Released 1/1997

Saginaw Sweetheart CD Cover

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"Saginaw Sweetheart" was recorded at OBT studios 1995 through winter 1996. Dan Gerber was playing washboard, spoons and Tide bottle. Scott Berndt, who would join the group for "Absolute Collision," was guest drummer on "Flamin' Hair."

We had tried to get an album together during college, recording and re-recording the songs endlessly, but we were never happy with the results. We basically abandoned recording in favor or writing, actually learning to play our instruments, and refining our sound. We had all recently graduated from CoVA in St. Paul, and had plenty of time on our hands to get down to business.

We worked up about 40 or so songs, at which point we toyed with the idea of putting out a double-CD. Ultimately we decided for economic reasons to do two separate volumes in case "Saginaw Sweetheart" was a flop. Thankfully, the album did extremely well, selling out two separate printings.

The final album clocks in at over 60 minutes in length and is one of our more somber and personal projects. The instrumentation includes lots of banjo and mandolin.

Dan left the group shortly after the release to do other stuff, most notably getting married and becoming a master of software at Adobe.

The album was recorded and co-produced by Jeff's brother Jon Tranberry.

The album cover was done by Jeff. Quillan did the illustrations. The logo and art was touched up by Friberg Design, and the band photos were taken by our friend Dave "Capital D" Molnar.

First Dance Sitting in the sun I want to / smell you, want to smell you / but it's cold outside / and I don't have gasoline / You are far away / in a place where it's warm / Sure we've never met / but I know our love is real / Don't lead me on / because I get hurt easy / Panties 'round your knees is how / I see you, how I see you / I've got no clothes / to call my own so with you I'm always bare / is that a physical condition / or just a state of mind? / I don't know, I'm not sure / and with you I don't care / I trust in you / please trust in me / I can see the future / please take that first dance with me / I'm scared / please take my hand / give me a chance / give me that first dance Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Mandolin Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Washboard

Drive Away If it's just your heart talking to me / I think you'd better spit that muffle free / cause everything you say / comes out way too strong / and I think I'm getting it all wrong / If it's just your tongue trying to explain / I think you'd better quit / cause its causing us more pain / Time came along and drove us apart / and now there's nothing we can do / about this change of heart / But I could drive my problems away / and not live to see another day / so why don't you just let me be / in this bottle I picked out just for me< / br> If it's just your brain licking your wounds / I know how you feel / cause I've got them too / But I know how to deal / with all the pain and fear / I just anesthetize it all with beer / If it's just your heart trying to speak / it's hard to hear / cause we're feeling so weak / We gave our hearts to each other / and now I ask for what / so we could throw them in the dust Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Mandolin Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Tide Bottle

Count Me Out Sitting in my room / watching the TV / Waiting in my room / for something to grab me / La-dee-da-dee-da / La-dee-da-dee-da / Sitting in my room / with the covers pulled up o'er me / I got my bottle close / cause my baby done left me / If this is what love's all about / Count me out / Sitting in my room / with the covers pulled up o'er me / There are monsters in my room / and they're waiting to grab me / If this is what life's all about / Count me out Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Spoons

What Was Your Name In The States? What was your name in the states? / Was it Johnson or Thompson or Bates? / Did you murder your wife / then fly for your life? / Say what was your name in the states? / What did you do to her? / Was it something like bloody murder? / Was it something you can bet / you'll always regret? / Say what did you do to her? / What did you do with her corpse? / Did you feed it to your horse? / Was it on hallowed ground / or an alley in town? / Say what did you do with her corpse? / Can you hear the sirens growing near? / Can you hear them / with your murderous ear? / I think you'd better run / in your three-quarter ton / Say can you hear the sirens growing near? / Can you hear the sirens growing near? / I think you'd better run from here / before I hand them your life / for my sister your wife / Say can you hear the sirens growing near? Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Banjo Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Washboard

