Jim Ocean Music > Discography > FrankenClime

FrankenClime

Frankenclime is a satirical rock ‘n’ roll monster mash with in-your-face energy and contagious hooks to underscore the environmental challenges of the times.

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FrankenClime

FrankenClime

A monster of a song about climate change.

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She's So Cold

A lively number with a driving rhythm section that posits that it might be best to let Lady Antarctica continue her long, cold slumber.

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Plastilla!

A satirical song about the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. Shocked to life in a ‘fierce electric storm’ a new monster is born. Plastilla wreaks havoc as a Salsa band flees for their lives.

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The First To Go Under

Inspired by the plight of the people of the Maldives Islands, this song speaks to the sad fate that awaits many as the effects of global warming intensify.

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Ghost Towns in Ukraine

A cheeky commentary on the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (Disaster tourism is born!)

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Road to Gridlock

A commuter’s lament.

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Singing in the Acid Rain

Inspired by living in the shadows of the Shell Oil refinery in the Ocean’s former hometown.

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The New Abnormal

What was normal once ain’t so normal now.

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The Invisible Obvious

A song about one of the psychological complexes that keeps humanity from taking necessary action.

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Livin' in the weeds

A commentary on the unequal distribution of opportunity and wealth.

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Fighting For Love

A song about priorities.

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Sequoia Sempervirens

A lament for two old-growth redwoods that once resided in Guernewood Park .

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“Party for the Planet” Benefit Concerts

with The Jim Ocean Band

The Jim Ocean Band is hitting the road with the “Fossil Fools Tour” in support of the Frankenclime project. The band welcomes collaboration and is available to produce benefit concerts for social justice and environmental organizations.

Why this music and why now? Because the Earth needs a good garage band!

Learn how we can help you help others

Sequoia Sempervirens: The Tree That Always Lives
© 9/13/13 Jim Ocean

The 'Stable' was a sight to see; Hollow at the ground and she
Rose three hundred feet or more; Her mouth was a cathedral door
Twelve horses fit inside; Upstairs ten men could hide
From the storms that swept the sea; On Sundays they held service in that tree
But even Jesus couldn't save that tree

Sequoia Sempervirens
The tree that always lives
You gave all you could give
Sequoia Sempervirens
When the stable hit the ground
She shook Big Bottom all the way to town.

The 'Beanpole' seemed to scrape the sky; Like a building in Manhatten
He held roost in all Big Bottom; though He had few branches on him
You could see him in the dark; On starry nights in Guernewood Park
His silhouette would give you tingles; They took him down for the shingles
Six hundred thousand roof shingles.

Sequoia Sempervirens
The tree that always lives
You gave all you could give
Sequoia Sempervirens
When they took the Beanpole down
They watched him falling all the way to town.

There are ghosts in old Big Bottom; Forests here are old and haunted
Phantom trees still hold their ground; Standing where they took 'em down
When you've held earth for so long; You don't leave this world so quickly
You'd haunt the woods and fairy rings; You'd haunt the ones who took you for those things
Like you haunt me now and this is why I sing

Sequoia Sempervirens
The tree that always lives
You gave all you could give
Sequoia Sempervirens
But like Ronald Reagan said:
"You've seen one redwood tree, you've seen em all."
Sequoia Sempervirens.

Fighting For Love
© 6/5/12 Jim Ocean

We’re fighting for oil
We’re fighting for water
We’re fighting for soil
We’re fighting each other

We’re fighting for money
We’re fighting for air to breathe
We’re fighting for power
We’re fighting everywhere it seems

(Chorus)
We should be fighting
We should be fighting for
We should be fighting for love

We’re fighting for stuff
We’re fighting for cheap plastic crap
We’re fighting for a lifestyle
But it’s just a trap

We’re fighting for an image
We’re fighting for a logo
We’re fighting for religion
And our egos

(Chorus)
We should be fighting
We should be fighting for
We should be fighting for love

We should be fighting for . . .
SOLO

We’re fighting to be liked
On facebook
We’re fighting for the mic
And how we look

We’re fighting to be number one
An American mythology
We’re fighting just for fun
It’s a flaw in our biology.

(Chorus)
We should be fighting
We should be fighting for
We should be fighting for love

Livin’ in the Weeds
©1/21/20 Jim Ocean

I’m livin’ in the weeds
I’m livin’ in the weeds
I’m livin’ here right under your feet
I’m livin’ in the weeds

I’m livin’ in the grass
With the working class
Where the pill bugs breed
And all my friends
Live in insect splendor
Especially Steve
He’s a real night crawler
Eating leaves and fodder with me
Livin’ in a lawn
Where you can be stepped on
It’s not easy

Livin’ in the weeds
I’m livin’ in the weeds
With the ants and snails,
and the scary tails of centipedes

Come meet a friend of mine
She’s clingin’ on a vine
She’s a real grasshopper
She wants to grow some wings
And fly away to sing
At the Grand Old Opera
But when you’re working poor
It’s hard to find the door to leave
And when the lawnmower
Comes to manicure
your fondest dreams
You know you’re livin’ in the weeds

You know you’re livin’ in the weeds
Squirming in the mud
With all the other bugs so secretly

Shush! (Solo)

Livin’ in the weeds
It can make you bleed
But it’s unpretentious
Most of the time
All the moss and vines
Give you some protection
And I’m not complaining
Even when it’s rainin’ frogs
And someday when I die
This is how they’ll write my epilogue

He was livin’ in the weeds
He was livin’ in the weeds
Where the spiders bite
And the earwigs fight for turf
He was livin’ in the weeds
He was livin’ in the weeds
Where the fleas and flies
Try to suck you dry
It’s not easy…

I’m livin’ in the weeds
I’m livin’ in the weeds
And there’s nowhere else I would rather be
I love my life …
Livin’ in the weeds

The Invisible Obvious
© Jim Ocean 1/15/21

The Invisible Obvious
Is right in front of me and you

The Invisible Obvious
Is a herd of elephants in the room

The Invisible Obvious
We see what we wanna see

The Invisible Obvious
I judge you and you judge me

And all of the monsters
that prowl around in our minds
We could defeat em
We could release em
If we just looked them in the eye

The Invisible Obvious
Is something we don’t talk about

The Invisible Obvious
All we do is scream and shout

The Invisible Obvious
We don’t wanna look around

The Invisible Obvious
We stick our heads
into the ground

And all of the demons
that haunt your dreamin’ at night
We could depose them
We could expose them
If we just turned on the light

The Invisible obvious
Is sucking up the oxygen

The Invisible Obvious
Will we ever breathe again
Will we ever breathe again

The New Abnormal
© Sept. 2020 Steve Sauvain / Jim Ocean

I have run from fire
I am breathing smoke
This is not a joke
It’s the New Abnormal (x2)

I have watched this country
Tearing at the seams
This is not a dream
It’s the New Abnormal (x2)

Hail, tornados and hurricanes
The spreading deserts and the pouring rain
The ocean roarin’ at my door
And this is something that
you can’t ignore

I have lost my job
My old life is gone
I just don’t belong
In the New Abnormal (x2)
I hope someday
Things will all come back
I’m falling down the cracks
Of the New Abnormal (x2)

I’m worried for my children’s lives
With the future coming how will they survive

Dark clouds are forming and it’s overcast
And the planet’s changing way too fast
Solo -- It’s the New Abnormal (x2)
Solo -- It’s the New Abnormal (x2)

What’s normal once ain’t so normal now
We should come together ‘fore our time runs out
If we fight each other in the waves
The tide will sweep us all away

I have run from fire
I am breathing smoke
This is not a joke
It’s the New Abnormal

Road to Gridlock
© Jim Ocean

(radio clicks on…helicopter traffic report ensues)…”for the last three days…that unidentified white powder spilled on Monday still has things pretty well backed up on I 80, but CalTrans and the DEA assure us that there should be some substantial movement by Friday…and a warning to all travelers east bound on the Bay Bridge… Berkeley is now ‘FULL’ and all traffic is being re-routed to Marin, where we’re assured, plenty of parking is still available.”

