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about

"Old Jack" is the story of a vagrant who travels through a small town, spreading his ideals and, from certain perspectives, stirring up trouble.

lyrics

old jack rolling across the town
hanging on with his hair let down
and his beard all as tangled as a mullberry tree
and his old hat, once red, faded almost to brown
but he wears it as if it were a crown
Nobody's ever quite sure if he's searching for something

and all the children say...
jack is it true that we're nothing like you
that since the age of 9 you've been travelling through
you've seen california, wisconsin and texas, and mexico
he says I don't know what you heard but we're all just like birds
though some may use whistles and some may use words
if you really want freedom you can be as free as me

dada da da da...

by the old trestle bridge where the gorge is steep and high
and the river runs fast and wide
there's a tarnished tin pot filled with coffee
When the boxcar slows down and nightime is soon to arrive
Old Jack makes the leap to outside
where rests til the first days of dawning

and all the bulls say
where did he go is he out there tonight
the ashes always are warm when we find his campsite
The only thing that he leaves behind in each town that he passes through
are the stories and tunes, the words that he sings
with his out of tune banjo and his old rusty strings
if you really want freedom you can be as free as me

dada da da da...

Well papa papa the owner of the mill
says we'll work until we get our fill
and the workers will work til the workday is done
well papa papa says jack isn't quite what he seems
he's a pied piper, a scoundrel and a fiend
No papa don't like the words that he sung

well papa says he can't take any more
so papa where you going with a 2x4
taking a walk down the railroad track
says it won't be long until he comes back

the very next morning, clear as day
a bit of brownish red in the watery grave
if you really want freedom you can be as free as me

dada da da da...

credits

from Old Jack / Fences and Laws, released June 30, 2023
Music and lyrics by Casey Seem

Casey Seem: lead vocals, fiddle
Elliot Walsh: acoustic guitar, mandolin, production
Justin Moyer: flugelhorn, backing vocals
Pax Logiodice: washboard
Phineas Potter: banjo, piano, melodica, backing vocals
Theodore Whiteman: bass, backing vocals

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Tall Travis Burlington, Vermont

We sing about our feelings but we do actually want to overthrow the government

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