Get all 7 Cosmic Bull releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Band Substances, Hangin' in the I.P., The Spectacle of Christmas (So Pretty), Unless You Know People (Trigger), Unless You Know People (Von Mertens), 27x2, and Joe Namath Moment.
1. |
Metro-National
04:33
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Metro-National
Over the heads of everyone
Under the beds of anyone who’s frightened
Hope we don’t bite
One with the stars, don’t you know
Ones with the scars from too much excitement
Once it gets tight
We’re metro-national
We never get squeaky clean
Molecules all aro-o-o-o-ound
Don’t know who sent you all
But we can get sweet and mean
Let us show you what we fo-o-o-o-ound
Back of the mind, always there
Are we unkind? Or maybe just don’t care enough
To take to your shine
Dead of the night watch us go
Under the light — where I melt so slowly
Whatever, that’s fine
It’s so ostentatious that it feels outrageous
Under your skin
We’re gonna get off sometime, maybe rays of sunshine
Gonna get in
We’re metro-national
We never get squeaky clean
Molecules all aro-o-o-o-ound
Don’t know who sent you all
But we can get sweet and mean
Let us show you what we fo-o-o-o-ound
We’re metro-national
Taking up time and space
‘Cause we wanna make your day-ay-ay-ay-ay
Don’t know who sent you all
To such a special place
But won’t you come out and play-ay-ay-ay-ay
Check your expression now
You really must think we’re gone
Not that it matters much anyhow
But baby, you’re just plain wrong
How cannot you see me?
I can see you so clear
You can go on and bail if you please
Just check us again next year
It’s so ostentatious that it feels outrageous
Under your skin
We’re gonna get off sometime, maybe rays of sunshine
Gonna get in
We’re metro-national
Taking your time and space
‘Cause we wanna make your day-ay-ay-ay-ay
Don’t know who sent you all
To such a special place
But won’t you come out and play-ay-ay-ay-ay
We’re metro-national
We never get squeaky clean
Molecules all aro-o-o-o-ound
Don’t know who sent you all
But we can get sweet and mean
Let us show you what we fo-o-ound
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2. |
neoromanticism
03:24
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neoromanticism
Joie de vivre, plaisir à chanter
Nos moments passés sous le soleil
Could never last
So why not open up that door
And in the air — spend your time?
Magic never lasts for long
And God’s a dream — a perfect dream
Will you take that leap this time
And leave yourself — yourself behind?
If you’re in the air — you will come down
Either soft or hard to the ground
So what you think you’re put here for
But to find where you’re bound?
Magic never lasts for long
And God’s a dream — a perfect dream
Will you take that leap this time
And leave yourself — yourself behind?
Magic never lasts for long
And God’s a dream — a perfect dream
Will you take the wheel this time
And leave yourself — yourself behind?
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3. |
Once the Dust Settles
04:25
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Once the Dust Settles
When you — got the bull by the balls
You mustn’t crawl
When you — got the bull by the balls
You can’t stand tall
You’ve gone too far in your indulgences
Now your neighbors can’t comprehend
Just what this is
‘Cause when you — got the bull by the balls
It’s a free-for-all
What’s gone on before has no place with what is now
Everything is point A to point B — anyhow
But oh-oh what happens
Once the dust all settles down
Right down to the ground?
You tell your friends, on whose word you depend
How it really went
Improvise — nobody’s calling out lies here
For the time you spent
When you — had the bull by the balls
You didn’t fall
When you — had the bull by the balls
You didn’t think at all
But oh-oh what lingers
Once the dust all settles down?
Where went your fingers
Once your head was out of town
Head right out of town?
Over time — these memories start to fade
Even those — even the ones
Like the ones you made
When you — had the bull by the balls
Who even cares?
When you — had the bull by the balls
Were you even there?
But oh-oh what happens
Once the dust all settles down
Right down to the ground?
But oh-oh what happens
Was it lost and/or profound?
Lost and/or profound
Lost and/or profound
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4. |
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Hope You’re Still Familiar
Some say going down this road
Contains the hopes we sewed
But I don’t think they really have survived
After all the deals are made
And sunlight turns to shade
And what was once so close is now estranged
Hope you’re still familiar
Hope you’re still familiar once I’ve changed
Once the millions spin about
And the gold keeps spooling out
And we’re bound to think we’ve finally arrived
Won’t you be surprised to find
I’m out of sight and mind
‘Cause I can see the way it’s all deranged
Hope you’re still familiar
Hope you’re still familiar once I
Hope you’re still familiar
Hope you’re still familiar once I
Hope you’re still familiar
Hope you’re still familiar once I
Hope you’re still familiar
Hope you’re still familiar once I’ve changed
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5. |
The Challenge Before Me
03:57
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The Challenge Before Me
Now then, how’s it gonna be?
Can’t wait for long
Justified looks — either craven to the crooks
Or you’re strong
Then I’m sublime cheap rhyme go-getter
So then how’s it gonna be?
Can’t wait for long
I’ve been nice, I’ve been cold
I’ve been on fire, and now I smoke
Now then, how’s it gonna be?
Can’t wait for long
Now let’s take a look at me
A minute in the song
I hit ‘em high, I hit ‘em low
I cheat ‘em fair, don’t you know
I been out of breath
Running in circles, only
Any time of day
You’ll be distracted anyway
You are the challenge before me
Takes so much energy
Just chasing synergy
Let’s say for argument’s sake
On the level, on the take all along
And let’s say we could move above the fray
Better than our modern Babylon
But to your twisted mind as usual
Everything comes out like a threat when I say
Now then, how’s it gonna be?
Can’t wait for long
I hit ‘em high, I hit ‘em low
I cheat ‘em fair, don’t you know
So that’s how it’s gonna be
All right or wrong
I’m flashing my jewel, cutting my ring
Gonna put my all around everything
But I’ll never be so lucky
Any time of day
You will be savage anyway
You are the challenge before me
I’m like a duck on a pond
Quacking for you to respond
You come with talons, you come with teeth
You are the challenge before me
And what I see on the wall
Might only be our downfall
Takes so much energy
Just chasing synergy
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6. |
Segway for Two
01:20
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7. |
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More Than You Bargained For
Two parts pain and five parts love
Three parts brain — one part shove
Half below, half above
What I’m made of
A bit more than you bargained for
This side shade and that side light
One gets paid, one’s alright
Makes the grade, day through night
Lose your fight
It’s more than you bargained for
I played too long
Outside the limits of the city - oh
How I need that car with remote control
Glad when I see you soul to soul
So many only want to be on patrol
What you gotta say, well it’s not up to me
And if you want your fill then bon appetit
I’ll be content to just sit by the wayside
What you gotta say, well it’s not up to me
And if you want your fill then bon appetit
I’ve heard the he-said, she-said drama TV
I’ve seen every manifestation of
This whole damned industry
Gonna make time, gonna make it more mine
‘Cause it gonna be fine, if it come from my mind - yeah
What it got to be, well it’s what it’s gonna be
And that’s one thing that’s up to me
Two parts pain and five parts love
Three parts brain — one part shove
Half below, half above
What I’m made of
And then mom and dad
Will get glum and sad
4, 5, 6 — 7, 8, 9, 10
I’d do this all over again
This side shade — that side light
Say goodnight
A bit more than you bargained for
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8. |
Eureka Smoke
04:02
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Eureka Smoke
What a feeling
What a show
Is it our business?
I don’t know
Way over yonder
Way off screen
They got what you want
Or so it would seem
If you’re feeling funky — I know
You need a toke
And next thing you know, Eureka Smoke
Will tomorrow
Will today
Will or won’t we
Will our way?
Stay out to find it
Stay out all night
Stay out your foolishness
Or stay out of sight
If you’re feeling funky — I know
You need a toke
And next thing you know, Eureka Smoke
In the middle of a sunny dream
You say “Got to make it just like any day”
Why can’t we let summer days
Just be summer days
And not more time to blaze?
I need that secret you use
To get a thing done
‘Cause I just can’t make a plan
Or even give a damn
On 30 milligrams, yeah
Will tomorrow
Will today
Will or won’t we
Will our way?
Stay out to find it
Stay out all night
Stay out your foolishness
Or stay out of sight
If you’re feeling funky — I know
You need a toke
And next thing you know, Eureka Smoke
If you’re feeling funky — I know I know I know
You reek o’ smoke
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9. |
Catch on Fire
03:27
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Catch on Fire
Aging alone
While you’re working from home
No one you know
Will inquire what you’ve done
Take as a gift
You’ve got nothing to lift
Then do as you please
When they sit you down and say
This won’t make you happy
But I believe you won’t catch on fire
If I might make it snappy
I’m revealing but my desire
My desire
Eat to the Beat
Like an Auto-American
Parallel Lines
Spell your Plastic Letters
They’ll say
To your face
That you don’t have
A place
But you can still find
Your way around this one
This won’t make you happy
But I believe you won’t catch on fire
If I might make it snappy
I’m revealing but my desire
My desire
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10. |
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How to Live Among the Troglodytes
It’s hard to live among the troglodytes
I, for one, carry a spear
It’s not a weapon but it’s good for sight
Mine and anyone who’s near
We all have talents
When our wheels align
So let’s have the guts
To swing our butts
Serve the nuts if so inclined
I know you been told
It’s not for fun, it’s been sold
But that’s not you — you’re not cold
Be in the cut, not the fold
Answer the question I’ve long had
What makes you smile?
Is it only accomplishments
Laced with a trace of style?
Answer the question once and for all
What makes you care?
Is it power and greed
Or the need of those right beside you
Oh it’s hard to live among the troglodytes
I, for one, carry a spear
It’s not a weapon but it’s good for sight
Mine and anyone who’s near
We all have talents
When our wheels align
So let’s have the guts
To shake our butts
Serve the nuts if so inclined
I know you been told
It’s not for fun, it’s been sold
But that’s not you — you’re not cold
Be in the cut, not the fold
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11. |
New Year Song
04:46
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New Year Song
Of all the things I want for my new year
From the new year, in the new year
My bag of tricks is ever full
Everybody wants a pull
And it feels so near
Of all the things I want for my new year
Maybe far above them all
Is that whatever happens
It’s something no one’s yet called
It’s always best to know what you are
And what you ain’t
Of all the things I don’t want for New Year’s
In the new year, from the new year
I might be going going gone
Without knowing something’s wrong
And that’s a true fear
Of all the things I want for my new year
Maybe far above the fray
Is that whatever happens
It’s something no one’s yet made
When I’m down on my knees
Can’t see the forest from trees
That’s something I’ve longed to say so long
New sun is rising for
A tomorrow making good
Only takes one time the other way
It’s always best to know what you are
And what you ain’t
Of all the things you should want for New Year’s
In the new year, from the new year
Catch a break in your favor
Let everyone savor
We’ll sing a you-cheer
Of all the things you should want for New Year’s
And this one really should be filled
Is that whatever happens
I hope it’s something we build
When I’m down on my knees
Can’t see the forest from trees
That’s something I’ve longed to say so long
New sun is rising for
A tomorrow making good
New sun is rising for
A tomorrow making good
New sun is rising for
A tomorrow making good
Only takes one time the other way
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Cosmic Bull Chicago, Illinois
Based in Chicago, Cosmic Bull is an ongoing music project originating with songs written and performed by Mark Vickery.
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