We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Before the War

by The Wallings Jr.

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $8 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The physical copy of Before the War comes in a matte digipak, with artwork by Tim Krause Creative.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Before the War via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 USD or more 

     

1.
On the Edge of Morning On the edge of morning you can hear the sun Calling to the farmer, "Arise, your work ain't done. The fields are in waiting, and the cattle they are patient, But the day waits for no one, waits for no one." Before the city sleeps, the moon he cracks a joke, "All you ear budded listeners can't hear past your holy smoke. You're blinded by the neon, instead of living you just dream on. But the day waits for no one, waits for no one." When dusk is at its darkest, the moon and sun they sing A ballad to the masses, a duet of extremes. They say, "Listen, all you peoples, you farmers and city crowds, Live life like it's a gift, and don't sleep in just to wait things out. For the fields are in waiting, and the cattle they are patient, Don't lose yourself in all the neon, or all the things you disagree on, For the day waits for no one, waits for no one."
2.
Take Me Down 04:19
Take Me Down Sunday the preacher said, "What you've gotta do is come and lay your head under the watery blue. With white robes, all who come will be made brand new." So with high hopes and hymn songs The congregation's voices filled the room. Singing Take me down to the river Where all Christians go Running water gonna make me shake and shiver Cause most days I'm feeling worn And I want to be reborn Take me down Lord, take me down Preacher looked around and he said, "Follow me." They went to the edge of town and there came upon a creek. Every child, every man, every mother, every wife, First they'd smile, then they'd stand in line waiting to change their lives. Singing Take me down to the river Where all Christians go Running water gonna make me shake and shiver Cause most days I'm feeling old Give me a water grave where I can lay my soul Take me down Lord, take me down Preacher wiped his brow, and he said, "I'll see you next week." His suit was ruined anyhow, all for the sake of the kingdom of the meak. But each Sunday just off the road the congregation sings their song. They await all of those who do not know it but might choose to sing along. Singing Take me down to the river Where all Christians go Running water gonna make me shake and shiver Cause most days I'm feeling old You know I'd trade away my silver and my gold If you take me down to the river Where all Christians go Running water gonna make me shake and shiver Cause most days I'm feeling worn And I want to be reborn Take me down Lord, take me down
3.
I Knew 04:08
I Knew This crazy world we live in keeps on changing Put something in its place next thing you know it's rearranging It sure seems like nothing stays the same Nothing on this earth I trust Cause nothing remains But I knew long before we ever made a home Before our lives were set in stone I knew, baby, I knew And I knew long before I ever touched your face Before you moved into my place I knew, baby, I knew that I was meant for you Looking in the future there's so little to be sure of I see wars and violence, atrocities and diseases there ain't no cure of It sure seems like something's gotta give I know I'm no expert, after all it's my first life to live But I knew long before I told you how I feel Before you cooked us our first meal I knew, baby, I knew And I knew, long before I kissed you on the mouth Before you ever had to chew me out I knew, baby, I knew I was meant for you It sure seems like you are all I got But when I'm with you, babe, this world it ain't as awful as I thought But I knew long before you ever made me cry Before you baked me a rhubarb pie I knew, baby, I knew I knew before I got down on one knee Before your mother made fun of me I knew, baby, I knew that I was meant for you
4.
Hard Fall 04:07
Hard Fall Someone's at your door Throwing their weight around Always wanting more Than they can carry out Everything they see is for the taking now When you come upon the scene Oh I bet you are shaking now shaking now And it's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall From Eden's tree down to your knees They come in through the back And force the window wide Leave a handprint on your back Shadows never lie They take what they need They take what they want to But after they leave Oh their presence it'll haunt you haunt you And it's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall From Eden's tree down to your knees Well you're always wanting more Yeah you're always wanting more You're always wanting more Yeah you're always wanting more And it's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall From Eden's tree Yeah it's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall It's a hard hard fall From Eden's tree down to your knees
5.
Remember Me Kind Remember me kind in the days to come I go to fight to defend my home The battle don't care for no kin The front lines don't care for no wife If we should ne'er meet again I pray you'll remember me kind Remember me kind when the sun is at mast Golden days gone by will the next be our last The road I march with these men I fear brings a cold finish line If you should hear news of my end I pray you'll remember me kind Remember me kind when your eyes won't close All will be made right when God's trumpet blows When the blood in your veins runs thin And moonlight brings no peace of mind My lord will return but till then I pray you'll remember me kind
6.
Revelation 23 Hallelujah to the end of the age What's it to ya if we're missing a page Somebody must've ripped it out Revelation chapter twenty three And then in some sacred collision the vision was passed back down to me I saw some listened to the mystics and the post-apocalyptic musings of the preachers and their flocks. They’d mark the day in red, visions of crowns upon their heads and claim you cannot fight the ticking of the clock. But even the good book says he’s coming like a thief in the night. Place your belief upon a thief and I’m thinking you’re off one cross to the right. But they say if war is at your door and the moon is high, you might as well leave on the light. They were singing Hallelujah to the end of the age. What’s it to ya if we’re setting the stage? They say he’s coming either way, whether it will be this day or not. And I do not disagree, but his coming will be different than they thought. I saw some whispered silent prayers like sonic siren flares to light up heaven’s telephone lines. With a million callers waiting and the angels all debating, almost everyone was left standing by. And for an endless age, all of them were left on hold. Seven telephones rang along the seven streets of gold, but no one answered they were busy making merry with the prodigal. They were singing Hallelujah to the end of the age I never knew you worked for minimum wage. That was only after he lost everything and learned a hard lesson first That he’d rather be a slave to a man than to a pig’s hunger and thirst. I saw some heard the ringing bells and though instead to raise some hell Most of them were well behaved kin. So church-bred goody-two-shoes who thought they had nothing to lose reveled in some last minute sin. They drank and they cursed, they smoked whatever they could steal. They broke into the church, they feasted on the holy meal. And they laid without discretion ‘neath the pews just to see how it would feel. They were singing Hallelujah to the end of the world. It’s quite a party we threw ya look at all these girls. But with the burden of the law upon their shoulders, their heads hung low. And I watched them breathe in all the seething sorrow they could not let go. When I woke up from my dream, people asked me what I’d seen. I said that it was hard to describe. I said I cannot tell you how, but one day we all will bow. Every nation every tribe. And we’ll sing holy holy holy is the Lord for he paid a debt I could not afford. But his pockets never empty so I know he’s got plenty more. With cattle on a thousand hills just imagine all the barbecue in store. We’ll be singing Hallelujah to the end of the age. Praise the holy father, his holy grace Hallelujah to the end of the earth Praise the second coming, the second birth Yeah we’ll sing that song forever and ever and ever more Oh we’ll sing because angelic vocal chords never get sore We’ll be singing Hallelujah to the end of the age
7.
Run Back Home Mama never needed to know She doesn't need to know now Why should I care It seems everywhere that go I end up kicked around Well I wish you were dead And I wish I was too I know that I am sick of the lies But I ain't well enough for the truth So I'll run I'll run back home to the place where I belong Where the wild wind howls at night A sacred song for the cold moonlight Every now and again When it slows down to rain I tell myself that you overcame hell And can hardly remember the pain But I guess you were right Right about everything If I am the kid who regrets what he did Then I guess you're the son of a king So I'll run I'll run back home to the place where I belong Where the wild wind howls at night A sacred song for the cold moonlight Where the wild wind howls at night A sacred song for the cold moonlight
8.
Atlas 04:41
Atlas Atlas I toiled four score and seven long years with the hymns of my family plugging my ears To keep out the beating of their bodies like drums I finally escaped on a submarine train My legs were the wheels, my lungs were the flames that burned with all I ran from When at last I felt safe and let down my guard That’s when they came and chased me down hard and shipped me off to the war They gave me a gun and another man’s boots and they said to me, “Son, welcome to the troops.” All the tools to fight. Sent me swimming for the shore. This world on my shoulders is getting heavy. I’m getting older. I heard the mortar shell screams, and when they finally fell I carried the wounded through heaven and hell and laid them in white cotton graves. And in the morning that followed, the blood and the dust was so thick on my hands, a second earth’s crust that cracked but refused to wash away. So across the great deep I sailed like a song floating over the airways, starboard and strong until I reached the east coast. And in that ripe rotten city, that brown apple core they gave me a bite as my hero’s reward, but an honest wage was all I hungered for. This world on my shoulders is getting heavy. I’m getting older. So I worked with my hands the tools of the earth, and I knew my wife well, and soon she gave birth to a child we both would raise. Now I hide from my boy all the things that I’ve done and he carries the void like a cross-bearing son. I can only hope he finds a better way. This world on my shoulders is getting heavy, it's getting colder. This world on my shoulders is getting heavy, and I’m getting older.
9.
Before the War I want to sing you something that you never heard before Something you can’t buy in a record store I want to sing a song that will make you proud The kind of tune you can’t live without I want a song that will carry you home a song that will carry you home Before the war brought you all them rebel songs you had only ballads and hymns Before men were fighting you had nothing worth fighting for Now at least you have something to fight against The day that you were leaving I asked if you were sure You told me that you heard it all before
You turned away and walked toward the gate I called your name but it was too late And I prayed one day you’d come home I prayed someday you’d make it home Before the war brought you all them rebel songs you had only ballads and hymns Before men were fighting you had nothing worth fighting for Now at least you have something to fight against Then one day the doorbell rang It was a postman with a box of your things And I cried for all you never heard Telegram with your dying words said, “You cannot let yourself be defined by the wars other men choose to fight.” Let this song carry you home. Let this song carry you home. Before the war brought you all them rebel songs you had only ballads and hymns Before men were fighting you had nothing worth fighting for Now at least you have something to fight against
10.
Can't Chase Me Away It's been a quiet week You been keeping to yourself And all the words you don't speak I repeat them to myself You can call me what you like Spit in my face, leave our bed and drive all night But you can't chase me away No no no you can't chase me away After all these years I know how you work Who said joy was free of tears Or getting what you want won't get you hurt? You can call me what you like Spit in my face, leave our bed and drive all night But you can't chase me away No no no you can't chase me away A ring is just a band of gold That you wear on your hand But to have and to hold Those are words that I understand You can call me what you like Spit in my face, leave our bed and drive all night You can call me what you want Say it to my face I will be the house you haunt But you can't chase me away No no no you can't chase me away
11.
Taste for the Blood Davey was about thirteen first time he killed himself a living thing He crossed paths with a black bear in the woods Davey was pretty scared but his aim was good As he heard the creature cry it fell with a thud Rain began to fall and he watched the dirt turn to mud And he got a taste for the blood Davey always heard his brothers tell Bout the bully down the street who gave ‘em hell They said he was a tall as a full grown evergreen But Davey wasn’t scared of no Christmas tree Momma always warned about stick and stones and words And this bully hollered words and he swung a sharpened stick But Davey brought some rocks and a striped sling shot sock He slung it like a stone but it landed like a brick And he got a taste for the blood If there’s a trigger let him pull it Load the chamber with six silver bullets Cause he’s got a taste for the blood He’s got a taste for the blood He’s got a taste for the blood Davey saw the girl up on the roof, looking soft and slender in her youth She looked just like an angel, the kind that don’t need wings No blemish on her body except the ring Momma always warmed about girls that you might meet Especially those girls who belong to other men But her man was in the war, so Davey he made sure That there upon the front lines he’d meet his end And he got a taste for the blood If there’s a trigger let him pull it Load the chamber with six silver bullets If there’s a sword let him swing it If there’s a naked neck, let him ring it. Cause he’s got a taste for the blood He’s got a taste for the blood He’s got a taste for the blood
12.
Last and All 03:33
Last and All Better for the fights I lost Healthy for the meals I missed Richer for paying the cost Speechless for the letters writ Last and all war is over Last and all I’m headed home Let the rifle fall from my weary shoulder War is over I’m headed home Younger for the years I fought Wiser for the questions asked Bolder for the wrath they wrought Freer for slaving through the task Last and all war is over Last and all I’m headed home So if you call, don’t call me a soldier War is over I’m headed home The boys are in the basement And they’re striking out a song Home is so close I can taste it Come on, boys, now sing along Last and all war is over Last and all I’m headed home Let the rifle fall from my weary shoulder War is over I’m headed home So if you call, don’t call me a soldier War is over I’m headed home

about

Before the War is the debut full-length album from the Wallings Jr. Comprised of husband and wife Taylor and Courtney Walling, the duo has previously released homespun recordings in friends' apartments and afternoon one-offs in studios. Partnering for the first time with producer Vince Emmett, and recorded at Melody Hill Studios south of Nashville, TN, Taylor and Courtney have created their first concept album.

Before the War is a collection of songs inspired in part by letters written to and from civil war soldiers and their families and loved ones. As a whole, the album grapples with peace, war, violence, faith, and love.

Throughout the album, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of young men headed off to war, of river baptisms, of lovers torn apart, of apocalyptic visions, of lives warped by violence, and ultimately of the joy of going home and reclaiming your identity. Fittingly, the final track Last and All finishes with, "If you call, don't call me a soldier. Just call my name when I come home."

Hear more about the album's writing and production at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSOfPYBiLMY&feature=youtu.be

credits

released November 19, 2013

All songs written by The Wallings Jr.
Produced by Vince Emmett
Engineered by Steve Winiarski
Recorded at Melody Hill Studios
Album art and Design by Tim Krause Creative
Photo Credit: Red White and Green Photography

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Wallings Jr. Fort Worth, Texas

contact / help

Contact The Wallings Jr.

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like The Wallings Jr., you may also like: