Europe: Bag Of Bones [2012]

Released	April 18, 2012 (see Release history)
Recorded	October 2011–February 2012 at Atlantis Grammofon AB, Stockholm
Genre	Heavy metal, hard rock, blues rock
Length	40:55
Label	Gain (Scandinavia) earMUSIC/Edel (Europe) Victor(Japan)
Producer	Kevin Shirley

Bag of Bones is the ninth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on April 18, 2012 in Japan by Victor Entertainment^[4] and on April 25 in Sweden by Gain Music Entertainment.^[5] Bag of Bones is the first Europe album to chart in UK Top 100 Albums since Prisoners in Paradise in 1991 and also entered in UK Top 40 Rock Albums at number 3.

On July 12, 2011, Europe confirmed that Kevin Shirley would produce the album.^[8] “I’ve been a big fan of Europe’s work for many years,” said Shirley, “The band is influential and highly underrated. I can’t wait to make the upcoming album their most explosive to date.”^[8] The recording sessions started on October 3, 2011.^[8]

The album title was announced on January 24, 2012.^[9] Drummer Ian Haugland said, “It’s not [called ‘Bag of Bones’] because we all have lost tons of weight or found a new interest in archeology or dogs… It’s just because it sounds fuckin’ cool!”^[9]

Vocalist Joey Tempest stated, “With Bag of Bones we’ve made a hardcore classic rock record with the blues knocking on the door,” and added, “This almost feels like a ‘prequel’ to our very first album, with a 2012 punch.”^[10]

In addition to being released as a CD and digital download, the album was also released as an LP. Tempest said, “With the new ‘Bag Of Bones’ cover, there is so much detail on it. It became a bit boring there for a while; everybody was thinking, ‘CDs are small, so let’s just make something simple.’ But we have computers, so we can blow up the cover to use for posters and vinyl, so it’s still worth going that extra mile to make great covers. And we’re really happy we did that.”

The album has generally received positive reviews. Ultimate-Guitar.com wrote: “Bag Of Bones” is a truly terrific album from beginning to end, and has more than enough great material to make it a worthy fit into your music collection. ^[12] Jukebox:Metal said “The good news is that Bag of Bones is a fantastic album. The bad news is it now looks quite unlikely it can be bettered.” The album debuted at number 2 on the Swedish album chart on May 4, 2012.^[13] Grande Rock stated: Bag of Bones is surely the band’s best album since their comeback.

Track listing

“Riches to Rags” (Joey Tempest, John Levén) – 3:05
“Not Supposed to Sing the Blues” (Joey Tempest) – 5:13
“Firebox” (Joey Tempest, Mic Michaeli) – 3:46
“Bag of Bones” (Joey Tempest) – 5:31
“Requiem” [instrumental] (Mic Michaeli) – 0:28
“My Woman My Friend” (Joey Tempest, John Levén) – 4:25
“Demon Head” (Joey Tempest, John Levén, John Norum) – 3:58
“Drink and a Smile” (Joey Tempest, Mic Michaeli) – 2:21
“Doghouse” (Joey Tempest) – 3:58
“Mercy You Mercy Me” (Joey Tempest, John Norum) – 4:31
“Bring It All Home” (Joey Tempest, Mic Michaeli) – 3:39^[7]^[14]

Japanese edition bonus track

“Beautiful Disaster”^[4] – 3:57 (Joey Tempest)

Lyrics

1. Riches To Rags

This is the sound
Of us falling apart
This is the sound
Never getting back to the start

I guess we’re going down
These are the days
For better or worse
We gotta seal our fate
We’re breaking out
It’s a world gone mad
But I have never felt so alive
We’ve gone from riches to rags

This is the sound
Of us digging our graves
Yeah, this is the sound
Of us burnt at the stake

I guess we’re going down
These are the days
For better or worse
We gotta seal our fate
We’re breaking out
It’s a world gone mad
But I have never felt so alive
We’ve gone from riches to rags

2. Not Supposed To Sing The Blues

Born in 1963
In the shadow of Kennedy
I’m still a kid when the levee breaks
Man, oh man, that’s all it takes

And I’m on my way

Boy, you’re not supposed to sing the blues
Where you come from
If you walk across those railroad tracks
Son, you’re on your own
But all I know is what I feel, and it can’t be wrong
Boy, you’re not supposed to sing the blues
Where you come from
Where you come from
It’s just not done

Back in black and I’m 17
I’ve been told, son, let it be
I got these lines upon my face now
A room at the heartbreak hotel
Yeah yeah

Oh well, oh well
Ah yeah

Boy, you’re not supposed to sing the blues
Where you come from
If you walk across those railroad tracks
Son, you’re on your own
All I know is what I feel, and it can’t be wrong
Boy, you’re not supposed to sing the blues
Where you come from
Where you come from
It’s just not done

Oh well, oh well
Alright

Where you come from
Where you come from
It’s just not done

3. Firebox

Dealing with magic
I have no defense
There’s no answer
Just surrender
Permission to land

Just a man
It never stops
Just one lifetime
Oh Firebox

Always hanging somewhere
Between desire and despair

Just a man
Can’t get enough
Just one lifetime
Oh Firebox

4. Bag Of Bones

Bag of bones, I’m a bag of bones
Darker days I’ve never known
Where’s this feeling coming from
Lord, I miss my happy home
I said why now, why now
Should be having the time of my life
I said bag of bones, I’m just a bag of bones
Must be some kind of homecoming song
Homecoming song

