The Great Destroyer

by Jim Dead

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1.	No Place Like Home 04:03	lyrics	buy track
we drove all night to the devil’s den told stories about what happened way back when there was nothing to be afraid of except for what chased us and we didn’t know what that was until it caught us we climbed trees and skipped stones across the pond we climbed the school building while they shouted “get down” we were friends till the end or until it got dark and we sang songs as we walked back home we drove all night till the edge of town you said you felt sick, so we rolled the windows down we saw a sign that said REST STOP 8 MILES AHEAD you straightened your tie and dragged a comb through your hair we stopped for a coffee and a slice of pie grabbed the booth at the window and watched the world go by you said you were sorry you were angry and unkind you still howl at the moon, but you’ll be fine there’s no place like home i’m going home and I’ll be okay i don’t know what happened, but we can talk along the way there’s no place like home “I’m going home” that’s what you say But this land is unforgiving and we don’t know what lies ahead
2.	Room Full of Books 04:50	lyrics	buy track
i’ve got a room full of books that aint worth reading i’m gonna list them on eBay if it stops you leaving i’m stockpiling papers to keep me warm cause this house is colder when you’re gone i’m gonna sit here, dear. stare at the stars dream about those days of falling in and in and out of bars and my head hurts like I’ve been in a crash … and all the broken glass around me? maybe I have ah shit dear, I never meant what i said i stumble for words at the best of time that time we held on when it looked like the end? it’s in a frame at the end of the hall. i’m gonna sit here, dear. stare at the stars dream about those days of falling in and in and out of bars my head hurts like I’ve been in a crash … and all the broken glass around me? maybe I have
3.	Tyrannosaur 05:20	lyrics	buy track
Somewhere along the line I lost myself You said I was fine I’m just out of luck I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention To what you said When you said… I'm a dinosaur Somewhere along the line I lost my mind You said I was fine just a little out of love I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention To what you said on the stairs I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention To what you said When you said… I'm a dinosaur all of the little things I've ever broken all of those little words I've ever spoken all of the things that I have ever taken all of the times you said that I'm a dinosaur Somewhere along the line I tripped and fell You said I was fine, just a little bruised I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention To what you said before you left I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention To what you said When you said… I'm a dinosaur
4.	Lost in Space 04:23	lyrics	buy track
i keep my hopes and dreams in a box on the shelf if I want to claim them I must first face myself each morning I wake up I lock another part away i wish i would stop asking what’s wrong cause i have nothing left to say took a little time to get back up in the end i learned to stop falling i’m lost at sea i’m lost in space and i’ve learned to stop calling took a little time to get back up in the end i learned to stop falling i’m lost at sea i’m lost in space and i’ve learned to stop calling Cause i’m no longer… i wake up during the night cause i swear I’m floating from a corner in the room i’m watching i reach for that box cause i can hear myself calling when it opens i’m missing but a ballerina is singing took a little time to get back up in the end i learned to stop falling i’m lost at sea i’m lost in space and i’ve learned to stop calling took a little time to get back up in the end i learned to stop falling i’m lost at sea i’m lost in space and i’ve learned to stop calling Cause i’m no longer here
5.	Keep Me in Mind 04:34	lyrics	buy track
he awakes as the sun comes through the window his eyes stung by the bright he says nothin’ when he sits up but this morning, this day is alright 3 birds sit on his window sill singing his ffavourite hymns all from one old dusty book that his mother left for him keep me in mind don’t forget me keep me in mind my son keep me in mind don’t forget me he wears cross around his neck when he washes works and sleeps he harbours no doubts about jesus or the words in the book he keeps his faith is stronger than the ocean he sets sail on when he sleeps his heart is weary and lonesome but he smiles when the twilight creeps keep me in mind don’t forget me keep me in mind my son keep me in mind don’t forget me he’ll be united with his loved ones he’ll no longer carry the pain he’ll be smiling and singing with them like in the picture in the old frame
6.	Head Full of Nonsense 03:22	lyrics	buy track
with a hatful of nonsense i ran from the kitchen holding a mug and a sugar ring donut falling to pieces on top of the carpet spilling coffee all over the floor! how i swore when i realised how i cursed and threw words from my mouth i heard the echoes of all their voices asking each other “where has he been?” i answered in silence by holding my breath and counting to ten (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10) how i swore when i realised how i cursed and they all looked away i have a friend or two two or a dozen they keep me company when my thoughts are gone i’m tired and frustrated! sick of emotion! my thoughts jump into this man-made lake and in a jar i will keep them when I’m done fishing I’ll label them and put them on display thanks
7.	Wicked Tongue 06:30	lyrics	buy track
you’ve run circles round me with your wicked tongue i’ll cast the first stone watch your world come undone this handful of nails is gonna close your mouth for good and let the reep what thee have sown i stand here as i am my heart on my sleave you held out your hand for more taking advantage of me i called you brother you challenged the right to my throne and let the reep what thee have sown i crossed barbed wire to get back home i ralied against you to reclaim my throne i’ll cut you down. break your hold. i’ll take your eyes. and let thee reep what the have sown my hands shake as my heart grows week i wont let go of this i wont look awy as flames consume us both know that I have won and let the reep what the have sown and let the reep what the have sown and let the reep what the have sown and let the reep what the have sown
8.	Mind Your Heart 04:00	lyrics	buy track
mind your heart listen to your head when you say its fallin' apart mind the step i tripped there before went over on my ankle and said "i'll never do that again" i never said this was gonna be easy stuck at home w/the blues again i never thought you could see right through me i guess i never thought you'd care mind your way take care + travel well this is not gonna end like this read the note before it's too late i never said it'd be easy i never said this was gonna be easy stuck at home w/the blues again i never thought you could see right through me i guess i never thought you'd care
9.	I Need a Hole in the Head 04:35	lyrics	buy track
the salesman needs a suit + tie needs to look sharp when he's telling all the consumers how great this vaccuum is "raise your hands! raise your hands + tell me who wants all of this for a price available today only" i need a hole in the head like a tin man needs a heart i need a hole in the head like a son-of-a-bitch like a son-of-a-bitch the preacher needs hands for godly tasks he needs a story to tell the congregation he needs a flock to spread the word he needs someone to believe what he's selling "get down on your knees get down + tell me rise up to see your glorious saviour" i need a hole in the head like a tin man needs a heart i need a hole in the head like a son-of-a-bitch like a son-of-a-bitch i need a hole in the head like a tin man needs a heart i need a hole in the head like a son-of-a-bitch like a son-of-a-bitch
10.	Embracing the Fall 04:12	lyrics	buy track
take me on lead me on you fit in this screen like the smallest russian doll all for one one for all i sit atop this pillar embracing the fall we will be okay through this wind and rain we will be okay… rising once again we’ll be just fine on this long road we’ll be okay break my heart break my bones take my soul in your hands and sell it on take me on lead me on in my mind is a place. a rock i could climb. we will be okay through this wind and rain we will be okay… rising once again we’ll be just fine on this long road we’ll be okay take me on lead me on i will break this fall with the shake of a magic wand

