LYRICS Well come on in Let me take your coats Glad you could make it How were the roads? Come on in Make yourselves at home Sure good to see you How were the roads? Can you believe How cold it’s been? Since, who knows I can’t remember when We’ve got coffee, hot cocoa Sure good to see you How were the roads? Oh, not too bad Just a few rough patches Of ice between Here and there The rest was fair And here we are We made it Hello, daughter Hello, son Did you make it to Your destination? Thanks for calling On the phone So good to hear you How were the roads? Oh, not too bad Just a few rough patches Of ice between Here and there The rest was fair And here we are We made it Come on in Come on in Come on in

LYRICS Did you see who made this week’s "Court report"? Some who are and aren’t the sort I mean, what’s this world coming to? Did you read all those bad deeds In the "Court Report"? People losing my support I mean, what else am I supposed to do? We all have our bad days Do stuff that we shouldn’t Say things we wanna take back But just don’t cross the line Or we’re gonna find you On page nine, "Court Report" Mr. McNilty pled guilty To going way too fast Hey what’s your hurry, man? Enjoy life, smell the roses Mrs. Dabbs had expired tabs But not only that She failed to pass proof of insurance And oh boy, this one’s a doozy John Brian was boozy behind the wheel Man, what’s his deal? I remember when he was such a nice boy We all have our bad days Do stuff that we shouldn’t Say things we wanna take back But just don’t cross the line Or we’re gonna find you On page nine, Court Report We all have our bad days Do stuff that we shouldn’t Say things we wanna take back But just don’t cross the line Or we’re gonna find you On page nine, "Court Report" Did you see who made this week’s "Court report"? Did you read all those bad deeds In the "Court report"? People losing my support There’s some real juicy stuff in here

LYRICS My big mouth, what was I thinking? Four A.M., who was I kidding? My parents were right, but I can’t pout I begged and begged for this paper route My first stop is Mrs. McCarthy She won’t tip if I am tardy I pedal my bike as fast as I can It’s darker outside than a frying pan Oh, my big mouth, what was I thinking? Four A.M., who was I kidding? My parents were right, but I can’t pout I begged and begged for this paper route Well, maybe this time he’ll be on his leash Benny the bulldog, he hates me I gently set the paper down But ol’ Benny he hears me anyhow Oh, my big mouth, what was I thinking? Four A.M., who was I kidding? My parents were right, but I can’t pout I begged and begged for this paper route Now, just my luck, the rain starts pouring I think of my friends still in bed snoring But mamas and papas, their sons and daughters Are counting on me come hell or high water Well, I don’t know what I was thinking Four A.M., man, the devil’s still sleeping My parents were right, but I won’t pout I’m a kid on a mission with a paper route Oh, my big mouth, what was I thinking? Four A.M., who was I kidding? My parents were right, but I won’t pout I’m a kid on a mission with a paper route I’m a kid on a mission I’m a kid on a mission with a paper route

LYRICS There’s a place I like to go When summer brings the carnival With you Spins us ‘round then up and down I feel dizzy, I’m spellbound With you Tilt-a-whirl Tilts my world Tilt-a-whirl Tilts my world I look up and see the stars Somehow they don’t seem so far With you And I dream my biggest dreams I know I can be anything With you Tilt-a-whirl Tilts my world Tilt-a-whirl Tilts my world Spins us ‘round then up and down I feel dizzy, I’m spellbound I dream my biggest dreams I know I can be anything Yeah, I know I can be anything Tilt-a-whirl Tilt-a-whirl Tilts my world Tilts my world There’s a place I like to go When summer brings the carnival

LYRICS Well, grandma broke her hip That was the start of it The family began to talk Even if we share All the work to take care of her It’s too much, so we made the call Sheltering Oaks nursing home On the edge of the golf course Residents watching passerby offspring Swinging sticks at the ball All the workers who work there They bathe her, take good care Oh, the childhood of old age And I’m ashamed to admit it I don’t often visit There’s a smell that’s just hard to take Sheltering Oaks nursing home On the edge of the golf course Residents watching passerby offspring Swinging sticks at the ball Well, I suppose someday I will be there I suppose that’s just how life goes My children and all of their children Will need help carrying the load Sheltering Oaks Nursing home On the edge of the golf course Someday I’ll be a resident watching My passerby offspring Swinging sticks at the ball Sheltering Oaks nursing home On the edge of the golf course Residents watching passerby offspring Swinging sticks at the ball

