RELEASED AS: SRC-002 (CD), ATM-CD-51857, ATM-CD-51879, MRC-003 (LP), CASSETTE

LINER NOTES

VINYL LINER NOTES (FROM MRC-003):

"THE DUST OF RETREAT" WAS WRITTEN BY RICHARD EDWARDS.
IT WAS PRODUCED BY MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S.
TYLER WATKINS RECORDED IT IN A BURNING LOG CABIN, BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER 2004 & MARCH 2005.
HE WAS ASSISTED BY ANDY FRY.

CD LINER NOTES (FROM ARTCD-322):

*GRATITUDE IS EXTENDED TO...
OUR PARENTS & FAMILIES, DUSTIN CANFIELD, JIMMY PRUITT, BETH SKAFISH, JOSH BAKER, MARK, KEVIN, & STANDARD, EMILY LINDSKOOG, STACY NOVAK, ASHLEY WHITE, JEFF COSTELLOE, DAVE ADAMSON, DERIC & WOODENMAN RECORDS, JAY EDWARDS, KENNY CHILDERS, LONPAUL ELRICH, JONATHAN ROGERS, DOOG, MICHAELA, DAVID LINDQUIST, TONY WHITLOCK, JEB & MUSICALFAMILYTREE.COM, CAMERON MCGILL, EVERYTHING, NOW!, PRAVADA, KILLJOY CONFETTI, GENTLEMAN CALLER, CASTLE OLDCHAIR, CHRIS HASKETT, JUSTIN DOWD, ROB & THE LUNA LOUNGE, EDDIE HAZEL, MATT HAGEN, EVERYONE WHO PUTS UP WITH US, PUT US UP, OR PUT OUT. MONEY OR TIME.

THANKS ALSO TO ARTEMIS RECORDS, DANIEL GLASS, GEOFF ANENBERG, JOHN SOPKIA, LISETTE RIOUX, BRADY BROCK, THOM STORR, CHARLIE FOSTER, MANNY SIMON, DEVIN KRUG, JEANNE DREWSEN, SKY GANER, CHRIS SCULLY, CHRIS SCHWARTZ, LISA FRIEDMAN, LINDSAY BARAD, NORM REX, GAIL WARD, DAVID COKE, ROBIN CLARK, JESSE BAUER, SUE CHELLEW, MIKE BARTHEL, PHIL EGENTHAL & ALEX CHAYKIN, JEFF BIEDERMAN, DAVID KOSTINER, TOBI AT XMU, RICARDO BACCA, SHAWN MURPHY, JAKE ROBINSON, MARK KOCHER, WES ANERDSON, FRED BROWN, MATT SCHWEGMAN, MARK NEEDHAM & WILL BRIERRE.

*FRIENDS
KENNY CHILDERS SANG ON TRACKS 1, 3, 10 & 12.
LONPAUL ELRICH PLAYED VARIOUS PERCUSSION ON NEARLY EVERYTHING.

*WHO DID WHAT
"THE DUST OF RETREAT" WAS WRITTEN BY RICHARD EDWARDS, MOSTLY IN BEDROOMS & BASEMENTS. THE RECORDINGS WERE PRODUCED BY MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S. TYLER WATKINS ENGINEERED THE ALBUM DURING PERIODS OF TIME IN 2004 & 2005, AT "QUEENSIZE TWIN AIR" IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. HE WAS ASSISTED IN THIS TASK BY ANDY FRY. TYLER MIXED THE SONGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRACKS 2, 4, & 11, WHICH WERE MIXED BY MARK NEEDHAM, IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. MARK NEEDHAM WAS ASSISTED BY WILL BRIERRE. THE RECORD WAS MASTERED BY EMILY LAZAR AT "THE LODGE" IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. STACY NOVAK LOVINGLY PAINTED THE ARTWORK. RICHARD & ANDY LAYED OUT THE CONCEPT, & ANDY LAYED IT ALL OUT ON A COMPUTER.

