1. Revolution – 5:05
2. One Way Road – 3:06
3. C’mon Now – 2:42
4. I’d Do Anything (Soldier’s Lament) – 3:21
5. Ragged Mile (Spirit Song) – 3:57
6. Johnny’s Gone – 4:55
7. Close To You – 3:45
8. Don’t Wanna See Your Face – 2:43
9. Take Me – 5:01
10. Fool For You – 5:07
11. To Look Like You – 4:19
12. Steal It – 3:43
13. Mystery Man – 3:55
14. Gonna Be A Long Time – 3:46
15. A Star Is Born – 4:35
Additional songs featured on the Limited Edition Vinyl:
Gone – 4:26
Only You – 3:51
Satisfy – 2:43
Recorded The Compound, Fremantle – 2009 – 2010
John Butler – vocals, guitars
Bryon Luiters – bass, vocals
Nicky Bomba – drums, percussion, vocals
“One Way Road” – Released: 4 December 2009
“Close To You” – Released: 11 March 2010
“Revolution”- Released: 2 June 2010
“Don’t Wanna See Your Face”
April Uprising is the fifth studio album by the John Butler Trio. The album was recorded from late 2009-early 2010 in Fremantle, Australia. The album’s name comes from Butler’s appearance on the television documentary series, Who Do You Think You Are, where he journeyed to Bulgaria to find information about his ancestors. The 1876 April Uprising was an important event in Bulgarian history.
The first single from the album was “One Way Road”, which was accompanied by a music video, and was released on 4 December 2009. The second single was “Close To You”, also with a video, on 11 March 2010.
On 30 June 2009 John Butler announced the new bass and drum musicians of the John Butler Trio to be Byron Luiters as the bassist and Nicky Bomba as the drummer and percussionist. Bomba, Butler’s brother-in-law, has previously been a member of the John Butler Trio.
The first single from the album, “One Way Road”, was released on 4 December 2009. Butler described the song as being
The band, according to billboard.com, recorded twenty two songs at Butler’s home based studio in Fremantle, this was eventually cut down to the fifteen that appear on the album. The album was released in Australia, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and The Netherlands on 26 March 2010, in New Zealand and France on 29 March, in the UK on 5 April, and in the USA / Canada on 6 April.
April Uprising debuted at No. 1 on the Australian ARIA albums chart on 5 April and whilst the first two singles from the album, “One Way Road” and “Close to You”, charted at No. 15 and No. 36 on the Australian ARIA singles charts they both reached the top five in the Spins radio airplay charts, the former reaching No. 1.
On 4 June 2010 John Butler Trio played a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater, which was streamed live to fans around the world at Livestream.
In 2010, the John Butler Trio received the award for Most Popular Independent Artist at the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards while April Uprising was nominated at the ARIA Awards for ‘Best Blues and Roots Album’ and ‘Best Independent Release’.
So tell me family now what do you think ?
Watch it all go down the great big sink.
Watch how the scum it rises to the top.
Don’t you wonder when it’s all gonna stop?
Sometimes I wonder how we do sleep,
Serving the dodgy companies we keep.
All kicking and scrounging for the very first place –
Dictionary definition of a rat race.
Pay off those losers we elect to lead,
Stealing from the mouths that we’re meant to feed.
Enslaving the very clothes upon my back,
I feel the sting but I hear no crack, no crack, I’m saying
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Revolution already underway.
Big Heavy Pirates man digging those holes,
Messing with something that they can’t control.
Trespassing lands where they don’t belong,
All I hear is screaming where there once were songs.
I got my brothers they are fighting those wars,
Fighting over scraps and scraping their souls.
Under a blanket of a fire and pride
That can’t keep us warm for the cold inside,
Inside, I’m saying
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Revolution already underway.
So tell me when you think we’re gonna rise?
Wake from this slumber wipe the tears from our eyes?
Yes from this nightmare yes I must now wake,
Open my fist my destiny I take !
