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.

Songs From The Tenderbox

by Jerry Axson

/
1.
Eyes To The Sun 07:37
lyrics
buy track
Eyes To The Sun ©Jerry Axson You sleep in the winter, beneath a blanket of snow, arise in the springtime, beyond things you don’t know, the world is your oyster, walls of abalone shell, painted soft reds and deep blues, cover things I won’t tell, So hush little baby, child, don’t you cry, your back on the arch, your face to the sky - Eyes to the sun, could not turn them away, eyes to the sun...... You’re restless in wanting, but you do not know why, there’s a banquet before you, but you’re starving inside, yet hope springs eternal, I can see in your eyes, to sleep in the winter, in the springtime arise, So hush little baby, child, don’t you cry, your back on the arch, your face to the sky - Eyes to the sun, could not turn them away, eyes to the sun, blinded today...
2.
It’s My Turn Now 04:12
lyrics
buy track
It’s My Turn Now ©Jerry Axson Well it’s early in the morning, the telephone rings, a stranger on the other end, I’ll tell you one thing - I’ve been poisoned with deception, I’ve been strangled by your lies, and I think it’s time to leave here, I’m stepping to the side... It’s my turn now, here’s my chance, to give it all back to you, it’s our last dance... Well it’s late in the evening, and I’m holding you tight, but you can’t be held by one man, that’s why the feeling ain’t’ right - so I’m gonna’ be leaving, and I’m going out alone, I don’t want to hear about it, because we can’t make this a home...
3.
Jerry Heard The Canon Roar 07:55
lyrics
buy track
Jerry Heard The Canon Roar ©Jerry Axson And when I fall this hard, my eyes closed so tight, that’s when I slip so deeply, into the darkest night, my opened mouth is screaming, but not a sound comes out, I heard the canon’s roar, as I was tossed about, It’s not for lack of trying, it’s not my will to bare, the pressing host of weight, the earth, the moon, the air, form watersheds above me, dancing landslides below, and I am in the middle, don’t know which way to go... I have walked through this world, made my way by your hand, In faith I’ve never questioned, what I don’t understand, now my song is dying, and I must be set free, all I ask my lord - please release me... Beneath this ancient mountain, hidden from eyes that see, inside a secret room, immersed in melody, the structure and the temper, still take my breath away, as I am laid to waste, all but swept away, from time spent in your presence, on lips that held your name, the river in my eyes, will quench this final flame, hear me crying to you - hear me crying to you - hear me crying...hear me crying...
4.
Hallelujah, I’m In Love Again (Fools Lament) 03:27
lyrics
buy track
Hallelujah, I’m In Love Again (Fools Lament) ©Jerry Axson I don’t know why but she does it for me, I keep a cool demeanor but it’s easy to see, the way I notice when she walks in the room, there’s an orchestra playing and I can’t hold a tune, Everybody plays the fool sometime - and I guess it’s my turn in line - and I don’t even mind... Hallelujah, I’m in love again, I keep a fools expression and a cheshire grin, it wakes me up in the middle of the night, that I don’t know my left hand from my right... In my mind she’s an angel in white, as she pulls up the covers and turns out the light, more suspense than my heart can bare, I’ve got one objective - to get from here to there, Everybody has to burn sometime - and I guess it’s my turn in the sun, I’m not the only one... Hallelujah, I’m in love again, I keep a fools expression and a cheshire grin, it wakes me up in the middle of the night, that I don’t know my left hand from my right... I don’t know why but she does it for me, I keep a cool demeanor but it’s easy to see, the way I notice when she walks in the room, there’s an orchestra playing and I can’t hold a tune, Everybody has to fall sometime - and I guess it’s my turn to go, and I don’t want to know... Hallelujah, I’m in love again, I keep a fools expression and a cheshire grin, it wakes me up in the middle of the night, that I don’t know my left hand from my right, Hallelujah, I’m in love again, I keep a fools expression and a cheshire grin, it wakes me up in the middle of the night, that I don’t know my left hand from my right, Hallelujah, I’m in love again... Hallelujah, I’m in love again... Hallelujah, I’m in love again... Hallelujah, I’m in love again... ...for now...
5.
Rise Above This Moment 04:30
lyrics
buy track
Rise Above This Moment ©Jerry Axson Standing alone in this empty room, just the two of us swaying, it’s down to the obvious girl, and I don’t mind saying, Red roses and little candy hearts - won’t keep this love alive, it takes more than good intentions - how will we survive??? I don’t want to... you don’t want to... we will never... I can’t tell you... you won’t tell me... we don’t seem to... How I wish we could rise above this moment... Slowly as you move away from me, I release my hold, let’s not stand in the way of this thing, the house of cards begins to fold, One more time around my heart - for old times sake, one more kiss to remember by - before our hearts break...
6.
To Find Out About You 05:59
lyrics
buy track
To Find Out About You ©Jerry Axson I went to find out about you, I even went to your hometown, all the locals had to say, was that you never come around, I stood beneath the old shade tree, but it was cold and empty there, I had to leave before it rained, the smell of death was in the air, I climbed above a mountain top... I swam across the ocean blue... I walked between the lowest valley... to find out about you... There’s a hole in my precious soul, just like the one within my head, I try to rise above it all - walking with the living dead, everything is in the blood, which fights against the failing flesh, you are as weak as you are strong - you must pass this test, I climbed above a mountain top... I swam across the ocean blue... I walked between the lowest valley... to find out about you...to find out about you... to find out about you...to find out about you... I want to know your secret name, maybe share some time with you, speak of all my exploitations, all the things that I’ve gone through - but you continue to elude me, yourself and this simple truth, that we will be forever lost - burdened by the weight of proof - I climbed above a mountain top... I swam across the ocean blue... I walked between the lowest valley... to find out about you...to find out about you... to find out about you...to find out about you... I know you never wanted me - I live with that everyday - You must be some kind of monster - That’s all that I have to say...
