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.

Bright As You

by Jason Harrod

/
1.
The sun is up. I can't believe it, The night flew by. My little head is burning From the summer dust scratching at my eyes. Lean out the window, I'm hoping for rain, That's my posture these days. Cool my burdens down, I can't believe how hot it stays. Some kind of solar conflagration Shot down from the sky, Slid under my skin, And now the sun is burning me from the inside. "Get on up!" James Brown said. I guess I will, it couldn't hurt much. Ooh, jump back—my skin's too hot to touch. If the world were ice cream, We wouldn't last long, would we? We'd slip away—a spacey, sticky stream. Some kind of solar conflagration Shot down from the sky, Slid under my skin, And now the sun is burning me from the inside. Jalapeño and Tabasco, Have another habanero. Taste the pain of fire in a fruit. Outside it's burning white and red But hushed and grey-green in my head. The breeze I dream, it blows me wet and cool. Some kind of solar conflagration Shot down from the sky, Slid under my skin, And now the sun is burning me, And it's the best thing I have felt in my whole life. The sun is up and so am I.
2.
Kickin' Mule 03:51
Gonna get me a girlfriend to laugh at all my jokes. Gonna get me a bottle of sweet soda pop And a packet of smokes. When I smoke the first one, there's nothing I can't do. When I smoke the last, I swear I'm through. I'm a kickin' mule. Hey yeah, I'm a kickin', kickin' mule. Yes I'm a kickin' mule, and I kick it like I want it when I want it to. Gonna get a household name and a seat on the board. I'll get soap that smells. I'll get product that sells and my eternal reward. I'll be the go-to man on the final play, Coast-to-coast 'cross the U.S.A. I'll be cruel and unusual for a limited time. Better watch your back. Better watch your mind. 'Cause I'm a kickin' mule. Hey yeah, I'm a kickin', kickin' mule. Yes I'm a kickin' mule, and I kick it like I want it when I want it to. Oh yes, it's hard. Oh yes, it is. When you got critics criticizin' every single thing that you ever did And there's a pressure, baby, You got to get away from. And there's a peace and a freedom. You got to get you some. Gonna get a new suit of clothes And a new cut of hair, A hat like the pope And a comfortable chair. I'm here to make the scene. I'm gonna get you pumped. I'll be the new-crowned king of the hustle and bump. I'll be the funky fresh fella that you wanna talk to. I'll be gluin' back together everything that's unglued. 'Cause I'm a kickin' mule. Hey yeah, I'm a kickin', kickin' mule. Yes I'm a kickin' mule, and I kick it like I want it, kick it like I want it, Kick it like I want it when I want it to.
3.
When I fly away, I will be unbound. When I fly away, I'm nowhere to be found. Windows, rapturous windows, blue, infinite blue. End and endless, could it be that I was meant for you? When I fly... When I fly... When I fly away through the heat and cold. When I fly away, I will not grow old. Senses, I came to my senses, and you were all that I knew. End and endless, could it be that I was meant for you? When I fly... When I fly... I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to get high. I don't want to talk, I want to fly. When I fly away, I won't be afraid. When I fly away, I will be remade. When I fly... When I fly...
4.
I got the messed up everywhere blues Every night and every day. Yes I do have those messed up blues, And I wish they'd go away. I met a man, he had the lonesome Tennessee kind. He was all messed up and hurt. And I met a man, he had the low-down Memphis kind of blues, But the kind I have are worse. I got the messed up everywhere blues Every night and every day. Yes I do, yes I do, yes I do, yes I do. And they just won't go away. When you were a girl, I loved your smooth, smooth skin, And I praised the author of your eyes. But you don't love me now, just like you didn't love me then, And I want to kiss your worry lines. I got the messed up everywhere blues Every night and every day. Yes I do, yes I do, yes I do have those blues. And they just won't go away. A while ago, I had those New York City blues. Right where the Hudson meets the sea. You know, I barely made it out alive, Barrelling across the Tappan Zee. And I've got a hot, hot heart, Burning like a coal. And I've got a hot, hot heart. Jesus, don't you take my song away. That's one thing I ask of you. Jesus, won't you let my clumsy fingers play? You know I only play for you.
5.
Couldn't be as bright as you. I couldn't be as bright as the sun in its shining. Could I be so true? You're the brightest thing on my horizon Could I be so fine? One little apple of your little eye? No, I couldn't, not if I tried I couldn't be bright. Speak in my good ear, my bad one's gone down. Stuck to the wind with the window rolled down. Speak me some good news, but don't make a sound. I couldn't be bright. I could be free of it, wanting to be of it. I could be knowing and growing inside. I could be free of it, wanting to be, But I couldn't be bright. You put supernovas to shame. They all flicker out when you call out my name. You've got the light that right-sizes my frame. I couldn't be bright as you. No, I couldn't be bright as you.
6.
