Without a Trace
WITHOUT A TRACE IT’S THE END OF THE HUMAN RACE EVERYTHING WE KNOW IS GONE I’M SURPRISED WE LASTED SO LONG WITHOUT A TRACE WE’LL GET A TASTE OF WHAT WE DESERVE OUR FREEDOMS HAVE GONE INTO HIDING AFRAID OF BEING DESTROYED ONE BY ONE OUR DIGNITIES ARE RIGHT BEHIND THEM PRETTY SOON THEY’LL BOTH BE GONE LIVING IN FEAR OF OUR OWN FREEDOMS THEY TAKE OUR RIGHTS BILLS BEING PASSED BUT LEFT UNREAD TRUTHS BEING KNOWN BUT LEFT UNSAID LIBERTY GASPS FOR HER LAST BREATH FEAR STRICKEN STRANGLED TO HER DEATH FEAR DRIVEN LAY OURSELVES TO REST
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The Bottom of Barrels
WE TURN OUR BACKS WE LEAVE THEM TO DROWN AT THE BOTTOM OF BARRELS WHERE THEY’LL NEVER BE FOUND NOW ON WITH THE BURIAL TRAMPLE THE GROUND WE DON’T EVEN BLINK RESCUE TEAMS SENT IN WITH A STICK OFFERING THEM AN END BUT IT’S COVERED IN SHIT CLIMBING HAND OVER HAND BUT THEY CAN’T GET A GRIP WE DON’T EVEN THINK WE CAN STAMP OUT THE FIRE OR PISS GAS ON THE FLAMES QUESTION YOUR FATE STRAND THEM ALONE ON A MOSS-COVERED STONE OR LEAD TO A CHANCE AT A FACE AND A NAME TAKE A SEAT ON THE SIDELINE OR STRIVE FOR A CHANGE IT’S NOT TOO LATE WISHING AND WANTING AND WASTING OUR LIVES OR HOLDING OUR HANDS OUT FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE COMPETITION THAT OVERWHELMS GENERATIONS CONVINCED COOPERATION HAS FAILED RIDE ALONG ON THE COATTAILS OF DOMINANT MALES WE ACCEPT AS FATE DEFINITION DESIGNED TO INSTILL THAT OUR REPRESENTATION IS THAT OF FREE WILL LIMITATIONS IN PLACE DUE TO ABSENCE OF SKILL BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE
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Pirates of Liberty
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IS GREEN WITH SICKNESS DOESN’T WANT TO WITNESS THE MURDER OF THESE CHILDREN OF HER OWN BY HER OWN EXTRACT ALL THE OXYGEN WITH PRECISION AND SLOWNESS HOPING WE WON’T NOTICE POISON THE WATER SO THE GARDEN GROWS INTO APATHETIC VEGETABLES THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IS GREEN WITH ENVY JEALOUS OF PROSPERITY AND PEACE RESIDING IN A LAND HAND IN HAND WHILE DADDY LEAVES HIS LOVED ONES HOME WITHOUT HIM THEY SURE ARE PROUD OF HIM IT’S SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE A GOVERNMENT OF MURDERERS IT’S ABOUT TIME WE TRADE OUR STARS AND STRIPES FOR A PIRATE FLAG SET SAIL RIGHT NOW WE BATTLED THESE SEAS SO THAT WE COULD BE FREE NOW LET’S TAKE THOSE FREEDOMS THAT WE’VE NEVER HAD WITH OUR BLADES AND OUR BARRELS IN THE AIR WE SING YO HO HO YO HO HO HEY FOR THE PIRATES OF LIBERTY FILTRATION OF OUR CONTENT TO MAKE SURE WE FIT THE MOLD PUNISH THE ONES WHO QUESTION ANY OF THE LIES WE’RE TOLD WE’RE FREE TO FALL IN LINE AND WE’RE FREE TO BE JUST LIKE THEM THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SHELTER FROM THIS PERSECUTION “AS A TEACHER I BELIEVE IT IS MY JOB TO HELP INSTILL THE PRINCIPLE OF TOLERANCE AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN OUR SCHOOLS TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLES’ DIFFERENCES, THAT DIFFERENCES ARE WHAT MAKE THIS WORLD INTERESTING. WE WEREN’T PUT ON THIS EARTH T O BE THE SAME; WE WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO BE DIFFERENT. IT’S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT’S OKAY” THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IS GREEN WITH SICKNESS STARES DOWN AT HATRED THAT SHE DOESN’T WANT TO HAVE TO WITNESS NOBODY EVER THOUGHT OUR CONSTITUTION COULD BE THE GALLOWS WHERE OUR FREEDOMS MET THEIR EXECUTION
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Skeletons in Your Closet
SWALLOW THE KEY QUICK BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE SEES THE HORRORS WHERE MOST KEEP THEIR WARDROBES 200 OR SO BONES DANGLING FROM EVERY HANGER JARS OF FORMALDEHYDE MAKE COZY HOMES FOR GOUGED-OUT EYES THE SOUVENIERS YOU’VE BEEN COLLECTING ALL THESE YEARS BIDDING ON BRAINS AUCTIONING EARS HOARDING THE GUTS AND BALLS OF BIG AND SMALL WITH SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET STANDING A MERE 3 FEET TALL AS LONG AS THE DOOR IS CLOSED YOU’LL BE THE ONLY ONE WHO EVER KNOWS AND I’LL BET THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF FORGET THE COAST IS CLEAR BENEATH BUT A MONSTER RESTS ITS HEAD BETWEEN YOUR SHEETS YOU CAN’T ESCAPE ITS GAZE IN THE MIRROR ABOVE YOUR BATHROOM SINK LENSES CRAFTED BEND THE LIGHT JUST RIGHT SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO SEE SUCH A STRIKING SIMILARITY THE FINER YOU’RE CUT THE FILTHIER YOUR LIFE IS LIKELY TO BE YOU’VE BEEN FED AND CLOTHED AND SHELTERED BATHED IN BLOOD AND SHOWERED YOURSELF CLEAN SACRIFICES MADE TO ALL THE GODS TO WHICH YOU’VE PRAYED OR PAYED INTO THEIR OFFERING PLATES AND BOUGHT YOU WITH THEIR OFFERING PLATES
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Blood Stained Flag
ADORNED HEAD TO TOE IN FATIGUES OF EVERY SHADE LIKE THE BRISTLES ON A BROKEN BROOM SENT IN TO SWEEP UP THE MESS WE’VE MADE OUR HELMETS KEEP OUR SKULLS FROM CRACKING BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR MINDS RUGS WOVEN OF THE FABRIC OF WAR LET US TREAD UPON THE SOILED SURFACE OF OUR TIMES BUT THE TIME BOMB KEEPS ON TICKING EVERY HEART BEATS TRUE FOR THE RED BLACK AND BLUE FOR THE BLEEDING AND BRUISED AND YES US THIS INCLUDES BUT I WON’T HIDE BEHIND THE STRIPES OF A BLOOD-STAINED FLAG THE WAR’S BEEN WAGED A CULTURE’S BEEN RAPED THE CAUSE HAS BEEN JUSTIFIED STANDARDS DEMOCRATICALLY CHOSEN BY WHICH ALL OF OUR WORLDS PEOPLE SHOULD OBIDE AND ACCOUNTS GROW WITH DEATH TOLLS THE BUSINESS OF WAR OR THE WAR OF THE BUSINESS THE LIVES AND THE SOULS OF OH SO MANY SOLD IN SOMEONE’S PERSONAL INTEREST THIS CARNAGE IS A SICKNESS INFECTING THE IMMUNITY OF UNITY HOW IS VIOLENCE THE ANTIDOTE TO SAVE LIVES TO END WOES BEFORE FINGERS MEET FOREHEADS BEFORE WE SALUTE BEFORE WE OBEY IT’S OUR MISSION TO SHED LIGHT ON WHO’S MANIFESTED THIS WAR AND FOR WHAT GAIN CAUSE SOMEPLACE SOMEWHERE THERE’S A PROFIT TO BE MADE
