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Paranoia Town (Full Album​)​-​2008

by Josh Ward Taylor

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1.
Letter to the Queen 04:06
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From this mountaintop Your sun would never drop Down into the valleys where I'd weep You had everything A queen could ever need Somehow you just never wanted me So you take a bow To the princes that would vow Always just to prowl around your feet With roses in their hands They'd fall to your demands If only but to feel your lone heart beat And I'll be lonesome on my way I'll be the only one who didn't stay I'll be quite lonesome on my way And I'll be the only one who walked away So you journey down To the lonesome peasant town And flaunt your beauty anywhere you turn Yes you'd catch the eyes Of the foolish men that tried But fall into your trap and never learn You tempt them with your ways And sent them on a chase Never let them reap what they have earned And until that day your mirror crashed You learned your looks would never last They wind up in the fire getting burned And I'll be lonesome on my way I'll be the only one who didn't stay I'll be quite lonesome on my way And I'll be the only one who walked away I hope you had a chance To catch a second glance And read my seething letter to the queen Hope you shed a tear For anyone you've traveled near And the troubles those lonesome souls have seen But now your night is young It seems you've had your fun Now it's time you head on down the road But honey, where your beauty lays It ain't anywhere but on your face And you can take that with you when you go
2.
Paranoia Town 04:14
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Don't walk with a crutch Don't walk with a cane Don't run and hide When the mad skies rain 'Cause you can bet on your next full moon that the same Ol' wild wolves cry They claim the clowns Are cryin' down around the alleyway The acrobat kicked his hat Up on the sun to shade Him from the fear that wanders near In so many ways More than stars in the sky So whatcha hidin' from? And why do you run? Take a look at just what You have become I don't care either way But I have to say It must get lonely down In paranoia town The air raid screams Through the t.v. screen The talkin' heads of walkin' dead Apocalyptic dreams They manifest a hornet nest And try to guess who's next And where the beast will feed They make it known To folks at home Where the danger looms They say, 'stand clear of the windows in your room Draw your shades and sharpen blades For the black sky noon When the storm clouds bleed So whatcha hidin' from? And why do you run? Take a look at just what You have become I don't care either way But I have to say It must get lonely down In paranoia town I heard a warning There's a monster in the morning mist Say, 'hey mom and dad, grab your children by the wrist' And lead away from the places Where the strangers exist Render them blind A trick of Russian roullette Trust is just a deadly game Can't bring yourself to look a stranger in the face Looking over that shoulder Of the only one that's sane At least in your mind So whatcha hidin' from? And why do you run? Take a look at just what You have become I don't care either way But I have to say It must get lonely down In paranoia town So cut loose that noose Wrapped around your brain Set free your disease The fear of falling rain The barricade caught the waves And sprung a leak in the frame Now the sea rolls in So stand alone Flesh and bone By the sweet sunshine Don't bury your head In these uncertain times Look and laugh While the rest of them run and they hide While your still standing Say, whatcha hidin' from? And why do you run? Take a look at just what You have become I don't care either way But I have to say It must get lonely down In paranoia town
3.
What the Thunder Brings 04:48
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Should I leave today Before the highways burn Before the mountains cave And the tides they turn I saw the moonlight dim Upon human skin It was the last time before the end would begin But I could hear the voices From the sky as they were hurled Swore I saw the sunshine On a far off distant world And I heard the last words Of the wise man as he'd sing 'You never know just what the thunder may bring' But if you gotta leave Better leave right now And hide from what the thunder brings Down through the mountain clouds There's a rising in the ocean And a fire on the waves There's a hurricane that's hiding in the wind And the tide's gonna come a-rolling on in And wash us all away I heard the pounding hooves Swift through the midnight move I heard the lightning strike And the storm clouds brew They cast a last warning Before the new morning Some final thoughts from the sky As they laid us down to die But I could hear the voices From the sky as they were hurled Swore I saw the sunshine On a far off distant world And I heard the last words Of the wise man as he'd sing 'You never know just what the thunder may bring' But if you gotta leave Better leave right now And hide from what the thunder brings Down through the mountain clouds There's a rising in the ocean And a fire on the waves There's a hurricane that's hiding in the wind And the tide's gonna come a-rolling on in And wash us all away So should I leave today Before the highways burn Before the mountains cave And the tides they turn I saw the moonlight dim Upon human skin It was the last time Before the end would begin
4.
Fortune Teller 03:55
