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Good Man - Grandiose Edition

by Miles Francis

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $11 USD  or more

     

  • Bag + Digital Album

    These are beautifully made tote bags, sized 13w x 14h (a little bigger than to hold a vinyl record), made of white cotton canvas material, with black poly-spun 13" handles. On one side it says Good Man and the other Miles Francis, with the Good Man character sketches decorated on each side.

    NOTE: all vinyl or cassette orders come with this tote bag, on the house - so why not get the full package!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Good Man - Grandiose Edition via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 14 days

      $15 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    13
    releases

    Get all 13 Miles Francis releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Good Man - Grandiose Edition, Romanticize It, Actor Now, Window Dressing, Good Man, B.O.Y., Good Man / Service / Popular, Popular (Future Generations Remix), and 5 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $26.40 USD or more (40% OFF)

     

1.
Introduction (Ear to the Wall) 00:40
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2.
Service 02:35
lyrics
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I can be your chaperone Take you to a party and leave you alone OK? Whatever it takes, whatever it takes I’ll do anything for you I’ll do anything for you I can be your sous chef Kitchen running smoothly so you’re not stressed OK? Whatever it takes, whatever it takes I’ll do anything for you I am at your service, at your beck and call I am at your service, giving you my call All for you, all for you I am at your service, at your beck and call I am at your service, giving you my call All for you, all for you
3.
Good Man 04:02
lyrics
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Can I have this dance? I’m one for romance An air of streetwise With valedictorian eyes Are you impressed When I puff out my chest Well either way Gonna get myself a girlfriend Supply my own demand Find me a business partner and a plan I’m a man (he’s a man, he’s a good man) You’re a man (you’re a man, you’re a new man) We’re all men (we’re all men, yes we can) We’re all men Rebellious charm My first love was mom Evolved with the trend With all my man friends Are you impressed When I puff out my chest Well either way Gonna get myself a girlfriend Supply my own demand Find me a business partner and a plan I’m a man (he’s a man, he’s a good man) You’re a man (you’re a man, you’re a new man) We’re all men (we’re all men, yes we can) We’re all men, I’ll sing it again Gonna get myself a girlfriend I’m doing all I can Find me a business partner to call a friend I’m a man (he’s a man, he’s a good man) You’re a man (you’re a man, you’re a new man) We’re all men (we’re all men, yes we can) We’re all men (we’re all men, yes we can)
4.
Let Me Cry 03:14
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Pent up heart, father of stone Fortified with muscle, stuck in baritone Glimpses in mirrors, a shell he doesn’t recognize Reverberating with calls from a child inside Let me cry Like I did when I was five Before the well ran dry Manning up, winning the bread A pressure cooker, coming to a head Indoctrinated against moving his hips For fear that it could attract another man’s lips Let me cry Like I did when I was five Before the well ran dry A voice to listen to Left behind in your youth What kind of man were you Before the well ran dry
5.
Popular 03:28
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I’ve found what I live for I’ve found something to get me through the day The long day Loving is such a chore I get the same attention from those who hate That good hate I don’t ask for much Just your constant attention Throw what you got my way I live to be popular We all need something more Don’t you want to escape that tired brain Well that’s okay Don’t care for you Don’t really care for me Just need that rush from what you have to say, because I live to be popular In control, in control, they all know I do not thrive on much Just your constant attention I was just raised this way I live to be popular
6.
Help Me Up 05:55
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I’m drunk, and I’m tired of feeling this way But I can’t stand the weight, I’m not gonna change Shaken up, the same cycle every day I build it up ‘til it breaks down Help me up I’m one with the ground Nowhere but down for me Can you help me up I beg of you now Help me up Don’t let me down I’m done acting like I’ve got it all down Pretending I’m in control now that you’re gone Are you gone? Help me up I’m up against gravity Waiting for you to look back and see I’ve fallen Can you help me up I beg of you now Help me up Don’t let me down Help me up I’m on my knees Help me up You’re stronger than me Can you help me up I beg of you now Help me up Don’t let me down
7.
Interlude (Eye on the Door) 00:44
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8.
Here For You 04:46
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Lonely, lonely Move into the sunlight Until the shadow leaves your face Stay here with me The buildings cover the sky Maybe someday we’ll live in space I need you tonight Lonely, lonely Are you lonely Cuz I’m lonely too On and on as if there’s some kind of right way On and on as if there’s something I could say To give us more time It’s you only, only If nothing else goes smoothly for me I need you in my life I will, I can I’ll be your friend Cuz I’m lonely too Not one, but two I’m here for you Here for you
9.
Look Away From Strangers 03:42
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Feet of clay But rash and headstrong I remain Clear as day Just how to overcompensate But my neck aches still And I know the drill to perish the thought What do you have, what do you give How do you love, how do you live Can you do better A quick retreat, an ill-conceived lashing out But something’s not right today Feet of clay, made of flaws You’re perfect just the way you are Would I hold this much anger If I had any will I talk and talk yet have no Communication skills I’ve never met my neighbors Too bad they’re all alone I look away from strangers Just fine within my zone No escape Confined to this old comfort zone It’s okay I’d much rather go it alone But if I could cry It’s worth a try to ask myself What do you have, what do you give How do you love, how do you live Can you do better I hear a drone An undertone rising up Another day No escape settle in It’s you and I against them Would I hold this much anger If I had any will I talk and talk yet have no Communication skills I’ve never met my neighbors Too bad they’re all alone I look away from strangers Just fine within my zone Where’s my congratulations Where’s my pat on the back I’ve made a few donations Can you cut me some slack I look away from strangers I look away from strangers I look away from strangers
