American Dream

by Sons Of New York

/

  • Streaming + Download

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

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
03:36
lyrics
buy track
2.
04:10
lyrics
buy track
3.
05:20
lyrics
buy track
4.
05:15
lyrics
buy track
5.
04:23
lyrics
buy track
6.
03:16
lyrics
buy track
7.
04:18
lyrics
buy track
8.
04:45
lyrics
buy track
9.
06:18
lyrics
buy track
10.
06:02
lyrics
buy track

about

This is singer songwriter Roger Campo's third album but first under the band name Sons Of New York. The music is a modern blend of Americana, Roots Rock and Soul, fused with contemporary and relevant lyrics. The album was produced by Bill Lefler, who has produced Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, Matthew Mayfield and Peter Katz, to name a few. The entire album was recorded at Lefler’s Los Angeles studio, utilizing some of L.A.’s most talented musicians, including Philip Krohnengold (piano and organ) and Daniel Rhine (bass) from Sara Bareilles’s Band and Dave Eggar on strings. That cello solo at the beginning of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida is Dave.

credits

released October 1, 2019

Written by Roger Campo
Produced by Bill Lefler
Mixed by Ryan Lipman
Engineered by Ryan Lipman and Caleb Conner
Mastered by Hans DeKline

Musicians
Lead Vocals: Roger Campo
Piano & Organ: Philip Krohnengold
Bass: Daniel Rhine
Drums: Billy Lefler
Horns: The Double D Horns - Danny T Levin & Dave Moyer
Strings: Dave Eggers
Percussion & additional instruments: Billy Lefler
Backing Vocals: Robbyn Kirmsse
Shea Chambers
Michael Turner
Additional Backing Vocals: Kyler England

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Sons Of New York image

Sons Of New York Los Angeles, California

contact / help

Contact Sons Of New York

Streaming and
Download help

Track Name: American Dream
AMERICAN DREAM written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

I’ve been working on
My American dream
Trying to figure out
How to make it real
And if I should believe
Yeah well I’ll be working on
My American dream
Trying to figure out
How to make it real
And if I should believe

I seen people on the job
Yeah people working hard
Oh But these people
Ain’t getting very far

No they’re up against something
something they can’t see
Systems rigged and corrupted
By power and greed

Oh but they’ll keep working on
Their American dream,
Trying to figure out,
How to make it real,
and if they should believe
Yeah well they’ll keep working on
Their American dream,
Trying to figure out,
How to make it real,
and if they should believe

Should we believe
In this dream at any cost
Are we chasing - A promise that’s
Already lost

Hold on - Hold strong - I got many mouths to feed
Hold on – Hold strong - They’re all counting on me
Hold on – Hold strong - Till I get the job done
Hold on – Hold strong - Until then I’ll keep on

My American dream
Trying to figure out, How to make it real
And if I should believe

Yeah, well I’ll be working on, My American dream
Trying to figure out, How to make it real
And if I should believe

Yeah, well I’ll be working on, My American dream
Trying to figure out, How to make it real
And if I should believe
Yeah trying to figure how to make it real and if I should believe
Track Name: I Don't Know Nothing
I DON’T KNOW NOTHING - Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

I used to think, I had it all, figured out
I used to think I knew what love was all about
I used to think, the love I knew before
Was the only kind of love life had in store

But then you came along
your love proved me wrong
And much to my surprise
You made me realize

I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love
No I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love

You can be a rich man - Buy your woman diamond rings
You can be a tough guy – you can take on anything
You can have a doctorate in Love - read every book that there’s ever been
And I can sing love songs – but it wouldn’t mean a damn thing

Cause when you came along
Your love proved me wrong
And much to my surprise
You made me realize

I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love
No I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love

No I don’t know a damn thing
Your love’ll make my heart sing
Each kiss can make my head spin
And feel like I’m falling in love all over again

I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love
No I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love
I don’t know nothing – I don’t know a damn thing
Nothing about love
I don’t know nothing
Nothing about love

I used to think, I had it all, figured out
I used to think I knew what love was all about
Track Name: Magic Hour
MAGIC HOUR – Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

When the sun has set - Before the light is gone
There’s an hour – That’s thirty minutes long
Past the light of day - Before the dark of night
There’s a moment - When the whole world feels right

Meet me in the magic hour
Let your hair down in the soft light
Meet me in the magic hour
Let me hold you all through the night

Though these days are long - And the road is hard
And we’ve come so many miles - But we didn’t get far

Know the night brings mercy - Yes there’s mercy to be found
We’ll find refuge, When the sun goes down

Meet me in the magic hour
Let your hair down in the soft light
Meet me in the magic hour
Let me hold you all through the night

