Elizabeth Butler: Words, music, acoustic guitar, lead vocals
Troy Warren, Jr: percussion (including igloo chest, martini glasses, and umbrellas. For real.)
Solveig Whittle: harmony vocals
Frank DeBretti: electric and acoustic guitar solos.
Kira Small: harmony vocals
Jana Pochop: acoustic guitar
Hamilton Loomis: stand-up bass

A1A (Settin' Myself Free)

This is an acoustic version of my song, "Fighting with Angels".  The idea behind the song is that we are often our own worst enemies by becoming so guarded and cautious. We often receive so much by remaining open to new people and experiences.  This version will be released on iTunes, etc., on August 11.

Fighting With Angels

Fighting With Angels (Acoustic Mix)

Words, music, lead vocals: Elizabeth Butler
Keyboards, percussion: Troy Warren, Jr.
Stand-up bass: Andrew Gordon
Lead guitar: Mike Sunjka
Harmony vocals: Allison Lueking, Solveig Whittle

When The Troubles Get Too Much

When my husband and I were first married, he was active duty Navy and we were stationed in Jacksonville. I didn't know anyone there, and this was pre-kids, so on my days off work, I'd pack a lunch and drive up and down Florida's coastal A1A, exploring the small cities along there. I have so many great memories of those days, so I wanted to include it in a song. 

Words, music, lead vocals: Elizabeth Butler
Keyboards, percussion: Troy Warren, Jr.
Electric guitar: Frank DeBretti
Acoustic guitar: Jana Pochop
Stand-up bass: Hamilton Loomis
Harmony vocals: Kira Small, Solveig Whittle

A1A seems like a good place to start.
I'll pack up my dreams, gas up the car, and follow my heart.
There'll never be a good time, and things couldn't get much worse.
I'll forge a new life, create a new me, 
I'll remake my universe.

There's no goodbyes when no one's sure of your name.
No tender farewells, no backward glance,
Just so much to gain.
No more polite rejections, no more underhanded slights.
I gave it my best, I need to move on.
Sometimes it's not worth the fight.

So I'm settin' myself free.
All I know for sure is the highway in front of me.
I'm shifting into drive.
No maps, no plans, just unchained to start a new life.
I'm settin' myself free.

Seems right to leave when the sky is threatening to rain.
Please wash the slate clean, cleanse all my sins,
So I can start over again.

I'm settin' myself free.
All I know for sure is the highway in front of me.
I'm shifting into drive.
No maps, no plans, just unchained to start a new life.
I'm settin' myself free.

There's no shame in leaving when nothing's left but pain.
What's the point in staying when things just stay the same?
It takes more than one person.
Willing to change
Willing to change
Willing to change.

So I'm settin' myself free.
All I know for sure is the highway in front of me.
I'm shifting into drive.
No maps, no plans, just unchained to start a new life.
I'm settin' myself free.



A1A (Settin' Myself Free

This is a total experiment song. I was trying to use the harmony vocals to symbolize the swirling emotions we have in the first moments and days of grief. I kept the lyrics very simple, because I thought it would be too confusing and overwhelming to have intricate harmonies with complicated lyrics. Solveig Whittle and Allison Lueking did such a beautiful job of capturing those emotions.

Words, music, lead vocals: Elizabeth Butler
Keyboards, percussion: Troy Warren, Jr.
Acoustic guitar, bass guitar: Hamilton Loomis
Harmony vocals: Allison Lueking, Solveig Whittle

From the moment I met you,
You were always the one.
Tender joining of soul with soul.
What now since you're gone?

Your watch is still on the nightstand.
Your shirt's draped over the chair.
I turn and listen,
I hear your voice.
I know that you're not there.
I know that you're not there.

(chorus one)
Come back to me.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.

Lately sleeping eludes me.
I've learned to welcome the dawn.
The reddish tendrils of day's first light
Mean I'm still holding on.
I'm still holding on.

Come back to me.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.

(chorus two)
I ache. I weep.
I pace. I bleed.
I ache. I weep.
I pace.  bleed.

I'm not ready for this.
I was never that brave.
I'm afraid and alone.
Why couldn't you just stay?
I'm not ready for this.
I was never that brave.
I'm afraid and alone.
Why couldn't you just stay?
Tell me, what does it take?

Come back to me.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.

(chorus three)
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in, breathe out.

(chorus one, two and three together)

Come back to me.

Come Back To Me

My mom passed away in 2006, so my kids were able to get her know her well before she died, but my dad died when I was 20. I really missed that he wasn't able to hold my kids when they were babies, or sing them "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" to put them to sleep, or be brave enough to ride with them when they first got their drivers licenses. This was my way of passing on some of their wisdom to my kids. 

Words, music, lead vocals, acoustic guitar: Elizabeth Butler
Keyboards, percussion, harmony vocals: Troy Warren, Jr.
Electric guitar: Frank DeBretti
Bass guitar: Paul Killingsworth
Harmony vocals: Kira Small, Rachel Paternostro,David Paternostro, S.J. 