10.
Nature 03:21
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Wave up ahead, all that I see I go red and let it wash over me In just a moment, I submit I cannot own it, I cannot quit Ego inflated Intoxicated Loaded with pride Must be my Nature Something in my nature Governs my behavior And I can’t see it through Until I’ve hurt you Swimming with my father I feel the current bring me closer to him Something in the water Has turned these green hands into phantom limbs Ego inflated Emasculated Loaded with pride Please forgive my Nature Something in my nature Governs my behavior And I can’t see it through Until I’ve hurt you
11.
Rainjacket 04:16
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Thought I was impervious Under control, rigid and bold You gave me that rainjacket With the protective shell You told it’d shield me well Well it’s getting to me now It’s getting to me now Told myself I was exempt I could weather the storm And keep myself warm Well I’ve worn out that rainjacket And now the shivers begin Maybe I’ll just stay in Cuz it’s getting to me now It’s getting to me now Father, it’s getting to me now The impenetrable doubt Has my thin skin breached Mother, you knew it all along But you let me carry on ‘Til my thin skin breached Yeah it’s getting to me now It’s getting to me now It’s getting here, oh it’s here It’s here
12.
Don't Fight Anymore 04:32
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Please don’t fight anymore Please don’t fight anymore I know by tomorrow you’ll be moving on But I cannot be sure And I’ve been wrong before about you Please don’t fight anymore Please don’t fight anymore I know by tomorrow you’ll be moving on But I cannot be sure And I’ve been wrong before about you I have my ear to the wall And my eye on the door I won’t leave here til I know What you’re fighting for I have my ear to the wall And I’m on my knees Don’t run away this time Don’t run Don’t run away this time Don’t run Please don’t sleep on the couch Please don’t sleep on the couch I know by tomorrow you’ll be back in bed But I can hardly sleep Knowing you’d rather be alone I have my ear to the wall And my eye on the door I won’t leave here til I know What you’re fighting for I have my ear to the wall And I’m on my knees Don’t run away this time Don’t run Don’t run away this time Don’t run Don’t run away this time Don’t run Don’t run away this time Don’t run
13.
Window Dressing 03:33
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Out there you call me your savior You say, “what would I do without you?” When we get home one hour later You change your tune Play the part that makes you feel safe But I know the truth about you You don’t love me anymore I’m just window dressing Why do I stay like a fool I’m just window dressing Window dressing You take what you want and I’ll give it So you’ll sleep through the night But I lay next to you, awake I’m just a body to you You don’t love me anymore I’m just window dressing Why do I stay like a fool I’m just window dressing Window dressing You don’t touch me anymore Better off doing it to myself And yet I stay like a fool I’m just window dressing Window dressing Window dressing Window dressing Window dressing
14.
Actor Now 04:26
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No such thing as selling out Be like water in a drought Feed us, just a taste Hanging on your every word Be my problematic professor Teach me how to find true love Confidence anew You can have it, too You can have it Act like you're a somebody Act like everything's okay So important to stay humble When you're starring in your own play Everybody is an actor With a stage and a crowd Step into the limelight You're an actor now Hey! Actor! Now! Hey! Actor! Now! On a pedestal playing coy They will say that it's a ploy But stay positive and let them die alone Everybody is somebody Everything is a-okay Everyone is staying humble Starring in our own play Everybody is an actor With a stage and a crowd Step into the limelight You're an actor now You're an actor now You're an actor now Hey! Actor! Now! Hey! Actor! Now! Hey! Actor! Now! Hey! Actor! Now!
15.
Romanticize It 03:48
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You were 21, I was 22 Throwing dinner plates off of the roof On the weekend (It was a different time) Or you were 22, and I was 21 Crashing cars into houses for fun On the weekend (It was a different time) Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again I remember when you said to me We should gouge our eyes out ‘til we can’t see And we did it (And the people stared) I remember when I said to you Let’s stand in raw meat and eat our shoes And we ate them (Cuz we didn’t care) Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again Take me back to when we were cool No conscience and no rules of conduct The world was yours and mine Take me back to when we were free To say what we want and do as we please to whomever It was a different time Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again Did I romanticize it Romanticize it again
16.
Optimize 04:07
lyrics
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How am I late again? I had all day No time to brush these teeth Or wash this face Busy busy, from the moment I wake up To make myself feel like I’m good enough Cross my T’s and dot my I’s In another life I’ll do it right Make the grade and monetize In another life I’ll do it right Attention span is there But it’s misplaced Another morning gone Without a trace Busy busy, afraid of standing still The more I run, the more I run The less I feel Dot my T’s and cross my I’s In another life I’ll do it right Make the grade and monetize In another life, I’ll do it right Early to bed, early to rise Keeps me healthy, keeps me wise I must optimize Sleep when I’m dead, limit's the sky Manifest, materialize I must optimize La, la, la, la, la, la, la In another life I’ll do it right Optimize Early to bed, early to rise Keeps me healthy, keeps me wise I must optimize Sleep when I’m dead, limit's the sky Manifest, materialize I must optimize
17.
Do You Think Of Me 03:48
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I’ve tried denial but it quickly wears off Distraction helps, but it only goes so far I’ve lost my anchor, now I just float along My memory’s sirens call me and I know they’re untrue But I’d run this boat aground if it brought me closer to you Can you read me? A dot on the sea When I think of you Do you think of me? Just send a signal if you are listening The water’s dead still but I’ll watch for a rippling I close my eyes and hope that all I see is black But visions flood in of a life where I have you back Are you out there? Send up your flares When I think of you Do you think of me? Do you think of me? Do you? Do you?

about

Today I release the Grandiose Edition of "Good Man" - the original album plus 5 extra songs, totaling 17 tracks. This marks the completion of an era of music that I've worked on for the last few years, and I am excited to share it all in its full GRANDIOSITY!

As far as the bonus tracks go, so far I've released three of them - and today two extras are included, which I wanted to share a little about here.
Optimize is a confrontation with the idea that one has to be perfect, work hard, make money, be efficient, get things done, and be good enough for some shapeless invisible entity (*cough cough*... capitalism). This is something I've struggled to confront for many years now - my need to be "busy" - and the pandemic really brought it to the fore. The constant pressure to move forward and upward has now been strongly countered by a desire to stand still. Some days, that stillness wins, offering a glimpse into a more present way of being. Other days, though, the stillness is completely clobbered by the city, work, or my own bad habits. That's where Optimize lives, as a song.

Do You Think Of Me is a lonely plea for acknowledgment from a lost partner. It is a song about processing a relationship, struggling with and accepting aloneness. It is fitting that it is the final song on the Grandiose Edition, because it is, to me, the most naked and honest look into the character who starts the album singing songs about being Popular and being a Good Man.

Thank you to all who have supported this music!

credits

released November 18, 2022

Written & produced by Miles Francis
Mixed by Andrew Lappin at Sunset Sound Recorders, LA
Mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sound
Additional engineering by David Plowman at Patchwork Sound, Toronto
Additional arrranging by Michael Harlen
Recorded in NYC (Cornelia Street Studio) and Gabriola Island (The Cabin)

Background vocal: Lizzie Loveless, Lou Tides
Shekeres: Lollise Mbi, Giancarlo Luiggi
Violins: Camellia Hartman, Meitar Forkosh
Viola: Midori Witkoski
Baritone saxophone: Maria Christina Eisen
Trumpet: Leif Arntzen

Film & photo: Charles Billot
Hair & makeup: Nina Carelli
Graphic design: The Collected Works
Content manager: Silverman Enterprises

This project has been made possible in part by FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings, with support from Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters) and the Government of Canada.

Thank you to my family in NY & Canada; to my parents, Kathy and Leif - this album is dedicated to you; to Lizzie <3 and Tony; to Charles Billot; to all of my friends & loved ones who have supported me through the years; to Teeny & the entire Lieberson family; to the Cornelia Street Sessions crew; to my teachers; to Will Butler, Antibalas, EMEFE & Superhuman Happiness; to all of the musicians who have played my songs onstage with me; to the Black Trans Liberation/Stonewall Protests/Musicians United communities; to Sound Mind Collective/Womxn Musicians Forum; to Steve Dalmer & Invasion Group, Joni Daniels @ Treefort Artists & AJ Tobey @ Rough Trade Publishing; to Tony Allen, my favorite drummer; and to you - thank you for listening.

All songs ℗© 2022 Miles Francis
All photos © Charles Billot

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Miles Francis New York, New York

Miles Francis is an artist, producer, drummer, songwriter, singer, musician, guitarist, mogul, tastemaker, performer, pop darling, influencer, actor, instrumentalist and multi-hyphenate born and raised in New York City. Miles has collaborated with Will Butler, Antibalas, Sharon Jones, Amber Mark, and Angelique Kidjo amongst others, and will release their debut album 'Good Man' on March 4, 2022. ... more

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