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Operation: Save the Nation
DIAL 911 FOR A NATIONAL EMERGENCY BREACHING OUR TRUST BREACHING NATIONAL SECURITY CODE RED MAN DOWN LIKE THE RED SCARE ALMOST HALFWAY THERE THE ONLY THING MISSING IN ACTION IS THE TRUTH OPERATION WE HAVE TO BAND TOGETHER NOW SAVE THIS NATION WE HAVE TO FIND A COMMON GROUND OPERATION WE HAVE TO LAY OUR WEAPONS DOWN SAVE THIS FUCKING WORLD THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS FOR THE GREATER OF GOOD NO MORE NO LESS GIVE US PROGRESS LOOK AROUND YOU WE ARE THE FUTURE WE NEED EACHOTHER
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Main Malfunction
LOCKED 9 TO 5 EVERY DAY IN A HOLDING CELL WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK TRYING TO MAKING YOUR BAIL THEY MECHANIZED THE COMPANY TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY FELL FROM AMERICAN DREAMS INTO REALITY THE PILLOW’S NOT NEAR AS SOFT AS YOU THOUGHT IT’D BE WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION YOUR MAIN MALFUNCTION PARDON ME FOR THIS BRIEF INTERUPTION OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK AND COFFEE POT LIFESTYLE BUILT ON BROKEN PROMISES SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS ALL WORTHWHILE THEY’RE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE DOWN ON WALL STREET MUZZLE TO THE TEMPLE OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY YOU THOUGHT YOU’D EARNED YOURSELF SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON TOO BAD IT SWALLOWED THE BARREL OF A LOADED GUN THE BURDEN IS ON OUR SHOULDERS AND IT WEIGHS A TON WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION WHAT’S YOUR MAIN MALFUNCTION WHAT’S YOUR ROLE IN THIS INDUSTRIAL CORRUPTION DO YOU STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT OR DO YOU STAND IN LINE DO YOU STAND UP DO YOU FIGHT OR DO YOU STAND IN LINE HOLDING HANDS OUT FOR PAYMENT IN DUE TIME CAN YOU REALLY TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO YOU’RE WORKING FOR A MAN YOU’VE NEVER MET BEFORE ARE YOU A SERVENT FOR A MAN YOU CAN’T HOLD RESPECT FOR OR ARE YOU MAYBE JUST A WHORE DO WE REALLY NEED THE FORTUNES THAT WE’RE STRIVING FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR ARE THESE ALL ISSUES THAT ARE JUST EASIER TO IGNORE WHAT’S YOUR FUNCTION YOUR MAIN MALFUNCTION I REFUSE TO BE A PART OF THIS CORRUPTION I DON’T NEED THIS FUCKING AUTOMATED LIFESTYLE FLIP A FINGER TO THE LIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THIS ALL WORTHWHILE AT LEAST I’M FUCKING GOING DOWN IN STYLE
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Play Bob Marley at My Funeral (A Tribute to Thomas Whitefield)
IT WAS PROBABLY 55 IN A 35 ON A COLD DECEMBER NIGHT SPEED RACER MINIVAN STYLE ALMOST HOME JUST ANOTHER HALF A MILE HE NEVER SAW IT COMING AND NEITHER COULD WE A SENSELESS TRAGEDY HOW CAN A LIFE STILL WORTH THE LIVING FADE INTO A MEMORY WE DON’T KNOW WHY WE DON’T KNOW WHEN IN OUR PERFECT WORLD THINGS LIKE THIS DON’T HAPPEN FORESIGHT’S NEVER 20/20 YOU’RE ALWAYS SOMEBODY ELSE’S SOMEBODY WE DON’T KNOW WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY THE ONE THING I KNOW IS WHENEVER IT’S THE END OF MY TIME PLAY BOB MARLEY AT MY FUNERAL WELL HE’S PROBABLY LAUGHING NOW AS HE’S STARING DOWN AT HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY GATHERED ROUND TEARS ON THE CHEEKS OF ALL HIS BUDS AND ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS HE’S EVER LOVED PEOPLE FILLED THE CHAIRS AND PEWS IN DROVES HE WILL FOREVER BE OUR BRO IN CELEBRATION OF ONE OF THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD
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Silent Fist of Revolution
LOYALTIES ARE LYING IN GRAVES BESIDE THE HIGHWAY WE’RE SLAVES TO PROGRESS CALLING US TO STAY IN THE RACE THE JONESES RUNNING IN PLACE BUT STIRRING DUST WHILE WE CHASE THEM THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND DEBRIS WE CANNOT SEE BEYOND THE MAGAZINES FRONTING PRODUCT PLACEMENT PROSTITUTION RINGS THE CULTURAL FALLACIES ON OUR RADIO SPEAKERS AND TV SCREENS BUT BEHIND THE SCENES WE’RE TRYING WE’RE MARCHING FORWARD REMAINING QUIET THE SILENT FIST OF REVOLUTION WILL RISE UP BUT RADAR SCREENS ARE WATCHING US LASERS AIMED AT STOPPING US TRAITORS WHAT THEY’RE CALLING US PROTEST IS DISMISSED AS WRONG OR RADICAL FISTS SEEM MUCH MORE PRACTICAL LIPS FIND SPEAKING DIFFICULT WHEN THEY’RE CRACKED AND SWOLLEN CORPORATE NEWS MEDIA SCENE PLAYING HOST TO PARTISAN CHEERLEADING AESTHETIC DESIRES CONTROLLING IGNORANT BUYERS AND THE STUPID BUT CUTE REIGN SUPREME
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Break Down These Walls
A GODSEND TO CLEANSE THE WORLD OF ALL ITS SINS SO PARDON HIM AND HIS PET APOCALYPSE TRANQUILITY THROUGH DESTRUCTION NO FUCKING MORE EQUALITY THROUGH GENOCIDE WELL THAT’S A LIE FREEDOM THROUGH COMMUNICATION FREEDOM THROUGH AWARENESS FREEDOM THROUGH REVOLUTION FREEDOM THROUGH ACCEPTANCE BREAK DOWN THESE WALLS THAT BARACADE OUR THOUGHTS OPEN UP YOUR EARS AND OPEN UP YOUR FUCKING HEARTS BREAK DOWN THESE WALLS LEAVE NOONE ELSE BEHIND OPEN UP YOUR EYES AND OPEN UP YOUR FUCKING MINDS CROSS OUT THE EYES OF LADY LIBERTY DROP BOMBS ON THE WORST OF ALL OUR SWORN ENEMIES SPREADING OUR DISEASE OUR WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES FORCE-FEEDING IDEOLOGIES THE FLAWS IN OUR DEMOCRACY THE FINE LINE BETWEEN THE TRUTH AND THE SOPHISTRIES TRAMPLED BY THE STAMPEDE OF CONSUMER-BASED ECONOMIES THE LACK OF COMPASSION THE LACK OF PERSONALITY OUR TIME OUR LOVE OUR BODIES WELL THEY’VE ALL BECOME COMMODITIES – OPEN UP YOUR EARS AND OPEN YOUR HEART
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Burn Down the Bridge
