"Though it's the opening track, You Can't Stop Progress is one of the last songs we wrote for Beale Street. It is sort of a preface to the next track, Power Player. We happened to perform it one night before Power Player, and it became apparent that the two were joined at the hip. We first heard the Bad Brains 20 years ago and in this tune it's obvious that they're still influencing us."

Yes, I'll be a responsible member
of this great and bless'd society.
I've come to understand the wrongful nature
of gun ownership in the age of monarchy.
But sometimes it's just so hard
to act like the person you weren't born to be.
Felonious behavior. Countless misdemeanors.
Impersonating an officer of the law.
Bonafide man of action! How you like that?
Bonafide man of action! How you like that?
You can't stop, you can't stop progress.
You cant's stop, you can't stop, no, no, no
You can't stop, you can't stop progress.
You cant's stop, you can't stop, no, no, no.
I understand there's no victimless crimes.
That being said I feel rather victimized.
And I will seek substantial compensation.
Whether legally, legal-ish, or otherwise.
But sometimes it's such a hassle
to sit patiently outside the open gates of a loaded castle.
Felonious behavior. Countless misdemeanors.
Impersonating an officer of the law.
Bonafide man of action! How you like that?
Bonafide man of action! How you like that?
You can't stop, you can't stop progress.
You cant's stop, you can't stop, no, no, no
You can't stop, you can't stop progress.
You cant's stop, you can't stop, no, no, no.

"This is the first song we wrote for the record. The idea for these lyrics came about while we were doing a lot of international flying. We even had the rare luxury of flying first class once [once being the operative word]. It's a whole different scene up there, hot towels and cheese trays. The rock band definitely came across as a booze soaked horde of barbarians. That, coupled with some late night notes taken in the lobby of the Hotel Ukraine in Moscow brought about this tune."

Diplomatically, emphatically deny
any prior knowledge shape or kind.
You don't know nothing about a Russian hooker.
Some bloke broke in and straight up took her.
Western European journalists, devious little monkeys,
They're bloody relentless.
Call the consulate, and burn the evidence,
Don't speak another word, just burn the evidence.
I'm not giving you attitude, I just want another drink.
I don't care about the altitude, I just want another drink.
Get your hands off me, you don't know who I am.
I'm a power player, I'm a power player.
Get your hands off me, you don't know who I am.
I'm a power player, I'm a power player.
You can always tell the terrorist by his cologne and the watch on his wrist.
It says I'm the type of man that can kick off anywhere, kick off anywhere.
I'm not giving you attitude, I just want another drink.
I don't care about the altitude, I just want another drink.
Movers, shakers, money makers, deal breakers, and dogs,
In this game you've got to lose a couple of your pawns.
I'm not giving you attitude, I just want another drink.
I don't care about the altitude, I just want another drink.
Movers, shakers, money makers, deal breakers, and dogs,
In this game you've got to lose a couple of your pawns.

"These lyrics are imagined from two viewpoints. The first is God as he sits on his front porch giving his old buddy Lucifer a hard time for double-crossing him. The other is from the dark lord himself. He realizes that he fucked up, and he's got to hit the road. Oscar Hernandez and Lee Brintnall provided clap track. Killer claps... the best."

The devil and me had a falling out.
Violation of contract beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Wherever he go, whomever he meet.
He got to cross my house on the other side of the street.
And you know that's the truth. Now here's the part that the devil sings while he's
hanging his head in a hard rain:
Where I'm headed, I don't know.
Down this path, we all go.
Grace and luck, blood from stone.
Got nowhere to call my home.
What comes around goes around three-fold or more.
Now you can't get off of that killing floor.
I'm going back to Tennessee, back where I come from.
Gonna head back to Beale Street, Beale Street and Oblivion.
The devil and me, bad blood and beef.
An undisciplined child, a liar and a thief.
It's a low down shame, we were the best of friends.
But I suppose all good things got to come to an end.
What comes around goes around three-fold or more.
Now you can't get off of that killing floor.
I'm going back to Tennessee, back where I come from.
Gonna head back to Beale Street, Beale Street and Oblivion.
I'm going back to Tennessee, back where I come from.
Gonna head back to Beale Street, Beale Street and Oblivion.
Gotta get off of that killing floor.

"Every once in a while I go out on a drive through some old country roads in Maryland and Virginia. One of these routes goes over the Potomac via White's Ferry. This song is about some of the sights and experiences of one particular drive in September of 2006. Bryan Hinkley from Never Got Caught does the duel lead with Tim on this one, as well as wee tasty bits throughout."

Only the dirt I do believe.
As memory vanishes among the leaves.
Wizard of tickets is always glad to charge a pilgrim's fare.
Jubilee's generally early. Let's take the country air.
Mistreating granite, limestone, and clay. It's a shameful soil.
But all grows well on the floodplain tract if you can afford the toil.
Cradled in ivy, we will allow
the moss to prosper upon our brows.
Boxer rebellion, the Holy Child. They all pay their rent.
But none together can testify to rhythm of a road well bent.
Saddles and zip codes, passports and gates, the Jones' keep.
In August the water is trickling, in April it's furious deep.
Wizard of tickets is always glad to charge a pilgrim's fare.
Jubilee's generally early. Let's take the country air.
Mistreating granite, limestone, and clay. It's a shameful soil.
But all grows well on the floodplain tract if you can afford the toil.
Only the dirt I do believe.
Divinity vanishes among the leaves.

"Some say Johannes Trithemius was a magician. Others believe he disguised his science and steganography inside a magical guise as an example of its practical application. Whatever the case, it's good material for rock and roll lyrics."

Child of the city, Mother of the Earth
Baptism by firefly, pinch a parson's purse.
Queen of Cups the Joker's blade is old and dull.
Child of the City
Yet it slices us with the nicest miracles.
Babe in the Wilderness, Father of Creation,
Spinning of the wind, the gathering of nations.
Professor on the Toadstool convene your class.
Babe in the wilderness.
In absentia, please show your hands.
And your feet. Are you touched by a beast?
Wash yourself, live your life. Take the Earth as your wife.
False idol raiser, play the town.
Count up your blessings and melt it down.
Immortal Dominator. Governor of the World.
Sic semper tyrannis. The Fisher and the Pearl.
The bearer of this letter is a charlatan.
Immortal Dominator.
In absentia, please show your hands and your feet
And your feet. Are you touched by a beast?
Wash yourself, live your life. Take the Earth as your wife.
False idol raiser, play the town.
Count up your blessings and melt it down.
All your money now, kid. All your money now, kid.
All your money now, kid. All your money.

"This song is one part cover song, one part original. Half of each verse is taken from Mississippi Fred McDowell's "Fred's Worried Life Blues." The rest is our own concoction. When we wrote the upbeat part of the song, I couldn't hear the typical blues sentiment. Instead, it kind of became a motivational speaker slapping himself out of a stupor. The chorus "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Vamanos! Vamanos!" has nothing to do with guns. It got its start long ago when Tim, and I can't recall why, said, "Vamanos! Bang! Bang!" Add a bit of John Lee Hooker and there you go. The ripping harp solo is none other that Five Horse Johnson's Eric Oblander."

Well you made me weep and you made me moan
When you caused me to leave, child, my happy home.
But someday, baby, you ain't gonna worry my life anymore.
I get satisfaction everywhere I go.
Where I lay my head - that's where I call home.
Whether barren pines, or the mission stare,
Take tomorrow's collar and give 'em back the glare.
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos.
Bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos.
You told everybody in the neighborhood
what a dirty mistreater. That I was no good.
But someday, baby, you ain't gonna worry my life anymore.
Doctor or lawyer, I'll never be.
Life of a drifter - only life for me,
You can have your riches, all the gold you saved.
Cause' ain't room for one thing in everybody's grave.
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos!
Bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos!
If I had money, like Henry Ford,
Lord, I'd have me a woman, yeah on every road.
But Someday, baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more.
Invocation of the dummies, requiem for a head,
Cash in at the corner, piles of street cred.
I get satisfaction everywhere I go.
One day baby you'll worry me no more.
Bang, bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos!
Bang, bang, bang! Vamanos, vamanos!

"When we were touring we got in the habit of jamming Electric Worry straight into One Eye Dollar. We tried to write a new tune that would do the same trick, but nothing was as good. So we said screw it, let's just track it again. I was never happy with the lyrics on the original version, so this was a good opportunity to do some editing."

I been working, one eye dollar, by and by, Lord, by and by.
I got the plans to the Oval office, by and by, Lord, by and by.
In the inner chambers of the president
You will find no crosses only pentagrams.
1600, all the way! That's right brother, all the way!
1600, today's our day!
I been working, one eye dollar, by and by, Lord, by and by.
I got the plans in my front pocket, by and by, Lord, by and by.
I been working like a pack mule every day.
And to think that some of it ends up that way.
1600, all the way! That's right brother, all the way!
1600, today's our day!

"Read Russel Hoban's 'Riddley Walker.' It'll explain everything."

Went to the doctor, to see what could be given.
He said, "Sorry, but you've got to do your own livin'."
Went to the pastor, to hear what he would say.
He said, "Sorry, son, come back later some time after judgment day."
There is no safe way out of here. No passage below the dungeon.
No mother ship will save you. So goes the rapture of Riddley Walker.
Churchyard was empty, schoolyard was bare.
Wind in the streets, wind in the air.
Pockets of diamonds, nothing to buy.
Scream out hello and get no reply.
Victims of zombies convene in the park
While any man with dignity makes an easy mark.
Heaven is a long ways away. Heaven is a long, long, long, long ways away.
There is no safe way out of here. No passage below the dungeon.
No mothership will come save you. The rapture of Riddley Walker.
How many-cools of Addom? Party cools of stone?
Hart of the wood shudder. Eusa roam.
Drop-John been climbing on Riddley's back. Follow the power, a natural fact.
Orfing & Ardship, hardship is plain. Hardly Goodparley is ever the same.
Shadows and phantom's convene in the snow.
Among the low whispers are voices you know.
Heaven is a long ways away. Heaven is a long, long, long, long ways away.
There is no safe way out of here. No passage below the dungeon.
No mothership will come save you. The rapture of Riddley Walker.
How many-cools of Addom? Party cools of stone?
Hart of the wood shudder. Eusa roam.

"I got no problems with vegans. Let's be clear on that. But have you ever met someone who has concocted his or her own convenient first-world philosophy? Cherry picked all those bits of radicalism that appealed to them and threw out the ugly bits? Someone who thinks they're enlightened but are really jut a victim of the own peer driven self-congratulatory bullshit? I have. There's lots of those types in Washington D.C."

How's that hardcore fanzine? Still take the piss?
Y and T got records, demos on cassette.
Summer of the seven inch. Too cool for school.
Manifestos at Kinko's, pinko commies play no fools.
I feel the spirit moving over me.
There are clouds beneath my feet.
When vegans attack on ten speed bikes.
Tattoos with meaning, American Spirit Lights.
It's hard to smoke 'em when you got to be runnin'
Congressional and D.C.P.D.
Lafayette Park undercovers,
The saddest sight you ever see, ever see.
Tear gas electric! You know I can't quit this riot.
Strictly professional insurrectionist kid, and I can't deny it.
I feel the spirit moving over me.
There are clouds beneath my feet.
When vegans attack on ten speed bikes.
Tattoos with meaning, American Spirit Lights .
Freshmen in fatigues. You know he's fighting for his right.
Copious note taker. American Spirit Lights.
I feel the spirit moving over me.
I feel the spirit moving over me.
There are clouds beneath my feet.
When vegans attack on ten speed bikes.
Tattoos with meaning, American Spirit Lights .
Freshmen in fatigues. You know he's fighting for his right.
Copious note taker. American Spirit Lights.

"In the early 1980s' my family lived in a typically terrible pre-planned suburban development called Montgomery Village. Our house bordered a historical town called Prathertown. Prathertown was a free town and I went to school with some Prathers. In the back end of Prathertown there was a lady who lived in a dilapidated home. She had cut outs of wild boars with bloody tusks on her roof, two impossibly colossal rocking chairs, and a collection of saints in her front yard. It was the house we all walked by a bit quicker."