about

"the saddest thing about songwriting is trying to reconnect with an idea" - Bob Dylan

In early 2021 during some housekeeping I found a folder on an external hard drive containing lyrics, demos, lost songs, old songs… really just everything that I ever thought to record. I got the idea to revisit those. A back to basics approach of guitar and vocal.

Over six or seven days within a period of about 8 months or so we put the pieces together. What was intended to be a simple guitar and vocal release quickly changed shape. Some friends got involved, too - Southpaw's Kevin Argue and David McNeil, Traquair, and Joe Anderl (The 1984 Draft). We may not have shared the same space, but I was really pleased to have each of them contribute something here. Offer their time, efforts and ideas. I didn't direct them in any way and it was real exciting to hear the avenues these songs travelled.

Of course, Craig's involvement was instrumental. Not just as a producer or mixer or what have you, but as a collaborator. He encouraged adding additional instruments or textures... he listened to my ideas and encouraged them. He brought ideas and helped arrange.

In many ways, this album brings together all the music that has influenced me over the years. Everything from Johnny Cash to R.E.M. and Morricone to Toto. As well as the lost tracks and songs that I never finished, I revisited a few I wrote and recorded with my good friend David McNeil over 10 years ago. You could say this ties things together - from my days in the "shambolic teenage riot" of Sleepyhouse through the synth stylings of Fringe Division to collaborating on the King of the Stuntmen EP. It's all here.

Why is it called The Great Destroyer? Well, the song cycle has a theme. Navigating troubled waters, but finding that North Star. The Great Destroyer represents negativity - be it external or internal. Real or imagined. Why the bear? It represents both something terrible and a comfort.

My biggest concern was that it wasn’t a Jim Dead album. Or what people had come to expect from Jim Dead. A kinda scorched, dry alt-country. But despite the stylistic and sonic shift from the original intention, The Great Destroyer remains The Great Destroyer. It’s just a bit more eclectic.

I'm really happy with how the album turned out.

credits

released September 9, 2022

All songs written by Jim except Lost in Space, I Need a Hole in the Head, Wicked Tongue + My Empire Crumbled written by Jim + David McNeil.

Performed by: Jim | Craig M. Ferguson | Stewart Traquair | Joe Anderl | Kevin Argue | David McNeil | King of the Stuntmen

Recorded, mixed + mastered by Craig M. Ferguson at Carpet Beater Studios

Kevin Argue: additional recording on No Place Like Home, Room Full of Books, Tyrannosaur + I Need a Hole in the Head

David McNeil: additional recording on Lost in Space + I Need a Hole in the Head

Stewart Traquair: additional recording on Head Full of Nonsense

Joe Anderl: additional recording on Room Full of Books

A huge thanks to Craig Ferguson, Kevin Argue, David McNeil, Joe Anderl, + Stewart Traquair for their time + involvement on this.

Bear photo + design: Jim

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about

Jim Dead Glasgow, UK

Jim Dead is an alt. country / rock musician / songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland, who has been performing his brand of dusty Americana in local taverns since 2009.

He has released 3 albums and an EP. His forthcoming album, The Great Destroyer, features contributions from members of Glasgow alt-rockers Southpaw, Traquair, The 1984 Draft’s Joe Anderl and King of the Stuntmen. ... more

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