James Cotton Mather (2021), by The Successful Failures

James Cotton Mather (2021)

by The Successful Failures

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Digipak with additional lyric sheet included. And of course you'll get the new SF "Seam Monster" sticker designed by Jason Kochis. ROCK!

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26

releases

Get all 26 The Successful Failures releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Wrong Together (2023), Sally MacLannane, If I Should Fall From Grace With God (single), Millions of People (single), If I Ever (3-song EP), Uncle Jimmy (single), James Cotton Mather (2021), Hand Grenades (single), and 18 more. , and , .

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SF NEW 2021 James Cotton Mather Themed T-Shirt - Grey
T-Shirt/Apparel + Digital Album
New "sea monster" logo designed by Atlanta, GA based freelance artist jason Kochis. Next Level Tri-Blend T-Shirt.

Includes unlimited streaming of James Cotton Mather (2021) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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SF NEW 2021 James Cotton Mather Themed T-Shirt - Black
T-Shirt/Apparel + Digital Album
New "sea monster" logo designed by Atlanta, GA based freelance artist Jason Kochis. Next Level Tri-Blend T-Shirt.

Includes unlimited streaming of James Cotton Mather (2021) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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JAMES COTTON MATHER ULTIMATE BUNDLE
This is the mother lode! You get the full album on both vinyl and CD and the 11 x 17 poster with full lyrical content. We include the new 4.25" x 5.5" JCM "Sea Monster" sticker and the new "Sea Monster" SF T-shirt both designed by freelance artist Jason Kochis. AND vinyl is signed by the band. IN your notes, let us know your t-shirt size and if you prefer black or grey.

Includes unlimited streaming of James Cotton Mather (2021) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Naval Victories 03:18	lyrics	buy track
I can play a possum I can sink to the bottom Of the sea Even though I can’t breath I’m perfectly at peace No one lies like a Christian On hypocritical missions To the East Down on crooked knees Even God agrees Now everyone is underdressed With garland thrown around our necks The captain came from overseas To tout his naval victories I can sign a petition I can wear my religion On my sleeve I’ll barricade my dreams To keep my team in the lead Now everyone is underdressed With garland thrown around our necks The captain came from overseas To flout his naval victories
2.	A Coat For Your Dreams 04:10	lyrics	buy track
You will do what you dream of doing You will stop when you come to the end You will do what you dream of doing You will become what you intend There is no point to your pretending You will go where the road will take you You will turn when you come to the bend You will go where the road will take you The universe will see your plan And give it to one less deserving You are the cards you’re showing You are the cards you hold in your hand Two tens and a queen of diamonds A three of clubs and an ace of spades Two tens and a queen of diamonds You have a reason to stay in You have no reason to be smiling You are the song you’re singing You are the song you hear in your head Is this the shape of things to come Rolling down like an oil drum Crawling out from under your thumb I am the sound of the city I am the sound of the setting sun There are no lanes to guide you No reigns to pull you in There are no chains to bind you There is no reason to give in Only reasons to keep fighting You are the sound of the city You are the sound of the marching band You are the song of the sitting You are the song of the working man
3.	It Goes Away 03:22	lyrics	buy track
I listen to the wind and how it blows I listen to the voices I don’t even know It is the ocean that I fear the most Rising high above the open coast I close my eyes, and I pray It goes away It comes on again Like a yoyo on a string pulled tight A dancing bear out on his motorbike Back and forth I plant this field with mines. For me to walk through in the dead of night. I know it’s wrong to hide my pain It goes away It comes on again
4.	The Seas Roll Mountain High 04:08	lyrics	buy track
I’ve come to say goodbye to my dear mother My dear mother Mother please don’t cry, I’m goin’ to chop timber Chop timber There is danger in the eye, of the dead ringer The dead ringer With no more than a swipe of his cold finger His cold finger The Seas Roll Mountain High The Seas Roll Mountain High Stranger The Seas Roll Mountain There is danger in the sky for the young soldier The young soldier The angry bullets fly far and near brother My dear brother The Seas Roll Mountain High The Seas Roll Mountain High Stranger The Seas Roll Mountain Still here we are Mother please don’t cry but come hither Come hither Pray for me tonight in my fine timber My pine timber Bury me at sea with my dear father My dear father He’s waiting there for me in the cold water The cold water The Seas Roll Mountain High The Seas Roll Mountain High Stranger The Seas Roll Mountain Still Here We Are
5.	Julie the Redeemer 04:06	lyrics	buy track
Julie, why can’t I find you Julie, must I remind you no thoughts in your mind? no feelings inside? no lattice to climb? Up to your window? Julie, why can’t I find you Julie, must I remind you Julie Your time is your wealth Your crime is your stealth You hide from yourself There in the mirror Would you come nearer? Would you believe in me, Could you believe in me someday? Would you believe in me? Could you believe in me? Julie, I’m a believer Julie, you’re my redeemer Julie I recognize your face Your eyes have been replaced Shadowed and traced Crushed by the wheel Are you for real? Would you believe in me? Could you believe in me someday? Would you believe in me? Could you believe in me?
6.	Tiger Gravel Opposition Child 02:16	lyrics	buy track
Tiger gravel opposition child Tiger gravel opposition child Tiger gravel opposition child Opposition child Waiting for you to step outside Opposition child Waiting for you to step outside Step outside
7.	Let the Power Go Through You 03:32	lyrics	buy track
Let the Power Go Through You Let the Power Go Through You, Danny Let the Power Go Through You Let the Power Go Through You Let the power destroy you Let the power employ you (you work for me now) Let the power define you Let the power confine you (you belong to me now) You belong to me now Let the power destroy you Let the power employ you (you work for me now) Let the power enclose you Let the power expose you (you belong to me now) You belong to me now Let the power destroy you Let the power employ you (you work for me now) Let the power control you Let the power unsoul you (you work for me now) You belong to me now
8.	Hand Grenades 04:40	lyrics	buy track
There’s a bad moon comin I hear the drummers drummin’, down the road Hitchhikers thumbin, politicians running in circles I know A little Spanish but not enough to manage Living out here on my own Tell me what’s the matter, send up another batter I’m holding on, holding on I seen the sun rising Over the horizon, it goes so slow Really what’s the hurry, I fill my days with worry, piles up like snow I’m just a nervous singer, I bite my fingers Right down to the bone My grip tightens, my knuckles whiten I’m holding on, holding on Holding on to this hand grenade Holding on to the plans we made Holding on to this hand grenade Holding on to the games we played Holding on, holding on The home team’s losin’ So much confusion, who’s even keeping score Back at the museum of human beings, there’s a lock on the door All these renovations are just imitations Of what we done before. Fast Eddie and Black Betty Are holding on, holding on
9.	Old Man River 03:35	lyrics	buy track
Down in Westfield Across the river Wyld Out in Potsdam Where the tall trees climb I can’t cross you over Cross you off my mind Move you over Send you down the line This is a dark tale Full of grief and woe Seven young men Did volunteer to go I can’t cross you over Cross you off my mind Move you over Send you down the line Old man river well he pulls me under Old man river’s just begun Old man river, he pulls me under Old man river’s just begun Out in Wakefield There is a hope that’s blind There is an old fear Under the ash and the pine
10.	Little Ivan 03:39	lyrics	buy track
You fill my mind up With tiny screws Tiny boxes, Wooden shoes Little Ivan Little Mary See the horizon Before the rising of the sun You fill my mind up With cannon balls Rusted anchors And crosscut saws Little Ivan Little Mary See the horizon Before the rising of the sun You fill my mind up With raven caws Goats and monkeys Snakes and dogs Little Ivan Little Mary See the horizon Before the rising of the sun
11.	Cara (I Can Take Your Pain Away) 03:12	lyrics	buy track
The ocean is deep And the river is wild You’ll never sleep With your eyes open wide I can hold my hand up to my ear You can tell me what you want me to hear And Cara I can take your pain away Cara I can take your pain Cara I can take your pain away Cara I can take your pain There’s no way to cheat And there’s nowhere to hide And I’ll never be free While there’s tears in your eyes I can hold my hand up to my ear You can tell me what you want me to hear Cara I can take your pain away Cara I can take your pain Cara I can take your pain away Cara I can take your pain It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
12.	Freedom Within 03:15	lyrics	buy track
Falling into the ocean Was like falling out of my bed I learned how to crawl After I learned how to swim Freedom without Freedom Within Freedom without Freedom within Feed me into the ground Like cotton into the ‘gin No one will hear the sound Of me falling down from this limb Freedom without Freedom Within Freedom without Freedom within I’ve been living in my head I’ve been living in my head Like a mouse I’ve been living in my head I’ve been living in my head Like a mouse, in my head, in my house When I’m good and high I can feel the world as it spins I look to the sky And surrender myself to the wind Freedom without Freedom Within Freedom without Freedom within

about

The 9th album from NJ’s The Successful Failures, James Cotton Mather, is an adventure-filled cinematic rock album, full of tragedy, disaster, rescue, and redemption. Nineteenth Century Maine provides the dramatic setting full of rough seas, salty sailors, raging rivers, and dark forests. The lyrics and music trace the story of the titular character, young James Cotton Mather, through a coming of age and a reckoning with his own fears of failure and death.

James Cotton Mather grew up in Maine. He loved the ocean and planned to make his living there like his father. And his father's father. And so on. But a terrible thing happened. James's father died at sea. The ship returned to great ballyhoo but one man was lost. James became afraid of the ocean. He left home and traveled west. He met many people and made many mistakes. He was so absorbed in his own fears that he found no joy in the world. Finally he began working as a lumberjack in Western Maine. Chopping down the ash and the pine, sending the wood down the great rivers to the mills. It was hard work. He began to feel good again. Then suddenly tragedy struck and his foreman and mentor Jack Monroe died in a terrible logging accident on the river. Jack left behind a brokenhearted fiance, Cara. James went into a terrible tailspin until he thought of Cara and her pain. He went to her and offered an ear. He listened. By helping her he helped himself. James returned home. He was no longer afraid.

credits

released November 12, 2021

Recorded by Adam Vaccarelli in Red Bank, NJ at Retromedia Studio in February, 2021
Additional recording at FDR Studio C in Chesterfield, NJ
Mixed by Adam Vaccarelli in Red Bank, NJ
Performed by Mick Chorba, Ron Bechamps, Rob Martin, and Pete Smith with special guest Grace Quackenboss on B3 organ on "Julie the Redeemer" and "Hand Grenades"
Mastered by Drew Mazurek in Baltimore, MD
Album design by Mike Virok in Hamilton, NJ

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The Successful Failures Trenton, New Jersey

"The first thing you should know about The Successful Failures is that any attempt to plug them into one genre or another is very much a fool’s errand. Hailing from Trenton, N.J., the band deftly combines Americana, Pop, Rock, and enough of a dusting of Bluegrass that serves as an appetizer to the main course without overwhelming the entire meal." - July 2020, Rock is the New Roll ... more

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