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Pavlov - revisited (single)

by Alpha Mule

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about

From Alpha Mule's 2020 release Something in the Water.

A new take on a track from Alpha Mule's 2016 album Peripheral Vision, featuring a wild Hammond B3 solo by Mike Malone.

lyrics

Pavlov

Charlie curb crawls with a carving knife
for the scarlet letter girls
and he double-checks his color wheel
before he asks ‘em for a whirl
got to make some careful choices
before he spills a little ink
because he could write his own obituary
if they’re blue instead of pink

Carrie’s tarted up like Alice
she’s in a dress that’s size 13
she doesn’t dare drink from the bottle
she knows that just makes her mean
but she can fake a little wonderland
‘cause there’s all those bills to pay
she’s a pistol in the evening
and a bullet in the day

I guess we all make our choices
from the cradle to the grave
someone’s ringing Pavlov’s dinner bell
maybe the choice is already made

Charlie wrapped himself in Cupid's arms
and he drifted off to sleep
thinking she’s no imitation
a gritty pearl against his teeth
she dreamed she flew across the ocean
and it was like she always could
but she keeps clipping off her feathers
because they look nice in a book

she’s the bright spot in his darkness
he’s just a stain upon her dress
wasn’t hoping for transcendence
just to relive an old caress
you know he never understood her
though he tried so hard to please
you know she married him in Spanish
and divorced him in Chinese

he’s only got a little kindling
but he can make the chimney smoke
she’s just dreaming of ol’ Henry James
whether Henry likes it or he don’t
we’ll all keep taking chances
til they put us in the ground
because virtue is sold by volume baby
and vice is sold by pound

now the shed’s all full of drama
wrapped in old extension cords
and there’s fingers like a midget’s
from the rusty table saw
she’s digging up the power lines
and burying the dead
and fussing with the wiring
at the bottom of the bed

I guess we all take our chances
from the cradle to the grave
someone’s ringing Pavlov’s dinner bell
maybe the choice is already made

Charlie’s up before Jesus
telling Sunday morning tales
with a virgin bloody Mary
stretching canvas pounding nails
ain’t no diamonds without pressure
and the deadline’s judgment day
gotta keep begging for redemption
while we keep the lord at bay

I guess we all got our problems
from the cradle to the grave
someone’s ringing Pavlov’s dinner bell
outside an empty cage
we’ll all keep taking chances
til they put us in the ground
because virtue is sold by volume baby
and vice is sold by pound

credits

released March 23, 2020
Joe Forkan • acoustic guitar, vocals
Eric Stoner • acoustic guitar
Matt Mulla • drums
Zach Woodward • electric bass
Mike Malone • hammond b3

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Alpha Mule Los Angeles, California

Alpha Mule is an American music duo from Southern California, featuring musicians Joe Forkan and Eric Stoner.

Their music is influenced by rock, blues, bluegrass, folk and traditional country - primarily music from the American south and American southwest. ... more

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