OBLIGATIONS          
 
Obligations 
Obligations
It seems they're always in the way 
They keep me from myself 
When I agree I pave the way 
To be defined by someone else 
And why be someone else? 

Obligations 
Obligations 
There are only hours in the day 
I can't be somewhere else 
'Cause here is where I want to stay 
All by myself, all by myself 

The unspoken law of almost everything               
(just so we agree the ground is) 
Fertile ground for a misunderstanding             
(fertile for a misunderstanding) 
Handshakes tie your junk in knots,              
(shake my hand and we'll agree) 
Your mojo rots while you're busy planning

Obligations

As heard in the feature film, 'Lift Me Up', from director Mark Cartier
LYRICS BELOW
Jose Freitas: Vox, Guitar, ukelele, keys
Janine Levinson: Vox, keys
David Levinson: synth
Chris Moscatiello: synth, mix & master	

My life feels kind of shallow  
There always seems to be
A distance deep and hollow 
Between everyone and me
How I wish it could be like it used to be   

But things keep moving forward 
I practice every day
I'm going through the motions 
But my strength fades away
And without you here it just seems like a waste            

Hey mom I'm still dancing        
hey mom ---wish you could see 
Hey mom when I'm dancing 
I'm sure I feel you dancing with me
 
I'm saving all my memories 
Storing thoughts away
To spend when I am lonesome, downhearted or afraid
And with you in my heart I'll make my way

Hey mom I'm still dancing        
hey mom ---wish you could see 
Hey mom when I'm dancing 
I'm sure I feel you dancing with me

You're my heart       
You're my soul    
You're my twirl and sway
You're my taps    
You're my leotard   
You're my pink beret
i'm your girl   
i'm your soul   
I was made from your love
I'll remember   
I'll get better   
I've got things to become    

Hey mom are you dancing?   
Hey mom --  wish I could see
Hey mom, living without you    
I'm starting to learn to live with me






Hey Mom

from a jam session

Jose Freitas: Keys
Janine Levinson: Vocals, Drums
David Levinson:  Synth

I'm Freakin Vacuuming

LYRICS BELOW

janine levinson - vocals, drums
jose freitas - vocals, guitar, bass, grand piano
david levinson - guitar, guitar synth


Wandering through a forest of ones
Cold and alone; the comfort of zeroes
Ones and zeroes

Up overhead, the pattern of ones
Flat and arranged; the rhythm of zeroes
Ones and zeroes

At night I dream of the analog

Keep your thoughts to yourself
Hide your thoughts for yourself
Keep the thoughts in your head

Spend your thoughts on yourself
Keep your mind to yourself
Thoughts are all we have left
. . . all we have

Mining my soul for pieces of gold
File me away;  a matrix of zeroes
Ones and zeroes

At night I dream of disorganization
The chaos of heartbeats
The mayhem of breathing
And the rhythm of digestion

Keep your thoughts to yourself
Hide your thoughts for yourself
Keep the thoughts in your head

Keep your mind to yourself
Hide your thoughts for yourself
Keep your thoughts in your head

[Ones and Zeroes]

Jose Freitas - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Keys
David Levinson - Guitar
Janine Levinson - Vocals, Drums, Percussion

Ones And Zeroes (I Dream of the Analog)

LOST and ALONE
LYRICS BELOW
janine levinson - vocals, drums
jose freitas - vocals, guitar, bass, keys
david levinson - guitar, guitar synth

You know I've spent too much of my life
Lost, alone and waiting
Like the palest stroke of yellow
In an Oliveira painting

Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone am I
Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone am I

It was hard just trying to come up in this life
When the outside world kept banging
They would harp and blow and criticize
Never understanding

Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone was I
Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone was I

But lost just means you're out there looking
And once you find it, you won't be alone
I've gotta think there's something for me
A home, a friend, a meal or a song

Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone am I
Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone was I

I walk alone in the dark of the night
And hope the wind will lead me
To the warmth of the fire and the glow of the light
I hope this world don't leave me

Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone to die
Lost and alone, lost and alone, lost and alone to die

Lost and Alone

As heard in the feature film OPERATION: Neighborhood Watch!  by director Mark Cartier 
LYRICS BELOW

janine levinson - vocals, drums
jose freitas - vocals, guitar, bass, grand piano
david levinson - guitar, guitar synth
mix - david russell

What's going on in there?
I know there's trouble brewing
They seem to be very strange
I wonder what they're doing
and I think there's something
dead in there

What's going on inside?
There's always something screaming
And not that I'm terrified,
But I think the driveway's bleeding

and I know there's something
dead in there

While the rest of the street is sleeping
I'll put on the secret glasses
And hide out in the bushes
The intel could be massive
 
And I'm sure we'll break this thing 
wide open, wide open
What's going on in there?
I'm burning to know the secret
Curiosity killed the cat
But my nine lives are epic

and I know  there's something
dead in there

janine levinson - vocals, drums
jose freitas - guitar, bass, grand piano
david levinson - guitar, guitar synth
mix - david russell


What's Going On In There?

