Liner Notes
John F. Kennedy
I had a dream last night that troubled me
Involving John F. Kennedy
I got a drink of water, went back to bed
I couldn’t get it out of my head
Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee, Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee
I came down a flight of stairs
And I saw him lying there
An undertaker standing by,
He was naked and about to die
As I gazed upon the face of death
JFK took one last breath
It was a desperate gasp that frightened me
Anguished and unearthly
Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee, Goodbye John F. Kennedy
I saw terror in his eyes
As if he had realized
He had lived somebody else’s life
And he was not prepared to die
Lie-la-lie-la-lie-la-lie
I believed it when my parents said
One day you could be president
The day I realized I was gay
That dream went sailing far away
I suppose I could have been
But there was no one out back then
I always wished that I was someone else
Somebody greater than myself
Someone adored by everyone
For everything that I had done
Always looking up from down below
To people that I didn’t even know
Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee, Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee
What if that dream was trying to say
Something old was going away
Something that was dear to me
That it was gone and I was free
Something that was defining me
That it was gone and I was free
Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee, Lie-la-lie-la-lie-da-dee
I had a dream last night that troubled me
Involving John F. Kennedy
Malcolm Burn: Dulcimer, eerie electric guitar, bass composition
Mark Browne: Bass
Steve Decker: Drums
Dan Pallotta: Acoustic guitar and vocals
Produced by Rob Allen
Written by Dan Pallotta
Mixed by Jon Gordon
Mastered by Jon Gordon
Published by CThings
Recorded at Malcolm Burn Studios, Kingston, New York
Additional Recording by Rob Allen, Los Angeles and Mark Browne, Los Angeles
Special thanks to Steve Earle for editorial assistance
JFK photo by George L. Honeycutt
Graphic design by John Carlos Harrington
American Pictures BY DAN PALLOTTA
PRODUCED BY ROB ALLEN
For Dad
American Pictures, Produced by Rob Allen
Copyright CThings and Dan Pallotta, 2022. All rights reserved.
Cover Photography by Matt Mahurin
Typography and Graphic Design by John Carlos Harrington
“Charity Town” Video Filmed, Edited and Produced by Matt Mahurin
“The Mailman” Video Filmed, Edited and Produced by Matt Mahurin
“John F. Kennedy” Video Filmed, Edited and Produced by Pulse Studios
John F. Kennedy Photo: George L. Honeycutt
Special Thanks
To Rob Allen for unbelievable sacrifice and dedication in making the music the best it could be, for his artistic prowess, instrumental and arranging genius, mixing chops, and for constant creative and moral support. To Jimmy and the kids for listening. To Malcolm Burn for building the foundational recordings for the songs. To Thomas Csorba for songwriting guidance. To Soozie Tyrell for love, encouragement and virtuosity. To Andrew Cooper for guitar instruction. To Jon Gordon for his beautiful mixes and mastering. To Coley Rybicki for introducing me to so many musicians and studios. To Coley, Phil Grayton, Peter Davis and Joe Cardoza for all the rehearsal and getting me started. To Cathy and Joe Cannatelli and Anxious Mike at On the Fringe Studios, West Newbury Massachusetts for the recording and the fresh eggs. To Steve Decker for making it OK to take it slow. To Stephen Gyllenhaal for listening and encouragement. To Jack Armitage for telling me about Keith and his story. To Matt Mahurin for his unbelievable visual poetry. To John Carlos Harrington for his exquisite designs and incomparable good nature. To Kari Hammer, for logistical acrobatics and general miracles. And to Kris for the constant support.