Good people sick and tired of being pushed around,
We call them kings but I see no crown.
Tell me when you think we’ll just stand up,
Say enough is enough is enough, enough I’m saying
Running through the fire, running through the flame,
Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,
Running through the hopelessness and shame,
Revolution already underway.
Take back your feet, take back your hands.
Take back your words, take back your lands.
Take back your heart, take back your pride.
Don’t got to run, don’t got to hide.
Revolution.
They come, they take
It’s never enough because they can’t relate
To the real world,
Thinking that the oyster is just for the pearl
They start those wars
They want to own the land sea and all the stars
And right those wrongs
They change their history with their poison forked tongues
All right, whos they?
A maybe it’s the government of today
Or B for the big business man who thinks the whole world revolves around him
Or C for the corrupt official for A and B he be the man in the middle
Or D for discoverer for Cook and Columbus and the pirate plunderers
Doesn’t mean I ain’t gonna fight now
Just because I don’t got a gun
The lyrical is heavier than lead and
This guitar is my canon
Just like my Martin and Mahatma
I’m gonna love I’m gonna over come
Maybe it’s E for all of the above
But I don’t want to be
Wrong way going down the one way road
Wrong way going down the one way road
Wrong way going down the one way road
Gonna turn it all around gonna back it on up
Wrong way going down the one way road
Wrong way going on a one way road
Wrong way going down the one way road
Gonna turn it all around gonna back it on up
These men, who they say we should follow
But we can’t follow men if their hearts are hollow and
Mmmm yes how can we respect puppet regimes that we do not elect?
Straight up straight up staight up like Pinocchio
And every time they lie man the fire just grows so
Nows time to be part of the solution
Raise your fist if you believe in revolution
Doesn’t mean I ain’t gonna fight now
Just because I don’t got a gun
The lyrical is heavier than lead and
This guitar is my canon
Just like my Martin and Mahatma
I’m gonna love I’m gonna over come
Maybe it’s E for all of the above
But I don’t want to be
Livin’ in a pantomime
Livin’ in the fantasy
I don’t wanna be don’t wanna be
I don’t wanna be don’t wanna be no
Livin’ in a pantomime
Livin’ in the fantasy
I don’t wanna be don’t wanna be
I don’t wanna be don’t wanna be no
Wrong way going down the one way road
Wrong way going down the one way road
Wrong way going down the one way road
Gonna turn it all around gonna back it on up
Wrong way going down the one way road
Wrong way going on a one way road
Wrong way going down the one way road
Gonna turn it all around gonna back it on up
Tell ya little bit of trouble I have
Cause all I really think about is you
Back and forth and around again
Cause all I really think about is you
Pickup a phone and I call my friend
And all we really talk about is you
Now I wonder if it’ll ever end
Cause all I really think about is you
C’mon Now
Hey, c’mon now
I bend my words and I break my spine
Cause all I really think about is you
Takes all I got just to walk your line
Cause all I really think about is you
Just like a junky lookin for my fix
Cause all I really think about is you
Get me so high man I’m feelin sick
Cause all I really think about is you
C’mon now
Hey, c’mon now
You’re self-centered man I know your kind
Cause all you really think about is you
You know it all but you’re walking blind
Cause all you really think about is you
Your head is living where the sun don’t shine
Cause all you really think about is you
Now tell ya baby it’s just a matter of time
Till it all falls down around you.
C’mon now
Hey, c’mon now
Tell me what you want girl, you tell me what you need.
You know you just say the word I’ll be right there,
Yes I’ll be right there at your feet
Because you know you rock girl yeah,
And I love how we roll –
But I left you all alone,
All we got is the phone and it’s never gonna be enough
Living in this dug-out
A million miles away, man, I wish
They’d pad these walls, like an institution, man,
I’m going crazy because when I’m away from you girl, I lose
Myself, you know my train jumps off tracks and all
My pots fall off the shelf.
Oh, I’d do anything, yeah, just to be with you,
Oh, I’d do anything,
Oh just to be with you girl,
Be with you
It’s a little girl’s birthday and yeah, we are apart –
Ain’t gonna make a big deal out of it but it breaks my heart
You tell her “Papa loves her” yeah, and it won’t be too long,
’til we’re all together again and yes you know we’re all singing yes those songs.
I escape into my tv – yeah, I know you understand
Man they call that shit reality,
I’d like to see those fools in Afghanistan.
Living in this cold damn world,
Hell bent on self-destruction –
What I need right now is a little bit of love, a little bit of love and affection.
Oh, I’d do anything
Oh just to be with you,
Oh I’d do anything,
Oh just to be with you, girl
Just to be with you, just to be with you girl, Be with you
Tell me what you want girl, you tell me what you need.
You know you just say the word I’ll be right there,
Yes I’ll be right there at your feet….
I will run,
Yes I will roll,
I will climb your mountains high,
Through the valleys of deceit,
Through the cold winds of denial,
And though you fear the cold dark,
I’ll be right here by your side,
‘Cos until you know just who you are,
You’ll never know I’m near not far,
I’ve caught your falls I’ve helped you rise,
I’ve damned these torrents from your eyes, I know.
From the bosom to bare bones,
Between the oceans and the sky,
Since before time began,
I have walked your ragged mile,
And I will call like the crow,
I’ll be right there by your side,
I am the candle in your darkest night,
Whether you’re wrong, whether you’re right,
I’ll be there in your finest hour,
I’ll be there when it all turns sour,
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are.
And though at times you’ll be at your knees,
It’s better than just running blind,
I’ll push you straight into the deep,
I’ll challenge you boy every time,
And I won’t fall and I won’t waiver,
I’ll be right there by your side,
‘Cos until you be just who you are,
I’ll never stop, I’ll always call,
I’ve caught your falls, I’ve helped you rise,
I’ve damned these torrents from your eyes,
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are …. home.
Johnny’s in the backseat of the car.
– Driving don’t know where he’s going
Yes we got a full tank yeah by far but we are empty rolling
And we’ve forgotten so many passenger and you know the car
Is stolen. I’m freakin in the front seat now, yeah, sittin with
A gun that’s smoking.
Johnny went and shocked.
– Deputy Sheriff for robbing the bank
But he ain’t after silver of gold, he just a slice of the
Yellowcake. He’s swishing flies with big sledge hammers, yeah
You know he’s running the show. He thinks he is the big boss
Man but he straight up outta control.
He gone, gone, gone yes he gone. Gone yes he gone, gone.
Johnny’s in the races being two face-ist
– He really don’t know what for.
He got cops a’chasing, the music he ain’t facing, pedal
Right down to the floor. His ideology is cracy as can be, it’s all
About the top score. He once upheld the the law, he heading for
The wall and all we got to say is, and all we got to say is,
He gone, gone, gone yes he gone. Gone yes he gone, Gone.
Johnny’s indicating, blinkers on.
– But you know’man he ain’t turning.
Yes he got his mind made up oh, even though he ears are
Burning. He looking’ in the rear view mirror now, see the
Chasing lights go spinning round, sirens and alarm bells
Ringing out, but Johnny don’t hear no sound…
I got to get away man,
Got to clear my mind…mind…mind
Out og this god-forsaken 9-5 waste of my time.
I’m gonna tell the boss man
I’m never coming back…back…back
I’m just a one way crazy locomotive jumpin off of my tracks.
’cause I’m jacked up, sucked up, cut down,
Thrown around, discarded like a cigarette butt
I’m just a no good excuse for a man.
Yes you know i got to pick myself up out of this rut,
But I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you, you.
I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you.
I don’t know why we’ve never been told
That the life we’re living it is made from gold
Work our whole damn lives just to try to make “IT”, IT’s sold
So boy don’t worry don’t worry don’t worry
I got to get away man this moment it wont last…last…last
I got a chained up brumby in my head and it’s kicking my ass
I’m roaming like a dog yeah
Looking for my bone…bone…bone
I got to hijack my body just to make it my own…my own…my own…my own
Because im jacked up, sucked up, cut down,
Thrown around, discarded like a cigarette butt
I’m just a no good excuse for a man yes you know
I’ve got to pick myself up out of this rut.
But I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you,you.
I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you, you.
I don’t know why we’ve never been told
That the life we’re living it is made from gold
Work our whole damn lives just to try to make “IT”, IT’s sold
So boy don’t worry, don’t worry, don’t worry now
Don’t worry.
BOOM yeah
Back on the scene
Where ya look good by being mean
Yeah friend for another round
Bringing you up while laying it down
Damn! like jumping into the ring
Just a sing but it ain’t nothing
Yeah man, foe or friend
Do you got ink or venom in your pen cos
You think I love you
You think I need you
Damn no, get out the door
Don’t wanna see your face no more
Man now watch that toe
I ain’t a step ladder man I don’t think so
Whoa boy what ya trying to do
Are you writing a column or jumping the queue?
Queue yes to your favourite scene
Not the Q to the R to the S to the T to the U
Man between you and I
You don’t know your truth from your lies no
You think I love you
You think I need you
Damn no, get out the door
Don’t wanna see your face no more
Take a look tell me whats you aim
Tell me why you’re in this game
There’s better use for your pen
Than criticising others for doing their thing
Maybe then, maybe then you’ll see
You can’t cage something that’s free
Anyway cut to the chase
I don’t wanna see your face no more
Take it from me come take me home
I’ll be the one for you one for you one for you
Trembling skin, right to the bone
Bite into me I am ripe for the taking
Twist me, turn me, throw me around
Drunk in this potion of loaded emotion
Beautiful beautiful beautiful lies lies lies all lies
Take me, take me, take me
Won’t you take me, take me, won’t you Lord
Take me, take me, take me
Won’t you take me, take me, won’t you Lord
Something so warm, so soon the cold
You said you loved me yes you said you’d call me now
How can you go leave me here
Hungry and hunting yes desperate and loathing
Beautiful beautiful beautiful lies lies lies all lies
I can not stand this dumb look in your eye oh
Take me, take me, take me
Won’t you take me, take me, won’t you Lord
Take me, take me, take me
Won’t you take me, take me, won’t you Lord
Could of been should have been
Back and forth round again
Round and round circles been waiting for you
Oh my knees, you retreat
Now I’m praying for mercy mercy mercy
I’m pleading with you oh
Take me, take me, take me
Won’t you take me, take me, won’t you Lord
Take me, take me, take me
Won’t you take me, take me, won’t you Lord
Two atoms they collide in all their random ways
The meeting of you and I not so random some might say
She walks up close to me and she looks me in the eyes,
She said,
“Boy, what’s it gonna be, now that it’s just you and I?”
I’m a fool, I’m a fool for you
I’m a fool, I’m a fool for you
So I stepped up to the plate to a place I thought I’d never be
So I’m thanking you today because of you I am now me
Cold days them dark and blue when we was our only friend
For all that we’ve been through and will go through again
For that I say,
I will come and I will stand
And I will live my life beside you
I’m a proud, a proud man, but all the same I’m
I’m just a fool, I’m a fool for you
I’m a fool, I’m a fool for you
Two atoms they collide, you and I we make them child
What lovely creatures they are, something right from the stars
And I helped you bring them forth
I offered a safe place to land
An overflow of love, falling right into my hands
For that I say,
I will come and I will stand
And I will live my life beside you
I’m a proud, a proud man
A proud man to be walkin right next to your shoes.
You’re the one, the only one, the only one that’s just right just for me
But all the same, you know I, you know I’m, I’m just a fool
I’m a fool for you, I’m a fool, I’m a fool for you.
