
Zach Harjo
The songs for the early 2008 debut full length Dark Poems are visceral stories of a sepia-tinged America populated by stray dogs, sinister brokenhearteds, voodoo spells, and Hell's houseband. The timbre is informed by Rain Dogs era Tom Waits and the roots sensibilities of Wilco and The White Stripes
Biography
Zach Harjo has been writing songs for twenty-five years and for 3 much loved Seattle indie bands including the critically acclaimed Sunday Morning Music. His writing is informed by his travels through the deserted towns of northwest Spain, the music of Tom Waits (among many others), and the painting of Francis Bacon. His goal is to reinvigorate the subject matter and aesthetic of contemporary independent music by painting scenes of emotional and intellectual depth.
Lyrics
Dogs In A Pack
Written By: Zach harjo
dogs in a pack get in my way
don't need no license to shoot no stray
nosing around for a piece of meat
not worth the time that it takes to aim
another pint and I'm on my way
bet that little girl wants to make my day
word in town is that she's in heat
I'm not the kind that would make her beg
park bench on a summer's death
is as good a bed as I've ever had
newspapers and unswept leaves make a fine pillow or a sleeping bag
dogs in a pack get in my way
bet that little girl wants to make my day
nosing around for a piece of meat
I'm not the kind that would make her beg
that would make her beg
January Moon
Written By: Zach Harjo
cold winds blow the branches to creaking
offering a labored groan
danger looms when the animals are fleeing
just like when the the church bells toll
underneath the blue January Moon
I've seen the fire in your eyes slowly dying
I've seen the yarn devour the loom
I've seen the voodoo doll take quite a beating
torn apart by every heartlessness you do
underneath the blue January Moon
underneath the blue January Moon
you've got to settle your accounts
pay your union dues
the band is playing hot now
they're playing a welcome song for you
you've got to settle your accounts
pay your union dues
the devil's band is playing now
they're playing a welcome song for you
they're playing January Moon
The Hangman
Written By: Zach Harjo
the hangman is wise left me for dead
went home to his wife, whiskey, and bed
early next morning
the crows start squawking
the hangman is wise left me for dead
cut through Manzanillo
a little known dirt road
stole a pack of cigarettes
and a pair of overalls
dry leaves for a pillowcase
the cold earth for a bed
the hangman is wise left me for dead
the hangman is wise left me for dead
oh, I want to live
oh, I want to live
the life that Jesus lived
I know I can change
everything I ever did
I did just for you
I look back on my life and
I wish it wasn't true
got no reason to leave here
got no reason to stay
the hangman is blind let me slip away
oh, I want to live
oh, I want to live
the life that Jesus lived
I know I can change
Flowers Black
Written By: Zach Harjo
bring me flowers black
and put them in a vase
a gray hair from a cat
a pebble from a grave
a glass of armagnac
and write three times her name
it won't be the last time
that you shiver in the rain
the graveyard at moonlight
looks like a cityscape
the tombstones building height
the weeds a mangrove maze
the spell has gone awry
she's clawing at the grave
it won't be the last time
that you shiver in the rain
it won't be the last time
that you shiver in the rain
Discography
Blue Neon Sign In My Heart, 2005 self-released ep
as heard on KEXP's Audioasis and The Roadhouse.
Set List
1. Dogs In A Pack
2. Dead Leaves
3. Broken Halos
4. The Hangman
5. Before Daylight
6. Flowers Black
7. Goodbyemylove
8. January Moon
9. Dark poems
10. Pocketfull Of Bottlecaps
Set time is 45 minutes, all originals