DEFYING THE DISTANCES- A LONG DISTANCE LOVE STORY...these 10 songs are presented in the reverse order they were written (10 is a Spanish adaptation of 5). Click on individual song titles for lyrics and credits. photos: Grace Corso (front), Charles Dennis (back), design: Alex Majewski. mastering: Jon Gordon. Musicians: guitars: Marc Shulman, Jon Herington, Sam Butler, Marcelo Dellamea; bass: Lincoln Schleifer, Sergio Brandao; drums: Shawn Pelton; percussion: Cyro Baptista, Roger Squitero; trombone:  Dan Reagan; and Bob Telson on keyboards and all vocals.

DEFYING THE DISTANCES (Desafiando las Distancias)

piano, vocals, words and music by Bob Telson drums: Shawn Pelton bass: Lincoln Schleifer, guitar: Marc Shulman

Come spend a week with me
so we can get to know each other
Bring your winter clothes 
It’s gonna be so cold outside
Yes we can lie in bed 
and read each other poetry
protected from the edge of night
in each others’ arms

Let’s take the A train
all the stories that the faces tell
we’ll make up songs about them
as if we could know them well
but the story that I 
want to know the most about
is you and me cause when we’re making love 
you make me wanna shout

I was lost but now I'm found
Amazing Grace 
Is coming to town
Listen to me baby

come spend a week with me
so we can get to know each other
though you’re in Argentina
far from me on Christmas eve
Santa’s bringing me the best surprise
a boy could ask for
2 pillows for me when I get down on my knees
for Grace
Amazing Grace is coming to town

Come Spend a Week With Me
so we can get to know each other
let’s write our own story
Amazing Grace
She’s got a ticket to ride/ in just a few days
she’ll come to Brooklyn/ be by my side
Come Spend a Week With Me
I’m waiting impatiently
for you to be here with me
Amazing Grace
My world was black and white/ a long cold dark night
Now it's technicolor bright
Come Spend a Week With Me
you make me wanna shout
I wanna know all about
Amazing Grace
is coming to town

COME SPEND A WEEK WITH ME

words and music by Bob Telson, keyboards and vocals: Bob Telson guitars: Marc Shulman and Sam Butler, bass: Lincoln Schleifer, drums: Shawn Pelton

I've written too many songs about the death of love
About the struggle to hold on after it's gone
About the freedom and despair
When there’s nobody there
How to pick up the pieces and move on

But now I’m singing a different way
I met someone the other day
Every time we talk 
We have more silly things to say
I’m so glad she’s coming to see me soon

Here’s a song about beginnings
Not about losings and winnings
cause I’m feeling on top of my game 
I write a song every day
cause the girl moves me that way
and I like her voice when she’s talking sweet to me

So now I’m singing a different song
I found the arms where I belong
She says she’s crazy about me
We’re both feeling it so strong
I can’t wait till she’s here with me

It’s a song about beginnings
not losings nor winnings…

well everybody wants a love of their own
and everybody wants a heart to call home
But who can project what might happen next
I’m just glad to be beginning to get to know you

SONG ABOUT BEGINNINGS

words and music, vocals by Bob Telson. Guitars: Marc Shulman, drums: Shawn Pelton, bass: Lincoln Schleifer

it’s been a long time since I looked into somebody’s eyes
and couldn’t help saying i love you (oh girl)
it’s been a long time since I looked into somebody’s eyes
and couldn’t help saying i love you (yes girl)

2 voices inside me
one says
you may feel that way right now
you’ve been next to her
(both out of breath
when the words came tumbling out)

2 voices inside me
one says
you may feel that way right now
you’ve been next to her
(made me feel so real
that I didn’t have a doubt)

another voice saying those are serious words
boy you better be sure
cause there’s no return 
once you said it
(Those 3 words are a declaration)

another voice saying those are serious words
boy you better be sure
cause there’s no return 
once you said it
Gonna say it again 
I’M GONNA LET MYSELF LOVE YOU
Gonna say it again 
I’M GONNA LET MYSELF LOVE YOU

COULDN'T HELP SAYING IT

words and music + vocals and keyboards by Bob Telson; guitar: Jon Herington

i know baby it’s hard for you
we seem to spend so much time far apart
We live our love in chapters
but there’s too much time in between

and you know baby it’s hard for me
I’d love to have you with me here today
it’s not just the love we make
it’s more than the kiss when we wake
it’s all the little moments between
DESAFIANDO LAS DISTANCIAS 
i miss our sweet moments of playfulness
but i feel next to you girl in my heart

DESAFIANDO LAS DISTANCIAS (defying the distances)

Bob Telson: piano, vocals, music, and original lyrics for "Days of Waiting" (Spanish adaptation by Grace Corso)

Pensar que dormiré, en tus brazos
me motiva intensamente
De todo lo que quiero compartir con vos,
estar en tus brazos es, lo que anhelo

Pensar que dormiré, en tus brazos
Me hace feliz y bendecido.
Pensar que dormiré, en tus brazos
Faltan solo dias para verte

Días Para Verte

Abrazados en la noche
Mientras gira el mundo
Y los otros duermen
(Días Para Verte)
Con mi mano en tu cintura
Ni la noche, ni el sueño
pueden separarnos*
*(la letra del puente adaptado de "La Noche en La Isla" de Pablo Neruda)

DIAS PARA VERTE

words and music, vocals, piano: Bob Telson; trombone: Dan Reagan

I didn’t know you’d be so funny
but i wanted you anyway
i didn’t know you’d look so pretty
till you looked at me that way

my friends say oh she’s so young
but i feel like a kid at play
sending fifty messages in an hour
for the second time today

that first day we spent together
in your bed listening to the rain
what a way to get acquainted
there was nothing to explain

but now that I know you better
from the words you write and say
the way that we are feeling
gets stronger every day

I offered you my arm 
You accepted naturally
And ever since that moment
I knew you'd say yes to me

yes, yes, say yes to me

YES TO ME

piano, vocals, words, and music by Bob Telson

the thought of going to sleep in your arms
is a powerful motivator
of all the things that i could do
this one I’d like to do sooner than later

the thought of going to sleep in your arms
it brings me happiness and makes me grateful
the thought of going to sleep in your arms
just 9 more days of waiting

DAYS OF WAITING
I will sleep with you all night
While the dark earth spins
with the living and with the dead
DAYS OF WAITING
With my arm around your waist
Neither night nor sleep 
can separate us*
*(bridge lyrics inspired by Pablo Neruda's "La Noche en La Isla")

DAYS OF WAITING

music by Bob Telson, lyrics by Grace Corso and Bob Telson; vocals and keyboards: Bob Telson; percussion: Roger Squitero

perdidos en algún punto (lost in some point)
entre la luna y el sol (between the moon and the sun)
van danzando nuestros cuerpos (our bodies go dancing) 
astronautas de amor (astronauts of love)

ya no existe mas el tiempo (time exists no more)
ni las luces, ni el dolor (nor lights, nor pain)
porque te tengo a mi lado (because I have you by my side)
porque estas conmigo (amor) (because you're with me, love)

Seremos locos cometas (We will be crazy comets)
en busca de su Big Bang (in search of our Big Bang) 
danzando entre las estrellas (dancing among the stars)
conquistando la eternidad (conquering eternity)

abrázame con el alma (embrace me with your soul)
siente mi cuerpo palpitar (feel my body palpitate)
exploremos otras galaxias (we'll explore other galaxies)
el infinito y mas allá (infinity and beyond)

Astronautas de amor… (Astronauts of Love...)

ASTRONAUTAS

words, music, voice, piano: Bob Telson, guitars: Marcelo Dellamea, percussion: Cyro Baptista
Draw this picture: 
a lovely girl in a hot bath,
listening to Sinatra.
Here’s the story as she told it to me:

behind above and under
thinking of you
while bathing to Sinatra
remembering the things you do

gradually a feeling 
was growing so strong
instead of just relaxing
I helped it along

DESPELOTE*
que quilombo
el agua en el piso
y se me perdió el mundo

next day while i was working
daydreaming of you
while listening to mozart
Imagining magic flutes

gradually a feeling 
was growing so strong
instead of concentrating
I helped it along

despelote
que quilombo
papeles en el piso 
y se me perdió el mundo

*(English translation: both "despelote" and "quilombo" are Argentine slang loosely meaning "fantastic disorder/pandemonium." Next: water (agua)/papers (papeles) on the floor and I blacked out (se me perdió el mundo, literally "I lost the world")

DESPELOTE

words and music, all vocals and keyboards: Bob Telson; guitars: Jon Herington; percussion: Cyro Baptista; bass: Sergio Brandão
WE MADE LOVE 
YES WE DID 
IN A BED OF ROSES 
AND ALL THE PLEASURE WE FELT 
KEPT COMING ON AND ON

WELL WE MADE LOVE 
YES WE DID 
IN A BED OF ROSES 
ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SAID 
ARE STILL IN MY HEAD

FLOWER POWER 
YES I FEEL IT COMIN’ ON 
FLOWER POWER 
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON 
FLOWER POWER 
BRIGHT COLORS TAKE ME THERE 
BY HER SIDE IS WHERE I BELONG

FLOWER POWER 
HORIZONTAL SAMBA DANCE 
FLOWER POWER 
IN THE MORNING WHEN IT’S TIME FOR ROMANCE 
FLOWER POWER 
BRIGHT COLORS TAKE ME THERE 
BY HER SIDE IS WHERE I BELONG

IMAGINE A PURPLE COTTAGE ON A MOUNTAIN LAKE IN BAHIA BRAZIL 
A PINK HAMMOCK OUTSIDE TO RELAX IN LISTENING TO THE BIRDS SING 
HEY BABY LET’S GO FOR A SWIM I LOVE YOU BLESS YOUR SPIRIT 
AND WHEN WE GET BACK OUR CANOPIED BED IS COVERED WITH FLOWERS THAT GROW EVERYWHERE IN BEAUTIFUL PATTERNS OF TROPICAL COLORS

BED OF ROSES

Bob Telson is an American composer, singer/songwriter, and pianist best known for his work in musical theater and film, for which he has received Tony, Pulitzer, and Academy Award nominations.
Among his best known works are the score for “Bagdad Café” and the musical “The Gospel at Colonus” starring Morgan Freeman.
His songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Joe Cocker, Celine Dion, Etta James, k.d. lang, Shawn Colvin, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and George Michael.