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American Still

by Robby Schwartz

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A fully packaged disc featuring the artwork of John Domenico and packaging by Marc Patrick Prescott, the EP package contains the songs "Searching," "Following Orders," "Your Problem Now," "Si Nos Organizamos," and "American Still."

    Includes unlimited streaming of American Still via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Robby Schwartz releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Christmas Fantasy, American Still, You Won't Keep Me Down (EP), and Jonesin' For You. , and , .

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1.
Instrumental
2.
Lovers and dreamers hold hands as they board the last train from Grand Central Hoping to combat the loss; Counting and mourning the cost The land of such progress and trouble and passion and action brought still Refugees stranded outside; Asphyxiated by pride A people divided and scared, Hoping to learn of the cause of this American Still Please do not sleep here read the sign on the storefront in Washington Vacancies filled in the street; Vacant eyes longing for sleep Services lent and forgotten by powers that are American Still The church basement walls, both stronghold and prison to the family A home base, a shelter for night; A place to prepare for the fight To give them a chance at a life that might be American Still A billboard once bright and inspiring now faded to grey The red and the blue gone away; The words, yes we can, fight to stay Mounted through tempests and trials that are American Still A corner once empty now serves as a neighborhood meeting place A woman preaches love, not spite; The minds and the hearts reunite As people realize the path forward that is American Still
3.
Searching 04:05
I am searching for the questions to the answers that are shouted in my face I am wondering if there is anything that anyone can do to save the human race I know everybody’s got something to say // and no one’s gonna listen to it anyway… But I’m tired. When I wake up in the morning sometimes the world feels like too much, and I can’t even start. And I’m angry. When I draw the curtains back from my window, I see so much pain it Pierces my heart. It all feels so pedestrian, just another day. But I’m screaming inside, with nothing actually to say And I am floating, falling, flying through time, with another tear drop blurring the line between Presidents and pigs, priorities and sins; and I wonder if we’ll ever feel whole If I could only find an answer in my soul I am screaming at the void which answers, “sorry but the real estate is full” While I was waiting for the rapture but it passed, I didn’t even feel the pull So I keep my place on earth below the sky, and the voices in my head keep asking why… Do you feel me? Do the things I feel touch something in your chest, make you wanna sing and fight and get on up? Am I crazy? For thinking there is anybody out there feeling like they’re screaming and stuck in the same old rut? As politicians prevaricate, collecting the bills. Emptying the moral bank, it’s gonna get us killed. And I am floating, falling, flying through time, with another tear drop blurring the line between Presidents and pigs, priorities and sins; and I wonder if we’ll ever feel whole If I could only find an answer in my soul I can’t take it anymore, my tears are running dry, my words are gonna fly Straight from my heart into your ears, we’ll guard each other’s fears and try. And I am floating, falling, flying through time, with another tear drop blurring the line between Presidents and pigs, priorities and sins; and I wonder if we’ll ever feel whole If I could only find an answer in my soul.
4.
Instrumental
5.
Instrumental
6.
Intermixed 05:27
7.
Well boomers like to drill, and boomers like to f*ck Boomers did enough of each to blame it all on luck The changing of the earth’s behavior, guided by their green eyed savior That’s just too bad for the fishes and the ducks But I need oil for my power they say, and space to build the rig. So they blow away the flora and the fauna as they dig They cry “money, money, money, money” and to the bees it’s just “sorry, honey” And the billions surviving on what they kill better find another gig They said don’t worry, I’ll be gone long before the day breaks When the sunlight hits you won’t recognize a thing This old world that you know, would’ve liked to stay and watch it grow, But that’s just more time than catastrophes allow Sorry son, it’s your problem now And even if a little bit is caused by what we do It’s gonna happen anyways, the ocean’s still as blue It’s black and white, there’s no more gray, but still they slash the EPA And until they become fossil fuels, they ignore what’s clearly true They said don’t worry, I’ll be gone long before the day breaks When the sunlight hits you won’t recognize a thing This old world that you know, would’ve liked to stay and watch it grow, But that’s just more time than catastrophes allow Sorry son, it’s your problem now Do they see the seasons shifting, or the storms get worse and worse? Would it help if all the extinct species each got a separate hearse? As the fires get far more frequent, they pillage planet earth The time is now, fight for your right to a living planet just by birth. And now some change their minds and admit that’s now’s the time To finally act or the world will soon be passing The kids are coming, they’re mad as hell, they understand what dollars never tell And the rising water watches us, it’s laughing They said don’t worry, I’ll be gone long before the day breaks When the sunlight hits you won’t recognize a thing This old world that you know, would’ve liked to stay and watch it grow, But that’s just more time than catastrophes allow Sorry son, it’s your problem now
8.
A ticket. A parking violation on a hot day, just a minute too long for the meter maid And she just keeps writing that ticket, nothing you can do to kick it Just following orders, nothing to be done, that’s the way of the world son Just following orders. A black man. Doing 55 on a cool night, doesn’t know about his broken tail light Until he’s face down with his hands on his head, prayin to God he don’t end up dead Seems a bit extreme for a broken light, but for your family’s sake, don’t put up a fight Just following orders. What would you do? What would you do? What would you do? Just following orders… A family, waiting in line to get in, barely know the language or the setting Crossed an imaginary line in the sand, looking for safety in a new land But their welcome isn’t open arms, it’s slamming doors and false alarms Just following orders. A soldier. Civilians. Two plus two is four. Just the cost of war Or a button pressed a thousand miles away, you can’t see the faces so it’s easier to say The same refrain across space and time, another day at work, the same old party line Just following orders. Oh, just following orders.. What would you do? What would you do? What would you do? Just following orders… Would you rip a crying infant from her mother’s arms? Would you tear a growing son from his father’s tears? Would you drill a planet desperate just to breathe? Would you tell the ones who need help just to leave? Would you deny someone a way to show their love? Or a way to worship what they think is up above? Will you judge a man by color? Would you spit on Robert Mueller? Does your conscience really matter to a hypocrite mad hatter? Why would you play in his unhinged, delusional game?

