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Timelines & Tragedies

by Midwest Dilemma

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1.
Montreal 03:41
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Leaving Paris, for a wooden ship Made to cross the ocean 5005 kilometers west, northwest Montreal Montreal Montreal Montreal For days and days and days the rain did fall upon his face The furious waves did crash against the bow Louis go back sleep The captain has made his peace. Montreal Montreal Montreal Montreal
2.
Françoise 03:45
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I have a criminal's past And I was sent off two New France To raise a family and love, love eternally Built a house on stone And when the rain comes We'll stand strong I've been searching For greener pastures And the daughter of the king Francois, Francois, will you stay Until death comes to our door Tell our children that I have tried, have tried
3.
Fur Trader 04:20
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You came down from Canada With the cruel winds of Quebec And off you left with the French pioneer But on that day you lay down to rest by the Big Sioux Toussaint, did you hear the tale Of the Chief War Eagle Fur Trader, Fur Trader, Fur Trader Well, after the harvest is over And your fire's gone out You're dreaming of your homeland And the ones that you left A candle in your window And a rifle by your side It was 1870 or something Your true love, she died Fur Trader, Fur Trader, Fur Trader
4.
The Great Depression 03:16
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1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 Missouri River it flows, down to the valley he goes His only possession is his family and fortune, a father, a farmer and a friend The dust clouds come in over the hills You can hear the sound of horses and men and all the crops lost their yield In autumn the bill collectors come, one by one Arthur, you don't have to sell, you don't have to give up your land Arthur, you don't have to sell, you don't have to give up your land It's a great big world, it's a great big depression, but Arthur, you don't have to sell She waits by the side of the road She waves to her children as they go off to work for money Or off to war, to sacrifice Victoria, Victoria, you don't have to give up your diamonds and gold Victoria, Victoria, you don't have to give up your diamonds and gold No, no, no, no
5.
Generals Orderly 03:31
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We came in from foreign soil, with the wings made of steel So pair up in twos or threes, for the battle march Renault was issued a rifle bayonet, and a patch he wore on his heart Of an infantry design of yellow and blue, with a red lightning bolt And the words, red hell on wheels And the words, red hell on wheels And the words, red hell on wheels And the words, red hell on wheels Young generals, orderly, will you fight For your country, your freedom, and your brother It might just be your time So pick up that rifle and fight So pick up that rifle and fight Young generals, orderly, young generals, orderly Young generals, orderly, young generals, orderly
6.
Good Samaritan 05:39
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I was brought into this world in 1949 My father, he was a military man, working for the post office downtown in Siouxland Not much was spoken of his service to this country, only pictures of a younger man with war memories He would tell his story in the dim lit foyer and he lived and he loved, he believed Lucille was an anxious woman, she was married once before Her daughter would leave her for some dusty roads, and one day she would end up on the coast Dear mother, how she cared for us and cleaned but she lived and she loved, she believed One, two, three, four I spent my younger years in the vacant lots After school, the boys in our neighborhood played against other boys' neighborhoods Every weekend, we took the car for a drive down to the farm That's where I worked and learned how to read the stars But after spring cleaning was over, I was grown I left the Catholic school time to decide what to do 19 years old, I was off to Vietnam With my fingers crossed, my fingers crossed Well, I returned home from foreign seas and faithless Not much attachment to the military or God above Sorry I'd been drinking the night before the accident $1,700 settlement from the city for losing my thumb Got me to New York City on a plane to fulfill some dream I crossed Europe with a backpack and my friend Rick No thoughts of the future just grounded our feet And we walked and we drank and we were free We were free We were free Back in the States, my heart felt heavy Searching for answers God, are you out there Deep in my soul or in a church in Ohio Out on a chance at some bar I met LeAnne, we gave our vows In secrete at the courthouse And then we crossed the river to our home in South Dakota We live and we love and we believe We live and we love and we believe Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons Nous vivons, nous aimons, nous croyons
7.
Chicago and North Western 02:58
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Looking out the window onto Fairbanks Street A wife on the couch, and children at my feet I never thought of myself as a father, as a husband But I am one Working for the railroad, I am a wild engineer I've got long hair and I've got a long beard And I could write songs for you For you For you And I could write For you For you In the backyard I have a cherry tree When I was young you would climb to the top with me But now we are borderline bankruptcy And I want to get away my 1970 Working for the railroad, I am a wild engineer I've got long hair and I've got a long beard And I could write songs for you For you And I could write for you
8.
Timelines & Tragedies 04:15
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There'll be no morning on this side of the bed No sheets for your mattress or pillow for your head Your breath, it billows like smoke from the cold air It's creeping in through the window that was cracked So say your goodbyes to your blue house and riverside The one with white shutters and doors Saving treasures like faded love letters Now you're moving uptown Love's like a freight train When Your tied to the rails You go where it takes you Cause that's how love goes You watched your kids grow through timelines and tragedies When the Steel whistle blows your a catastrophe Working and wishing you were young like your son Working and wishing you were done Love's like a freight train When Your tied to the rails You go where it takes you Cause that's how love goes Cause that's how love goes Cause that's how love goes La, la, la, la La, la, la, la La, la, la
9.
Lucille 03:44
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There was a statue of Mary on the dresser top next to a picture of Lucille I swear I saw them dancing by the hallway light, by the hallway light downstairs Through the cracks in the door I could hear a voice that sounded like angels I think it's yours You lost your wife three years ago. You kept her clothes in her drawer When you smell her perfume it reminds you of your love But this rosary you hold is a painful memory Through the cracks in the door I could hear a voice that sounded like angels I think it's yours And he says, Jesus, Jesus, mercy Christmas time is over, so I'm staying in it's not the same He carries the boxes in the tree to her room. In the closet he cries He says, maybe, just maybe it's gonna be better, it's gonna be better next year Through the cracks in the door I could hear a voice that sounded like angels That sounded like angels I think it's yours I think it's yours I think it's yours I think it's yours I think it's yours
10.
Renault 03:13
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Looking inside to an empty room There's no one home, there's no one home Except for the old man he's tired; sleeping alone, sleeping along So maybe I should leave him tomorrow, the good lord will take him I can hear the people talking Renault is so far Renault is so far So for now I settle with the rain But the rain won't settle me So for now I will settle with the rain Days like this one darling, days like this one They won't change My point of view So running through yards jumping fences Trying to get this voice out of my head But lately it's been screaming at me You're no good, and I listen I was walking, talking to my friends they ask what's wrong these days I'm so good I'm pretending under, these convenience store shades I can hear the people talking Renault is so far Renault is so far So for now I settle with the rain But the rain it won't settle me So for now I will settle with the rain Days like this one darling Days like this one; they won't change Days like this one darling Days like this one; they won't change My point of view
11.
Sioux City 04:05
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I grew up on the northside of town Past the railroad tracks a long, a long a long way back My dad works hard, he would never complain Just like his dad on 414 22nd street And my mom sits at home, at night she prays I would find true love in my heart And I'm not gonna hide it, and I'm not gonna fight Spend my time dreaming, I won't sleep tonight I'm not gonna hide it, and I'm not gonna fight Spend my time drinking, I won't be home tonight I, I, I I tried, I tried, I tried I just left Sioux City, I like the buildings there And the way the night always seems to fail So I pack up my chevy and I take control Often wonder is this place really my home So I said goodbye with no tears in my eyes I'm sorry mama I am leaving here tonight And I'm not gonna hide it, and I'm not gonna fight Spend my time dreaming, I won't sleep tonight I'm not gonna hide it, and I'm not gonna fight Spend my time drinking, I won't be home tonight I, I, I I tried, I tried I'm not gonna hide it, and I'm not gonna fight Spend my time dreaming, I won't sleep tonight I'm not gonna hide it, and I'm not gonna fight Spend my time drinking, I won't be home tonight I, I, I I tried, I tried, I tried
12.
Omaha 03:17
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I can't wake fast enough from this long overdue sleep Alarm is going off to remind me, of the seriousness I can't drive fast enough to get me work on time I am thinking about my love and how I wish there was more time I don't see the cracks, the cars or any signs on the new expressway I don't see the monuments, the official statues, I don't look anymore Its something we claim to be standing for If it's help, I could use some If it's help, I could use some So I just sit at work and dream to get though the day It's just another company with timelines and tragedies To keep my hands tied, with all these deadlines Should have taken some time off to be with Gloria Unpaid or whatever, I should have, I should have But now she's gone And I want to visit a few states I missed along the way New Jersey, North Caroline, South Southeast I just want to pick up the pace And this guitar and play If it's healing, I could use some now If it's healing, I could use some now A phone call from my dad on Tuesday I told him of my troubles and he said son Open your eyes, this job is a blessing You're saving kids lives and doing what is right But I don't feel right, reducing my life To meet someone else's dream Just burn me up young and throw me out old Alone and full of regret So I can't leave fast enough to get me out of this place The alarm is going off to remind me, of the seriousness If it's hope, I could use some If it's hope, I could use some If it's hope, I could use some
13.
Damage Is Done 03:41
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The damage is done, it's to early to tell The damage is done, the damage is done Sunshine you won't open my eyes this time And my heart is like a stone, ready to be tossed out or for someone to hold Most of the day I spend running away, and I run From the American dream American dream There will be no more working There will be no more fun There will be no more disappointments The damage is done Damage is done I sit in chair by the window I stare out, I stare From rustling papers and phone conversations, this corporate dream it fades And how am I supposed to live this way? With one foot on the curb as the cars fly by And the sign says Dont' walk Don't walk yet There will be no more working There will be no more fun There will be no more disappointments The damage is done The damage is done The damage is done The damage is done The damage is done The damage is done The damage is done

about

When thinking about Timelines & Tragedies, it only feels right to start from the beginning. The words, the music, played front to back. This recording tells a story of a journey from foreign soil. Life's decisions to stay or roam from state to state. The struggle of family and the necessity of love. From young to old, birth to death in song. I wanted this recording to end up exactly what it is. Perfect. Thanks to everyone involved in the making of this recording! Thanks to everyone that supports us along the way in what we are doing musically. Thank you! Justin Lamoureux

"Using strings, woodwinds, guitars, accordion and a musical saw this album catapults itself to the upper echelons of folk music." - Here Comes The Flood

"The superior storytelling and perfected neurosis of Timelines would make even the late Nick Drake crack a smile." - Hybrid Magazine

"Midwest Dilemma has created a brave, introspective and genre-bending first offering with Timelines and Tragedies." - Tracer Magazine

"Timelines & Tragedies does an extraordinary job of telling the immigrant’s story, one that distills the shared experience of severed roots and the dismembering and intimidating shift out of the safe boundaries of home into an uncertain future." - Frederick Foxtrott

"Acoustic Americana, with a subtle instrumental backing that dips from old folk to stylized cinescape." - Song, By Toad

"Midwest Dilemma has constructed a journey for the spirit." - Canadian Audiophile

"Lamoureux is a stream, it doesn’t matter if for a time he is only trickling through rocks and soil, his conviction is the rainfall, pouring much needed force sustenance to the stream – it can’t be stopped. He will find his ocean; it’s inevitable." - CityWeekly

"This is an album for our times." - Metric Reflection

"Midwest Dilemma Better Than Breast Feeding" - Enough Cowbell

credits

released May 16, 2008

All songs were written by Justin Lamoureux, over a period of two years or more. The music was created by Midwest Dilemma, family, and friends. Each artist gave their time and talents to make this recording something special, something that we can all appreciate.

Midwest Dilemma:
Justin Lamoureux - sing/nylon string guitar/12 string electric guitar/percussion/bells
Elizabeth Webb - sing/clarinet
Jackie Six - flute/vibro-slap
Nic Johnson - sing/acoustic guitar/electric guitar
David Downing - cello

Family & Friends:
Alessi - sing in french
Alexander Lamoureux - sing
Adam Lamoureux - sing/tenor saxophone
Phillip Lamoureux - sing
Sarah Bradovich - sing
Brad Hoshaw - sing/acoustic guitar
Dan McCarthy - accordion
Benjamin Brodin - vibraphone
Kate Williams - accordion/trombone
Brian Corey - trumpet
Debbie Greenblatt-Seay - violin
David Seay - saw
Mike Friedman - pedal steel
Jason Ferguson - mandolin
Clark Drinkall - sing/piano
Ben Arunski - tuba
Tyler Cook - upright bass
Matthew Arbeiter - percussion/bells

All vocals and instruments, except most percussion and the song Omaha, were recorded by Tim Cich @ Bassline Studio. All orchestral drums, percussion, and the song Omaha were recorded by Ian Aeillo @ Another Recording Company (ARC). Ian Aeillo also did the mixing @ ARC. Mastering was done by Doug Van Sloun, in his new studio called Focus Mastering. All studios can be found in Omaha, NE. The artwork, layout and design was done by Oat Montien in Australia. The old photos were provided by the Lamoureux family.

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Midwest Dilemma Omaha, Nebraska

Indie-folk singer-songwriter Justin Lamoureux recruited 23 musical collaborators for the debut release titled Timelines & Tragedies in 2008. The record is a time line of family history. Tracing Lamoureux's ancestors to their days of French Canadian fur trading, the Great Depression, the struggles of his parents' generation with Vietnam, and eventually concluding with his life in the Omaha. ... more

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