Present Tense (1994)

Present Tense – Originally recorded for release on Sony Records in France, Present Tense combines Spencer Bohren’s fine songwriting with a decidedly New Orleans rhythm section and a killer guitar player. Drummer Frank Bua and bassist Reggie Scanlan anchor the funky music of New Orleans’ beloved Radiators. In 1994, they met with Spencer and his favorite guitarist, Sweden’s Bengt Blomgren, at Ultrasonic Studios in New Orleans to cut a batch of original songs, many which display a wry social consciousness and a surprising humorous streak.

The resulting tracks reveal a different side of Spencer Bohren’s musical personality, and it’s one that rocks!

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Jake the Snake

Spencer Bohren, BMI 1991

Jake the Snake said,
“This is how it’s going down.
We’re grabbing all the cash
We’re getting out of town.
We don’t leave any witnesses,
Don’t want them hanging around.
Anybody blows this scene
Be six feet underground.”

That’s right . . . That’s right.

Jake opens up the rifles
And passes them around.
“We don’t take any chances-
(Just) blow them suckers down.
Fifteen million dollars, man,
Sitting in that truck.
Then we go to Mexico
With any kind of luck.

That’s right . . . That’s right.
That’s right . . . That’s right.

The sun came up that morning
Like any other day.
Jake the Snake was waiting
When the truck came across the bay.
Fell in right behind them,
Followed them to the bank.
The boys all knew just what to do.
They didn’t have a chance

There wasn’t many people.
It was just a little town.
Just the same, there’s no one left
Who saw the deal go down.
The thing came off like clockwork.
No one will ever know.
Then Jake the Snake and all his boys
Went down to Mexico.

That’s right . . . That’s right.
That’s right . . . That’s right.

But Jimmy cheated Jake at cards.
Jake killed him with a knife.
Joe and Johnny both got mad and took each others’ life.
Jake, he just said, “Que sera . . .
Don’t need them anyway.”
Then Jake was found dead last night.
His heart stopped yesterday.

That’s right . . . That’s right.

So fifteen million dollars
Is down in Mexico.
And where Jake hid that money
No one will ever know.
A life of ease, a life that’s high,
A life that’s lived with style.
Crime, you know is pays alright,
But only for awhile.

That’s right . . . That’s right.
That’s right . . . That’s right.

Have Mercy

Spencer Bohren, BMI 1994

The wolf is at the door, but I can’t pay any more.
I’m begging to you Lord, have mercy!
If you come back again, I might have it by then.
But you know it just depends – have mercy!

    - chorus -
    Have mercy! You know that times are tough.
    Have mercy! Nobody’s got enough.
    Have mercy! That’s the thing to do.
    Have mercy! ‘Cause that’s the way to live.
    Have mercy! You only get what you give.
    Have mercy! It comes back to you.

When children die by the gun, something’s got to be done.
It ain’t enough to just run. Have mercy!
They’re taking guns into school. We got to make some new rules.
It’s up to me and you. Have mercy!

    - chorus -

Well, the cities are broke. Politics is a joke.
You would think they could show some mercy.
But it’s getting late. Won’t be a thing on your plate
If we continue to wait – have mercy!

    - chorus -

Taxes are high, another slice of the pie.
You know as well as I we need mercy.
But there ain’t too much left. You ain’t seen nothing yet.
We’ll never make it unless we have mercy.

    - chorus -

Middle of the Day

Spencer Bohren, BMI 1995

I picked them up in my rearview mirror.
You could tell right away they didn’t live around here.
I was stabbed with a cold, hard fear
Right in the middle of the day.

They was back there with something in mind.
There was no place to run and hide.
I was scared. I nearly started to cry.
Just want to see another day.

- Chorus -

I was shot! Didn’t sleep last night.
Wasted! But I’ll be alright.
Beat! I was so damned tired.
Right in the middle of the day.
Right in the middle of the day.

On the street couldn’t drive too fast.
I can’t lose them. Will I run out of gas?
I was splintered like a broken glass,
Afraid that I wouldn’t get away.

It’s a strange world that we’re living in.
Full of darkness, anger and sin.
You got to wonder what kind of shape we’re in.
Makes you want to look the other way.

- Chorus -

Fire Burns

Spencer Bohren, BMI 1989

You’ll come back for more. You’ll come back for sure.
Happens all the time.
First you’ll turn the key, open up the door,
Then you’ll cross the line.

You will feel the heat. Yeah, it feels so sweet
While the flames leap higher.
Then she’ll take your hand, lead you from the pan
Into the fire.

    Fire burns. It’s your turn.
    You’ll never learn ’til the fire burns.

Once you turn the key you are going to see
Someone you never knew.
Take it straight from me. I’m your friend.
Please don’t be a fool.

    Fire burns. It’s your turn.
    It’s how you learn ’til the fire burns.

The Party’s Over

Spencer Bohren, BMI 1993

She leaves the party, alone again.
He’s telling stories of way back when.
When he falls in bed, he carries the smell
Of women and whiskey, the ashes of Hell.

    I gotta get out of here,
    Just pick up my things and go.
    I’ll pick up the pieces
    Somewhere down the road.

She sits at the table, alone in the dark.
“How did I get here? Where did it start?
“It’s not that he needs me ’cause he never did.
“It’s just we been married since we was both kids.”

She always cooks three squares a day
‘Cause he wouldn’t have it no other way.
She lives in the kitchen while he runs around.
There must be someone else in some other town.

    I gotta get out of here,
    Just pick up my things and go.
    I’ll pick up the pieces
    Somewhere down the road.

She’s driving 60, it’s 2:30 a.m.
Don’t know where she’s stopping; doesn’t know when.
Rolls down the windows to breathe in the wood.
She’s feeling scared, yeah, but she’s feeling good.

    I gotta get out of here,
    Just pick up my things and go.
    I’ll pick up the pieces
    Somewhere down the road.