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Be My Neighborhood

by Alex Hardaway

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1.
Ian 03:21
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Hey there Ian How does she handle I’ve never been on one would I be able To take her for a spin She’s elemental I’ll keep her in the neighborhood And I’ll be gentle I don’t crane my neck Or keep my eyes peeled I’ve been minding mine Trying to stay concealed But you’ve got this look like you want to see more Yeah you’ve got the answer but what’s it all for Man we’re not getting any younger My will to fly is only growing stronger You work with the light And maybe capture the sound And water your plants reaching up from the ground You’ve grown your hair out And been good to the dogs But I only ask you If you’re working a job Cause you’ve got this look like you want to see more Yeah you’ve got the idea but what’s it all for Man we’re not getting any younger My will to fly is only growing stronger You once told me you keep her in your shop I forgot to ask what made you stop Did you loose control and lay her down Scatter the pieces all over the ground Or did you find something I’ve never found and won’t You’ve got this look Like you’ve got to see more You know the problem but what’s it all for Man we’re not getting any younger My will to fly is only growing stronger
2.
Seamus 03:55
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Where did you learn To stay so quiet I wish I had that skill Been meaning to try it I gotta talk to everyone every time I go outside But you can just nod your head And keep on walking by You said you’ve been here five years now Yeah you and your girlfriend How did you avoid this Meeting in the backyard I always find myself Making small talk with the neighbors But you get to tip your cap And go enjoy the fruit of you labors Seamus and his girlfriend Pass right under the radar I caught them on the backstairs That's how I know who they are I’m always getting tangled up With people in this building How can they just go inside I’m sure I scared you When I opened the door I asked if you lived here You said Alex we’ve met before I’m out in the afternoon sun Saying hey to the neighborhood I should just keep my head down Just like Seamus would Seamus and his girlfriend Pass right under the radar I caught them on the backstairs That's how I know who they are I’m always getting tangled up With people in this building How can they just go inside What you do is like a magic trick Slipping away in the blink of an eye Waving a hands while looking confused Has got to work for you most of the time Seamus and his girlfriend Pass right under the radar I caught them on the backstairs That's how I know who they are I’m always getting tangled up With people in this building How can they just go inside
3.
Jerry 03:38
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Jerry The owner of the building The one who is always working And leaving his dogs He’s not healthy He's got some trouble breathing In the winter weather But the summers worse And he’s gone right now to work Sixteen hours for only hurt His Thirteen unit building Is dragging him slowly to the dirt I called him to see if he would help me Get the motor healthy And ready to run And he flaked out Said that he was leaving Said that he’d been sleeping Bu it looked like fun And he’s gone right back to work Sixteen hours for only hurt His thirteen unit budding is dragging him slowly to the dirt Whenever I see him I’m gonna hear a story a muddy allegory about the people he knows You can smell the coffee He talks so softly Whispering lessons Covered in grease And he’s gone right back to work Sixteen hours for only hurt His thirteen unit budding is dragging him slowly to the dirt He's gone right back to work Sixteen hours for only hurt His thirteen unit building is dragging him slowly to the dirt
4.
Shea and Sheena 04:11
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Hey man What’s going on We haven’t seen you In the lawn It’s been a minute But not much has changed Whats new with you now I forget what you do I gotta hold her She’ll jump on you How is Garth What’s he been up to Where are y’all headed I knew you’d say that We’re going inside Have a good one Shea and Sheena are real fine people I should really have them by Always folding up paper ideas Just to see them fly It’s nice to have these little moments Thinking of what to say I wonder if I will see them today How's the band Writing songs Did Sheena get that Office job I’ve been so lazy Staying inside We don’t go anywhere Theres really no place to hide It’s pretty twisted It’s been so long I should be working I was so wrong I’ll have to go back there There’s nothing to do I’ll see y’all tomorrow Its always good to talk to you Shea and Sheena are real fine people I should really have them by Always folding up paper ideas Just to see them fly It’s nice to have these little moments Thinking of what to say I wonder if I will see them today Shea and Sheena are real fine people I should really have them by Always folding up paper ideas Just to see them fly It’s nice to have these little moments Thinking of what to say I wonder if I will see them today
5.
Molly 02:49
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Stranger Neighbor You were up again last night Will you keep it up tonight Molly you stomp across your floor Slamming every door I think you’d be tired Of singing Country with your friend I'm hearing every sin From right below When you leave home I know you’ll be right back You’re never gone for long You’ll sing another song Every party I turn off my T.V. And listen very closely To every sound I’ve had plenty Of good times and drinking Yours get me thinking About my past
6.
Kasey and the girl she lives with 03:07
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Kasey and the girl she lives with Keep very much to themselves I don’t know the other ones name And they live just across the hallway They keep bringing stuff inside I wonder where they find the room In summer they sit on the patio looking for something to do I started saying hi to Kasey To show her that I was a friend I told her that I was just next door And I was working on the weekend I don’t really see the girl she lives with She must be working all of the time Or maybe she keeps strange hours They’ve got to be different than mine Standing in the intersection You can see their art collection The couple who lived there before them Became my very good friends We had a few nice dinners And they asked me for little favors They were never scared of me Like Kasey and the girl next door They don’t need anything They tap dance on the floor Standing the intersection You can see their art collection I think we’ve got to know who we live by I want a chance to show I’m a good guy I think we’ve got to know who we live by I want a chance to show I’m a good guy I’m your neighbor across the hallway
7.
Leanne and Anthony 03:22
