’ll be up and on my way Will you still love me in the morning Feeling’s blind or so I’m told If I’m not there for your eyes to bear Will you still love me on the road Now I'm standing on this stage upon display So you folks can shake the troubles of today Well I’m leaving when those curtains close Another town I’m booked to play And you’ll shake tonight just like you shook today Will you still love me in the morning Feeling’s blind or so I’m told If I’m not there for your eyes to bear Will you still love me on the road God knows it’s a long hard climb to where I wanna be And there ain’t no telling if they’ll give a damn in Tennessee Now you can try to talk me down It’s the way it’s gonna be It’s the life I chose and it’s the life I’m gonna lead Will you still love me in the morning The feeling’s blind or so I’m told If I’m not there for your eyes to bear Will you still love me on the road Will you still love me on the road Will you still love me on the road
9.
Mama don’t you call me I’ve been wasted Thinking ‘bout what’s coming ‘round the bend You ain’t gonna feel it, you ain’t gonna taste it So get a glimpse of justice if you can ‘Cause every night I dream the world is burnin' Then I'll wake up to the same damned thing That old wasteland’s got me yearnin’ Screamin’ out my name, my name Is this part of the game Have you seen the freak show in the Whitehouse? They’re spreading fear like some disease And you try to speak up, you’ll be in the big house Just ask the folks on NBC ‘Cause every night I dream the world is burnin' Then I'll wake up to the same damned thing That old wasteland’s got me yearnin’ Screamin’ out my name, my name This ain't part of the game And folks you’ve crossed Now you’ll feel the cost You’re like a wounded bear Gasping for the air And every night I dream the world is burnin' Then I'll wake up to the same damned thing That old wasteland’s got me yearnin’ Screamin’ out my name, my name And every night I dream the world is burnin' Then I'll wake up to the same damned thing That old wasteland’s got me yearnin’ Screamin’ out my name, my name Is this part of the game
10.
Seems like all the dance halls are closing all their doors And any man that gives a damn don’t live here anymore You might be the sweetest woman that I have ever seen Hey now baby don’t you stick your chains on me Singin’ hey sweet lady In a while I’ll be livin' wild and free You can call me crazy These empty halls ain’t where I oughta be Heard some drunkard talk about it, there’s a wave out on the sea Lookin' for a man to ride it home and that man just might be me Gonna waste no time drinkin' wine on dreams of yesterday Gimme your lovin’ and get out of my way Singin’ hey sweet lady In a while I’ll be living wild and free You can call me crazy These empty halls ain’t where I oughta be Now the river runs out to the sea that I’ll be sailing on Would you still think less of me if I took the long way ‘round The long way ‘round Now you never told me that you love me There ain't no ring upon your hand That northern star's above me I'm gonna chase it while I can And you're a wild, wild woman So let's not talk about me Till I'm ridin' home to you upon that breeze Singin’ hey sweet lady In a while I’ll be living wild and free You can call me crazy These empty halls ain’t where I oughta be Singin’ hey sweet lady In a while I’ll be living wild and free You can call me crazy These empty halls ain’t where I oughta be These empty halls ain’t where I oughta be These empty halls ain’t where I oughta be
11.
It’s been a long, lonesome road Since you left home Seems like cheap thrills and spinning wheels, and bar bills Is all I’ve known Yet I sit here wondering baby, As I stand on your backyard lawn Why I keep coming back To what I should leave alone Cause you’re a child of the reins That steered you ‘cross the plains A couple of lovers ago And it’s a sin and a shame There’s still a fire in the rain Burnin' so soft and so low As we sip on this last cup of ale Before I go Sip it real slow Guess I’ll get on up and turn on back Though moving on’s a skill I lack So I roll the dice just to see where they land This old road ain’t nothing new It’s no surprise I’m here with you To turn back one more time It’s been a hundred-thousand miles And as many phony smiles Still I’m here staring at you For I keep coming back To what’s bound to make me blue Cause you’re a child of the reins That steered you ‘cross the plains A couple of lovers ago And it’s a sin and a shame There’s still a fire in the rain Burnin' so soft and so low As we sip on this last cup of ale Before I go Sip it real slow Sip it real slow yeah

about

Jon MacAulay's first full-length album. Recorded in Sherbrooke QC at Alex Cattaneo's home studio. Jon combines elements of Americana, folk, country and rock for this album of honest and deeply heartfelt compositions.

credits

released October 1, 2020

The Band:

Jon MacAulay—Voice, guitar and organ
Alex Cattaneo—Pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, mandolin & guitar
Jonathan-Guillaume Boudreau—Bass
Jean-François Bégin—Drums

Featuring:

Jason Drew—Keyboard (“Northern Belle”, “Something’s in the Water” and “Love Left Town”)
Geoff Lapp—Piano & Fender Rhodes (“One More Time” and “Part of the Game”)
Sam Crooks and Louis Goupil—Back vocals (“I Will Follow you”, “Will you Still Love me on the Road”, “That’s How it Goes” and “Long Way ‘Round”)
Jenn Cianca and Anika Pruesse-Adams—Back Vocals (“One More Time”, “The River”, “Something’s in the Water” and “Love Left Town”)

All material except “The River” (written by David Lapp) written and performed by Jon MacAulay.
Produced, recorded and mixed by Alex Cattaneo

Camil Bélisle—Recording-engineer (for keyboards on “One More Time” and “Part of the Game”
Jean-Philippe Villemure—Mastering
Mira Doheny—Album artwork

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about

Jon MacAulay Sherbrooke, Québec

As much a student of Dylan and Young as Kristofferson, Hendrix, and Wes Montgomery, Jon MacAulay is a veritable sponge drawing inspiration from a wide array of genres to create his deeply heartfelt and honest music.

Jon’s first full-length album “What I’m Here” is set for release in the fall of 2020.

A few singles will slowly start to be leaked before the big drop so make sure to stay tuned!
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