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Joseph Arthur — All The Old Heroes
Album: The Ballad Of Boogie Christ
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1223









Released: 2013
Length: 7:10
Plays (last 30 days): 4
Come over old stranger, let go of your dagger
You stagger and then you are saved
To wander in danger, a babe in the manger
Forgetting mistakes that you've made
Eyes like mine blinking
And endlessly drinking
Letting the warlords inside
Falling like mice into fires of ice
In death we find places to hide

All the old heroes are like children to me now
As I come to burn your shame away
Without knowing exactly how

All the old heroes, young babies without mothers
Left to die on apocalyptic streets
And where are these words from who spoke them before?
Coming down like flashes of heat
I'm never frightened, for death I still welcome
Death I have seen you before
I gave you my keys, my windows, my creeds
But soon I will give you much more

All the old heroes are like children to me now
As I come to burn your shame away
Without knowing exactly how

Love is a fix, a suicide wrist
Blood with an unending flow
To purify lands and soak in the sands
Of places that we'll never go
Jesus come calling
We'll be here and falling
Praying for your hand to show
Catch us in mercy, drink us when thirsty
Each of us falling like snow

All the old heroes are like children to me now
As I come to burn your shame away
Without knowing exactly how

Each one a cathedral
The last junkie needle
Stained glass from blood that is old
And in that cathedral, with the angels of nighttime
Pained in a window so cold
They see through your victims your painful musicians
Playing the saddest of songs
But nobody singing, just a ghost without dreaming
A voice that could right all the wrongs

All the old heroes are like children to me now
As I come to burn your shame away
Without knowing exactly how

Goodbye, sweet diamond the sky in the north wind
Is falling on lepers and snakes
Hello, young mercy, both blessed and thirsty
For solutions to so many mistakes
Without your lover, your tired wonder
The south rain threatens to pour
On skulls like crashing in sunlight basking
Ignoring the strongest of calls

You cannot save them without their consent
Your voice of mercy to them I have sent
You spoke through me
You, a good man
Grew up to listen and give me your hand
Your voice of mercy so strong and so true
It comes out in cascades without residue
Of darkness or lies or doubt or untruth
It's pure like the wind, the rain, and the youth

All the old heroes are like children to you now
As you go to burn their shame away
Without knowing exactly how
All the old heroes are like children to you now
As you go to burn their shame away
Without knowing exactly how
Comments (92)add comment
 Kingsized wrote:


Good for you! Exercising your freedom of choice. Just like Joseph Arthur. 


Right said. RP is no place for 'cancel culture'. 
 jpfueler wrote:

And somehow the masks that won't help you with smoke particles will stop the virus 10 times smaller.

Correct, because the virus is transmitted through the air via tiny moisture droplets, which are filtered by the mask.  It's quite simple, really, no need to frame it as something magic and mysterious by saying "somehow" like it's Palpatine returning from the dead.
 jpfueler wrote:


Still believing everything they put out about it? The Vaccines too?  
The current booster has a higher likelihood to hurt you than the variant it is supposedly for, and the variant is so severe you need to be tested to tell if you have it or not because folks aren't noticing it. This, by the by, is the natural order of most all viruses like this. 
And somehow the masks that won't help you with smoke particles will stop the virus 10 times smaller.

Don't forget to tell us all about adrenochroming and chemtrails, you've still got boxes to check.
 lemmoth wrote:

Must be living in an alternative music listening universe from most of the commenters here.

Find this a quite tasty folk-rock storytelling Dylan like tune. 



This is much better than Dylan.
 jp33442 wrote:
Oh spare me your infowars bullshit



Still believing everything they put out about it? The Vaccines too?  
The current booster has a higher likelihood to hurt you than the variant it is supposedly for, and the variant is so severe you need to be tested to tell if you have it or not because folks aren't noticing it. This, by the by, is the natural order of most all viruses like this. 
And somehow the masks that won't help you with smoke particles will stop the virus 10 times smaller.
Really rather monotonous
 hayduke2 wrote:

hope your having a blast Laz!  Peace : )

Daily News



That would be 'hope you're having a blast, Laz!' ; you're a clown!
torpid
 atomicpunk wrote:



Indeed: How dare he question the one true narrative pushed by corporate media?
Oh spare me your infowars bullshit

The greatest set since quite a while. Started with Pearl Jam and a passable Bordeaux kept it going!
we need negative value to evaluate this type of songs, very very boooring
Politics aside, not bad...I occasionally hear a little Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes in the vocalizations (or maybe it's the other way around since Oberst is junior).
 jp33442 wrote:

After reading what this asshole said about Covid-19, he is unrated and when i hear hus sing again or any other crap by him i i will hit the next button




Indeed: How dare he question the one true narrative pushed by corporate media?
a natural born troubadour
 jp33442 wrote:

After reading what this asshole said about Covid-19, he is unrated and when i hear hus sing again or any other crap by him i i will hit the next button


Because of his doucheness he's an automatic 1.
 Kingsized wrote:


Good for you! Exercising your freedom of choice. Just like Joseph Arthur. 
Read in Wikipedia what he said about fauci

 jp33442 wrote:

After reading what this asshole said about Covid-19, he is unrated and when i hear hus sing again or any other crap by him i i will hit the next button



Good for you! Exercising your freedom of choice. Just like Joseph Arthur. 
After reading what this asshole said about Covid-19, he is unrated and when i hear hus sing again or any other crap by him i i will hit the next button
 lemmoth wrote:

Must be living in an alternative music listening universe from most of the commenters here.

Find this a quite tasty folk-rock storytelling Dylan like tune. 



Almost like a hi-rez photo.  
 hayduke2 wrote:



Daily News



 "YOU'RE FIRED!"


The last module that he passed in his creative writing class seems to have 'similies'.
 yippee wrote:
i like it
 
what is it?
7 -> 8.  Really digging this one today.
i like it
Visions abide
Will it ever end?! Haha!
First time I heard it and thought it was ok.  Came in mid-way through song so did a YouTube of it:  like it or hate it, rather fun to watch the video and test your recall.

 
Like this tun a lot for about 2 minutes, then not so much.  Way too long
Make it stop! PSD time...
 ScottN wrote:
His music can't seem to overcome the negative reaction to his previous, and horrid, album cover.
Thanks again RP for PSD.
 
I'm not a big fan of this guy, but I don't remember any of his albums having "horrid" covers.  Maybe you're thinking of Joe Henry.
 lemmoth wrote:
Must be living in an alternative music listening universe from most of the commenters here.

Find this a quite tasty folk-rock storytelling Dylan like tune. 

 
I'm with you. Love this song. 
Must be living in an alternative music listening universe from most of the commenters here.

Find this a quite tasty folk-rock storytelling Dylan like tune. 
 joelbb wrote:

Why do you play this so much?  It's MacArthur Park for the 21st century.  These utterly banal lyrics go on forever:  somebody just kill me now.  In solidarity w/ my man Majestic, I'm dropping this to sucko-barfo.  BTW, I chose "not at all" rather than lowering myself to peerage w/ this blowhard in my travels.
 
Jaded and cynical.  
 aspicer wrote:
Really growing on me - a solid 7 Now. 

 
joelbb wrote:

Like a fungus?

  
Or...

gif of woman waking up to sleeping dog's tongue planted on her face

Listen, you can get used to anything as long as you wake up to it slowly
This reminds me of one of those follksinger guys down at the coffeehouse open mic nights that just will not shut up and get off the stage. Meh
 joelbb wrote:

Why do you play this so much?  It's MacArthur Park for the 21st century.  

 
OK, that made me LOL.
Please make it stop.....Good thing for PSD
His music can't seem to overcome the negative reaction to his previous, and horrid, album cover.
Thanks again RP for PSD.
 Majestic wrote:
One of the tedious darlings of RP. Consistently cloying, grating, sucko, and barfo.

At least in this one he's not inviting me to travel as equals with him.

Compared Joseph Arthur, the Cloud Cult and their annoying "There's So Much Energy In Us" is a bloody listenable tune.
 

 
Why do you play this so much?  It's MacArthur Park for the 21st century.  These utterly banal lyrics go on forever:  somebody just kill me now.  In solidarity w/ my man Majestic, I'm dropping this to sucko-barfo.  BTW, I chose "not at all" rather than lowering myself to peerage w/ this blowhard in my travels.

One of the tedious darlings of RP. Consistently cloying, grating, sucko, and barfo.

At least in this one he's not inviting me to travel as equals with him.

Compared to Joseph Arthur, the Cloud Cult and their annoying "There's So Much Energy In Us" is a bloody listenable tune.
 
Wow, dude has no off switch.
Could've saved two thirds of these lyrics for several other songs.
The Adderal talking.
 xkolibuul wrote:

Honestly, dude, the above sample doesn't convince me you're in any position to criticize lyricists.  

 
That made me chuckle.
i am ok with the song and lyrics but i agree. it sure does go on for a long time. almost kinda too long..
 xkolibuul wrote:

Honestly, dude, the above sample doesn't convince me you're in any position to criticize lyricists.  

 
Never mind him. What about the song?
 xkolibuul wrote:

Honestly, dude, the above sample doesn't convince me you're in any position to criticize lyricists.  

 
{#Lol}

I like him.  He sounds like Geldof on this one.  How about a segue to Geldof to follow this, Bill?


 joelbb wrote:
This guy does prattle on,  And he one of the worst lyricists in the history of the language.  I'll give this annoying muh-fuh a 3, no, a 2.

 
Honestly, dude, the above sample doesn't convince me you're in any position to criticize lyricists.  
I like this but it does go on bit

Quite the artist, JA.


My 2nd fave JA song, next to Can't Exist....8>9!!
 aspicer wrote:
Really growing on me - a solid 7 Now. 

 
Like a fungus?
I really like lots of Joseph Arthur, not this one though. Lots of good words not enough music.
Nicked from "The Best" - the Tina Turner song. Except this goes on...and on......and on..............................
Too bad nothing else from this album ever gets played on RP.  If you like this song or Joseph Arthur in general, this album is well worth checking out.  I Used to Know How to Walk on Water and Famous Friends along the Coast are good ones to try--the former includes some nice help from Ben Harper. 
HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK
too troo bloo! ;) (y)

kingart wrote:

Amen to all that. 100%.  Poetic heart, indeed, and a big one. Pretentious? Maybe. Too a certain extent, virtually every song ever written "pretends." That last full stanza gets me every time. 

 


brillianti! <3
Does nothing for me.  I'd change the channel if I could...
 Bosami wrote:
Tough crowd here. Shoo any kids off of yer lawns yet today? Jeesh.

I like it.


And as for lyrical criticism - people - if you want examples of artists that phone it in, just listen to mainstream radio. You may not find the lyrics to your liking - but the man most certainly put a poetic heart into them. And if in your opinion he failed - at least he put in the effort. I can think of a plethora of artists that clearly don't.




 
Amen to all that. 100%.  Poetic heart, indeed, and a big one. Pretentious? Maybe. Too a certain extent, virtually every song ever written "pretends." That last full stanza gets me every time. 
It's Friday, Spring is finally here, life is good,  Iowa State plays tonight in the sweet 16, this song is wonderful!

Thank you RP for making the world a better place!
Never heard this before, lyrics are good, tune is, yes repetitive but with the chorus, a typical construction. Hope to hear this again before long.
Really growing on me - a solid 7 Now. 
Tough crowd here. Shoo any kids off of yer lawns yet today? Jeesh.

I like it.


And as for lyrical criticism - people - if you want examples of artists that phone it in, just listen to mainstream radio. You may not find the lyrics to your liking - but the man most certainly put a poetic heart into them. And if in your opinion he failed - at least he put in the effort. I can think of a plethora of artists that clearly don't.



No. Ostentatious lyricist w/o a distinctive vocal.
So earnest, but alas, so grating. Bruce Cockburn wannabee?
This guy does prattle on,  And he one of the worst lyricists in the history of the language.  I'll give this annoying muh-fuh a 3, no, a 2.

...first listen - busy lyrics - 7 with potential...


the DJ is an artist, an exceptional one!  Neko, The Amazing Rhythm Aces then this gorgeous piece by JA, have me wrapped in a warm state of high bliss!  Thank you
Really boring! Repetitive uninteresting tune. 

 
I like it!
First listen - great song.  Won't be my last listen.
 Stingray wrote:

STOP KIDDING  - L.A. TSAR

 

Time flies when we're having fun...  hope you be having a marvelous winter, Stingray...  don't let your meat loaf...

heroes fall as softly as snow...  love this profound and beautiful song...
I like this toe tapping diddy
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the holy moly world like B.F. Skinner...  we love this splendiferous song more than a cold Bloody Mary...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...

B.F. Skinner at Harvard circa 1950.jpg



 

 

STOP KIDDING  - L.A. TSAR


SUPER SUCKO = 0
 kingart wrote:
Say what you will about Arthur's musical philosophy as in some of his other cuts -- but in IMHO -- THIS is fine songwriting. A solid 8. Impress your friends at a sing-along jam, learn the lyrics. 

 
Agree. Stunning imagery.
Yes yes yes and yes!!!!

I'm not quite dancing buck-ass naked as Laz describes but I am liking what I hear.  I'll give it a 7 for now.

 

Edited to add:  "...sex, drugs and rock & roll,..." that's my generation.


Say what you will about Arthur's musical philosophy as in some of his other cuts -- but in IMHO -- THIS is fine songwriting. A solid 8. Impress your friends at a sing-along jam, learn the lyrics. 
 NeuroGeek wrote:
It's stuff like this that reinforces my mother's bias against 20th century rock music (category writ large).  Too musically static.

 
You mean she only likes 21st Century rock music?  
Channeling Gordon?  That's Lightfoot.  THE VOLUME IS  CRANKED!!!!

Joseph Arthur is definitely an acquired taste. I had Redemption's Son in my collection for several years before I decided to pay attention, and find that the first 9 songs are brilliant, but that he sometimes wanders off and could edit himself down a bit as is evidenced by the last 6 songs on that album.

See him live- currently touring with Mike Mills on bass guitar- very lively show!


I don't normally comment...but this song is great!
A 7 for now. Nicely written. Thoughtful and musically inspired. Well delivered. A little busy, but we'll see how that tests with time.
 NeuroGeek wrote:
It's stuff like this that reinforces my mother's bias against 20th century rock music (category writ large).  Too musically static.

 
But lyrically quite fluid and articulate. This is my first hearing, I hope for some repeat performances. 
It's like he drank a quart of bad whiskey, listened to Bruce Springsteen for 3 hours, and scratched down this song.

This video makes everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches cry like a baby...


Joseph Arthur is either growing on me or getting better.
It's stuff like this that reinforces my mother's bias against 20th century rock music (category writ large).  Too musically static.