Different Life Now you come from / a different life than I / but I know how to deal / without getting high / cause chemicals will smile / and offer up their hand / they'll take away your pain / and take you to the Promised Land / But Love ain't something / you can run from / there's nowhere / you can ever hope to hide / It's not a game for winners / it's not a game for losers / it's not a game / Now I am running with the Devil / we're in a foot-race / to see who claims your soul / now I want to offer you all of my love / but the Devil wants to put you / in his Hell-hole / But Love ain't something / you can count on / in the sense that / it's a concept you can't pin down / You can't rope it in with a promise / cause it lives all around every town Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Washboard

I Got Friends It's a hard life but I drink... / I'd feel all right / if I could just learn to play solos / and I got friends / who say that we'll be rock-stars / if we can just wait awhile / And I know it'll be a long time / And Jeff was there / the day that Dave's dad died / and he was with me / when Christina dumped me / And I know that it's just bad luck / I've got friends / who say life's not picturesque / if you're not dressed for it / And I got friends / who say that they'll stick by me / and they're still here / watching my color TV / and that sweater / is still in the corner / from that party / two months ago Q: Guitar, Vocal M: Bass, Vocal J: Banjo D: Washboard

The Night That Daddy Got His Gun The night that my sister got raped Daddy got his gun / there were three boys to kill but he only got one / The police man came and took my dad away / said, "Sir, from the gallows you will sway" / So Daddy went to court said, "What about my girl?" / The judge said, "Sir, that don't justify murder / Besides, she was drunk and in my opinion / probably asked for what was done" / So I pray and I pray and I pray and I pray / that the Devil takes those boys away / So the Judge went ahead / and sentenced my Dad to death / while those two living boys just got a slap on the wrist / And my sister cried because they'd go free / while Daddy died and her life was scarred / by those boys three / When Daddy hung the dead boys Pa he came up to me / said, "Son, do you still love your murdering pappy?" / I looked him in the eye and I said, / "Sir, do you still love your boys what raped my sister?" / And I pray and I pray and I pray and I pray / that Jesus takes my Dad away / Their crimes are unpunished, those boys are still loose / while it should have been their necks / what broke in that noose / And my sister was only fourteen years young / the night that daddy got his gun Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Banjo, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Washboard

OK, My Love You say there is no reason / for what passes through my brain / I say it's just the season / and something to do with rain / Then I say, "Just ignore me / cause I'm a little messed up" / and you say, "OK, my love" / You say life's not exciting / but I say I disagree / cause I did a little experiment / and I let life happen to me / And you know: nothing happened / responsibility fell on me / And you say, "OK, well, we'll see" / You say there's no right season / to get married in / I say for some strange reason / I've always kind of liked the Spring / So you say we should wait / until we're married before we screw / I say OK, darling, it's all up to you / Then you say, "Just ignore me / cause I'm a little messed up" / And I say, "OK, my love" Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Dan Gerber: Washboard

Flamin' Hair The first night of my life / I got drunk and you're there / with your flamin' hair / You're puking in the john / and you're falling apart / so I take your hand / and you take my drunken heart / And I was a sucker for your locks of red / they got in my eyes / and started messing with my head / We're falling off of the couch / and we're falling in love / and so I pray to God above / that in the morning it will all be all right / and this won't last just for one night / But you speak of drugs that I can't believe / I want to make you stop / but then, who's life do I lead? / And yet, my concern / you greeted it with dignity / I cared for you and you respected me / Our relationship grew with the heat of a rash / and you still have got my pants / And of all the things that I know are wrong / I'm still afraid that the attraction is still strong / And to add to the list / we were both on the rebound / but that never stopped us from going to town Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

(You Got Me) Rolled Up Your Sleeve There's a part of me / that burns for you / it's a flaming heart heating a stew / it's a bloody hatchet / to cleave you in two / So why don't you set me free? / You've got me rolled up your sleeve / There's a part of me / that yearns for you / it's a bad actor missing his cue / it's a Guston painting / of a big pinkish shoe / So why don't you set me free? / You've got me rolled up your sleeve / If there were only two roads / to walk down / I would gladly choose yours / and if there were only two rooms to enter / I would gladly choose your door / and if there were only / two bottles to drink from / I would gladly / take a pull off of yours / So why don't you set me free? / You've got me rolled up your sleeve Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal