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Trigger Warning

by The Songs of Tom Smith

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Jorgon Gorgon
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1.
The Greater Crime 02:51
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Jammed his fingers I knew it was fraudulent Did it at home I still signed the documents Corroborated he sustained a work injury Joined the Brotherhood at the Academy. Bridge Respect the unwritten rules Sustain the greater crime Beaten to death a homosexual Police statement, his murder was destiny Personal choice your sexual preference Suspects arrested we took no evidence Bridge CHORUS Do I have to be a racist, do I have to be a homophobe Do I have to think you’re all scum Don’t wanna be chased out, be disowned I don’t wanna be shunned Minor offences like public drunkenness (Aboriginals) Resist arrest there was kicking and a punching up In the end it doesn’t matter how he died Easy enough to make it look like suicide Bridge I got hold of the evidence on video (I could go to gaol) What amounts to murder I leaked it to the media Offending officers transferred to another town The Brotherhood closed ranks around me Bridge CHORUS Bridge I don’t wanna be shunned – sustain the greater crime
2.
Prison Currency 04:49
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CHORUS Prison currency, prison currency Prison Currency, everyone has their price Prison Currency, prison currency Don’t have candy to barter for drugs? Everyone has their price Now I’ve only ever been raped once His tiny cock barely touched the sides It was all I could do not to start laughing Got me to thinking everyone has their price Lose track of time still pumped on a Friday Weekends just another 2 days grind So you’re ready to start a fight over anything Offer your service as a thug for hire CHORUS Lockdowns are kind of like a weekend They leak the news so everyone’s prepared Shove all the gear you can up your arsehole Sex with cellmates swap and share Inst CHORUS Some young kid took a chunk out of your scrotum When you wanted him for a wife You hired us and our home-made weapons Toothbrush handles sharpened into a spike Start pulling out raw mince and jelly A few stabs get your fingers in and poke The screws arrived they tasered the kid too Every shock from his gut hole smoked CHORUS
3.
Above the Law 03:17
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A higher power’s protecting me, allows me to survive My son goes out scores for me, keeps him outa strife (it’s my birthright) I have to keep creating or I’ll be just like everyone else It elevates and insulates me from the outside world (it’s my birthright) CHORUS I’m the artist and I claim my right Above the law, and above the crime I weighed it up in the long dark night Above the law, see me rise My wife understands it, part of my research I deny myself no love affair, as much as it may hurt (it’s my birthright I won’t be the victim of the sexually repressed There’s so much more at stake, I pursue my quest (it’s my birthright) My guitarist was a dead weight, got beyond a joke All I felt was relief the day that he croaked (it’s my birthright) I get what I need from you, no matter the cost So my work is with the public where it belongs (it’s my birthright)
4.
Prison Humour 03:07
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There was a guy with his cell at the entrance Saw the fresh meat coming in (He’d yell) He fucks babies I know this guy I remember him well Sitting in your cell with ur new cell mate They’re yelling kill that baby fucker Everyone knew child sex offenders Were never locked away with us (ha ha) CHORUS Prison humour, anything for a laugh Fake a smile or lose your teeth Prison humour, you’re learning fast It’s a weapon of self defence You’ll be best friends with your cell mate Lights out, end of the day He’ll spit on you when he’s back with his people You’re in a different gang My cell mate knows I’m a stick up kid With hipster tatts and a beard Who did you rob then Pretty Boy Floyd Lorna Jane or Witchery CHORUS Codeine he scored turned out to be an E-bomb So he decided to share When he gave me a blowjob I returned the favour Only seemed fair Never looked him in the eye the next few days Until we made a deal Blowjobs are just for special occasions He said once every hundred years
5.
Better off in Gaol 02:37
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I’d smuggle Dr Pepper back to my cell on a Friday drink it slow Til some guy stood over me for it I shoved it up his nose First day of solitary I kind of enjoyed, devoted to masturbation The Bible is the only book allowed, day 2’s entertainment 3rd day I thought they forgot about me, it’s when you lose track of time (Counting) seconds aloud my heartbeat racing I thought I was gonna die Screaming for help til they tasered me, already traumatised Back in solitary for a whole week, that’s when I realised CH Better off in gaol where drugs are an issue Even if they weren’t before Better off in gaol you know you can always (score) No one goes to lunch except junkies, hoard all the bread you can hide Roll it up like cotton balls for a filter when its dried My cell mate was some kid done for weed, I decided to share my junk Wetting his bed every night for a week, thought it’d help him adjust
6.
Prison of Eternal Love 03:59
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First time I got laid I was 16 years of age She was warm and alive I can’t complain I have thrown my heart and my money at tarts Love your prostitute, feel no shame Love her all the same CHORUS What could be so wholesome and spiritual Only money can buy Eternal Love Free me from the prison of eternal (love) Courtesans of class, 2 grand a blast Or meatrack chicks a dirty thirty bucks At home if it suits or a house of ill repute Order your girls as prompt as pizza Prompt as pizza comes CHORUS Bridge Fall into a woman’s arms don’t fall into her hands Order your girls as prompt as pizza comes Prompt as pizza comes CHORUS Mad not to pay for sex, in the end it costs less No mortgage, children or divorce And never legalise it, that’s why it’s exciting Honest and simple, it’s for sure Fun to break the law
7.
In My Innocence (Instrumental) 02:21
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8.
For Another Stint of Time 03:50
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People droning on/ how God can save their souls NA meetings/are a condition of my parole Drugs aren’t the problem, they just got me high; it’s the lack of drugs gets u in strife Watch me drool on the carpet and there’d be no crime; just an endless supply “ CHORUS Not saying I want another stint of time I’m just saying I know I’d survive Next time though I’ll go out in style For another stint of time It’s the simple pleasures/connect you to society Talking to someone in a queue, on the escalator, say excuse me I helped a woman off the bus with a pram; like any other generous young man I felt good about myself like you never would inside; kept that part of me alive CHORUS I watched them pull up at the mall, get out of the armoured van Fill the ATM with 20s and 50s, maybe 200 grand The guards’ fat fingers too big to fit, squeeze the pistol trigger Just need a partner to stay calm for guy in the van who’s armed
9.
No Danger, No Comfort 03:37
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The smell of Queensland is a trigger, my Step-Dad was a cop I’d lock the door he’d beat it down, once he starts he won’t stop For the cattle trucks as an activist now I lay my body down There’s still danger in the air now but it don’t smell like betrayal “ CHORUS No danger no comfort Until I can be sure No danger no comfort I keep going back for more When I was in gaol I felt safe, there’s a team out raising bail But I lock the door when I got home like the cops r on my trail I got nothing left to give; don’t let me fall apart If I could get out of bed in the morning I will not be a martyr CHORUS Bridge Like the feeling of helplessness in the animals eyes It’s a feeling of helplessness I recognise At an animal rescue centre I volunteer when I can I lock the door when I leave at night, take comfort in my actions A livestock truck goes past, I hear a million screams When I smell meat it’s not just murder but the cruelty that you feed on CHORUS Bridge (No voice no choice) I keep going back for more
10.
Party Carny Style 03:50
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The fairground empties out, come smoke a spliff with me Stop the wheel up at the top, i got the only key I saw a shooting star, I’m sure it could be you We haven’t been that far, you could not refuse? “ CHORUS When the show is over, there’s always one more ride Come with me, party carny style Bridge Other ride jocks envy me Keep the nuts all screwed in tight Her engine’s greased and clean, let’s ride I work the Gravitron. Pins you up against the wall Baby let’s get it on and ri- yiyiyide Everyday the earth spins through, tons of cosmic dust Babe I been watching you, eat your fairy floss In the ghost train that was me, hit your boyfriend where it hurts You got right off on it, I felt right through your skirt CHORUS Bridge Give a fake name and ID You can run but you can’t hide But in Carnyland, we let it ride Highway, bus and duffel bag I got no material ties Nothing in front of me but to ri-yiyiyide The fairground empties out, come smoke a spliff with me Stop the wheel up at the top, I got the only key I saw a shooting star, I’m sure it could be you We haven’t been that far, you could not refuse?
11.
Policeman/Entrepreneur 03:41
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When I first joined Consorting as a detective I noticed all the plain clothes officers in expensive threads And how do you pay off that deluxe set of wheels Can you make a quid on the side, get in on a deal? I thought I’d put it to the test, organise a raid But they took me for a beer after work, said don’t worry ‘bout it mate Now I visit the brothels once a week, everyone trusts me Madams and the girls stand to attention, hand over the money CHORUS Name, rank, police badge number An entrepreneur answers to no one Name, rank, police badge number Nothing to see here, move along, Sunshine! Once I got to know the crooked cops, we do each other favours Once I got to know the crooked cops from interstate They could send their boys up – I got connections round town Pay me hundred bucks a week and you’re free to do the rounds When a gay man was murdered and in the river dumped Gay bashings were regular I realised but never made public I decided to find out which businessmen were gay Put TV cameras in all the toilets so I could blackmail them
12.
Unstoppable 03:44
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Just cooked up a whole new batch, too many debts for chasing Buyers wanna pay on tick, meth users get impatient (nothing to lose) At the restaurant he paid with a gift card and tipped them a bag of rocks. If he sold coke to bankers and lawyers no one would call the cops (too much to lose) CHORUS I’m unstoppable I can’t stop Feel the rush now follow it through (too much to lose) I’m unstoppable I can’t stop Feel the rush you’re coming too (nothing to lose) Your office is known as the North Pole, never a lack of snow Wanna whiff of snow white, some candy for the nose (nothing to lose) A wife to cheat with or a cheap hooker, the buzz of investment banking You can afford any woman you want but never enough danger (too much to lose) CHORUS Inst CHORUS Low-life entertainment value, always worth the risk A bag from Asia busts in a gut, prime-time television (nothing to lose) I protect my investment in legal drugs, secure the private prisons I’m the war on drugs, I’m eternal like God, looking after business (too much to lose) CHORUS Bridge When you play God you can get in deep If it’s a game people are rats. When you play God the rush is coming on Once you’re all knowing, try turning back People are rats you’d have to let down You’d have to bring it down to the gutter again If you come down you’d have to bring it down If you come down to the gutter again

about

Hark! Lyrical content may trigger a wish to seek guidance and support for those living with addiction and for victims, survivors, witnesses, perpetrators and potential perpetrators of sexual, physical, institutional, discriminatory, psychological or other forms of abuse.

Support Contacts

QLIFE 1800 184 527
1800 RESPECT
KIDS HERLPLINE 1800 551 800
BRAVEHEARTS 1800 272 831
LIFELINE 13 1114
SUICIDE CALL BACK SERVICE 1300 659 467

Personnel:

Chris Anderson – Bass
David Laczko – Guitar and Vocals
Devin Starasts – Guitar
Kayla Kirkpatrick – Vocals
Tiffany Gray – Vocals
Zephyr Wood - Drums
Tom Smith – Guitar and Vocals

The inimitable proliferor, Tom Smith, along with whoever is too close not to get roped in,
gives voice to the largely well muffled shadow aspects that our human society is cultivating in the back
alleys of minds across the globe. These songs tell the stories of those who wind up stuck in self
perpetuating negative feed back loops, often due to trauma trapped in their bodies, perpetrated
endured or both, that craves further disruption. Tom lends his voice for people who need to be heard,

but cannot access a platform, and he also speaks for those who are often reluctant to share the gory
details of their corrupt dealings.

Leaving shadow to fester only perpetuates the misery, so let's get some air under these defective or
devious archetypes by giving them the special attention they deserve.... artfully constructed verse, a
guitar that's ripping up a love letter to the rude realities herein unfolding to a strain of sweet harmonies
and jolly rhythms.

It's not called Trigger Warning for nothing.

Old school attitudes, antics, and atrocities
smacking of PTSD backlash and sociopathic coping mechanisms.
The ones that keep humanity thumb screwed to the 20th century stand over or bend over legacy
in which people continue to get hurt, as if we haven’t thought of anything better to do with
our phenomenal windows of opportunity!!
Why not Love now,
while you still live and breathe,
while you can still marvel at the scope of deep social journalism Tom Smith has so tenderly prepared for you,
cos among the putrid psychic debris of the collective mindscape that churns in the background of every
supra-conscious, consensus decision, be the change community potluck,
are the matted clumps of double helix short and curly's jamming up the machine,
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS regrettable BEHAVIOUR!!!
So in hearing it, please check yourself, for if any of this content has you triggered, consider the useful conversations available to you.



This album was recorded on the stolen lands of the Jagera and Turrbal people. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Artwork: Tiffany Gray
Liner Notes: Tiffany Gray, Tom Smith, David Laczko
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Cam Smith, Incremental Records, 2019/2020

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released July 25, 2020

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The Songs of Tom Smith Brisbane, Australia

The Songs of Tom Smith is a recording and performance project created by Tom in 2012. It has a large pool of musicians across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

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