Twinkly Wannabe
“Twinkly Wannabe is a song about infatuation with the new, shiny, greatest thing. Whether it’s a new idea, friend, paramour or political leader, we all tend to get so excited about the new shiny object, and we can have a rose colored view of those new things…until they go down in flames. This song explores the denial we go through as we come to terms with our hopes being dashed.” – j. bell
Crack your eyes in the morning
and do whatever you please
Balance silence & warning
With the greatest of ease
I always tend to lose focus
Ending up in the skies
How did I never notice
The supernova in your eyes
See your favorite shooting star break free
Another Twinkly Wannabe
I’ve tried all the re-phrasing
but nothing ever rang true
Lately all the stargazing
Feels empty without you
See your favorite shooting star break free
Another Twinkly Wannabe
It’s the greatest resurgence
East of the Milky Way
What once burned like a furnace
Has now faded away
See your favorite shooting star break free
Another Twinkly Wannabe
Outta My Depth
“A barely veiled metaphor about being out of one’s comfort zone. Inspired by the literal story of learning about tides the hard way: docking your boat, wandering down to a local watering hole only to return to your boat sitting fully on land as the tide left without you.” – j. bell
I’m outta my depth here
Waiting for the tide to come in
Think I found rock bottom
now I’m waiting
I’m outta my depth here
Dodging waves of self restraint
only so many moments until we call it a day
We got people to move and songs to sing
Until the moon tries to sweep up away
Only so many miles of peace for sale
Daylight is fading and everything is grey
Gotta keep moving forward with the red & the green
Until the moon tries to sweep us away
I’m outta my depth here
Waiting for the tide to come in
Think I found rock bottom
now I’m waiting
I’m outta my depth here
When the float of shame is over
You might want to let it slide
You’ll forget about it tomorrow
But don’t forget about the tide
I’m outta my depth here
Waiting for the tide to come in
Think I found rock bottom
now I’m waiting
I’m outta my depth here
Little Too Much
“Surviving a particularly difficult day, trying to take stock and thinking that something has to ease up soon. The song also touches on physical limitations the storyteller is experiencing with nerve damage to his hands and how that threatens his ability to tell his story.” – j. bell
I’ve been awake now for 22 hours
There’s 16 more things I should do
Like I should stop living as if nothing happened
But I made a promise to you
Just keep on moving, constructing distractions
hoping nobody will see
I’ve built so much with these failing hands
And nobody noticed but me
There’s not much more of this world I can take
I’m feeling numb to the touch
There’s not much more of this world I can take
Today’s been a little too much
If I can just make it until noon on next Thursday
Everything eases up then
Strum a few chords, rest my eyes for a moment
And it starts all over again
My head and my heart, just ain’t connecting
And I’m much too dense to break through
Takes so much effort, breaking a cycle
This is all I know to do
There’s not much more of this world I can take
I’m feeling numb to the touch
There’s not much more of this world I can take
Today’s been a little too much
Finding my way, at the end of each day
My thoughts never stray, so I’ll try
I’ll try it your way
There’s not much more of this world I can take
I’m feeling numb to the touch
There’s not much more of this world I can take
Today’s been a little too much
I’ve been awake now for 22 hours
There’s 16 more things I should do
Like I should stop living as if nothing happened
But I made a promise to you
Man Who Made Me
“Some of us have parts of ourselves that we hate, that we are embarrassed by. This song is a love letter to those parts of us. Love them or hate them, they played a role in getting us to who we are as a full person. And as difficult as it is to acknowledge, these parts are directly tied to who we are and always will be.” – j. bell
I won’t walk back through the bad old days
Grateful, let me count the ways
This one goes out to the man who made me
One step forward two steps back
All between the railroad tracks
This one goes out to the man who made me
The man who made me is not so far away
Exposed nerves all on display
A little farther every single day
Walk on through, good luck kissed
Amazed at all the points I missed
This one goes out to the man who made me
Gave this heart one hell of a ride
Shocked I saw the other side
This one goes out to the man who made me
The man who made me has got a complex heart
Pulled the wool and pulled apart
Everyone needs an extra clean false start
What you believe, might change a time or three
What you believe has to breathe
Missed today, hated then
I see him every now and again
This one goes out to the man who made me
Finally
“The world is a mess of ups and downs, and the downs appear to be winning. Simply surviving seems impossible some days, let alone trying to thrive. However, time is finite. Good, bad or in between, it feels like everything is happening at the same time. All. Right. Now. Swing at the pitch or don’t, but no one is guaranteed another chance” – j. bell
Keep moving faster just to outrun disaster
Burning both ends trying to serve your next master
Cutting through the din like a new Telecaster, I know
I know it takes planning just to soften the landing
The world all around you just won’t stop the expanding
Trying to keep it up with a new understanding, how so
And it’s all right now…finally.
Keeping up pace in this inhuman race
I see you wearing down, it’s all over your face
Keep on making noise, keep on pleading your case, but go slow
And it’s all right now…finally.
Open up or saving face
Make or break can happen in that tiny space
And it’s all right now…finally.
More Words
“I talk too much. Why use 10 words when you could use 10,000. Usually, I do it to cover up that I’m failing somewhere. Silence is scary. Sitting with shame is painful. It rarely comes off as intended. I rarely come off as intended.” – j. bell
I don’t feel angry, but I’ve got something inside
That keeps calm just out of reach
I don’t feel frightened, but I got some things to hide
I should practice what I preach
Along the way I fill the silence up with shame
I swap sincerity for speed
Along the way I try and make you feel the same
But always, I use more words than I need
I don’t feel lonely, but I’ve got some things to say
Now there’s no one around to hear
I feel tired at the start of each day
I’ve been wide awake since late last year
Along the way I fill the silence up with shame
I swap sincerity for speed
Along the way I try and make you feel the same
But always, I use more words than I need
Tiny Nightmare
“On the surface, this might seem like just another drinking song. But underneath, it’s about the delusion that any form of escape will have a prayer to erase your bad memories or your worries about the world. We know a snowball has a better chance in hell, but we preserve the delusion because it’s easier than facing the truth.” – mike d.
You keep on comin’ after my little brain
I try to wipe it off but there’s still a stain
On my mind…and it’s there all the time
You turn a dream into a tiny nightmare
I try to shake it off but there’s still a tear
In my soul…and it’s gettin’ old
So tell me this one drink will wash it all away
And maybe you would think that I could find a place
To drop these memories of you
And that would get me through to another day
‘Sall I got to say
You wanna be the one that rises above
You wanna fight the hate with all o’ yer love
But you know… there’s nowhere to go
You wanna bust right outta these four walls
You need a taste and the bartender calls
Out your name…like a moth to a flame
Here’s hoping this one drink will wash it all away
And maybe you would think that I could find a place
To drop these memories of you
And that would get me through to another day
‘Sall I got to say
Stand in my Sunshine
“This horn-fueled blues number started at a socially distanced outdoor hang by a fire. We were lonely and tried to write 10 feet apart from each other. Wine may have been involved. The song was catchy, but the original lyrics were about the struggle of manatees. Feeling depressed about not being able to live or write the way we wanted, I vented to my wife that we couldn’t even finish a song in this environment. As a non-musician, she asked how she could help. I snapped back that she could save this song idea. She laughed and asked how she could do that. Maintaining my terrible mood, I told her that the melodic idea was there, I just needed lyrics that fit a specific syllable count. Then I stormed away to feel sorry for myself. When I came to bed, there was a legal pad full of lyric ideas that fit the rhythmic syllable count sitting on my side of the bed. That act of caring & kindness propelled the song to new meaning for the band.” – j. bell
Come stand in my sunshine
Walk a mile or more with me
You’re one in a billion baby, this you gotta see
Come bathe in my moonlight
Leave your slippers on the shore
You’re one in a billion baby and so much more
Come dance in my window
There ain’t nobody around to see
You’re one in a billion baby, to many more than me
Lay your head on my shoulder
Rest your eyes for a while
You’re one in a billion baby, yeah you make me smile
Gas Station Rose
“This idea came from a couple of friends who were obsessed with Diana Krall and insisted on bringing her a rose when they saw her perform at the Fine Line a lifetime ago. Classy as always, they got the flower from a gas station. The song is a story about someone torn between loves. He’s having an affair and trying to decide how to resolve his predicament. Verse one is sung to his mistress, verse 2 to his wife.” – j. bell
Sang to you in my car today
Drove so far away, I suppose
Rolled around with my windows down
Everyone in this town, already knows
She’ll have to settle for a gas station rose
Won’t be the first time I suppose
Had her heart set on the night of her life
She’ll have to settle for a gas station rose
Saw it all in my head last night
Played back the fight and what we chose
Feels like I’ve been more right than wrong
A little too far gone, but who knows
She’ll have to settle for a gas station rose
Won’t be the first time I suppose
Had her heart set on the night of her life
She’ll have to settle for a gas station rose
She’ll have to settle for a gas station rose
Won’t be the last time I suppose
Had her heart set on the night of her life
She’ll have to settle for a gas station rose
All Been Done Before
“This track started after the last record we made. The engineer claimed that somehow, we got red wine stains on the vaulted ceilings. After disputing that even being possible, I was informed that indeed, the cork broke, and a bandmate had jammed a screwdriver into the bottle, sending a stream of wine straight upwards. The song wrestles with accepting who you are, scars and all, while simultaneously trying to see how far lazy songwriters can stretch a metaphor. Even when you’re sure you’re the only person to ever get wine stains 15 feet in the air…you’re not that unique or special.” – j. bell
Red wine stains on the ceiling
Trying to leave my mark
That old familiar feeling
Reignite the spark
Don’t fight the final words or slam the door
It’s all been done before
You’re swearing on the bible
I’m lying on the floor
Always late for your arrival
And always wanting more
Don’t try too hard to push the metaphor
It’s all been done before
Waking up to 20 questions
Of familiar themes
Got any new suggestions
Pulled from your dreams
We can’t go on like this anymore
It’s all been done before
I Won’t Listen Then
“The very first incarnation of the Lazy Susan Band started in 1999. This was the first song I wrote for the new band. It appeared on our debut album you…up in lights (2003) and has remained in regular performance rotation ever since. We’ve finally figured out how to play it after about 25 years, so we decided to pay homage to our roots and re-record it as a bonus track. The song expects that all the nonsense I was dealing with at the time was temporary, and that everything would be easier and better when I was older, wiser, wealthier, etc.. So, if there’s anything you need me to know, you should tell me now, while you have my attention, because I likely won’t listen then.” – j. bell
Take a little time
Tell me can you see me if you try
Take a little bite
Taste a little life
Take the time to see the sunset fall
Take the time to hear your heartstrings call
Take a little time
And make up your mind
I don’t really know about indecision
And I don’t really care who drank your wine
What else will you be in the moment you’re set free
You’d better tell me now, because I won’t listen then
Let in a little light
Let it light a fire under you
Feel me in spite
Of all the things I say
Like I said I would wake up next to you
If I could only sleep the whole night through
Take a little time
and hear what I say
I don’t really know about indecision
And I don’t really care who drank your wine
What else will you be in the moment you’re set free
You’d better tell me now, because I won’t listen then
$80 Whiskey
“It’s hard to argue that this isn’t our quintessential song. It’s the most requested and typically fills a dance floor. It was originally released on the album $80 Whiskey, which was an experiment with me playing and singing every part on the record. That version never captured the full power of this lineup performing the song live, and we’ve been asked for years to record it again. The song follows a complicated story that starts with receiving a bottle of whiskey as a Christmas gift. When it was finished I headed to the liquor store to buy another, and was sticker shocked at the $79.99 price tag. As I contemplated whether or not I could afford an $80 bottle of whiskey, I wondered if the liquor was really that good, or was I just thinking about who I shared it with over the holidays: the family and friends closest to me. Somehow, that got me thinking about songs and how they can hit differently depending on who you’re listening with, or what your life was like at the time. Sometimes, songs that once defined a period in your life simply don’t feel the same anymore. You can try and preserve those feelings, but sometimes those songs or that whiskey simply doesn’t feel like today.” – j. bell
We should stash these songs in boxes
And hide them all away
Put these words of ours in mason jars
But it won’t feel like today
I’ve got lighting in a bottle
Wasting space upon my shelf
It’s an $80 Whiskey
A whiskey I was saving for myself
It don’t come around too often
And it might not come again
As long as you long for something
Raise your glass and say remember when
We should stash these songs in boxes
And hide them all away
Put these words of ours in mason jars
But it won’t feel like today
The cracks are getting longer
and it don’t feel like a phase
If you can’t get any stronger
Close your eyes and think of better days
I’ve been saving you this moment
With all its sights and sounds
If you can’t get your arms around it
Sometimes what is lost is never found
We should stash these songs in boxes
And hide them all away
Put these words of ours in mason jars
But it won’t feel like today
I’ve been waiting for you darlin’
Forever and a day
With this $80 Whiskey
And songs I wrote about some better days
We should stash these songs in boxes
And hide them all away
Put these words of ours in mason jars
But it won’t feel like today