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Beautiful Empty

by JOHN COMMON

supported by
Ben Adams
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Ben Adams You nailed it! Favorite track: Can You Hear Me.
James Compton
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Edmis
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Sean Morse
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  • Full Digital Discography

    11
    releases

    Get all 11 JOHN COMMON releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of THE LOW WINES Vol 1, YOU AINT BROKEN, THE MOON AND ME, MAKE IT REAL, TWO RIVERS, Side 3, Beautiful Empty, Why Birds Fly, and 3 more. , and , .

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1.
Can You Hear Me 04:08
lyrics
CAN YOU HEAR ME written by john common and jess de nicola I am down In a hole Lost my way Lost control Woke up alone Where'd you go Scared and pleading Barely breathing Can you hear me Can you hear me Can you hear me Been down here For so long Can't recall Where I'm from I won't get out On my own Scared and pleading Barely breathing Can you hear me Can you hear me Can you hear me Can you hear me… oh Can you hear me… oh Can you hear me
2.
Same Scar 04:40
lyrics
SAME SCAR written by john common Hold on, your innocence Is all you get to spend It hurts just to see you blush The universe waits for your touch You're lovely and more than that It'd break me into half If any harm came to you But I know it's coming, there's nothing we can do Get ready, don't wither I know where you've been I know where you are Get ready, don't wither Coincidence I have the same scar The taxis are running The TV's are humming The camera loves to see skin Hollywood is waiting to break you in And it might be painful And you might not know it But you'll feel the cutting When you're in the moment The scarring helps you 'Cause it toughens you up Oh no… We got the same scar Same scar Get ready, don't wither I know where you've been I know where you are Get ready, don't wither I know where you've been I know where you are Get ready, don't wither Coincidence, coincidence Coincidence, coincidence We got the same scar
3.
Wide Open World 03:57
lyrics
WIDE OPEN WORLD written by john common When you were a baby You knew what you wanted You kept it real simple Didn't you? Now your life is a puzzle You keep digging the tunnel Head down in the funnel Of wandering Wide open world It's a wide open world World Liars love leavers And losers leave lovers We hurt one another Without meaning to Sad situation… Blissful rejection… Set free on the ocean Of missing you Wide open world It's a wide open world Wide open world Wide open world Wide open Everyone, everyone, everyone one needs Everyone, everyone, everyone one needs Everyone, everyone, , everyone one needs Everyone, everyone, everyone one need this world
4.
Go To Hell (With Me) 05:03
lyrics
GO TO HELL (WITH ME) copyright john common Oh the moon is a runaway girl Who sleeps on the street I've been whispering secrets Into the soles of her feet Your lamp's been asking questions But I'm never gonna tell Girl, you love a criminal who wants to go to hell Go to hell… go to hell with me They're reserving a table… i guarantee I know people love to suffer It makes them want to stay Your heart is made of silver Melt it down and hide it away I'll even steal your shadow When there's nothing left to sell Girl, you love a criminal who wants to go to hell Go to hell… go to hell with me They're reserving a table… i guarantee Most people are born as beautiful blank slates But on the day i was torn from my mom, it was already too late You never should have loved me What was going through your head? Now we're twisted like a cable And holding by a thread If god is a magician We could use another spell Girl, you love a criminal who wants to go to hell Go to hell… go to hell with me They're reserving a table… i guarantee Go to hell… go to hell with me Go to hell… it's lovely
5.
In My Neighborhood 04:53
lyrics
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD written by john common Mary loved Tony for 70 years On the day that he died, no tears He saw it comin', she saw it too When it hurts that bad, cryin' won’t help you In my neighborhood In my neighborhood Michael and Michelle were always in a fight I could hear them yellin' through the window every night But Michael found a job and they bought a little house Nobody was fightin' on the day they moved out In my neighborhood In my neighborhood Ramon and his family live across the street He cooks at three restaurants to make ends meet Says he always dreamed of runnin' his own place I bet he's gonna do it, I can see it on his face In my neighborhood In my neighborhood Pretty blonde lady about fourty-four Decided that she could not wait any more Her new dream man isn't tall, dark or handsome But she knows when she needs him, he's gonna answer Me on my porch, dreamin' up songs Smoking, drinkin' coffee all day long Everybody wonders will he get a real job Maybe I will, when I finish this song In my neighborhood In my neighborhood In my neighborhood In my neighborhood
6.
Intermission 00:30
lyrics
this is an instrumental track
7.
Walter Whitman 04:17
lyrics
WALTER WHITMAN written by john common When I'm old and the time I sold Comes back to me in memory All my gray hair turn me silver Holding on to my rocking chair I wonder what i'll want back I wonder what i'll give back But it doesn’t work that way Walter Whitman I want your wisdom now Writing on my page But my captain Doesn't answer 'til The ship is anchored safe And the babies tucked away Did you live right, did you love right Did they hear your melody Rise above the noisy city Like a bird that's finally free Now I see it All together We'll make it work this way Walter Whitman I want your wisdom now Writing on my page But my captain Doesn't answer 'til The ship is anchored safe And the babies tucked away Walter Whitman Walter Whitman
8.
Love Is A Shark 03:50
lyrics
LOVE IS A SHARK written by john common Love is stalking you It's parked at the end of your block When you walk away from love It loves the way you walk Love is following you It can swim faster than your car You're getting drunk next to love, babe It followed you in this bar Love is creepy Love is dark Love is scary 'Cause love's a shark It's gonna eat you, take you to the bottom Of a deep dark hole But it's the thing you need You know you want to bleed Baby, love's a shark Baby, love's a shark Love can swim through bedroom walls It knows when you cry You can curse and you can kick it But you still can't make love die Love didn’t crown you lonely You did that on your own But it'll be there waiting When you come down off your throne Love is creepy Love is dark Love is scary 'Cause love's a shark It's gonna eat you, take you to the bottom Of a deep dark hole But it's the thing you need You know you want to bleed Baby, love's a shark Baby, baby Baby, baby Baby, love's a shark
9.
Build Me A Crown 05:28
lyrics
Build Me A Crown copyright john common My kingdom’s desire I want to feel more I want more destruction Down in my core Hoist it all up and burn it all down Seduce me to pieces and build me a crown Seduce me to pieces and build me a crown A mean animal A fish with no pond A slithering reptile A lost, dirty swan And king of the kingdom, a pitiful clown Seduce me to pieces and build me a crown Seduce me to pieces and build me a crown Everyone’s building Something shiny and true Nobody gets dirty But the dirt waits for you You want a tall building? Then grab a big cup It takes a deep hole to keep all this up Promises, wishes Promises, prayers Whispered at midnight Lonely and scared Use your best magic Use your last sound Seduce me to pieces and build me a crown Seduce me to pieces and build me a crown
10.
The Man Who Could 03:24
lyrics
THE MAN WHO COULD written by john common The beautiful ones smoke along the banisters Watching the mating dance swirl around you down below I was just walking down the street I wasn't planning to be The man who could really, really love you When the bars give out and lovers run into the street I’ll be lost in a fitful sleep dreaming of you You stood there like a jewel While I acted like a reckless fool Not the man who could really, really love you So the next time you’re alone And some nervous boy tries to say hello Don't be surprised When you look into his eyes If you see the man who could really, really love you He’s the man who could really, really love you
11.
Turnaround 05:24
lyrics
TURNAROUND written by john common No matter where you stand This principle is true No matter what the cost It all comes back to you When you've played your hand And you've had your turn All the matches gone There's nothing left to burn Where is your soul now Where is your soul now Where'd you see it last Can you get it back Where do you go What do you say When you're cornered good And can't run away When all that gold Becomes a pile of trash And in your dirty hands Love turns to ash Where is your soul now Where is your soul now Where'd you see it last Can you get it back Does it make you angry Does it bring you down Do you ever remember Well then turnaround Speak up…speak to me Hold on… hold on to me Or walk away and... Leave me alone You felt pristine Standing over there Teeth wet and white Ready to tear Oh I'd bleed for you Like I did before But dramatic gestures Never open doors We never leave the room We're always standing there Naked and bruised Hands in the air Where is our soul now Where is our soul now Where'd we see it last Can we get it back Where is our soul now Where is our soul now Where'd we see it last Can we get it back Then turnaround, turnaround Turnaround, turnaround

about

"An acoustic rock masterpiece. The album is a perfect 10." - Music Connection

"Beautiful Empty showcases a songwriter of remarkable depth and maturity. The album’s rich textures, orchestral arrangements and Common’s weathered-yet-optimistic vocals deliver a package that is sophisticated without being too slick. It invites you to poke beneath the surface, and rewards you with soul, insight and some musical surprises." - Denver Post

"After nearly quitting music, John Common made the best record of his life. The first thing you notice about Beautiful Empty is its spaciousness: The voices of Common and DeNicola blend together seamlessly. The lyrics on Beautiful Empty are every bit as affecting as the instrumentation, and as varied." - Westword

"Beautiful Empty, with its lush and spare arrangements, demands a broad audience. It's one of the finest records out of Denver in years." - North Denver News

“A talent as real and rich as John Common’s deserves to be spoken about.” – BUCKETFUL OF BRAINS / UK

“I admit I’m a bit of a skeptic. When I hear or see a lot of buildup or hype over something, I usually get a little put off, because too many times the “something” doesn’t measure up to the hype. When John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light finally took the stage, my doubts faded away. By the third song, I was a fan. By the fifth song, I wanted to join the band. The music was very nearly flawless–great sound, great arrangements, great vocals, great musicianship. It was one of those “good for the soul” music moments for me.” – THE EXAMINER REVIEW OF LIVE SHOW

“John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light emerged through smoke dressed to kill in black and red and goggles. From the second they took the stage until the second they left it, they played with the sort of blind joy that will make you believe in whatever they're doing… DeNicola’s voice is an arrow, unmistakable and full of personality. Common's voice, by contrast, is steady and broad. It swallows you. His band, composed of his choice of local talent, is of unmistakable high caliber, each capable of holding a song by himself. But this is John Common's music -- it's pure passion and happiness.” -- WESTWORD REVIEW OF LIVE SHOW

BEAUTIFUL EMPTY
Written and directed by Common, it is a lushly orchestrated, lovingly crafted collection of ambitious, cinematic and honest pop songs. The words and music that fill up Beautiful Empty will pin you to the wall, break your heart and put a knowing look on your face.

Why call it Beautiful Empty? It has something to do with solitude – intentional space – and the kinds of things that tend to only happen in those places. The songs come from those stories and films that play in our head when we’re finally quiet and empty enough to pay attention.

credits

released April 12, 2011

BEAUTIFUL EMPTY by
JOHN COMMON AND BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT

John Common :: voice, guitars, piano, rhodes, banjo, mandolin, toy piano
Jess DeNicola :: voice
Daren Hahn :: drums, percussion
Scott McCormick :: accordion
Wesley Michaels :: cello, saxophones, mandolin
Adam Revell :: wurlitzer, rhodes, organ, glockenspiel
Casey Sidwell :: bass
Carl Sorensen :: drums, percussion
Jimmy Stofer :: bass, voice
Jon Wirtz :: rhodes, piano, organ, glockenspiel

Produced by John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light
Engineered by John Macy and Nick Sullivan
Recorded at Macy Sound Studios, Cello Hill and Emmasaurus Studios
Mixed by John Macy
Mastered by Randy LeRoy at Airshow Mastering
Design by Scott McCormick
Photography by Scott McCormick and Kelly Kievit
All songs written by John Common except ‘Can You Hear Me’, lyrics by John Common and Jess DeNicola
Copyright John Common Music / BMI

For lyrics, photos, films, stories and upcoming shows please visit www.johncommon.com

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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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