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Northern Town

by Cranston Dean

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1.
Toe The Line 03:31
Took a loan out from Sally-May, lookin for a lesson on life still waiting on a sunny day, I can throw off a cap like a kite never good at takin notes, I can never show up on time I might spend my whole life learning how to toe the line Backseat with a cigarette, wind was blowing all in my hair We're flyin and the drivers fine, thinking bout opening the door day-drunk or daydreaming, maybe I'm just passin the time I might spend my whole life learning how to toe the line Every life has it's problems, I can't seem to solve mine Got a girl to love me true, I can never give up my time Get lost in the criss-cross thinking bout the things that shouldn't enter my mind Living here in Babylon, Roman cross the great divide I might spend my whole life learning how to toe the line Backseat with a cigarette, I don't even smoke anymore we're flyin and the drivers fine, thinking bout opening the door day-drunk or daydreaming, maybe I'm just passin the time I might spend my whole life learning how to toe the line
2.
pick another plot the private prison, the prism of a system that we live in has no limits if the price is right, oh the price feels nice doctors giving out addictive drugs to little kids, oxycontin, percocet, opiate a number's all we are beneath the stripes and stars it's a robbery in progress, they'll never get enough diamonds in the dust we're all diamonds in the dust stealing from an empty pocket and watching profits going up diamonds in the dust we're all diamonds in the dust someone sick a dog on all the hogs that clog the halls and pass the laws that keeps us slaving to our jobs I'm 40 years away from debt I'll never pay 60 hours a working week with hurtin feet a window seat commute to keep the email chain up certainly Still it's not enough for hunger or for trust it's a robbery in progress, they'll never get enough diamonds in the dust we're all diamonds in the dust stealing from an empty pocket and watching profits going up diamonds in the dust we're all diamonds in the dust
3.
The Root 03:26
Everyone's together kneeling out in the street, when the root at the bottom is broken I don't wanna hear about good fruit on the tree, when the root at the bottom is broken I don't wanna hear it, my eyes already seen it, I don't wanna cause a commotion I hear they've got a place that's called the land of the free but the root at the bottom is broken You don't believe your brother when he says he's in need, oh the root at the bottom is broken Truth is not a fact, it's what you wanna believe, when the root at the bottom is broken People keep on faking, buy everything they're making, like it's snake oil price that potents the potion How the hell's a rich man gonna look out for me, when the root at the bottom is broken People make appearance, opinion out on clearance, the way the rest of us feel is unspoken I heard they got a place that's called the land of the free, but the root at the bottom is broken How the hell's a rich man gonna look out for me, when the root at the bottom is broken Oh the root at the bottom is broken
4.
Peace or picking up the pieces while your trying not to make a sound Heat, I can see it rising and it's coming from the underground Deep, deep as any pocket in a honey-hole runaround Seeds, sow em if you got em just to tuck em down deep in the ground When the sun goes down When the sun goes down in a northern town, better fetch the leash on the loosened beast When it comes back up, better fill your cup with whatever brew gets you on your feet When the sun goes down in a northern town by the railway split or the churchyard ground I missed the last bus home just to catch a round, with my black-eyed friend who's been feeling down when the sun goes down Playing for keeps and stubborn, never give an inch if it takes a mile Sheets made of ice or made of linen are the same every once and a while Hopes smoke em if you got em, forsaken and forgotten and damned Toast to the righteous and the rotten where the lion breaks bread with the lamb When the sun goes down When the sun goes down in a northern town, better fetch the leash on the loosened beast When it comes back up, better fill your cup with whatever brew gets you on your feet When the sun goes down in a northern town by the railway split or the churchyard ground I missed the last bus home just to catch a round, with my black-eyed friend who's been feeling down when the sun goes down
5.
Peace 03:39
I don't care about the color of your hair, don't care about the clothes or make-up that your wearin Sometimes I don't even know what day it is so all I ever really ask is this Times will try the ties that bind and seas between us grow I just figured you might wanna know What I want, what I need, what I love is peace Space and time can skip my mind occasionally, been wasting days while you've been waiting patiently Sometimes I don't even know how I can give ya, all the loving that you bless me with Times will try the ties that bind and seas between us grow I just figured you might wanna know What I want, what I need, what I love is peace Times will try the ties that bind and seas between us grow I just figured you might wanna know
6.
Carolina 03:49
My best friends are my only competition and my only competition are my best friends sitting round after hours in a kitchen, passing songs and no one's listening but it never ends Broke a sweat from a northeast city trying to dodge all the winter cold took a right at a street light screaming I don't ever really wanna go home But Carolina I saw your heart, Carolina right from the start, Carolina I just wanna Carolina in the morning sun, Carolina when the evening comes, Carolina we can wait and see, Carolina I just wanna Safe bet if you see me in the evening that I'm thinking bout the leaving pacing round the floor Took a left in my mind's eye, mines fine just gotta get it out of the North Took a lot but I've forgotten all the reasons I was ever melancholic at all Poured some whiskey on my problems with some lager marijuana drove it right on home But Carolina I saw your face, Carolina I learned your name, Carolina I just wanna Carolina in the morning sun, Carolina when the working's done, Carolina we can wait and see Carolina we can wait and see, Carolina I just wanna
7.
Get Away 04:51
I went to the dollar store short a nickel and dime I went down to the old park bench when they threw me down the line I thought I'd run a tab with my friend who runs the bar All I've got's three quarters and ten pennies and my car Gotta get away I get paid in 2 days but I've squandered all I've made If I can pay you back in 3 I'll pay you twice the rate Bank takes all my money in 30 seconds flat It takes them 3 damn days to get my money back Gotta get away I went to the corner store and saw my man behind the glass he laid out a plan for me that would help us jump a class said we're heading out of Philly, we'll be back before the sun I know a bank where the cops won't come Gotta get away Pulled up to the parking lot there was no one left in town looked like it'd all been empty since the sun went down I made much more money than I could ever dream We made it back to Philly before the church bells rang Made a getaway Went to old Montana with my car and my cash Look for anybody who would take it fast I died in old Montana and when I'm looking back At that night outside of Philly I just start to laugh Gotta get away Made a getaway
8.
Shades 05:19
Honey I'm lost in my mind, I cannot wash in the river It's only a matter of time, something that last for forever Hanging you heart out to dry, there'll never be peace in the valley Never will know until I try, failures my best teacher surely Remedy for missing something that I can't get back, I'm familiar with that Tired of living with the lights down low and the shades drawn black Remedy for feelings that I can't explain, I never cut myself slack Tired of living with the lights down low and the shades drawn black Honey I can't seem to find, all of the strength to deliver It's only a matter of time, something that feels like forever Hanging your art out to buy, ticking and taking a tally The bed that I make is where I'll lie Failures my best teacher surely Remedy for missing something that I can't get back, I'm familiar with that Tired of living with the lights down low and the shades drawn black Remedy for feelings that I can't explain, I never cut myself slack Tired of living with the lights down low and the shades drawn black
9.
Send me a message, show me a sign, I wanna see something before I'm out of time I'm lookin up to you, Fingernail moon Write me a letter from time to time, slide in my dm and say "you're doing fine' I don't know what to do, Fingernail moon When it's over said and done, I know I'm not the only one who's trying to make it but I just can't seem to shake it and I'm looking right on up to you, Fingernail moon Look down upon me, try to be kind, If I go much longer I'll go right on out of my mind I don't know what to do, fingernail moon
10.
Time To Go 04:54
woke up in the country in some strangers trailer she was very kind she took us in from the cold weren't there long and when we woke in the morning found out the old dog had died out in the snow without hesitation, Tyler and I went fetched us a blanket and went out to the road the strangers were crying the old dog had died and we put it on the back porch we knew it was time to go Time to go took of running to our next destination had some friends there we couldn't wait to hold said "hey Jaime, next radio station" He obliged but there was static for the next couple miles or so Shane said something about 'good kid, m.A.D.D city' Ike reached into his backpack and put it in to load Riley was smoking cigarettes and he had one lit We pulled up to our soundcheck we knew it was time to go Time to go I hope have a heart attack right on a stage my family's prone to it and it's just a matter of time I wanna go down feeling this way I wanna go down doing just what I like I've lost all my patience for this conversation if you've run outta money just run right on out the door as for me see I got this inclination I'm gonna sit right at this station until it's time to go Time to go

