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The History We Wrote

by WHOA!TIGER

supported by
Eric Wood
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Indy In-Tune
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1.
Harp In Pocket 04:56
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HARP IN POCKET Well it's a snap shot, a perfect picture Of this red hot lovin' we share Until you sling shot right back to your other man Sweet-talking me like you care You try to tell me that it's all part of livin' free That don't seem fair to me, I just can't let that be You've got to tell me that it's one way or the other But that don't sit with what you want from me Well I ain't no in between, just like a movie scene You leave me standing on the corner in the rain You never know when good love will leave you broken That's why you always remember The one you always regret That's why you always got a song that makes it better You never know, that's why you always got a blues harp in your pocket [ check this out ] Just like a dog's tail, which end’s wagging which You've got your big-selling list of demands When you know damn well that there's at least two sides to everything And pushing me don't change where I stand I sit and hear the conversation from a distance, "You gotta think like this, don't listen to that, It's just a big lie, listen to the facts, man. I know it's true 'cause it was on my TV screen." That kind of talk, it makes you sound a little crazy My mind don't wrap that way, I just can't live each day Believing life is part of some big dream You never know when bad blood will leave you stranded That's why you're always reliving The words you never forget That's why you always tell it louder to the next guy You never know, that's why you always got a blues harp in your pocket That's why you're always forgiving That's why the chords always change That's why the stage is for the one who's gonna sing it right That's why you never hesitate to rearrange That's why it always reminds you That it's the best that you get That's why it always seems so little when it happens You never know, that's why you always got a blues harp in your pocket
2.
None More Black 05:14
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NONE MORE BLACK That feeling you get just before it begins The season of intensity where nobody wins Same old message from a different face this time But our eyes stay fixed upon the show Try to wade through this sea of information Avoid manipulation, make it something I should know Concieved from a dream you think I should fight for But I believe that the prophecy you offer me Fails to address why this mess was here to begin with It’s just your version of some push-and-pull romance You kiss me as you tighten up your grip around my throat Make me feel like it’s all for my protection And then laugh at my objection to the history we wrote And then it all fell out from the bottom Man, those guys forgot everything we taught ‘em All that time we spent when we fought ‘em Ends up it was their own people that caught ‘em from the inside Yeah, hit ‘em with a blind side Makes you choose a real side when they take away your fine ride There ain’t none more black than a promise taken back That never had a real chance anyway, that’s just the game that we play Revealing a dream that’s replayed in my head But the final scene, it never seems to give me Any answers I need, it all seems to bleed me But I can see the colors, and I know I see the light All the rest is what we need to get us through Getting used to being thoroughly confused Our emotions being used to ignite another fuse And then it came down to what really mattered Took us past all that silly chitter-chatter Look around, fat cats getting fatter Seems high time we took matters in our own hands Not merely stage hands Don’t need to be no grand stand to help us know just what we got planned Cause there ain’t none more black than losing from a kick-back Gonna try for another day, that’s just the game we play Well I don’t care what you’re thinking that’ll make it all go away I don’t seem to find no peace of mind from the pieces I hear each day One thing I know is you don’t let go of the way you know it’s gotta be There ain’t none more black than turning your back on me There ain’t none more black than turning your back on anyone you see There ain’t none more black, now don’t you turn your back on me
3.
Don't Tell Vanessa 04:28
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DON’T TELL VANESSA Please don’t give me the line about needing space and needing time Tell me what I should think about doing in the meantime You barely say hello, put your coat on, glad to see you go Maybe tonight’s the night we finally show That forever ended yesterday in the blink of an eye It seems to me the things you see are a far cry from believing Wasn’t anyone I knew that morning, wish I’d had a little warning I still remember it all perfectly clear Was it worth what you heard there, we should have never even been near enough To be part of this thing that ain’t ours You told me that this could be our chance of a lifetime But we took it for granted You told me say nothing, just let it die, so I did But who knew that you had been branded from believing Believe in me Now don’t whisper nothing to me that would make me believe Believe that you need me for nothing I been down that road, gonna put it on hold On hold from believing
4.
Oogabalooga 04:30
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OOGABALOOGA Oooh, such vivid memory, eighteen and three days old Dad said, “boy I raised you right, so it’s time you hit the road” He handed him a bottle, and he put it to his lips Picked up his guitar and started to play, made it sound like this By twenty-two he’d seen the world, he viewed it from the stage Eleven different countries, all the while locked in a cage Everyone wants more and more, while he’s racing to the end Three more shows and the tour is done, till it all starts back again He had one too many, or maybe one too few The room was kind of spinning, and the girls went, “uh-huh, uh-huh” He called it oogabalooga, ‘cause he went out into the crowded hall One step short of being alone Her friends at home still call her Jill, but on-line she’s ‘partygurl’ She has a million followers, they all want to be like her And daddy pays for everything at a cost he doesn’t see His absence is no substitute when she hits reality It’s a cell phone living, in thirty-four characters Naive opinions, and the critics go “mm, mm, mm” Another oogabalooga, cause she’s swimming through the twilight zone One step short of being alone People all around, some genuine contact Good conversation when you wanna say “yes, yes, yes” What an oogabalooga, a whale of a good time yet to come One step short of being alone
5.
Days Gone Bye 05:14
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DAYS GONE BYE Anytime since you went away That I start my day Without you on my mind, I catch myself and I drift away I go back to that day When I was left behind. Did you think when you said goodbye And rose into the sky That it would be alright? Or did you know that our time was done As the setting sun Surrendered to the night? You never notice 'til you're in it A lifetime passes in a minute A breath away from eternity Your hopes and dreams before your eyes Like fleeting memories as time flies All them days gone by Twenty years have come and gone I try to carry on That’s why I wrote this song I feel the shadows, they are growing long Like spectral fears they’re drawn My peace of mind has gone You never notice 'til you're in it A lifetime passes in a minute A breath away from eternity Your hopes and dreams before your eyes Like fleeting memories as time flies All them days gone by I look to the Stars When I need inspiration I can feel you among them Shining on How can anybody Say this is forever? One day I will see you (And) we'll take up Right where we left off You never notice 'til you're in it Our time on earth has got a limit When it’s gone, it’s gone Love one another like you mean it Love endures – I know, I’ve seen it Don’t let days go by Love one another like you mean it Love endures – I know, I’ve seen it Say good-bye to days gone bye
6.
Our Requiem 05:20
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OUR REQUIEM Tell me like it is, not just how you feel Speaking truth for truth, not just mass appeal We are only pawns of our own charade That’s just how the game “divide and conquer” gets played We won’t ever compromise, believe like all our other lies Heed a word unto the wise, we don’t realize We’re writing our requiem What’s done behind the veil always comes to light Dissent and disarray, no longer black and white Judge me if you must safe behind your wall Build the space between while divided we fall Fighting fire with fire only burns in kind Taking eye for eye leaves everyone blind We won’t ever compromise, believe like all our other lies Hide the pain inside our eyes, we don’t realize We’re writing our requiem Make an enemy of you To defend my point of view Telling lies and taking turns Laughing while the world burns We won’t ever compromise, believe like all our other lies Fear sets in while a nation dies, but we don’t realize We won’t ever compromise, believe like all our other lies Heed a word unto the wise, we don’t realize We won’t ever compromise, believe like all our other lies Hide the pain inside our eyes, but we won’t realize
7.
Bitter 05:34
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BITTER I slip just a little and I flip to your side And I trip all the information from this ride I’m winning this battle and I’m sinning just to get by I’m beginning to see double, no one tells me why Desperate measures, desperate times Frantic messages the story leaves behind Feast or famine, no middle ground Too many happenings to turn us all around I know you’ve been lying just trying to keep a straight face In my mind I keep a tally of everyone and everyone’s place If you fall from graces the road back is all uphill Every single step you take is one less bitter pill Bitter living, bitter soul Bitter reminders, they take their toll Strength in numbers see you through Sole survivor, you just make do There’s no time like the present There’s no time like our past Got no time for forgetting No, the time we got has got to last So be remembered with what you say Don’t go unnoticed, no not today Make it your problem, that’ll make it real Live your life how you feel
8.
Shadows 05:07
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SHADOWS Look up, it’s different once you’ve been there It’s not what you thought you’d find Time’s up, and I’ve got no resolution I’m not looking at the steps I leave behind I’ve seen many mornings be gone before they’re due When the night falls, I’m left with nothing new So I’m told, it’s seldom worth the effort I’m not sold on such a visionary line I walk away from what appears to be a shadow behind me I know it’s there from a light that I can’t see I move in deliberate motion, and I’ve been on uneven ground You’ve held my hand with this notion that I’d come around We never thought to question what made us turn and hide Another shadow coming from another side It keeps my interest while it seems to keep me a little high I don’t seek answers, I’m not asking why I cry when the spirit moves me, And I laugh when it goes my way I scream like a child when I get excited I’ll share when I’m having a good run And I’ll steal when the game ain’t fair I’ll take on the dark that comes with the night My shadow’s still there. It won’t mean a thing in the morning It won’t make for hallowed ground We’re just lucky we still get invited Don’t even try to remember What it was that tripped you before Just to take on a different light My shadow keeps moving So look up, now that you’re quite familiar It seems to be an extraordinary time Don’t walk away from shadows, don’t let them track you down They don’t mean a thing when you’re not around
9.
Century Road 06:30
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CENTURY ROAD I guess the drive didn’t take too long, ain’t been back since I was real young This old house still looks about the same Just down the road lived my best friend, don’t think i’ll see him again ‘Cause he took off for fortune and fame It’s where we lived for adventure, a time when dreams didn’t end I’ve got the scars to remind me, where we learned how to mend A kid’s life ain’t what it once was, it’s hard to fight the good cause ‘Cause there’s so much mean, and it won’t go away Say what you want, but don’t touch me, I may not win, but they’ll all see That I ain’t afraid of what you’re throwing my way It’s where I grew ten feet taller, where being just a boy came to end I’ve got the scars to remind me, where we learned to defend Believe in what it tells you, how everything deserves a little more What takes us there together, remember falls that we took before Winding through the countryside, I’m not even thinking ‘bout the next turn And the passage is worn down from all the heavy loads Been carried by the feet here before us That walked here on Century Road We drove around till the sun went down, ‘cause that’s the best time to fool around We’ll pull off where there’s noone at all First time for both of us here, little nervous, little bit of fear We fumbled through it and the thrill of it all It’s where we lost inhibitions, when we first became friends I’ve got the scars to remind me, where we learned to pretend Believe in what it tells you, how everything deserves a little more It takes us there together, remember falls that we took before Winding through the countryside, I’m not even fearing the next turn And the traveler is worn down, but it’s not such a heavy load Where you find you’re not the first or the last one To venture down Century Road Now make good time for coming days, stick around to walk the next mile Look back when you need to, look ahead, it clears you for awhile Winding through the countryside, we’re not afraid of the next turn When it’s all said and done, and the story’s set to be told We know every page is different at the end But we all got there on Century Road …Century Road
10.
Mama 03:04
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MAMA Knew me a bluesman, he said he’d teach me how to play Knew this old bluesman, he said he’d teach me how to play That old bluesman up and died Now I’m a guitar player tryin’ to find my stride Met me a woman, she said she’d teach me how to love Met this mean old woman, she said she’d teach me how to love That girl took everything She even stole my bathtub ring Had me a young child, he said he’d teach me how to live Sweet little young child, he said he’d teach me how to live He said, “sit tall and do your best A little hug from mama takes care of all the rest.” He said, “sit tall and do your best A little hug from mama takes care of all the rest.”
11.
WWJBD 03:33
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WWJBD Waaaaa, jump, beat, pitter pat You know my heart, it goes goes just like that When she smiles and winks at me Her love and mine were meant to be But your sister said boy, leave that girl alone She don’t want you ‘round her home sweet home No more, no more she don’t wanna see you So I said aw girl, what would James Brown do? I sit and watch you walk on by Oh I’m so lonely but I gotta try Try to make you love me so My love baby is one that you gotta know But your mama said you found another man He treat her right, you know he can You stick around, and you just a fool So I said hey mama, what would James Brown do? One more time to call your name One more time to play that game One more time to see you there One more time cause baby I know that you care But your daddy said boy don’t you come around Not even one more time, or I’ll beat you down He said son, you need to go find another girl or two Cause you know what boy, that’s what James Brown would do
12.
All Alone Again 03:22
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ALL ALONE AGAIN   Reactive lady come sit close to me Lend your smile for awhile, tease me if you please You sure look fine, another glass of wine If you please, have pity on me so I won’t have to be All alone again, yes all alone again   Been a rough day, my boss just laid me out I go home, gotta climb my stairs, who cares, man I just need a cold one I walk through my door, my dog don’t come to me no more He drank my last beer, he took my easy chair, and he just don’t care If I’m all alone again, if I’m all alone again   My rent I didn’t pay Man, now I need a place to stay I’m gon’ hit the pavement And I’m all alone again, yes I’m all alone again Said I’m all alone again

about

"The History We Wrote" is a collection of recordings by the 6-piece WHOA!TIGER lineup. We started recording the songs before the entire collection was written, and released them along the way as we completed them, continuing until we decided the album was done. We wrote as the inspiration struck us, with no self-imposed deadlines, and recorded these songs in sessions spanning 2015-2019.

The front cover photo was taken at The Cabin Restaurant & Lounge, a little place southeast of Bloomington, IN. We were there in early 2018, playing at a benefit event for a local child who was ill. We've played on some of the biggest stages in the area, as well as on some of the smallest, and many times on no stage at all. Sometimes the best performances and the most genuine connections with audiences happen in the most unassuming places, and we like it that way.

The path of this lineup has had its twists and turns, and the band history we've written along the way is found in these songs, like snapshots in a scrapbook. We hope you enjoy this collection, and we appreciate your continued support all these years.

credits

released June 15, 2019

WHOA!TIGER is:
Jack Barkley - vocals, guitar, harmonica
Gregg Jones - guitar
Erik Nelson - drums, vocals
Eric Tullis - bass
Terry Valde - keyboards
Eric Wood - percussion, vocals

The WHOA!TIGER Horns:
Jerry Brown - baritone sax
David Grider Jr. - trombone
Andy Kopis - alto sax
Jefri Clark Payne - trumpet
Stephen Slabaugh - trumpet

Production Information:
"Harp In Pocket"/"Century Road" - Recorded April 25-26, 2015 at The Hit Department, Indianapolis, IN. Engineered and mixed by Scott Rainey.

"None More Black"/"Days Gone Bye" - Recorded June 27-28, 2015 at The Hit Department, Indianapolis, IN. Engineered and mixed by Scott Rainey.

“Shadows”/“Bitter”/"Mama"/"WWJBD" - Recorded March 13/20 and April 3, 2016 at The Hit Department, Indianapolis, IN. Engineered and mixed by Scott Rainey. Horns for "WWJBD" recorded July and August 2017 at Perfect Mix Studios, Greenfield, IN. Engineered by Gabe Harley.

"Don't Tell Vanessa"/"Oogabalooga"/"Our Requiem"/"All Alone Again" recorded January through May 2019 at The Hit Department, Greenfield, IN. Engineered and mixed by Scott Rainey.

All songs written by WHOA!TIGER, except:
“Bitter”, "Mama" and "WWJBD" written by WHOA!TIGER and Dan Janke.

Front cover photo: Eric Wood
Back cover photo: Jack Barkley

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WHOA!TIGER Indianapolis, Indiana

We're WHOA!TIGER, and we've been busy in the central Indiana original music scene since 2008.

Any fan of gutsy rock-n-roll and storytelling lyrics should find plenty to like in WHOA!TIGER. Inspired by the classic album-oriented bands of the 70's, we write contemporary original rock music, with a decidedly old soul.

All our recordings are here, so listen and enjoy! We appreciate your support! ... more

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