Joe Weir (Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, loops, clicks, snaps, whistling) Dave Watkins (Lead Guitars) Nick Romano (Drums on “Secret Exodus”) Mixed by J.P. at Down Below Studios Mastering Engineer: MR BEAT Photos by Angel Z Photography Coach: Jimmie Ousley All songs written by Joseph Weir Facebook Links: Angel Z Photography: https://www.facebook.com/AngelZPhoto/ Joe Weir, Musician: https://www.facebook.com/Joe-Weir-St-Louis-Missouri-Musician-805017486284838/ Dave Watkins' "Dave & Them": https://www.facebook.com/daveandthem/ Deeler: https://www.facebook.com/Deeler227/ Nick Romano's band: https://www.facebook.com/MercuryDescends/ Other Links: Angel Z Photography on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/angel5794/angel-z-photography/ Deeler Homepage: http://www.deeler.rocks/ Thank You: Dave Watkins, Nick Romano, Jimmie Ousley, Ronnie Sansoucie, Jack Drysdale Jr., Angel Zellich, Paul Lewis, Britt Eubanks, Alan & Emily Phelan, Rory & Liz Flynn, Tyler & Alyssa Lewis, Donna & Jim Weir, Andrea Blackthorne, Gerry Piros, Joe Lange, Bill Audrain, Patrick Weir, Michael Weir, my car stereo, 227, the late James Stewart, the late Henry Travers, the late Frank Capra, My Mom, Jean Weir, Logic Pro 9 & X, Audacity, Adobe Audition, Premier Sound Factory, and most of all Jesus Christ. Take Command of your destiny! Additionally I’d like to acknowledge: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart, Deep Purple, The Beatles, Yes, Triumph, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Bowie, Steve Miller, Black Sabbath, Randy Rhoads, Joe Bozzi, Morty Lama, Mak’er, Diver, Deeler, Council of Cynics, Reuben Kincade, My 2 Planets, Pink Floyd, Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Paul Simon, Crowded House, Storm, Deja Thoris, True Thaltazar and Aurora: Influences, good memories and turning points! NEGOTIO INFECTO is Latin for “Unfinished Business” _____________________________ The Lyrics: Dreaming To Be Gone (1985/1992) Satisfaction is implausible as an only goal to look toward If I own stuff and have opinions, maybe then my life will change If we settle with ourselves that we don’t need a thing Is it possible we’d find our depression lessening? One step closer to the grave, walking on and on Pulling strings and stealing souls… Dreaming to be gone Dreaming to be gone Can a man die of loneliness? Well the answer lays with him. Can a man stay a master while a sickness lays within? If we settle with ourselves that we don’t need a thing Is it possible we’d find our depression lessening? One step closer to the grave, walking on and on Pulling strings and stealing souls… Dreaming to be gone Dreaming to be gone Always dreaming silently, though some would dream aloud Never in our wildest dreams could dreaming bring us down Can a child grow to reason if the teacher teaches yearning? Can a world that is turning be still while it is learning? If we settle with ourselves that we don’t need a thing Is it possible we’d find our depression lessening? One step closer to the grave, walking on and on Pulling strings and stealing souls… Dreaming to be gone _____________________________ Secret Exodus (1988) In the provinces of Gondar and Tigray dwelt the Ethiopian Jews A lost tribe of Israel waiting to go home for so many thousands of years Ancient and unchanged the Torah was their all Isaiah foretelling their return Message came throughout the night, spread to some in whispers At last the hour had arrived! They knew it would come but none believed them Exodus – On to freedom! Early 1984 they rose up as one, as their ancestors did before them No Moses to guide them, their journey made alone The water was saved for the children Their patience was strong but their faith was stronger And death was just part of the prophecy Israel and America had made plans to rescue them The prophecy was being fulfilled! So were they called as God retrieved them Exodus – on to freedom! Leaving this place where we are but outcasts, so Yahweh can take us home Talk is of the Promised Land. My son speaks of Jerusalem… “Quiet”, I say. “It’s a secret. No one must know.” Oh, we feel so near / Our ancestors’ joy fills our minds Death leaves his mark all around us, but when we go we’ll leave him behind! The buses arrived at the camps to take their numbers to Khartoum There the planes were waiting and as they climbed the steps they did not look back again Now they are free, free to praise Him! Taste the Promised Land, all its children Secret Exodus _____________________________ Splintered Sojourn (1988/1991) Smiling