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FLARE

by Pat Wictor

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes with complete lyrics, a brief few sentences giving context to each song, and gorgeous design by Leslie Lee.

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 9 Pat Wictor releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of FLARE, Waiting For The Water, Non-album Tracks, counterpoise, This is Absolutely Real:Visions and Versions of Phil Ochs, Living Ever-Lovin' Live, Sunset Waltz, Heaven Is So High...And I'm So Far Down, and 1 more. , and , .

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1.
1. The Devil You Know (P. Wictor) The devil you know, he’s a regular guy Could he be the devil when he meets you on your level And looks you straight in the eye? Says he got nothing to hide The devil you know, he’s a one-man show Knows your every fear, says what you want to hear: That anger is a good that grows Brings you new friends and foes With the devil’s touch, the little changes start to show Don’t you ever notice that faint orange glow From the fires below, creepin’ in your soul? We’re all going down to the crossroads We’re all going down to the crossroads Don’t you get burned, there’s still time to turn From the devil, the devil you know The devil you know, his fine print is the finest Hold on to your wallet cause the numbers are falling and It’s all comin’ up a big minus Sneakin’ up behind us The devil you know, the game that he’s playing He’s a man of his word long as you haven’t heard Most of what he’s been saying The predator, always preying Can’t you feel the beads of sweat pouring off your brow, Like the tears of your better angels now, Praying so hard for you to turn around? We’re all going down to the crossroads We’re all going down to the crossroads Don’t you get burned, there’s still time to turn From the devil, the devil you know The devil you know tells a real good story About us and them and remember when All for the greater glory All the points he’s scoring The devil you know wants to take up your time He ain’t the first, the last, or the worst Of the devils of his kind So don’t you pay him no mind With the devil’s touch, the little changes start to show Don’t you ever notice that faint orange glow From the fires below, creepin’ in your soul? We’re all going down to the crossroads We’re all going down to the crossroads Don’t you get burned, there’s still time to turn from the devil He feels like a friend, and that’s why you bend towards the devil Don’t you get burned, there’s still time to turn From the devil, the devil you know
2.
2. How Will They Tell It? (P. Wictor) When the story of our time is told (How will they tell it?) Will they say that we were brave and bold? (How will they tell it?) Did our conscience stir much too late? (How will they tell it?) Will they say we lived in fear and hate? (How will they tell it?) Aren’t we the ones who write this tale? Were we strong or were we frail? Did we succeed or did we fail? (How will they tell it? How will they tell it?) Will they say that we were just and fair? (How will they tell it?) When the powerless cried out, did we care? (How will they tell Did we greet our neighbors with a smile or frown? (How will they tell it?) Did we let the loudest shout us down? (How will they tell it?) At our children’s children’s children’s birth Will they know that we had put them first? Did we give our best or do our worst? (How will they tell it? How will they tell it?) Will they say that we were kind and wise? (How will they tell it?) Or were we silent in the face of lies? (How will they tell it?) Did we sacrifice for the good of all? (How will they tell it?) Or did we just build fences and more walls? (How will they tell it?) We can work together, or we can fight But we all know which way sheds more light The story now is ours to write (How will they tell it? How will they tell it?)
3.
What If? 03:53
3. What If? (P. Wictor) What if the truth is too bitter to take? And if the story is all fake, but it makes me feel okay? Does it matter anyway? What if a lie holds the sun up in my sky? I look myself right in the eye And say I’m doing fine - Long as the world falls into line What if the story I tell myself is all wrong? What if it’s me, and I can only sing one song? What if I see only what causes me no shame? And the rest I hope will stay Excluded from the frame? Can I bear to take some blame? What if the story I tell myself is all wrong? What if it’s me, and I can only sing one song? What if the story I tell myself is all wrong? What if it’s me, and I can only sing one song?
4.
4. Information War (P. Wictor) Here comes the bullhorn, all that yelling I ain’t buying what they’re selling They want you to believe the truth don’t matter anymore It’s just the latest propaganda in the information war Which way is up? It’s hard to know Why should I trust the one who lies the most? They say we need a strong man to steer the ship to shore It’s just the latest propaganda in the information war What about the truth? Let the record show Someone stood for right, and history will know We tried to set the stage to end the dark age Of the information war Fearful minds, ready to receive Say it enough times, and people will believe Even when they know it isn’t true, they still cheer for more It’s just the latest propaganda in the information war What about the truth? Let the record show Someone stood for right, and history will know We tried to set the stage to end the dark age Of the information war No sword, no shield, but we have to fight Be brave, take heart, keep looking for the light If you see a cloud of smoke that hides the sun outside your door It’s just the latest propaganda in the information war
5.
5. Is It Too Much To Ask? (P. Wictor) I saw the ambulance again outside the school And politicians spouting off again like fools Shouldn’t every child be safe and sound in class? In our America, is it too much to ask? In our America, is it too much to ask? I’m sick of “thoughts and prayers” and “nothing can be done”’s Must we pay for guns with the lives of our young? When will sanity and common sense come back? In our America, is it too much to ask? In our America, is it too much to ask? Some sunny day, our children will play Carefree, cause we came through When they needed us Can we put aside our differences just once? Do we love our children more than we love our guns? Can’t we figure out a better way at last? In our America, is it too much to ask? In our America, is it too much to ask?
6.
6. Days of Decision (Phil Ochs) The shadows of doubt are in many a mind, Lookin' for an answer they're never gonna find, But they'd better decide 'cause they're runnin' out of time, For these are the days of decision. The games of stalling you cannot afford, Dark is the danger that's knocking on the door, And the far-reaching rockets say you can't wait anymore, For these are the days of decision. In the face of the people who know they're gonna win, There's a strength that is greater than the power of the wind, And you can't stand around when the ice is growing thin, For these are the days of decision. I've seen your heads hiding 'neath the blankets of fear, When the paths they are plain and the choices are clear, But with each passing day, boys, the cost is more dear For these are the days of decision. There's many a cross that burns in the night, And the fingers of the fire are pointing as they bite, Oh you can't let the smoke keep on blinding all your sight, For these are the days of decision. Now the mobs of anger are roamin' the street, From the rooftops they are aimin' at the police on the beat, And in city after city you know they will repeat, For these are the days of decision. There's been warnin's of fire, warnin's of flood, Now there is the warnin' of the bullet and the blood, From the three bodies buried in the Mississippi mud, Sayin' these are the days of decision. There's a change in the wind, and a split in the road, You can do what's right or you can do what you are told, And the prize of the victory will belong to the bold, Yes, these are the days of decision.
7.
Mediocre Man 03:57
7. Mediocre Man (P. Wictor) Ya never tell the truth when a lie will do But you can’t hide the truth about you (Mediocre Man) Born on third, you think you hit a triple Now you tell everybody you’re a man of the people (Mediocre Man) Promised ‘em the earth, the moon and the sun Takin’ credit for things you never done (Mediocre Man) You’re a three-dollar bill, you’re the plot gone wrong You’re a silver spooner, Dunning-Krueger, mouthin’ off all day long You’re what the people sing when they forget their song Mediocre man, get thee gone! How is it the people talking dumb as a spoon Always think they’re the smartest ones in the room? (Mediocre Man) Wavin’ your flag, like it’s only for yourself Whippin’ up that fear of everybody else (Mediocre Man) Every problem you fix turns out to be fake Don’t need solutions, just a whole lot of hate (Mediocre Man) You’re a three-dollar bill, you’re the plot gone wrong You’re a silver spooner, Dunning-Krueger, mouthin’ off all day long You’re what the people sing when they forget their song Mediocre man, get thee gone! Every Day your worst, callin’ it your best Spinning every disaster like a great success (Mediocre Man) So you fail and fail all the way to the top betcha think that the music won’t never stop (Mediocre Man) You hide behind your shield of white But everything you done’s gonna come to light (Mediocre Man) You’re a three-dollar bill, you’re the plot gone wrong You’re a silver spooner, Dunning-Krueger, mouthin’ off all day long You’re what the people sing when they forget their song Mediocre man, get thee gone!
8.
8. Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) Señor, señor, can you tell me where we’re headin’? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon? Seems like I been down this way before Is there any truth in that, señor? Señor, señor, do you know where she is hidin’? How long are we gonna be ridin’? How long must I keep my eyes glued to the door? Will there be any comfort there, señor? There’s a wicked wind still blowin’ on that upper deck There’s an iron cross still hangin' down from around her neck There’s a marchin’ band still playin’ in that vacant lot Where she held me in her arms one time and said, “Forget me not” Señor, señor, I can see that painted wagon I can smell the tail of the dragon Can’t stand the suspense anymore Can you tell me who to contact here, señor? Well, the last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeled Was that trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic field A gypsy with a broken flag and a flashing ring Said, “Son, this ain’t a dream no more, it’s the real thing” Señor, señor, you know their hearts are as hard as leather Well, give me a minute, let me get it together I just gotta pick myself up off the floor I’m ready when you are, señor Señor, señor, let’s overturn these tables Disconnect all the cables This place don’t make sense to me no more Can you tell me what we’re waiting for, señor?
9.
9. I Got a Right (P. Wictor) I got a right to be dead wrong In your world, I don’t belong Cause you’ve said so all along I got a right to be dead wrong I got a right to go to hell No, I am under no one’s spell But I ain’t mad, and I wish you well I got a right to go to hell You and me, our wills are free What you believe is not for me So let’s agree to disagree If both of us are to be free I got a right to be damned I ain’t trying to take a stand But you keep tryin’ to force my hand So, I got a right to be damned You and me, our wills are free What you believe is not for me So let’s agree to disagree If both of us are to be free We got a right to be dead wrong Hope we can still get along We’re each singing our own songs We got a right to be dead wrong “The civic norms contained herein are rendered null and void in cases of insurrection, attacks on the constitution and constitutional rights, extreme gerrymandering, sycophantic enthusiasm for foreign autocrats, bad faith, trolling, mindless repetition of disinformation, callous disregard for the truth, bigotry and discrimination. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, check and replace your sources of information immediately. All disagreements held separately.” I got a right to be dead wrong You got a right to be dead wrong We got a right to be dead wrong
10.
10. The Way of the World (Mose Allison) I've heard cries and whispers Like a storm up in the pines Seen fires set up on a house Like angry kudzu vines Seen grown men on their knees But that story's old as time It's just the way of the world I've heard every battle Is the one to end all war Seen thousands fall in line And never know what for And still our greatest fear Is just that knock upon the door It's just the way of the world Is there any difference In the sun that climbs or falls Or in tryin' to get in or out When facin' down a wall? I just know I must get over As somehow must we all It's just the way of the world It's just the way of the world
11.
11. The Past Is Never Over (P. Wictor) America is a choir And each wants to sing their own part Some days, it’s beautiful music Some days, it just falls apart “History is bunk,” said the man And most people just sang along Forgetting the past for a fresh start Free to sing their own songs How to make music that sounds all new When so many songs came before? All we can use is what people do And write a few notes of our own We’re all composers, without having chosen All of the notes in our songs The past is never over The past is never over It’s been here all along To not just repeat what’s been done Composers must know the craft Avoid the mistakes others have made And find new ways of using the past How to make music that sounds all new When so many songs came before? All we can use is what people do And write a few notes of our own We’re all composers, without having chosen All of the notes in our songs The past is never over The past is never over It’s been here all along Oligarchs pulling strings from their office towers (We hear that song, and we heard it before) Klansmen in suits in the capitols of power (We hear that song, and we heard it before) Women fighting once again for basic rights (We hear that song, and we heard it before) Workers fighting once again to unionize (We hear that song, and we heard it before) We’re all composers, without having chosen All of the notes in our songs The past is never over The past is never over It’s been here all along

about

FLARE - A Meditation on Political Division in America

The songs in this concept album pose more questions than answers. (It was almost titled “The Book of Questions” in homage to Neruda’s book of short poems.)

A patriotic impulse gave rise to these original songs and choice of covers. In the long run, democracy and human rights will (probably!) survive in our country. In the short term, it's not looking good, with so many powerful figures trying to profit from making things worse. Solutions sometimes seem a long way off. Maybe questions - real questions that invite conversation, connection, and listening - can be a place to start. Maybe music can play a role too. The future is still ours to write.

credits

released August 31, 2022

All songs by Pat Wictor except "Days of Decision" (Phil Ochs), "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)" (Bob Dylan), and "The Way of the World" (Mose Allison).

Musicians:
PW: vocals, acoustic + electric guitars, lap steel, lap slide, dobro
Deborah Latz: vocals
Gretchen Schultz: vocals
John Conahan: keyboards, organ, piano
Chico Huff: bass
Matt Scarano: drums and percussion

Produced by Pat Wictor
Mixed and Mastered by Glenn Barratt at
Morning Star Studios, East Norriton, PA
Recorded by Glenn Barratt and Dave Schonauer, Morning Star Studios

Graphic Design by Leslie Lee

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Pat Wictor Brooklyn, New York

Grounded in rural blues and gospel traditions, Pat Wictor's lean, poetic songs and expressive guitar playing are seasoned with jazz, pop, improvisational surprise, and philosophy. He first gained attention as an acoustic lap slide guitarist, and a sought-after collaborator and session musician. His evolving projects push his own musical boundaries ever outward ... more

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