Before We Fall was released on August 7, 2007. Bryan Dobbs played bass, Mike Schadel played drums & Andy Featherston played percussion. All songs by John Elliott (BMI) 2007.

Before We Fall
Emmy’s doin’ handstands in the Minnesota sun just for fun,
I cannot be certain but I know that we’re not done
I can keep it cool, I won’t be mean before we fall
A pirate flag is flying in the California sun just for fun
I cannot be certain but I know that we’re not done
No one has it all, I won’t be wrong before we fall
Summer’s gone, I know, I watched it go

Grandpa
I left my grandpa for dead, I left him in the Midwest
I left him playing Chinese checkers staring into space
Grandpa was a banker, grandpa was a money man
Grandpa kept his end held up, grandpa kept his head held up
Grandpa had a plan
Grandpa fought over there, fighting in The Big One
Floating over the Pacific, fighting in the trees
Grandpa killed the Nazis, grandpa killed Napoleon
Grandpa killed the Japs and Jews
Grandpa never got to choose
And grandpa never won
Grandpa moved to the farm, grandpa got a big house
Grandpa filled it up with children, grandpa bought a fridge
Grandpa got a good job, grandpa worked it nine to five
Grandpa cheated all the time, grandpa told ‘em where to sign
Kept his family alive
Grandpa sat on the lake, grandpa ate a sandwich
Grandpa put his hook in proper, grandpa listened to the game
Grandpa watched the bobber, grandpa caught another one
Grandpa pulled the anchor up, emptied out his coffee cup
And grandpa floated away
Grandpa took to the road, grandpa had a shotgun
Grandpa had a dirty pistol ready to go
Grandpa hit the truck stop, grandpa made ‘em all line up
Grandpa did ‘em one by one, grandpa did ‘em just for fun
And grandpa drove away
I left my grandpa for dead, I left him in the Midwest
I left him playing Chinese checkers staring into space
Grandpa was a banker, grandpa was a money man
Grandpa kept his end held up, grandpa kept his head held up

Over My Heart
When it started with you I took a good look at you
You were impossible, you knew where to start
I was standing alone, you had the radio on
I was impossible, I knew where to start
When it started with you I took a good look at you
I knew you’d never leave me out in the dark
I was standing alone, I had the radio on
You had your hand held over my heart
Over my heart
When it started with you I took a good look at you
I was impossible, I knew how to start
You were standing alone, you had the radio on
You were impossible, I knew how to start
When it started with you I took a good look at you
I knew you’d never leave me out in the dark
I was standing alone, I had the radio on
I had my hand held over my heart
Over my heart
When it started with you I took a good look at you
I was impossible, I knew how to start

Down in Mexico
I’m sick of thinkin’ ‘bout the right way to go
I think I’m movin’ down to Mexico
I’ll meet a girl there with blackberry eyes
A senorita with impeccable thighs
Yes it’s one two three, it’s five six nine
I’m up and down, I’m never doin’ fine
But she won’t be the one, I know
I got a woman down in Mexico
Last time I saw her I was lookin’ all right
Last time I saw her I was doin’ fine
Now there’s a lot that she ain’t ever gonna know
My little woman down in Mexico
Yes it’s one two three, it’s five six nine
I’m up and down, I’m never doin’ fine
But she won’t be the one, I know
I got a woman down in Mexico
She can’t see me now
I need uno mas

My Mom is a Dog
My mom is a dog
She does what she’s told
She gobbles her treats
She eats and gets old
My mom is a dog
And soon she will die
And daddy will cry
My mom is a dog
Dropping a bomb on a person’s
Is the same as beheading a person’s head
My mom is a fish
Or so I have read
Or so I’ve been told
She spawns and gets old
My mom is a fish
And soon she’ll be caught
She’s perfectly taught
My mom is a fish
Dropping a bomb on a person’s head
Is the same as beheading a person’s head

Feet to the Fire
Comin’ back to California, I’m in love with California
California, I’m in love with you
I’ll give all my lovin’ to you
I’ll give all my best years to you
I’ll give everything I’ve got to you
When it’s over, California, I’ll be angry California
California, if you don’t come true
I believe you, California
I believed you, California
California, I believe in you 
And I’ve got my feet to the fire
It’s not as if I’m from here
I mean, my family’s not from here
I lost my train of thought again, I’m lost
The railroad was amazing, the people really loved it
The railroad is amazing once again
And dogs are so protective, dogs are so objective
Dogs are so secure in what they know
While everybody’s Moses and everybody’s Jesus
And everybody’s meaner than a dog
Everybody’s meaner than a dog
And I’ve got my feet to the fire
I think I thought that she was nice
I mean, I know that she was nice
I saw her belly burning in the glow
It’s not as if I’d turn it down
It’s only that, when she’s around
I think I’ve found a person I can die with
So maybe I’m too serious
I’m serious, delirious, deliriously serious, I know
And you are so on top of it
You got it all on top of it
I’d love to see you making love or killing
Making love or killing 
And I’ve got my feet to the fire 
I don’t love you, New York City
You’re too cocky, New York City
New York City, we do not agree
But I admit it, New York City
When they hit you, New York City
Something broke and tore inside of me
End of summer, New York City
End of something, New York City
New York City, we were having fun
So I get it, New York City
Yes I get it, New York City
New York City, you are number one
And I’ve got my feet to the fire
It’s not as if I’m from here
I mean, my family’s not from here
I lost my train of thought again, I’m lost

52 Pick-Up
She’s playin’ games, she’s playin’ hard to get
I know, I’ve seen if before, I know how she gets
Starve her for a few days, don’t give her any water
She’ll be crawlin’ back to kill you
This is what happens
It’s what happens, it’s what happens
It’s not sad, it’s not sad
So I will not be hesitating
I will not be hesitating
I will not be hesitating this time
Because a hurricane, you know a hurricane
Could never make me cry, never make me cry
The ace of spades, the two of clubs
The six of diamonds, the jack of hearts
The nine of hearts, the ace of spades
The six of diamonds, the two of spades
The jack of spades, the queen of spades
The six of diamonds, the two of spades
The ace of spades
The king of clubs
And so a hurricane, you know a hurricane
Could never make me cry
So I will not be hesitating
I will not be hesitating
I will not be hesitating this time
Because a hurricane, you know a hurricane
Could never make me cry, never make me cry

There’s No Reason
I am on the wrong side, so are you
Everyone is talking, so are you
Oh, I will not believe it
Oh, there must be a reason
Oh no, there’s no reason
I am always hungry, so are you
Everyone’s got babies, so do you
Oh, I will not believe it
Oh, there must be a reason
Oh no, there’s no reason

Simple Heart
If it was such a great mistake
Then why was it so nice to take it slow with her
We were up all night playing cards
The city lights stopped the stars, but I didn’t mind
No, I didn’t mind
And she was up, down, all around
I had her hands pushing onto the ground
She’ll know it when I start
I got a simple heart
And all the big boys runnin’ around
And all the photographs of girls downtown
I wanna tear ‘em apart, I know where to start
A simple heart, a simple heart
So why was it so hard to see
What it was that was wrong with me?
I was lookin’ good, I was feelin’ good
The people dance, the people sing
The people don’t know anything, but they’re lookin’ good
Yeah, they’re lookin’ good
And she was up, down, all around
I had her hands pushing onto the ground
She’ll know it when I start
I got a simple heart
And all the big boys runnin’ around
And all the photographs of girls downtown
I wanna tear ‘em apart, I know where to start
A simple heart, a simple heart
The friends I’ve loved, the friends I’ve known
The friends I’ve lost or I’ve outgrown will all be there
And hangin’ on the Christmas tree
A photograph of you and me
And we’re looking good, yeah we’re lookin’ good
We are lookin’ good

Every Car is a Person
I retreated, I concede
I’m not stupid, I can see
I’m not sorry, I’m angry
I am beaten, I am torn
I am glad that I was born
I am glad that I am living
I’m shaken, I am scared
I’m weak and unprepared
I’m a loser and liar
But I will kill to stay alive
I will kill to prove a point
I will set the earth on fire
So I woke up late
Put my shoes on straight
And walked out the gate
And the day the new
And the lake was blue
And the eagle flew
I’ve been hibernating, waiting for a sign
Medicating, drinking dollar wine
She was cute and she was small
She was playing basketball
She made me wonder
And we finished it so fast
As the ambulances passed
In the lightening and the thunder
She gave everything to me
I said I didn’t know and I put myself above her
Then I decided not to wait, I decided not to care
I decided just to love her
And from where she stood
And from where I stood
It was understood
And the day was new
And the lake was blue
And the eagle flew
I said let’s stay up and watch it all go down
Once again they played with my head again
I fell for their tricks again
They got me in deep again
And I believed them again
I’m such an idiot
Once again they twisted my arm again
I fell for their charm again
I didn’t wake up until I understood the freeway
Every car is a person
So the lake was blue
And the eagle flew
But the day is new
I am older now, we are older now
You are older too
And the organ grinder will always find her tune
In the desperate faces of a Sunday afternoon
Yes the organ grinder will always find her tune
In the desperate faces of a Sunday afternoon

The Greatest Ever
I wanna be a true confessor
I wanna be a serious contender
I wanna drive around in sunsets
I’ll let the smoke get in my eyes
Every professor is a prophet
What a surprise
We could be the greatest ever
We could be the greatest ever
And if it’s up to me we’re always gonna be free
She came to me a pretty pretender
I came to her a funeral attender
She was so vocal and so vicious
I was suspicious from the start
Later I lost it all and she said you’re breakin’ my heart
We could be the greatest ever
We could be the greatest ever
And if it’s up to me we’re always gonna be free
So it started on the rocks
So I put it in a box
What have we become?

Handstands in the Sun
Emmy’s doin’ handstands in the Minnesota sun just for fun
I cannot be certain but I think we’re almost done
I can keep it cool, I won’t be mean before we fall
A pirate flag is flying in the California sun just for fun
I cannot be certain and I think we’re almost done
No one has it all, I won’t be wrong before we fall
Summer’s gone, I know, I watched it go

All words written by John Elliott 2007.