Halloween Baby - Album Credits
Songs by Dan Costello
Oakcrest written with John Poulos
Eyes Open Wide written with Jim Costello

Produced by Ben Godwin
Recorded and Mixed at The Seaside Lounge, Park Slope, Brooklyn
Engineered by Charles Burst
Mastered at Engine Room Audio, Chinatown, NYC
Mastered by Mark Biorn Christensen
Artwork by Mark Ramel
Photo by Lippe

Performers (in alphabetical order):
Dan Costello plays piano on everything.  Acoustic guitar on Hiring Man, Saga of Lorimer Jail, I'm Sorry, Maria, Stuck Outta Luck and Halloween Baby. Rhodes on I Thought You Knew.  Hammond B3 Organ on Oakcrest and Halloween Baby.  Saxophones and Thumb Piano on Eyes Open Wide.
Jim Costello sings the brother part in Saga of Lorimer Jail.
Debe Dalton plays banjo on I'm Sorry, The Pot Song, Saga of Lorimer Jail.
Paul Edelman plays electric guitar on Saga of Lorimer Jail and Throw Out Yer Love Songs.
Trevor Exter plays cello on Stuck Outta Luck, Maria, and Be Your Man.
Brian Geltner plays drums on everything.
Ben Godwin plays guitars on Oakcrest, I Thought You Knew, Be Your Man, The Pot Song and Halloween Baby.  Bass on I Thought You Knew, Be Your Man, and Stuck Outta Luck.  BV's on I Thought You Knew.
Kevin Johnston plays trombone on Hiring Man, The Pot Song, and Throw Out Yer Love Songs.
Chris Kuffner plays bass on Eyes Open Wide, and I Never Knew The Cost.
Brook Pridemore plays Omnichord on I Thought You Knew, and ukelele on The Pot Song.
Tiffany Quist is the answering maching girl on Throw Out Yer Love Songs.
Steve Seck plays accordian on Saga of Lorimer Jail, Hiring Man, Throw Out Yer Love Songs, and The Pot Song.
Eric Wolfson plays bass on Hiring Man, Halloween Baby, Saga of Lorimer Jail, and The Pot Song.  He shouts "True Story" on Saga of Lorimer Jail (and every time he can....)
Additional Vocalists:  Sarah Bowman, Vincent Cacchione, Alex Carpenter, Brian Costello, Rachel Devlin, Dorit, Andrew Hoepfner, Greg King, David LK Murphy, and Dava Waggener.  Pretty much everyone sings on the album somewhere.  The wonderful background singers in Be Your Man are Sarah Bowman, Dorit, Kevin Johnston, David LK Murphy, and Brook Pridemore.  We wrote those parts together.

HALLOWEEN BABY - THE WORDS
© 2006 Dan Costello Music. All Right Reserved.

Liner Notes:
old men play dominoes in the fast food parking lot on one-seventeenth and third
i stand outside a chelsea prison make silent love to a receptionist through plate glass and whistle the corporate kingdom blues
the lights on forty-second street dim as the red curtains rise on avenue a
door frames stop time and i will learn to play well with others
the rearview on beauty boulevard cant be beat so i move to williamsburg and write some rap lyrics on the back cover of bound for glory
after a moment of zen i lace up my shoes and grab my license to hang flyers for the show


1. OAKCREST
Driving through Oakcrest
Doing my best to stay awake even though I'm so tired
Six speaker system might be keeping me up
But it's my coffee drink that's keeping me wired.

Whoa On the Road
Don't always know where I'm headin
But if I don't get out of Oakcrest
I just might explode

I'm headed out westward Slick as a bluebird
With my buddy and his bitch of a canine
Crossing the state-line In a Honda that's just fine
And the stars are beginning to shine

Whoa On the Road
Don't always know where I'm headin
But of course I could be back in Oakcrest
And if I was, I just might explode

But now we're stuck in Seattle Fighting a battle against time
Cause I'm late for a meeting
Traffic's backed up on the Pacific Coast Highway
And my cd player keeps on repeating

Get to LA It's been a helluva day
But the sun is such a site over Topanga Canyon
Life is just better When the ocean's around me
Yeah I found myself a lifelong companion.

Whoa On the Road
Don't always know where I'm headin
But if I have to leave California
I just might explode

Now I head back to the east coast Man, I'll make the most
Of the next few months before I can see you again
There's no money to wire My vacation's expired
But I'll be back soon I just can't say when

---And now I wish that we were (first verse and chorus)

2. SAGA OF LORIMER JAIL
Been one hour in the Lorimer Jail
Been one hour in the Lorimer Jail
The low ceilings hurt my feelings In the Lorimer Jail

Been two hours but it doesn't make sense
I hung a couple flyers to a well-hung fence
And I'm serving a sentence in the Lorimer Jail

Been three hours since the cops took me in
Locked the shackles, checked my pockets, made the flashing lights spin
And I shouldn't, shouldn't be in the Lorimer Jail

Hit four hours in the Lorimer Jail
Hear a cop laughin and I start to wail
Cuz he's admitting I'm worth forgetting
But I'm sitting in the Lorimer Jail

Been five hours since they pictured my faces
Printed my fingers and stole my shoelaces
Took a while to send my file
I'm counting paces in the Lorimer Jail
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Hit six hours in the Lorimer Jail
Cops let me out without papers or bail
And at my hearing my brother's cheering
Dan don't belong in the Lorimer Jail 

Dan don't belong in the Lorimer Jail
Dan don't belong in the Lorimer Jail
You got it wrong, he don't belong
no Dan don't belong in the Lorimer Jail

Now in Williamsburg the Mayor's friends are buying the land
And all of the graffiti's getting way outta hand
And if all advertising's banned
There'll be a lotta bands in Lorimer Jail

Bands don't belong in the Lorimer Jail,
Bands don't belong in the Lorimer Jail
Tell the mayor he has failed because
Bands don't belong in the Lorimer Jail

3. I THOUGHT YOU KNEW

You never ask me if I'll loan you some money
You never tell me that my jokes are that funny
You never ask me if I think that dress makes you look a little fat
You never ask me hey how bout we go lay down on that

So don't ever ask me if I....
No don't ever ask me if I...
Don't ever ask me if I

You never tell me what's way down down deep in your heart
You never tell me what you think about when we're apart
You don't confide in me anything that everyone don't already know
And you say you'll come to every one of my shows but then you never ever show

So don't ever ask me if I
No don't ever ask me if I
No don't ever ask me if I loved you

Because I'd have to say yeah.....
I'd have to say yeah.....
I'd have to say yeah..
I thought you knew.

Now I seen you talking with that boy who stole my silhouette
And I hear you laughing through the smoke rings from his cigarette
And I'm so drunk I go up and ask you how come yer with that guy and yer not with me 
And that's when you remind me so kindly
that that's not the way I told you that I wanted us to be.

So don't ever ask me if I
No don't ever ask me if I
No don't ever ask me if I loved you

Because I'd have to say yeah.....
I'd have to say yeah.....
I'd have to say yeah..
I thought you knew.

4. HIRING MAN
Hiring Man, Hiring Man,
Hire a nice young lad.
No sir you don't know me
But I'm the best you never had
I don't smoke crack, I can hold my booze
Ask me my advice, I tell ya what I'd choose...
Don't hire some rich son of a snob,
Give me a job.

Oh Corporate Man, Corporate Man
Hire a sweet fresh face.
I'll get your coffee so damn fast
You'll think I'm in a race.
Fax your memos, kiss your butt.
(I'll see you with your mistress but I'll keep my mouth shut.)
I'm a sucker for romance,
Give me a chance.

Oh Music Man, Music Man
Book me for a gig
If I'm not here at 10PM
I'm out having a cig
And I'll be back with a glass of water
To sing 12 songs about someone's daughter
If there's demand I will supply
Give me a try

Oh Casting Man, Casting Man,
Put me on your stage.
We'll get the NY Times to come
And we'll make the front page
Cuz I went to school, I smoked some Buddha
I researched Shakespeare on my computer.
You want Hamlet? Piece of cake
Gimme a break.

Hiring Man, Hiring Man,
Hire a nice young lad.
No sir you don't know me
But I'm the best you never had
I don't smoke crack, I can hold my booze
Ask me my advice, I tell ya what I'd choose...
Don't hire some rich son of a snob,
Give me a job.

5. BE YOUR MAN
If you want me I will be your man.
If you want me I will be your man
If you don't I've done all that I can
Andrea I will be your man.

I will not pretend I'm some fair-weather friend
I will not be fooled as you will not be ruled....

Maybe if you want me.
Maybe if you need me.

We've both taken jobs for easy money
But I do not take you for granted honey
There are lots of things I haven't got
Havin you would count for quite a lot
So ready or not now...

I can't go on like this anymore
Make your list then go off to the store
Pick me up or put me on the shelf
I'll take good good care of you
And better care of myself....

Take me if you want me.
Take me if you need me.