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All I know about Leanne and Anthony Is they have a three legged dog And she plays with Ginny But we don’t make any Conversation at all I had some stories to tell I had some questions to ask But there’s been no indication That they want to know about anything Though their windows Are filled up with plants They keep their blinds pretty low Darting down alley ways And turning around How will they ever grow I heard a good one today Why are you walking away There’s been no indication That they even hear anything I say I don’t wanna hang out I just want to say hi As neighbors when you pass me by Maybe the best thing would be to handle this directly And look them up on my phone Shoot off some message That struggles for purpose Or maybe ill leave them alone I’ve really blown this up They don’t even know my name There’s been no indication That they ever feel anything remotely the same I don’t wanna hang out I just want to say hi As neighbors when you pass me by As neighbors when you pass me by
8.
Keva and Miranda 03:12
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High in the trees Under a disco ball Branches reach Through an open window The summer breeze Is having his moment Miranda looks up At Keva This is why we moved here We’ve got our own little spot If we keep this up We’re gonna stay on top We're gonna stay on top They walk home From every bar To a beautiful building With a small front yard Making meals And washing clothes She reads her mind By that open window This is why we moved here We’ve got our own little spot If we keep this up We’re gonna stay on top We're gonna stay on top Waiting for the other shoe to drop Holding out for a storm That never comes And never will It passed right by Your window sill This is why we moved here We got our own little spot If we keep this up We’re gonna stay on top We're gonna stay on top
9.
Parri 03:38
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It’s another hot one Parri But deep down I think I’m cold All the people in the neighborhood bundle up real tight But they drink up the sun like liquid gold Everybody’s always asking how I’m doing So I ask them back how are you I’ll tell you a secret Parri I don’t really want to know That being said how are you I’m not joking you’re one of the few You’re in the club though I barely know ya I can just tell you’re so California If anybody asks you how your doing Just ask them back how are you And remember the secret, you don’t really want to know How are you, is just something we say Sure I live here I’m on the other side I’ve been here a long time You have too When did you move in I must be blind Always good to meet a neighbor In case you ever need an egg I don’t have any eggs Everyone is always asking how I’m doing So I say it back like a little prayer By the time the answer I really don’t care
10.
Larry 03:11
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What will you do now that you’re retired Is there something you wanted to learn You rode the train for thirty years You must know every turn I hope you get out from under Jerry And hit the road with all you can carry Get need a woman to sort you out Don’t spend this time alone I got to know you in the backyard With Sasha, Boris and OJ I didn’t know things would be so hard Or what would get in the way Cant blame a man for trying Cant help a man who won’t There's no one else around you Don’t go down with the boat We get to talking every now and then I always ask about the trains You’ve seen the tenants come streaming in But you never remember their names You keep a watch over everything It’s easy enough for you to do But now its time to get out of here Oh Larry there’s nothing to loose I got to know you in the backyard With Sasha Boris and OJ I didn’t know that things would be so hard Or what would get in the way Cant blame a man for trying Cant help a man who won’t If there is no one else around you Then don’t go down with the boat Cant blame a man for trying Cant help a man who won’t If there is no one else around you Don’t go down with the boat
11.
Maeva 03:52
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Backing down a one way street After a U-turn in the intersection Some people can’t seem to follow rules Some just make up their own The first time we met she was moving in She asked if I would pick up the yard I explained that I was just renting But she didn’t seem to understand that If you tell a story You gotta give some context for the characters you name I can’t just dive in And mention Maeva without referential frame She’s a neighbor who assumed A certain intimacy we hadn’t earned She caught me off guard but I don’t think she knew Early one morning she was walking to her car She turned around and said he’s gone I said who’s gone and studied her face She said Jim I said I don’t know him Since I’ve known her which hasn’t been long She got a dog and a couple of cats And gave them back one by one She’s said they’re too much trouble and shrugged If you tell a story you gotta give some context for the characters you use I can’t just dive in And mention Maeva without referential clues She’s a neighbor who assumed A certain intimacy we hadn’t earned She caught me off guard but I don’t think she knew
12.
Tim 02:37
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Just like every night I was living on the porch About to head inside When I heard something above me Whatever it was it was tangled up in light He never even had a chance Hey Tim are you calling for a cat I live here too but we haven’t met Larry took him to the vet and didn’t think he’d pull through Oh Tim, do you ever feel like you’re the only witness watching all this madness occur Anyway I’m sorry for your loss It all happened in a flash I wasn’t sure what to do I went right back down the stairs And knocked on the basement door Larry popped out like he’d been waiting Whispering he never had a chance Hey Tim are you calling for a cat I live here too but we haven’t met Larry took him to the vet and didn’t think he’d pull through Oh Tim, do you ever feel like you’re the only witness watching all this madness occur Anyway I’m (still) sorry for your loss
13.
Katy 05:10
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When did you start teaching kids to play the bassoon Have you always been musical Do you play any other instruments Have you ever been in a band I'd love to hear you play sometime I once bought my brother a trumpet and a trombone He used to be in marching band but he played the tuba When did you start teaching kids to play the bassoon You took over David's place I think He’d been there thirteen years I bet he’s still smoking weed Walking on a Florida Beach I never hear you through the walls Maybe you don’t play at home What’s it even sound like Why did you choose it When did you start teaching kids to play the bassoon It’s been a long time, since I’ve seen music But Katy see's some every day She just stands up in front of all her students Counts off and turns the page One two three four When did you start teaching kids to play the bassoon

