We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Out from Nowhere

by Mark Browning

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
CALIFORNIA BREEZES California breezes Shake your raven hair Smile that smile of pleasure That would be noticed anywhere She came in over the ranges She came in over the sea She’s got mixed up with moonlight And some ancient mystery And in our seaside tower It’s a dance no dance can be And I can only watch with wonder As she walks in the evening breeze And she turns in a certain fashion And her lips seem so full of life Her hips twitch like a kitten’s And her eyes burn dark and bright She says, there’s a storm comin honey You need to hold me tight I came in here from nowhere Even the wind didn’t know my name I feel flocks of birds sailing Over a sea of black and gold Tropical winds a-blowing Across this planetary soul Nighttime curtain is falling The stars are turning blue and cold Come here honey and touch me And make this moment unfold California breezes Shake your raven hair Smile that smile of pleasure That would be noticed anywhere…
2.
Dark Moon 06:03
DARK MOON A wind kicks up from nowhere, rattling the panes Slamming all the doors shut, then opening them again People look around and they know that something’s up But they just can’t find the pulse and they feel so out of touch Hear the people talking, talking about events They talk around in circles, then they come back again No one’s ever told them how to exit from that room But there’s no talking sense down in Quicktown in the light of this dark moon Dark moon, lost in reddish haze Dark moon, affecting all our days Better to live your own life by your own device In a time the laws of nature are the only that apply You might get lonely but at least you’re standing in the sun Just don’t let them kill you by degrees, make them take you all at once I remember your sweet face the last time that we met You turned to walk away, then you stood there on the step We both had words to say but it was all happening too soon And then you disappeared into the light of this dark moon Dark moon, in my heart you dwell Dark moon, when will you break your spell? In the abandoned chapel lays an open book The wind blows through the pages as if to take a better look Babies are crying, men are strategizing war And the threat of the ages shakes the people right down to their core The curse of Oppomayah lingers around like smoke The more the people hear those words, they know that they’re no joke And from the firelight they wander in the gloom With all eyes on the sky in the light of this dark moon With all eyes on the sky in the light of this dark moon With all eyes on the sky in the light of this dark moon
3.
Emma Mae 05:45
EMMA MAE There ain't no doctor That can cure this achin' heart There ain't no lawyer Gonna tear these laws apart Just a pretty blue-eyed girl Somewhere in the world, it’s up to her. I leave a crowded club And go walkin along the curb of the street I go out to the pier And stand looking out to sea And as I turn I see her starin at me Come slowly, come softly Emma Mae! Children in rags they search And through the streets they run And all around them now Pours the sound of foreign tongues But the ringing note we make Is quite clearly sung That lonesome beggar finds me And tells me with a sigh There's no hope left for us now And the time is drawing nigh I look past his face To the stars up in the sky Come slowly, come softly Emma Mae! I take the path that climbs the hills Up, up into the night And breathless at the top I stand Peaceful in the night From here the town Is but yellow squares of light All the ancient stones and paths Lay covered in the rain But the design is everywhere Every object calls your name And the beat of the sea Is like the blood in my veins Come slowly, come softly Emma Mae! My hand is now outstretched And it will not go away My voice has joined the wind And there it seems to stay And the ship with white sails Is waiting in the bay Come slowly, come softly Emma Mae!
4.
Mystery 04:03
Mystery When that mockingbird sings at midnight The world is like a dream Nothing's what it used to be There’s a veil over everything Reflections on the water Reflections in my eyes It seems all these reflections Are but a thin disguise No answer to my question... But silence is the key I will go just as I came Lost in mystery My best thoughts come at midnight My mind goes out for miles It roams the rings of Saturn And stays here all the while My past plays like a movie Its such a ribald tale The people I have known I see in fine detail No answer to my question... I keep trying to pull that curtain From that hidden face I think I catch a glimpse of it But it keeps falling back in place. Everywhere there’s a voice That’s sings in no man’s tongue Everyone gets to hear it They just can’t tell anyone. No answer to my question... There’s no way to name With what I commune The night is my cathedral My chalice is the moon The sky’s a velvet blanket The stars are silver jewels And the mockingbird sings his heart out Are we angels or are we fools? No answer to my question...
5.
American Sky 04:45
American Sky Red dirt field in muscadine shade Pretty little girl selling lemonade You get your brothers and I’ll get mine And we’ll play ball till whippoorwill time Crack of the bat and roll of the ball Can’t you hear your momma call? Laundry hanging on the line We might get home by suppertime Red dirt field Warm and bright There, it burns in my memory. Don’t you know we were growing up? Don’t you know we were wild and tough? Don't you know we we were drinking from the cup Of the American sky? Bully coming on way too strong I beat him on the bases all day long He came at me with fist and foot I gave to him as good as I got Blue jay in the persimmon tree Jody Turner waving at me Blood running fast in my veins A thousand dreams running through my brain Red dirt field Warm and bright There, it burns in my memory. Don’t you know we were growing up? Don’t you know we were wild and tough? Don’t you know we were drinking from the cup Of the American sky? Scarlet sun hanging low Rollin river in the afterglow Fisherman casts in his line The wind rises softly in the pines/A soft wind rises in the pines Chorus of calls in the night Ancient book opened to the light Moths against the window pane Tomorrow comes another day Red dirt field Warm and bright There, it burns in my memory. Don’t you know we were growing up? Don’t you know we were wild and tough? Don’t you know we were drinking from the cup Of the American sky?
6.
NO TIME LIKE THIS THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE BABY COME TAKE A LOOK THIS BREEZE BLOWIN THROUGH THE WINDOW JUST SHUT MY BOOK THE NEIGHBOR LADY’S PLANTIN FLOWERS THERES MUD ON HER KNEES THE DOG'S RUNNING CIRCLES ALL THROUGH THE TREES SUNSHINE POURIN DOWN CASTIN PATTERNS OF SHADE HONEY GRAB YOUR HAT, LETS PROMENADE BENEATH THE BRANCHES OF THE BLOWIN TREES LETS JUST KEEP THEM COMPANY AND THERES NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE AND THERES NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE AND DOWN THAT ROAD, WHERE YOUR FOOTSTEPS FLOW YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY TO WHERE YOUR HEART WANTS TO GO AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE CRESCENT MOON ARISIN THROUGH THAT INDIGO SKY THAT COW THAT JUMPED OVER MAN HOW SHE COULD FLY LITTLE KIDS TELLIN STORIES ON THE OLD STONE WALL LAUGHTER AND WHISPERS TELL IT ALL OLD MAN STANDING STRAIGHT AND TALL RED BIRD SINGING, HEAR HIM CALL HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL, HEAR HIM CALL HEAR HIM CALL... AND DOWN THAT ROAD, WHERE YOUR FOOTSTEPS FLOW YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY TO WHERE YOUR HEART WANTS TO GO AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THIS TO MAKE DREAMS ...................COME TRUE!!
7.
Boy Going Home When first you came knocking To my door Barefoot and smiling How innocent we were Love striking two hearts To start a boy goin home Cats in the window In our house on the hill From all appearances All was going well Except for a certain unpaid debt Of a boy going home Lights of the city Burning busy and bright Where the eyes of a stranger Could seem so full of light Until the dealer flicked the switch On a boy going home. Drawn to a fire I fed from dusk to dawn Little knowing that what I burned Was the love I lived on. Such is the darkness of the road sometimes For a boy going home Now I’m doing solitary There’s not a soul around It’s a funny prison though All the walls are blown down It takes some time for the world to return To a boy going home New moon rising Eyes growing clear The feeling that someone I know Is standing so near The reflection in the water shows The boy that came home.
8.
Take Me to the Water Heart of spring Dances in a robin’s throat Out from nowhere comes The sun’s first faint sudden glow. Bound to the struggle Bound to the rhythm and rhyme And from the hills and valleys Rise men and towns Take me to the water Let the water flow down Take me to the water Let it take me where I’m bound Into the clearing Strides a buck in stoic grace And the archer’s arrow flies Right into place Before the evening fire Eyes lock in passionate heat While the ever changing nature Of time strikes a beat Take me to the water Let the water flow down Take me to the water Let it take me where I’m bound Down from the mountain Float leaves of gold and brown While the remnants of winter lay scattered Cross frozen ground Whispers in the lamplight Whispers in the wind on high And in the cold hour of dawn Comes a new born baby’s cry. Take me to the water Let the water flow down Down, down, down Down, down, down
9.
A Million Miles from Salvation You’re playing blackjack in the anteroom with a monkey and a priest The monkey won’t stop jabberin about how you’re such a beast Your skin is crawling from the awful thought that the monkey's really where it’s at Well you’re a million miles from salvation But two steps away from a tin foil hat There’s ten men in a darkened room deciding all our fates You’ve given up on everything and now all you do is wait Every time your teacher calls out to you, you think that it’s a trap You’re a million miles from salvation But two steps away from a tin foil hat When the wise man approaches you and tries to tell the truth You point your pistol to your head and say, “One step closer or I’ll shoot!” When he stoops to tie your shoelace you run screaming off the map You’re a million miles from salvation But two steps away from a tin foil hat Your savior was coming back for you just about any day But it seems he got distracted somewhere along the way So you throw the knowledge of the ages on the junkheap and sell it off as scrap Well you’re a million miles from salvation But two steps away from a tin foil hat. Someone yells there’s a concrete wall just around the bend And you grab the wheel and hit the gas and scream “Full speed ahead!” You can’t help but smile and say, “I’m no fool for this conspiracy crap.” I’m a million miles from salvation Now will you please hand me that tin foil hat!
10.
Walking Into Town Walked on down the forested hillside through the slowly-rising silver of early winter haze Tired trees smothered in some clinging vine, woods littered with plastic jugs, old tires and battered cans of paint Reached the border of the new six-lane expressway and watched my shadow dance along the base of a thirty foot retaining wall Crossed high above it all on a catwalk covered with wire-mesh to keep the people from throwing rocks on the cars below With "I love Chrissie" on the wall, along with hearts and swastikas.. . With the life-blood of the city flowing at sixty miles an hour beneath my feet Toss a prayer to the open skies Like a magic arrow piercing concrete lies Into the heart of history's long lonesome cries And I’M standing here so revitalized Overhead, like an arrowhead, a Cooper's hawk folds its wings and disappears over distant country I pass the old foundations of demolished homes jutting out of the hillside like rotted, broken teeth Worn cellar stairs leading nowhere...except the imaginary beds and living rooms of just faded years Where the ghosts of conversation, prayers and oaths and incantations still linger Each step like a question mark to which all these ghosts have no reply... And a dry wind blows across town and scrapes the weeds against the stones Old Man King, come and see Pass some judgement, let it be So these children can finally shake free from These wagon loads of destiny In front of the old corner church a faded poster of paradise beckons all souls to come on in I Nearly slip on a gob of infected spit in front of the X-rated theatre promising unknown passion and forbidden sin Across the oily river the city hums and gleams like some silver platinum castle in the sun Where the sun itself is split into ten-thousand images of hungry, burning tongues of flame Some guy on the corner says "What you starin' at?" And I say "Never mind, the wizard is gone." Meanwhile behind curtains of light and shade a hand moves that is really no hand at all... In this jumble of love and waste Try and find some sacred place To hold these myths you've finally traced Search in every changing face...

about

The concept of an album called Out From Nowhere came as I was living in the Sierra Nevada foothills and traveling the country in a trailer in various picturesque places, without a television, and often alone, As I settled away from electronic diversions, I began to write songs one after the other in a creative flurry. It occurred to me that my songs had been written in Nowhere, not a place connected to a city or industry or public need, merely out of their own volition to be...Nowhere to me became the Kansas prairies, Arizona mountains, and the California gold-rush towns, deserts, redwood forests, and high sierras that I traveled through and dwelled in. It felt only fitting that Nowhere was perhaps the most poignant place in our country, defined by only where you hang your hat.

credits

released July 12, 2019

• Lead Vocals Mark Browning
• Acoustic Guitar Mark Browning
• Drums and percussion Pat Coyle
• Bass Ryan Kantner, Mark Perna
• Piano Bill Maruca, Jerome KIrkland
• Hammond organ Bill Maruca
• Pedal steel Read Connolly
• Electric guitar Neil Carr, Rich Stanley
• Nylon string guitar Daryl Shawn
• Saxophone Eric Defade
• Soprano sax Eric Defade
• Flute Eric Defade
• Violin Amanda Marks
• Harmonica Mark Browning
• Vocal harmonies Bethany James, Laura Ferguson, Elizabeth
Hareka, Morgan Pritchard, Kami Small, Jay Lynn Carter, Krystyn
Kirkland, Erika Flaskamp

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Mark Browning Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Born into a military family, I have traveled all my life. Must have gotten into my blood. Never cared much for routine. I started out in biology, collecting reptiles for zoos and museums, but then traveled. Pruned apple trees in NY, farmed wheat in WA, painted houses in Key West, drove truck in NYC, published articles in magazines, hiked the Amazon and Andes... writing songs the whole time. ... more

contact / help

Contact Mark Browning

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Mark Browning, you may also like: