The cover image for the Booze Monkey live album, Savannah Colors.
The cover image for the Booze Monkey live album, Savannah Colors.
The first of two live albums by the Booze Monkey acoustic duo featuring Joel Ludwig on bass guitar.
Recorded live at the Hungry Dog Cafe’ in Strasburg Va, 8 August 2003.
Album released 18 February 2004
Joel Ludwig - Bass
Blue Ajay - Guitar, Vocals, StompBox
** All credits changed from BLUE to Blue Ajay.
Listen to Savannah Colors online:
I got a call from the preacher man
he said Blue how come you never clasp your hands
I said sir I appreciate your sense of contentment
but nothin’ ever happened for me with outside Involvement
especially from somethin’ that I cannot see
he said son the source of your torment
will never let you be
Chorus:
he said son you’re always runnin’ oh yeah
runnin’ against the wind
I said thank you sir for your concern
but please don’t call me son again
police man he pulled me over and started frownin’ at me
I said sIr your disapproval It does not bother me
he said son you’ve got a bad a bad attitude
I said just because we disagree that does not make me rude
chorus
solo
teacher started tellin’ me the books I should not read
I said teacher when I’m done I’ll decide If I agree
she said son you gotta think this way If you are to succeed
I said teacher thinkin’ Is the only thing left that is free
chorus
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Aces and Eights, Hearts and Spades
I was born with a dead man’s hand
Aces and Eights, Hearts and Spades
I was born with a dead man’s hand
Since I was born, first day on earth
I’ve lived the life of a dying man
The moon was full, the clouds were sparse
There seemed to be too many stars
The moon was full, the clouds were sparse
Seemed like there were too many stars
A coyote howled, somewhere in the dark
As the midwife witch she dealt the cards
Chorus:
I was born without karma
Well no, none to speak of
And so I spit in the Reaper’s eye
The cards that were dealt me
They weren’t worth a damn
I’ll load my sleeve until I die
The thunder was rolling, though the night it was clear
The ground all around it seemed to shake
The thunder was rolling though the night it was clear
The ground all around it did seem to shake
The midwife sighed, my mother cried
The night itself seemed to seal my fate
Ashes to ashes and sand to sand
I’ll see your bid and raise you ten
Ashes to ashes and sand to sand
I’ll see your bid and I’ll raise you ten
I’ve nothing to lose, and I love to play
I’ll take your cash and we’ll play again
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© 2002 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Listenin’ to Nick Cave & Tom Waits
& Drinkin’ Yukon Jack
Playin’ solitaire the old way
by shufflin’ the stack
My fingers are too sore to play guitar
but my mind keeps casting back
It’s nearly dawn & dark as hell
my insomnia is back
Nostalgia is like Drambuie
it’s sweet but it packs a whallup
when memories break through the haze
they do so at a gallop
I thought I had them tethered down
by the old pass just outside of town
but they’ve been freed by a black-hat clown
& found their way right back around
Chorus:
Playin’ Solitaire the old way - alone & boxing time
Playin’ Solitaire the old way - just to occupy my mind
Playin’ Solitaire the old way - by the table on the floor
Playin’ Solitaire the old way - even diversion is a chore
Playin’ solitaire the old way
in fear of coming dawn
fighting to keep my thoughts at bay
like undead on the lawn
George Romero’s legacy
sometimes more a grin than others
another drink to dull my brain
I’d wipe it out if I had my druthers
Nothing like unfocused anger
to leave one a bit perplexed
like a teenage trip to New Orleans
debating credence to a hex
runnin’ low on lime juice
& I’ve lost another hand
the sun it stumbles by horizon’s edge
just before it floods the land
Like the too proverbial snake
consuming its’ own tail
my thoughts devour my mind
and I don depression’s veil
my thoughts are caught in a feedback loop
from speaker to pickup and back
the things I wish I’d never thought
they just stack upon the stack
I count through 52 cards again
and dwell on familiar patterns
It’s Yukon on the rocks this time
I’m outta lime in my private tavern
Words and music by Blue Ajay
Written 24 April, 2003 - 1:19PM
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
There’s nothin’ like a 5 AM beach town
No cars no tourists and no sound
11th floor ocean view
with sleep in my eyes
a coffee cup balcony
shakin’ hands with the sunrise
A block away 10th floor
with her back to the sea
Her view is just the
other hotels and me
I glimpse her silhouette
eyes linger on curves
Her light’s extinguished
to the sound of the surf
Chorus:
There’s 2 cups, 2 sugars and 2 creams
2 hand towels, 2 beds and 2 teas
there seems to be 2 of everything but me
The street lamp glistens
on the boardwalk below
The salt it adds
an amber tint to the glow
The green lights, red lights
and yellow lights dance with
no one to enjoy the show
I find myself pondering duality
And I feel a bit lacking as one
I move my baggage
to the bed by the door and
I return to greet the sun
Chorus There’s only one of me
I light up another Camel I
I couldn’t get me a smoking room
From the balcony
I glimpse my block away friend
Lighting up from across the gloom
We form an unspoken partnership
I sense that she is thinking as I
I wonder if she is counting amenities
Somewhere in the back of her mind
Words by Joel Ludwig and Blue Ajay
Music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Two backyard blackbirds
pick at this and peck at that
Two backyard blackbirds
pick at this and peck at that
They weren’t expecting
no, that old tomcat
I met a redhead in Richmond
you know I thought I was in
I met a redhead in Richmond
I thought that I’d win
But three drinks later
she said she didn’t like men
Chorus:
Been banged around a bit
been kicked around a bit
Always end up on my back
In the school of knocks
You know I’ve had my lot
Yeah, life’s like that
There was a storm last night
the lightning struck and thunder roared
There was a storm last night
lightning struck and thunder roared
The roof of my brand new house
it landed on my brand new ford
Chorus
I thought Murphy was an optimist
and now I’m sure
I always thought that Murphy
was an optimist and now I’m sure
Whenever I think I’m gonna win
bad luck knocks on my door
Chorus -> Out
Words by Joel Ludwig and Blue Ajay
Music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I’d like to re-map
the world’s palette of colors
if only just for one day
The sky would be green
as an ocean of clovers
and I’ve always been
partial to grey
I’d like to name
a drink after Socrates
This would surely
provide me a grin
I march with pride
in Irony’s parade
and next annum
I will do so again
I’d like to freeze
a single icicle
from the branch
on the tree by my home
they always arrive
in cluttered battalions
and I’ve seldom
ever seen one alone
I’d like to
preserve this moment
as the flame
it reflects in your eyes
an instant of joy
soon to be lost
in a world
of sadness and lies
I’d like to re-map
the world’s palette of colors
I think the clouds
would look fine in beige
I would paint the sun
just a little less harsh
you know
I’ve always been
partial to grey
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 1995/2003 Sanity Check Musec ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Reprinted from the original CD packaging:
Booze Monkey
Savannah Colors
Live at the Hungry Dog Cafe' - 8 August 2003
Album released 18 February 2004
Album UPC: 634479741128
Graphic Design by Blue Ajay
Cover Photo by Joel Ludwig
Produced, engineered and mastered by Blue Ajay at the Naked Acre Compound Studio.
Insert Photo by Christina M. Orr
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
The first of two live albums by Booze Monkey when they were an acoustic duo featuring Joel Ludwig on bass guitar. Recorded live at the Hungry Dog Cafe' in Strasburg Va, 8 August 2003.
Joel Ludwig - Bass
Blue Ajay - Guitar, Vocals, StompBox
** All credits changed from BLUE to Blue Ajay