I met a lady down in Prathertown, two rocking chairs.
She said take a seat boy and I'll treat you fair.
Snake charmers cold infidels, get a running start.
Pick up the pieces in the graveyard and unbury my heart.
The wolf howls at midnight, the rooster at the dawn
Opossum minister where you been so long?
Montgomery Village kids, you just look like the type.
You sure you want to know the mysteries? You're but a trifling height.
Families in their den, staring at the box
Opossum minister hen done killed the fox.
Eyes like clouds know you stare.
Count the minutes by the rocking of chairs.
Prathertown unincorporated,
May you stay far unrelated to the wicked ways of Montgomery Village.
There's a darkness deep in their eyes, as if the sun don't rise.
Those poor afflicted people of Montgomery Village
Fake farmers, straight Jezebels, you know the score.
Pick up the pieces in the graveyard and leave 'em at the door.
The master-plan unfolds, silent sinister
Is there any hope left Opossum Minister?

Eyes like clouds know you stare.
Count the minutes by the rocking of chairs.
Prathertown unincorporated,
May you stay far unrelated to the wicked ways of Montgomery Village.
There's a darkness deep in their eyes, as if the sun don't rise.
Those poor afflicted people of Montgomery Village

Prathertown unincorporated,
May you stay far unrelated to the wicked ways of Montgomery Village.
There's a darkness deep in their eyes, as if the sun don't rise.
Those poor afflicted people of Montgomery Village

"In Sauget, Illinois there is a club called Pop's. It's on a lawless piece of land with 24 hour strip bars and an O.T.B. I once went into the O.T.B. facility and saw the strangest collection of people one could imagine. It was Mos Eisley spaceport. A woman dressed like she had come straight from a jazz funeral walked in and no one seemed to notice her but myself. I guess anomaly is typical in Sauget. Eric plays on this track as well."

Money Mike, Pistol Pete
both went running down the street.
Police and snitches, lover's lane.
Hot summer. Hot rain.
Hit the bricks.
The girl got her tricks.
She's the Mississippi terror,
and there's none the fairer.
O.T.B. was jammed.
Paper changing hands.
Nothing left but smoke and cellar
And a Woman with a black umbrella.
Little Lewis lost his shit.
10 to 1, couldn't collect.
Fish Head Phil, Itchy Ike...
say they never got home that night.
Shake the breaker.
That girl ain't no money maker.
She's come to cook all the books,
and flaunt her good looks.
O.T.B. was jammed.
Paper changing hands.
Nothing left but smoke and cellar.
And a Woman with a black umbrella.

"Some people don't like politics in their songs. I don't either. But some characters loom so large in our lives that they are fair game to be used as fodder for creating fictions. Both Bryan and Eric strong-armed themselves onto tape yet again."

Has your child completed his or her suspicious activity booklet?
Don't let this summer go to waste.
The enemy is preparing their children, are you?
Time to show them who's boss.
Moloch demands fresh blood to maintain the appetite of his mechanical heart.
Will you sacrifice your first born like Abraham would his Isaac?
Will you sacrifice your first born like Abraham would his Isaac?

Tell me why, Dick Cheney, underneath my bed?
Hell no, that ain't cool!
Tendin' to the lips of a shrunken head.
No sir, that ain't cool.
Come on now take one for the team.
Stick it to the man, stick it to the man.
Raise the dagger high above Isaac
drive it down as hard as you can.
Shiny Master Cadillackness, halos suit you well.
All goes exactly as planned, so many tomorrows to sell.
Shiny Master Cadillackness, halos suit you well.
Stand fast, upset the system, so many tomorrows to sell.
Mother, mother, don't want to work on the farm no more.
Father, father, don't want to wear your uniform.
Mary, Mary, keep me safe and comforted.
Father, Father, raise that dagger up above your head.

Shiny Master Cadillackness, halos suit you well.
All goes exactly as planned so many tomorrows to sell.
Shiny Master Cadillackness, halos suit you well.
Stand fast, upset the system, so many tomorrows to sell.
[bridge]
Shiny Master Cadillackness, halos suit you well.
All goes exactly as planned, so many tomorrows to sell.
Shiny Master Cadillackness, halos suit you well.
Stand fast, upset the system, so many tomorrows to sell.
[bridge]
All you ready to prove your love to the Lord?
I said are you willing to prove your love to the Lord?
As Abraham handed down his first born on a stone.
Do you wonder what is right and what is wrong?
Shiny Master Cadillackness
Shiny Master Cadillackness
Shiny Master Cadillackness
Shiny Master Cadillackness