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The Maines

by James Lovelady

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1.
Smuggler's Notch 04:12
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Smuggler's Notch Slipping through the mountains like a smuggler Carrying secrets and the Confederate official's only daughter The road is ever winding and this girl won't stop her whining But I hope her heart will change on our ride back I will cross the rivers at the places that I've loved her Maybe there will be a time she will remember Once we were the lovers of the books with dirty covers She forgot through years of war and politics And we will ride! We will ride! We will ride, ride, ride, ride, where no one else will ride. I hold this information for the army's operation But her heart's the only thing I've ever valued She starts negotiations with her mild to strong flirtations So I gladly make the trade to win her back Now our destination is the notch between the mountains Where we'll live out all our days in love and hiding In place of irritation there's a smile of restoration I can feel it in her face against my back And we will ride! We will ride! We will ride, ride, ride, ride, where no one else will ride I thought she was lovely I thought she would stay I couldn't see clearly Then she betrayed! Ahhhhhh! So I will ride! I will ride! I will ride, ride, ride, ride where no one else will ride.
2.
Allagash 05:25
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Allagash He was an ordinary man. We raise a fine Acadien. He returned traitor in our midst So we'll parade him through our street Blame it on that Southern Girl That sweet Delilah's Pearl With yellow hair and eyes of blue He really thought she would be true "Come away, Dear. Setting out on the Allagash. All the way, Dear. See how far our supplies will last. On the river we'll make a new home. On the river we'll be all alone. On the river we'll die all alone And the mob won't bother us." He wore an unconvincing mask As he was pouring over maps He knew his hiding place was found We're gonna raze it to the ground It was a rainy afternoon He was surrounded in his room We would finally take him down Or slip the window out of town. "Come away, dear! Setting out on the Allagash. All the way, dear. See how far our supplies will last. On the river we'll make a new home. On the river we'll be all alone. On the river we'll die all alone And the mob won't bother us." "In the wilderness I'll hide my sadness As I flee the hanging rope. Well, she's my blue sun in yellow sky. It's such madness! But the moons subtle light gives a cheerful hope." "Come away, Dear. Setting out on the Allagash. All the way, Dear. See how far our supplies will last. On the river we'll make a new home. On the river we'll be all alone. On the river we'll die all alone And the mob won't murder us! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"
3.
Old Friend Crow 06:06
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Old Friend Crow I befriended a crow in St. Agatha wood We were lonely I swam out from the shore when no one else would Try to save you But I, I did it all wrong I couldn't shoulder your soul You had to fly away. You, you never showed any fear when everyone would You had your secrets But you would hide them away in Sainte Agàt wood To stop from feeling I nursed you to health. I needed your help Fly me away from danger Sigh! Breathe in again. I lost you old friend to the thought of better days So I returned to the scene. You knew that I would. But you'd flown away So I settled down in my grief in St. Agatha wood Come and find me here.
4.
Holding Hands Amid Wild Blueberries 04:15
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Holding Hands Amid Wild Blueberries I'll hold your hand I'll help you fill your can We'll walk in the light Until the milky way is bright We'll wait all alone In the calm between the storm I'll hold your hand Letting loose of all our plans Feels so alive In the quiet nothingness of night We'll wait all alone In the calm between the storm I'll hold your hand As we tell the secrets we have hid And make it right In the nakedness we find life We'll wait all alone In the calm between the storm I love you, girl. I love you.
5.
Jump On In 03:12
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6.
The Fields 04:10
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The Fields Thought we'd sing sings till the summer ends But we found a letter written in our daddy's hand And it said, "I'm paralyzed by angels. They take me to the liquor now." If only fear can stop us Only love can save us now Silver rush of 1848 Left five Acadien girls on their daddy's farm And they said, "They're closing Madawaska. The paper mill is shutting down." If only fear can stop us Only love can save us now One by one there's a setting off To become city girls from forgotten potato fields And they say, "There's a boy in Bangor. There's a need for what I've got." If only fear can stop us Only love can save us now So save us now!
7.
As Summer Ends 05:07
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As Summer Ends Oh dad, before summer ends We'll find ourselves with head in hands Toes in the grass Looking up to clouds from land As summer ends Ah son, the war ain't done Portland's calling ocean runs All winter long So kiss your momma We'll return when your a man
8.
Allagash (Reprise) 02:30
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Allagash (Reprise) Come away dear, I'm setting out on the Allagash All the way dear, See how far our supplies will last On the river We'll make a new home On the river We'll be all alone On the river We'll die on our own And the mob won't bother us
9.
Taking the Snow Fort 06:20
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Taking the Snow Fort (I'm so afraid.) Okay boys, (I'm so afraid.) We cannot fail (I'm so afraid.) Let's take that hill (I'm so afraid.) The gates of hell (I'm so afraid.) Will not prevail Okay boys, We cannot fail Let's take that hill The gates of hell Will not prevail Okay boys! We cannot fail! Let's take that hill! The gates of hell Will not prevail! We're not afraid! We're not afraid! We're not afraid Do what you want to us!

about

The Maines

He snuck into the house of the Confederate Officer with his eye on the secret army plans and the officer's only daughter. She had been his one love before the war and she had chosen sides but he was convinced that he could win her back. He stole his prizes and made for the north, where he would deliver the army secrets and then disappear with his lover into the wild of Maine. At first she was obstinate but he knew that if he could take her to the places where they had fallen in love, he could win back her love. It was working. He could tell. She did love him. "Do not let us make this about the Aggression," she whispered. "Love is stronger than war and politics. Return the stolen secrets. We will leave that all behind us and I will love you till we die in the Allagash." He could not resist such a plan so she slept in his arms with the secrets in hand.
When he awoke he was alone. For she had betrayed him and returned to her father, whose army had been chasing them north. In despair and confusion he rode north, making his way to his home town where news had spread faster than his horse that the young Union soldier had given away army secrets for a tryst with a southern belle. He was a traitor and the angry townsfolk wanted their once hero son to hang for it. He tried to hide while making plans to find his lover and flee into the Allagash but he was too conspicuous. They surrounded his apartment. The only way out was the open window into the alleyway and float down the Fish river and then to disappear into the wilderness or he would be captured and paraded down the street, floating on the arms of the angry mob to the gallows. In that moment of despair mingled with hope, his mind began to recall the moments in his life, moments of joy, moments of pain. He recalled his family, his mother and father, his sisters, his lover. In his mind he saw the gallows and then the blueberry fields where he walked under the stars of the milky way with her. He saw his sisters following the promise of the city and the pain of betrayal and lost hope. He saw the mob and then he remembered his father taking him to war to make him a man. He felt the rope and then he perceived the river calling him. His mind came to and he was more lucid than ever. He had to escape. He had to find her. He had to flee. Or he would have to face his fear of the rope and courageously step into the abyss.

credits

released December 6, 2015

James Lovelady--guitars, vocals, keys, bass, rhythm, glock, mandolin
Rick Lovelady--guitars, mixing, mastering
Sarah Osthaus--vocals
Chris Osthaus--drums
Pieter Tubergen--bass
Mike Lovelady--trumpets
Northern Maine--crows, lakes, campfires, snowsteps, quiet
Ambrose Bierce--concept album inspiration

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James Lovelady Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For many years James Lovelady has been making music with family & friends all over the world. Originally from El Paso, Texas, this nomad has recently returned to Philadelphia. Expanding his musical pallet, with D-18 in hand, he and his brother Rick join with friends for a new musical journey that comes out of a renewed creative energy that incorporates a broad spectrum of instruments & influences. ... more

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