Sarah sifted through her clothes and chose her dress A simple but sweet girl still so young Somewhere in her solitude she seemed so self-assured But much too soon she’d stepped into a sickened world Her innocence was touched by corruption In her quest to find sanctuary she sacrificed her self-esteem Then sin replaced her silence / So much slipped away Selfishly she stood and screamed! She would make someone pay “Sarah! What have you done?” her mother shouted aloud “I’m being myself”, she cried. In her darkness she was proud Sarah, Sarah… Sixteen going on thirty-five The person that they knew is now the person that you were Splintered Sojourn, her stay was touched by loneliness In her compact mirror you may find you staring back at her Her mother sat alone and cried, she missed her Sarah so Remembering when once she held her baby in her arms But now the sun has risen and set so many times since then Her baby’s grown and chosen the darkness over her She thought of the journey that brought her to this And slowly her heart began to swell with bitterness Then rage replaced her silence / So much slipped away Selfishly she stood and screamed! She would make someone pay “Sarah! What have you done?” her husband shouted aloud “I’m being a Mom”, she cried. In her darkness she was proud Sarah, Sarah… Thirty-five going on sixteen The person that they knew is now the person that you were Splintered Sojourn, her stay was touched by loneliness In her bedroom mirror you may find you staring back at her Sarah, Sarah… Sixty-five going on sixteen The person that they knew is now the person that you were Splintered Sojourn, her stay was touched by loneliness In her eye reflection you may find you staring back! _____________________________ Long Ago Waltz (1987/1988) (Instrumental) _____________________________ Stick Men (1993) The majority of my adult life has been spent on all of you The melody that you cannot make you pounded upon my soul (But it’s just a rhythm!) Get with it! Control your destiny You cannot play with Fate, he’s a spoiled child Your talent is made useless by the failure of your dignity The things you’ve done to me you will never know I remember as a child I wouldn’t draw Stick Men ‘coz I knew there had to be something more / This man who was that child is sick of chasing Stick Men in a search for something to make me complete Several years spent in the dark room, developing a picture of my goal You’ve come & gone, but mostly gone, and with you your pride & your chance of going with us when we go! Get with it! Control your destiny You cannot play with Fate, he’s a spoiled child Your talent is made useless by the failure of your dignity The things you’ve done to me you will never know I remember as a child I wouldn’t draw Stick Men ‘coz I knew there had to be something more / This man who was that child is sick of chasing Stick Men in a search for something to make me complete [DISCLAIMER: I have many drummer friends. This song was written at a particularly stressful time when this subject matter was a clear source of my angst. I don't hate drummers.] _____________________________ Robbery On The High Seas (1987) Under the Jolly Roger we smile as we take, for taking is our way! Maimed for life by battle, an eye-patch & a peg-leg are trophies of black & gray Ask not for your life but for a swift & painless death / Cower from my stare Ne’er to feel the warmth of your homeland again / Aye, landlubbers… beware! Comrades sworn to battle for the right to steal If only just to satisfy the treasure-lust they feel Robbery On The High Seas, Robbery On The High Seas Robbery On The High Seas, Comrades in arms in this dark victory! Fly the Jolly Roger, make them walk the plank! We can laugh and watch them drown Fire the blazing canons! Kill them at the flank! Make their ships go down! Feel my hook upon your face, torture cruel and cold Hear our battle cry! Searching o’er the seven seas for silver & for gold Aye, maytees… Good-bye! Wicked still, but loyal to the cause of greed Pirates bearing weapons make the wealthy bleed! Robbery On The High Seas, Robbery On The High Seas Robbery On The High Seas, Sinning is my living until hell comes for me! Fallen soul hanging by the noose… 1701 No more vessels pillaged / Captain’s time is done History records him as a villain for his deeds Yet still he lives in fairy tales planting demon seeds Robbery On The High Seas, Robbery On The High Seas Robbery On The High Seas, Looting & pillaging to get it all for free! Robbery On The High Seas, Robbery On The High Seas Robbery… Living for… Living