The light is fading - But you know my love is strong
My heart is calling - Please don’t let her go
Come take my hand - Cause you take my away
We’ll slow dance - And let the music play

The night is calling
Oh baby can you meet me

Meet me in the magic hour
Let your hair down in the soft light
Meet me in the magic hour
Let me hold you all through the night
Let me hold you all through the night
Let me hold you all through the night
Track Name: Something Soft
SOMETHING SOFT - Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

Hard day
Hard Life
Harsh, harsh words
Hard wife

I don’t want to argue – no, I don’t want to fight
Can’t we find a way – to call a truce tonight
One night we can let our– let our troubles go
One night we can keep the world - locked outside the door

Tonight - I just want to find – Something Soft
Don’t you know tonight – I just want to know – love is real
Don’t you know tonight – I just want to find – Something Soft
In a hard world
In a hard world
Something Soft - baby in hard world

Did you lie
When you kissed me
When you whisper in my ear

When you say that you love me
When you shed, when you shed
All those tears

I don’t want to argue – no, I don’t want to fight
Can’t we find a way – to call a truce tonight
One night we can let our – let our troubles go
One night we can keep the world - locked outside the door

Tonight - I just want to find – Something Soft
Don’t you know tonight – I just want to know – love is real
Don’t you know tonight – I just want to find – Something Soft
In a hard world, In a hard world
Something Soft - baby in hard world
In a hard world

This world can make you doubt
Even the love you know
Don’t let it um touch your heart
Don’t let it um near your soul

Tonight – I just want to find – something soft
Tonight – I just want to know – love is real
Don’t you know tonight – I just want to find – Something Soft
In a hard world
In a hard world
Oh in a hard world
In a hard world
Something Soft - baby in hard world
Track Name: Sisters Start Your Own Damn Church
SISTERS START YOUR OWN DAMN CHURCH
Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

Men built the churches
And men built the state
Wrote the unwritten rules
and laws that will subjugate
Women as lesser than
Lesser than men
Ancient, archaic ways, tell me
When will it end

Oh, sisters start your own damn church
You have more than proven the measure of your worth
You don’t need a man to tell you
How to live, In this world

God made a woman
The cradle of life
to save men from the folly
of war and strive
With a body to nourish
a body to bless
And feed all man’s hungers
Feed his soul with her flesh

Oh, sisters start your own damn church
You have more than proven the measure of your worth
You don’t need a man to tell you
How to live
In this world
Oh, sisters start your own damn church
You have hidden secrets love compels you to unearth
You don’t need a man to tell you
How to give
How to love

You don’t need a man to tell you
How to feed a hungry child
You don’t need a man to tell you
You should learn how to smile
You don’t need a man to tell you
How your own damn body works
You don’t need a man to tell you
How to worship his damn church
(Repeat) Sisters start your own

Oh, sisters start your own damn church
You have more than proven the measure of your worth
You don’t need a man to tell you
How to live
In this world
Oh, sisters start your own damn church
You have hidden secrets love compels you to unearth
You don’t need a man to tell you
How to give
How to love

Sisters start your own church, Sisters start your own school
Sisters write your own laws, Sisters make your rules
Track Name: Love Is The Answer
LOVE IS THE ANSWER – Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

I was feeling so empty and lost
I drove all through the night
In the depths of darkness
I followed a burning light
It led me to your door
and your warm embrace
and the simple truth
that we all must face

She said love
Love is the answer
She said love
Love is the answer

We’ve been down so many dark roads
Haunted by dreams we left behind
They’ll fill the graveyard of your soul
Where broken dreams all go to die

But tonight - Ain’t no funeral
Your lips bring healing grace
All my dreams are - Resurrected
Each kiss restores my faith

Because love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer

You can build a fortress
And lock your heart away
But hate can breed a darkness
That will not heal your pain

Because love
Love is the answer
She said love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer
Because love
Love is the answer
Don’t you know love
Love is the answer
Love’s the only answer
Love is the answer
Track Name: Jesus Was A Person Of Color
JESUS WAS A PERSON OF COLOR - Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

You say you love god and country
I know you love your guns too
You say you love Jesus
oh and he loves you
But what kind of god
would trigger
the kind of hatred
inside of you

oh Jesus was a person of color
not that blond hair, blue eyed image of the man
Jesus was a person of color
if he came back you would crucify him again

You say you want to take back your country
take us back to a dark place
You say you’re fighting tyranny
but it’s democracy you’re trying to erase
the war on immigrants, the war on gays
the war on women are the wars you wage
you stand your ground on the lies you spin
you would stop and frisk jesus if he came back again

oh Jesus was a person of color
not that blond hair, blue eyed image of the man
Jesus was a person of color
if he came back you would crucify him again