LYRICS Liver and onions on Tuesdays Me and grandpa at Nelson’s Cafe Yuck, ish, the look of that dish But I liked going there anyway I suppose it was just to be near him Oh the things a kid does to be seen I wish liver and onions on Tuesdays Had been every day of the week Well, my uncle Duane was the barber I rode my bike for a haircut 'round noon ‘Cause I knew he would soon take a lunch break And a good chance he’d take me with too I suppose it was just to be near him Oh, the things that we do, but don’t say If only my hair had grown faster I’d get it cut everyday Setting up chairs Sunday mornings I’d go with my dad to help out Sometimes he’d pour me a coffee I’d drink it, though it was too stout I suppose it was just to be near him Close enough to catch some of his rays If only the church held more people Sunday mornings would take up all day Liver and onions on Tuesdays Me and grandpa at Nelson’s Cafe Yuck, ish, the look of that dish But I liked going there anyway

LYRICS I remember those years so full of hope It would not be much longer till We had nice things and a bigger house A car that started on the first try Oh my, how the future was bright My oh my, how the future was bright Shinier than the shiniest light The brightest thing was the future My dad made calls to coworkers and friends My mother took orders of cleaning supplies The long stretched cord on the telephone My sisters and me used to play limbo Oh my, how the future was bright My oh my, how the future was bright Shinier than the shiniest light The brightest thing was the future There are two kinds of people Those who get in the ring And those on the outside Some criticizing Maybe they saw two people failing But we saw two souls Daring greatly And oh my, how the future is bright My oh my, how the future is bright Oh my, how the future is bright My oh my, how the future is bright Shinier than the shiniest light The brightest thing is the future The brightest thing is the future

LYRICS I hear coach Gary Gunderson Coming down the stairs Whistling a melody A warning to beware He’s almost to the locker room Put childish ways aside Tighten up your laces Push down the fear inside Eeny meeny miny moe Peewee Hockey 12 years old If you holler you will pay What goes on here stays I smell coach Gary Gunderson The ash of cigarettes Old Spice cologne The rum upon his breath And he cusses like a sailor We’ve made him look a fool Losing to the Warriors He paces in the room Eeny meeny miny moe Peewee Hockey 12 years old If you holler you will pay What goes on here stays It stays It stays It stays It stays I see coach Gary Gunderson He’s in my neighborhood He asks me how my summer’s been I tell him it’s been good And he says “So long I’ll see you then” And I watch him drive away I breathe in deep the sweet relief And live to fight another day

LYRICS The pastor at the pulpit Looks out among his flock “Are there any more prayer requests?” He holds a pen to jot Well, Myrna’s been having migraines John’s upcoming surgery And Judy’s still in the hospital But she should be coming home this week The pastor begins to put his pen In the pocket of his vest When someone in the back row says “Unspoken request” Now almost without a sound Heads discreetly turn around Wondering what could be so bad That it could not be said out loud And while the pastor gives his sermon Who knows, maybe his best It falls on minds preoccupied By an unspoken request Could it be drugs or alcohol, or infidelity? Embarrassing complications from a vasectomy? At the very worst, murder At the very least, IBS Yeah, this is where the mind is led By an unspoken request So if you really must Call upon the Lord Say the very worst thing That you can afford Believe me when I say And don’t put it to the test There ain’t nothin’ louder Than an unspoken request

LYRICS It’s early November, I follow my father Our footsteps crunch in the snow Somewhere in the middle of Beltrami forest My toes have already froze We stop at a tree, a tall creaky pine With two-by-fours nailed to the limbs I climb up and sit down, then wave to my father Who’s promised to return again But if I didn’t know better, I just might believe This deer hunting thing is a crime High up in a tree, my rifle and me With nothing to kill but time The first half an hour I do pretty well I sit still and don’t make a sound At forty-five minutes I become real jealous Of anything touching the ground Now it’s been several hours, I can’t help but wonder If my father’s even alive For all I know he’s been eaten by wolves If I wait I might wait till I die If I didn’t know better, I just might believe This deer hunting thing is a crime High up in a tree, my rifle and me With nothing to kill but time I see orange in the distance, oh joy, happy day My father is on his way back He says, “So, how’d it go?” I wipe nose and I tell him That I had a blast But if I didn’t know better, I just might believe This deer hunting thing is a crime High up in a tree, my rifle and me With nothing to kill but time Well if I didn’t know better I just might believe We all must be out of our minds High up in a tree for eternity With nothing to kill but time Nothing to kill but time

LYRICS You travel on a bus Your baggage in the back You find it when you get there You pull it from a stack Drag it to your cabin Choose a bunk to sleep Lay down the thing you’ve carried And run out to the beach Bluewater summer camp On a lake far away Bluewater summer camp Wash away, wash it all away You swim all afternoon Fish for some perch A bell rings for supper Another one for church They teach you silly songs And some are serious ones They talk about forgiveness No matter what you’ve done Bluewater summer camp On a lake far away Bluewater summer camp Wash away, wash it all away And when it’s time to go You take the long ride home But somehow your luggage Feels lighter Bluewater summer camp On a lake far away Bluewater summer camp Wash away, wash it all away Bluewater summer camp Wash away, wash it all Bluewater summer camp Wash away, wash it all away

