Get all 9 The Downstrokes releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of This Close to Vertigo, 3 Ghosts, UFO Baby (2022) b/w Bride of Frankenstein, I Would've, (Trying to Break) Bad Habits / Anxiety, Unsafe at Any Speed, Time Bomb (live ep), Fall in love with punk rock again, and 1 more.
1. |
Kaput
03:09
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Kaput
I’ve known some controversy
Now I need a new identity
It’s time to reinvent myself
I’ve tired of the old ways
Look forward to some new days
In paradise after time in hell
So many times, I’ve tried this before
Caught in a maze, knock another door
So many time’s shot myself in the foot
And yet again, watch things go kaput
I’ve made some poor decisions
I built my own damn prisons
rushed in without hesitation
I heard my name in gossip
Thought I might finally stop it
Learned I had a bad reputation
So many times, I’ve tried this before
Caught in a maze, knock another door
So many time’s shot myself in the foot
And yet again, watch things go kaput
I’ve hurt both friends and lovers
when I should have ducked and covered
good thing that I’m quick on my feet
There’s so much going on
So much that could go wrong
Gotta keep the faith and stay upbeat
So many times, I’ve tried this before
Caught in a maze, knock another door
So many time’s shot myself in the foot
And yet again, watch things go kaput
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2. |
Strays
03:29
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Strays
Looking back it’s all a daze
Those rock n roll Saturdays
All our friends All those bands
Hanging out in club alleyways
We lived our lives as we chose
so much time spent in shadows
No one home, wo w roamed
stayed out late til the clubs closed
We were, we were strays (we knew loss and we knew grief)
We were, we were strays (no place to find relief)
Those lost, those lost days (spent our nights all helter skelter)
We were, we were strays (looking for a place of shelter)
Like Kerouac and the Beats
Running wild in the streets
We had to strive to stay alive
No place to retreat
No need to boast no time to brag
we pledged allegiance to no flag
We had ourselves and little else
We wore no collars and no tags
We were, we were strays (we knew loss and we knew grief)
We were, we were strays (no place to find relief)
Those lost, those lost days (spent our nights all helter skelter)
We were, we were strays (looking for a place of shelter)
Hanging out like Fagin’s crew
believin’ we were the chosen few
our street smarts seemed an art
Everyday we’d start anew
We were dopes and made mistakes
a life of dreams and heartaches
But we survived and even thrived
with our share of lucky breaks
We were, we were strays (we knew loss and we knew grief)
We were, we were strays (no place to find relief)
Those lost, those lost days (spent our nights all helter skelter)
We were, we were strays (looking for a place of shelter)
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3. |
Moral Dilemma
03:16
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Moral Dilemma
I try to be a good guy but it’s so difficult
I can look at all I’ve done and say it’s not my fault
It wouldn’t be a lie, no, just some half a truth
To say I’m only human seems like such a poor excuse
Got an angel at my left ear
A devil at my right
been with me some 50 years
Keeping me up at night
Sometime’s its so hard to see what’s right and what’s wrong
It’s easy for you to say that I got to remain strong
The lesser of two evils, isn’t always easy to tell
Dante showed the road to heaven leads right straight through hell
Got an angel at my left ear
A devil at my right
been with me some 50 years
Keeping me up at night
I try to be a good guy sometimes I’m just a bad man
I’ve made stupid choices even I don’t understand
The world ain’t always easy and sometimes I’ve just made it harder
Facing moral choices with only my soul to barter.
Got an angel at my left ear
A devil at my right
been with me some 50 years
Keeping me up at night
Got a devil at my left ear
An angel at my left
Talking Talking Talking at me
Wasting all their breath
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4. |
Go Nowhere Kids
03:21
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Go Nowhere Kids
Ricky’s out on a Wednesday night
He complains that his dad’s uptight
His mom left home when he was three
Got no clue where she might be
A girl I know is sellin’ her eggs
Another one is workin’ at Legz
Boys get rich by sellin meth
They say the’ll quit but not quite yet
I know so many go nowhere kids
I see them living down on the skids
Out on the street their running rabid
I know so many… know so many…
Go Nowhere Kids.
Beth complains that she’s failing class
says her mom’s gonna beat her ass
She’d had a string of bad boyfriends
just wants the cycle to end
They’re getting high in a parking lot
Talkin bout what they haven’t got
They’re not dumb and they’re not blind
They’re the kids who were left behind
I know so many go nowhere kids
I see them living down on the skids
Out on the street their running rabid
I know so many… know so many…
Go Nowhere Kids.
And I could have been one of them back with that one girlfriend
Doing things just to offend but that was way back when
Jimmy works another shit job
His mom’s a drunk and his dad’s a slob
He’s got no hopes and fewer goals
Says his friends are all assholes
A girl will go with any guy
Another one just wants to get high
They’re taking mom’s old opiates
They all say they’ve no regrets
I know so many go nowhere kids
I see them living down on the skids
Out on the street their running rabid
I know so many… know so many…
Go Nowhere Kids.
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5. |
She
04:33
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She
She doesn’t know what she wants no more
She doesn’t seem to really care
She walks blithely through another store
She seems to walk upon thin air
What’s she gonna do about all the things that might be
What’s she gonna do about me
She’s not blind but there are some things she can’t see
What’s she gonna do about me
She drives at night without the headlights on
She tells the cops it’s not her fault
She can’t count the stars that she won’t wish upon
loves the ocean, but hates the salt
What’s she gonna do about all the things that might be
What’s she gonna do about me
She’s not blind but there are some things she can’t see
What’s she gonna do about me
She writes letters that she’ll never send
Collects numbers, she’ll never call
She can’t tell beginnings from the end
Can’t tell the springtime from the fall
What’s she gonna do about all the things that might be
What’s she gonna do about me
She’s not blind but there are some things she can’t see
What’s she gonna do about me
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6. |
Downtown Queen City
03:58
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Downtown Queen City
On Baltimore Street the kids wanna get high
On Baltimore Street they struggle to get buy
High school dropouts out getting stoned
They say it’s better than being stuck at home
They’re hanging out out on the mall
Looking fragile but ready to bawl
Downtown Queen City / Downtown
On Baltimore Street a girl give me the eye
Can’t say she wants me or just to cry
A woman complains about her bad boyfriend
Seems like her troubles will never end
Three blocks away though she goes ignored
By the shoppers in boutique stores
Downtown Queen City / Downtown
On Baltimore Street I see the Queen City Queens
On Baltimore St trying to make the scene
Pawning stuff, someone’s trying to score
I see the dichotomy ‘tween the rich and the poor
I hear a train and it’s leaving town
with its legacy and its tarnished crown
Downtown Queen City / Downtown
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7. |
UFO Baby
02:17
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UFO Baby
People ask about life on Mars
you shoulda seen the girl I met at the bar
wasn’t like anyone I met before
no, she wasn’t like the girl next door.
Asked her name, she said, “Janet.”
She was from another planet
My babe drives me crazy
My babe is a little spacey
My babe’s got a spaceship maybe.
My baby my baby
We went out on a Friday night
She arrived by a beam of light
It was dating science fiction
my heart had an alien affliction.
She said baby let’s elope
to a place only seen by telescope
My babe drives me crazy
My babe is a little spacey
My babe’s got a spaceship maybe.
My baby my baby
Ours was a strange alliance,
dating her was rocket science.
When we kissed I felt like Captain Kirk
but in the end it wouldn’t work
When we broke up there were tears
for the distance between us was light years.
My babe drives me crazy
My babe is a little spacey
My babe’s got a spaceship maybe.
My baby my baby
My babe Not William Macy
My babe Not Kevin Spacey
My babe Not John Wayne Gacy
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8. |
Flying Metal Deathtrap
04:18
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Flying Metal Deathtrap
Loving’s such a carnival ride
Step right up and Climb Inside
Don’t you know I’m glad to drive
So hang tight and get strapped in
Take ourselves a little spin
Take my hand and we’ll start
The hills are steep, the curves are sharp
Flashing lights fight off the dark
No turning back its too late
Feel it as we accelerate
Let’s get away make our escape
Don’t need a map in our Flying Metal Deathtrap
Don’t look away, don’t look askance
Maybe we should dance this dance
Just another game of chance
Let me say what’s on my mind
we’ll leave the midway far behind
You’ll want more after a taste
The wind’s cool rushing in your face
Feel the engine and your heart race
Promise you won’t lost your nerve
To see beyond the next curve
Let’s get away make our escape
Don’t need a map in our Flying Metal Deathtrap
The cart rattles but rides fine
it takes the hill and the inclines
Feel the thrill running up your spine
Yeah admit it feels real good
Just like I said it would
The ride’s fun yes indeed
It takes the turns at breakneck speed
Don’t you know I got what you need
Hang tight don’t lose your grip
I see the way you lick your lips
Let’s get away make our escape
Don’t need a map in our Flying Metal Deathtrap
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9. |
Don't Go Back to Dallas
03:28
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Don’t Go Back to Dallas
There’s so much he-said/she-said, so much misconception
Who’s right and who’s wrong just a question of perception
You say you got your tickets yeah your bags are packed
but you know once you go well there’s no turning back
Don’t Go Back to Dallas. Don’t go
I’m tired of the tricks we both keep up our sleeves
I know one thing’s for sure I don’t want you to leave.
Why don’t we drop our gloves even if just for a night
I know we love each other ain’t that why we fight.
Don’t Go Back to Dallas. Don’t go
Yeah there were better times they were always yesterday
it’s hard to tough it out when you just runaway
So get your tickets, catch your plane get outta town
but if you go to Texas we can’t work it out
Don’t Go Back to Dallas. Don’t go
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10. |
This Close to Vertigo
03:15
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This Close to Vertigo
Feel like I’m gonna fall in love or to the ground.
The engine’s gonna stall and I’ll soon be going down.
The world is spinning fast. I’m feeling pretty crazed.
How long’s this gonna last? My eyes are getting glazed.
I need a rest I need a break
I’ve had all that I can take
My heart is beating in my chest
And I can’t seem to catch my breath
My knees are getting weak. My head is all aspin.
Can’t think and I can’t speak. Gonna take it on the chin.
So much is going on. Feel like I can’t keep up.
No matter how I run. Now I feel I gotta stop.
I need a rest I need a break
I’ve had all that I can take
My heart is beating in my chest
And I can’t seem to catch my breath
This close to Vertigo
My head is burning up. My face sheened in sweat
I’m trying to stay tough but I feel so inept
I need to rest a bit. Maybe just take a seat
Feel like I’ve gotten hit. Hell I’m feeling pretty beat
I need a rest I need a break
I’ve had all that I can take
My heart is beating in my chest
And I can’t seem to catch my breath
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The Downstrokes Frostburg, Maryland
Featuring Gerry LaFemina on vocals and guitars, Kyle Wagoner on drums, Robin Summerfield lead guitars and Greg Wood on bass,
the band has become a cornerstone of a resurgent Western Maryland punk scene.
Former Members:
Aaron Hoel
Michael Holland
Greg Kerr
Bill Poorbaugh
Leigh Abraham
... more
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