7.
That's What Imaginations For 03:52
lyrics
buy track
That's What Imaginations For ©Jerry Axson I met you ten years too late, a million miles too far gone, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have left you alone, You were a famous Hitchhiker, crossed the USA, something to tell the girls back home, about our rainy day, As you drew the lock across the door, you said that's what imagination's for, something that goes boom in the night - wakes you up and knots you tight, that's what imagination's for...... that's what imagination's for...... Don't tell me he's just a friend, I'm smarter than that, it's all over when you sigh, that is that is that, I can picture you together, walking on the beach, the sun is setting in your eyes, and he's just out of reach, As the great white shark grabs your head, drags you down to his sandy bed, chews you up and spits you out - like how I felt if there was ever a doubt, that's what imagination's for... that's what imagination's for...
8.
Secret Life 04:22
lyrics
buy track
Secret Life ©Jerry Axson The secret of my strength is that I’ve never had to prove it, the secret of your heart my love is you’ve never really used it, you sleep alone in catacombs - a darkness will prevail you, best to rest in dark crevasse , where your courage fails you, I don’t really want to know what keeps you in the pink - I don’t really care what your neighbors might think - About your secret life... balanced on the edge... of a dull knife... Scientists in white lab coats work on serums to cure you, while friends and lovers drink heavily so they may endure you, and deep inside your fantasy you’re virulent and renaissance, cup the blossom and crush the stem is your signature nuance, I don’t really want to know what keeps you in the pink - I don’t really care what your neighbors might think - About this secret life... balanced on the edge... of a dull knife... Push it... Ooo...Ooo...your secret life...
9.
I Belong To Pearl 03:26
lyrics
buy track
I Belong To Pearl ©Jerry Axson I’m in love with Pearl and man she knows it, I belong to her and she to me, take me on a trip across the ocean, drop us in a field and leave us be, Follow her to the ends of the earth - hang my heart on the crest of the moon, I can’t wait to see that girl, it won’t be too soon... I believe in love at first sight glances, I believe in smiles and low hung jeans, nothing in this world compares to my girl, my girl pearl and you know what I mean - Follow her to the ends of the earth - hang my heart on the crest of the moon, I can’t wait to see that girl, it won’t be too soon... Follow her to the ends of the earth... hang my heart on the crest of the moon... I can’t wait to see that girl... it won’t be too soon...
10.
California 05:30
lyrics
buy track
California ©Jerry Axson I know a place called California, it’s where I go most every night, there’s a lot of pretty girls in California, but only one I hold so tight... and when she looks me in the eye I could almost die in California... The wind cuts down the valley, carries me through the San Joaquin, I’m searching in my past tonight, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be free...... I like the summer nights in California, American cars up and down the strip, If I close my eyes I can almost hear their voices, faces, places, and names I can’t forget... no matter how far I run I’ll never get away from California... The wind cuts down the valley, carries me through the San Joaquin, I’m searching in my past tonight, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be free...... I know a place in California, it's where I use to call my home, there's a lot of people that I left in California, some of them I call my very own, and I’ll remember them all when I dream tonight of California... Californ-i-a... California... Californ-i-a... California... Californ-i-a... California... Californ-i-a... California...set me free tonight...
11.
Everything But The Crying 06:01
lyrics
buy track
Everything But The Crying ©Jerry Axson I choose to live alone, a solitary life, never wanted no kids, never wanted to take no wife, Just outside the social club, “off the map” so to speak, a lone king with a heart of gold, still waters run too deep, This is where the story breaks, this is where it ends, this is where I meet you, this is where we begin Somebody’s saying something, while I’m lost in your eyes, it’s all over now boys’, everything but the crying... Every word from your lips holds me in place, I stand in awe - mesmerized by your face, pull me inside of your sea and let go, this is the only way I’ll ever know... Up above the busy streets, looking down on the crowd, everybody’s got somewhere to go, the music sucks and the traffic’s loud, Take the time to study each face, really look in the eyes, somewhere between hope and despair, lies the simple will to survive, And I’ll become a ghost in this town, never thought it could be, in my heart and in my soul, it all comes ‘round eventually, Just a fool by the telephone, waiting for you to call, standing on the edge of forever, right before the great big fall... Every word from your lips holds me in place, I stand in awe - mesmerized by your face, pull me inside of your sea and let go, this is the only way you’ll ever know...
12.
We Don’t Belong Here (2012 Remix) 04:20
lyrics
buy track
We Don’t Belong Here ©Jerry Axson She wants a new love, he wants the old one, they ain’t going nowhere, they ain’t making no one, Hard words are spoken - deep lines are drawn, this time she means it - and it won’t be long... You’ve got your ways baby... and I’ve got mine... we don’t belong here... it’s a waste of time... See me out sometimes, I’ve seen you too, we’ve got nothing to say, nothing to prove, This town is gray, the sky is red, I’m on my feet, but I’m over my head... round’ our necks... dragging us down... physical wrecks... on and on it goes... She gets a new love, he’s just a memory, sometimes we settle for less, the way it turns out to be, I lay me down... I go to sleep... I pray to the Lord - my soul to keep...
13.
Lethargy in D (free) 05:26
lyrics
download
Instrumental