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Fortune teller come and read my mind Well I can play the part but I can't write the lines Sound the whistle for my curtain call Stand me up and put my back up against the wall Oh and all the lies you been telling me When you run your fingers up my hands, Underneath my sleeve I can tell you're trying to tell me where to go But you've been telling lies since a long time ago Fortune teller come and lead my way I'll meet you in the city by that old cafe You know the one where the streets were never paved The lights are always dim and they always draw the shades Oh and all the lies you been telling me When you run your fingers up my hands, Underneath my sleeve I can tell you're trying to tell me where to go But you've been telling lies since a long time ago Oh won't you come to see Just what you've done to me Well you can see my lines run deep You come to watch me bleed again Fortune teller, my eyes been blind As long as I remember in a long lifeline Now underneath the sun by the ocean I will stand But you come with the clouds laying shadows on my sand Oh and all the lies you been telling me When you run your fingers up my hands, Underneath my sleeve I can tell you're trying to tell me where to go But you've been telling lies since a long time ago Fortune teller, please rest assured It's probably just a rumor, but the last I heard You have a reputation spreading poison as your words You lead them down the wrong way and burn them in the third Oh and all the lies you been telling me When you run your fingers up my hands, Underneath my sleeve I can tell you're trying to tell me where to go But you've been telling lies since a long time ago Oh won't you come to see Just what you've done to me Well you can see my lines run deep You've come to watch me bleed again Fortune teller, your war's been won You flanked me with your trickery and tied my guns Now I'm in the valley where I seldom see the sun And you, my friend were always a phantom on the run
5.
Choosy Peddler 04:24
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From the fiery depths of your kingdom's cave I awake within my broken cage I kick the lock loose, I let the door sway And I set free my hands that were bound Well I knelt beneath your nobility Your mad majestic monarchy I couldn't help my urge to feed The hungry wolves that hung around With sad and sunken eyes they'd sing Hoping that their howling Would draw some sympathy from your inner ring But you didn't hear a sound I guess you had your ears turned down Well don't mind me, I'm a choosy peddler I beg my way through the sunny weather I've gotta set my sights on a new sun's dawn But I turned my head and tomorrow is gone In the shadow of your silhoutte I cast my only life's regret Beg forgiveness that I still have yet To deserve or receive I'm a man who stands on consequence With one too many sins to repent And an angel all but innocent She has brought me to my knees Now your silver drums on the moon they pound And your diamond curtain comes a-tumblin' down I get one long lasting gaze around To see if there's a light for me But they don't shine no light on me Well don't mind me, I'm a choosy peddler I beg my way through the sunny weather I've gotta set my sights on a new sun's dawn But I turned my head and tomorrow is gone Now the clouds move swift on a snow bound cliff And I fight like hell to regain my grip Waiting on the moment when I'd slide and slip But that free fall never comes Now your clock, she turns like a merry go round As you're flashing and your flickering your lights and sounds And you got your own little crowd of clowns But they ain't having any fun And me I'm heading out on my way I'll set my watch to another day And I'll watch the hours as they slip away And I turn my back to the sun I guess I'll make my midnight run Well don't mind me, I'm a choosy peddler I beg my way through the sunny weather I've gotta set my sights on a new sun's dawn But I turned my head and tomorrow is gone
6.
She Ain't A Love of Mine 03:55
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I felt the fire road I rode the hurricane I came close to a fiery ghost But I melted all her flames I heard the leaves fly I hear the train's coming around It's leaving town in the early morning And there ain't no bell to sound But you don't have to lose To redefine I never did think I'd see the day When she ain't a love of mine Well she wore all the wounds That she needed to hide I never did think I'd see the day When she ain't a love of mine The last evening smiled And drifted off for a while I waded through the swamp with a stranger And we stripped it down, her style I crawled upon the dunes Burning night and noon I floated like a feather on the will of a wave And I watched the sun crash through But you don't have to lose To redefine I never did think I'd see the day When she ain't a love of mine Well she wore all the wounds That she needed to hide I never did think I'd see the day When she ain't a love of mine I sailed upon the mist I felt the twilight kiss I crowded around with a chorus of angels And it's all that I could've wished I lost a memory line Drinkin' moonshine I curled up in the corner like a coward And waited for the clock to tick my time But you don't have to lose To redefine I never did think I'd see the day When she ain't a love of mine Well she wore all the wounds That she needed to hide I never did think I'd see the day When she ain't a love of mine
7.
Middle Of The Road 03:19
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Shed no sorrow for me I've made my bed Oh well, oh well Come tomorrow, The highway leads my head Oh well, oh well Wherever I go I know one thing that's dead This golden fairy tale And all that's hollow Will fill me up instead Until my heart can't swell no more I don't need no one I don't need no sun To light this lone dark soul I don't need no high I don't need no low I'm in the middle of the road Share no moonbeam Across my dying waves Oh well oh well Cast no quiet stream To cool my summer days Oh well oh well If I've fallen Then leave me in my place Where I'm bound to dwell Lend no helping hand To the man who only takes And keeps it for himself I don't need no one I don't need no sun To light this lone dark soul I don't need no high I don't need no low I'm in the middle of the road No open window Across my lonesome room Oh well, oh well No sweet birdsong To strip me from my gloom Oh well, Oh well Stars, they flicker And they vanish from my view All my stars, they fell And I'm left searching For some wholesome honest truth That I have never felt I don't need no one I don't need no sun To light this lone dark soul I don't need no high I don't need no low I'm in the middle of the road
8.
A Half-Wit's Fairy Tale 03:24