We like your face, we like your style everything about you seems so worthwhile.
We like your hair, we like your nose – everybody gonna get one of those.
The bullets for the magazines. Paparazzi shooting like soldiers in their teens.
I’m just a teenage girl sitting in my room with the bullet for a mirror looking for a broom.
To Look Like You, to look like you, oh, to look like you.
I’m gonna burn my skin, I’m gonna cut my hair, I’m gonna grab a bit of me and stick it over there.
I’m gonna take my meal of two white pills ‘cos I’m gonna look like you, yes I will.
Gonna sell right out to the great white dream ‘cos I too want to be a beauty queen.
I’m just a teenage girl sitting in my room with the bullet for a mirror looking for a broom.
‘Cos I’d do anything in this world to look like you, to look like you.
I’m gonna buy that mud and apply that paint, Yes I put it on so thick I wonder why I ain’t.
I’m gonna buy everything that you do sell, your clothes, your lips, your rocks, your smells.
The bullets for the magazines, ‘cos I want everybody to see me.
I’m just a teenage girl sitting in my room with the bullet for a mirror looking for a broom.
I say I’d do anything in this world to look like you, to look like you.
We like your face, we like your style and everything about you seems so worthwhile.
We like your shoes, we like your clothes, now we want a taste of candy going up your nose.
The bullets for the magazines, ‘cos I do want to be a beauty queen.
I’m just a teenage girl sitting in my room with a bullet for a mirror looking for a headroom.
‘Cos I’d do anything in this world, to look like you, to look like you yeah.
You got your mask on, it’s only your cold eyes I see.
No, you did not break or enter
But when you’re leaving you take everything.
You’re loot is packed and ready
The kids are buckled in and weep,
And now I’m curled up in this empty shell
Where our home it used to be.
So tell me why’d you steal it all from me
Why’d you steal it all from me girl
Why’d you steal it all from me
Why’d you steal it all from me girl
You opened up my windows
I gave you every key to every lock.
An yes you opened ’em up one by one
Got to the end and you stepped on my heart.
You were wearing gloves when we first met
I shoulda known you were staking me out,
Yes I thought your love came freely
And now I’m paying and there is now doubt.
Because way up, way up in the sky
I don’t want to fall from this deftly height
Why can’t we make up, wake up tell me why
Why can’t we just hold on to what we made together
I thought we’d never sever girl, instead…
You go steal it all from me
Steal it all from me girl
Why’d you steal it all from me
Steal it all from me girl, steal it all from me
Why’d you steal it all from me girl
Why’d you steal it all from me
Why’d you steal it all form me girl.
Mystery man with your mystery smile
Come on tell me something I don’t already know
I’ve been looking around
I’ve been chasing these channels of the information age
And I’m sick of this show
I’ve been waiting for so long
So Mr wont you tell me whats going on
Cause now I am gone
Yes I am gone, long gone
Yes I’m gone
Don’t care if I am right or wrong
Round we go, round we go, round we go in circles
I wonder what all the commotions about
Thieving and loving and waring and running
We’re all just the same on this merry go round
I’ve been waiting for so long
So Mr wont you tell me whats going on
Cause now I am gone
Yes I am gone, long gone
Yea I’m gone
Don’t care if I am right or wrong.
Well everybody’s lookin for something they can’t find,
Walking straight ahead blind folded production line,
Onyl taking time for one type of shoe shine.
Don’t look left/right now you got a street fine.
Everybody lookin for just a little more.
Working late nights trying to fight off the day glow.
Waiting for the come-around but it is a no show.
Driving in the fast lane lookin for the slow-mo…
Oh whats in store I don’t know anymore.
Oh what’s inside ‘cos I can’t hide from it now more.
Oh what you see well it’s not me anymore.
Oh I don’t know well I don’t know man anymore
Because I tell you once I tell you twice, gonna be a long time
But you don’t take no ones advice, gonna be a long time you,
Where were you, you weren’t listenin, gonna be a long time
Gonna be a long time.
