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Unlucky For Some

by Jim Pearson

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1.
Piano one 01:08
2.
Chat room 04:21
3.
Over to you Bob! Every night at six pm I sit in the house with my TV on There’s a man I watch who I admire With o-zone hair and smart attire I live a life of luxury With a remote control sitting on my knee But I wish that I was just like him The epitome of the American dream It’s over to you Bob! Over to you Bob! Read us the news from your autocue He likes to keep his image clean But he’s Mr. Hyde when he’s off-screen He wears the most expensive clothes His fortune’s going up his nose He was caught messing ‘round with a porno queen He’s forty-two she’s just nineteen He’ll try anything you’ve got to sell Because he’s far too popular to go to jail Now it’s over to you Bob! Over to you Bob! Read us the news from your autocue He got a wake-up call he can’t ignore They shut the door on him at Betty Ford’s Now his wife has left him with the kids in tow And he lost his job from his own TV show He’s kept his popularity But he ain’t the man he used to be It’s over to you Bob! Over to you Bob! Read us the news from your autocue ©Jim Pearson 2008
4.
There must be something wrong with the world When rules of thumb turn out all wrong When this way up is upside down When have-not’s have and have’s have-not When we appreciate what we’ve got Somewhere there are children who are starving My food doesn’t cost as much as the packaging There must be something wrong with the world When we understand the technology we use When we learn to walk in other people’s shoes When religious leaders lose their faith in deities When the populations worship human frailties Somewhere there are children working in factories If don’t like the clothes I’m wearing I’ll give them to charity There must be something wrong with the world ©Jim Pearson 2008
5.
Keep ahead of the Joneses You had to buy a new TV with a lifetime guarantee To restore your sense of chi and your superiority Keep ahead of the Joneses Keep rubbing their noses in it You’ve got a brand new car You’re better off than them by far So many ways to help you pay don’t save it for a rainy day When offers come your way you can hear yourself say Keep ahead of the Joneses Keep rubbing their noses in it You’ve got a brand new car You’re better off than them by far You could end up in so much debt it would be cheaper being dead So take your problems to the grave and count the money you’ll save Keep ahead of the Joneses Keep rubbing their noses in it You’ve got a brand new car You’re better off than them by far ©Jim Pearson 2008
6.
Everybody wants Everybody wants to drive a motorcar Even if the destination isn’t very far We’re concerned for the environment When it isn’t inconvenient Everybody wants to drive a motorcar Everybody wants to raise a happy home On a piece of land that we can call our own With barbed wire and electric fence Because self-defence is common sense Everybody wants to raise a happy home By now you should have figured out somehow If you think this life is just a test Don’t save yourself and damn the rest Everybody wants a good old-fashioned war Then at least we’d know what we are fighting for Freedom and security but they don’t mean the same to me Everybody wants to drive a motorcar But is that worth dying for? ©Jim Pearson 2008
7.
Storm 03:44
Storm You didn’t heed the warning so you must ride the storm Batten down your hatches baby and hide behind the door The atmospheric pressure is bearing down on you But don’t look out your window baby ‘cos you won’t like the view Now it’s too late to evacuate and there’s nothing you can do He doesn’t like the clothes you wear if you don’t dress for him He doesn’t want you to change your hair but he wants to know everywhere you’ve been The atmospheric pressure is baring down on you And the darkening skies are in his eyes when he’s had more than a few He can’t disguise that look in his eyes and there’s nothing you can do He wants to tell you something but you won’t understand You’re the only thing in his fucked-up life that makes him feel like a man He loves you Hasn’t he told you? He loves you He just wants to hold you Down ©Jim Pearson
8.
Long way home (free) 03:03
Long way home When I beheld my lucky charm watching at the village dance I knew I had to take her arm before I joined the boys in France I believe some things are meant to be When I needed her my darling came to me I told her I was scared to death and didn’t want to be alone She whispered with an angel’s breath “Walk with me the long way home” I believe some things are meant to be When I needed her my darling came to me But I’ve been changed by the mud and bloody gore I doubt she’d even recognise the boy I was before The silence of the day’s first light is weighing heavy on our bones With every muscle pulling tight it’s time to walk the long way home I believe she was with me when I fell She led me from the gaping jaws of hell And I believe she lay down next to me She kept me warm until I fell asleep When I awoke from her gentle lullaby I was in a field of poppies there was nothing left to die She walked with me the long way home ©Jim Pearson 2008
9.
How can I live without you now? How can I live without you now? After I’ve grown used to you How can you leave me on my own? After all I’ve done for you I can’t look after myself I can’t even boil an egg I can’t look after myself I can’t even work the washing machine ©Jim Pearson 2008
10.
Lost 03:20
Lost You’ve got a restless feeling you can’t put your finger on You don’t know where you’re going or where you’re coming from You never counted your blessings You only count the cost If you keep changing direction No wonder you are lost Has someone torn the last page from your favourite book? Perhaps you’ll find it in the last place that you look We never counted out blessings We only count the cost The world keeps changing direction No wonder we are lost ©Jim Pearson 2008
11.
Bucket of tears You can’t put out a fire with a bucket full of tears You can’t put out a fire that hasn’t been alight for years The touch of your fingers still burns I don’t know if I’m ever going to learn You can’t quench desire with a bottle full of tears You can’t quench desire in the end it disappears I can still taste your lips on my mouth I don’t want to believe in my doubts You’ve got a secret you don’t want to keep You only believe it when you are asleep You’re saving yourself for the man in your dreams I’m sorry he couldn’t me You can’t cheat a liar with a pocket full of tears You can’t cheat a liar I was just a volunteer Bitter words on the end of my tongue I don’t think either one of us will be strong I can see when I look in your eyes There’s someone I no longer recognise ©Jim Pearson 2008
12.
I’m happy. You’re sorry You wanted me to be alone Alone on my own You didn’t want me to find someone Someone of my own I’m sorry I’m happy Be careful what you wish for because wishes can come true You cut your nose off just to spite my face Now it’s you that looks ridiculous because no-one wants to take my place I’m sorry I’m happy I’m happy. You’re sorry ©Jim Pearson 2008
13.
Sinking ship 03:48
Sinking ship I had a crazy dream the day before you called I was on a sinking ship you were in a rowing boat The waves began to calm when I took your outstretched arm We drifted off for many days and left the wreck behind When I ran out of things to say you said you didn’t mind You saved me from the storm and your friendship kept me warm I hardly recognised your voice You said “hello it’s me, it’s been so long” I made a selfish choice, I said “I’m sorry but you’ve got the number wrong” Thankfully we made dry land before we died of thirst I said, “if you ever need a helping hand be sure you call me first” Somehow we survived so we got on with out lives I hardly recognised your voice you said “Hello it’s me, it’s been so very long” I made a heartless choice, I said “I’m sorry but I think you’ve got the number wrong” I had a crazy dream the day after you called It was you that went down in the storm and somehow I had stayed afloat And to my endless shame I watched you slowly drown And I never heard from you again ©Jim Pearson

about

From the rugged moors of North England comes a fresh and truly original singer-songwriter. This is a quirky, sensitive, witty, quintessentially British sound that grows on one with each listen. And lurking behind the eccentric trappings are some highly infectious grooves, amber guitar tones, and wickedly clever arrangements that George Martin would be proud of. But then what would you expect from an artist that cites British Army bands, Black Sabbath, and Charlie Brown as influences?

Jim's music is like a rich, peaty, single-malt Scotch. No it isn't for everyone--it takes quite a bit of living before you learn to savour that slow, burning taste. That voice...so world-weary, ancient, sincere, playful, ironic, cheerful, wistful, innocent, and hopeful within just a few bars. Reviewers have compared it to Bowie, Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs), Johnny Cash, Morrissey, and Ray Davies. But it's both older and younger than any of these--like some grey-haired British uncle that dons a military jacket and begins to sing old songs from the war then capers and leaps higher than the young ones can.
(Jeff Roberts)

Unlucky For Some is chock full of beautifully visual, almost cinematic songs that seem so damn 'real'. The lyrics steer far clear of melodrama and deliver honest stories, tales and thoughts that stay with you for days. It's as if each song is a screenplay in it's own right with a backdrop of instrumentation that swings from simple elegance to punchy bittersweet tension. Well worth repeated listens.
(Scott Cryer)

credits

released January 6, 2008

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Jim Pearson UK

"You never can be sure what kind of project Jim will come up with next, but you can always be sure it's gonna be pretty darn good." Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music.

Jim's songs range from the whimsical to some of the most bitter and somber themes, yet always with a paradoxical childlike spirit that meets them head-on – wide-eyed and full of hopeful energy.
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