If he came back and walked the earth today
would you fear him and turn away
Would you close your heart and close your mind
would you miss the chance, to look into his eyes
you would miss the chance to look into his eyes

oh Jesus was a person of color
not that blond hair, blue eyed image of the man
Jesus was a person of color
if he came back you would crucify him again
Track Name: Juliet
JULIET - Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

Oh Juliet
You been working late
Oh Juliet
Now you gotta catch that train
With a child in tow
Facing it all alone
You got three more hungry kids
Waiting at home

And it’s been a long time
Since you seen your own mother
Right now you’re missing her
And your sister and your brothers
They’re so far away
But not far from your immigrant heart
You can see their faces
When the train comes to a stop

you can see their faces on the people
riding on the train

oh, oh, oh mamma can you hear my heart calling
Calling from a half world away
I swear I saw your face in that woman’s
She smiled in such a comforting way
Sister did you send me this sweat child
She’s got your curls and look in her eyes –
That man reminds me so much of Hector
I never got to tell him goodbye

Even though it’s late
The seven line is full
Past Hunters Point it rises up
As if released from gravity’s pull
The train sails like a ship
Sailing the sea of Queens
Carried on the waves
And hopes of immigrant dreams

They’ve crossed so many oceans
Left everything they loved behind
Seeking sacred treasure
Yeah the beauty and promise of a better life

oh, oh, oh mamma can you hear my heart calling
Calling from a half world away
I swear I saw your face in that woman’s
She smiled in such a comforting way
Sister did you send me this sweat child
She’s got your curls and look in her eyes –
That man reminds me so much of Hector
I never got to tell him goodbye
I never got to tell him goodbye
I never got to tell him goodbye
Track Name: We Could Be Cowboys
We Could Be Cowboys - Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

You said we could be cowboys
Riding down Broadway
Two Queens desperados
Making our escape

We could ride stolen horses
Across the fifty ninth street bridge
I could be the king of Egypt
Or a Siamese prince

They say that blood, is thicker than,
Most anything
Cause the same blood that runs
through your brother’s heart
runs through
your own veins

In the bright lights of Broadway
I redeemed our name
For a moment we could dream
Of fortune and fame

But you got lost in the illusion
Tripped up by the lights
Until the dream was a delusion
That ruined the promise of the night

And you rode into a darkness
So distant and black
Until you lost that part of you
That you could never get back

And they say that love is thicker than,
Most anything
Cause the same wound that run
through your brother’s heart
runs through your own veins

Last night I dreamed, I found you on the street
Your once powerful horse, lying at your feet
All it’s beauty, and majesty was gone
You drew a gun, and you put him down

I gave you a hand up, onto my horse
Your hand was swollen, blistered and coarse
Your eyes were cold, distant and dark
We slowly road my horse into, central park

The city lights in all the windows
Look like candles in a church
And in this open air cathedral
We blessed your horse’s last breath on this earth

This cowboy life ain’t for the weak hearted
Those still alive and those departed
Cause the lonesome rider, who can’t make his peace
Will forever haunt, these empty streets
Track Name: Sons Of New York
SONS OF NEW YORK – Written by Roger Campo / ASCAP

Oh my brothers and sister, were born in the motherland
I was the only one born American
Born where the faces, are hungry but pretty
Immigrant dreams of New York City

We built this city - Built the towers that reach up to the sky
We built the bridges and the tunnels - That give this city life
Made from our blood and sweat - We made it from love, love
Made from the dreams of all the daughters and sons of New York
The generations of daughters and sons of New York

Came here with nothing, ah hoping to find
Find some work, a little house, a new life
Save up some money, ah and send it back home
Send for the wife and kids the great American poem

We built this city - Built the towers that reach up to the sky
We built the bridges and the tunnels - That give this city life
Made from our blood and sweat - We made it from love, love
Made from the dreams of all the daughters and sons of New York
The generations of daughters and sons of New York
Hecho con sueños de los hijos de Nueva York

On that Tuesday that September in our darkest hour
Of the desperate calls that came from the towers
Not one call for revenge, Not one call for blood
Just calls to the men and women and children that they love
I may not make it but when I’m gone
Know in your heart that my love will go on

We built this city built the towers that reach up to the sky
We built the bridges and the tunnels that give this city life
Made from our blood and sweat we made it from love, love
Made from the dreams of all the daughters and sons of New York
The generations of daughters and sons of New York
Hecho con sueños de los hijos de Nueva York

Sons Of New York recommends:

If you like Sons Of New York, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Best of 2019 pt.1 featuring an Interview with Helado Negro.

 listen now