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I heard a half-wit's fairy tale On the shiny silver lining of the gloom Electric morning fire Crept up like a wildcat howling at the moon A little man that could barely stand Four feet tall if a yard was all he'd grown He had a little tiny pouch full of tales untold Said he got them somewhere Somewhere down the road Somewhere down the road Well he spoke of a princess named "maybe someday" Who had an ironclad bulletproof vest of stone The townsfolk never cared to poke Into why this sad-eyed lady walked alone And in the eve when the moon was bare naked And all across the country shone She would wait for a prince to take her there On an altar all carved out of gold Somewhere down the road Somewhere down the road The night leaves from a foreign breeze Came tumbling down through the mist And upon the streets And inside, the kingdom's sky Was red and gray from the smoke and fire heat The king's strings left dangling from a broken man Leaning on a broken throne And where his wind blows No one seems to know But it's rolling The say it's rolling somewhere Somewhere down the road Somewhere down the road Banging on the door one day Was the red dead hand of an outlaw on his way From a town so far away Where mad men roam and the good men live as slaves Where the ones without any sense They rule the rest with an iron fist alone And it's a place no honest man calls home But they say They say it ain't too far Somewhere down the road Somewhere down the road
9.
Islands Made of Gold 03:37
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Another cold and lonesome evening As the end's about to start While the rambling gypsy lady Disappears into the dark And the quiet criminal shifts shapes Like shadows in the park He said he only steals enough to feel Another day, then fade away And no new smoke rises from these city scars Remember long ago down a burning road Like ancient ruins charred Now the blind captain and his refugees Think they're guided by the stars On a sinking ship set sail Bound for islands made of gold far away Islands made of gold far away Now the beggar man's hands bleed By the burning of the fire While the wealthy line their empires With towers of desire It's so easy for those with energy To turn and ignore the tired In a land empty of empathy Well what else can you say And the money man and his magic hands And his hat of tricks, they've stalled Stumbling down on wall street And they got nowhere to fall They were up and down Now down and out Sometimes a giant has to crawl While the ageless sit and reminisce About days when they were small And they beg for islands made of gold far away Islands made of gold far away Now the preacher's bound One foot in the ground And one hand up to the sky And he's torn within By a life of sin And a pious clean disguise But he says it's fine I'll shout my crimes One day before I die And by my lord above I will be loved And I won't be forsaked And the demons play With smiling faces as they take the blame Laughing at the masses As they're huddled out in the rain And with a booming voice He shouts a choice But only one remains He says 'surrender to me willingly Or I'll be forced to take from your graves On islands made of gold far away Islands made of gold far away
10.
Where You Belong 03:31
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She had reasons all her own To pick up and to leave when the morning shone Standing there in the Florida sun With newborn baby in arms, she's run Wedlock wars been waging on She wore too many faces for way too long The caring one not being cared for at all Heads up the coastline where she belongs And what you dreamed when you were young Well it might not be when it's all said and done So cross that doorway, you're already gone Head up the coastline where you belong Through rainy seasons and stormy nights She'd wait up late for the love of her life To come back home just to see his wife And his beautiful child and to be a father for a night Fairytale dreams are often left deceived By all the broken promises he claimed he'd keep But she'd put an end to all the pain she's known Heads up the coastline she's coming back home And what you dreamed when you were young Well it might not be when it's all said and done So cross that doorway, you're already gone Head up the coastline where you belong
11.
Runnin' Out Of Love 03:35
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I thought we've been here before Wandered through this door Set our feet upon the floor Danced 'til we were sore It took so long to realize We were never so wise Looking deep into your eyes I see you're trying to hide You hide your face So no one else can see So they don't steal your fate And what you were meant to be Say what you have to say But say it all to me And if you run away Come and run away with me Before I run out of all my love to send to you Now I'm standing in the sun And you lie in shade And when I walk to you, you run And you play your games I hear your fighting words again But you always win I cast my thoughts upon the wind Because you don't hear them when You hide your face So no one else can see So they don't steal your fate And what you were meant to be Say what you have to say But say it all to me And if you run away Come and run away with me Before I run out of all my love to send to you Now we're standing here alone And your secrets came And though they cut me to the bone You seem to feel no shame And now your time has come to see What you've done to me You turn your back and close your eyes You don't realize You hide your face So no one else can see So they don't steal your fate And what you were meant to be Say what you have to say But say it all to me And if you run away Come and run away with me Before I run out of all my love to send to you

about

The title track, "Paranoia Town" pretty much sums up the album. These were alot of stream of conscious writings that I penned that year. I wrote alot of songs about the state of the world at the time, and my own life and paranoia seemed to be a common theme.

credits

released December 15, 2008

All Words & Music Written, Performed & Produced by Josh Taylor. Copyright 2008.
Special thanks to Yoon for the album art and photography!

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Josh Ward Taylor New York, New York

Taylor is one of many contemporary singer-songwriters who plants one foot firmly in the roots of artists such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young while at the same time pushing forward with his own unique voice. And Taylor’s particular voice so imbued with a sense of honesty and earnestness that it is almost impossible not to welcome each of his songs with open arms.-American Songwriter ... more

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