Night, fall on me. I'm sitting here just stuck in misery. Four o'clock in the morning and I'm all alone. Night, fall on me. Early in the morning, I'm a-warning you about my state. I like to get in trouble and I like to stay up late. Just me in the moonlight hunkered down and tempting fate. Night, fall on me. What's happening? A long time ago I used to be the next big thing. Four o'clock in the morning and I'm small. Night, fall on me. There's a stinky breeze in the Garden of Easy that blows. I've got a feeling, sick and disease-y, from my head to my toes. Naked as a jay bird hoping for clothes, Night, fall on me.
7.
Voyeurs 03:41
Tonight there are no voyeurs, only hungry eyes. Bewitched by nameless shadows framed by the light. Tonight there is no gravity, only tuggings at your sleeve That tell you what you ought to know, but what you can't believe. If I could sleep as deeply as I long for her, I'd be a sated slumberer. The night fades into dawn, slips into burning afternoon. Just find a place to pray for shade and wait for the moon. Hang on voyeurs, feast your eyes there where darkness lies. I pray one day she'll come back to me. Until that day I'll stand alone, in love with what I see. Hang on voyeurs, rest your eyes There where darkness lies
8.
What are y'all going to do tonight? Are you going to the movie tonight? I don't know if I can go, you know, I really want to, but I just don't know. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. Yeah, my mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. I like the way she makes me feel, you know, I want to find out if a mad love's real. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. My mad girl, she's so pissed off. You know she's gonna tear it up. Better watch out because she's gonna go off. But when I touch her, she feels so soft. My mad girlfriend, she's so boss. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. I like the way she makes me feel, you know, I want to find out if a mad love's real. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. Did I tell you that I want to make it better? Did I tell you that I want to see her later? Did I tell you that I'm sticking around? I want to be there when she lets her guard down. My mad girl, she's a little upset. She hasn't found out what she needed yet. That girl can't keep her hands to herself, you know, I think she just might be bad for my health, But she's good for my head. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight. I try to make her feel okay, And I'm a mighty little boy to be a-workin' this way. My mad girlfriend is coming over tonight.
9.
Goodnight, Sunshine, sleep in peace. You've got no friends, no enemies. Shadows clinging to the trees. Goodnight, goodnight. I'll be driving through the night, Following the posted signs. Asphalt winding through the pines, Goodnight, goodnight. I'm a messed-up man, But I'm full of love. I'm not sure what I'm not sure of. Goodnight. Orioles and fishbone ferns Are thankful that your surface burns. All the boys and all the girls Long to bathe their face in yours. You don't explain, And you don't excuse. You've got no one to answer to. Goodnight. Goodnight, goodnight. Goodnight, goodnight. Goodnight. Goodnight, Sunshine, sleep in peace. You've got no friends, no enemies. No regrets, no memories. Goodnight, goodnight. Goodnight, goodnight.
10.
Babylon, the cradle of our time Soldiers fight for the right to march in line Glass is made from sand and sun and lime Am I right, am I right for your time? Am I right, am I right for your time? I saw Alexander raging on the seas, A mighty Colossus cut down at the knees Tell me how can you suffer such as these When our wings turn to dust in the breeze? I saw Alexander shining in the sun, Standing tall with boats and armies on the run There's a camel struggling in the needle's eye Am I right, am I right for your time? I'm going to come home on my shield, Or I'm not coming home at all I'm going to come home on my shield, When the righteous fall I saw Cleopatra floating down the Nile. I said, "Hey, won't you share your kingdom with me for awhile." We rested easy in a city built by slaves, While the truth hid in mountaintops and caves While the truth hid in mountaintops and caves

about

featuring:

Jason Harrod: guitar, vocals, harmonica
Chris Donahue: bass
Dennis Holt: drums
Phil Madeira: electric guitar, slide guitar, keyboards
Kenny Meeks: electric guitar

except "Voyeurs," which features:

Joshua Stamper: bass
Jen Allen: piano
Kris Allen: Saxaphone

Produced and Engineered by Phil Madeira
Recorded at Planet of the Tapes, Nashville, TN

except "Voyeurs,"
Produced and Engineered by Joshua Stamper
Recorded at the Stampers', Suffield CT

Mixed by John Plymale at Overdub Lane, Durham, NC

Graphic Design by John Park at the jetannex
Cover Illustration by Frank Harrod

credits

released February 5, 2006

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jason Harrod Durham, North Carolina

“What singer-songwriter Jason Harrod does best is turn daily moments numinous. Quite simply, Harrod’s imagination is for
this world; he finds deep secrets in ordinary places.” — Image Journal

contact / help

Contact Jason Harrod

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account