TRACY GRAMMER

LOW TIDE (2018)

Picture© 2018 Tracy Grammer Music.
  1. Hole
  2. Mercy
  3. Forty-niner
  4. The Mark (Kate Cell/Jim Henry/Tracy Grammer)
  5. Daffodil Days
  6. Were You Ever Here
  7. Good Life
  8. The Verdant Mile
  9. Cloudbusting (Kate Bush)
  10. Free

Retail release: January 19, 2018

Click here to request airplay copies (service by Charterhouse Music Group)
Press, click here to request review copy
Listen on Soundcloud | Spotify.

​
Accolades:
#2 Best of 2018 Listeners Poll on Folk Alley
#9 Most-Played Album of the Year on Folk Radio
#13 Most-Played Artist of the Year on Folk Radio
Top Ten Album of the Year, Fish Records UK

LOW TIDE reviews

 4/5 stars:: "Hugely impressive ... should elevate the solo artist to greater things." -- Maverick Magazine

"A contender for album of the year."  — Fish Records UK

“Potent songcraft that reflects the tender and stubborn heart that got her here, and a way with words and images that  … marks the beginning of a new path to glory. A bold and beautiful collection” -- coverlaydown.com

“This is the voice of a songwriter who has made her peace with the past and who is ready — and more than willing — to move forward.”-- Folkalley.com

“A bold new sound, attitude and personal viewpoint…. engaging songs beautifully sung and arranged.” -- Music Matters Review


Credits

Produced by Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry

​Basics recorded by Mark Thayer, Signature Sounds
Overdubs recorded by Jim Henry, Rubytone Studio
Mixed by Bob Stark
Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Inc.

Musicians:
tg: acoustic guitar, violin, viola, glockenspiel, reed organ, tambourine, percussion, vocals
Lorne Entress: drums and percussion
Chris Haynes: accordion, keyboards
Jim Henry: acoustic, electric, and baritone guitars, ebow, mandolin, bass on "Good Life", vocals
Paul Kochanski: acoustic and electric bass
Bob Stark: tambourine on "Good Life"

All songs ©  Teresa M. Grammer / Tracy Grammer Music (BMI) except where noted.



Kickstarter backer reactions...

"This is pure beating broken beauty earporn. Thank you."
- V. Scarpa


"I’m three songs in as I write this, and I’m astonished. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Congratulations! You did it!" - B. Cleary

"I laughed I cried I sang and danced almost crapped my pants this thing turned out so freaking good, put me on the floor like an insect in the throes of death on my back arms and legs twitching in the air... knew it was going to be good and my imagination is quite fertile but man oh man oh man jumpin jesus !!"- W. Byrd


"Brilliant and beautiful album, Tracy. We knew that it would be special because of those songs you've been playing for while now. But you still managed to blow past all those expectations!"- R. Cyr

Lyrics

Making LOW TIDE

1. HOLE
oh andy i’m afraid i don’t know what i’m made of anymore 
can’t make sense of all these shatterlings upon the bedroom floor 
there’ll be no sleeping here, just blurs of sorrow through the open door 
shoulda warned those boys about me, shoulda warned those boys 

i never mean to but somehow i always spill the loving cup 
it’s in some passionate exchange, it’s in the way i don’t let up 
cannot trust myself in love, seems i always fuck it up 
better warn those boys about me, you better warn those boys 

’cause i bruise them, every one 
there’s a hole in the palm of my love 
i cut them; they run 
through the hole in the palm of my love 

my first love wouldn’t tell me why he changed his mind about our plans 
some vicious word i spoke just burned the gold right off the wedding band 
kept it to himself and now the ash is flying through my hands 
shoulda warned that boy about me 

and andy, i’m afraid this story’s gonna play out like the rest 
i’ll take this broken bird and hold him to my hopeful, heaving chest 
sing the mountain down while god remains oblique and unimpressed 
shoulda warned that boy about me 

’cause i bruise them, every one 
there’s a hole in the palm of my love 
i cut them; they run 
through the hole in the palm of my love 

should they lock me up, oh andy, would you throw away the key
let’s not talk about the girl i was and the wife i’ll never be 
let ’em cut the sword from underneath my tongue and set me free 
say something good about me, say something good 

though i bruised them, every one 
there’s a hole in the palm of my love 
i cut them; they run 
through the hole in the palm of my love 
there’s a sword under my tongue 
and a hole in the palm of my love 

and andy, one more thing, i’m leaving this old violin to you 
for all those easy nights and emails and the honest talking-to 
for every lie i told i never played a note that wasn’t true 
that’s one good thing about me, the one good thing 

’cause i bruise them, every one 
there’s a hole in the palm of my love 
i cut them; they run 
through the hole in the palm of my love 
there’s a sword under my tongue 
and a hole in the palm of my love 
can’t save a single one 
with a hole in the palm of my love 

— doylestown PA / shutesbury MA


2. MERCY
can’t start, too scared 
out of time and unprepared 
coulda jumped but you didn’t dare 
afraid to get it wrong 

tongue-tied, tripped again 
nobody’s gonna tell you when 
or if it’s right, or what you win 
or how to sing your song 
no 

chicken child, all but broke 
sway or worry, swallow smoke 
swinging from a scarlet oak 
it’s ashes out to sea 

bad love, hostile lines 
something here to redefine 
be forgiven for your crimes 
now babe, just let it be 
yeah 

’cause it all unravels 
it all falls down down down 
and the big black gavel judge is in your head 
have mercy mercy mercy mercy now 

bright flash, burning tower 
shadows at the witching hour 
all your secrets, all that power 
and the promises of rain 

shot black shooting star 
medicine’s in mother’s jar 
freedom’s in the buffet car 
now get up on that train 

’cause it all unravels … 

right words fix the chain 
hook yourself to this refrain 
all in sorrow, all in pain 
know that you belong 

’cause it all unravels … 

-- doylestown, pennsylvania


3. FORTY-NINER
everybody’s in their places 
with plastic buckets and hopeful faces 
padded stools and a couple glasses 
one for liquor, one for ashes 

it’s nickel slots and blackjack tables 
saggy jeans and phony sables 
sirens whine as the nickels fall 
pull again, bet it all 
then – 

hit it big, hit it fast 
it’s in your blood, the die is cast 
drop a dollar, drop a dime 
you’re an urban forty-niner 
sweet civilian silver miner 
and i’m the eye that sees it all 
from behind the disco ball 

fortune is a fickle mistress 
but jesus christ, you can’t complain 
hundred dollars in your pocket 
“lucky” is your middle name 

dealer boys in blue and black 
dealer girls with ample racks 
aces high and the deck is stacked 
see ’em swagger, see ’em laugh 

droppin’ dollars, droppin’ dimes 
no such thing as closing time 
double down and live the dream 
pretty ladies, jimmy beam 
you’re an urban forty-niner 
sweet civilian silver miner 
and i’m the eye that sees it all 
from behind the mirrored wall 

laughing fortune, texas tea 
leopard spots and turtle treasure 
double diamond, fire and sea 
cleopatra, life of leisure 
golden mountain, bigfoot bonus 
here today and now they own us 
lucky fortune, sun and moon 
where there’s gold, mr. woo 

laughing, crying, 
’cause you work so hard 
didn’t they tell you there’s 
no such thing 
as easy money 

baby’s picture in your locket 
jesus christ on a chain 
seven dollars in your pocket 

dealer boys with empty hands 
cocktail girls and wedding bands 
aces high but the chips are flat 
break a sweat, watch your back 

droppin’ dollars, bummin’ dimes 
no such thing as quittin’ time 
double down and make a fist 
lady luck, near miss 
you’re an urban forty-niner 
sweet civilian silver miner 
and i’m the eye that sees it all 
yeah, mine’s the eye that sees it all 
from behind the waterfall 

-- blue lake casino, blue lake, california


4. THE MARK
lyrics: kate cell. music: jim henry/tracy grammer

abel lives off the fat of the land 
me, i got an old man’s back and a young man’s plan 
ain’t gonna plow nor reap nor pray 
god always liked him better anyway 

you shoulda seen my brother abel 
boots on the floor, hands on the table 
chapter and verse of the filial fable – 
i am cain 

tell me who wouldn’t rather tend than plow 
hell, i don’t believe in it anyhow 
no justice and no world to come 
heaven’s right here and me, i’m gonna get me some 

i shot him through his pretty boy eye 
i knew that’d make his mama cry 
i ate shepherd’s pie as i watched him die 
i am cain, i am cain, i am cain 

i’m headed out for the land of nod 
where they got themselves a different god 
’cause that mean-ass god i don’t believe in 
marked my head as i was leavin’ 

am i my brother’s keeper 
i’m hell’s spy, i’m the devil’s sleeper 
the seed got sown, i’m just the reaper 
i am cain, i am cain, i am cain 
i am cain, i am cain, i am cain 

- shutesbury, massachusetts


5. DAFFODIL DAYS
a festival tent, a wintertime trip 
that library tour, his trembling lip 
when he fell for me 

two years to the day, our daffodil hour 
two hearts finally home, true love finally ours 
he will marry me 

we planned on living light and traveling far 
currency of laughter, a couple old guitars 

a stormy first year, the whippingest gale 
rough waters ahead, red flag for a sail 
we’re in trouble here 

ours daffodil stems all bent and torn thin 
their sad yellow mouths cried the bleak giving-in 
surrendering 

we did not have a language for our pain 
i flooded him with pleas and sighs, he didn’t say a thing 

i waited for words, i watched him for signs 
but there’s nobody here and the garden’s gone dry 

those shoes in the hall, my towel on the rack 
and that frame on the nail – i take it all back 

’cause no one can survive on nothing-there 
i came here for the long haul and it don’t seem fair 
what to do but pack up and move on 
in search of other gardens 
singing other songs 

last box in the truck, my cat in her crate 
so long to this love and my daffodil days 

bye-bye 

-- doylestown, pennsylvania


6. WERE YOU EVER HERE
come 
tell me something you want 
tell me something you feel 
i thought that was part of the deal 

love 
is a sea full of stars in the morning 
it’s the sweetness inside of the storming 
but you have let go of my hand 

we are always home 
even standing near 
but i miss you, dear 
there’s a closing door 
and a fence of fear 
and i can’t get clear: 
were you ever here? 

I – 
well i feel like i’m starving for sunshine 
and the meters are threatening a flat line 
that wasn’t part of the plan 

love 
is the rain coming down in your blue eye 
it’s the backroads we promised to live by 
long before you let go of my hand 

we are always here 
but you’re never home 
and i feel alone 
such an awful ache 
when you disappear 
and we’re both right here 
now the question mark 
is my souvenir 
of these three long years – 
were you ever here? 

-- holden beach, north carolina


7. GOOD LIFE
for my dad, james arthur grammer, sr. 1947-2013

twenty years old, just a fitful young man 
with a fire in my eye, liked a drink in my hand 
kissed a pretty young girl, got a gold wedding band 
and a baby on the way that we didn't quite plan and oh – 

headed out west and i ran a little hot 
and the drink in my hand, well, it didn’t cool me off 
it was right about the time my kid was sixteen 
i was scaring everybody, i got so bitter and mean and oh – 

but i used to dream of a little rowin’ boat 
it’d be me and the dog and we’d fish and we’d float 
and we’d live in one-level ranch 
with toads ’round the pond and doves in the branches 
and oh, what a good life 

sick of my scheming and costly mistakes 
i was losing my business, i was burning up the brakes 
i got sober as a mountain and my river turned cool 
i’d make it up to you, mama, but you’re leavin’ this fool, and oh – 

’cause i used to dream we’d be gettin’ up at dawn 
we’d have chickens in the pen and some goats on the lawn 
and big trees and worms in the pail 
my heart on my sleeve, yeah, my love wouldn’t fail 
in my good life, in my good life 

well, i’m sixty-five now and they tell me i’m sick 
this pain in my belly, it is the reckoning stick, so i 
call up my daughter and we cry ourselves clear 
it’s forgiveness and grace and i wish you were here, y’know – 

last time we talked i was coming undone 
’bout a sweet summer peach that tastes just like the sun 
with the juice from that fruit dripping all down my face 
there is only this moment, only this place: 

and the dream of a little rowin’ boat 
it’d be me and the dog and we'd fish and we’d float 
and we’d live in one-level ranch 
with toads ’round the pond and doves in the branches 
and oh, yeah, what a good life 
what a good life 
what a good life 

let it all go now and wipe it all clean 
ain’t no time for regret in the great in-between 
it was a hell of a ride and i wish i had known 
you can worry, you can wander, but we’re all just goin’ home 

i’ve had a good life 
i’ve had a good life 
i’ve had a good life 

-- doylestown, pennsylvania


8. THE VERDANT MILE
i didn’t want to burn like this, so close to the bone 
no muscle left to carry it, this black bag of stones 
the august heat, the autumn rain, and winter’s face of blue 
these seasons keep their spinning up but there’s no sign of you 
there is no sign 

richard says the whippoorwill taught him how to go 
i tell him death is just a dream, but what do i know? 
it’s everything and nothing when the spirit cracks the sky 
but flowers fold and go to seed and no one questions why 

and so i walk this verdant mile of memory with you 
the gentle arms of eden and the mountain get me through 


i miss you like i love the sound of those blackbirds in the trees 
i sit alone and wish that maybe one of you would come visit me 
but no matter how much seed i hang or what prayer i call out 
i cannot bring that bird in from the field or make an angel come around 

and so i walk ... 

