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.

Great American Opera (2009, album)

by Worn Out West

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 11 Paul Sprawl releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Signs of Life (2018 EP), Jack's Super 8 (2017 album), New Day (2016 single), Dream Zoo (2011, album), paulsprawl live (2010, album), Great American Opera (2009, album), Howard Levy and Paul Sprawl (2005, album), Wreckage (2004, album), and 3 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $65.10 USD or more (30% OFF)

     

  • Limited Edition Compact Disc
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Great American Opera comes in a simple white cardboard sleeve with an info sheet insert. The recording was done at Sutton Sound in Atascadero, CA. Rick Sutton engineered expertly, as usual.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Great American Opera (2009, album) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
1. My criminal friend wants me to rob his connection with him He knows a lot about guns Nine line ID, battery acid and heroin ~chorus~ Ahh Iii I Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ahh Iii I Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh 2. My criminal friend talks to me here on the street I notice his bad teeth As he takes a call from his Mom And I head on up the street ~chorus~ Ahh Iii I Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ahh Iii I Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh -bridge- My criminal friend My criminal friend My criminal friend friend
2.
American 03:46
1. She values subtlety She doesn't understand it She doesn't know how to command it She values awareness But she's got precious little Her ignorance and hypocrisy Are devasting 2. He values wisdom Doesn't recognize it Values courage Acts like such a fool He just thinks he's being cool His ignorance and hypocrisy are horrific ~chorus~ They are American They are American They are American They are American -instrumental break- 3. And the lights of the night Gonna go out The heat will fail Food will stop coming to the stores Winter will be hard The wind will blow so cold When that umbrella breaks We'll be standing in the rain Just cursing what we were sold ~chorus~ We are American We are American We are American I am American
3.
Sam Hall 05:44
1. My name it is Sam Hall It is Sam Hall My name it is Sam Hall It is Sam Hall My name it is Sam Hall And I hate you one and all Goddam your eyes 2. I killed a man 'tis said So 'tis said I killed a man 'tis said So 'tis said I killed a man 'tis said I broke his bloody head I broke his bloody head Goddam his eyes 3. In prison I am bound I am bound In prison I am bound I am bound In prison I am bound And the screws are all around They want me in the ground Goddam their eyes 4. The parson he did come He did come The parson he did come He did come The parson he did come And he looked so goddam glum He can kiss my ruddy bum Goddam his eyes 5. The sheriff he came too He came too The sheriff he came too He came too The sheriff he came too With his little boys in blue My god what a bloody crew Goddam their eyes 6. I saw Molly in the crowd In the crowd I saw Molly in the crowd In the crowd I saw Molly in the crowd And I hollered right out loud Hey Molly, ain't ya proud Goddam your eyes
4.
Übergang 04:27
She’s a magnet That attracts me Her gravity pulls On me strongly And something old is now forgotten Something new is learned What was erased is now re-written What was treasured is burned Übergang Übergang And I know something Gonna change Something’s gonna change Change Change She’s a magnet That attracts me Her gravity pulls On me strongly And something old is now forgotten Something new is learned What was erased is now re-written What was treasured is burned Übergang Übergang And I know something Gonna change I know somethings They’ll change Change Change Change Change Change
5.
1. This is just an ordinary moment We're living in an everyday world This is not a spectacle for amusement So just let the mysteries unfurl ~chorus~ And what does it matter to you Nothing at all really What do you really care Nothing for you and your world What does it matter to you Nothing at all really What do you really care 2. Why should I want to entertain you If you celebrate the crude and crass I would rather have a real frown Than a Prozac smile at the last ~chorus~ And what does it matter to you Nothing at all really What do you really care Why don't you show me something What does it matter to you Nothing at all really What do you really care ~bridge~ repeat 1. This is just an ordinary moment We're living in an everyday world This is just not a spectacle for amusement So just let the mysteries unfurl
6.
This is an instrumental piece
7.
1. They are wandering Across the land On deserted Interstate highways In a solar paper car On deserted Interstate highways ~chorus~ Vagabonds in god's diorama Pack a bag of leaves And a desert falsetto Working on this Great American opera With a piece of fencewire in the dirt Write your libretto 2. He's an old southern swamp ghost Loser Whiskey-soaked, chain smoking Boozer She is purchasing menthol Kools at the mini-mart convenience store Powdered doughnuts and chocolate milk A consumer ~chorus~ Vagabonds in god's diorama Pack a bag of leaves And a desert falsetto Working on this Great American opera With a piece of fencewire in the dirt You can write your libretto -bridge- Bottlecaps spin in the dust Crow perched on a fencepost Watches us I need a grapefruit, says she Says he, 'twas ever thus ~chorus~ Vagabonds in god's diorama Pack a bag of leaves And a desert falsetto Working on this Great American opera With a piece of fencewire in the dirt You can write your libretto partial reprise 1. They are wandering Across the land On deserted Interstate highways
8.
Confusion 03:50
This song contains a bunch of singing, but only one word. The word is CONFUSION
9.
1. When she was in her prime When her bloom had not yet faded Not yet Had not yet faded And he felt He could do most anything Most any Most anything And they made Each other Feel alright Feel alright ~chorus~ They had a crude Crude attraction Such a crude Crude attraction 2. One by one The doors they closed When death showed His face to them His face His face to them And he said I’ll come back Come back for you Come back Come back for you Leaving them Left with nothing Left to hope for Left to hope for ~chorus~ They had a crude Crude attraction Such a crude Crude attraction -bridge- And they were manipulated By their own Own desires And they were manipulated By their own By their own By their own Own desires ~chorus~ They had a crude Crude attraction Such a crude Crude attraction ~repeat chorus~ They had a crude Crude attraction Such a crude Crude attraction
10.
Pilgrim 05:23
1. I pulled off of the highway Of the Mexican town I went walking through That old plaza downtown On out past the graveyard And the outskirts of town I'll be back when my supplies run down ~chorus~ I'll be back I'll be back When my supplies run down 2. Those dogs are running loose So I pick up a few stones And I carry them with me But the dogs run home I got some water and food A bag of goose down I'll be back when my supplies run down ~chorus~ I'll be back I'll be back When my supplies run down 3. Well my days are numbered And my race will get run But these days are eternal Until my journey's done I got a one-way ticket On back to the ground I'll be back when my supplies run down ~chorus~ I'll be back I'll be back When my supplies run down 4. I'm burning now A spirit in the dust I got my life to live Do the things I must I'm a wandering pilgrim They burned my home town Down to the ground I'll be back when my supplies run down ~chorus~ I'll be back I'll be back When my supplies run down 5. Now it's late October October 23 I'm thinking of my ancestors and what they think of me I'm headin' westward Until the sun goes down I'll be back when my supplies run down ~chorus~ I'll be back I'll be back When my supplies run down
11.
This is an instrumental track.

about

Great American Opera comes in a simple white cardboard sleeve with an info sheet insert. This recording made possible by Rainer Hoffmann. We recorded after touring the Southwestern USA at Sutton Sound in Atascadero, CA.

credits

released November 1, 2009

Paul Sprawl - voice and guitar
Heiko Schramm - bass
Matthias Macht - drums
Leralee Whittle - voice

license

all rights reserved

tags

If you like Great American Opera (2009, album), you may also like: