“Bread and Circuses” was more of a general work that was fueled by some very personal emotions. When I played it for people, I had a strange feeling that the things I wanted to say about myself personally were being lost in the story.

“BrokeDown Driver” is the companion piece where I tried to let it all hang out. I wanted it to be ugly and angry because that’s how I was feeling. I wanted it to be honest because that is the only way anything ever becomes great.

This is a wail of torment and sadness. It is a musical self portrait from a particular point in time. It felt good to get some of this off my chest. - Artie

1. September (Instrumental)

2. The Way Home
If you wake up all alone
And your life is not your own
And you’re feeling out of place
And the mirror mocks your face
There’s a flame you can ignite
In the darkest depths of night
There’s a way to carry on
There’s a way to get home
All you pawns that take the brunt
All you soldiers at the front
All you riders in the rear
All you prisoners of fear
Some think home is where you stay
At any given point in time
If it feels too far away
Then it’s only in your mind
When the callous hand of fate
Makes you think that it’s too late
When you’re face to face with death
Pinch your skin and take a breath

3. I’ve Tried
Why must a man sweat and bleed
Just to give his family what they need
Repo man woke us up at 2:00 am
I can’t take that shame again
Sometimes I wish I had no pride
Everybody wants a piece of my hide
I think of how my daddy died
Lord knows I’ve tried
Every night at dinner time
There’s a bill collector that’s ringing my line
I even dread to check the mail
Oh Lord where did I fail?
I have to make this nightmare end
For my wife and daughters
Say goodbye to your school
Say goodbye to your friends
We’re heading for the border
Two incomes just ain't enough
The tough got going
But the going stayed tough
I live clean, work hard
And I sure ain’t dumb
I still get treated like a piece of scum
They say some folks have all the luck
Some are born in a hole
and that’s where I’m stuck
This land of opportunity
For me has turned to slavery

4. Highway Hypnosis and Road Rage
Highway hypnosis and road rage
It’s the disease of the commuter
I spend all day on the computer
Then 6:00 comes and I’m stuck in the slums
The guy next to me might be a shooter
With highway hypnosis and road rage
It’s the affliction that has got my soul
I swerve to miss a pothole and then I pay my toll
I spend half my pay just to stay on my way
Then get stuck behind a total fucking asshole
With highway hypnosis and road rage

5. 16 Tons on My Back
I ain’t got no fancy mansion
No brand new Cadillac
Just to have four walls
I gotta break my balls
I got 16 tons on my back
I got stress related ulcers
I’m primed for heart attack
It’s no wonder why I ain’t a’ scared to die
I got 16 tons on my back
16 tons and whatta ya get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
I just heard that song by Ernie Ford
And now my eyes have seen
The glory of the coming of the Lord
I gotta make some new connections
I gotta lay some brand new track
I gotta shed that weight
So I can stand up straight
I got 16 tons on my back
16 tons and how does it feel?
I might as well be slaving in a cotton field
I’m dusting off my old fret board
And now I’m trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored
I’m gonna do that true blue voodoo
I’m gonna get my mojo back
I’m gonna roll and rock
Until I shake that block
I got 16 tons on my back

6. Cube Farm
Down on the Cube Farm
They’re raising stock
They’re gonna send some cattle
to the chopping block
Down on the Cube Farm
We’re tense as Hell
You better watch your neighbor
Better guard your cell
Down on the Cube Farm
And if you’re among the lucky few
Keeping your job but with more work to do
No raises this year, no bonus for you
That just for some guys in a room with a view
Down on the Cube Farm
We’re college grads
Our part-time jobs are moms and dads
Down on the Cube Farm
Where loyalty
is a one way street as far as I can see
And if you’re among the lucky few
Who just got a stellar performance review
You might stick around when the merger goes through
Here’s a nice company T-shirt for you
Down on the Cube Farm
Near the bottom rung
Where carpal tunnel is the new black lung
Down on the Cube Farm
I can’t taken no more
I thought I saw some blood
above an office door
Down on the Cube Farm

7. Humvee (Instrumental)

8. Walter Reed
I came back from Afghanistan in 03
They took me to a hospital in old DC
113 acres of misery
For the rusted and the busted and the amputee
Walter Reed, Walter Reed
They took me to a place called Walter Reed
I almost got killed by the Muhajadeen
Now it’s a battle for survival
Here in building 18

They built this place after World War I
The “war to end wars” now it’s overrun
I don’t mind the roaches that share my cot
Sometimes I think that they’re the only friends I got

The president himself came by last night
Guys like me were locked down tight
He shook some hands and he made a speech
In Ward 57 where it smells like bleach

The Iraqi front got all the press
Over in Afghanistan we tried our best
I did my duty and I have no shame
I wonder if my government can say the same

9. Splinter
I’m not made of brick and mortar
I’m not made of straw and mud
When I feel so out of order
I’m not even flesh and blood
I splinter
(Splinters can get stuck inside your skin)
I don’t shatter into atoms
I don’t melt like ice and snow
I don’t crack like tar macadams
I just splinter nice and slow
I don’t crumble like a statue
I don’t nova like a sun
As I stand here looking at you
Guess I’m not the only one
That splinters…

10. In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
Two lovers as close as can be
Said Adam to Eve
“Well I think we should leave”
Eve said, “Here’s an apple for thee”
God raised his mighty fist
And they could tell he was mightily pissed
Adam said “We have sinned
Please pass me the gin”
And Eve said, “If you insist”

In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
Two friends were as drunk as can be
Said pat to his friend,
“There’s a fly on the end of my nose
Knock it off if you please”
Pat’s friend, he picked up the ax
And he gave that poor fly just one whack
Well he knocked the fly flat
But they buried poor Pat
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
Dead drunk
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
My grandfather sang that to me
I never knew why
But I like apple pie
And I won’t hurt a fly or a flea
But yes, I sure like to drink
I’ll have one now, yes I think
Another high-ball
And a toast to you all
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
Clink clink

11. Brain on Drugs
Look at that egg in the frying pan
This is your brain on drugs
Sunnyside up with a side of ham
This is your brain on drugs
This penthouse life is such a drag
This is your brain on drugs
How’d you crash your daddy’s Jag?
This is your brain on drugs
You’re gonna fry fry fry
Then you’ll die die die
You’re gonna make
You’re poor mama cry
You think you’re Man-child in the Promised Land
This is your brain on drugs
You’re just a rich white moron with a phony tan
This is your brain on drugs
Time to start your morning haze
This is your brain on drugs
Rehab’s out of vogue these days
This is your brain on drugs
Look at that egg in the frying pan
This is your brain on drugs
A little bit crispy and the yolk just ran
This is your brain on drugs

12. A Man Needs a Maid (by Neil Young)

13. Reconnect
I’ll try to find a new way
To make a new day
I get down on my knees and pray
That I reconnect with you
I’m lost; I’m trying to be found
No current, no ground
It’s time to turn this thing around
Can I reconnect with you?
Reconnect I is all I wanna do
Reconnect with you
I’ll cross that gaping divide
That swallows my pride
That twists and tears me up inside
So I can reconnect with you
I’m calling out for repair
The conduit’s there
It might short-circuit my despair
So I can reconnect with you
No power, no light and no heat
My life’s incomplete
Just tell me when and where to meet
So I can reconnect with you
No time to think about why
I know if we try
Electricity will fly
And I can reconnect with you

14. Broke Down Driver
Broke down driver
Walking down the road
Broke down driver
Your car has not been towed
You can’t hitch no ride these days
Don’t even raise your thumb
From the back roads to the super-highways
No one trusts no one
Broke down driver
Unless I’m very wrong
Broke down driver
This walk should make you strong
No vehicle, no cell phone
You have no cash in hand
Naked to the jungle
You are just a man
And a…
Broke down driver
The heat just passed you by
Broke down driver
There’s bigger fish to fry
Above the roar of motors
Beneath the streetlight’s gleam
You will pass unnoticed
It does no good to scream
Broke down driver
You’re in a different race
Broke down driver
Man don’t you lose your pace
If a bus should come along
And offers you a ride
Saying “In the back where you belong”
Summon up your pride

15. Casino
This place wasn’t built on winners
And it wasn’t built on saving sinners
And it wasn’t built on charity
It was built on schmucks like you and me

Casino, Casino
Leave me alone
Just one more try before I die
Then drag my body home

Across the street where drugs are sold
There’s a neon sign saying “Cash for Gold”
I pawned it off so long ago
And now I feel so old

I put a coin into the slot
7…7…NOT!

Who is skimming off the cream?
Who is cashing in a dream?
No matter where your fingers point
The odds are always with this joint

16. Trust
They want to put a chip under your skin
They say it’s for your own protection
Let us stick it in
Who do you trust? Who do you trust?
With that kind of power
If someone wants to limit what you say
Certain words are evil and certain words OK
Who do you trust? Who do you trust?
With that kind of power
Don’t even trust in me
Trust in yourself
And the blazing light of liberty
If someone wants to monitor your calls
Someday they’ll put a camera in all of your walls
Who do you trust? Who do you trust?
With that kind of power
If someone wants to send you to a war
But they don’t want to tell you what it’s really for
Who do you trust? Who do you trust?
With that kind of power

17. Ground Zero
I remember that day like anyone
I heard the news on my radio
My mother called and said “Your brother Son,
Is somewhere in the city and we just don’t know”
So I drove like Hell back to Jersey
To pick up my dad and strike out to find
My brother who we still had not heard from
And we headed up highway 1&9
We got as far as Hoboken
And we saw that skyline smokin’
Then a call came through on my mobile phone
I said, “Hey brother we’re coming to take you home”

Well I put a flag atop my car
I put spare change in collection jars
I watched the news with a poison hate
And for justice to this day I wait
So I’ll just say thanks to all of you
Who did brave things I didn’t do
I shed a tear for all who mourn
And to every child that’s since been born
Learn about your history
Fear is your biggest enemy
Hang on to your liberty
Bite the hand of tyranny
Here’s one last word of advice
You’ll know the time to sacrifice
Ask the ghost of any hero
If you go down to ground zero

18. Out of the Hole
You gotta stand up straight
Hold onto your faith
You gotta dig down deep in your soul
You gotta use your skill
And all of your will
If you’re ever gonna dig back out of the hole
Out of the hole
You gotta be a fighter
Out of the hole
The world’s a little bit brighter
Out of the hole
If you’re down on your luck
And you’re down in the muck
Where the days are black as coal
There’s a choice my friend
You can stay to the end
Or you can try to dig yourself back out of the hole
You gotta be a fighter
Out of the hole
Things are much brighter
Out of the hole

19. For Jen
For better or worse
We made those vows
And I guess you could say
That’s its worse right now
But one kiss from your lips
And my strength is renewed
For I’m still the man
Still in love with you

I hope that our daughters
Never feel my pain
Never suffer the worry
The stress and the strain
But I hope that they know
That my love will stay true
And that I’m still the man
Still in love you

I promised I’d write
a love song for you
After all these years
This is the best I can do

We’ve traveled to Greece
And the Egyptian sands
And we’ve gone through some things
That most can’t understand
We’ll look back and we’ll laugh
Like we used to do
And I’ll be the man
Still in love with you

20. Bells
High above the streets of wonder
High above the rain and thunder
Hear those bells

High above the battle’s fury
High above the judge and jury
Hear those bells

Hear those bells
They chime and chime…
Since the beginning of time

High above the highest mountain
Every single toll is countin’
Hear those bells

Another soul has gone departed
Another life has just been started
Hear those bells

Every planet round the sun
Every star, yes every one
Hears those bells

They’re a cause for great elation
They’re the bells of all creation
Hear those bells
Hear those bells
Hear those bells

21. Broke Down Dub (Instrumental)