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A Week in the Life of Someone, Somewhere.

by Ben Hughes

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TimTTT Ben brings the common man angst I can relate to. Favorite track: 3rd Shift.
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1.
2.
defeat every Monday as I pull back into work. "how do I always end up back here?" let the workaholics let them all stay late. I'm thankful I have somewhere I'd rather be cause this place pays the bills, but it doesn't pay me. so, I've been trying to find a way out as all these people just settle down on a dead end street they find a home where they lead stagnant lives and simply stay afloat. I hope this day goes fast so it can bring me back to what I really live for... my woman, my craft, my friends and family. see I've got somewhere I'd rather be. so, I've been trying to find my way out as all these people just settle down if the boss would only appreciate what we do for them each day instead they pay us a poor man's wage. just remember: if they can get rid of you, they will they don't care much about "who" it's more about what you can do for them. so, I've been trying to find my way out cause this place pays the bills, but it doesn't pay me.
3.
it's 6:50 and I can hear that clock ticking gotta get some things done before the biggest portion of my Tuesday is taken away. I mean I'm thankful I have a job, but when your living becomes your life then it's gone too far. a young man, in a suit and tie asked me what I wanted in this life and he didn't even hear my side before he blurted out his reply. he said, "you can never make enough $, so shake my hand and start next week" so, now I'm thankful I have a job, but if this living becomes my life then it's gone too far. I heard he is now a father and they outsourced his job. using his 401k to pay the utilities the CEO feasts again on the hard-working man, ignoring the blood on his hands. now, I'm thankful I'm still afloat as these cheap, rich bastards raise another toast.
4.
The Next Day 03:43
I give you today and you want tomorrow. now, I'm thinking is a happy family possible anymore? I was just trying to make some money on the side when I got into trouble that night. but what is right? when what is righteous in their eyes leaves you and yours empty on the inside. I give you tomorrow and you want the next day. so, now I'm picking splinters from my fingers, no nobody said it would be easy working that OT for what my family need, but what they really need is me. guess that's just life physical absence to provide and it leaves you and yours empty on the inside empty on the inside. i give you (tomorrow, today, yesterday) today but is it right? if it leaves you and yours empty on the inside.
5.
(instrumental)
6.
Good Side 03:10
every day is one of a kind I try to take them as they come but usually I forget and get ahead of myself I'm still nowhere and lonely as hell. you gotta get on their goodside and I must not be. so, I keep one foot in front of the other and let them lead me to payday. I battle overdraft fees as they get the best of me and my hourly rate. I must not be you gotta get on their goodside and I must not be.
7.
3rd Shift 03:11
she comes home before sun up Monday through Thursday morning and though she misses the first shift, the differential helps provide for her kids. texting her boyfriend in the morning "let's quit our jobs and just live on the streets..." and while I know we can't do that, goddamn it feels good to dream. cause I just need one good night's sleep but my kids have got to eat. "you bring your guitar, I'll bring my camera and we'll become super stars" I just need one good night's sleep but my kids have got to eat oh, I just need one good night's sleep but my kids have got to eat.
8.
I hate being here I'm a grown man doing his job as all my bosses peer over my shoulder and baby sit me cause they can't trust anyone. I miss you and the weekend. one more day to go 'til we get to hit the road and leave everything else behind oh, they baby sit me cause they can't trust anyone. I miss you and the weekend.
9.
I've got things I'd like to do and I'm sure you've got yours too but who has the time to execute? make a living start dying to everything that you are inside. but you gotta hold yourself together, man let go of time in your mind and stick to the master plan. if there is one thing you'll remember, it's that you'll always forget what happens in a whirlwind weekend. whirlwind weekend where those memories go no one will know. I've got places I should be but nothing in life comes free listen to me, but don't follow my lead I'll be working for the man, as I urge you to be all you can. but you gotta hold yourself together, man let go of time in your mind and stick to the master plan. if there is one thing you'll remember, it's that you'll always forget what happens in a whirlwind weekend. whirlwind weekend.
10.
I don't want to let go of tonight I will fight, I will fight. though the sun is in retreat, I will still be on my feet chasing after anything in this life that tastes sweet. like a picnic in the park, where you stole half of my heart and I wasn't even the slightest bit upset about it. I don't want to let go of tonight I will fight, I will fight. (end of Saturday night party)
11.
halfway points sneak up and make one feel rushed. and, unlike the days we've wasted, take advantage of us. father time against the man hypnotizing hands victimized by a plan. Sunday nights show up I hate the messenger. I'll slip on Monday morning's dew and fall back in to my worst habit wishing 40 hours away. youthless blues dragging my feet I'd like to think it's just my view, and life is really sweet. youthless blues I've been dragging my feet but if I step back a few, my life is really sweet. father time against the man hypnotizing hands victimized by a plan. youthless blues dragging my feet I'd like to think it's just my view, and life is really sweet. youthless blues I've been dragging my feet but if I step back a few, my life is really sweet.
12.
Bread 04:03
if we want you out we'll find a way put you on that second shift: 12 - 8:30 you'll never get to see your family. he who laughs the loudest needs it the most it's how bad life's been to me that they'll never know I never got to see my family. just remember a man is only a man if he brings home the bread.
13.
youthless blues dragging my feet I'd like to think it's just my view, and life is really sweet. youthless blues I've been dragging my feet but if I step back a few, my life is really sweet.