about

American Still is a project designed to reflect the beautiful diversity of ideas, people, places, and challenges that create the fabric of America today. The pieces of music in this collection are inspired by many of America’s best qualities: the awesome beauty and humbling scale of the American West, with its majestic peaks, flowing rivers, and vast open spaces; our history of welcoming different cultures and ideas with the understanding that when we organize, the ties that bind us all make us stronger together than we ever could be as individuals; and our desire to leave the world in better condition than we found it, to provide opportunities for success for each and every member of the next generation. However, the music is also inspired by the challenges we face to these qualities: our struggles against those who refuse to take seriously the evidence indicating an impending climate disaster; our mourning and frustration in response to our government’s inability to enact meaningful gun reform legislation, even in the face of mass tragedies; the visceral reminders that all men and women are not treated equally under the law; and alarming increases in unwelcoming, hateful, and divisive rhetoric. This project does not seek to provide answers to the challenges we face; it only acknowledges some of the questions we must ask in order to progress forward. It is a reflection of where we are, where we come from, and where we need to go.

Still: (adj.) motionless, unmoving; up to and including the present time, continuing to be so; (adv.) nevertheless, all the same; (n.) a static image, a deep silence

credits

released April 20, 2020

American Still was written and produced by Robby Schwartz, and engineered by Robby Schwartz and Zack O’Brien. It was mixed by Robby Schwartz and Adam Pietrykowski, and mastered by Peter Denenberg.

Additional Musicians: Lee Altsher-Wood, JC Alza, Hattie Briggs, John Domenico, Chris Finelli, Cara Han, Dongwhan Kim, Krissy Lassiter, Keefe Martin, Samantha Mazzeo, Jordan McLean, Clint Mobley, Zack O'Brien, Louis Pettinelli, Jimmy Stagnitti, Josh Walker

Special Thanks to Adam Pieterykowski, Nicolas Scherzinger, and Rebecca Haviland

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