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Your Favourite Record Shop (Papa J)

from Help Yourself by Songs of Tom Smith

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lyrics

I had a serious issue with shoplifting, especially vintage and collectible vinyl LPs. 15 years ago I managed to ween myself from this shameful and somewhat secretive behaviour.

Papa J aka Jason Bootle got caught in the middle of a very awkward situation as a result of my actions. He gives us his version of my confession/song of shoplifting from a respected and well-loved record shop owner and member of my own music community. It's taken more than 20 years for this story to surface. Hopefully this is part of a healing process...

Jason Bootle is one of my oldest and best-loved musical collaborators. We were in Adelaide band The Moonies in the mid/late 90s. His presence in the band lifted us to a new level of focus and visibility with his stylish bass playing dress sense song writing and visual design talents. Jason now lives in London and we have been separated for over 20 years. But this song has resumed our collaboration. Miss you Jason...

Lyrics:

CDs aren’t in cases, you want one you gotta buy it
Vinyl is too big for stealing, surely no one would try it
Your method, it is simple, you choose a pile then stash it
Buy some $2 records then go back and fill your bag up

The shop is owned by Hector, he was in your favourite band
You saw every gig back then, sometimes their only fan
If you got to talking music, the magic could be gone forever
And make it all the more less likely, he puts 2 and 2 together

You’d be banned from your favourite record shop for stealing

Rupert was a bloke who worked there/sussed out you were Tommy/Smith
You talked about your band The Moonies, still you were oblivious
Next time you were in the shop, he made sure you overheard him
‘Shoplifters can be spotted’ but nothing could deter you

Like when you’re banned from your favourite record shop for stealing

The Moonies brand new bass player, Jason didn’t mean to dob
You thought you were invisible still, got talking in the shop
When you finished catching up, you take your stash and leave
Rupert asked him if he knew you, that you were a thief

You’ll be banned from your favourite record shop for stealing x2

Well, the worst thing was he suspected me all along but he was too/ embarrassed to say
He thought maybe I was sneaking 1 or 2 records/ not 10 or 12 in one go!
And when he bought The Moonies up that was just so/ I knew - he didn’t have to stock all our merchandise
And when he announced, ‘shoplifters can be spotted’/ well, they’d knocked a whole wall out
You know, to get a clear view from one room into the other/like they’d done it all because of me
………… maybe they had


Next thing Jason tells you Hector wants to see you
Maybe he’ll give you a job there, that’ d put a stop to the thieving
He offered you a cigarette, waited for your confession
Like taking money from his purse, when he considered you a friend

Now you’re banned from my favourite record shop for stealing x4

credits

from Help Yourself, released April 23, 2021

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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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