New Dad by Family Ledgers

released December 3, 2025

Recorded and Mixed by Greg Sullo at Home in Minneapolis / Additional Instrumentation and Production by Erik Gundel and Thick Jim / Mastered by Amar Lal at Macro Sound / Cover drawings by Yoyo Sullo and Kiki Sullo.

New Dad Welcome: I’ve been hiding out deeper since the sun he came to stay with us a while / I thought I was prepared I thought I knew the rules buy they were only rules of style / and I didn’t know what to do / thought it’d get easier to go down stairs / and you had that feeling too / you can hold your breath / but girl you’d still be scared / it’s been known to happen to love with so much force it bursts forth before its time / but if you bite your tongue and kick the devil out you might just witness the sublime

What Did We Do With the Time: well before you were here I would always help myself / was it the best of me? you know, I never really could tell / we go through it just to see what we have left behind / and intuit all the things we thought that we might find / what did we do with the time? / if you’re first to the dead make sure to call out all their names / the most useless skills have a field where they can play / so don’t panic, linen can be tough it can be fine / just remember all the folks you thought you’d left behind / what did we do with the time? / now you’re walking and I’m waiting for the words that you’re debating / clean your plate and take the stairs out / all of it’s yours and mine / what’ll you do with your time?

March is a Bear: march is a bear if you’re gonna hang around / gray as a shade watching the snow come down / violence arrives at the city’s front yard / paid for in full / passing out the gas cards / and I don’t wanna live this way just waiting for the miracle day when all the snow will melt and wash away / lend me your hand boy we got some things to fix / damage control, that PR always in the mix / and I think about that summer a lot / my bike my baby boy it was hot / but we spoiled for a fight / look to the light / miracle night / and the people, we stood up to the heat / until the military marched through our streets / then back to our rooms / we all assume / the violence resumes

Essential: as we get older we get numb to the way things have become / I’m sorry you had to see the whole thing through / without the human touch that you miss so much / the words you long to hear will just simply disappear / essentially helpless / I am too / years from now would you remember all of the things that we did together? / no? / I know I have to let it go / but maybe you’ll recall the way things are changing every day / but until the urn it’s still possible to learn / essentially helpless / I am too / I feel it too / what to do?

Caught in a Trap: I messed up because I thought this was for you, but it’s not / just a pitiful adventure, anyway / I’ll change it up, I can always insulate / it’s a lie / just another chance to see how deeply I’m caught in a trap feeling all the weight weight weight of the world / it’s too much for one to bear / if I leave it at that all the good I packed packed packed will unfurl / we need something to mark time, make space, to endure / Copernicus, where’s the light? / because I love you too much baby / I fell too and pinned the secrets all on you / I’m sorry, it’s the only culture this world gave to me

Curious Creature: and we’ll start over just as it’s begun / could you know the world through your little tongue? / and I would recognize the signs, I tell myself: the laundry on the floor, the books pulled off the shelf / would you pull me down too? / I don’t wanna lose this curious creature

Together Again: in my abstract wandering I picked some pockets / all that I found was loose change and a ticket stub to the ballet / maybe we could go when we can get together again / at the recreation center, all programs canceled / we sit alone in a fresh cut diamond imagining the players stout and distracted, making their plans for after the game / then, one loud crack and back, back, back / all eyes to the fence when we can be together again / they told me of your symmetry / I didn’t listen / I saw your sneer and your arched eyebrows / still, I part your hair, boy, on the side, to keep you honest until you can meet all your friends

17+8: what have we done / you didn’t sleep much and I’m feeling guilty / now / all of it’s begun / 10 seconds of bliss then hatching and cracking for fun / until 16 limbs untangling someone / every morning’s a fight but I’m getting old and I’m losing my patience / I know it’ll be alright, but that doesn’t help much / one more last time and I’m out of sight / all our plans can wait until tonight / and oh 17+8, how do you mark time? / how do you celebrate as the days go by? / how do you feel now? / how do you feel now that it’s over and done, 17+8? / cut through the pass / we’re heading north and we’re heading together / it’s all just moving so fast / put on Destroyer, put down your head and you’re out at last / it’s hard to reconcile with your past / and oh 17+8, how do you mark time? / how do you celebrate as the years go by? / how do you feel now? / how do you feel now that it’s over and done, 17+8? / together again / hours from six when feeling together, boy, like it would never end / look at some pictures get up tomorrow do it again / it’s easier to do with your best friend

I’m Not New Anymore: I’m not new anymore / I’m not new anymore / I’m not new anymore / I’m not new anymore / you lay against my hollow chest / I check in on your gentle breath / make sure that you’re still here with me / here with me / here with me / here with me