Counterfeit Salvation
ZoDog Records
2016
John’s newest recording done in 2016. Subterranean Americana. A wide range of styles and influences. After a long layoff from writing and recording, this record has John treading on some new musical turf.
Musicians on this recording and a few of their career credits:
John Bunzow: Co-Producer, Vocals and Guitars.
Brad Jones: Co-producer, Bass and Arranger (Hayes Carll, Ron Sexsmith, Allison Moorer).
John Jackson: Guitars (Bob Dylan, Shelby Lynne).
Pat McLaughlin: Guitars (John Prine).
Dan Dugmore: Lap and Pedal Steel Guitars (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Glenn Frey).
Paul Griffith: Drums (Pat McLaughlin, Kevin Gordon).
Derek Mixon: Drums and Percussion (Chris Stapleton).
Fred Eltringham: Drums and Percussion (Sheryl Crow, Wallflowers).
Jim Hoke: Horns (NRBQ).
Avery Bright: Strings (Ray Price).
Jimmy Hall: Background Vocals and Harp (Jeff Beck, Wet Willie).
Recorded at Alex The Great Studios, Nashville, TN
(John Bunzow)
I know why you call me
Around midnite
I know why you do that
It’s just your mean streak
Twistin’ the dagger
You stuck into my back
There in the background
The DJ is playin’
A bro country song I can’t stand
Your small minded friends
Shootin’ tequila
Pretendin’ their bullshit matters
You dosse doe
Spin around in your red dress
Till everyone is in a trance
Hypnotized by this debutante cowgirl
They fall for you with just one glance
They’ll learn ‘bout your mean streak
Twistin’ the dagger
You’ll stick into some guy’s back
There in the background the DJ is playin’
A rap song I can’t stand
Your small minded friends
Shootin’ tequila
Pretendin’ their bullshit matters
They’ll get tired of your same old song and dance
That vinyl keeps on spinnin’
It never ends
Over and over
Again and again and again
It’s just your mean streak
Twistin’ the dagger
You’ll stick into some fools back
There in the background the DJ is playin’
A Madonna song I can’t stand
Your small minded friends swillin’ tequila
Pretendin’ their bullshit matters
They’ll get tired of your same old song and dance
They won’t give a damn ‘bout your same old song and dance
(John Bunzow)
Hungover again feelin’ half dead
Run over by a truck you can see the tread
I done spent half of my paycheck
Wonder what crazy things I said
Now I’m singin’ a drunkards lament
Guess it’s time for me to repent
Chorus:
Gonna miss my whiskey
Like my old dog Lester
The Coupe de Ville I wrecked in September
Rosalee the shapely bartender
And a few things I don’t remember
Doctor worried about my consumption
Look like I took a left hook from Mike Tyson
My mind burned out like a cigarette
Mem’ry fried like a Waffle House omelet
Still gotta a stash of California weed
Gonna smoke me a cloud of serenity
Chorus
Gotta cut the juice loose
Or baby gonna leave me
Pissin’ her off is mighty risky
Bein’ dignified ain’t gonna be easy
I’m sure gonna miss my whiskey
Yes I’m sure gonna miss my whiskey
Hung over again
Feelin’ half dead
(John Bunzow)
Gotta take me a detour
Off Highway 65
Gotta take me a detour
Cause she ain’t far behind
Her ball and chain shackled me to the floor
She nailed shut ev’ry door
I busted loose stole her car
Now she’s greasin’ up her gun for sure
Gotta take me a detour
Off Highway 65
Gotta take me a detour
Cause she ain’t far behind
I might as well be drivin’ a hearse
She’s already diggin’ up dirt
Got me a headstone in the boneyard
Chiseled with an evil curse
Gotta take me a detour
Gotta take me a detour
Off Highway 65
(John Bunzow)
Oh Regina Regina
What’s become of you and me
Oh Regina Regina
Still in my heart and in my dreams
I thought love was never ending
Thought it was for eternity
Then it disappeared
So suddenly
Oh Regina Regina
Come take me by the hand
Oh Regina Regina
Maybe we’ll find what we once had
I thought love was never ending
Thought it was for eternity
Then it disappeared
So suddenly
So many words left unspoken
So many tears I did not see
Till our hearts were broken
But hearts can mend
Love begin again
Help me to believe
To believe
Oh Regina Regina
What’s become of you and me
Oh Regina Regina
Still in my heart and in my dreams
I thought love was never ending
Thought it was for eternity
Then it disappeared so suddenly
(John Bunzow)
I have turned every stone
Walked every mile of this earth
Such a long time searching
For a heart that’s pure
Seems I’d never find love
But it’s happening right now
Ever since you came around
Now every hill that I climb
Ain’t so steep anymore
Each step that I take
So much lighter than before
Travelin’ on this journey
It’s so clear where I am bound
Ever since you came around
So many seasons I’ve seen come
And I’ve seen go
Finally I know what it is I know
Love is all we need
Love is what I’ve found
Ever since you came around
Ever since you came around
(John Bunzow)
This ground beneath my feet
Feels just like quicksand
I’ve fallen in so deep
Now I’m lost in this nowhere land
My heart’s buried beneath the weight
My mind slips into this dark place
Since she’s been gone
I’m sinkin’ like a stone
Into the quicksand
Can’t see no light at all
Gettin’ colder every hour
Tryin’ to crawl out of this hole
Not sure it really matters
My heart’s buried beneath the weight
My mind slips into this dark place
Since she’s been gone
I’m sinkin’ like a stone
Into the quicksand
Wish we could have stayed together somehow
Then she’d be reachin’ out right now
To save this drownin’ man
Sinkin’ down down down down down
Into the quicksand
My heart’s buried beneath the weight
My mind slips into this dark place
Since she’s been gone
I’m sinkin’ like a stone
Into the quicksand
Since she’s been gone
I’m sinkin’ sinkin’ down
Sinkin’ down
Down down down
Down down down
(John Bunzow)
Shiney man on your television
Sellin’ autographed benedictions
A preacher of such conviction
The Las Vegas showroom rendition
Donations spare you from damnation
Counterfeit salvation
The news is bumper sticker quotations
Pretty faces recite dictations
Dumb it down spin the presentation
Advertisers write the narration
Sellin’ instant gratification
Counterfeit salvation
There’s a new drug to help you relax
A pill for weight loss and a bad back
We’ll hook you up with the real smack
Get a taste and you’ll be comin back
Doctors peddlin’ healin’ medications
Counterfeit salvation
Family values your sacred advice
But senator you sure got appetites
Hookers and bag money on the side
You’re a pimp and a whore at the same time
Wall street back door deal maker
Your heart attack a real deal breaker
You can’t bribe no undertaker
Gold coffin ain’t shit to gravediggers
The devil’s got leverage in this situation
He’s gonna get his compensation
He sold it you bought it pay up
Counterfeit salvation
(John Bunzow)
Her angry words
Are like an arrow in flight
There’s a battle goin’ on her mind
She’s got steel armor on
To protect a heart
That’s been broken
Too many times
Well I hope somebody
Helps her understand
Life don’t always go
As you planned
They just happen
Sometimes
So come on out
From your castle of doubt
There’s a lotta life to live out here
Don’t pack no suitcase
Just start walkin’
Your destination is near
I’m gonna help you understand
Life don’t always go
As you planned
They just happen
Sometimes
Sometimes
Tuesday follows Monday
But you don’t care about
So tomorrow never comes
Cause you are only lookin’ back
I’m gonna help you understand
Life don’t always go
As you planned
Those dark days
Drift away
They just happen
Sometimes
Sometimes
So come on out from your castle of doubt
There’s a lotta life to live out
A lotta life to live out here
Lotta life to live out her
Lotta life to live out here
(John Bunzow)
The wrong people steal the headlines
Gossip greed and lies
Pockets full of dirty money
Pile it onto their bottom line
Too much is not enough
Shake you down for one more dime
But the rest of us got a better way of livin’ our lives
