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NIGHTMARE
They're coming, creeping from the corner and all I know is that I don't feel safe. I feel the tapping on my shoulder. I turn around in an alarming state. But am I losing my mind? I really think so. Not a creature in sight. But, what you don't know is that my breathing gets faster and so does my heartbeat. I wish this was over. I wish that this was a dream but... I created a monster, a hell within my head. I've nowhere to go. I'm out on my own. Oh, I'm so scared. I created a monster, a beast inside my brain. I've nowhere to go. I'm out on my own, my mind impaired. Awake me from my nightmare. Wait, something doesn't feel right. No, something seems wrong, and I've been feeling this way for far too long. As my vision gets blurred, my skin's getting colder. Appearing young, while I'm growing older. I collapse to the floor and scream, "Can anybody save me from myself!?" Walking to the ledge, I find myself looking down. Frozen still with fear, now I'm plunging to the ground. If only I knew how to fly, then I could convince myself this isn't my time to die. Instead, I'm rocketing faster and faster. I dive bomb to the floor. And when my body crashes to the pavement I'm right back where I was before. No! This is my nightmare, out on my own. I'm so scared! Awake me from my nightmare!

SWAN SONG
You don't even bother anymore. You cut to the bone. Pick up the phone to hear my swan song. I'll admit, I'm impressed by your vanishing act. Place your bets on your best guess of when you're coming back. Draw the curtains, take the stage. Smoke in mirrors underway. Hold your breath, here comes the turn. This is where we all got burned! Promises are broken, tell me, are you happy now? Drowning in the hourglass, I guess our time ran out. You don't even bother anymore. You cut to the bone. Pick up the phone to hear my swan song. You don't even bother anymore. You left me alone, I'm on my own. Tell me where we went wrong. Should I turn on the flood lights to shine in your eyes? Just to get you to speak and explain why you let it die. This new chapter in your life, read it over once or twice. Burn the pages, not the bridge. Sew your wounds without a stitch. I hope you're listenin'. Tell me where we all went wrong. Tell me where, tell me where! Abandon the people who shaped who you are! Selfish and thoughtless, you drown in the dark! I hope that you realize the damage you've done. You could not see light even staring at the sun! You don't even bother anymore... time ran out.

PLASTIC PROMISES
"Just give me a chance!" she said, as I packed my things. "But I already did, four times, don't you remember!?" "I won't blow it again!" she said, with her fingers crossed, but she forgot about the mirror behind her. I'm done with plastic promises. Please don't tell me that we're fine. I got too much on my mind. Isn't this too plain to see? Maybe. 'Cause we've lost too much to gain. We were dancing in the rain. Tell me, what am I to do with a double dose of you? Her lips are the gun and her tongue are the bullets. She could save a life, but she took mine away instead. We gave it our all, so don't call me a quitter. No, and I swear I've tried too many times before but, I'm done with plastic promises. Don't try to defy or even make an attempt. My blinders are off and I am runnin' again from you. Am I okay? I know I'll be okay again. "ARE YOU READY!?" So here we go, I know you'd kill for everything to stay the same in vain. We had to go our separate ways. When you proved to me that you would never change, I finally woke up and exclaimed that "I'm done with these plastic promises!"

ILL SLEEP WHEN IM DEAD

It's the same each and every night. Glare at my screen with two big bloodshot eyes. I'm stuck self-torturing. My meds are failing me. Internal clock in smithereens. Can't fix this, I'm hopeless. My eyes are stapled open wide as I lay down on my side. I am bouncing off these walls. Notice my hands begin to twitch. Unprovoked assaulting of my conscious wit. Me and the TV are enemies. Sickening static surrounds my mind. I'm losing time and realizing that after days of thought that... My eyes are stapled open wide as I lay down on my side. I am bouncing off these walls. As I focus on the clock, time stands still but I cannot. I should strap myself in bed. I guess I'll sleep when I am dead. Talk to myself, lie in the darkness, so content. As the sun begins to rise, I can barely shut my eyes. This crazed, delirious mess, laughing at everything I see. My sanity is spent. Just tell where my time went. I'm losing it! Attention! All insomniacs! Please raise your right hand and kindly REPEAT AFTER ME! I guess I'll sleep when I am dead!" On my side. I am bouncing off these walls. I can't sit still!

NO CONTROL
It's like watching a rose just wither away, when beauty crumbles and decays. It's like having a voice with no chance to speak. It's something that you hold and hope to keep. Fall to my knees. God I beg you please show me just a little mercy. Help me! I'm doing all I can! Pretend I'm unaffected, but their pain became my burden. Swear this isn't what I wanted. God this house is haunted! The way that this could be if things would remedy. And after all of this we've been through, I wish that we could switch shoes. This life ain't fair for us all. My ears resound with the sound of broken dreams I had where you would breathe, exist eternally. Tell them to leave! You're coming home with me! Remove that damn IV! I wish my words could cure illness. It's like running a race with no legs or swimming a lap with no arms. The door may have slammed in my face but the windows will heal my scars. All my walls are built and on display. I drown in guilt due to dismay. Maybe someday I can see how this has shaped me. Bite my tongue, with swelling lungs, I gasp for air and let this go.

DREAM CATCHER
Well, I've been sitting here hours as I wish for this to start. I set my standards high in hopes they will not fall apart. It's almost like I fell asleep, my doubts have seemed to fade, because I've opened up my eyes to see I'm right where I planned to be today. Cast your net! Cast it out, and I hope to God you'll scream and shout! It's everything you wanted maybe more! Anyone can dream through the night, but only some can dream with eyes wide. There lies the fight inside, it resides in everyone. They will proclaim you a fool, and it reminds you to do anything and everything to prove them a liar. Does it seem out of reach? Hit the ground and run with both your feet. Here's a lesson that I hope to teach: "Believe you'll be a dream catcher." Cry out loud and take the stage and don't let skeptics slow your pace. With every forward step you'll take their breath away! Believe, they'll spit their words. And some will say it seems absurd, but devour the cynics, dismiss the critics, and mark my words they'll regret it when you Please believe you'll be a dream catcher.

FREAK SHOW
I am a circus freak, caught in a cage. Staring without a blink, swallow me whole. I am a circus freak, cut out my heart. Loveless and watch me bleed, tear me apart. I lost myself in make-believe. I don't wanna go, make me. Over and over I deceived. I don't wanna go. You want reform? I can't conform 'cause I can't take anymore of your tainted bliss. 'Cause I lost myself in make-believe. You can't break me. I am a circus freak, so many scars. I'm just a common creed, something to watch. Oh, you know you can't break me. "Come one! Come all! Step right up for the one, the lonely, Circus Freak." You'll never break me. You'll never change me, no! I've waited 10 long years just to look in the mirror, and define just what I'm staring at. I've waited 10 long years just tell you I'm fearless. You don't understand, I've become who I am. You know you can't break me.

DISTANCE DISTURBS ME
I wish I never saw your face, then I wouldn't need a place to frame you in my mind. Hanging on the wall, my memories and all, but you're not tangible. Stuck on sentimental, the history we never had. Almost accidental, the way you live inside my head. I would kill to be a mile away or feel the breath you'll take, but fate won't let me. Distance disturbs me, now I wish we never met. I wish I could forget who you are. Distance disturbs me 'cause we just can't connect. I found my one regret, and it was you. Distance disturbs me. Separated by a screen, it's just a bittersweet success with a dash of failure. I'm hanging by a thread, intentions cut to shreds. I'm starting to lose my grip. So, someone please distract me. I need a new obsession. Am I just going crazy? I'll never learn my lesson because I would kill to be a mile away or feel the breath you'll take but fate won't let me. Throw it all away, for just one rainy day with you.

