We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

After The First Sleep

by James Fletcher

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $5 USD  or more

     

1.
Lowdonia 03:40
LOWDONIA: oh no i've been thinking again about Lowdonia raising its head but I won't know if I, won't go if I feel it a stone's throw from the side of the bed there's a low glow where the night lays ahead and I don't go if I, don't know if I need it when the lights of the shore come to me we're climbing like Concorde the road closes and time drapes its veil into Lowdonia's winter we sail and I don't go if I, don't know if I feel it when the lights and the shore come to me we'll climb in like Concorde and to think there's no place when it's over find a space on the sofa for getting much closer and eyelids that grieve, be kind to me find a space on the sofa forgetting much closer there's time until the street lights set in the hum of every creak might get in i don't know if I, don't know if I feel it
2.
NIGHT WITCHES: don't leave my side Night Witches it's lonely and I've... left home for these life-long ditches for reasons, i've tried they're rolling over and overhead and bringing out the dead so wake up from dreaming there's concrete and steel in... the break-up of real men Night Witches don't need them the're rollin' over and overhead and living out the dead something crawled into the countries fall into pieces of you some great fog, it's true but they really don't know, what they see don't know...of you don't leave my side Night Witches so I'm waiting for the sun to rise again don't leave my side Night Witches still waiting for the sun to rise again
3.
CORK-CAUSED BLINDNESS: blades of light came through like honey caressing all of you persuaded by the news that's comin' how can we ever lose? then cork-caused blindness ruined you and cork-caused blindness put the shoe in you ooh..... you're laser-guided beauty, stunning conditions old & new paraded on loan from the old folks' home delighted, be there soon when cork-caused blindness ruins you and cork-caused blindness keeps screwin' you ooh... and i've scandalized i know so i'm comin' home don't have the time or money just spin the wheels i'm running' low cork-caused blindness ruined you cork-caused blindness ruined you.....ruined you
4.
THE STRANGE ROVER: you're pickin' up steam as a rule evader a lover of things come on, who can blame ya? you're pickin' up things as you rule, evade her a love of obscene and a mood for later she's lightning and metal and don't it make you feel like you're old, cold head keeps hanging down so slide in a little, and behave she'll get you there and never let you down you're pickin' up steam as a rule-evader a love of obscene come on who can blame ya there's pride in miss little and don't it make you feel right you're old, cold head keeps hangin' down so climb in and peddle you've owned the most and realized you'll lift your head, you've never left the ground and some might say there's room for everyone and some might say there's room...... now lovers would you think the world was broken with a death-defying leap the curtains opened
5.
A DIVER'S REST: years ago before the freeze when trouble was all we had we'd lead the way and crawl between when the colors would light the path we climbed the coastal wall as any other in life alone to feel a form of eden's envy and be the only one there must be something in the wave i'm seein' come mystery siren keep me warm and breathin' i'm catching my breath said the diver at rest as i'm holdin' on and nothing was left of the light on the deck, so it it keeps me searching for the gold steadily out the door 'please don't go' she called to me as the cover of night drew fast peeled and grey the wall revealed them the other blue eyes of glass could there be something in the daze i'm feelin'? i'm looking 'round for the rainbow's path a mix of fire in her blazing glass she goes when she wants you still catching my breath said the diver at rest and I'm goin' on there's nothing much left of this life I regret so it it keeps me searching for the gold mr. resistance won't you carry me i've been waiting so long tuned endlessly i've missed the resistance won't you carry me headlong avenues we strolled on true, endless, free.....
6.
Denim Decoys 02:46
DENIM DECOYS: we can rely on them the denim decoys, we're told pretend, with eyes on them they're denim decoys behold......hold they'll tell you something from the railroad's past they really know or maybe something from the days of brass they really know go play me something I don't really grasp you really know there may be something 'bout the wheel but we can rely on them the denim decoys pretend, with eyes on them the denim decoys they're looking' down with their aprons on they really know k-kick you out with a grained assault they really know and tell me something I don't really want you really know
7.
MOUNTAIN'S HEAVY HOOD: there in the strained dust cloud of your eyes, I'm set in that sun again far from the day, we touched down in islands set in that sun again when you said you'd know when... without blowin' but you like the heat and all your money too there in restrained a dust cloud and I'm up set in that sun again so turn the lights out and don't look and do the things you read about in weathered books i'll shape the mountain's heavy hood prepare to feel for what's to be a time for disgrace we've lost ground and I'm up settin' that sun again the riders are forgiven but it's over before you know so turn the lights down and don't move and undo the things you read about in heaven's book I'll wait for the night up on the roof and tell, tell you what I feel so turn the lights out from these golden heights down to the city the city don't know which way it's sprawling it isn't pretty i really don't go much more (really don't go much more)
8.
GOOD MORNINGS ON THE MOVE: your fine comb need no bother and you keep hang in' on with the thought of another your lines don't bleed like others' they crawl and run away your signs don't read like others they hang on for the ride 'til they fall undercover and dried up dreams in color confusing all the same until after the first sleep gonna take you down another road and make it empty the laughter you sold me gonna take you down another road and make it empty you should have seen him comin' unsettled seasons comin' keep your head up boy there's no use cunning we've got the daemon's money that letter's sealed and done-in keep your head up boy good mornings on the move after the first sleep come and take me down another road and make it empty disaster unfolding gonna take you down another road and make it empty the lines on the ceiling seem to have a way with you designs, so revealing i'll catch you in a day or two (outro) THE END

about

Recorded at Ryan Mall's Lillian Sounds in Costa Mesa, California, 'After the First Sleep' is James Fletcher's follow up to 2010's 'The Booze & Clocks'. A delightfully sultry collection of songs, 'After the First Sleep' delivers you to some serene, wondrous place: part blissfully dream-like, part stairway to the catacombs....

credits

released November 5, 2014

AFTER THE FIRST SLEEP

All songs written by James Fletcher
Recorded & mixed by Ryan Mall at Lillian Sounds
all rights reserved Sky Bird Songs ascap 2014

James Fletcher-all vocals, drums, bass, & percussion
Kristen Eckel-Mahan-flute
Matthew Fletcher-trumpet
Oscar Fuentes- all piano, electric piano, organ, & synthesizers
guitars:
Michael Rosas
Jacob Sahagen
Pat Schubert
Mitchell Townsend
Pat Visel
cover/sleeve design- Neal Burns
photography- Jonathan Garnier

*A great many thanks to the best collection of friends/musicians who helped see this record to completion. Thank you Ryan Mall, Pat Visel, Jacob Sahagen, Oscar Fuentes, Matthew Fletcher, Pat Schubert, Mitch Townsend, Michael Rosas, Kristen Eckel-Mahan. Thank you Liz Bianchi for letting me hang around for the better part of 2 years! Jeff Sewell, thank you for the bass loaner (the best bass I'll ever play!). Neal Burns & Jonathan Garnier, thank you for the great visuals.
*To my lovely wife Carla, I appreciate your patience and support. And to my folks, thanks for buying me that first drum kit at 8 years old. That was the beginning of the end!!
much love,
jf

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

James Fletcher Costa Mesa, California

contact / help

Contact James Fletcher

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like James Fletcher, you may also like: