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Drowning In An Inflatable Pool

by Mickelson

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1.
Jagged Tooth 04:39
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JAGGED TOOTH (by S. Mickelson) Fleeing the inferno Running down the hill like a quiet revolution It’s always a solution Ask anyone we know and they’ll back up my claim I’m out here on furlough Serving 30 years for selling half off but doubling the price I asked the wrong person for the right advice I was doing my best to tell you the truth but every time I cut my tongue on this jagged tooth I didn’t mind losing the wife but I did mind losing the house And my upright piano And the rest of my backbone I swore I would learn to play Start a band and be the new Billy Joel Then you could take me again for everything that I own I was doing my best to tell you the truth but every time I cut my tongue on this jagged tooth My honesty’s replaced by the lack of curiosity I’m a crisis of my own making So don’t string together the words that I’ve said I’s like putting a bandaid on a broken leg I was doing my best to tell you the truth but every time I cut my tongue on this jagged tooth I was raised feral Deep in the city by domesticated people They taught me survival How to beg, how to borrow I may be amoral So you need to be careful My halls are filled with the dreams I’ve killed And the people who live there, their lives are in peril I was doing my best to tell you the truth but every time I cut my tongue on this jagged tooth I was doing my best to tell you the truth but every time I cut my tongue on this jagged tooth
2.
No Translation For No 04:14
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NO TRANSLATION FOR NO (S. Mickelson) Thirty candles half won’t light No one’s noticed except you and yours I’m sweating like a heart attack It only hurts when I breathe The timing is never at our convenience But this rhino skin is wearing thin No my circus, not my monkeys I sold you the ticket and let you in This is not for you to decide this is not my first rodeo I could tell you again in any language But there’s no other translation for no I make my money at the Lonesome Tattoo Beautiful art for sometimes not so beautiful people Mine says find what you love and let it kill you And I wear it on the backside of my heart Above this fog is a sunny day I don’t fly an airplane but I know it’s true I need new glasses but there’s so much I don’t want to see Like the part of you and me that is you. This is not for you to decide this is not my first rodeo I could tell you again in any language But there’s no other translation for no I’m fine with a simple mind and a dirty ego At least i’m honest with myself Your love is comfortable if you like being uncomfortable Happy birthday baby, I wish you well This is not for you to decide this is not my first rodeo I could tell you again in any language But there’s no other translation for no
3.
Rich 04:01
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RICH (S. Mickelson) I sat up from my bed Bruise on my back Bump on the head Wondering if my welcome was overstayed I think I finally found the proof I’m getting too long in the tooth To celebrate when not every day’s a parade. Now I’m back behind the plow digging in the dirt I was rich, I was rich But I am working now She gave me the tools but I never built I hammered away on box filled with guilt No splinters in my hands No calluses on my palms No old to look young Too young to feel old I told myself the lines never showed I was the first to arrive and the last one gone Now I’m back behind the plow digging in the dirt I was rich, I was rich But I am working now The sweat is on the brow Too humble to be proud I was rich, I was rich But I am working now I’m going to take the hat off Put a shave on my face Hit it out of the park Tag every base I’m going to dance with the girl I took to the prom
4.
Odd Man Out 03:51
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ODD MAN OUT (S. Mickelson) Sign says line’s forming on the right So Im stepping to the left Got to stand out from the rest And if I make your team stick me in left field I’ll be right there at home Out there on my own! ! Odd man out Odd Man out Impatiently waiting for someone to skate in And show me what it’s all about! ! Salad’s been served steaks are on the way But I’m skipping life’s desserts! Got to cut back on what works You don’t really want to drive me home if you know what’s good! Nothing but busy intersections in my neighborhood! ! Odd man out Odd Man out Impatiently waiting for someone to skate in And show me what I’m missing out! ! I’m the stick in my own spokes! The but of my own jokes But I can be your third wheel! I’m the slowest on the draw I will pick the shortest straw But I can warm your bench! ! Odd man out Odd Man out Impatiently waiting for someone to skate in And show me what it’s all about Impatiently waiting for someone to skate in And show me what I’m missing out! !
5.
Drowning In An Inflatable Pool 04:34
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DROWNING IN AN INFLATABLE POOL (S. Mickelson) Rentals and repairs
 Open seven days a week
 No appointment necessary 
Here I specialize in finding the upside
I was sharpened by the years
Humbled by the greatest You tell me it’s not your favorite day 
I hear what you say and I don’t mean to be cruel
 But you’re drowning in the shallow end of an inflatable pool Poor more syrup on your pancakes 
Fill you plate
 Every tool is a weapon if you hold it the right way 
And if you fail to come up with a good idea of your own
 Take a look around and borrow as needed. You tell me it’s not your favorite day 
I hear what you say and I don’t mean to be cruel 
But you’re drowning in the shallow end of an inflatable pool Trust building exercises they wear me out
 So please don’t try me
If you fall into my arms I’ll do my best to be there
And if you jump off the roof with me a net will appear 
And if it don’t, join the club
 We all cry in our own ways Stop asking why you’re misunderstood
 It’s better to be lucky than be good
 Or you’ll find yourself 
Drowning in an inflatable pool
6.
The Lockdown 03:33
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THE LOCKDOWN (S. Mickelson) This is the lockdown There’s nowhere for you to go This is the fallout Raining on all you own This is the meltdown The water is at your door This is your hometown You don’t recognize anymore Don’t you start packing yet In 24hrs we’ll all forget These are the rollbacks That no one will ever read These are the cutbacks We’d rather be rich than green Don’t you start packing yet In 24hrs we’ll all forget! And the last one to cry wins This is the tongue slip But the message is always clear These are the conflicts Don’t bother to look over there Don’t you start packing yet In 24hrs we’ll all forget And the last one to cry wins This is the lockdown The devil is at your door This is your hometown You don’t recognize anymore
7.
Only The Wicked Run 03:40
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ONLY THE WICKED RUN (S. Mickelson) Plenty of guns no ammunition
 We’re way beyond suspicion
 So throw them on the heap Plenty of churches but no religion
 Shifting gear but no transmission
 The driver is asleep So sweep it like the crumbs beneath the table
 Preach it to the ears of the faithful
 Speeding past the truth you’re escaping
 Only the wicked run when no one’s chasing God gave us the cake but we complain about the candles 
The baker is a vandal
 Make a wish and blow them out Justice delayed is justice denied
 Cast your net far and why Before this ship bottoms out So sweep it like the crumbs beneath the table
 Preach it to the ears of the faithful
 Speeding past the truth you’re escaping 
Only the wicked run when no one’s chasing I’m creeping through the glow of this amusement park
 My batteries are low and it’s getting dark
 While you’re crawling through glass ceilings you’re breaking
 Only the wicked run when no one’s chasing
8.
Flickering (live in SF, 2015) 05:58
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FLICKERING (S. Mickelson) May never be a contender May never tower above the other But I'll take the blows it won't be the first time I'm sure I'll never surrender Some stand with guns ready and cocked But I kneel like grain before the reaper I don't burn bright but at least I'm flickering I don't burn bright but at least I'm flickering I'll take the time to top off the tank I'll leave a smile on everyone I thank I reserve the right to refuse anybody I'll draw the curtain if I don't like the scenery Some get lit up like a Christmas tree But I'm only a vigil light burning And I don't burn bright but at least I'm flickering No I don't burn bright but at least I'm flickering I'll never take a victory lap I'd get halfway then probably collapse I don't burn bright but at least I'm flickering

about

DROWNING IN AN INFLATABLE POOL

“the balance between strong, subtle, unexpected, and sophisticated.” –Paste Magazine

“It’s American folk-rock with a post punk edge, rustic but scarred.” –Alternative Press

“I call it anthemic when a band or chorus hits all the notes just right and the sound becomes bigger than it should be and Mickelson
hits it often…to make it worthy of the highest of recommendations.” –No Depression

One of the Bay Area’s revered music producers and songwriters Mickelson follows up his
2018 solo record, A Wondrous Life, and the homeless benefit album he produced, Blanket The Homeless, with his latest full-length
studio solo album, Drowning In An Inflatable Pool. Though the title of his newest recording suggests the unimaginable, it’s exactly
the unpredictable world that Mickelson pens his most political album to date. Drowning In An Inflatable Pool is rooted in the ruthless
American political practice of lies and deceit setting the stage for a highly dysfunctional level of accepted normalcy. Drowning In An
Inflatable Pool is set for national release on August 15, 2020.

The lead single “Jagged Tooth” revolves around the compliance of lying as it becomes a way of social discourse, and ultimately, a
false truth perpetuated into the national dialogue. These lines of miscommunication intend to confuse, disorient, and distract from the
most pressing issues of our time. On “Jagged Tooth,” every word from the lead character is a lie, an excuse, a deflection, or rationale
for his false statements. A wordplay game of manipulation, the antagonist loves every minute of it. The lyrics state, “I may be amoral
so you need to be careful. My halls are filled with dreams I've killed and the people who live there, their lives are in peril.”

A beautifully crafted animated music video will be released for “Jagged Tooth” on Friday, July 24, 2020. With America depicted as a
dark, macabre carnival, Mickelson sees the state of our country akin to a Saturday morning cartoon with barkers, shocking exhibits,
and we as a nation pay the price of admission every day to see it. Mickelson comments about Drowning In An Inflatable Pool, “I've never really been a political writer and always preferred to be more
narrative than commentary, but it was inescapable. Even in the title track I suggest that there are plenty of real concerns we are already
facing, we can do without our personal self-induced dramas.”

Following his career with the band Fat Opie who was managed by the legendary manager Elliot Roberts/Lookout Management
(Neil Young, Tom Petty), Mickelson has made wide strides with his solo career, especially with his debut full-length Flickering,
which made the 2015 GRAMMY Ballot in two categories, “Best Folk Album” and “Best Roots Music Performance.” He’s since
produced two critically acclaimed benefit compilations, “Blanket The Homeless” and “After The Fire,” and has toured internationally
for numerous years.

credits

released August 15, 2020

All songs written by Scott Mickelson.
Produced/recorded by SM

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Mickelson San Francisco, California

Scott Mickelson is an artist/producer from San Francisco. His debut release FLICKERING was on the Grammy ballot for Best Folk Album and Best Roots Music Performance. His follow up A WONDROUS LIFE received great reviews and led to his first European tour in 2019. Mickelson appears in NPR Radio, Huffington Post, No Depression, Glide Magazine, Paste Magazine, PopMatters, Alternative Press Magazine... ... more

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