HARD WORK FOR NO APPRECIATION GUTTERBOUND WITH A GOVERNMENT EDUCATION IT’S UP TO US TO SAVE THIS NATION TO SAVE THIS WORLD I GUESS THERE’S TOO MANY LABOR LAWS IN THE U.S.A. CAUSE CORPORATIONS CAN’T AFFORD THE DOMESTIC RATES 12 CENTS AN HOUR FOR THE STARVING KIDS AND A COLLEGE EDUCATION LEAVES YOU DEBTED AND JOBLESS WHAT’S A PERSON GOTTA DO TO EARN A LIVING WAGE I DON’T WANT TO BE POOR I DON’T WANT TO BE IGNORANT ANYMORE BURN DOWN THE BRIDGE PISS ON THE ASHES LIVE LIKE A REBEL TIL THE BLACK MARKET CRASHES WE’VE GOT TO SAVE THIS WORLD I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT CAUSE OUR SO-CALLED DEFENSE LEAVES OUR EDUCATORS UNDERPAID WE DON’T HAVE THE FUNDINGS FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT WE SURE HAVE THE FUNDS TO MURDER INNOCENT PEOPLE JUST TRADE A COUPLE OF BOOKS FOR A HAND GRENADE
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A Show of Hands
CHOKE ON YOUR WORDS THAT YOU FEED TO THE MASSES SAVE ONE LAST BREATH WHEN YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS WITH A SHOW OF HANDS TELL ME WHO’S BREATHING NOT JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS NOT EVEN THINKING OF WHAT’S TO COME SEARCH YOUR SOUL FOR EVERY OUNCE OF ALTRUISTIC TENDENCY DON’T MIND THE RAIN THERE’S AN OPEN SEAT ON THE PORCH HERE NEXT TO ME
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Credits & Liner Notes
BENT LEFT WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR PARENTS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR ENDLESS SUPPORT, JASON MCENTIRE, ELAINE JONES, RONNIE WILLIAMS, ROBBIE AND HIS CAMERA, ZACH AND HIS OVEN, CHASE BUTLER, JEN BOWLES, SARAH EUDALY, JAKE KING, EVAN LAUB, MIKE SIMPSON, JIM KRIKAVA, ORIN, JEFF SNODGRASS, MIKE FOX, JUSTIN NEFF, MARK ABBOTT, HENRY WORTEN, JEFF EPPERSON, CORY DOWMAN, BEMIDJI, JONATHAN LYMAN, JARID MCCASH, KATI FROM FESTUS, KALLIE MCCARTHY, SHAUNNA SHAW, CORY SCHMID, MATT REPRESENTIN’ 816, MARC AND ANNIE, TRAVIS AND PHD, THE CONTRADICTIONS, SLEDGEBACK, VELMA, ALL THE CRAZY KIDS AT THE COBRA HOUSE, IAN JENNINGS AT CROWS NEST DESIGN, JACOB BROCK, KYLE STRAM AT GRIZZLED COMICS, MUSHROOM CLOUD RECORDS, MOLOTOV LATTE, DEVIN AT FATAL ACCIDENT, JIM CALLAHAN, KEVIN AT PUNK VOTER, JASON ADAMS, PAT TURLEY AND KMNR, REN AND JUST ROCK PR, ACOPOLIS AND FRANKLIN AT OCCUPY THE CITY, JEROME AND STLPUNK, WELLS TIPLEY AND ICON OMNIMEDIA, TERRY TAYLOR AT HUNT PRODUCTIONS, ALL THE BANDS WE’VE EVER PLAYED WITH OR LISTENED TO, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST ALL THE PEOPLE IN ROLLA, ST. LOUIS, KANSAS CITY, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO CAME TO SHOWS, PROVIDED US WITH HAPPY MAKERS, OR LET US CRASH ON THEIR FLOOR. IF WE LEFT YOU OUT, WE’RE SORRY. WE’LL HIT YOU BACK ON THE FLIPSIDE.
BENT LEFT IS DAN, JÜFF, WILLIAM, AND JOSH.
ALL OF THE NOISE ON THIS ALBUM WAS RECORDED AND MIXED BY JASON MCENTIRE AT SONIC TEMPLE STUDIOS. MASTERING AND PRESSING BY ICON OMNIMEDIA.