*MARGOT
RICHARD EDWARDS... VOCALS, GUITARS, BELLS, SYNTH, MELODICA, BANJO, MEOWS, PERCUSSION
ANDY FRY... GUITARS, BASS, SYNTH, LAP STEEL, MELODICA, BANJO, MEOWS, PERCUSSION
CHRIS FRY... DRUMS, PERCUSSION
HUBERT GLOVER... TRUMPET
JESSE LEE... CELLO, VOCALS
CASEY TENNIS... MORE DRUMS
EMILY WATKINS... KEYS, RHODES, SYNTH, VOCALS, MEOWS
TYLER WATKINS... BASS, GUITAR, SYNTH

ALL SONGS 'MICE AND MARGOT MUSIC' ASCAP, 2006.

TRACK LIST

01. A SEA CHANTY OF SORTS / 02. SKELETON KEY / 03. VAMPIRES IN BLUE DRESSES / 04. QUIET AS A MOUSE / 05. JEN IS BRINGIN' THE DRUGS / 06. DRESS ME LIKE A CLOWN / 07. ON A FREEZING CHICAGO STREET / 08. PAPER KITTEN NIGHTMARE / 09. BARFIGHT REVOLUTION, POWER VIOLENCE / 10. A LIGHT ON A HILL / 11. TALKING IN CODE / 12. BOOKWORM

CONTEMPORARY CUTS

AVALANCHE / CHEAP MOTEL ROOM / FAKE IT / FRONT PORCH SONG / LOST ON 49TH STREET / SOMEWHERE THE CITY LIGHTS LEAVE US BLIND / THE STENCH OF LOVE / WAKING UP AND WALKING OUT

LYRICS

A SEA CHANTY OF SORTS

DO WHAT YOU LIKE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NICE
JUST POUR YOURSELF A CUP OF COFFEE
LEAVE ANYTIME, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT
YOU'VE GOTTA LIVE THE BEST YOU KNOW HOW

AND IF YOU LOVE, WELL THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH
INSTEAD IT TURNS YOUR JOY INTO SORROW
AND I CAN'T BREATHE WITH THE DUST OF RETREAT
I'M CHOKING ON THE FUMES OF MY WAYWARD BRIDE

MY WOMAN LIED, SHE WAS A WITCH IN DISGUISE
AND SHE DRESSED HER WOUNDS IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES
THE CHILDREN WEEP AT THEIR DEAD MOTHER'S FEET
HER HUSBAND'S DRUNK, A WOLF IN A SHEEPSKIN COAT

AND WHEN WE KISSED, IT DIDN'T FEEL POISONOUS
AND WHEN YOU CRIED, I DRIED OFF YOUR BLUE EYES
SHE SMILES AT ME, AS SHE IS FALLING ASLEEP
SAYS WE'VE GOTTA LIVE THE BEST WE KNOW HOW TO

SKELETON KEY

I DID A SICK, SICK THING TO MY LOVE

MY LACK OF LOYALTY HAD SWALLOWED HER UP

AND SHE COOKED ME FOOD

SHE SQUIRMED AND TURNED

LIKE A SKELETON KEY

SHE LEFT HER MAN AND ATTENDED TO ME

AND DON'T CALL ME THAT

DON'T CLAIM YOU LOVE ME

CAUSE YOU KNOW THAT AIN'T TRUE

MY DIRE AFFLICTION I'LL ATTRIBUTE TO YOU

AND YOU'RE FINALLY FREE

TO TWIST AND TURN

LIKE A SKELETON KEY

YOU'VE GOTTA LET ME KNOW

YOU'VE GOTTA LET ME KNOW

I DID A HORRIBLE THING TO THAT GIRL

I BRED MY MISERY AND DROWNED IT IN HER

AND SHE GOT ME HIGH

AND I HARDLY NOTICED THERE WERE TEARS IN HER EYES

AND I MISS YOU LESS AND LESS EVERYDAY

IT’S TRUE THE WHISKEY'S HELPED TO WASH YOU AWAY

AND IT'S CLEAR TO SEE

YOU'RE NOTHING SPECIAL

YOU'RE A SKELETON KEY

YOU'VE GOTTA LET ME KNOW

YOU'VE GOTTA LET ME KNOW

YOU'VE GOTTA LET ME KNOW

YOU'VE GOTTA LET ME KNOW

VAMPIRES IN BLUE DRESSES

SOMEBODY'S GONNA LOVE YOU
SOMEBODY OUGHTA LAY YOU OUT

DON'T GIVE IT AWAY
'CAUSE I NEED YOU THE MOST
WHEN I'M HALF OF WHAT I WAS
WHEN I WAS IN YOUR ROOM

AND DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE
DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR
‘CUZ THOSE VILLAINS WANT YOUR BLOOD
AND THEY'RE GONNA GET IT

