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Collecting Empties

by JOHN COMMON

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1.
Pass That Bottle Down 04:00
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PASS THAT BOTTLE DOWN written by john common I'm the one behind the sash fishing letters from the trash christ I need another glass pass that bottle down rushing through the still of night whispering by candle light I'll find you with my second sight pass that bottle down I'm not jealous I'm just on a little trip sick a bed of nails this bed I've made a thinly veiled, polite charade another homeless boy you've saved pass that bottle down oh I've sketched you with my naked eye I've written poems upon the sky I've told a thousand little lies pass that bottle down cloth me in a suit of red drain the nightmares from my head bury me down with the dead just pass that bottle down I'm not jealous I'm just on a little trip sick I'm just sick I'm just sick I'm just sick I'm just sick pass that bottle pass that bottle pass that bottle down pass that bottle
2.
Trains 04:24
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TRAINS written by john common I watch the trains roll down the track hey mr. Engineer stuff me in that sack I won't bother telling anyone that I've gone let them think that I'm a train rolling on roll through fields of cotton roll through prairies and plains roll across the mountains roll past desert sage take me down the river that empties to the sea lift me high up in the air and cut me free this town is all used up like an old corn husk its cracked pavement is leaking dust its heart is a puddle its head is a cloud and the blue morning rain keeps on pouring out the trees are filled with color the sky is filled with rain the road is like a tarpit it smells like kerosene I'm empty as this bottle lying by the side of the road fill me with a message and let me float this town is all used up like an old corn husk its cracked pavement is leaking dust its heart is a puddle its head is a cloud and the blue morning rain keeps on pouring out
3.
Convenience Store Killer 04:16
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CONVENIENCE STORE KILLER written by john common half a dozen bums one stolen gun a hot case of beer and one single fear he thinks I'm just a punk I need money for my junk fist full of cash corner store stash he turned to me and he pointed at me he had guts but it never helped him much I never did figure I'd ever pull the trigger no way back I'm swimming in black thoughts in my head circling my bed lost in space thinking of his face a greyhound ride drove me all night one thousand new streets but same old me he turned to me and he pointed at me I got scared a flash filled the air but I stayed with him 'til he let go of my hand he let go of my hand convenience store killer convenience store killer I never did figure I'd ever pull the trigger…
4.
Lonely Everywhere 03:21
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LONELY EVERYWHERE written by john common just lonely enough to be charming just bored enough to be witty just high enough to start falling it's lonely everywhere just ripe enough to start rotting just smart enough to feel stupid just broke enough to be buying it's lonely everywhere I can feel it starting to slide down to the bottom down to the river where we met that night it's pouring out of my hands just like water just like memory and it feels so right just drunk enough to be driving just empty enough to be aching just stoned enough to start sinking it's lonely every where it's lonely every where
5.
Windows 05:21
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WINDOWS written by john common I woke up this morning she was already out of bed standing in the kitchen "let's talk" is what she said words that she's thinking words that she says talking about something but I'm just watching her hands I remember how it started I don't remember a plan I remember needing each other back then might take a while before it hits just me and the silence just me and the pictures stare, staring out windows stare, staring out windows
6.
Evil Moon 07:50
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EVIL MOON written by john common I played my six string in your porcelain tub you tried to take it from me when I woke you up those bastards at the satire, they don't take my checks you gave me your doorkey, what the hell did you expect? come on lucy roll out of bed go and fix me something for my aching head I'll tell you 'bout the reason why I never can sleep I'm being followed by somebody and he won't let me be… it's that evil moon way up in the sky climbing through the window with his one good eye evil moon one two three let's drink him under the table come on drink with me some whiskey for my coffee some honey for your tea a piece of apple pie for you a cigarette for me if you see me nodding off baby touch my cheek and sing another story make it slow and sweet it's that evil moon way up in the sky climbing through the window with his one good eye evil moon one two three let's drink him under the table come on drink with me morning's awful pretty when you drink all night we killed another evening we fought another fight your head is on the table and the bottle's at my feet I'm walking into blue sky when I step out on the street on the street a whiskey neat, a whiskey neat
7.
Broken Flower 03:37
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BROKEN FLOWER written by john common standing next to watson's drugstore miles below the skyline on the concrete floor watching all the beggars try their lines don't bother brother, it's a waste of time hey broken flower what's it like to grow in a sewer? broken flower kicking 'round the capital looking for a score searching for that feeling I felt before looking at the pretty girl waiting on a bus there's about 10 feet, but 2 billion miles between us hey broken flower what's it like to grow in a sewer? broken flower I'm waltzing through traffic, dancing on the street I feel my head miles above my feet and I wonder if that pretty girl thinks of me late at night watching high rise t.v. hey broken flower what's it like to grow in a sewer? broken flower
8.
Nothing In My Hat 05:19
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NOTHING IN MY HAT written by john common and gary brudos a twenty in my pocket, a fly on the wall the circus is about to leave town it's an awful long walk but it's been a long, long time and something keeps tracking me down I'm all out of majic. There's nothing in my hat. I'm all out of majic. There's nothing in my hat. I'm all out of majic. Ah, what's wrong with that? the women in this town… they love to be chased but I don't believe they wanna get caught 'cause if your pockets aint full & the bar's all closed down they don't even want to hear you talk I'm all out of majic. There's nothing in my hat. I'm all out of majic. There's nothing in my hat. I'm all out of majic. Ah, what's wrong with that? I saw her at the fairgrounds as the tent came down the strong man was out smokin' by the truck we caught the last ride on the old ferris wheel seemed to prove we had enough luck oh she moved in. We fought about the bills I spent a few nights on the couch it got easier then like a pretty little dream and the easy's what brought it all down I'm all out of magic. There's nothing in my hat. I'm all out of magic. There's nothing in my hat. I'm all out of magic. Ah, what's wrong with that?
9.
Another Star 04:19
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ANOTHER STAR written by john common I gave up drinking it was too much like sex I gave up sex it was too much like drinking alone but I started feeling guilty 'cause this little voice inside said "that's why we're here" pass me another beer you look beautiful beautiful enough good enough for the evening pass me another beer that's why we're here I know some people call them friends these same people they would hang you out to dry look at all those pretty stars in the night time sky they all fall one at a time pass me another beer you look beautiful beautiful enough good enough for the evening pass me another beer we're all looking for answers well I've got a suggestion would someone please try reading the question we're blind, deaf and dumb burning in the sun but evening will come and we can hide and we can run but the stars watch it all starts watch it all stars will fall stars will fall stars will fall
10.
Cross Country Astronaut 05:09
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CROSS COUNTRY ASTRONAUT written by john common one hundred thousand miles in my car. cross country astronaut, I flew so far. I'm standing in a phone booth hoping you aint flown away. pick up the phone and lead me home today. no one changes. no one can. nothing's simple. not even one man. I thought I would see the world but all I saw was space. i found the well inside myself too late. I woke up walking into the wind. i starting talking to myself like my own best friend. all alone and wasted in the parking lot. let me back in I'll confess the sin I got.
11.
I Want To Know 04:51
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I WANT TO KNOW written by john common I was the one who kept you sane now you've become the one who stays away what did I do what did I break I want to know I want to know you can go so far but your body's still here driving in this car the message so clear what were we thinking? where did it go? I want to know I want to know I wonder when you'll catch up to that place you're always thinking of go ahead leave now I've already found out it's tough on the road it's tough in the house I feel alone whenever you're around what were we thinking? where did it go? I want to know I want to know
12.
Someone 04:12
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SOMEONE written by john common give me something to think of give me something to do something's missing without you something's missing without you I don't know what it is about you when you're gone give me someone to cling to give me someone to see someone who I can talk another… sort of like me I don't know what it is about you when you're gone someone someone someone someone I don't know what it is about you when you're gone
13.
Her Touch 03:49
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HER TOUCH written by john common her hair was dark almost black and way back then it fell down her back her smile came quick and her words came slow hey girl where did you go I didn't know much I probably still don't all I knew was that I had to go I left so quick I fell so far hey girl wonder where you are she figured out that she gave too much but I found out that I need her touch the years go by the days just float sometimes at night I read her notes they sound so sweet so far away hey girl where are you today she figured out that she gave too much but I found out that I need her touch

about

The debut record from Denver-based roots rock outfit Rainville, ‘"Collecting Empties"’ was originally released in 1999 and immediately well received by fans and critics alike. The album launched Rainville as an up-and-coming band regionally, nationally and in Europe and established John Common as a songwriter worth listening to. Both Westword Magazine (Denver) and Buscadero Magazine (Italy) chose ‘"Collecting Empties" as one of the year's Best Albums.

credits

released August 1, 1999

RAINVILLE
COLLECTING EMPTIES
Copyright 1999. All rights reserved.

All songs by John Common (BMI) except for Nothing In My Hat and Windows written by John Common (BMI) and Gary Brudos.

Produced by Rainville
Engineered by Gary Brudos
Recorded at Duct Tape Studios
Mixed and mastered by Michael Pfeifer
Art design by Dawn Cordova

John Common
vocals, guitars

Gary Brudos
piano, organ, vocals

Steve Richards
drums

Matt Sumner
bass, vocals

Also
John Macy- Pedal Steel on Trains and Her Touch

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JOHN COMMON Denver

Confession: I like broken shit. I’m just drawn to it. Always have been. I like it even more if it used to be shiny, beautiful, innocent or full of promise. See, the way down is so interesting to me. The way it actually happens, why it happens, the little details that break off as it’s happening. ... more

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