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The Best of the Polar Vortex Sessions Vol. 1

by Jonathon Ferris

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1.
Broken Street - Words & Music: Jonathon Ferris 1/20/2014 V1 I wanna rage at the dying of the light ‘cause nothing in my world seems right The night is usually my friend but now, like my baby, were on the skid Chorus As the sun goes down and the darkness comes On my hometown, I hear the streetlights hum Only other sound is my shuffling feet In a dead end town, on a broken street V2 My baby and I were a pair of live wires I always thought our love would catch the city on fire Our burning love turned to hate My world crashed down, quick, too late Chorus Bridge Smoke and ash fill the air but I still feel her touch, still smell her hair Wish I could retrace, where it went wrong Was it love or just a sirens song Chorus 2x Outro Where did my love go?
2.
Save Me 01:54
Save Me - Words and Music by: Jonathon Ferris 2/5/2014 V1 When I’m out on a limb that’s threatening to break When I’m about to make a choice that’ll leave destruction in my wake When I’m about to say something that should stay unsaid and I’m running around like a chicken with no head I need you, I need you, to save me V2 When I’m going off on tangents, bouncing all around carrying a blowtorch, going to burn this to the ground When I’m running with scissors with my shoes tied together Breaking up my mirrors while going under ladders I need you, I need you, to save me Bridge: Grab me by the arm, smack in the face Point me to the safety of a hiding place Remind me that you love me, kiss me on the lips Do whatever it may take for me to get a grip, save me V3 I’ll do the same for you when you’re running in hysterics but today I have the pen and I’m writing down these lyrics So when I’m walking ‘round with a blank stare Show me something big and obvious to tell me that you care I need you, I need you I need you, I need you I need you, I need you, to save me Save me
3.
I’ll Pay the Toll - Words and Music by Jonathon Ferris 2/11/2014 V1 Double check the bags, one last sweep of the room Load up the car, throw on some tunes The suns first glows, still hours away A tired moon and stars are on display Chorus Heading out down the road, destination far away (1.) Cup of coffee in my hand, form our hotel stay (2.) Drinking that cold pop from that truck-stop on I-8 (3.) Living on diner food, whatever’s on that blue plate Tonight it’s another stop still far from out goal but as long as you ride beside me, I will pay the tolls V2 Now the sun in blazing ‘cross this desert land Chasing down the next mirage, just finding more dry land We might be a rollin’ , faster than a tumbleweed But still feel wind whipped, some direction is what I need Chorus V3 There’s Rose-Yellow Moon, rising in the east In the cobalt sky, not a cloud to be seen yeah that horizon is still so far away But we’ll be beyond it before we end our day Chorus
4.
Chasing My Heart All Around Words by: Jonathon Ferris 2/26/2014 Music by: Jonathon Ferris 2/27/2014 v1 Where are you? Where have you gone my dear? Who you might be loving is my only fear From Fleming’s Point to the Berry Patch Driving ‘round Flint in my Pontiac Where are you and where have you gone my dear? v2 I’m chasing my heart all around this town I’m feeling blue without you around Don’t know how long I can go this way Staying up all night and through the day I’m chasing my heart all around this down Bridge: East Gate, Mott Park, and States Avenues Chevy in the hole, there’s no sign of you Downtown, Carriage Town, Sugar Hill, Selby Wherever you are I just want you beside me v3 I’m chasing my heart till the moon goes down I’m getting the feeling that your not in town I go by your house, I go by again Your father gives me that shot gun grin I’m chasing my heart till the moon goes down I’m chasing my heart till the sun goes down I’m chasing my heart all around this town
5.
Sour Mash 02:56
Sour Mash - Words & Music by Jonathon Ferris 3/5/2014 v1 Back in the days of Prohibition our throats parched like the sand we ran ourselves a nice little still house in the hollow on our land v2 Selling gasoline out the front door and white lightning out the back fueling the tractors and farmers alike with our high octane stash Chorus Oh how the whiskey poured and oh how the liquor ran oh how the smell of that sour mash flowed sweetly ‘cross the land v3 Most folks couldn’t figure out how our two pump stop survived in the middle of absolute nowhere without a house in sight Chorus v4 Then came the day when FDR said “What this country needs is a drink.” and our sweet still turned into a sour house we closed that station the next week Chorus
6.
On Lake Pontchartrain - Words and Music: Jonathon Ferris 3/18/2014 V1 Down here the water flows slow Under heavy air There’s a gator in the swimming hole you sit under sweaty hair Sipping on an ice cold coke wishing it would just rain on life goes by slow On Lake Pontchartrain V2 Spanish moss hanging in the trees swaying in the wind dark clouds come from the gulf there’s a bad storm blowing in Though your house is up on stilts the waves can roll over your pain and take it to the bottom On Lake Pontchartrain V3 You hope that it’s nice and dry wherever she may roam but you sit out on your deck let’n the storm soak you to the bone most people will go inside and think that you’re insane watch Louisiana lightning On Lake Pontchartrain Tag watching Louisiana lighting On Lake Pontchartrain
7.
Now It’s As Ever As Ever - Words & Music by Jonathon Ferris 4/10/2014 V1 You always talk of switching tracks the other line goes farther There’s always problems holding you back it causes you to think why bother Now something great is coming down that way you’d sure hate to miss it Make that change too soon or too late and you’ll be the one to get hit Well if there was a time for you to pull the lever Now it’s as ever as ever V2 Climbing up the corporate ladder isn’t that was school was for Tell me how many years and degrees does it take to get through the door Comparing yourself to the Joneses always put a tear in your eye and all those things you thought you needed are slowly sucking you dry If there was a line for you to grab and sever Now it’s as ever as ever V3 Plotting and scheming, selling your junk, working your fingers to the bone Ignoring those rings on the phone, when it says “caller unknown” Running all the numbers, sometimes robbing Paul to pay Peter Looking over your shoulder to make sure that Judas doesn’t cry “cheater” If there was a time for you to get clever Now it’s as ever as ever Tag If there was a time where it’s now or never Now it’s as ever as ever
