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COME OUT FIGHTING

by John Ellis

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Download John Ellis's 2010 solo debut "Come Out Fighting" and get the bonus track "Silver"! Also included: original album artwork. BONUS ITEM: the video for "Own Way Home"!
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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 9 John Ellis releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of NATIVE, GROWING SILENT, TELLS, PROTEST SONGS, BUSH TELEGRAPH (EP), COME OUT FIGHTING REMIXES, GET YOU (Radio Edit), RURAL, and 1 more. , and , .

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      $42.24 USD or more (35% OFF)

     

1.
OWN WAY HOME 03:32
OWN WAY HOME It’s been this way since I was a kid I don’t fit in, and I never did I’ve been carried up high, been brought down low Try telling me something I don’t know I’m a river that flows away from the sea I get where I’m going eventually Maybe forgiveness is the best revenge They’ve got evidence but I’ve got a good defence I can find my, find my own way, own way home I can find my, find my own way, own way home It’s the end of the world and I can’t wait Too much too soon, too little too late I’ve got my fingers crossed and my lucky charms This’d better not be another false alarm I can find my… Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010
2.
COME OUT FIGHTING I’ve spent too much time Feeling like I committed a crime I’m done, I’m checking out I’m not guilty and I’ve had enough Oh oh Why should I compete With everybody on every street? Where’s that brotherly love? Where’s that endangered dove? Oh oh Push me in the corner – I’m gonna come out fighting Push me in the corner – I’m gonna come out fighting Raised up to obey Everybody every single day Things learned at the scene of the crash: Trust God only, everybody else pays cash Oh oh No more auditions baby never again Never apologize never explain Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010
3.
MAYBE (JUST MAYBE) No day that ever starts like this is going to be bad She took me into her arms and kissed me like we had just met With daylight exploding through my window Maybe just maybe in the end it’s all worth it after all And maybe it’s all worth it in the end I’m way out past the pier and I can see my house from here When I get tired I’ll glide these walls of glass and foam to shore Some days, they remind you why you don’t want to die just yet Maybe… Wind came up in the afternoon, we watched the sun give way We kindled hope like a guttering flame, just enough to keep us warm Today we all took one step forward Maybe just maybe… Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010
4.
GOVERNMENT SONG There’s a man who invented a machine To make dirty water clean And it works, it could really change the world But there’s a man Who’s in charge Who would like a luxury car And that’s what it’s going to take to bring clean water to the people Is this the country we prayed for? The land our heroes have betrayed Whatever happened to the struggle? Maybe it’s time to start again There’s a girl who lives with a disease That keeps her on her knees All she needs is a fucking loaf of bread But there’s a man in a uniform Sunglasses, crocodile shoes Puts a gun in her hand and sends her out to kill her next-door neighbour And if you listen you will hear Luthuli turning in his grave O Spear of the Nation! When did you become a slave? Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010
5.
A LUTA CONTINUA Big man in a big suit in a big car full of bad loot he’s a Vice President, CEO, he’s a four-star general on patrol Fled to Russia in the struggle, learned in China how to hustle Years waiting, learned patience, beady eyes on the big pay-off A luta continua You eat yourself, Azania A luta continua New government, no rules there is so much to steal and no time to lose He’s a big predator on the loose; there’s no crime if there’s no proof Famine is a fundraiser prime minister’s a fund-chaser Donations rotting on the docks big man is taking stock A luta continua You eat yourself, Azania A luta continua Big man in a poor nation; the sickness of the population One Party, three-piece suit; liberation’s prostitute
6.
THE UNLUCKY ONE Is there something I could have done Just to ease my way through this world? Is there something I should’ve said? Maybe I’m just the unlucky one Oh Fate, you’re a cruel god And you’re deaf, you’re dumb, you’re blind Good Fortune is arbitrary, uh oh And I’m the unlucky one You made me the unlucky son of a gun Well maybe I was born to lose To come last in the human race I’ve been kicking at the dark trying to make it bleed Fighting heaven for a little grace Oh my God how about a break?! Should I laugh or should I cry? Shake my fist at the empty sky? Destiny is a friend of everybody else But I’m the unlucky one You made me the unlucky son of a gun Well maybe I was… I thought maybe this time would be different But I feel something coming on Just when I see it all starting to come right I can feel something going wrong Is there something I should’ve done?
7.
RANT 02:18
RANT All you rabble all you rank and file If you feel like something’s gone wrong, you’re right Are you really getting what you paid for? Tell the powers that be: STAND DOWN! Tell the fake authority: STAND DOWN! Tell that public enemy: STAND DOWN! You better… Look at all these champagne revolutionaries Wielding power like they won the lottery Getting everything we paid for! Tell the powers that be: STAND DOWN! Tell the fake authority: STAND DOWN! Tell that public enemy: STAND DOWN! You better…
8.
BRACE YOURSELF I used to tell the truth but now I know better Nobody wants to know which way the wind will blow Knives in my back, the handles read “Jesus Loves You” Just like honey for bees, I’ve been money for thieves Innocent lamb led to the slaughter The shepherd’s the one who wields the blade You’ve got to brace yourself Make them take you alive Kick at that dying light, just stay awake Resist the urge to sleep and keep stumbling All bets are off, take nothing for granted, baby None of your good deeds will ever go unpunished I promise you, where there’s smoke, there’s mirrors Building’s on fire, someone’s selling water You’ve got to… A friend or foe, you’ll never see it coming Everything will change, and then again… You’ve got to… Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010 © Broken Records
9.
REBELS 05:31
REBELS The rebels just took the city They’re pissing on the constitution The president’s in the basement They only left his shoes on Refugees in the bushes Watch the city hall explode Democracy’s a whorehouse Everyone gets a turn Run the home-made flag up Set fire to the embassy No more foreign interference Now that everything’s for free Rename all the freeways After the Glorious Revolution Clean the blood out of the Mercedes Let’s go meet the fans Wandering ones – bewildered people A swollen river with no sea From shore to shore, land-locked and gun-shy When will the victims of ‘Freedom’ be free? No such thing as stand-off The strongest always wins Government’s like clothing And it’s time to change again Curfew for the masses Buffet for the king Let’s re-write that anthem It’s time to make them sing Wandering ones… Where’s that ammunition? Someone’s at the gate …ungrateful traitors… Time to escape Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010 © Broken Records
10.
FINGERHOLD 03:43
FINGERHOLD Fingerhold Clinging to the last remains The robe in shreds The many-coloured coat unraveled Holes in my shoes, I am Better off barefoot CHORUS: Are you still holding on? Will you never let me go? Are you still holding on? Weakening grip Nothing left to grab onto Slippery slope What would happen if I just let Go? Throw my hands up In surrender CHORUS Fingerhold Who is holding who? It’s a finger hold Look me in the eye Tell me it was real How does a broken trust ever heal? Who is holding who? Who am I clinging to? Words and music: John Ellis Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic © John Ellis 2010 © Broken RecordS

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Debut solo album from ex-Tree63 South African singer-songwriter John Ellis. Released on Broken Records in 2010.

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released June 26, 2010

Words and music: John Ellis

Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic


© John Ellis 2010

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John Ellis Durban, South Africa

A singer-songwriter from Durban, South Africa, John has played his music all over the world. His fifth full-length solo album "Native"will be released on April 27 2022.

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