So now your face down, face lookin like a frying pan.
Hitting up the clubs trying to feel like a real man.
Beating your chest just like you’re king kong but you’re just a gui-tar no-string no-song.
Feeling free like ya don’t even know it, man you’re towing the line hoping you just don’t blow it.
Man ya stuck in the mainframe trying to win the big game so much potential it even makes it more of a shame, shame, shame.
Here we go again, same old shit just another name.
Looking at the destiny there in your palm,
But now you got your strings but you got no song.
So sing, sing, sing – shake it like a chicken wing.
It’s not what you get it’s about what you bring-bring-bring.
So bring it, bring it to the table, not because you have to ‘cos you’re willing and you’re able!
Oh what’s in store I don’t know anymore.
Oh what’s inside ‘cos I can’t hide from it no more.
Oh what you see well it’s not me anymore.
Oh I don’t know, I don’t know anymore because I tell you once I tell you twice, gonna be a long time.
But you don’t take no one’s advice, gonna be a long time.
You, where were you, you weren’t listening, gonna be a long time.
Gonna be a long time.
A star is born
Like so many before
But he shines bright
He lightens up all my life
How proud I am
He made me a real man
I curse the days
I have to go away from you child
Curse the days
Curse the days
I hold his hand
Somehow he understands
And all day long
We climb and slide
And sing his songs
I know I am
I’m drifting from my plan
I curse the days
I have to go away from you boy
Curse the days
Curse the days
A star is born.
Only you know what you want
better go go go and get some.
Only you know what you need
look inside, man ya got the key-ey.
You gotta be what you want,
no one else is gonna give it to you.
There’s only one thing that’s here
you gotta be, now what you wanna see?
Up, down looking all around
searching for the enemy
who know when you’ll be found.
Scope up, living in the trench
so sick and tired of livin’ in this stench.
Stand up, looking for directions,
see my enemy in the mirror reflection.
Oh my, where did he go?
When my best friend become my foe,’cuz
All I want is, to be free, yes
Free above the whole debris and
every day is just so mundane when we
think this all is reality, ‘cuz
Only you know what you want,
better go go go and get some.
Only you know what you need
look inside, man ya got the key-ey.
You gotta be what you want,
no one else is gonna give it to you.
There’s only one thing that’s here
you gotta be, now what you wanna see?
Lock, load, ready to go
man I gotta focus, get the show on the road.
So damn used to get the fight
when I ain’t fight man I don’t feel right.
So how long can I live like this?
Lookin’ for a kiss while using my fist.
Hey man, fallin’ underway
it’s all a game so I’m gonna pay, ‘cuz
All I want is, just to be free, yea
free above the whole debris and
every day is just so mundane when we
think this all is reality, ‘cuz
Only you know what you want,
better go go go and get some.
Only you know what you need,
look inside, man ya got the key-ey.
You gotta be what you want,
no one else is gonna give it to you.
There’s only one thing that’s here
you gotta be, now what you wanna see?
What you waitin’ for cute little Easter bunny?
help you with the money, boy
Mmm, won’t you go and get it?
What ya waiting for, big fat santa claus
help ya with the flaws boy, boy won’t ya go and get it?
Whatcha waitin’ for
your mommy and your daddy, man
to help you with your baddest boy
boy, won’t go and get it?
What’s you makin to the mouse with the bomb in your house
Whatcha gonna do?
BOOM! yeah, now go and get it!
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey!
Only you know what you want,
better go go go and get some.
Only you know what you need,
look inside, man ya got the key-ey.
You gotta be what you want,
no one else is gonna give it to you.
There’s only one thing that’s real
you gotta be, now what you wanna see?
Only you know what you want,
better go go go and get some.
Only you know what you need,
look inside, man you got the key-ey.
You gotta be what you want,
no one else is gonna give it to you.
There’s only one thing that’s real
you be, now what you wanna see, yea
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