6. I'M SORRY
I'm sorry I'm such a fucking downer I'm sorry
I'm sorry I'm such an out of towner I'm sorry
I'll come back around I swear

I'm sorry we can't be together I'm sorry
Sorry I checked return to sender I'm sorry
And that I said that I don't care

And this is the only time I'll say it
Cusz this time I guess it's earned
Yeah I'm sorry that I left you honey
I'm sorry you got burned

Take the apology and go on your way
Go save philosophy for some other day
Please listen hard yeah I ain't gonna shout
I'm sorry I had to get up and get out

I'm sorry I'm such a fucking stoner I'm sorry
I'm sorry I get to be such a loner I'm sorry
I'll get outta here one of these nights
And I'm sorry I still keep pretending I'm sorry
Sorry my stories are never ending I'm sorry
Now would you pass me those American Spirit Lights

And this is the last time I'll say it
cuz repeating it doubles the hurt
Yeah I'm sorry that I left you honey
Crying in the dirt

Take the apology and go on your way
Go save philosophy for some other day
Please listen hard yeah I ain't gonna shout
You were keeping me in and I had to get

Out in the open
Away from the bus
Back to the basics
Wherever the fuck that was
I can almost see it almost taste it
Almost feel it in my hand
And I'm sorry that I hurt you honey
But please understand

Take the apology and go on your way
Go save philosophy for some other day
Please listen hard yeah I ain't gonna shout
Just let me know....when you figure it out.

7. THROW OUT YER LOVE SONGS
You want to make me one more chapter to your convoluted feminine mystique
Well I thank you but the main idea is diluted and frankly seems weak.
That one more notch on your belt makes you a little more wild.
And one more tug on my waist makes you less of a child.

Well I'm here to tell you that I ain't your guide or your end.
And more of your compliments make me no more of a friend.
And you are a wonder a beauty to someone you'll be quite a prize
But I can't tell if that's the truth or lies in your eyes.

Throw out your love songs.
Throw out your love songs
Throw em out, throw em out, throw em out, throw em out
Throw out your love songs.

So don't waste your breath I can't hear you when you turn that cheek.
And don't waste your words I'd much prefer if you'd intelligently speak.
And keep me in memory as present soon fades into past.
And think of me tho you know i won't be your last.

Like Nina Simone I wish I could teach the whole world to be free.
But lately I have lots of work to do on freeing me.
So if you don't mind I would like to be sometimes alone.
And you can leave disparaging messages after the tone. (BEEP)

Sha La La....

You may miss the point as you brush back your hair and your tears
And someday perhaps you may find that the strength of your years
Will do you some good after all you have sought to revamp.
But darling you'll never get nowhere making out like a tramp.

8. I NEVER KNEW THE COST
Somethin you said's been keepin me up
I don't even remember how you said it
But the gist of it was 'don't trust me too much.
You'll only ever live to regret it '
Now lately at night I swallow my pride
My stomach's turned and tossed
I knew I'd pay for loving you
But I never knew the cost

Someday you'll see the smile you left
on the inside of my memory
It stops my tracks dead
So much was left unsaid
In those sealed letters
And the lack of company
Now it's wintertime in my spirit
My heart is filled with frost
I knew I'd pay for loving you
But I never knew the cost.

Maybe I should have listened to you
That you would only hurt me in time
But I kept pursuing, I done my own undoing
And now all of my hope's been left behind
And while I should regret the time that I gave you
Well sometimes time gets lost
Yeah I knew I'd pay for loving you
But I never knew the cost

On a clear August morning
I'll ride in the distance
And leave you to watch as I set
I gotta rattle these bones, skip the stepping stones
For lands that I ain't never seen yet
You were always very receptive
We just had our signals crossed

Yeah I knew I'd pay for loving you
But I never knew
No I never knew
No I never knew the cost.

9. EYES OPEN WIDE
I don't know why I can't sleep
And I don't know why in my mind
I keep these pictures of you.
Eyes Open Wide.

Someday baby when you crash down
You're gonna walk my beat as I skip around
the corner and stop--
Eyes Open Wide.

Walking outside under Mars
and throwing flowers at the stars
It was so easy then,
Eyes Open Wide.

I want to fly into an orchard.
Have a picnic near a cave.
I need to find a quiet sanctuary
Where it's nice and warm and safe.
I need to find a truer something
Hidden in the moon.
I need adventure so I might
start singing a different tune.

Lying angels in the snow
Freeze into iron and corrode
Into catastrophe
Eyes Open Wide.

Though my eyes are closed I still can tell
That I'm sleeping in front of a wishing well
That floods the space leading into
Tomorrow.

Well I don't know why I can't sleep
And I don't know why in my mind
I keep these pictures of you.
Eyes Open Wide

Someday baby when you crash down
You're gonna walk my beat as I skip around
the corner and stop--
with those Eyes Open Wide.

10. POT SONG
This is the last time I smoke pot
I smoke too much
I won't touch the stuff
No I don't wanna puff
I ain't been doin enough

This is the last time I scrape my bowl
It's outta control
I ain't feelin whole
I misplaced my soul
Yeah ain't recovery tough

La La La Wa Wa Weed
La La La Wa Wa Weed
La La La Wa Wa Weed
It's all I really ever need

But I don't dream in a cannabis fog
My lungs hate the smog
And so does the dog
Yeah I can't think straight under the curse
It's never been worse
I forget all the words
Now I wish that I'd rehearsed
I forget the next verse........

