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Tales From A Drifter

by Joey Alpha

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  • This package will include:
    CD
    Tales From A Drifter Book (With Lyrics and Stories)
    Handmade Keychain
    Button
    Bandana
    Sticker

    Includes unlimited streaming of Tales From A Drifter via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

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1.
Another story coming straight from the drifter, Never told anyone not even a whisper. Down and out the dirt was thicker than his whiskers, The more the sun burned the crispier his blisters. He walked around without a place to be in mind, If you’ve ever walked the streets than I know you’ve seen his kind. Were you kind? Or did you pass him by? That’s another story well at least I hope you tried. He walks and he walks and he never moves a step, He talks and he talks but he never speaks a breath. He walks and he walks and he never goes away, He talks and he talks but he has nothing to say. Anyway this drifter found himself a road dog, He’s twice his age from his looks he’s rode the road hard. His violent rage, don’t be shook he’s trying to show off, Despite his ways I know we’re straight because we’re both lost. Sleeping in parks instead of creeping with the sharks After dark is when they make their move, so its time to start. They think they’re smart, but nothing is their part, As they walk alone at night they will both be torn apart. He walks and he walks and he never moves a step, He talks and he talks but he never speaks a breath. He walks and he walks and he never goes away, He talks and he talks but he has nothing to say. Around the corner there he was, another devil with a gun, His road dog disappeared; he had nowhere to run, He had nothing to give, but the blood from his veins As they withdrew it from all the cuts they made in his face, They left him as waste and they rest them just turned away. He got to his feet, still sick from defeat, He noticed that his road dog had been watching from across the street. He paid him no mind, he was not his kind, Mankind what a joke Mankind what a joke I think I’ll leave them all behind. Stumbled around getting weaker in his knees Moving closer to the Red Cross on the building that he sees It’s the hospital that he needs, So he uses what strength he has To make it and be seen But the security guard stops him in his tracks, You can’t come in here when you look like that
2.
The first time we met it was methadone on a Monday morning walking slow; we were sharing a forty the rain was pouring. Stay with me and I will never let you go. Then you pulled me close, we were both on the run. Out on bail, out of state, all we had was each other. Two strays that wouldn’t have it any other way; another day another hustle, wishing I had a jacket to lay across these puddles. So we cuddle, keep ya close, body heat is keeping us alive, the will to survive is amplified with every look in to your eyes. We rolled the dice and let it ride. Roaming wild in the streets we’d never sleep. Into the wild the calls are turning to screams so we evolve through the cycle until we turn back to beasts. To each their own until you’re left alone, no one left to share these dreams so they die with me. Into the wild the calls are turning to screams so we evolve through the cycle until we turn back to beasts. To each their own until you’re left alone, no one left to share these dreams so they die with me. Up and down Central it was motel after motel getting kicked out for the traffic no in-and-outs we knew the drill. We’d still the towels and blankets so if the next one wouldn’t take us in we’d have a place to stay we’d lay together hand in hand. The daylight would come another run the sun is burning our face, we’d need a taste to win the morning battle with the shakes, more and more it starts to take. Not enough so I give mine up it kills me to have to see you this way. Into the wild the calls are turning to screams so we evolve through the cycle until we turn back to beasts. To each their own until you’re left alone, no one left to share these dreams so they die with me. Released by the wild then returned to the streets, lost in all in the fire that’s been burning beneath. It’s impossible to know where to ever go so we close our eyes and hope we fall asleep. Our days were getting longer as the pain was getting stronger, veins collapsing as your asking me to save you from withdrawals. We’re out of tricks and out of treats you need a fix I need to sleep I tried to make you eat you throw it up you’re getting weak. Our days were getting longer as the pain was getting stronger, veins collapsing as your asking me to save you from withdrawals. We’re out of tricks and out of treats you need a fix I need to sleep I tried to make you eat you throw it up you’re getting weak. Into the wild the calls are turning to screams so we evolve through the cycle until we turn back to beasts. To each their own until you’re left alone, no one left to share these dreams so they die with me. Released by the wild then returned to the streets, lost in all in the fire that’s been burning beneath. It’s impossible to know where to ever go so we close our eyes and hope we fall asleep. How long can this go on for, we were fading fast, it was us against the world still believe that we can last. Never gave up hope we had each other we were fine. Together we can cope but hunger’s growing in the lion. The roar was getting loud you asked me how to make it stop. I surrendered everything for a chance to turn it off. Swallowed by exhaustion we were running from ourselves, throwing caution to the wind so we can spin in carousels. Round and round we went getting harder to digest. They found us hypnotized went from guided to possessed. We need a pit stop so the chance is worth the risk. Helpless to suggestion we’re surrounded in its den. Into the wild the calls are turning to screams so we evolve through the cycle until we turn back to beasts. To each their own until you’re left alone, no one left to share these dreams so they die with me. Then came that last we were ever together. She squeezed me so tight told me we were forever. They took you away, hands locked in place you died that night in your cage my heart turned black that day. Into the wild the calls are turning to screams so we evolve through the cycle until we turn back to beasts. To each their own until you’re left alone, no one left to share these dreams so they die with me. Released by the wild then returned to the streets, lost in all in the fire that’s been burning beneath. It’s impossible to know where to ever go so we close our eyes and hope we fall asleep.
3.
One to ya two to ya three to ya fourah a fourah a one two, a one two three four One to ya two to ya three to ya fourah a fourah a one two, a one two three four Recruited by the best, top of my class I passed the test with flying colors. A nuclear tech is the target, where do I sign to begin cuz Im all out of options. Stacking the deck I got lost in the shuffle, juggling days, starting to stumble. If I can withstand the demands from the struggle then maybe I can overcome all my troubles. Getting it out of your system before your exposed, cutting it close. But once I arrive I won’t have a choice but to march a straight line, I know I’ll be fine. The day finally came to jump on that plane please take me away. Committed at last with my eggs in one basket so do nothing drastic if you plan to stretch it out Mr. Fantastic. Giving it all I had, willing to take the flag and take a stand for where we stand, Committed to nautical over land, true diligence under command. Dispensed in desperation to defend our nation from whatever they say we’re facing placing despair in myself only for the promise of wealth. I wanted to live the life of a soldier, to show ya, I want to, I want to be more. I wanted to live the life of a soldier, to show ya, I want to, I want to be more. Be more, be all I want to, I want to be more. Be more, be all I want to, I want to be more. Fell into place, martial law, awake for it all, the days were blurred together walking and talking the same, nauseous from boxing with Rikki to hide all this rage. They want me to change a paradox different ways, conflicting inside of me, staying the same, its not an option, I’m beginning to break, its almost over. Retaining my character causing myself to absorb all their words. They start to make sense, I invest my beliefs that this is the way I’ve been brought here to be; you wanna believe. But just as you feel you’re accepted to something its taken away. So what else is new? I came to improve, so I guess I did do what I enlisted to come here to actually do. (I wanted to live the life of a soldier) Long walk to separation quarters under supervisor’s orders wouldn’t look me in the eye the day he had to say goodbye. Thought he had me on the roster turned out I was an imposter so the uniform was torn right off my body. I tried to plea my case, told them I had made mistakes but now I’m ready for a change, I’ve grown so much these last few days. It didn’t matter they had heard it all before but I think it would be different if this was during war. Giving it all I had, willing to take the flag and take a stand for where we stand, Committed to nautical over land, true diligence under command. Dispensed in desperation to defend our nation from whatever they say we’re facing placing despair in myself only for the promise of wealth. (Givin it all I had willing to take the flag and take a stand)
4.
5.
Let’s start from the end, yup he’s dead. What’s wrong don’t want to hear the rest of my song, Come on! It’s a simple tale of trial and error, I’ll try to entertain ya I’ve been known for being clever-whatever. His name was Remi and hers was Rainey, the best of friends since they were in training pants-pants. I think they call ‘em Pullups, they’d play and dance they just love to act foolish. And as they grew, so did their friendship separate worlds and attitudes, they never knew. He became afraid that she would go away and leave him here one day, what would he do? He called her up and in his pimpest voice, the words he spoke in were of the pimpest choice. Yo girlie what’s good? We should hang sometime. Like Sugar Bear he loved to talk in rhymes. She replied that’s fine you’ve been in my mind, I’m glad you called we should kick it tonight. Yeah that’s right I knew we were tight. I’m going to the bluff with my friends you wanna ride? Aw shit, he didn’t expect, but what do you think? Of course he said yes! He couldn’t pass it up, a chance to connect with his other half she’ll him and forget about the rest. Tonight he’ll confess the feelings he’d possess. They’ll finally be together like even more than friends. Is this where the story ends? You already know. There’s more to go so just wait until you’re told. And so he went. The bluff was their spot since they both were little kids. They called it home and said that this is where’d they live when they got big and now they are they’ve come this far it’s finally here there’s nothing left to fear. When he got to the bluff Remi knew he messed up. He shouldn’t have come, there was nowhere to run. It was no fair no fun under the gun, he stood tall for himself, but it couldn’t be stopped. Dropped to his knees he didn’t beg nor plead, he accepted his fate like he knew his destiny. Death and he were meeting so violently that she couldn’t even stop it. Why Rainey save me? The last words were those over the cliff he would go. The others were laughing. No one will know. He’s not one of us he’s a mistake he’s a punk. Rainey was frozen she’d abused his trust. Why’d they attack she wanted to ask but didn’t have the courage she’d abandoned her half. He needed her then, she wanted him now. Still stuck in her tracks she slowly opened her mouth. What have you done, I mean what have I done? I didn’t know this would happen, how could I have been so dumb? Remi can’t be gone, my love is too strong. What the fuck is wrong? Why can’t we all get along? I’m coming with you, I can’t live without you. That’s all that she wanted but now that it’s too little too late she’s feeling with hate, there’s no escape, he slipped through her fingers, it can’t be yesterday. Their love was true. It’s too bad they never got to see it through. She never knew he wanted her she needed him they both were incomplete he went to sleep with the thought that she didn’t even care enough to scream. That’s the way that it ends he died alone with no friends she would never forget even though she forgave the others, never turning them in. She couldn’t be alone so instead she just never left home. Her heart couldn’t love it just beat and pumped blood. Into the darkness too much to overcome, she sleeps and she waits thinking he’ll be in her dreams. She lays wide awaks still hearing his screams. So be true to love, or lie dead to hate, let’s all rise above, before it’s too late. So be true to love, or lie dead to hate, let’s all rise above, before it’s too late. So be true to love, or lie dead to hate, let’s all rise above, before it’s too late…………….
6.
Swallowed in the feast of life, always following the sounds of the beat that will keep you alive inside. Blackheart Owen slowly growing knowing it can never open again, our hollow soul is broken in. Choking in all the promises lost, understanding opportunity should always counterbalance the cost. It will all come out in the wash. But when it stains then it remains inside your blood until you hang from a cross. Overshadowed by the shadow that was cast before I had a chance to ever know how long it really lasts. Containing all my secrets underneath this heavy mask has me laughing on the outside with self-doubt about my past. I know its not preferred but it has to work for now, I used what strength I had to make it seem all right because I’m proud. Adapted to disaster can’t pretend to have the answer when the question wasn’t asked; turned the circus on the ringmaster. All of us are adapting to disaster as we dream of living without masters. Though we’ll fall, we’re learning to run faster. All in all. Born on the day of the dead forever torn by the way the story told by the world was sworn to him. Devoted passion to the cause without knowing what it was, it pulled at his strings until they popped off his guitar. Smarter for it all, but none the better, can’t enjoy the sunny weather when the clouds are stuck together in his heart. Dramatic depart from what it is, taken over by the subtle differences of what it means to forgive. Every time you take that chance it doesn’t last, so sick of this ridiculous ritual that we break in half. But it seems to help with keeping track of who to tell, choose your battles well because with every fight you sacrifice yourself. All of us are adapting to disaster as we dream of living without masters. Though we’ll fall, we’re learning to run faster. All in all. All of us are adapting to disaster as we dream of living without masters. Though we’ll fall, we’re learning to run faster. All in all.
7.
Left the house again its gonna be a long night Can’t look back now I’m already free falling in a swan dive Wrong guy, right place, can’t seem to learn from my mistakes Finding comfort in my chaos hide and seek let’s play the game. Its not as simple as life, its not as easy as death, Its intertwining lines between what really makes us exist Escaping mundane while engaging in bliss, all it takes is a kiss That’s my invitation to the abyss. Our whole life here is a nightmare; we’re infected by the virus Occupied us taking over all our wills to survive. Have to fight before it rises, its alive and deep inside us Let’s escape before too late I feel it taking my life. Our whole life here is a nightmare; we’re infected by the virus Occupied us taking over all our wills to survive. Have to fight before it rises, its alive and deep inside us Let’s escape before too late I feel it taking my life. Only 3 steps left ahead of being dead, Decide which way Each day I play with fortune’s fate will turn in to a torture maze. I need it faster or I’m sick, both sides are burning candlesticks. Can I quit; escape the dill I’m pickling inside my skin? Neck deep deceit decides who gets to eat despite their desperate pleas From hungry thieves who know their place let’s see how they will feed. It’s frightening to me what came to be so quickly went from normalcy to savagery without return that’s guaranteed. And you aint never coming back Conflicting sides of the tracks Nobody knows where you at You met your match Stabbed in the back seizures settling my debts, There’s no honor from the parasites that’s sleeping in my bed Underneath their negligence is where I sucked for my last breath, Desolation in the darkness, that’s where we finally met. Destructive dissonance commenced upon my battered bones, Went to hell and back confronted by the tempter with my soul Rediscovered in obscurity secured my ticket home Took this opportunity- escaped before my chance was gone. Our whole life here is a nightmare; we’re infected by the virus Occupied us taking over all our wills to survive. Have to fight before it rises, its alive and deep inside us Let’s escape before too late I feel it taking my life. Our whole life here is a nightmare; we’re infected by the virus Occupied us taking over all our wills to survive. Have to fight before it rises, its alive and deep inside us Let’s escape before too late I feel it taking my life.
8.
Doctor, doctor there must be something that i can take, that can maybe take away the aches and all the pain and help erase these stains that have debased the remains of my brain. My current mind state needs a day-to-day lobotomy, attempted pain diversion trying razor blade phlebotomy. I need a house call doc, what’s your diagnosis? Agoraphobic manic with acute psychosis. And they wonder why I never leave home. Not opposed to contact, I prefer to be alone. Quotes on post it notes are posted all over the walls i feel safe and secure in my abode fit to implode, let it out, explode. Psychological lock picking, i will crack the code open the door, take a step inside me, turn back around lock it up and swallow the key locked out of myself, i tried to turn the knob, but the door’s forever closed, regretful of my exit i stick my fingers down my throat, gag, i couldn’t get it back. You can almost taste the irony, long behold that the key to unlock me is locked deep inside of me I’ve waited for weeks, how much longer will it last? I can feel the key scrape as I wait for it to pass, eventually the skeleton revealed itself at last. There was no key, just a jagged piece of glass a shattered shard of my broken identity, I tossed it along with my wishes in a well because I’m the most screwed up person in the world tell me doctor do you think i can fix myself? You’re gonna lose, so why even try, never learning to live, so I’m waiting to die. Please take me far away this place just makes me scratch scars in my face. Can’t take it lying naked try to fake it, misplaced faith in hatred. Haunts my every move, blood on my costume, too scared to leave the room. Peeping through the blinds so I can find who tries to hide and sneak my mind is fast asleep afraid a sheep is made so please behave the pleas were made and went unanswered. As the cancer grew disaster grew closer to the anger. It sealed our fate we turned our back on danger, stranger things have happened. Asking questions, different answers; does she mean it when she invites you in, another game, a different faceless grin. Growing smaller as we swallow all our pills of life our wills collide. These stupid pillow fights, collectively we can get it right. Wrong again, I must pretend, finding it harder to extend my hand, it’s drier than the sand. The walls of reality are finally closing in. Out of time, but I must remind myself with what will ease denials touch. SO I look at my reflection in my piss puddle, SMILE YOU FUCK!
9.
