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Down By Fire

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by Jim Salinger

Down By Fire Cover Art
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about
"Swinging good times are contained within this roots rock full-length album. Jim Salinger’s real shining light is his guitar playing." - Smother.net


After blazing through five years of drunken backyard barbecues and college festivals with the Philadelphia punktry rock band Lynwood Skynwood, Jim Salinger was ready to forge into new territory. For this he moved to Los Angeles and began writing more personal and introspective acoustic songs as part of the duo PT. Jim's vocal style quickly developed until it was unique enough to be defined as his own, somewhere between the likes of Lou Reed and Paul Westerberg.

By the fall of 2003, he was ready to record his first album, the songs for which would be culled from the enormous catalog of demos he had been compiling. Fortunately at this time, Jim was also introduced to producer Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson) who had just opened Veneto West, a new recording studio less than a mile from Jim's home. The conditions could not have been more perfect.

"Down By Fire" was recorded over a two week period in Murphy's unfinished studio. The album's title and Jim's art direction for the cover is a nod to the wildfires that ravaged Southern California during the same two weeks. Casually over this smoldering fortnight, an eclectic handful of musician friends stopped by to build upon Jim's initial vocal and acoustic tracks with their pedal steel, percussion, bass, mandolin and handclaps. The result of these "Cozy Sessions" (named after the studio's neighborhood bar, The Cozy Inn, pictured on the album cover) is an impressive album of emotionally-driven americana indie pop songwriting that is generating admiration from L.A. to Philly and beyond.


Buy down by fire at CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/salinger2
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released 01 April 2004
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tags: acoustic alternative alternative indie american rock roots singer - songwriter Los Angeles
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Balancing romantic honesty with the rebellious nature of rock n roll, Jim Salinger’s music conjures up alternative rock ... more greats like Wilco and the Replacements, while extending the tradition of the American singer-songwriter.

With a steady growth of TV placements (One Tree Hill, Community, FRINGE) Jim is preparing a January 2012 EP release with producer John Would (Fiona Apple, Lucinda Williams.) less

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Track Name: Choking On The Tinsel
Well it tastes like grenadine
but it goes down like gasoline
It’s not something I’d prescribe
but it’s been keeping millions alive
with a heartwarming ending
that was built from condescending
well it tastes like grenadine
but it goes down like gasoline

And I’ve been choking on the tinsel
I’ve been shot out by the stars
I’ve been wanderin’ Sunset Blvd.
wonderin’ where you are

Now you really shouldn’t ask:
“Who’s the clown behind the mask?”
His mystery’s a machine
turning skin and bones to scenes
that have fallen on the floor
‘cause his foot’s stuck in the door
Now you really shouldn’t ask:
“Who’s the clown behind the mask?”

‘Cause I’ve been choking on the tinsel
I’ve been shot out by the stars
I’ve been wanderin’ Sunset Blvd.
wonderin’ where you are

You may seem so self-aware
but you really just don’t care
productin’ a seduction
of love into destruction
well, I’ll never stop pretendin’
or I’ll give away the ending
I may seem so self-aware
but I really just don’t care

‘Cause I’ve been choking on the tinsel
I’ve been shot out by the stars
I’ve been wanderin’ Sunset Blvd.
wonderin’ where you are

I’ve been cryin’ in the aisle
I’ve been rollin’ in the bars
I’ve been wanderin’ any boulevard
wonderin’ oh where you are

‘Cause it tastes like grenadine
but it goes down like gasoline

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: High/Low
I’m not much for following through
I’m surprised I finished this thought
this thought of you and what I can’t do
could never escape my mind

Now it can’t be all of my fault
you could come around one of these days
still I’m left to thing of the ways
I’m gonna spend my lonely weekend

And take the highs with the lows
but you’re so closed and composed
when you walk by, I know
you been looking high
looking low

Fear and love and reason all
add up to not much sense
think I’ll run it again by my friend
to see if I’m not going crazy

I’m losing all my composure
hell, I’ve never felt this great
if you think it’s smart to wait now
then honey it could be too late

To take the highs with the lows,
but you’re so closed and composed
when you walk by, I know
you been looking high
looking low

I get high, when I’m low
it’s all I know
it never shows
when you walk by
I cry
hello
high/low

I get high, when I’m low
I get high, when I’m low
I get high, when I’m low
I get high, then I get high

I’m not much for following through
I’m surprised I finished this thought
this thought of you and what I can’t do
could never escape my mind

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: How Did I Get This Far?
She said there’s something wrong
with the clutch and that this is her third
transmission, the brakes have all lost their
touch you could say it’s in bad condition,
she said:

How did I get this far?
Oh, how did I get this far?
In a car that’s completely broken
In a car that’s completely broken

She said that ever since she’s moved to this
town she’s heard this voice from her
window at night. It says “Nobody will ever
want you now, nobody in this world”,
it cries:

How did you get this far?
Oh, how did you get this far?
In a world that’s completely broken
In a world that’s completely broken

With all the things in this world
you’re such a sad little girl
with all the things I bring
the songs I sing
for you

She said go on with your life
It seems to be going so good, so far
I need to get a life
I wish I could play your guitar,
she said:

How did I get this far?
Oh, how did I get this far?
With a heart that’s completely broken
With a heart that’s completely broken
In a world that’s completely broken
In a world that’s completely broken

Oh with my heart
with my heart

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: The Reason
I’ve looked all over
those words all were true
It’s almost chronical
the way you chose to lose

But don’t forget the reason you came
I asked you and what’s his name
now you don’t look at me quite the same
looking at the sun
standing in the rain
you’re looking at the sun
but you’re standing in the rain
Is that the reason you came?

How can it be possible?
I wish you only knew
It’s awfully comfortable
the way you make love blue

But don’t forget the reason you came
I asked you and what’s his name
now you don’t look at me quite the same
looking at the sun
standing in the rain
you’re looking at the sun
but you’re standing in the rain
Is that the reason you came?

you don’t look at me
quite the same
you don’t look at me
quite the same
you don’t look at me

But don’t forget the reason you came
I asked you and what’s his name
now you don’t look at me quite the same
looking at the sun
standing in the rain
you’re looking at the sun
but you’re standing in the rain
Is that the reason you came?
Is that the reason you came?

Is that the reason?
Is that the reason?
Is that the reason?
Is that the reason?
Is that the reason?

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: This Quiet Night
Used to be December
now it’s the first day of the year
when I stop to remember
I forgot why I am here

Peel me off the ceiling
punch me in the nose
cut a hole with feeling
and I’ll patch it with a rose

This quiet night
This quiet night

I wanna make some noise with you
I wanna make some noise with you
I wanna make some noise with you
I wanna make some noise with you

This quiet night
This quiet night

Hold a hand that weakened
and tired of being alone
my dream drug is peaking
and I’d rather walk you home

‘cause a cold night is growing
icicles and frost
your roof top is bowing
and I know how much that costs

This quiet night
This quiet night

I wanna make some noise with you
I wanna make some noise with you
I wanna make some noise with you
I wanna make some noise with you

I wanna be the boy with you
I wanna be the boy with you
I wanna be the boy with you
I wanna be the boy with you

This quiet night

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: Sturgis
Motorcycle baby riding me through Sturgis,
caressing me with curses from a dirty mouth

Well I rode up from Spearfish with a bucket
of molasses and replaced my reading glasses
with a squinty eye

‘Cause you woke me up from stirring around
up and left me after all you found
I never noticed when you weren’t around
now I’m spinning circles all around
round this town
round this town
round this town

My temperature is burning the center of the
stage and my misdirected rage is sounding
beautiful

Starts and stops and lollipops are keeping
me sweet and sane, still I wanted to
complain about everything

‘Cause you woke me up from stirring around
up and left me after all you found
I never noticed when you weren’t around
now I’m spinning circles all around
round this town
round this town
round this town

This town has no history
this town has no use for me
there’s no hope for me just throttle crackin’
blowin’ me back, exhausting me
This town has no love for me
I’m going home

Sitting at the stoplight my thoughts jumpstart
to last night, a rumble in the dream pipe and
sleeping sound

Well sunlight’s breaking free tonight from her
blue prison sky, see she walked out of my life
after walking in on me

‘Cause you woke me up from stirring around
up and left me after all you found
I never noticed when you weren’t around
now I’m spinning circles all around
round this town
round this town
round this town

Motorcycle baby, riding home from Sturgis
caressing me with curses from a dirty mouth

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: Kocaine Kisses
Well I guess you could say she just fell into
my lap and I fell in love and all that crap

‘Cause you painted your pretty lips like the
petals of a rose but I never knew what you
were putting up your nose

I don’t think I’ll ever miss this
your Kocaine Kisses
lovin’ you is like a strung-out sickness
with Kocaine Kisses
I’m never gonna be your mister
Missus Kocaine Kisses
you kissed away all your best laid wishes
with your Kocaine Kisses

Well it lasted for a second or maybe it was
just a minute, I opened my mouth and you
got locked up in it

Not to be too bitter but you gave me the
drip, why the fuck do you always have to do
that shit?

I don’t think I’ll ever miss this
your Kocaine Kisses
lovin’ you is like a strung-out sickness
with Kocaine Kisses
I’m never gonna be your mister
Missus Kocaine Kisses
you kissed away all your best laid wishes
with your Kocaine Kisses

Kocaine Kisses
Kocaine Kisses

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: Tennessee Slide
Losing all of your conscience
floating all the way down
into the emptiness
that’s passing us around

Now ain’t it funny to think
not a thought at all
washing down your drink
before we hit the wall

Now carry all of your liquor
and buckle up for a ride
you never knew what hit you
Tennessee Slide

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: What A Jerk You Are
Go ahead and laugh at me
I don’t mind it at all
‘cause when you try to put me down
everyone sees
what a jerk you are

Don’t ask of me,
for anything at all
‘cause I gave you all I could
now I think you should
try to help yourself

“I’ll pay you back”
are some famous last words
hopefully they will be
the last
I hear from you

When will you ever grow up
you drink ‘til your sick
speedin’ in your car
now you’re too far
over the edge and underground

Tonight I’m glad
that I’m far from where you are
still I hope you hear these words I sing
yeah and let them ring
through your empty skull

Go ahead and laugh at me
I don’t mind it at all
‘cause when you try to put me down
everyone sees
what a jerk you are

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: Younger Than A Dead Man
My disbelief it comes and goes
like glow from a firefly
My hands work hard – it don’t show
smooth like a grape-hide
I think I’m over and done
but I’m younger than a dead man

I think it’s time for me
to never meet a stranger
I think it’s time for me
to cough up all this anger
It’s been stuck in my throat
with a big apology I own
to you

Yes it’s true I’ve let you down
like I’m paid for your heartache
but that was then, this is now
like you didn’t fucking know that
sometimes I don’t fucking think
but I’m younger than a dead man

I think it’s time for me
to never meet a stranger
I think it’s time for me
to cough up all this anger
It’s been stuck in my throat
with a big apology I own
to you

You can’t take this way from me
tomorrow I’ll be history

You can’t take this way from me
tomorrow I’ll be history

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music
Track Name: Down By Fire (Hidden Track)
You are so beautiful and full of charm
that makes me stutter and stop
and wish I had some sense

And you are so cynical
with a mother’s smile that tells me to lay
silent and still by your side

down by fire
I worn my heart
down by fire
I worn my heart
down by fire
I worn my heart
glowing with the ghost scared and scarred

And you are so out of reach,
how can that be right next to me
studying my verse and the lines of my face

And you, you’re adorable
still I could never jump, successfully
the wall you put in front of me
so delicately
you got the best of me

down by fire
I won your heart
down by fire
I won your heart
down by fire
I won your heart

Glowing with the ghost scared and scarred

© 2004 Imaginary Troubadour Music