Well let's back to the bridge
La La La Wa Wa Weed
La La La Wa Wa Weed
La La La Wa Wa Weed
It s all I really ever need

But this is the last time I pack the pipe
You might hear me gripe
But that's all right
I'll make it through evening and make it through morning
Here's plenty of warning
That I'll need you to sing this with me
Tomorrow night is the last time I smoke pot
I smoke too much
I won't touch the stuff
No I don't wanna puff
I ain't been doin enough
Dum de dum dum....ain't recovery tough?

11. MARIA WITH THE LEGS (SO LONG)
Maria I wouldn't be ya or yer man
And I know it's crazy but I done all that I can
Yesterday's messes stick to the floor
Maria I don't wanna see ya anymore

When prior to yesterday the mail stopped fillin yer box
And silence on Sunday at Ten came again on yer clocks
You must have known that you'd lost, mi amour
Maria I don't wanna see you anymore

Now don't get me wrong I don't judge who you are
Or who you hang around with when we wish bon soir
But bon soir don't always turn into bon jour
Maria I don't wanna see you anymore

And now as the chapter's ending I hope yer on the mend
And next time I'm in Boston we can meet as friends
You said you knew me so well I said I knew less before
Maria I don't wanna see you anymore

You said you knew me so well I said I knew less before
Maria I don't wanna see you anymore

12. STUCK OUTTA LUCK
Crabapple tree in the backyard
Life's hard man, the going's real hard
Gotta buck up, gotta look up
Gotta suck up gotta duck
Gotta take all the breaks
Gotta take it in the arm

Life's tough, shit's rough
mean and nasty stuff
Is coming out, coming up
Someone shattered the cup
So glass empty, glass full
I don't know which way is up
I don't know which way to pull
I'm not sure about this stuff

I can't stop it, I can't touch
I can't kill the pain it's too much
I can't claim I got game
But I'm about to boil over and you're fanning my flame
And I'm stuck, I'm broke I'm a drunk and a joke
A super savvy fool with a coolness cloak
I rap, and I rhyme, hope you're having a good time
Cuz time got stuck and I'm stuck here out of luck

Mean men roam through the back streets
I try to stand up to them but my bones are too weak
Take a nose dive, manage to keep hope alive
But my eyes are feeling bloody
and my future looks bleak
Pity me, boo hee
Ain't nothing wrong with crying
Just about the only way to deal with soldiers daily dying
in explosions, in a real life action movie
Where unsupervised reservemen go beyond the call of duty
So excuse me if I commit these things to the page
I'm just an actor there's no script,
and this whole backwards world's my stage

Superstition is walking round ladders
Actuality and sanity and peace is all that matters
Indecision is a stealer of keys
A shadow in a dark alley pushin me to my knees
Retribution is a lie upon a bed
Sharin pillows with my head
Dreamin nothin but the dread
I like losing less than winning
I like tonic with my gin and
I don't know where I should start
So I'll start at the beginning

Frozen Flags shatter into a million ninja stars
Fifty Million ninja stars all over the world
Frozen Flags shatter into a million ninja stars
Fifty Million ninja stars all over the world

I don't have dreams but I believe in some things honestly
And I believe that we are headed for an odyssey
A long shot, good guess
Good Luck and God Bless
In your palace fill your chalice
With an ounce of spirituality.

Maybe our fate is written in the stars
Or on the back of a business card
Well meet me out back
We'll track sunset
By the crabapple tree in the backyard.

13. HALLOWEEN BABY
I'm just a Halloween Baby
Don't know what it means
but at night I have the spookiest dreams

Get on the vampire bus
Looking for a seat
Don't know who to trust
Is this a trick or a treat?

I'm just a Halloween Baby
Man ain't it funny?
Maybe you will be my Easter Bunny

We'll toss delicious desserts
At ourselves til it hurts
And it will be so sweet
Yeah baby Trick or Treat.

Every day ain't the thirty first
And every month it ain't October
Someday I won't be so cursed
Yeah someday I'll be older

But for right now
I'm just a Halloween Baby
And you're a summer bride
But that's nothing to hide
Now I like you the most
So don't become a ghost
There's nothing up my sleeve
Just happy hallow's eve
So whadya say we play
And go ride in the hay
Yeah it might be so sweet

Baby Trick or Treat?

Every month ain't October
And every day ain't the thirty first (thirty first yeah)
Someday Mary I swear I'll be sober
Yeah I won't be dying of thirst

But in the meantime I'm just a Halloween Baby
And you're a summer bride
But that's nothing to hide
Now I like you the most
So don't become a ghost
There's nothing up my sleeve
Just happy hallow's eve
So whadya say we play
And go ride in the hay
Yeah you might even make my life complete.

Baby Trick or Treat?