8.
Run Past Your Windows - Words & Music: Jonathon Ferris 4/24/2014 V1 Don’t know what I’m gonna do I live four doors down from you Makes no sense to go around the block Can’t hold myself together, I’m not a solid rock Chorus: When I run past your windows run by your door My hands shake you’ve rocked me to the core I cry myself to sleep laying on the floor Don’t want you to see me like this no more V2 All the neighbors think I’m insane Running down our street like it’s pouring rain When the suns out not a cloud to be seen I see you on the front porch, those legs long and lean Chorus V3 Think I might have to up and move I’ve got to decide, the rents due soon Even though it will make a landlord steamed I won’t have to worry about seeing the new man of your dreams Chorus 2x Tag and I don’t want to be like this no more no I don’t want to be like this no more
9.
Shep and Ray 03:16
Shep and Ray Words by: Jonathon Ferris 5/20/2014 Music by: Jonathon Ferris 5/21/2014 V1 I knew an old man back in the day Had a lazy boy Shep and a dog named Ray The old man got Ray when Shep was five Shep called him “Ray Dog” for his whole life called him “Ray Dog” for his whole life Ray Dog V2 Shep and Ray went fishing in the pond Ray caught the fish, Shep dangled a rod If Shep tossed a frisbee, Ray would catch ‘Course it’s only ten feet he had to fetch only ten feet he had to fetch Ray Dog V3 As time goes on, you tend to slow down Shep slid into neutral, Ray roamed around Dog’s can’t play those video games There’s always new trees to sit in their shade always new trees to sit in their shade Ray Dog V4 Shep’s dad said “son go outdoors Ray’s getting old his hips are sore” Shep said “alright after [I] get top score” But before the game ended Ray was stiff as a board before the game ended Ray was stiff as a board Ray Dog V5 Shep dug Ray a hole near the property line Most work he’d done since he was nine Went back to the basement, layer right down Shep was deeper in the ground than that dead hound deeper in the ground than that dead hound Ray Dog Ray Dog
10.
In the Dark of the Night - Words & Music by Jonathon Ferris 5/28/2014 V1 If I can steal it, and conceal it So later on I can reveal it I want to tell you, can’t wait to tell you but I’ll wait ‘till it’s just us two (‘cause) PC In the dark of the night (I’m in the dark of night) When the moment is right (and the moment is right) I’m gonna pull you near (I pull you near) and whisper in your ear (and whisper in your ear) Chorus I wanna to hold you I wanna to kiss you and love you true V2 Tonight were dancing, we’re all prancing I want to be with you alone romancing Trying to stay cool, not to be a fool Never was in the “in crowd” at high school (but) PC Chorus Bridge Most girls left me on the side lines Some girls left me on the floor One left me by the punch bowl But that ain’t gonna to happen to me no more (‘cause) PC Chorus V3 Step out for fresh air, the cold night air No one will know that we’re not there That look in your eyes, caught me by surprise and that’s when I realize (PC) Chorus 3x Tag Love You True
11.
On the Up and Up - Words & Music: Jonathon Ferris 6/21/2014 V1 I can see your face just a trace of the past It was all that they wrote when the votes were all cast C1 But I’m sure you’ll report There was nothing of that sort It was all on the up and up It was all on the up and up V2 I can tell in the way what you say is a lie What you’re feeling inside try to hide, want to cry C2 But I’m sure you’ll just grin Though it’s a shame and a sin There was nothing on the up and up There was nothing on the up and up Bridge You’re covering the tracks of the ones you adore Selling yourself till you can’t give no more Stop the presses you don’t want to let this erupt It doesn’t matter if it’s not on the up and up V3 The stories on-line don’t align with the signs you’ll drown all the costs what was lost in the brine C3 It’s just a footnote and all that you wrote [it was all on the up and up it was all done on the up and up] repeat 2x
12.
Change in the Air Words: Jonathon Ferris 7/1/2014 Music: Jonathon Ferris 7/2/2014 V1 I woke up this morning, and the day was already hot It seemed to say to me “Can you take what I got?” PC1 Now the sun is down, and the heat is gone It’s summertime so that won’t last long but now that I’ve made it, I think I can make it again Chorus: I can feel a change in the air It’s about to break open I can feel a change in the air A wish for what I’ve been hoping So here I stand with my arms open wide My face to the wind and the stars in my eyes I can feel a change in the air I can feel a change V2 The storm rolled on by and took down some limbs but it’s always the weakest part that’s getting trimmed PC2 I still see the lighting flash in the east The thunder still rolls over me but now that I’ve made it, I think I can make it again Chorus PC3 Change in the seasons, change of the guard Change is a constant, it can be so hard but now that we’ve made it, I think we’ll make it again Chorus Tag
13.
I’ll Meet You Half Way Renee’ - Words & Music: Jonathon Ferris 7/7/2014 V1 Our paths have criss-crossed Many the years long and our meetings are always good but brief and every time we catch up and exchange our thoughts It always seems to be a relief V2 Now here I am up north in the Great Lakes State and you’re below the Mason Dixson line but I know there’ll be a next time let’s not let it fly by and once again we’ll both feel fine Chorus A thousand miles of traffic stand in our way but I’d still drive it all any old day and if you’re willing too that makes it easier to do I’d be glad to meet you half way Renee’ I’d be glad to meet you half way Renee’ V3 Michigan’s not good to you especially in winter I know that up here you would freeze but deep south summers are much too hot for me So how about Nashville in the spring? Chorus 2x Outro ad lib

about

This is the better half of the first half of a year long songwriting challenge Jonathon took part in 2014. As part of the "Polar Vortex Songwriting Challenge" he had to write a new song, record it, and post it on-line... Every Week. Most songs had to include a challenge phrase or word incorporated into the song at some point. The rest were simply an open challenge to write anything.

A limited amount of hard copies (only 35) were made, and now they being made available here exclusively on Bandcamp.

"The first half of the challenge was the more exciting part, it was a fresh, new, exciting, a much needed push in the back to get me in the songwriting groove." It was a hard time thinning down the list to make this first "best of" installment, and a good question might be "what would have been the 14th pick?" Because of this excitement, several songs went from concept to finish product in as little as three hours. This gives the whole project a raw, urgent feel to it. Perhaps in the next year or two (after more of these have been road tested) the list will be further distilled down, rerecorded, and fleshed out into a real fantastic album, but to hear these songs now, in their infancy is a glimpse into a process that is not widely distributed to masses.

Most tracks in the challenge were kept simple: one guitar, one voice. However on some nights when there was more time and the inspiration was flowing, Ferris pushed himself to add more tracks: Electric Guitars, harmony vocals, hand percussion, etc.

credits

released July 1, 2015

Jonathon Ferris did everything on this project, Every-freaking-thing.
All Song Copywrite 2014

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Jonathon Ferris Detroit, Michigan

Americana-Folk put through a great lakes industrial complex filter: you would think Jonathon Ferris did his writing sitting in a coffee shop on the edge of Detroit, looking across the street at an old barn on the verge of collapse. Down to earth, but street smart, a small town boy who loves the big city, he can spot a Packard at 100 yards, and tell you what's growing in that farmers field. ... more

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