And my city lies in ruins
In the stone cold light of day
And I’m sifting through the rubble
How did it get this late
Baby, how did it get this late

Bag of bones, I’m a bag of bones
The darkest sky I’ve ever known
Now here’s a life I can’t walk out on
I gotta deal with what’s going on
I said why now, why now
I was having the time of my life
I said bag of bones, I’m just a bag of bones
Must be some kind of homecoming song
Homecoming song

And my city lies in ruins
From the last couple of days
And I’m sifting through the rubble
How did it get this late

Yeah, my city lies in ruins
In the stone cold light of day
And I’m out late after curfew
How did it get this late

Bag of bones, I’m a bag of bones
Must be some kind of homecoming song

5. Requiem

[Instrumental]

6. My Woman My Friend

My woman my friend
I have lost you so many times now
Just wanna feel that love again

My woman my friend
Must be some kind of miracle
We get to start all over again

All I know, all I know, all I know
A man goes through hell sometimes
All I know, all I know, all I know
A man gets lucky sometimes
I got lucky ’cause you’re

My woman my friend
Must be some kind of miracle
Only the deeds will make a man
Will make the man

All I know, all I know, all I know
A man goes to heaven sometimes
All I know, all I know, all I know
A man gets lucky sometimes
I got lucky ’cause you’re

My woman my friend
I remember way back when
Must be some kind of miracle
This can’t be how the story ends

7. Demon Head

I’m gonna hang my hope
On the glowing stars
Of the ceiling of this room
I’m gonna sling my dreams
‘Round the captain’s hook
And drag him into doom

You give me something I can use
You give me something I can use, my friend
Some drunken honesty
You serve up some remedy
For my demon head
My demon head

I come crashing down
From the galaxies
Right down to the midnight zone
Well, I’m a time-torn man
I can find some peace
Where the glorious monsters roam

You give me something I can use
You give me something I can use, my friend
Some drunken honesty
You are the remedy
For my demon head

Well, I’m gonna ride this train
What’s left of me
‘Til I’m running out of track
Well, there’s a wicked karma chasing me
But as long as you got my back

8. Drink And A Smile

It comes from out of nowhere
I hear that simple sound
It gets my body moving
So bad I can’t come down

Well, the whole thing’s far from perfect
How I choose to spend my precious time
Far from that ragged edge
With a drink and a smile

Feels like I’m on to a winner
Tonight I can do no wrong
God knows she’s no beginner
The best I have ever known

Well, the whole thing’s far from perfect
How we choose to spend our precious time
Far from that ragged edge
With a drink and a smile

My heart keeps beating faster
Until the lights go out
The last thing I hear is laughter
I do remember what it’s like

9. Doghouse

I’ve been making some enemies
I’ve been taking some liberties
Just living my life
Try getting it right
Lord, let me tell you
I’m always in the doghouse

I’ve been running right or wrong
Always running right or wrong
Just living my life
Try getting it right
Lord, let me tell you
I’m always in the doghouse
Oh my Lord
My sweet Lord
What have you done
Are you ever
Are you ever
Are you ever gonna take me home

I’ve been making some enemies
I’ve been taking some liberties
Just living my life
Try getting it right
Lord, let me tell you
I’m always in the doghouse

Just living my life
It’s been a hell of a ride
Lord, let me tell you
I’m always, always, always in the doghouse

10. Mercy You Mercy Me

It’s kind of crazy
How we are slaves to an early grave
So we get wasted
To see clearer through the haze

You gotta shake it off
Get back up
Show what you’re made of
Make your own luck

And raise your heart above these streets
Put some soul under your feet
Take only what you need
Raise your heart above these streets
Mercy you mercy me

It’s kinda frightening
To see how much this place has changed

You gotta shake it off
Get back up
Show what you’re made of
Make your own luck

And raise your heart above these streets
Put some soul under your feet
Take only what you need
Raise your heart above these streets
Mercy you mercy me

Oh, get your head ’round what you need
Oh, get your head ’round what you feel
‘Cause this is real

11. Bring It All Home

It’s curtain call
Guess you can’t outrun
All the truth

We’ve staggered on
With broken parts
Like you do

But it’s alright, thrills will fade
We’ve had some good laughs on the way
Thank you for coming along
To bring it all home

Well, I’d take them back
Those early years
Oh anytime

As we make our beds
We get to shine
Once in a while

But it’s alright, thrills will fade
We’ve had some good laughs on the way
Thank you for coming along
To bring it all home

It’s alright, thrills will fade
We’ve had some good laughs along the way
Thank you for coming along
Bring it all home
Thank you for coming along
Let’s bring it all home

12. Beautiful Disaster

Here she comes
As subtle as a hurricane
Her wicked smile
Yeah, wrecking everything

I’m alright
That she’s all wrong
‘Cause I like the mess
That I’ve become, yeah

You’re a disaster, baby
But a beautiful one
Beautiful disaster

There she goes
She had her heart broken clean
It took a lot of cheap highs and expensive lows
But still wrecking everything

She’s alright
That I’m all wrong
Kind of like the mess
That I’ve become, yeah

You’re a disaster, baby
But a beautiful one
Beautiful disaster

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