



My new album was recorded and mixed inside the ever-morphing, sometimes semi-permanent Baby Ranch Mobile studio. Starting with a first draft of Turn This Ship Around made in my dining room way back in 2009, then on to the wonderfully cozy 500 sq. foot cottage where I spent 10 years doing commercial music whore stuff, producing records with Dawg Yawp and other friends, recording Saint Ain’t… then back to a big room in the recently emptied nest Fetters Victorian in 2019. My son, Noah, and I finished it up (socially-distanced, remotely) during the plague year: 2020.
Composed, Performed, Recorded, Produced by RF. (except Shakin' Street was composed by the MC5, brothers and sisters, properly credited below)
Mixed by RF and Noah Fetters
Album layout/design by Sam Fetters
Art supervision by Donivan Perkins
Included are performances recorded in other homes and studios in L.A., Nashville, and Cincinnati by the musicians / vocalists noted here:
Noah Fetters / self-recorded Drums tracks 1, 5, 9, 12 at Event Enterprises
Bam Powell / Drums track 3
Christian Arduser / Drums and sings on track 8
Bob Nyswonger / Bass tracks 3, 8. self-recorded Bass tracks 1, 12
Matt Malley / self-recorded Bass track 10 at his Moorpark ranch studio.
Swany Fetters / sings on track 13, spoken words track 7
Bee Haskins / sings on track 8, spoken words track 7
Dale Hodges / spoken words track 7
Adrian Belew / sings on track 1
Matt Hueneman / recorded Bam, Chris, and Bob tracks 3, 8 at Audio Grotto
Miles Fuqua / recorded Adrian track 1 at StudioBelew
Richard Dodd mastered it at his Nashville studio.
Unless mentioned otherwise, I made all the noises, arranged the parts: guitars, bass, keyboards, orchestral elements, drum programming, percussion, singing.
The geek in me salutes the geek in thee. DAW: I used Digital Performer but Logic, Nuendo, Pro Tools and Dale Hodges’ phone all came into play. Plug-ins: Slate, Sound Toys, Voxengo, Kush, Eventide, Oeksound, Izotope, Native Instruments, Vienna, Metric Halo. Mics ranged from a 50 year-old Bill Bradley-modified U87 to a modern Wunder CM7GS, Peluso P12, Blue Woodpecker, Shure SM7 & KSM32. I recorded my tracks through an old Urei 1178 and AMEK/Neve 9098 or Grace M103 channel strips, A/D conversion courtesy a Metric Halo ULN2. Mac Pros... I mix in the box. My right hand turned into a claw rolling the track ball... ain't complainin'.
The creative tech support Noah and I received from Gordon Rankin at Wavelength Audio was priceless.
Love and thanks to my family and friends who helped keep my feet on the ground while my mind sailed elsewhere.
Turn it up! Thanks for listening.
- Rob
Turn This Ship Around
I opened my eyes. The truth came down: I can’t stand still while the earth spins around
I need to make a change. God only knows why I’m so terrified that I can’t let go
Life’s too short and you’re so pretty. We don’t have to die to go to Kingdom City
Some people say you do but that’s 'cause they’re insane
They’re painting by the numbers. Their songs all sound the same
We can turn this ship around, it won’t be easy. Fear is the enemy. Faith is gonna set us free
Repeat our history or shape our destiny. We can turn this ship around but it won’t be easy
You woke me from a nightmare when you shook me awake
I gotta make my own luck, create my own breaks, where cynics call the shots and dreamers look like fools
We gotta leave it all behind, re-define what’s cool
Cause I’m so tired of being so afraid of how dumb I’m gonna look if I don’t make the grade
Well I might eat humble pie or I might touch the sky but dreams won’t fly if I don’t even try
We can turn this ship around, it won’t be easy. Fear is the enemy. Faith is gonna set us free
Repeat our history or shape our destiny. We can turn this ship around but it won’t be easy
But you already know we die if we don’t grow. But you already know...
I’m gonna rise up early, get down to work and put the boat in the water, wash off the dirt
Aim by the stars with the wind in my sails and I ain’t gonna quit so I’m not gonna fail
We can turn this ship around, it won’t be easy. Fear is the enemy. Faith is gonna set us free
Repeat our history or shape our destiny. We can turn this ship around but it won’t be easy
I opened my eyes.The truth came down: I can’t stand still while the earth spins around
Scripture
Knock on her door, she’ll pretend she’s not home. Call her up, she won’t answer the phone
Time ticks by like a metronome but with a split personality she’s never alone
I tried to be her friend but it didn’t last long, she covered up her ears when I sang her my song
Something’s wrong with this picture. I don’t fit in the frame
She hears the devil quoting scripture every time I call her name
Fear wakes her up in the middle of the night so she can’t get back to sleep but she’s too tired to fight
Can’t shut up the voice inside her head, says if she wakes up tomorrow she’ll wish she was dead
And she knows it’s crazy and it isn’t a joke, feels like a rope around her neck and she’s starting to choke
Something’s wrong with this picture. I don’t fit in the frame
Somebody’s singing a lullaby so don’t be a big baby, you don’t need to hide
Come out and see the monster, it’s tied to a chain so it rusts a little more every time it rains
And someday soon that beast will break loose to find another monster and reproduce
Find another monster and reproduce, find another monster and reproduce, find another monster and reproduce
Something’s wrong with this picture. I don’t fit in the frame
She hears the devil quoting scripture every time I call her name
Artichoke
Saw you at the show with somebody I didn’t know
Heard you got busted DUI: well, things ain’t changed much since we said goodbye
Heart as big as an artichoke, a leaf for everyone
Make way for all these copycats pretending to have fun
Looks like I gained a few pounds, don’t burn as much fuel like back when you were around
Seen a lot more frauds and fakes. Fancy meeting you here, you lead the parade
Heart as big as an artichoke, a leaf for everyone
Make way for all these copycats pretending to have fun
You sure look sweet and young, smell like Chanel, probably still suck your thumb
But old enough to know nothin’ comes free, everybody says so
I don’t know why I’ll always love you deep down inside
And remember what I learned: when I saw the light – that’s when I got burned
Heart as big as an artichoke, a leaf for everyone
Make way for all these copycats pretending to have fun
Heart as big as an artichoke, a leaf for everyone, a piece for everyone
Make way for all these copycats pretending to have fun
Make way for all the copycats
Prophets
You’d all be prophets if you paid better attention
You’d all be prophets if you paid better attention
We rose up from the muck. We make our own damn luck
There’s nothin’ we can’t sell. We’re poisoning the
Well, well, well. Civil war is hell
When we come ‘round it’s time to duck. We rose up from the muck
I think you better learn we like to watch shit burn
And stand around the fire and call each other
Liar, liar, liar! Watch the smoke rise higher
Till wrong and right can’t be discerned, I think you’d better learn
You could see the future if you would pay attention
Pay attention now
If you paid better attention, if you paid better attention….
Right before your eyes behold the lords of flies
We paint the outside gold but we ain’t got no
Soul, soul soul, just an empty hole
It can’t be filled but still we try: right before your eyes
You could see the future if you would pay attention now
You could see the future if you would pay attention
Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention now
You’d all be prophets, you’d all be prophets
Can’t Take It Back
If you think it don’t say it and if you write it please don’t send it
Open your mouth: already made a mistake
You say you’re sorry but it’s a little too late
Silence is golden like truth unfoldin’ so baby don’t say nothin’, just keep it in the oven
Open your mouth: already made a mistake
You say you’re sorry but it’s too little too late
Can’t take it back, can’t take it back. Can’t take it back, can’t take it back
Can’t take it back, can’t take it back. Can’t take it back, can’t take it back
Zen Master Huang Po sittin’ in the zendo
Meher Baba: way to go
So Jesus Christ make it so!
Open your mouth: already made a mistake
You say you’re sorry but it’s too little too late
Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no, yes, no: No!
Can’t take it back, can’t take it back. Can’t take it back, can’t take it back
Can’t take it back, can’t take it back. Can’t take it back, can’t take it back
Me & Eve
Eve stole an apple from the apple tree. She took a big bite and she handed it to me
Well, Eve was pretty and the apple was sweet. She spit a seed in my face and then I chased her down the street
We both had our clothes off within the hour. Just goes to show: knowledge is power
Well, I got molested when I was 4. I talk about it now, it ain’t a secret any more
And you might think that was childhood’s end but I learned to play and laugh again
He had all our clothes off within the hour. Just goes to show: knowledge is power
The strong exploit the weak. They think they’re pretty smart
But it takes real genius to turn nightmares into art
Me & Eve took a walk, she said: marry me. I’ll let ya build me a house by that old apple tree
We’ll have a bunch of kids and rewrite history and I’ll love you until the world sets me free
We both had our clothes off within the hour. Just goes to show: knowledge is power
Yeah, we both had our clothes off within the hour. Just goes to show: knowledge is power
Dog Is God
The great artist is the simplifier
Come on everybody lets start a new church. We won’t keep any secrets, we won’t sell any merch
And nobody has to die to complete the research so come on everybody let’s start a new church
Dog is God. God is Dog. Dog is God. God is Dog. Dog is God. God is Dog.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Come on everybody lets start a new church
Go all the way with it. Do not back off
For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters
The great artist, the great artist is, the great artist is the simplifier
Keep it simple stupid, keep it simple stupid, keep it simple...
Come on everybody lets start a new church. We won’t keep any secrets, we won’t sell any merch
And nobody has to die to complete the research so come on everybody let’s start a new church
Dog is God. God is Dog. Dog is God. God is Dog. Dog is God. God is Dog.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Keep it simple stupid, keep it simple stupid, keep it simple
Come on everybody lets start a new church
(“The great artist is the simplifier” – Vincent van Gogh)
(“Go all the way… with what matters” – Ernest Hemmingway)
Not the End
Save a whale
It’s not the end of the world but it’s the start of something new
Thank God it’s not all up to me but there’s something you could do if you wanted to
You could start off with a smile when you wanna hurt somebody, then wait a little while
Show some faith, show some style, and you just might save a whale my precious little child
Trust me now, it’s not the end of the world (save a whale) It’s just the start of something new
This place could use a lot of love. There must be somethin’ we could do if we wanted to
If we could start with some restraint instead of yellin’ at each other there’s a picture we could paint
Of a universal truce led by angels running loose with the wisdom of the saints
Trust me now, it’s not the end of the world
There’s nothing to like about fear, nothing to fear about love
Someday you will be a god: the day you learn how to forgive
And the angels will adore you because you live and let live like they want you to
Trust me now, it’s not the end of the world...