I knew you existed every night we talked in my dreams, hoping that these nights we shared would somehow come to be. Never seen you in your human suit; it don’t compute how I know you in and out but we still don’t have the proof. Caught the glimpses of your smile hidden deep in self-denial, you save me from myself before I’m taken by the wild. I’d return the favor since I’m made to be your savior but I had to play it safe instead of wasting time with strangers. Hating the impatience that’s consuming situations waiting for the day to waste away so I can finally say it. Screaming at the walls venting all of my frustrations hoping if I keep it up it provides some vindication. Is it just a waste of thought or does it mean a lot? Is it something that I need or just another thing to want? Either way I know I’m gonna try and make it real. There is no excuse to live in fear of something that you feel. Exposing the cracks in our fishbowl, two lost souls going which way the wind blows. Stuck in the undertow everyone is moving slow. See you on the other side look me in the eyes and never let go. Since the first time I met you every second’s been a blessing never second guessing here I am confessing to the best thing that I’ve ever seen. Lay with me forever never needing wedding rings to show the world that we’re together. Ask me if I want you I know you’re haunted by your past. Your exhausted from the cost it took to wash away the mess. Take me by my hand our promised land is in each other you complete my every being we fit each other like a glove. (Yeah) The thought of life without you can’t afford to let you be, tied a cord around your neck you’ll pull my heart out if you leave. The problem is with trust its not you or me it’s us, all these promises mean nothing when you can’t accept my touch. I cut off cupid’s wings its all the stupid things that matter, threw his arrows in our fire the flames that grew destroyed our madness. If fate has brought us closer than its time to play our role. Its not too late to fix the crack that’s growing in our bowl. Disappearing in to the darkness. Reappearing then with a stone in the place where your heart was. I was told to be cautious, but no one ever said that it would be my own conscience. Will it ever stop? Nobody seems to have the answer. It’s devoured my desires I ingested all its cancer. Eating my aorta thought I had it sorted out until the words that I was searching for were falling from my mouth. I hate you please don’t leave I know it seems to contradict, but with everything that’s happened it makes sense for us to quit. We tried and tried again to make our sickness coexist, but these puzzle pieces we’ve been given turned out not to fit. Leaving gaps in our arrangement has estranged us from each other; every time I feel you close I feel just like I’m being smothered; slowing down to pull the roses out from underneath our noses sensing the deception as it blows up our composure. I suppose that this is it, dissonance has settled in. Persistent to resistance there is nothing more to give. Draining our vitality we couldn’t let it go until both of our realities crashed down upon our souls.
10.
God Bless America is what they all sing, in awe of this fairy tale we want to believe, Happy Endings are the norm, every king has his queen, If you want it you can have it, Just don’t cut in front of me. Egocentrism prisons we’re constructing in our children make it possible to vision our eventual conclusion, It’s preventable I tell ya but intelligence has failed the test, got me caught in the Cassandra Complex. I refuse to give it up I’ve come way too far, spent many useless nights communicating only with stars. To start from scratch in all this aftermath to take it back create a plan of attack to save us from this current path. I can make it right just give me your hand, I can change our circumstance if you just give me a chance. I can take us from this place and make it all make sense, so we can finally be together in the land like we were meant. There’s some realness in resilience that can only be revealed once you have suffered through some illness then survived it all to tell us of the trials and the tribulations that you overcame to justify the means to the end of your crusade. Don’t be afraid to play the fool we try to play it cool because our pride will tell us to we’ll never share a thing with you. So the cycle just continues interchanging different issues that we’ll use to shield the truth to aggravate conditions. You think I’m kidding, I fucking wish I was. I wish I never understood the definition of the word disgust, when discussed, I think it turns to a plus. Now everyone can share that same special kind of trust. Just readjust, I made it tighter than its been so all of us assimilate for all of us to take it in to strive in to our lives as we’re united in our fight it’s not survival of the fittest when the fittest are aligned. I refuse to give it up I’ve come way too far, spent many useless nights communicating only with stars. To start from scratch in all this aftermath to take it back create a plan of attack to save us from this current path. I can make it right just give me your hand, I can change our circumstance if you just give me a chance. I can take us from this place and make it all make sense, so we can finally be together in the land like we were meant. Complaining is our way of sustaining, we’re enslaved in our envy, its neverending we’re defending while pretending it’s friendly. Then we’ll justify every lie just to buy ourselves some time to waste on bring hate in to each other’s lives. They drew the lines I erased em turned my blood to wine to feed the starving used my life to plant the seeds within their minds. I hope they’ll thrive, with empathy to emphasize, I hope that everything will come together at the perfect time. It can work this time, it doesn’t hurt to try, It can work this time; the story of my life. I refuse to give it up I’ve come way too far, spent many useless nights communicating only with stars. To start from scratch in all this aftermath to take it back create a plan of attack to save us from this current path. I can make it right just give me your hand, I can change our circumstance if you just give me a chance. I can take us from this place and make it all make sense, so we can finally be together in the land like we were meant. I refuse to give it up I’ve come way too far, I refuse to give it up I’ve come way too far I can make it right just give me your hand, I can make it right just give me a chance.

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released November 8, 2016

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Joey Alpha Austin, Texas

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