“How’s tricks in Contra Costa, Chet?”

“Well, I can’t see it from here Dave, but according to the CHP all traffic south bound on the Benicia Bridge has been re-routed to the Dunbarton Bridge, sooo, pack a lunch!”

“Have you got any movement on that parking contest?”

“Well, we did find….” (music comes up)

The cars ahead seem fossilized
We’re hardly moving
I’m hypnotized
Stuck in motion on the tar
In my metal dinosaur
Kept from moving by these hunks of steel
Watch the man go crazy at the wheel
On the slow, slow Road to Gridlock

This used to be a country town
It wasn’t hard to get around
Now there’s a light at every block
We measure inches by the clock
And everybody’s got a fast new car
That doesn’t mean that you can get too far
On the slow, slow Road to Gridlock

Oh, I’ve got a dream of moving down the highway
Oh, I’ve got a dream of moving down the highway

Can you be certain your wheels are still turning around
Nothing is moving I seem to be glued to the ground
Oh, I’ve got a dream of moving down the highway
Oh, I’ve got a dream of moving down the highway

Type A behavior is not in my favor today
Stuck to the street while my heart’s beating madly away

Oh, down the highway…
On the slow, slow road to gridlock

Some chew their fingers
Some strike a pose
Some read the paper
Some pick their nose
Some use a mirror
To comb their hair
It’s such a ritual
You see it everywhere
I feel my mind begin degenerating
Half of my life you’ll find me hibernating

On the slow, slow Road to Gridlock
On the slow, slow Road to Gridlock
Yes it’s a slow, slow road…

“I’m outa gas…”

Ghost Towns in Ukraine
© Jim Ocean

I thought that I might find a place
To hide out from the human race
Before people like you
Drive me insane

So naturally I headed west
Til I met a man from Budapest
Who said, “Wait we’ve got a deal
In the Ukraine!”

He said there’s wide open spaces
Where you can feel all alone
Roam around some villages
Where no one is at home

And for very little money
You could ride out there tomorrow
Like a yankee Taras Bulba
I did go

Ghost towns in Ukraine
Where the air will make you sterile
Ghost towns in Ukraine
They’ll bring you vodka by the barrel
Ghost towns in Ukraine
Feel your skin begin to peel
You may never go home anymore (x2)

Before you can say Gorbachev
They drove me here
They dropped me off
My driver didn’t say much on the way

I guess they don’t like Yankees here
The worry on his face was clear
Cause he pushed me out the door
Then drove away

And there I sat with my potatoes
In the middle of the street
Listening to the wind blow
And the flies buzz in the heat
From the point of view of solitude
I guess it’s not so bad
You’ll find me sitting there
Just soaking up the rads

Ghost towns in Ukraine
Where the air will make you sterile
Ghost towns in Ukraine
They’ll bring you vodka by the barrel
Ghost towns in Ukraine
Feel your skin begin to peel
You may never go home anymore (x2)

Hey! (Lines spoken in Russian)

Someone get me outta here
This is such a strange vacation
Strange!
Someone get me outta here
This holiday has gone astray
I may be a mutation

My time is up
I’ve had no rest
I need to go back to the west
I’m tired, radiated and alone

My sunflower seeds are almost gone
Winter, it is coming on
My parka and my gloves
Are back at home

At night I dream the Cossack cavalry
Is coming by to rescue me
Won’t someone call the embassy
My visa has run out, you see

And there’s so many stories
That I could tell you all about
Like how every day more of my hair
Keeps falling out

Ghost towns in Ukraine
Where the air will make you sterile
Ghost towns in Ukraine
They’ll bring you vodka by the barrel
Ghost towns in Ukraine
Feel your skin begin to peel
You may never go home anymore (x2)

I said that you may never go home anymore. Hey!

FrankenClime
© 10/12 Jim and Kathy Ocean

Who’s knocking out the lights of the city
Flooding the condos down by the sea
Who’s making all the thunder and lightning
Everyone knows it’s…
It’s Alive…It’s Alive!!!

He’s a Hurricane
A Big Black Cloud
A Fire Tornado
Burnin’ up the ground
He’ll blow down your house
He’ll tear up the levee
He’s a real bad ass
He’s FrankenHeavy!

He’s the perfect storm
Doin’ crime…
His name is Frank
FrankenClime!
He’ll flood your town
Melt your ice
He’s got a real hot future for you
In his eyes.

(Chorus) FrankenClime…FrankenClime
He’s performin’… He’s Frankenstormin!
You filled your tank
You take the ride
But you can’t hide from Frank!

He’s a high, dry wind
A real low pressure
A 100 degrees goin’ on forever
I got meteorological phobias
I’m packin’ my bags for Canada…

FrankenClime…FrankenClime
You can’t deny it… it’s FrankenClimate
You say no way…you say no thanks
But don’t deny it’s Frank!

It’s FrankenCold!
It’s FrankenHot!
It’s FrankenWindy!
And we’re FrankenCaught!
When you hear the sound
Of poundin’ hail
You better buy some plywood and
Pound some nails!

FrankenClime…FrankenClime
What’s more frightenin than FrankenLightnin’!
Try to ride around his flank
But you can’t hide from …

FrankenClime… FrankenClime
We’re all bound to live underground
But you can’t run forever
From FrankenWeather!
No…. you can’t hide from Frank (x3)

Singing in the Acid Rain
Copyright by Jim Ocean
(capo @ 2)

Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Brown water rafting to nowhere

Hup…Here we go!

It was a beautiful neighborhood
With a view of the sea
But the microwave towered over
Like a steel canopy

But for the condo he made the sacrifice
Just to be sure he put some sperm on ice

And now he’s singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Brown water rafting to nowhere

She was a brilliant executive
With a nose for the top
And her posh LA office
Gave her such a view of the smog

She was oblivious to the yellow sky
She smiled at her future, and put drops in her eyes

And now she’s singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Brown water rafting to nowhere

In the town that I live in
You can hear a fire roar
Cuz the Shell Oil Refinery
Is just a mile from my door

It’s our own unofficial rent control
Affordable housing by the steel volcano

And now we’re singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Brown water rafting to nowhere

Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain
Singing in the acid rain

The First To Go Under
© Jim Ocean 2009

They’ll be the first to go under
The first ones displaced
The first to seek shelter
From the sea’s rising waves

It’ll make such strange history
They’ll be the first to go under the sea

Everything under
Under three feet
One hundred million people
All in retreat

It’ll make such sad history
They’ll be the first to go under the sea

Goodbye to the palm trees
Goodbye to the sands
Goodbye to the sunset
On low lying islands

And we’ll watch it all on TV
They’ll be the first to go under
The first to go under…
They’ll be the first to go under the sea

Plastilla coalesced
In a fierce electric storm
Over the North Pacific Gyre

He took a massive breath
It echoed off the clouds
And crackled ‘round the Earth like fire

The next thing that we knew
Were the ships floating like jellyfish
With suffocated passengers and crews

The satellite photos
Showed a wall of water coming
Heading for the North Pacific Coast

Oh No! Plastilla! (3X)
Corre, corre, corre por tu vida!
Better run for your life!

Plastilla hit the shore
He swallowed Anchorage first
Then took Seattle with a plastic roar

Before we could react
Portland was attacked
He spread his wax up the Columbia River Gorge

We sent the submarines
Who fired all their means
But he just kept roiling to the south

We knew that we were doomed
When he swallowed all our nukes
And just blew smoke rings from his mouth

Oh No! Plastilla! (3X)
Corre corre corre por tu vida!
Better run for your life!

We barely had time
To make it out alive
We headed east as fast as we could go

We stared down from a peak
And watched that plastic sheet
Cover the Bay and Mt. Diablo

Now we’re stranded here in Denver
Where the Rockies bitter winter
Has slowed his plasticene tide

We have time for one more song
As a way to say “So long…”
As he crests the Continental Divide…

Oh No! Plastilla (3X)
He wants to shrinkwrap the Earth
Juego, juego, juego terminado!
Game over man!