-- portland, oregon / missoula, montana


9. CLOUDBUSTING
words and music by kate bush

i still dream of orgonon 
i wake up crying 
you’re making rain 
and you’re just in reach 
when you and sleep escape me 

you’re like my yo-yo 
that glowed in the dark 
what made it special 
made it dangerous 
so i bury it 
and forget 

but every time it rains 
you’re here in my head 
like the sun coming out 
ooh, i just know that something good is gonna happen 
i don’t know when 
but just saying it could even make it happen 

on top of the world, looking over the edge 
you could see them coming 
you looked too small in their big, black car 
to be a threat to the men in power 

i hid my yo-yo 
in the garden 
but i can’t hide you 
from the government 
oh god, daddy – 
i won’t forget 

’cause every time it rains 
you’re here in my head 
like the sun coming out 
ooh, i just know that something good is gonna happen 
i don’t know when 
but just saying it could even make it happen 

we’re cloudbusting 
we’re cloudbusting 

the sun’s coming out 
the sun’s coming out 
your son’s coming out 
ooh, i just know that something good is coming 

the sun’s coming out …


10. FREE
once upon a heartbreak, i was hot and sore 
punching at the darkness in my private war 
i could not find the light i was so desperate for 
or any open door 

i wore my tattered shoes out on the grieving road 
fell into the arms of folks i didn’t know 
finally got so weary of this heavy load 
i learned to let it go 

i’m free 
    all the worry, all the running away is done 
and blessed 
    to be standing where i am with my feet upon the sand 
welcome, sweet contentment 
    peace has found me 
whatever comes will be okay 
you know it will 

back then, i was running with a bitter crowd 
wrapped these songs around me like some widow’s shroud 
the poetry i wrote then was as mad and loud 
as any thundercloud 

now i’m standing where the river rushes to the sea 
full moon rising high above the redwood trees 
and every trial and trouble, every tragedy 
is just a memory 

i’m free 
    all the worry, all the running away is done 
and blessed 
    oh, to be standing where i am in the beauty of this land 
welcome, sweet contentment 
    peace has found me 
whatever comes will be okay 
you know it will 

i’ve seen floods and i’ve seen fires 
suffered losses, thieves, and liars 
hear them howling in the wind 

for every storm that comes around 
and every love that let me down 
a flower blooms in the shallow ground 
hoping to be found 

now i’m standing where the river rushes to the sea 
full moon rising high above the redwood trees 
and every trial and trouble, every tragedy 
is just a memory 
i’m free 
    all the worry, all the running away is done 
and blessed 
    oh to be standing where i am with a flower in my hand 
welcome, sweet contentment 
    peace has found me 
whatever comes will be okay 
whatever comes, it’s gonna be okay 
whatever comes will be okay 
you know it will 

-- little river, california

# # #
​√ Recording
√ Mixing
√ Mastering
√ Artwork

√ Duplication
√ Kickstarter CDs shipped!


In June 2017, Tracy Grammer appealed to fans, friends, and family for help raising the funds to record and produce a particularly special project -- her first album of original material. The response was nothing short of astonishing. Using the Kickstarter platform, backers leapt at the opportunity to support the project and hit the first goal of $25,000 in just 34 hours, and then went on to raise another $18,000 for duplication, promotion, and tour support -- a wild and unprecedented success.
     Recording began June 15 in Pomfret, Conn. at Signature Sounds Studios. Mixing took place from September through November in Portland, Ore., and the album was sequenced and mastered in Colorado in November. Digital downloads were delivered to all Kickstarter backers the third week of November while the package design was still underway. Design and duplication were completed in December and CDs finally arrived at TG headquarters on December 19, exactly one month before their retail release date of January 19, 2018.
     LOW TIDE was scheduled to take about three months to complete and ended up taking six -- but that's how art is sometimes. The end result was worth the wait.

UPDATE 1/20/18
All CDs have been shipped. Backer rewards like cover songs and handwritten lyrics are in the works. Grateful for your patience!

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