DADS SONG

"Do you believe in happy endings or the mendings of human hearts?" "Oh, I believe in both I'm certain, because these curtains are state of the art." If you'd occasionally happen to spy on me, you'd think I'm having one-sided conversations but I hear him talking back. You'd think I may even lack some sanity, but maybe I can't let go. And so I'll say, "I finally wrote your song at last. Sorry that this one came out so sad." Every tear I had was shed for that man that gave me a better sense of life and meaning to motivate. "There's no shortcuts to success". I'll wait, for his guiding hands. My guardian angel until the very end. I see a cold seat on the couch where I remember, that just four years ago around December, you sat me down and held me next to you so close. How I long for things to be restored to back when times weren't quite this hard. In the car that song you sang to me never rang so loud before. Oh what I'd give for just another hug from you. You may be gone, but love will never die. Tears can't run dry when I start to cry when I hear people speak of how you'd be so proud of me. And how I hope this song will reach your ears. I've battled all my darkest fears. I once was blind, but now it's clear, wherever I go, I know that you'll be near.

ID RATHER DROWN
Thanks for treating me like every boy you meet. So please come in and take a seat. Here's the part where I learn and you will teach, on how to treat people like a piece of meat. I want a genuine, not a replica. Lethal medicine, a pin to the cornea. A cite for sore eyes. While other guys consume the lies, I'll run and hide. No doors exist on my fortress, the only entrance is the one I bare. You're nothing more than a temptress. I fell victim to a heartless snare. Burn the bitch down, I never will cross that bridge again. I cannot trust you easily or think that I'm the only one. I never let people in and I have you to remind me why. So baby, burn the bitch down, I never will cross that bridge again. I'd rather drown. I'm the master of construction because I'm building walls like it's my occupation. If you portray a liar, I'll shut you out without hesitation. It's an art form of consummate skill. Oh, how she plays them like the pawn. Making boys drool at her will, like Pavlov to the dogs. Drown me, slit my throat so lightly. Pick me up and drop me right into my grave. And now I wonder, sit alone and ponder, "should I even bother when I see your face?" The itch I couldn't scratch. Thought I'd come crawling back, but no. I'd much rather Go ahead and burn that bridge right down. It's what you wanted. Burn that bridge right down! I'm not the only one.

THE GRAND FINALE

He plants his feet, remaining still, a front row seat to incomparable thrill. Reflecting on anything he had ever craved. The sunrise never seemed so sweet, entranced by the final ocean breeze, as the world beneath him starts to shake. Run! Run! Run for the hills! Leave behind your dollar bills! The value of paper means nothing now, when everything around you is crumbling down. While finding shelter for the end, they begin reflecting on everything. I mean everything, all the life they spent till then. She turns the page in frantic despair, while hoping that auspicious answers are there. She calls off the search, accepts her fate, sits by the window no will to escape. Stay right where you are, while death waits outside your door. The sirens are screaming, they're letting you know, to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. While finding shelter for the end, they begin reflecting on everything. I mean everything, all the life they spent till then. As rock and ash fall from the sky, so surreal they hold on to anything. I mean anything, hoping life won't pass them by. Non-existing answers. We are now condemned. My friends, this is the end!

SET IT OFF
Cody Carson - vocals, piano, clarinet, percussion Dan Clermont - guitar, vocals, trumpet Zach DeWall - guitar Austin Kerr - bass Maxx Danziger - drums, percussion, vocals
All songs written by Austin Kerr (BMI), Cody Carson (BMI), Dan Clermont (BMI), Max Danzinger (BMI), Zach Dewall (BMI) With the exception of Swan Song and The Grand Finale written by Erik Ron (BMI) and Set It Off, Distance Disturbs Me written by Stacy Jones (ASCAP) and Set It Off, Freak Show written by Bob Marlette (ASCAP), Shiloh Reann Schramm (SOCAN), Daniel Ticotin (ASCAP) and Set It Off All songs performed by Austin Kerr (BMI), Cody Carson (BMI), Dan Clermont (BMI), Max Danzinger (BMI), Zach Dewall (BMI) With viola on Dream Catcher, Dads Song, Id Rather Drown, No Control and The Grand Finale by Zack Odom And programming on Swan Song by Erik Ron (BMI)/Touchdown Browns Music (BMI) Produced, recorded and mixed by Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount in Alpharetta, GA Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtle Tone Studio in New York, NY Bonus content mixed and mastered by Paul Leavitt Management: Mike Mowery and Matthew Stewart for Outerloop Management Booking: Ryan Soroka for The Soroka Agency Legal: Bryan K. Christner A&R: Francesca Caldara for Equal Vision Records Art direction and design by: Evan Leake @ Palebird Design Studio Band photo by: Gage Young

THANK YOU
Cody Carson: My Mother for being so supportive & for being my absolute best friend, my Father, James Charles Carson (RIP), for giving me his blessing on my career path, my sister Cambia for sticking by my side through thick and thin, Jeremy Catarelli for being a brother to me, Jesus Christ for keeping me sane, Alex Gaskarth for giving me my shot, Danny Kurily, Ryan Seaman, & Mike Shea for the continually amazing advice & for being so down to earth & kind to me, Kevin Ford & Robert Barfield for shaping my work ethic, character, and leadership mindset, all my friends back home who stick by my side and invite me to hang out, you know who you are, & lastly the SIO family for your undying love and support.

Dan Clermont: My family for being supporting me, My best friends Ben Datin & Greg Fornal, Kevin Ford, Bob Barfield, Howard Weinstein, & Frank Sullivan for molding me in to the man that I am today, Adrienne Kneebone for keeping my head on straight, Alex Benevente, & all the Set It Off boys for being the greatest family somebody could have.

Austin Kerr: Amy Decker, my family (mom, dad, Roxy, Andrea, Crystal, Jayden, Vaughn, Vanessa, Emily, Amanda, Noox) Marshall Traver, Christian Skirmont, Jessie Moore, Jerry Dufrain, Bobby Kalton, Thomas Ungerbaugh, & everyone who reads my poetry, also to the people who know it's not about being the best or building rome in a day, but going to bed a better person than when you woke up, in short, "progress".

Maxx Danziger: My Dad (the best father anyone could ask for), my Mom (RIP), my awesome Sister, My beautiful girlfriend Marie Tracy, Aria Daryadel, Aly Silverio, Alex Benevente, Becca White, The Loyal Family, Pistol Danziger, Mr. J Pack, A Hero's Fate, Divided By Friday, The city of Orlando and all my friends that live there, Chipotle, hot showers, the 90's, good naps, everyone that has ever let me crash on their couch, anyone that has ever made me laugh, and your face.

Zach DeWall: I want to thank my closest family and friends, Tim DeWall, Sylvia DeWall, Karla Nava, Josh Wagner, Larisa Smith, Lakota Nava, Joel Nava, all my family who have supported me, Natalie Powell <3, Bray, Lindsay Castellano, Will Rhodes, Alex Queen, Charlie Curtis, J.K Rowling, Jerry Moore, Edward Cullen, Bray again, any friends who made me smile and laugh, thank you all so much for sticking with me through this long trip, It has just begun, but I know its gonna be a great ride, if I didn't thank you and you think I should have then you have the right to slap me right in my face three times, no more or no less.

Band: A HUGE thank you to the EVR famjam for believing in us and fighting for us every step of the way, you are literally the best label any band could ever have the privilege to be on, Andrew Cramb (the wunderkind tour manager) we love you very much, Mike Mowery & Matt Stewart for working hard and sticking by our side no matter how many conference calls we may ask for, Ryan Soroka for being the overachieving little brother we never had, every band that has played a show with us that promoted the show, every band that we've had the pleasure of touring with, Zack Odom & Kenneth Mount for being the best of friends to us inside and outside of the studio, it was incredible working with you guys, Ashley Howard for being such an amazing help and a great friend in the studio, lastly and most importantly you for purchasing this CD, please make your friends listen and thank you to the SIO family for being the best fan base any band could have, we love you so very much!

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