Trust me now
You just might save a whale
She’s A Musician
She’s a philosopher, she founded my religion. She makes the soul connection ‘cause she’s a musician
And she sits at her piano and catapults through space and channels the Enlightened Ones
You see it on her face
She’s a Musician, she’s a musician, and my only ambition is to be part of her life
Her message for the masses you can’t put into words but when the world was born it’s what the angels heard
And she closes her green eyes and plays her sweet guitar and melts it down to one pure note until I’m seeing stars
She’s a Musician, she’s a musician, and my only ambition is to be part of her life
And you don’t know her name. She’s not in the Hall of Fame. But I’d trade my soul if I could let her know
The critics may not understand, her fans might disappear but I will still be listening ‘cause I know what I hear
She’s a Musician, she’s a musician, and my only ambition is to be part of her life
She’s a Musician, she’s a musician, and my only ambition is to be part of her life
And I know what I hear
Nobody Now
I was a somebody once but I’m a nobody now. I used to be loved by millions, now I’m a face in the crowd
Fans crawled out of the woodwork, I thought my fame would last. But now my agent won’t take my calls, I’m just a pain in the ass
But I still have you to show me what I am
I had respect from my peers, you saw my face in the news. I sang a song that made everybody happy
Even the critics approved
God’s own light shined through me, I heard that heavenly choir. I can’t describe the warmth that I felt when I got tossed in the fire
Cause I had you to show me what I am
And look at you, you can see the wheels turning, you want to use me again: a human resource made for exploitation
You’re anything but a friend, you make me glad it’s the end
Gold spilled out of my pockets, I let it fall to the floor. I used to have more than I needed, I ain’t got it no more
She promised she’s never leave me ‘cause I’m a really nice guy. She swore she never even looked at other fellas
But it was all a big lie, but it was all a big lie. It was a big fat lie
I was a somebody once but I’m a nobody now
I was a somebody once (now you’re a nobody, you're a nobody now)....
Believed
I believed in love ‘cause I received her love so I believed in love
First it found me, then it bound me, then it drowned me again
I wanted more, but I was shown the door and now I don’t know what I’m living for
I believed in love ‘cause I received her love so I believed in love
If you do God’s will, then hold still maybe then the gods will hear you pray
So I stood in line till I lost my mind ‘cause I blew the only time I had the chance to say:
I still love you, I still love you, I still love you, I still love you, I still love you, I still love
I could lay in bed and feel the dread or get up now and walk away
No need to know where I’ll go, just get up now and face the day
I believed in love ‘cause I received her love so I believed in love
Queer Year
You told me you were gay, we both know that’s OK
I’ll always be your friend until the bitter end
A bond no one can break till they burn us at the stake
And they’ll burn us at the stake
I don’t care if you’re queer, I still love you my dear
Though we have separate beds and the world has lost its head
They think you’re on the fringe but love is not a sin
Love is not a sin.
Hey! But everybody’s weird ‘cause maybe everybody’s queer this year
You’re a Gibson, I’m a Fender, you don’t fall in love with a gender
The music that we make is all for heaven’s sake
There is a common goal for every living soul, every living soul
But everybody’s weird so maybe everybody’s queer this year
Everybody’s weird this year, everybody’s queer this year
Though we have separate beds and the world has lost it’s head
I’ll always be your friend: love is not a sin
Shakin’ Street
[Composed by The MC5: Fred (Sonic) Smith, Wayne Kramer, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson, Robert (Rob Tyner) Derminer (Warner-Tamerline/ASCAP)]
Little Orphan Annie and Sweet Sue too, they've been coming around, gives 'em somethin' to do
Their mamas all warned 'em not to come to town. It got into their blood, now they gonna get down
Shakin' Street: it's got that beat. Shakin' Street: where all the kids meet
Shakin' Street: it's got that sound. Shakin' Street: say you gotta get down
Streetlight Sam decided to make the trip all the way from New Jersey on his girlfriend's tips
He pulled into town and met Skinny Leg Pete, said, come here, boy, I heard about the street
I heard about the place where all the kids go, now I'm about to flip, I just gotta know about
Shakin' Street: it's got that beat. Shakin' Street: where all the kids meet
Shakin' Street: it's got that sound. Shakin' Street: say you gotta get down
Well the kids on Shakin' Street never give in 'cause all of their lives they've been livin' in sin
They know that they're bad, you know that they're mad. They take for the takin' and they shake for the shakin'
The folks keep complaining, they find it so shockin' all the kids wanna do is just keep on rockin'
They ain't got no time to think about stoppin', they just gotta get down and do a little stompin'
Well Sally Baker wants to shake her shaker and Bobby C.(Sayler) says he's gonna take her to
Shakin' Street: it's got that beat. Shakin' Street: where all the kids meet
Shakin' Street: it's got that sound. Shakin' Street: say you gotta get down