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Walk Home Instead

by Make Sure

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1.
2.
While walking by one place I know It took me years, but now it shows that I hardly ever listened well. But still, your voice remained where I fell. And all of the glory and shame that I’d seen in two decades Pulled me up, pinned me down, and you’ll forget I was around. And we were broken, fell apart, like deal breakers in the dark. I can see why someone would close the door. And I know what grace means, more and more. The pages of us will dissolve in time Even if your voice remains in some desire. And all of the glory and shame that was caught up in our names Pulled you up, got you down, in our harmonies around, Curled your hair, let you know that we weren’t in love at all. Petty things fall apart, like deal breakers in the dark. You’re changing everything, so I’m changing everything.
3.
Floral 04:17
You were understated, a mutual friend. I was thinking lately, when will we begin to look like someone we know? Like someone so bold. The houses that I go by look tired on the outside. The person that I realize, lively on the inside. Like someone I know, Like someone a stone’s throw away. You look a little jaded, but you don’t say it aloud. Happy dear belated, I missed your birthday about three or four days ago. Wherever I’m standing, I’m cold. Half in my memory, half in my head. Part of you with me, part of me dead. If I meant to be a weekday friend, I probably would’ve held this in. No one likes how it feels running on slow kills, And I’m not so sure we belong here.
4.
Either we’ll move faster or we’ll move away. And I don’t feel any older, other than just an ache in my knees. Well, trouble’s never buried deep when both of us will choose to dig. Was it time passed, or the love you’d sewn too fast that you doubt? Am I only good to you this time if no one else would know? You hardly felt the movement, and I still moved away. Someday soon I’ll make it over, wish you luck, and leave it all alone. An ocean may be buried deep, but it’s always what you want to find. Was it time passed, or the love you’d sewn too fast that I found in you? If I’m changing just for you this time, eventually it shows. I’m not surprised you didn’t tell me you’d be at home this weekend. Talking you down has never helped, So this hype is better left unsaid.
5.
Hoodie 02:56
Under the streetlight, our shadow defined. Light long on a quiet street, You told me goodnight. It’s a give and take, What difference does it make? I crawled to you for so long. And while we aimed to be true, Just look back on the years, I’d be your burden of the year. I hear this humming everytime I go by. We stayed around, let each other down. Then you lost me. Goodnight. I don’t wonder why. I can’t tell you what to do, you don’t ever stay. If you notice me, I’m losing you. Take your hoodie away. I can’t tell you what to do, you don’t ever stay. I turned back to you, and there I knew We won’t stay the same, We won’t see the day. It’s a give and take, What difference does it make? I walked to you for so long.
6.
After School 03:08
7.
Feels like I’m apathetic on the inside, Muting all the echoes of a good life, All on my own. Now at a standstill, Figured all the treasure’s in my own field, And every passion here is ultra-real, And all I would need. And I thought I could do better than you. Well, it’s hardly a coming-going kind of feeling. This is really just the start of me coming to myself. Hold me. Stop every train I sent rolling. Free the ashes I am holding. Open my hands. I thought I would do better than you.
8.
Left Alone 04:30
I dreamed we drove right off the road, And I woke up, afraid it happened. There I lay, an honest feeling in my chest. I closed my eyes to break the feeling, All too used to rolling backwards. “I’m just here for a while.” Why was I the one left alone, awake? These diversions in desire, I knew they would- they’d take. For seconds at a time, I see us all as human, And why I try to stand so tall, just to lose it. I went to places I remember going with you, And there I stood, the thought I feared just rang as it passed. How could I have been so foolish? Maybe it’s just me, to think that I know what I’m doing, [and] covet everything. Why was I the one left alone, awake? These diversions in desire, I knew they would- they’d take. For days at a time, I know what all makes us human: The notion that we all could stand on our own, and prove it.
9.
Getaway Car 04:58
Long night, following tail-lights. Moving in the glow of a moon and satellites. You’re far from home at last. Is it what you expected? Long time since you’ve spoken to him. You’re reaching for the people where you stay, But they don’t know you. A getaway car, out of this railroad town. You fall on your face, but he knows where you are. Stop hiding your face, don’t fall in. The highways will burn, and fall in. You’re far from home at last. Is it what you expected? You’re far from home at last. Is this how you expected it to go?
10.
In that day, I was sure I was nobody, No one. When I saw what I do best could hurt someone, My friends. When the storm was blowing over, you cleared my eyes To what I said in anger, that was not right. In the years gone by when I closed my eyes, I thought that I’d be right to think that I deserved to choose my terms, But “deserve” has been a worthless word. Well, I was sure to trust nobody, No one, But we give that up to love somebody, Someone. When this pride starts to move over, I see your eyes. Everything I wanted fell below an interest passing by. In the world behind this version of my mind, I thought love was earned in strides. It was not for any dream, or some place that I could be That Jesus would rename all of me. And he knows me better than anyone.
11.
Sidewalker 05:04
Then you laughed with me. Why’d we ever paint up a catastrophe, Coloring our hand-me-downs red and green? [I was] sporting for a routine capability to turn you down. You’ve heard this sound a hundred times before, But you’re not going back. Right before, stare at the floor— Everything intact. We played hide and seek, And the feeling didn’t seem to stop happening Soon enough for you to do anything outside of what you know. I left you hanging out, the whole world in your head. [You] wonder if we’re really living well. There’s nothing here to find under the sun that’s one-of-a-kind, worth all of your love.

about

Awarded "Album of the Year" for 2019, by Independent Clauses.
independentclauses.com/stephens-albums-of-the-year/

***

Josh Jackson, the mastermind behind Make Sure, creates music as welcoming as it is thought-provoking. Honing his skills since his teen years under several monikers, Jackson creates delicately-crafted indie rock songs that are tender and relaxed, but no less alive.

Walk Home Instead, the first full-length offering from Jackson’s Make Sure project, speaks to a spiritual journey following failed relationships. Jackson’s insight continues to blossom as he reflects on grace and growth. In a sense, they’re “anti-emo emo songs.” Through the lovelorn musings and the sting of breakups, Jackson’s focus remains on things greater than shame or the mere feeling of heartache.
- EJ Olsen

***

"There is a huge amount to enjoy in Walk Home Instead. Joshua Aubrey Jackson’s vision for the sonic palette of the record is clear and fully-recognized. The songs are tight and beautifully-written. The performances are solid, and the production is immaculate. Walk Home Instead is a truly beautiful record in just about every way a record can be... Joshua Aubrey Jackson remains the country’s best kept secret in songwriting, and he’s only getting better; you’d do well to get on the train as quickly as possible."
- Stephen Carradini, Independent Clauses
independentclauses.com/walk-home-instead-is-a-truly-beautiful-record/

"Make Sure has delivered a superb album with strong melodies and honest, thoughtful lyrics. There is a warmth of familiarity as one listens, with hints of Bob Dylan, Sufjan Stevens, Nick Drake, and Jon Foreman. These songs are good medicine for the soul and worth seeking out!"
- Dave Trout, UTR Media

"Walk Home Instead is a sophisticated singer-songwriter album with excellent and well thought out production qualities that will hold your attention from beginning to end."
- Larry Stephan, The Phantom Tollbooth

credits

released August 16, 2019

All songs written and performed by Joshua Aubrey Jackson, except where noted.

Recorded in the following locations:
Mom & dad’s house, in the summer of 2016 (Opelika, AL).
Clubmen Recording Studio (Blairsville, GA).
Trinity United Methodist of Opelika (Opelika, AL).
Michael Whelan’s Shady Glenn apartment (Auburn, AL).
Various outdoor locations around Opelika, AL and Auburn, AL.

Recording engineers:
Jimmy Smith, Michael Minkoff, Michael Whelan, and Joshua Aubrey Jackson.

Mark Barber transferred field recordings and other sounds to cassette tape.

Mixed by Joshua Aubrey Jackson.
Mastered by Michael Minkoff at Cubed Root Sound in Sugar Hill, GA.

Album cover by Rusty Hein and Austin Arias.
Handwritten titles by Dhember Murray.

A very special thanks to Jimmy Smith & Michael Minkoff, for being wonderful mentors throughout the entire process.

Thank you:
Michael Whelan, Seth Eason, Walker Scott, Ben Ewing, Peter Strickland, Gary Kingston, David Warren, Trace Pridgen, Mike McKay, Justus & Anna Katherine Stout, EJ Olsen, Tim Spicer, James Flick, Matt Revel, Tyler Kipping, Austin Arias, Scot Carpenter, Samantha Eason, Oliver Nell, Aaron Nell, and all my friends and family who helped see this project to completion.

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Make Sure Opelika, Alabama

Make Sure is the central music project from Joshua Aubrey Jackson.

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