about

Be My Neighborhood is a record I wrote about all my neighbors in my 13 unit apartment building in Chicago. Additionally, I found orchestra players from all over the US to solo on each song. The project began in March of 2020 during a lock-down, and was completed in February 2023 thanks to 13 amazing musicians and sir Adam Selzer (www.adamselzerworks.com/music), who expertly mixed and mastered this puppy from Oregon.

Link to Chicago Tribune article about the album, www.chicagotribune.com/people/ct-alex-hardaway-pandemic-neighbors-album-0413-20230420-qzdgtjcddvemdjckkuweheoexe-story.html

credits

released April 20, 2023

I must first thank my wonderful partner, Tuckie White, not only was forced to sing on these songs in a coat closet, but she suffered through hearing them almost relentlessly for three years.

A special thank you to Connor Zagrans for playing drums remotely from Ohio, you are a wonderful beat machine and human.

Be My Neighborhood would not be what it is if it weren't all the lovely orchestra players I sought out and befriended. I only had a couple of leads and ended up getting rejected a ton, so my deepest thank you for your time, thoughtfulness and wonderful playing.

Lily Floeter on piccolo and flute
Joshua Hettwer on saxophone
Elisa Carlson on violin
Lauren Urban on oboe
Curtis Biggs on trombone
Scott Simon on marimba
Catelyn Gentry on clarinet
Jenn Chandler on cello
Marty Tilton on trumpet
Josh Torrey on tuba
Justin Amolsch on french horn
Jessi Vandagriff on bassoon

Be My Neighborhood, the story, the characters, the incidents are all made up, any similarity to my real neighbors is merely coincidental.

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Alex Hardaway Chicago, Illinois

I am a triple threat, musician, actor and waiter.

My latest project, Wheels, is available 4/20. Please exclusively listen to my music, if you would.

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