LYRICS They say David played his harp for a king And Solomon had a tune for everything So maybe I could play my guitar and sing Sunday Morning Special music God can use it Out of tune and shaky voices Turn into joyful noises Hallelujah They say that Moses had a stutter in his speech And David had a mean old jealous streak So even if my hands are trembling Sunday Morning Special music God can use it Sweaty palms and fingertips "Amazing Grace" on nervous lips Hallelujah And now the preacher’s starting to pray That’s my cue to quietly make my way I wish the Second Coming had been yesterday Sunday morning Special music Just get through it And if I make a bad mistake I pray the Lord my soul to take Hallelujah Special music God can use it Hallelujah

TRANSCRIPT Hi, this is Aaron Espe. I just wanted to say thanks for listening. This album was made possible by my Secret Songs Club, a community of supporters who help me get new music into the world. In return, they hear the music first along with unreleased songs. You can learn more at aaronespe.com/secretsongsclub. This album was also made possible by the generous donations of the following people, who I am so thankful for: Alice Michel, the Greta and Tom Stinar family, Barry and Becky Pederson, John Niño, Holly and Eric Yochim, the Poshak family, Nels Carlson, Barbara Kanadet, Mark Fulton, Taru Liisa, Shawn Cullen, Kristen Otto, Mary Kate Melnick, the Courliss family, Hanna Pratt, Matt Henderson, Gavin Slate, Scot Sustad, Winnie Dreier, Ethan Kvidt, Josef Erl, the Fightmaster family, Kirsten Bengston, Jon and Amanda Rubis family, Luke and Krystal Langholz, Kaitlyn Leen, Patrick Damphier, Cousins of Josh Broten, Stephen and Steph Quanbeck family, Darin Anders, Noah and Ali Hormann and family, Stuart Willes, Marty and Ericka Espe, Peace on Earth in Unalakleet, Alaska, Dorothy Bergh, Jeff Noël, Anonymous, Kara Hedlund, Phoebe Lee, T Drieling, Amanda Harris, Caleb Nelson, Emily and David Greco, Kevin Novacek, Tember Dickman, Keri Van Havermaet, Tami Espe, Heather Johnson, Karmon and Rick Trontvet, Lee Patkos, Mick and Sheila Stafford, Dayna Bonebrake, Jamie and Jeff Linsenmaier, Mike and Katie Lucero, Kecia Stroot, Buddy and Debbie Erickson, the Stynsbergs, Mary Stoe, Marco Schlövogt, Olivia and Lennon Rubis, Michael Coors, in honor of Busbee, Glen and Glenda Johnson, Sheri VandeRiet, Eric Sievert, Hudson Amiot, HoJo, Jean Wysocki, Justin Walker, Tony and Traci Fichter, Matt and Jenna Rubis, Dale Pratt, Susanna Grace, Mark Bechler, the Jon and Hannah Langness family, Erik and Courtney Strom family, Nolan Soltvedt, Theo Shepard, Jeremy Siemers, John Chrysikopoulos, Tommy Grafstrom, Scott Manson, Micah and Cassidy Rude, Emily Svendsen, Nicole Rubis, Martin Stetzka, Mark Converti, Erik Espe, Davis Keats, Kevin and Karleen Quackenbush family, Margaret Nelson, Baxter and Margie Swenson, Josh, Natalie, Ezra, Iris and Sylvi Rude, Anonymous, John Hofer, Stephen and Elizabeth Clark, Amber Rubarth, Scott Austin, Alex and Julia Amiot, Tim Sundin, Greta Morgan, Bob Arnold, Brandon Warne, Susanne Hettling, Connie Decrescenzo, Adrienne Johnson, Mark Ewert, Laura Johnson, Phaedra Amiot, Teresa and Ward Ortmann, Joanne Selightholm, Bethany Leonard, Jeff and Heidi Larson, Sherri Kukowski, Kari Dejong, Joel Molascon, Chelle Winczewski, James Paterson, in honor of Kasey Altman, Joel Maxwell, Nathanael Johnson, Jennifer Setten, Tallie Habstritt, Bruce and Lorraine Helgeson, Tim and Linda Rubis, Kelly and Dean Meyer, Darren Tutt, Kat Denison, Kavan Lovgren, Ben and Shelly Zuehlsdorff, Lori and Gary Finn, the Capps family, Colleen Wallin, Anna and the Krahn family, and Jason Bock.