The pickpockets are wearin’ silk suits
Makin’ deals in the backroom
Politicians bought and sold
At a bargain price
Everything’s for sale
But they got nothin’ we will buy
Cause the rest of us got a better way of livin’ our lives
This used to be a quiet little town
Wrecking ball came knocked it down
For shiney high rises and boulevards
Leading to downtown Babylon
My Father’s generation
Goodwill and honesty
Not one blink of hesitation
Helping anybody in need
You could see it in their eyes
Wanting the best for you and I
They taught us a better way of livin’ our lives
Now we’ve got a better way of livin’ our lives
(John Bunzow)
Too much money for one man to spend
Too much house where I sleep
Too much champagne in my glass
Too much sugar on my sugar tree
Suddenly
My luck’s been changin’
Now I’m livin’
Way on top
There’s just one thing
That I’m needin’
I wanna have all the love you got
Too much wild imagination
Too much yearning and desire
Too much anticipation
Too much smoke let’s start a fire
Suddenly
My lucks been changin’
Now I’m livin’
Way on top
There’s just one thing
That I’m needin’
I wanna have all the love you got
We belong together
Both of us can tell
Got these feelins’ I never felt
Baby my heart is overwhelmed
I got too much love
To keep to myself
I got too much love
To keep to myself
A little bit of this
A whole lotta that
Come on darlin’ help yourself
I got too much love
To keep to myself
(John Bunzow)
Darlin’ I know I’ve done this before
Wild dogs come howl at my door
I put the devil’s crown on my head
Follow him around until I’m half dead
Drinkin’ poison to quench my thirst
Sure goes down easy at first
Got to unwind this tailspin
And get on home to you
Temptation lures me up to the ledge
Sometimes I slip over the edge
I used to think I could fly
Now I crash land ev’ry time
It sure is a long way down
Till my feet are back on the ground
Got to unwind this tailspin
And get on home to you
Darlin’ please leave the porchlight on
The wild blue yonder is getting’ colder
Baby I’m comin’ back home
Like a hell hound chasin’ his tale
I go round and round the same worn out trail
Movin’ fast as a runaway train
Only cinders and ashes remain
I always run outta track
Before I’m too far gone to get back
Got to unwind this tailspin
And get on home to you
Got to unwind this tailspin
Get on home to you
“John was in Portland and I was in Nashville, so we started working long-distance. Trying to get to know each other and figure these songs out. My first clue to who John is was the 9×12 scuffed up manila envelope that showed up in my actual mailbox (not the virtual one). Inside was a real CD (not an iCloud link), with real songs, and many dog-eared pages torn out of a yellow legal-pad, and in John’s scrawl his personality coming through – funny, insightful, slap-dash, and humble. The record was already feeling real, and we hadn’t even started.”
“And that’s how it went from there – four or five musicians in a room, some just met, playing the way the moment tells them to, getting to know each other through the groove, the way the best musicians do. Without a click track telling them to behave, without a suit in the corner telling them what would sell. From John’s point of view, goddammit he had earned this moment, and was going to enjoy it. And the joy shows, does it not? Just put on the first couple bars of “Detour,” you’ll see what I mean…”
Brad Jones
Producer, Engineer, Musician.
(Hayes Carll, Chuck Prophet)
“It was a pleasure playing guitar on John’s new CD. Authentic and soulful songs. Hope I get to do it again!”
John Jackson
Guitarist
(Bob Dylan, Shelby Lynne)
“At last, new music from my ol’ buddy and it’s just what I would expect! Honest and gritty. John is in fine form from songwriting, singing, playing to producing. A great listen from top to bottom. John continues to make great music!”
Tammy Rogers King
Violin, vocals.
(2015 Grammy winners the Steeldrivers)