by the sword! And a bottle ‘o’ rum! _____________________________ R.I.P. (1987/1988) This place is so cold / The wind whips at my face The chill of this wicked morning locks me in it’s cold embrace The last time I saw you my heart was so clear But your death slaughtered my innocence and in that way you’re still here My mind sees a loving embrace, I grip empty silence Open my eyes only to find no one is there Leaves of the autumn under my step / Tombstone horizons, calmly I crept I have kept walking but now I must rest / Mind’s eye echoes memories I must move on Trying to grow, but my healings are few ‘cause everything I feel always goes back to you / We must grow on now but we’ll meet again Rest In Peace – We’ll never forget! At the time you blended with my blood / running through me, in & out of my world In like a sweet memory filling my soul / Out like an October storm, taking its toll Now the wild, young teenage kids have become melancholy thinkers Ever seeking solitude from that cold autumn wind Eyes like an angel burn in my mind / It’s so hard to just close the book and leave you behind / But still here I dwell, hurting myself / Mind’s eye echoes memories I must move on Images that stab me / A smile in a stare / I reach out to touch you but no one is there A friendship forever to touch eternity / Rest in Peace & pray for me Addendum: The number’s always all around and that’s fine It’s always mine Perhaps I’ll understand it all in time Rest In Peace _____________________________ Pieces (1988/1991) The road won’t be easy, but no one ever said it would The path to freedom is hard, that is understood So take up your arms & prepare to march To the Battle of the Better Way Shadows of a broken past loom over you, so put on the bright light & start again anew Pick up the Pieces of your Life that have scattered & fallen away Don’t be afraid of cutting your hands / Tomorrow can be better than today Your charge on the first wave will be difficult on the road to your recovery Then once the deed is done then the troops will gather & sing a war-time campfire song Shadows of a broken past loom over you, so put on the bright light & start again anew Pick up the Pieces of your Life that have scattered & fallen away Don’t be afraid of cutting your hands / Tomorrow can be better than today Fools will give you fool’s advice so listen to your heart And take up what crosses you bear! Open your eyes & look to the horizon You may find salvation there! _____________________________ The Songs (And Their Stories): Dreaming To Be Gone (1985/1992) I spent a lot of my adolescence either rocking out with my friends Dave & Brad, or playing D&D with them. There really were only a couple of times we tried to write any music of our own. The others are lost to the blur of history, but this one, named “Dreaming To Be Gone” survived in my brain. This song spent a lot of time up in there, beating on the prison bars, shouting to be free. It was pulled out of “mothballs” once or twice in the latter era of the band & performed at metal clubs. I remember rewriting the lyrics at that time. I have an old boom box recording of Deeler playing it live when we opened for the famous KISS tribute band “Strutter” in either ’92 or ’93. Once I heard that, it became alive again & now here it is exploding out of the speakers at the very beginning of the album! It was my goal all along that this album would not start off with surreal or psychedelic long intros like the first two albums did. This time we would burn from the first bar. I love this song because it reminds me for the world of the band Deep Purple, & I love Deep Purple. I also love it because it brings back two different eras of great memories! Plus my old friend Dave Watkins rocks an epic lead guitar solo on it! Secret Exodus (1988) I wrote this song somewhere between late ’87 & mid ’88. It was first performed in summer of ’88, & I don’t think there was ever a Deeler show from then on where it wasn’t on the set list. How it didn’t get chosen for either the 1989 album (“Deeler”) or the 1994 album (“Awakening In Me”) is a mystery that I still fail to comprehend. The drummer of this track is one Nick Romano, formerly of progressive metal band “Mercury Descends”. Nick is an Air Force specialist & pilot who has finished up his like 7th or 8th tour in Afghanistan or something crazy like that. As I write this he is now in Iraq. Nick saw the movie “Craigslist Joe” on Netflix & it inspired him. Lucky for me, the next thing he spotted on Craigslist was me looking for someone to play drums on my album. I was offering money, but Nick wouldn’t take it. If it wasn’t for that, these songs would never have gotten recorded. The lyrics bring before you a profound true story. In 1984 U.S. & Israeli forces swept quietly into Ethiopia & when they left they took with them what is believed to be one of the lost tribes of Israel, the Ethiopian Jews. If you don’t believe me then read the book. It’s called “Secret Exodus” by Claire Safran . I have always loved & been proud of this song. It is the main reason I wanted this album to become a reality. Splintered Sojourn (1988/1991) When I was 20 & in college (the 1st time) I was crazy into theater. I was also crazy into being wacky & eccentric. These elements all came together when I wrote Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” into a stage play. So after I sent it off to the great Yogurt himself & got his blessing, I started holding auditions. That’s when she walked in. I was at once mildly smitten & concerned about the stories she was telling. She was very smart & funny, but her life was a mess. She was only 16, & it struck me as very sad that so much of her innocence was already gone. She had this spooky way of sounding like someone in their 40’s or 50’s when she would talk about herself. Then she’d go back into wacky mode again & brush it off. That experience stuck with me, & has helped me through the years to never forget that there are young people out there living horrendous lives. They could use some help, & their parents are not always the best candidates. What was greatest about her though was that she wasn’t trying out for any of the female roles; she wanted to be Igor! This encounter was the inspiration for “Splintered Sojourn”. Long Ago Waltz (1987/1988) In 1987 I stood in the rain with a microphone, recording a very active storm onto an old TASCAM 4-track recorder. That recording has gotten a lot of traction. We used to use it as an intro to shows. You can hear it at the beginning of our 1st album "Deeler" behind the intro track "Back From The Storm". And now you can hear it here with several of a much-younger me playing a very interesting little baroque-sounding ditty on several Rickenbacker basses. I recently recovered this recording after searching for it for many years, so please enjoy it! Stick Men (1993) If you’re someone who knows me then you might have already guessed by the title what this song is about. Drummers. I spent an entire summer (1989, I believe) auditioning over 50 different “stick men”. It not only wore me out, but it kind of scarred me too. Robbery On The High Seas (1987) Okay, lyrically this song is about PIRATES. That’s it; there’s nothing deeper than that to be found in the lyrics. But the music is still one of my favorites because it tells the story as much as the lyrics do! It actually sounds like a story about pirates! & anyway, what’s wrong with having a song about pirates? It’s an extremely fun song to play & it’s a hoot to listen to! So deep-shmeep! & a bottle ‘o’ rum! R.I.P. (1987/1988) This song is about the deaths of friends, & it was my way of dealing with loss & regret. I was such an energetic, wacky, enjoyable kid before my friends Chrissy & Jay died horribly in a car accident, so very young and so long ago. It affected me so deeply & so profoundly that it’s very much like a different me came home from those funerals. How I managed to somehow write a song about it at all is a wonder. I got stuck on the second verse & my friend Jim helped me write my way out of that part of the song. That was 1987, & the song never got played until 1991. It was only then that I had healed enough to finish the complex music & play it to tell my story of how I had experienced the tragedy. All these years later it still hurts to think of it all, but now I am really glad I was able to hammer out this song because it came out beautifully in the recording. It also sports an exceptional soft-to-screaming lead guitar solo by my old friend Dave, who played the leads on the rest of the album as well. Pieces (1988/1991) I wrote “Pieces” around the same time as “Splintered Sojourn”. I was always adding to both of them a little at a time. I remember it was my way of trying to be positive & lift my head up high in the wake of tragedy. It basically says, I understand that things happen that drag you down to the ground, but you’ve got to get up & soldier on! Later on when the hurting stops you’ll be really glad that you did! Turns out I was right! I thought this was a great song to end the album with, especially coming right on the heels of “R.I.P.”