Delusions of Grandeur: Lyrics & Credits

I. Best In Show

verse 1:
wall calendar stopped in april
hot air in the dead of june
wild dogs in the parking lotand a grim reaper on the local news

verse 2:
i packed up my prized possessions
12 strings and a bag of shoes
i made it out of the country
to a place where i can fake the blues

chorus:
feeling better comes in waves
heavy weather needs to rain
and i bite my pillow, clutch my brain
i can think a lot about what people want to say
and if i try my best
i can make it halfway i guess
i can’t take it to make up the rest

verse 3:
spring cleaning got postponed to august
piss and vinegar, dirt and rust
this might kill me if i’m being honest
slo mo footage looks a little rushed

chorus:
feeling better comes in waves
heavy weather needs to rain
and i bite my pillow, clutch my brain
i can think a lot about what people want to say
and if i try my best
i can make it halfway i guess
i can’t take it to make up the rest
i can’t take it to make up the rest

Written & Recorded by Jackson James
Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Banjo, Lap Steel, Drums, Percussion - Jackson James
Additional Guitars - Joe Cho
Additional Vocals - Mia Timson
Mixed by Theo Hoffstrom & Jackson James
Mastered by Theo Hoffstrom & Jackson James


II. Death Valley

verse 1:
I-85, take it out of me
where the cracks in the rearview
preview sweet relief
carbon steel can’t kill you
but you can give it a try
it was broken from the start
this will only pry

chorus:
i didn’t stop the bleeding
i couldn’t find a reason to try
i can’t remember nothing
but all the time thats passing me by

verse 2:
2,000 miles in an effigy
building me up for the revelry
burn it all down, let the salt seep
history rhymes before history speaks

chorus:
i didn’t stop the bleeding
i couldn’t find a reason to try
i can’t remember nothing
but all the time thats passing me by

coda:
it was broken from the start


Written & Recorded by Jackson James
Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Lap Steel, Organ, Drums, Percussion - Jackson James
Additional Guitars - Joe Cho
Mixed & Mastered by Theo Hoffstrom & Jackson James



III. Metal Gear Solid IV

verse 1:
i like to sit on my couch
i wish you’d sit on my couch with me
i’d drink a bottle of something
that doesn’t agree with me

verse 2:
we’d watch a hour long video
about metal gear solid 4
i never played that game before

pre-chorus:
but i cried and i cried
like i didn’t when you left  

chorus:
who am i fooling
who are you now
royally stomping in puddles
real deal pond jumping clown

verse 3:
i’d like to be in your video
i’d like to be in your room
i’d take the sand in my sneakers
before i would take a moment away from you

chorus:
who am i fooling
who are you now
royally stomping in puddles
real deal pond jumping clown

Written & Recorded By Jackson James
Vocals, Guitars, Lap Steel, Bass, Harmonica - Jackson James
Mixed & Mastered by Theo Hoffstrom & Jackson James


IV. Quiet Water

verse 1:
crossed that bridge too many times
heart like bait up on my line
i’ve dropped my picket sign
and you say that i’m a fool to be this way
it’s kinda hard to see it straight

chorus:
well i’ve been waiting all day
for a moment to suffer
and i’ve been waiting all night
for a moment to hold you
and i’ve been waiting my life
for a little of something more

well i’ve been waiting all day
for a moment to suffer
and i’ve been waiting all night
for a moment to hold you
and i’ve been waiting my life
for a little of something more

verse 2:
fighting for a nice word to hide in
running from a tight pair of eyelids
digging through my coat for my silence

prechorus:
i am seeing to the other side
and i know that i’ve
i’ve been running from my other life and i can’t keep

chorus:
waiting all day
for a moment to suffer
and waiting all night
for a moment to hold you
and waiting my life
for a little of something more

well i’ve been waiting all day
for a moment to suffer
and i’ve been waiting all night
for a moment to hold you
and i’ve been waiting my life
for a little of something more


bridge:
when i die
remember me in phases in the sky
absorbing in my room reflecting light
i can’t be who i tried
eat my heart out if you don’t mind
on fours outside to the sky screaming

chorus:
well i’ve been waiting all day
for a moment to suffer
and i’ve been waiting all night
for a moment to hold you
and i’ve been waiting my life
for a little of something more

Written by Jackson James
Recorded by Jackson James & Holden Cathcart
Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Lap Steel, Wurlitzer, Glockenspiel, Drums- Jackson James
Additional Programming - Holden Cathcart
Mixed & Mastered by Theo Hoffstrom & Jackson James


IV. Half Empty, Half Full (JJ 2023)

verse 1:
you  held my arm
i didn’t wanna know
how we got so far
and where’s there to go
but we carry on
‘till we’re filled with smoke

chorus:
clouds are falling on our rooftop, rooftop
these days its getting harder to stop, to stop
feeling stuck inside of you
my heart is stuck inside of you


verse 2:
keep on coming, more
lay me on the floor
kick my sides until i’m bleeding
i don’t know what for
but i step back
everytime i’m in right place
but the wrong time
even then i can’t deny it

bridge:
i’ve been losing myself
i’ve been losing myself
can you give me your help?
can you give me your help?
i’ve been losing myself
i’ve been losing myself

chorus:
clouds are falling on our rooftop, rooftop
these days its getting harder to stop, to stop
feeling stuck inside of you
my heart is stuck inside of you

outro:
i didn’t wanna know
where’s there to go?


Written & Recorded by Jackson James
Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Piano, Drums, Percussion - Jackson James
Additional Vocals - Theo Hoffstrom
Mixed & Mastered by Theo Hoffstrom & Jackson James




Cover Photography: Mia Timson
Recorded between June 2022 and November 2023
Recorded primarily in New York, New York, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida & Kreuzberg, Berlin

Special Thanks: Delaney Sheehan, Theo Hoffstrom, Holden Cathcart, Jack Bobley, Mia Timson, David Echols, Daeshawn Urena-March, Robert and Melissa Cathcart

© Jackson James, BMI 2023