• Train Rollin'

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    The train rollin’ through the valley so deep
    It’s voice it’ll echo from the mountain peaks
    It might take a day and it may take a week
    The train rollin’ through the valley so deep

    What answers lie on the water that flows?
    Calling for the reason, calling for the snow
    Chances are taken and patience is slow
    What answers lie on the water that flows?

    There’s horses standing in the fields again
    They’re lying in the sunshine, running in the wind
    They’re bringing a calm to the storm within
    Those horses standing in the fields again

    There’s new songs forming in my mind again
    They’re pouring from my soul by the way of the pen
    Trying to sort through all the whys and all the when’s
    There’s new songs forming in my mind again

  1

• Smokey Strings

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Cigarettes bring smokey strings
    Like spring time brings pretty things
    And has stories no other season can tell

    Hidden words they won’t take long
    To surface in a guitar song
    Written in a western town long ago

    Play it loud to find out how
    This man has lived here and now
    He leaves a legend behind in this old guitar

    Old saloons and lonesome tunes
    Through a raspy voice are crooned
    The sound that cigarettes and whiskey bring

    Old country fairs and shaggy hair
    Never taking off the boots you wear
    For they bring you luck and change can kill a man

    With the chill of winter comin’ on again
    And though I’ve never met this man
    His story echoes out of this old guitar

  2

• Ghost Train

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Ghost train running through the night
    Ghost train running through my mind

    Lying awake and dreaming of a day when it all makes sense
    Float along in happiness, never living in the past tense

    All these thoughts, all these dreams, all these hopes and fears
    All these thoughts, all these dreams, all these hopes and fears
    Washed out to sea

    Trying to understand your mind, barely making sense of mine
    Trying to understand your mind, barely making sense of mine

    I’ll hold you for a thousand years but would that be enough
    To set you free from all your fears and to see my skin grow tough?

    All these thoughts, all these dreams, all these hopes and fears
    All these thoughts, all these dreams, all these hopes and fears
    Washed out to sea

    Ghost train running through the night
    Ghost train running through my mind

    I could reach out across the sea with arms out stretched in grace
    And pull you back to be with me or I could leave without a trace

    All these thoughts, all these dreams, all these hopes and fears
    All these thoughts, all these dreams, all these hopes and fears
    Washed out to sea

  3

• Moon Song

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Where are you tonight?
    Are you dancing there in this moonlight?
    And if we were to call out your name
    Would you show your face in the sky?

    The fire will be burning bright
    Burning and crackling there in this night
    It warms us to our very soul
    And there the music begins to roll

    The music it will echo through the hills
    Down to the river it will bring them a chill
    They’ll come back to the fire to see
    What beautiful and wonderful things are waiting there to be

    Where is the moon tonight?
    Why are we not dancing there in it’s light?
    And if we were to call out its name
    Would it show its face in the sky?

  4

• Come Rain Or Snow

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Out of all the days that I could have picked to go
    It had to be the one in May when it happened to snow
    And though I’m leaving on a big jet plane
    I wish I was standing out in the pouring rain

    She’ll be driving but not alone
    She’s bringing the hound dog along way from home
    And the snow falls.... and the wind it does blow
    She’ll be driving but never alone

    Cars all lined up and covered with snow
    But I’m still leaving because I’ve got to go
    If I called out your name would you come to me?
    For I just spent a week out in the big city

    We’ll be meeting down at the train
    We’ll be meeting come snow or rain
    Its been three long days since I called out your name
    We’ll be meeting come snow or rain

  5

• Smilin'

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Smiling as the rain pours down
    Listen to the magical sound
    The clouds big and black surround
    I’m searching for a love I’ve found

    Meadows green, valleys deep
    Soft, quiet, unspoken
    Sun dancing around your feet

    Can things unsaid still be heard
    As you sit and wait for the word
    You go on without a sound
    You go on with what you’ve found

  6

• Breath Of Air

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Take it in its time again
    To feel the pull of the road
    Through hills and valleys face in the wind
    While carrying a heavy load
    Everywhere you look
    Every time you feel
    Every chance you get
    To make it all real

    Let it out its time again
    To explore the freedom of sound
    You’ll close your eyes and unwind again
    You’ll spread your wings out around

    Everywhere you look
    Every time you feel
    Every chance you get
    To make it all real

    Take it in its time again
    To make all your dreams come true
    You’ll float on the ocean at sunset
    Suspended on the sea of blue

    Everyday there’s something
    Every night you dream
    Every morning you wake up
    Every river has its stream

  7

• Spanish Jam

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    She walked up to me without a word
    And she looked deep, deep into my eyes
    Yes she looked deep, deep into my eyes

    Without a word all was said
    For her hair it hung flowing, long and red
    Without a word all was said, her hair hung long and red

    Then it happened again not like before
    She turned and she walked out, walked out the door
    Well it happened again not like before
    She turned and walked out the door

    I watched her drive off , tail lights bouncing
    As her car it crawled slowly down the hill
    Her car it crawled slowly down the hill

  8

• Pay At The Pump

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Think I’ll pull in to gas up my Chevy
    Though my eyes are getting heavy
    Got to stay out on the road , got a 100 miles to go
    Got no one left to thank
    Just finish topping up my tank
    I’ll pull away from the pump
    Leave the hose to hang then thump
    Down upon the ground, it will drown out the sound
    Of sirens running in the night
    Got so many bills to pay
    Just head out on my way

    No more ‘good morning how are you?’
    Or ‘fine thanks’ and its true
    No more friendly smiles or waves
    Just head out on my way
    Its better to leave it in the dust
    Then to watch it slowly rust
    Got so many bills to pay
    Just head out on my way

    How will I get away again?
    I’ve tried all versions of my plan
    No one seems to mind
    My truck they’ll never find
    I’m a fast stroller and a high roller
    That’s how I’ll get away again
    Got so many bills to pay
    Just head out on my way

    Think I’ll pull in to gas up my Chevy
    Though my eyes are getting heavy
    Got to stay out on the road, got 99 miles to go
    I’m a fast stroller and a high roller
    That’s how I’ll get away again
    Got so many bills to pay
    Just head out on my way

  9

• Swerving Gently

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    I got off the ferry at a quarter to ten
    Brings my mind back to a time when…
    I got off the ferry at a quarter to ten
    Brings my mind back to a time when…
    I don’t know the words but I’ll sing along
    Swerving gently to the rhythm of the song

    Hope still lingering on the breeze
    A feeling so real it will bring you to your knees
    Hope still lingering on the breeze
    A feeling so real it will bring you to your knees
    You don’t know the words but you’ll sing along
    Swerving gently to the rhythm of the song

    Traffic lined up forty cars deep
    Not pushing hard because the hill’s real steep
    Traffic lined up forty cars deep
    You’re not pushing hard because the hill’s real steep
    You don’t know the words but you’ll sing along
    Swerving gently to the rhythm of the song

    I got off the ferry at a quarter to ten
    Brings my mind back to a time when…
    I got off the ferry at a quarter to ten
    Brings my mind back to a time when…
    I don’t know the words but I’ll sing along
    Swerving gently to the rhythm of the song

  10

• Mountains High

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    I had a dream the other night
    You’d come back again
    With my arms open wide
    I welcomed you home my friend

    How will loneliness find you
    In the mountains high?
    And how will it leave you
    On the day you die?

    Sitting on the front porch
    Playing my guitar
    Or sitting by the ocean side
    Counting all the stars

    How will loneliness find you
    In the mountains high?
    And how will it leave you
    On the day you die?

  11

• Abstract Thoughts

  John Jenkins & Swerving Gently  

  • Lyrics

    Abstract thoughts they’re flowing through
    They’re swimming with me in this morning dew
    These dreams of me and these dreams of you
    I’m filtering through time to see into

    Worrying won’t help me be
    Doubting can’t help me see
    Those questions ringing aimlessly
    Through the valleys and through the trees

    Come on in my friend I hear you knocking
    My feet are tired I’ve been doing too much walking
    The instant arrival of my thoughts in which I’m chalking
    Unconscious desire in silence is stalking

    Worrying won’t help me be
    Doubting can’t help me see
    Those questions ringing aimlessly
    Through the valleys and through the trees

    Explanations are long overdue
    All the things that I wanted to say to you
    These dreams in night and day time are true
    These dreams of me and these dreams of you

    Worrying won’t help me be
    Doubting can’t help me see
    Those questions ringing aimlessly
    Through the valleys and through the trees

  12

Just over a year after their debut album comes Swerving Gently’s 2nd album ‘Rare Mileage’ – released on July 9, 2009.

Cabin Fever Studios, outside Nanaimo BC, would play host to the creative explosion taking place from April 26 – May 8, 2009.

Holding true to their raw roots feel, all of the bed tracks were again recorded live off the floor, capturing the bands development and current sound.

Additional layering helps bring out the true essence of each of the 12 tracks.

For John, this album marks the long awaited collaboration with childhood friend Jordan Stringer (co-owner/operator Cabin Fever Studio).

Media

The Force: July 2009

The Golden Star: June 2009