It's Sunday morning,
I'm trying to sleep in,
And my mama says, girl, you know
You know it's a sin.
God protects you all week long.
It's his angels' care that keeps you from harm.
Can't you spend one hour with him?

I give in, I'm sitting in the back pew,
Making plans for having fun when the service is through,
Then I remember all the ways 
I've felt God's care, a touch of His grace,
And I'm ashamed my grateful moments are few.

Mama knew and daddy did, too
What was fair, what was wrong, what's the right thing to do.
They made complicated things so plain.
I wish, I wish I could see them again.
When life seemed too much too soon, 
Mama and daddy knew.

He's late again, daddy says this isn't right.
If he really cared for you, that boy would be here on time.
You deserve love and respect,
Find someone who will give you his best.
Make him earn being your valentine.

Mama knew and daddy did, too
What was fair, what was wrong, what's the right thing to do.
They made complicated things so plain.
I wish, I wish they were with me again.
When life seemed too much, too soon,
Mama and daddy knew.

I'm not where I need to be,
But I have come this far
Because they loved me.
They just loved me.


Mama Knew

I am so fortunate to work with tremendously talented and generous musicians. They are all such a pleasure to work with! This is still a work-in-progress, but it's shaping up nicely.
Words, music, lead vocals: Elizabeth Butler
Percussion, keyboards (folk version): Troy Warren
Harmony vocals: Solveig Whittle, Kira Small, Torri Baker
Cello: Max Dyer
Hammered dulcimer: Jordan Buetow
Electric guitar: Frank DeBretti
Acoustic guitar: Elizabeth Butler, Jana Pochop
Upright bass: Andrew Gordon
Vocal preproduction: Brad Chapman
Guitar preproduction: Gary Talley
Photography: K. Sutton Photography
Graphic design: Jody Quine


Lullaby

If I Knew

I minute section of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Instrumental 1 min

2 minute section of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Instrumental 2 min

7 second section of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Instrumental 7 Sec

15 second section of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Instrumental 15 Sec

20 second section of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Instrumental 20 Sec

Instrumental version of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Instrumental

Underscore version of If I Knew for music licensing.

If I Knew Underscore

This was an intense collaborative effort, with recording done in Nashville, Houston, Seattle, and San Francisco.

Elizabeth Butler: lyrics, music, lead vocals, co-producer
Troy Warren: additional percussion, co-producer, engineer
Frank DeBretti: acoustic guitar, lead guitar
Jerry Battista: acoustic guitar, tenor guitar
David Sands: bass guitar
Eduardo Corzo: keyboards
 Dale Edward: drums
Oscar Autie: cajon
Coffee Guzman: percussion
Kira Small: harmony vocals

This track is from the album Running Home and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/runninghome

Find Your Freedom

Lead vocals: Allison Lueking, guitar: Elizabeth Butler, Hamilton Loomis, keyboards and drums: Troy Warren, Jr., stand-up bass: Hamilton Loomis, cello: Max Dyer, background vocals: Elizabeth Butler, Allison Lueking, Rachel Paternostro

Summer and Fall featuring Allison Lueking

Bass and acoustic guitar: Hamilton Loomis. Lead guitar: Frank Debretti. Keyboards and percussion: Troy Warren, Jr. Words, music, lead vocals: Elizabeth Butler. Harmony vocals: Solveig Whittle, Rachel Paternostro, Allison Lueking.

Time Before, Time After remix (featuring Solveig Whittle)

Acoustic and stand-up bass: Hamilton Loomis
Keyboards and percussion: Troy Warren, Jr.
Harmony vocals: Solveig Whittle, Allison Lueking, Elizabeth Butler

Come Back to Me feat. Solveig Whittle and Allison Lueking

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies. We struggle against things that are ultimately good for us. I think when we let our guards down and become more open, we discover wonderful things in our lives.

Credits: 
Troy Warren, Elizabeth Butler, producers
Elizabeth Butler: words, music, lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Mark Hallman: mastering
Torri Baker: harmony vocals, choir arrangement and vocals
Kira Small: harmony vocals
Frank DeBretti: lead electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Andre Moran: electric guitar, additional engineering
Andrew Gordon: stand-up bass guitar (recording engineer Cody Franz)
Dale Chung: percussion
Coffee Guzman: drums (recording engineer: Paul Cox)
Mark Hallman: Hammond B3 organ (recording engineer: Andre Moran)
Brad Chapman: vocal pre-production
Gary Talley: guitar preproduction
Jody Quine: graphic artist
Khamkeo Vilaysing: cover photo

Fighting with Angels

I'm a singer-songwriter originally from Georgia, but I've lived in Texas for the past twenty-plus years. I listen to all types of music, so the music I write is a gumbo of blues, country, jazz, and pop.

E. Butler Music

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks