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Empress of Ireland

by Utility Project

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    We're only making 300 of these. And will be numbering the first 30 by hand with my own blood. Just kidding I'll use ink, but it LOOKS like blood. As of March 12, only 4 hand-stamped copies remain

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    Get all 16 Utility Project releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Moultin' Larva, Remains of the Empress, Empress of Ireland, Empress of Ireland (Karaoke), Four Way Stop (Original Soundtrack by Joel Boyea), #sadjacuzzi, Meaty Ochre - The Man in the Sirloin Suit (1988-1999), Aborted Shipwreckord 2013, and 8 more. , and , .

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1.
She's made of British Steel from top of mast to keel The Empress of Ireland Weighin' 14,000 tons And carryin' 1400 someones The Empress of Ireland In the river bed she rests since her untimely death More than a thousand deaths a thousand final breaths on the Empress of Ireland Throw a rose to those still on board The Empress of Ireland
2.
When we booked this trip Oh we were so in love I couldn't go thru with it blame the stars above Now I'm moving overseas alone Don't you worry about me Cuz I'm goin' away Sing my farewell song Watch my goodbye wave There's confetti in the air and champagne in my hair When we booked this trip I never thought it would go like this When I heard the news Oh the morning of How could this be true? blame the stars above Don't you worry about me anymore Bon voyage, mon amor Bon voyage, adieu adieu Farewell my love Sing my farewell song
3.
4.
Dear Love, it's me again I write to you each day post it here to this address Where I believe you stay I've tried many times but I can't get my mind to accept what could be true that I may have lost you Come to me, Overseas I don't care how long it takes Pack up your travel case fill it with the things that you can't live without Life ain't the same without you next to me Come to me, Overseas If I don't hear back from you, that's ok I'm at home on the docks where I wait Life ain't the same
5.
6.
I never planned on this sort of vocation We're more like a club on a vacation Once we've disembarked, goodbyes all said can't wait to see their faces when we knock 'em dead a bit nervous, yeah, that's the thrill tonight in front of everyone, we're gonna kill I'm an army man I play in the Salvation Army Band All I need is my horn (and a little love) It's not a bad job, except for the pay If you like to spread the love in an unusual way Go make music, we all need some You gotta toot your horn, you gotta bang your drum Be an army man Go play in the Salvation Army Band Salvation of course means that I'm saved tho the empress took me below to my grave as I look down from heaven above I'm proud to say I still play the music I love Cuz I'm an army man
7.
The Stoker 03:57
NO ONE KNOWS THE STOKER DOWN BELOW I'M NOT YOUR CONCERN CATCH THE COAL FROM THE TRIMMER AND MIND IT BURNS BLACK DUST LIVING IN BLACK DUST BREATHE IT IN BREATHE IT OUT YOU CAN LOSE YOUR MIND BEING A STOKER MANY OF OUR KIND HAVE JUMPED OVERBOARD PROUD TO BE A STOKER ONE OF THOSE WHO SAILS IN THE BELLY OF THE WHALE NO ONE KNOWS THE STOKER AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME
8.
Ride 04:33
RIDE CAN YOU FEEL? IN YOUR BONES? CAN YOU FEEL? WE'RE NOT GOING HOME RIDE CAN YOU FEEL? DO YOU KNOW LOVE THE FEEL YOU'RE LOSING CONTROL CAN YOU SMELL? THE SEA? WILL YOU HOLD ME? SOME THINGS ARE BETTER NOT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'VE GOT NO CONTROL
9.
10.
TAKE YOUR DREAMS AND PUT 'EM IN YOUR POCKET TAKE YOUR DREAMS AND KEEP 'EM UP YOUR SLEEVE WHEN I STOP WAITIN' TABLES EVERYONE 'S GONNA BE WAITIN ON ME TAKE YOUR DREAMS AND SEND 'EM OUT TO SEA YOU'RE TELLIN' SOMEONE AND THEN THEY MAKE FUN THAT'S THE LAST THING YOU NEED YOU MIGHT BE A THIRD CLASS PASSENGER ON THE SECOND DECK BUT YOU'RE THE FIRST REAL PERSON I SEE FRATERNIZING WITH PASSENGERS IS FORBIDDEN TONIGHT WE'RE HEADED ACROSS THE SEA TONIGHT IS FULL OF POSSIBILITY THE CROWD'S THINNIN,' I'M GRINNIN' CUZ I'M THINKIN OF YOU TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA SEE THIS THROUGH
11.
PORTHOLES OPEN LET THE AIR FLOW
12.
SLEEPING TIGHT SLEEPING TONIGHT WITH THE RIVER ROLLIN' UNDER ME THE WATER'S COLD NOT FAR FROM THE NORTH POLE SLEEPING TIGHT SLEEPING TONIGHT WHILE THE MOTOR CHURNS THE UNDERNEATH LET'S HAVE SOME FAITH LET'S HAVE SOME TRUST THERE'S A CREW ON BOARD LOOKIN' AFTER US I CAN'T SAVE YOU IF I CAN'T SAVE MYSELF I CAN KISS YOU I CAN HOLD YOU I CAN LOVE YOU MORE THAN I LOVE MYSELF IT WON'T BE LONG TIL WE'RE OUT AT SEA TURN OUT YOUR LIGHTS TURN ON YOUR DREAMS SLEEPING TIGHT SLEEPING TONIGHT WITH THE RIVE ROLLING UNDER ME BABY SLEEP TIGHT YOU'RE WITH ME TONIGHT
13.
14.
A CLEAR NIGHT LET'S HOPE IT HOLDS WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO LIVERPOOL FROM CANADA A CLEAR NIGHT LET'S HOPE IT HOLDS WE'RE ON OUR WAY THERE'S WORD OF SMOKE UP AHEAD FROM THE FIRES TO THE NORTH WE'RE ON OUR WAY IT'S OK I SPOT A SHIP ONE POINT AHEAD ON MY STARBOARD BOW ROLL IN THE FOG WHAT HAPPENS NOW SOUND THE HORN EVACUATE PLEASE JUST COME WITH ME HOPE THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE SINK OR SWIM EITHER WAY I DIE
15.
16.
Obsolescence 03:44
SEE THE PEOPLE HIT THE WATER THEIR EXPRESSIONS SHADOWY FIGURES OF BELONGINGS NO LONGER NEEDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER FEEL THE WATER RUSHING THROUGH ME SEE THE PEOPLE RAIN DOWN UPON ME SHADOWY FIGURES NO LONGER NEEDED HERE COMES THE EMPRESS NO LONGER NEEDED
17.
Falling 03:06
I'M FALLING THROUGH SPACE THAT'S LIQUID AND SALTY TO TASTE WHAT IS THIS PLACE? THE WORLD SEEMS SO FAR AWAY ABOVE THE WAVES LIFE GOES ON I'M FALLING THRU SPACE THAT'S LIQUID AND SALTY TO TASTE THE WORLD SEEMS SO FAR AWAY YOU CAN'T REACH ME I SEE YOUR FACE AS I FLOAT AWAY YOU LOOK SO SAD YOU CAN'T SEE ME I PROMISE YOU IT'S NOT THAT BAD I SEE YOUR FACE YOU CAN'T SAVE ME YOU'LL BE OK DON'T THINK 'WHY ME?' JUST SAVE YOURSELF YOU'LL BE OK
18.
Hindsight 03:38
IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW I WOULDN'T BE ASKING 'IF?' BUT 'HOW?' IF YOU KNEW WOULD YOU LEAVE SO CLOSE TO SHORE IT'S WHAT ARMS ARE FOR THE PHYSICAL WORLD IS WHAT STANDS BETWEEN THE WAY WE BEHAVE AND A MORAL HUMAN BEING WOULD YOU FLOAT LIKE A LOG OR WOULD YOU PADDLE LIKE A FROG? NOT ASKING 'IF' JUST ASKING 'HOW' JUMPING OVER NO TIME TO HELP YOU HAD TO SAVE YOURSELF OR DID YOU? SAY GOODBYE TO RESPONSIBILITY GOODBYE TO PHYSICAL ABILITY GOODBYE TO MORAL OBIGATION GOODBYE TO THE CAPTAIN'S STATION NO TIME TO HELP OR WAS THERE?
19.
WERE YOU MISTAKEN OR MAYBE SAVING YOUR SKIN WHEN YOU SAID AT THE INQUIRY THE FINAL ORDER GIVEN WAS CLOSE WATERTIGHT DOORS? I CAN'T QUESTION BRAVERY JUST YOUR ACCURACY NOW WE KNOW THE ENGINE ROOM TELEGRAPH READ FULL SPEED AHEAD WERE YOU MISTAKEN? CUZ THAT'D BE NEWS TO THE ENGINE ROOM WERE YOU MISTAKEN?
20.
JUST LIKE THIS OLD BROKEN HEART EVERYTHING ONE DAY FALLS APART THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND THERE WERE A THOUSAND DEATHS BUT NUMBERS ARE MEANINGLESS WHEN YOUR LOVED ONE IS MISSED GOD BLESS THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND

about

This recording is dedicated, with respect, to those tragically lost on The Empress of Ireland; and to Tom Phimister, my dear friend. Inspiration for this recording occurred while visiting The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. Visit and support your favorite museum.

credits

released February 29, 2016

Doyle Dean: Most Things
Jerod Sommerfeldt: Computer, Piano, Toys

Produced by Utility Project
Additional Engineering: Rob Zolner
Graphic Design: Manfred Hofer
Portrait: Jason Hunter
Webmaster: Tania Shurko
Consultant: Ian Kinder (theempressofireland.com)
Images: Guy D'Astous (rms-empress-of-ireland.com)

Thank you to our families and friends; The Department of Theater and Dance at SUNY Potsdam; Kelly Christensen, Brian Escamilla, Ian Kinder, Bridget Leary, Frank O'Donnell, Tony Ostyn, and Chuck Simmons.

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Utility Project Potsdam, New York

A lack of career spanning nearly two decades, Utility Project creates its own version of unpopular music

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