about

"My concern was always for the nobody, the man who is lost in the shuffle, the man who is so common, so ordinary that his presence is not even noticed." - Henry Miller

After working 3 years in a warehouse, I decided to make an album that would represent an average work week. The plan was simple, 14 journal entries, one every morning and one every night for one week (Jan 21, 2013 - Jan 27, 2013).

While I put a lot of myself and my own life experiences into these songs, I also referenced things I heard from co-workers, bosses, CNN, friends and family during that week, and tried to tie it all together in a way that made sense.

The company I was working for, at the time, brought on new management and I watched as they mowed over everyone in the warehouse. They closed down departments, stranded workers (some with 20+ years of service), forced overtime, changed worker's shifts and didn't even flinch while doing so. I know the company is most likely doing better than ever right now, but it was hard for me to watch.

I moved on from that company and week, and the album was never recorded.

"A Week in the Life of Someone, Somewhere" only existed inside of my head up until 3 weeks ago, when Ryan Buzby and I holed up in our studio to record the 13 track album. I was relieved to finally get the concept album out of my mental queue, and it was exciting to watch as it took the shape I imagined it would during the 2 1/2 years that passed since that week in January 2013.

The album was recorded very spontaneously. With the exception of the chord progressions, vocal melodies and some harmonies, everything was recorded on the fly. We'd just hit record and see what would happen. Ryan didn't even know all of the songs before we started tracking, but adapted quickly, and helped me bring back to life what I thought for sure was going to be just another forgotten week.
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"A Week in the Life of Someone, Somewhere"

Monday:

01. Youthless Blues Overture
02. This place pays the bills, but it doesn't pay me.

Tuesday:

03. Still Afloat (6:50 AM)

Wednesday:

04. The Next Day
05. Youthless Blues Interlude
06. Good Side

Thursday:

07. Third Shift

Friday:

08. Miss You & The Weekend

Saturday:

09. Whirlwind Weekend
10. I don't want to let go of tonight.

Sunday:

11. Youthless Blues
12. Bread
13. Youthless Blues Reprise

(see each song's "about this track" for more specific dates/times)
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WXPN's The Key wrote about "A Week in the Life of Someone, Somewhere." here:
thekey.xpn.org/2015/07/30/ben-hughes-voices-struggles-common-man-months-album-release/#more-168845

credits

released July 28, 2015

______________________________

Ben Hughes - vocals, guitars, bass & drums.
Ryan Buzby - drums, bass & percussion.
______________________________

Produced by Ben Hughes & Ryan Buzby.
Recorded at our studio using a Midas Venice F24 and Apple Logic Pro in the first two weeks of July 2015.
Engineered by Ryan Buzby & Ben Hughes.
Mixed & Mastered by Ryan Buzby.
All music performed by Ben Hughes & Ryan Buzby.
All songs written by Ben Hughes (Benjamin Hughes ASCAP).

Art by Ben Hughes.

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Ben Hughes New Jersey

"...channels musicians like Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, and Sufjan Stevens, as on Hughes’ previous releases. But this record immediately calls to mind Pedro the Lion’s Control, with its deep-voiced chords and melodies, lyrical themes of corporate hell, and Hughes’ slurring voice. It could stand as a complimentary album to Control just as well as it stands on its own."

-Nick Tate, WXPN
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