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The St. John Family Hour

by The St. John Family Hour

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    As this album was being prepared for digital release, my agent Murray told me to include “some extras”. Since he didn’t exactly explain what he meant by “extras”, I threw in a handful of photos and left it at that. Later, following the release he phoned me from his office on the second floor above a taxidermy supply shop where he sits underneath a Miller Lite clock that hangs on the wall by the Snap-On Tool calendar that sways in the breeze every so often from the rotating fan that seems to be always on. He told me that I was supposed to include a PDF booklet. I asked him if that wasn’t something the label was supposed to furnish. He said that the label, Custom Made Records, has a payroll of one, and that one was me. I asked him if we should hire someone to make the PDF booklet and he said there wasn’t the budget for it. Since he was the one who broached the subject of money, I asked him when I might see the checks from the recent gigs I had done. He replied that there unfortunately had been no funds left over after expenses were taken out. I replied that he has been saying the same thing to me every time I have asked since as long as he has been my agent. He said, “Correct!”, and we sat in silence for a bit. Then he told me that I should try to pull the PDF booklet together as soon as possible and that his other line was ringing. I know for a fact he doesn’t have another line having been to his office many times over the years looking for checks, but Murray is Murray so I left it at that.

    So, anyway there is a PDF Booklet and a Video for you in the download.     ... more
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1.
A Big Wide World Full of Everything 02:30
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There's a big billed bird where the trawler's beached There's a smiling moon out where the rockets reached There's a blue road runs where the phones don't ring There's a big wide world full of everything (2x). There's a Chevron sign where the clams are sold The bar is closed and the dance floor's cold The sun sets nightly wearing next to nothing In our big wide world full of everything (2x) There's a flea market made of wagon wheels There's three for five dollars and deals, deals, deals There's one place to go for the melamine buffet There's a big wide world full of everything (2x) Time can't hold us, there's a place of stillness past the turning sky The waitress brings more coffee to us We're halfway there, we're halfway there... There's an old wooden walk out to the midden strand There's deep fried music from a one man band Baby, let's go dancing, would you wear my ring? ' found it in this place that has everything A big wide world full of everything...
2.
Just One More Love Song 01:37
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Your ballads, your blues your folk songs, your grooves Your rock-n-roll, country western can no one ever question Your jazz songs, razzmatazz songs your quarter-to-three songs your novelty songs, your she’s-leavin’-me-songs Your road songs, down home songs your lonesome moan songs Your bar songs, never-went-far-songs Your wish on a star songs Your waltzes, your six-eights Your good ones, your not-so-greats You sing them, leave them to fates to carry them away Your four-four songs, dance floor songs who even needs more songs? Why find one more major key for one more melody? It’s like this, ain’t no one needs one ’til they got none when just one more love song just one more love song when just one more love song is all that you need all that you need, all that you need all that you need
3.
Picture Day 02:15
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PICTURE DAY ©2007 Marlon St. John/Work Song You get dressed up, you strike a pose don’t dirty that shirt, those are brand new cloths comb your hair, smile this way chin up now, it’s picture day Now, don’t you look too surprised camera will catch ya, with half shut eyes the camera man don’t have much to say ‘cept for “smile, it’s picture day” It seems you get just one shot to look your finest, or not so hot whether in color or charcoal gray here it is now, it’s picture day Stand in line, sit up straight don’t fuss around, you’re looking great still as a statue made of clay frozen in time, it’s picture day There I was no more than ten the camera caught me with a crooked grin some things never quite fade away it’s for all time, it’s picture day it’s for all time, it’s picture day
4.
Keep You On My Mind 03:41
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KEEP YOU ON MY MIND ©1995 Marlon St. John/Work Song I keep you on my mind I keep you on my mind I keep you on my mind more and more these days You and your skinny red boots You and your skinny red boots Now, I’m not prone to absolutes but I never fail to surrender That phone booth in St. Paul the phone booth in St. Paul where I placed a call that told me where you’d been told by a mutual friend told by a mutual friend now how does one comprehend such a sudden idea I came across a wall clock in a side street antique shop I came across a wall clock it had your name written all over it Now the time it doesn’t change the hands never worked they stayed where arranged I couldn’t bring myself to toss it away It’s how I keep you on my mind Keep you on my mind I keep you on my mind I keep you on my mind I keep you on my mind more and more these days
5.
Dragonfly 02:29
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DRAGONFLY ©1993 Marlon St. John/Work Song Dragonfly, dragonfly how come you so doggone shy are you afraid to fly so high? you stay close to the water If I had wings upon my back I'd tell you this, now it's a fact I'd fly away not to come back I'd just keep going further Dragonfly, dragonfly I’ve wandered here from paradise my true love’s here somewhere she lies underneath the water I came on through the rushes where a crawdad had his home down there I sunk down in the river’s lair now I’m waiting for the river’s daughter I heard she sleeps upon the riverbed ’til the sunsets fiery red hummingbird above my head will I ever find her? Dragonfly hanging in the air so still while a magpie’s singing to a whippoorwill down in the thorns where the river flows watch the waters ripple and roll Dragonfly, dragonfly won’t you bring me her reply wake her up from where she lies underneath the water Dragonfly, dragonfly how come you so doggone shy are you afraid to fly so high? you stay close to the water
6.
Homemade Pie 03:13
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HOMEMADE PIE ©2004 - Marlon St. John/Work Song Everyone likes a sweetheart saying sweet talk Whispering in their ear when they’re out for a walk The one’s who say they certainly do not Are lying straight at you And everybody likes to laugh and sing brand new babies and a kitten with string ‘tho there’s some folks can’t see eye to eye everybody likes a circus and homemade pie Everybody likes rainbows, new clothes and fun All the world over, nearly everyone Likes to feel like a winner on a winning streak likes to be singled out as something quite unique You may favor Chevy’s, pray to Christ the lord While some folk pray to Allah and tool around in a Ford Take anybody, give them a paid holiday You’ll find they smile all just the same way And everybody likes to laugh and sing brand new babies and a kitten with string ‘tho there’s some folks can’t see eye to eye everybody likes a circus and homemade pie The French all like weekends, the British like tea Some folks shake your hand, some give a kiss on your cheek Some go looking for trouble, some like to lay low Some find friends waiting wherever they go We’ve got our differences, I know it’s true The world’s all tied in a knot that’s hard to undo But laughter in latin and giggling in greek Sounds the same in any language you happen to speak And everybody likes to laugh and sing brand new babies and a kitten with string ‘tho there’s some folks can’t see eye to eye everybody likes a circus and homemade… everybody likes a circus and homemade pie homemade, homemade pie
7.
New and Old 05:18
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NEW AND OLD ©1997 Marlon St. John/Work Song How well we do the same old thing reshaped, remade again and again the future is nothing but expectation laughing behind our backs laughing behind our backs How well we do the same old thing reshaped, remade again and again if not for the knowing it’s all so new ‘could well be yesterday ‘cloud well be yesterday In the beginning there never was a heaven but it was always for us to do as we must to invent one you and I slowly over time we’ll fashion and furnish we’ll build with our hands until upon completion our very own heaven will hold all the love that can be all the love that can be How well we do the same old thing reshaped, remade again and again piece by piece, made whole of dreams new and old new and old How well we do the same old thing reshaped, remade, reviewed, reglued again and again the future is nothing but expectation laughing behind our backs laughing behind our backs
8.
Who Can Say For Sure 03:57
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WHO CAN SAY FOR SURE ©2001 Marlon St. John/Work Song Who can say for sure… are we temporary or made to endure? Are we creatures of habit or driven by will? Are we moving so rapid or just standing still? Are we part of the sickness or part of the cure? Who can say for sure… Don't you think too ill of me I’m half man and half beast by nature, you see I’m harmless as one who is toothless and old until the balance is upset and then I explode Don't call me 'Dude', son and don't call me 'sir' 'cause who can say for sure… Is she with someone else instead of me? Does she spend her time thinking that I am he? Is that, in fact, who I'm supposed to be? Is it the name that I answer to regularly? Am I drawn by her mystery, or her fetching allure? Who can say for sure Who can say for sure Who can say for sure…
9.
If It Didn't Work Out 03:54
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IF IT DIDN’T WORK OUT ©1992 Marlon St. John/Work Song I’d be burnt down, tornadoed I’d be flooded with rain I’d be a blackened out room where no light ever came I’d be turned over sideways down in the mouth if you ever decided things didn’t work out I’d be a hollowed out statue mistaken for dead living without you there’d be birds in my head I’d fall down in my shadow curse the hard ground if your love I was missing if it didn’t work out I’d be chased by the voices of all my regrets sad as a gambler that’s lost his last bet I’d be shattered like porcelain pieces scattered about if for any reason things didn’t work out You know, Eve in the Garden Helen of Troy they’ve got nothing on you but let me get to the point If I’m lying the lightning will strike me all down I’d be all around done-in if things didn’t work out if it didn’t work out
10.
We Are Standing 03:46
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WE ARE STANDING ©2016 Marlon St. John/Work Song Water coming from the underground dark earth giving all that will abound The Plains were given by the Grandfathers They’re not driven by no conquerors They are standing We are standing We you standing We are standing The easement zoned for utility The deeds are purchased, we’re the mortgagee No where to run to where they’ll let you be To get the fruit sometimes you kill the tree We are standing Are are standing We are standing We are standing Arctic air from where the Fathers sit Breathing out their last of discontent But everything is Creator sent Nothing will last of any government We are standing We are standing We are standing We are standing Brother, sister, Mother Firmament Believe in what you know is permanent Water washes everything to sediment Fire, air, and Earth become revenant We are standing We are standing We are standing We are standing We are standing Are are standing? We are standing We are standing We are standing
11.
Universal Song 03:39
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UNIVERSAL SONG ©2013 Marlon St. John/Work Song There's a Universal Song, it travel's through each and every key It says we're here but not for long, then we're a fading memory We're a fading memory, so stand and raise your eye to the Universal Song, to the standard passing by There's a Universal Song, now come on, don't be shy lend voices clear and strong: "Be-Bop-Lula-Blue-Tail-Fly" "Tell me, What'd I say? A-Well-a-Well-a-Well-a-Lonely-Lonely-Lonely-Me" There's a Universal Song, “”It’s Alright Now”, Ooh, Baby" There's a Chick-a-Chick-a rhythm in the Universal Song Bo Diddley got it right; we sometimes get it wrong Chuck Berry said the same thing in so many words He was hen-pecked for it at the time; fed and left to the Byrds Now, I'm a no-count rural kid like Elvis in his youth He once drove a service truck and, well, I did too Then he found Colonel Parker and the rest was history I wish the good ol' Colonel would somehow run into me There's a mighty river of nickels flows from the Universal Song I'd charge each and every one of you, but it might take too long To take down your information, and get right back to you This song cost me one-buck-fifty; I'll give it free to you There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song There’s a Universal Song
12.
Who Will Come This Way Again 03:19
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WHO WILL COME THIS WAY AGAIN ©2003 Marlon St. John/Work Song Music There’s a light, a sound unheard there’s redemption in the Word ‘though there is no eye or face there is power in the grace There’s forgiveness for the sinner and knowledge of the sin there’s a light we all go into who will come this way again So let us stand and sing the pages of a gospel sent from ages long ago there was a shepherd meant to lead us out of here There’s a mother softly holding a small child her one and only every man must come from sorrow every breath we have we borrow There’s solace for the asking endless life ever lasting there’s a light we all go into who will come this way who will come this way who will come this way again

about

The St. John Family Hour began as an attempt to finish some tracks I had started recording over the years, but never mixed. Once I realized that adding my two daughter’s harmonies to the songs greatly improved them, I began thinking about doing an album’s worth of songs that featured our voices together. We then proceeded to record 30 songs, and there will be subsequent album releases from these sessions. Once we finally got started, it was hard to stop.

Abi and I have been appearing as a duo for the last five years or so, and a couple years ago Ella began joining us onstage for some numbers. A dad/daughter trio seemed like a good idea at the time, and it was fairly easy working up the tunes because both girls knew the songs having heard them over and over their whole lives.

I have been recording sporadically at Gravity Studios for over twenty years with my brother from another aunt, Doug McBride, who had the good sense to marry my wife’s cousin, and the girls love being in the studio with their Uncle Doug tracking tunes. I had not released any of the recordings because I felt the world had plenty of singer-songwriter records and didn’t really need any more. A dad/daughter trio though? That was another thing entirely. That could be something fun. We had a ball pulling these tunes together, and we're looking forward to sharing more with you in the future.

credits

released March 19, 2023

All songs written by Marlon St. John
Produced, mixed and mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios, Chicago, IL
Recorded from August, 2022 to February, 2023
CMR-012023-D ℗2023 Custom Made Records
All photos by Kristine Kuczora with Sceleton Clavis Productions, sceletonclavis.com, except where noted.

Guitars, drums and percussion: Marlon St. John
Basses: Abigail St. John and Doug McBride
Vocals: Abigail St. John, Ella St. John, Marlon St. John, Phil St. John
Fiddle: Rick Veras
Organ: Bruce Breckenfeld

Special thanks to: Ramsey, Minji, Raina, CJ, and all the staff at Gravity Studios, to Josh Sollman, and to Laura for the inspiration.

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Marlon St. John image

Marlon St. John Chicago, Illinois

I'm a Chicago singer-songwriter and part of a dad/daughter trio with Abi and Ella St. John called the St. John Family Hour. They make me sound better than I am, and I make them play with me when they can.

Over the years, I've been told I look like Art Buckwald and sound like Joe Cocker. I've been told I sound like Boxcar Willie. After a while you realize that the audience is always right. ... more

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