about

recorded at my mother and father's home surrounded by people I love most (and a couple of good dogs)

credits

released May 11, 2023

Recorded by Michael Young at the Dean house in Atlantic Highlands, NJ
January 2022

Written by Cranston Dean

Performed by:
Shane Luckenbaugh - Drums / Backing Vox
Riley Schiro - Electric Guitar / Backing Vox
Patty C - Bass / Backing Vox
Max Carmichael - Slide Guitar, Octave Mandolin, Flute, Electric Guitar
Cranston Dean - Vocals, Keys, Acoustic Guitar

Written by Cranston Dean

Produced by Cranston Dean & Michael Young

Engineered by Michael Young

Mixed by Pat Noon at Eightsixteen

Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music

Album Art by Alex Mackenzie

Special thanks to Tyler Harrison, Jacque Dean & Allan Dean, Alex Mack, Jenny Two Dogs, Jonas Hunter, Unowens Cafe in Highlands for the rehearsal space and being a place for musicians to gather, Joe at Shorefire in Long Branch, Bart Lentini, Melissa Peterson.

Also special thanks to the following dogs: Hudson & Shiloh (so good)

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Cranston Dean Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

If you’ve never heard Cranston Dean perform before, you’re robbing yourself of an amazing experience. Dean’s voice takes you back to a time when the singer/songwriter played the bars of Asbury during the heydays of The Circuit, and blew people’s minds with their lyrical poetry.
- Bill Bodkin, pop-break.com
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