about

I had moved my family to Columbia, SC and had to get rid of the components that made up my Tascam 8 track home studio because I had no place to store them. A few years passed with me not even picking up a guitar let alone song writing on any level so I convinced myself to quit. We eventually bought a house and I converted the 2-car garage into a carpeted room for working out but it did not take long to get the idea of building a DAW workstation. I had traded Pete Koegler my Spirit mixing console for a Mac based MOTU 8 track module and card and built myself a DAW Workstation in the garage. I had plenty of stockpiled song material to work from and the excitement of the DAW technology and prospects of exploring production and mixing inspired me to write new material as well. Locking myself away in the garage I began recording and building my first Hard Drive based project titled “Songs From The Tenderbox”. Working alone I utilized an Alesis SR-16 digital drum machine and layered my tracks instrument by instrument. Guitar being my primary instrument I had a lot of fun finding different sounds, effects, and ways to record the instrument. Purchasing a Yamaha MOTIF workstation I lost myself in strings, organ, and piano teaching myself how to apply these effects to music composition.
Listening to the project in its entirety you immediately get the sense of experimentation heaped upon layers of trial and error. Not so much the song writing but more so the dynamics between composition, delivery, and final production. Going back and listening now I’m surprised how suppressed the vocals are across the board. I think the recording process was so clear and up-close in the headphones that I subconsciously held back when delivering a majority of the lead vocals. The human voice compared to mechanical instruments can be a temperamental and tricky thing at times. The songs are good here but if I could go back I think I would deliver those vocals differently perhaps. Another condition I notice from this material is that some songs are long – maybe longer than they needed to be but again this was my first journey into home studio recording and it was my dime so it was my time!
“Eyes To The Sun” and “Jerry Heard The Canon Roar” were probably my first efforts at Ambient composition where I wanted to set a mood with the melody and not so much getting an idea across through lyric. “It’s My Turn Now” was just a good country pop song leftover from the Altered Moods project that I wanted to hear fully recorded and treated. “Hallelujah, I’m In Love Again” was written based on a cool riff I came up with on the synthesizer. “That’s What Imaginations For” was another song I wrote at the end of Altered Moods that I wanted to hear recorded simply because it kicked ass in my head! “Rise Above This Moment” was a throwaway love song I wrote while working on this project mostly to explore soft dynamics and to play the piano. “To Find Out About You” was a very personal song I had written about my father because he had died during this time and as always my song writing helped me to work my feelings out concerning this. “Secret Life” while not perfectly recorded or executed had two things going for it – very clever lyrics and a really cool horn section kicking at the end on the outro. “I Belong To Pearl” was all about my wonderful wife from top to bottom. “California” was a song I wrote about my dear friends I had left in Los Banos, California in particular my best friend Ramon Sotelo. “Everything But The Crying” had a little bit of funk and soul, which for me was a different way of constructing a song, the lead guitar here is still some of my favorite work recorded. “We Don’t Belong Here” was a beautiful song I had composed on acoustic, this version is a 2016 remix of the original where I went back and edited a lot of the fiddle work and the levels overall. “Lethargy In D” simply put was me stretching out on the MOTIF workstation and splicing in samples. This was a fun song to construct and I thought it would be a great close to my first official Lonesome Dog Studio project.

credits

released January 1, 2006

Jerry Axson

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jerry Axson image

Jerry Axson Columbia, South Carolina

To me simplicity is the root of all great thoughts. The secret thrill for me, the architect, is delivering that thought with unobtrusive complexity. Writing songs and composing music satisfy my soul and because of this I know exactly what I am designed to do, it’s just that simple. - Jerry Axson ... more

contact / help

Contact Jerry Axson

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

Jerry Axson recommends:

If you like Jerry Axson, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now