Get in The Swamp Krewe at theswamprecords.bandcamp.com

Music by A.J. Kaufmann ajkaufmann.bandcamp.com

Read A.J.'s blog at theworldofajkaufmann.blogspot.com

THE HERMIT

The Hermit he sits all alone
And the tower he built is high
He reaches out for a hand sometimes
But he always gets a goodbye
Alibis for the Hermit
Excuses for his truth
Not a slight case of understanding
Oh what a waste of youth

The Hermit cares for no one
But his own presence in his room
A god in his own universe
The apostle of gloom
His eyes have seen and witnessed
The bluntest of pains there is
The meaning of non-existence
The shadow behind a kiss

All the paths are bleeding highways
Filled with people forlorn
Bridges burn at twilight
As their faces burn with scorn
Take a good look in the mirror
You might see a Hermit too
A deserted piece of somebody’s past
Oh what a waste of youth

Truth does not hurt
When you’re only used to the pain
You don’t expect anything good
From machines in people’s flesh
Hope and love are blank words only
A sanctuary that won’t be
Cause, firstly, there is no lock
And, secondly, there is no key

All your daily silly cravings
And the crumbs of love that are left
Satisfy you and make you happy
Well put on my shoes and try to dance
I’m unable to react
To this rape on a human’s heart
So I return to my solemn tower
Where songs are written for winter stars


RADIANCE OF YOUR SMILE

So I staggered down the street
To the seashore of our meat
To the mollified heat

To the mollified waves I dive
To the radiance of your smile
To the mollified waves I dive
Into the radiance of your smile

Said, I went down to my favorite place
Where all the meals they have a really groovy taste
You know that nothing that's good will ever, ever waste

To the mollified wind I fly
Down to the radiance of your smile
Down to the mollified wind I fly
Up to the radiance of your smile

To the mollified waves I dive
To the radiance of your smile
To the mollified waves I dive
Into the radiance of your smile


IT'S NOT THE SAME WHEN SHE'S GONE

You’re climbing thru the evening alone
You look for her shades everywhere
Thru every face and every place
You’re walking without a care

And you know it’s not the same
When she’s gone
Yes you know it’s not the same
When she’s gone

You’re climbing up the wet cobblestone
Thru neon reflections of time
The city spreads like a peacock fan
Its madness invades your mind

And you know it’s not the same
When she’s gone…

You’re looking for a memory of her
You look in your favorite bars
In every café where you used to talk
Under the halo of stars

But you know it’s not the same
When she’s gone…

Drawing her face down in the bar
On every cracked wall her shadow passed by
Out of her arms emerges the dawn
Touching its light, cold as stone

You’re looking for a small glowing thing
Anything she could leave
You check the stairs at her old address
You’re sweeping up the leaves

And you know it’s not the same
When she’s gone…

You’re drinking now to forget the scene
But deep down in your mind
You look for her in everything warm
You’re waiting for a sign

And you know it’s not the same
When she’s gone…


FOLLY

Break the silence into midnight
Cross the lanterns' diner twilight
Find a crossroad to believe in
Choose a district you could live in
Birds of Satan fly in circles
Over graveyards veiled in mists that
Draw on close the window city
There's no common sense in litter

Where I used to wander freely
Now a stop sign reddens clearly
That no car could fly past borders
Made by men who's gotten older
Faster than a cannon shooting
Safer than an armchair drooling
Over girls on film in X-ray
There's no escape, this is doomsday

I'm a fool for blonde girls walking
Through the forests of Milwaukee
I'm a descent of firm ages
Glowing black on history pages
Where my name means nothing special
Where the birth and death are crashing
Into lotus pools of knowledge
Into lethal cups of cold air

Catch the bus or tram to work man
Waste your time and health for low ends
Earn some money, learn to breakdance
Get some music into your veins
Try so hard but you don't get it
Make your mind up and forget it
Brand new planets forming slowly
In the system of our folly


GYPSY FIRE

Eyes of a Gypsy
Legs of a Gypsy
Arms of a Gypsy
Fire
Eyes of a Gypsy
Arms of a Gypsy
Legs of a Gypsy
Fire


DAYBREAK RAINBOWS

Look around
What you see
It is quite another view
What you are
What you'll be
It's the mystery of you

You don't know
Try to find
But you'll never know the truth
There's a lock
On your heart
If you tear this lock apart

You will see
The daybreak rainbows
Waiting for
Showers of your rain
You are not insane
You are not insane
You are not insane
No

Pedestals of greatest minds caught in acid blast
Temples crumble, masses rumble to the Neverlast
Storm is coming, hide you child in your endless dream
Reality is a monster, it ain't what it seems

Crash you down and paint you gray, that's what she would do
But reality is over now, the dream belongs to you
A better life inside your mind, learn to make it real
Heal the masses, let them see, let them live and feel

Someday
I'll find a light there
Inside my soul so blue
I'll find a path that's true
I'll tramp it all the way

Slowly
I'll step inside this
Door to ancient light
Forget the concrete night
And follow to the day

Maybe
You will follow
And you will go my way
All pain will go astray
And we will be as one
credits
released March 5, 2024
Arranged and Produced by Blessed Studio, Indonesia.


PEARLY HAIR OF '68

So you go into the coldness of space all alone
And you drift with angels and demons older than the world
Will your raise your sword again or will you let it rust
Space waves free encircle you and turn your chains to dust

Your pearly hair of '68 gave knowledge to the masses
And somehow dawn kept breaking through the dark city molasses
Will you dance on tiptoe foam again on wild guitars
Or will you let the time succumb all your wicked earthly lies

Rivers wide and autumn skies sure will echo you again
Lovely dancer on the cosmic waste falling down like rain
Water falls on winds of you as you float on by the sea
New mankind now worships you on sundown bathed knees

Time is baked on what you make of different landings here alone
I will fly away from here on your crystal studded throne


GORCZYN IS BROOKLYN

There's a lot of pretty girls in there
When they hear my guitar, they stand in the bare
And they let the wind flow down their hair
Like a fairytale from Alladin's lair

But in here no fairytales are allowed
Górczyn boys like their music raw and loud
Just like their lives in the neon shade
Shimmering like stars in a rusty parade

Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn

A lot of friends and highs for every man
United against the system we stand
Whether we read books or screw up tidy minds
We're the crew your granddad warned us about

Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn

We are high as melon kites above the waist
When you play you'd better rip off all that bass
Lemmy and Jimi combined
Crowds like their music real wild

Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn
Górczyn is Brooklyn


TESTAROSSA

She got bumpers just like you, got suspension just like you
Got reflectors just like you, I’ll infuse you that’s what I’ll do
But a car is more expensive than you so I’m here to choose you

I’m gonna drive you far cause a woman is like a car
Baby let me drive you far cause you’re just like a sports car
Baby let me drive you far cause a woman is like a car

Ain’t yesterday today’s tomorrow?
So come on baby and forget your sorrow
This love is gonna take you far
Cause a woman is like a car

One nation, one voice
One nation, one voice

Everything has changed since I arrived but you stayed the same
C’mon my little girl, let me jump inside your game
Cause I love you like I never loved before
I’m gonna love you in a mechanical world

I’m gonna drive you far cause a woman is like a car
Baby let me drive you far cause you’re just like a sports car
Baby let me drive you far cause a woman is like a car

Speedway chronoglide
Take me where it hides
Speedway chronoglide
That's where my baby rides

She got bumpers just like you, got reflectors just like you
Got imagination too, got the road and speed and fuel
And she's gonna drive you good if you treat her like you should

I’m gonna drive you far cause a woman is like a car
Baby let me drive you far cause you’re just like a sports car
Baby let me drive you far cause a woman is like a car


LODGE

Just like a lodge on your way
Just like a lodge on your way
The lights were on but you didn't want to stay
I'm just a lodge on your way

Paint is peeling from the walls
Water’s flooding down the hall
And nothing’s left but the memory when you say
I’m just a lodge on your way

Will you ever learn
Will you ever pay
Will you ever find
A cheaper place to stay

Dirty windows smile, they’re facing town
River’s on the back with all her frown
You’ve chosen me, had no better place to stay
I’m just a lodge on your way

Mirrors crack and floors collapse
Creatures leave their winter nests
Exile laughs and permanence turns gray
I’m just a lodge on your way

Will you ever learn
Will you ever pay
Will you ever find
A cheaper place to stay

Just like a moth to the light
Just like a fool in the night
You came to rest and chase the bars away
I’m just a lodge on your way


LIEBLING

I've been watching you for hours
In the technicolor dream
I'm a sucker for your flowers
I could die here on your screen
I've been catching up with stories
You made up to help me feel
I'm a man of fewer worries
Now that you and me are real

Summer baby
Lover child
Grassroots Liebling
Liebling wild

Oh I miss your face
Oh I miss your face

I've been scratching at the ceiling
Like a cat in sudden heat
I'm a devastating feeling
I could knock you off your feet
I've been matching pain with glory
Just to see how far it goes
I'm a man of fewer worries
Now that you have rocked my boat

Summer baby
Lover child
Grassroots Liebling
Liebling wild

Oh I miss your face
Oh I miss your face


MILIEU

She takes all your reasons
And wipes them out
She says you won’t need them
And I tell you she’s right

She tells you take it easy
Ain’t worth to worry at all
She puts the ring on the table
And flowers in a vase

She says we’re like this ring
And like that very vase
She says that the table & flowers
Are now in their proper place

Then she makes you breakfast
You will eat together, as one
She says I really love the silence
Especially when the morning
comes

She listens to the bird song
A simple melody
She says I know this quiet tune
Will forever remind you of me

And then a smile so subtle
Appears on her knowing face
It whispers I know you’re sure now
We have found our place