YOUR MOTHER IS A VAMPIRE
SHE SUCKED YOUR OLD MAN'S LIFE AWAY

TURN EVERYTHING OFF
AND JUST COVER YOUR NECK
'CAUSE LIFE IS FULL OF YOUR REGRETS
AND I SHOULD BE ONE

TRY TELLING ME OFF
TRY SLAMMING THE DOOR
AND TELL ME I'M NOT WORTH YOUR TIME
OR THE BREATH I'M BREATHING

DON'T THROW IT AWAY
OH, CALICO QUEEN
‘CUZ NOW YOU'RE MERELY A MACHINE
AND NOT A PERSON

TRY TELLING ME OFF
TRY SLAMMING THE DOOR
AND TELLING ME I'M NOT WORTH YOUR TIME
OR THE BREATH I'M BREATHING

QUIET AS A MOUSE

TOURISTS ROB YOU OF YOUR HOME
IN SUNKEN BOATS
AND YOU CAN HIDE QUIET AS A MOUSE
BUT THEY'LL FIND YOU OUT

WHEN SHE ASKED ME
WHY HAVE YOU FELT SO DOWN AND OUT?
YOU CAN STAY WITH ME AT MY HOUSE

WHEN I WOKE MY BACK WAS BROKE FROM LYING ON THE FLOOR
SUNLIGHT POURED THROUGH ALL THE CRACKS IN MY FRONT DOOR
WAKE UP, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO DO
WAKE UP, THE SUN IS RISING WITHOUT YOU

TOURISTS ROBBED ME OF MY CHILD
THEY SMOKED HIM OUT
HE WAS DRAFT-DODGING SOME WAR
'TIL THEY FOUND HIM OUT

AND HE CAME HOME LATE IN THE NIGHT
TO HIS MOM AND ME
AND HE SAID TIMES THEY GOTTA CHANGE
BUT SO DO WE

WHEN I WOKE I WAS ALIVE IN SOMEBODY'S ROOM
I FELT LIFE AND LOVE AND HOPE INFESTING MY BONES
WAKE UP, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO DO
WAKE UP, THE SUN IS RISING WITHOUT YOU

WHEN I WOKE MY BODY WAS DYING, MY WOMAN HAD FLOWN
I FELT APATHY AND HATE INFESTING MY BONES
WAKE UP, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO DO
WAKE UP, THE SUN IS RISING WITHOUT YOU

JEN IS BRINGIN' THE DRUGS

JEN IS BRINGIN' THE DRUGS
SHE WANTS TO GET REAL FUCKED UP
SHE USED TO LAUGH AND SMILE
BUT THE YEARS OF DENIAL
HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL ON HER DIAL

BUT ME, I DO AS I PLEASE
I CAUGHT YOU AND I SET YOU FREE
‘CUZ I HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE
BY THE PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN
AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE COMING HOME

AND JEN DON'T WANNA BE SEEN
BUT I SAW HER IN A SWANK MAGAZINE
SHE HAD AN AIRBRUSHED FACE
BUT THE LINES OF DISTASTE
WERE CROSSED WITHOUT CROSSING OF LEGS

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND
SO WHEN YOU GET HOME I'M SKIPPING TOWN
I'M LEAVING TO GO SOME PLACE
WHERE NOBODY WILL
HAVE ANY CLUE WHERE I AM

AND JEN IS BRINGIN' THE DRUGS
SHE'S GONNA GET ME FUCKED UP
‘CUZ LOVE IS AN INKLESS PEN
IT'S A TAVERN, IT'S SIN
IT'S A HORRIBLE WAY TO BEGIN

DRESS ME LIKE A CLOWN

I AM ALIVE, I AM ALIVE
AND THAT IS THE BEST THAT I CAN DO
GOMER YOU LIED, YOU SWORE YOU WERE MINE
I TOOK YOU BACK A THOUSAND TIMES
TALK OF THE TOWN, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND
IF HE IS THE MAN YOU WANT THEN GO

BUT TONIGHT WE'LL LEAVE
ALL OUR LOVERS BEHIND
AND TRY TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE
MY LOVE HAS DRESSED ME LIKE A CLOWN

YOU ARE AN ASP, A SNAKE IN THE GRASS
VANITY SEEPS FROM OUT YOUR PORES
AND BABY IT'S TIME TO PAY FOR MY CRIME
NOTHING I SAY CAN MAKE YOU MINE
YOU’RE EITHER SINGIN’ IN KEY, OR RUNNIN’ TO ME
I CAN FAKE IT AS GOOD AS YOU

BUT TONIGHT WE'LL LEAVE
ALL OUR STUPID SONGS
WE'LL DRIVE AND REACH THE HILLS BY DAWN
MY LOVE HAS DRESSED ME LIKE A CLOWN

TONIGHT WE'LL LEAVE
ALL OUR LOVERS BEHIND
AND TRY TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE
MARGOT, YOU DRESS ME LIKE A CLOWN

TONIGHT WE'LL DRINK
INTO AN EARLY GRAVE
WE'LL LAUGH, BUT WE WILL NEVER BE SAVED
SOMEONE HAS DRESSED US ALL LIKE CLOWNS

DARLING IT'S SIN, WHERE DO I BEGIN
PUTTING THE CONTACT LENSES IN…

ON A FREEZING CHICAGO STREET

ON A FREEZING CHICAGO STREET WE SHOOK
YOUR HANDS WERE TREMBLING FROM ALL THOSE PILLS YOU TOOK
AND WE GOT DRUNK ON CHEAP RED WINE IN A PAPER CUP

AND I WAS BARELY AWAKE WHEN YOU GOT HOME

AND CLIMBED YOURSELF INTO BED WEARIN' CHEAP PERFUME

AND SARA SCREAMED YOUR EVERY BREATH IS A GIFT

IF YOU WEREN'T SO SELFISH THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO LIVE

SO IF YOUR LOVER SHOULD LEAVE DON'T GET TOO SAD

AND DON'T COMPOSE EPIC POEMS TO WIN HER BACK

‘CUZ WHEN YOUR BIRD HAS FLOWN SHE'LL NEVER RETURN HOME

THOUGH ALL YOUR LIFE YOU'LL WAIT SHE NEVER WILL RETURN

PAPER KITTEN NIGHTMARE

MY PAPER CAT HAS COVERED MY SKIN IN CHILLS

MY BASEMENT HOME HAS MADE ME AS COLD AS ICE

SO MEOW MEOW ET CHANTEZ A MOI

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MY ISLAND HOME IS GONNA BE MINE QUITE SOON

YOUR CONCRETE MOUTH IS SPEWING THAT FILTH AGAIN

SO I'LL WALK IN SHIVERING

PAWS DRIED UP FROM WANDERING

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MY GLASS-EYED PET IS PURRING 'BOUT BLONDE ON BLONDE

THAT SWEET OLD MAN IS GONNA BE YOUR BEST FRIEND

SO WASH YOUR PAWS ALLEY CAT

ONCE YOU'RE DEAD YOU CAN'T COME BACK

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

BARFIGHT REVOLUTION, POWER VIOLENCE

SHE WAS A WHITE OWL

AND HAD 'EM LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT

HER BRITTLE BONES WERE CRACKING FAINTLY

HER ODE TO WAS A LUNCH TIME LADY

SO I CAN TURN BACK HONEY, COME ON BACK DARLING

COME ON, COME ON, GET BACK TOGETHER

WASTE YOUR TIME IN THE NEW

WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU, SHUT UP

SHE WAS COMING UP FROM

EVERY THING WE EVER TAUGHT HER

HE SAID ONLY TRY TO TALK WHEN SPOKEN TO 

AND BELIEVE IT'S NOW OR NEVER

SO I CAN GO BACK HONEY, YOU'RE FOLDING MONEY

COME ON, COME ON GET BACK TOGETHER

PRANCE AROUND IN THE NUDE WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU, SHUT UP

TURN YOURSELF INTO MUSH, YOU'RE TAKING IT OFF

COME ON GET BACK TOGETHER

WASTE YOUR TIME IN THE NEW

WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU COME ON

LIKE A TIGER CREEPING, OH CANADA

YOU DUG YOUR TEETH IN

AND THIS CHILD IS GONNA WALK HIMSELF HOME

AND NOTHING’S GONNA STOP HIS PROGRESS

SO I CAN TURN BACK HONEY, COME ON BACK DARLING

COME ON, COME ON GET BACK TOGETHER

PRANCE AROUND IN THE NUDE

WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU, SO SHUT UP

TURN YOUR SELF INTO MUSH, YOU'RE TAKING IT OFF

COME ON GET BACK TOGETHER

WASTE YOUR TIME IN THE NEW

WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU, SHUT UP

A LIGHT ON A HILL

THAT'S NO WAY TO LIVE

ALL TANGLED UP LIKE BALLS OF STRING

AND WE WOKE AT DAWN

AND WATCHED THE SUN GLIDE OVER THE HILL

I JUST SAID THE FIRST

THREE WORDS THAT POPPED INTO MY HEAD

LET ME OFF THE BUS, I'M TIRED AND SORE

AND SHOULD PROBABLY CHANGE CLOTHES

AND THE CIRCUITS ARE BLOWN, MY WOMAN IS COLD

OUR CHILDREN ARE STONED AND WORTHLESS

THEY'RE ALL WAITING FOR YOU TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH

BUT TRUTH IS A LINE THAT YOU'LL NEVER USE

AND HER DIGNITY

SHONE SO BRIGHT LIKE A LIGHT ON A HILL

AND SHE BURNED FOR ME

AND NO OTHER MAN CAME NEAR HER FLAME

AND BAD COUNTRY SONGS

THE DEAFENING TWANG OF THE RICH-WHITE-KID BLUES

YOU CAN OWN THE STAGE

BUT THE LIGHTS AND GLARES WILL NOT MAKE YOU REAL

SHE WHISPERS TO ME I WAS MEANT TO BE FREE

THIS LIE THAT WE'VE BUILT IS DEADLY

SHE CRAWLS FROM MY BED, RUNS A COMB 'CROST HER HEAD

SHE CRAWLS TO THE TRAIN AND DRIVES HERSELF HOME

TALKING IN CODE

I GOTTA GO

AND YOU'RE TALKING IN CODE

SAYING I KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN

AND I KNOW WHERE YOU GO

I'VE BEEN TIRED FROM THE MINUTE I WOKE

I STOPPED LISTENING THE MOMENT YOU SPOKE

AND SAID I'M LONG GONE

YEAH I'M LONG GONE

AND I'M SLEEPING ALONE

IN A HOUSE I DON'T OWN

CAUSE IF YOU'RE TOURING YOUR MIND

YOU'LL GET LOST EVERY TIME

YOU'LL SING ME SAD SONGS TO KEEP ME AWAKE

IN THAT BEDROOM WHERE WE HID AWAY

BABY I'M LONG GONE

YEAH I'M LONG GONE

AND YOUR VOICE CRACKS LIKE A PIANO

YOU KEEP MOVING, BUT WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

BABY WE'RE LONG GONE

YEAH WE'RE LONG GONE

BOOKWORM

I'M IN A BOOK FOR YOU TO READ AND THEN THROW OUT

I WASN'T BORN, I WAS JUST DROPPED INTO YOUR ARMS

WELL MOM I'VE BEEN BAD

AND I WANNA COME HOME

AND YOU COULDN'T BREATHE WITH ALL THOSE DOCTORS AT YOUR SIDE

BUT YOU'RE TALKING TO ME, SAYING I WISH THAT I HAD DIED

‘CUZ I'M BEING PRODDED, CRUSHED IN YOUR HANDS

I WANNA COME HOME ON THE F TRAIN

AND YOU WERE JUST A PAPER BOAT FLOATING THROUGH THE GUTTER

LOST AT SEA YOU DRIFT TO ME AND INTO SOMEONE'S NIGHTMARES

HOME IS A HIGHWAY, YOUR PILLOW'S A ROCK

I'M IN A RUSTED CAR, BOUND TO GET LOST