CHRISTMAS WROTE THIS SONG
Music and lyrics by Janine Levinson and Jose Freitas
LYRICS BELOW

Jose Freitas: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keys
David Levinson: Guitar
Janine Levinson: Vocals, percussion
Craig Frank: Drums
Chris Moscatiello:  Synth, mix, master

The lights are bright        
On my way home         
Three years I’ve been away   

It’s an empty car     
Without you girl     
And I’m alone on Christmas day
On Christmas day 

Tomorrow is a mystery     
The road ahead is long   
But today my Dear it’s Christmas      
And Christmas wrote this song.   

 If you were here            
I’d sing to you     
The things I could not say 
Like “I love you”    
And “be my girl”      
And “can I come to stay?”      

I wanted to stay     
I wanted to stay 

Tomorrow is a mystery     
The road ahead is long   
But today my Dear it’s Christmas      
And Christmas wrote this song.   

I lucked out finding you, finding you       
I messed up losing you, losing you   
Leaving you to live tomorrow.... 

Tomorrow is a mystery     
The road ahead is long   
But today my Dear it’s Christmas      
And Christmas wrote this song.    

Tomorrow is a mystery     
The road ahead is long   
But today my Dear it’s Christmas      
And Christmas wrote this song.    

Said today my Dear it’s Christmas 
And Christmas wrote this song 

Joy To The World!

Christmas Wrote This Song!

DISTRACTIONS
lyrics below

this track:
Janine Levinson - piano, vocals
Jose Freitas - guitar, bass
Produced by David Levinson

DISTRACTIONS 
 (The shoulds are chasing us)
  
As we sow our fields of green
By distractions we're undone
They fulfill their wicked roles            
While the danger comes  

Changing course and splitting hairs
The details make us numb
Always in our field of view
No matter how we run
How we Run!
 
From the thoughts
From the tide
We're induced
We're enticed
We're provoked
And we yen        
So we swim and we swim
And we swim

As we sail our seas of green
A shark around us swims
Showing but a rippled tide           
And a wicked fin
 
Changing course is worthless toil
Distractions they will come
Pull us to our mortal coil
On a treadmill we will run
How we Run!

From the thoughts
From the tide
We're induced
We're enticed
We're provoked
And we yen
So we swim and we swim
And we swim
 
Into the arms of our distractions
Into the depth of our addictions
To the sea of our expenses                         
To the heart of our conviction


Distractions

SOMEPLACE  BLUE

lyrics below 

Written, performed, and produced by Janine and the Problem
Jose Freitas - Guitar, Bass, Keys, Vocals
Janine Levinson - Drums, Vocals
David Levinson - Guitar

There are times when I don't like this world
I wanna be alive,  I do
But somewhere else
Someplace far away in the sky
   
But the galaxy is wide and blue
I'd only last a day or two
And maybe blue ain't such a good thing 
Anyhow,  I'd be too far from you

There are things that I can overcome
Like standing when I want to run
Stayin' put is a good thing
Anyhow,  I'd be runnin' from you
              
Maybe I should write a letter, 
Tell the sky a thing or two
Or maybe I'll just be a grown up 
Find the good I'm standing next to

I'd like to take a spaceship ride
And watch the earth move out of sight
All gold and blue
My tears would dry in the sky

I'd float across the night of blue
And tumble for a mile or two
But maybe night ain't such a good time 
Anyhow, I'd be too far from you

I'd be too far from you


Someplace Blue

DIFFERENT
Written, Performed and Produced by Janine and the Problem
2016

LYRICS BELOW

Standin’ on the beach
Lookin’ at the sun set
But I can't see the things
Everyone sees

Tryin' so hard
To channel some magic
So I can feel the things
Everyone feels

Aah!   Aah!

Walkin down the street
I'm an aberration
In a cloud of visions
That no one can see

Feel my own beat
Got my own equation
'Cause I don't read the books
Everyone reads

Aah!  Aah!

You feel that awe, you feel that wonder
Mystery feelings inside
You saw the lightning and heard the thunder 
I didn't even see the rain outside

I'm wearing my wings 
to reach your constellation 
But I can't fly as high as
Everyone flies

Baby I want you
But I'm a freak of nature
You know I'm everything
That people despise
 
Aah!  Aah!  Aah!


Different

LYRICS Below

CORIOLIS - 
Written and produced by Janine and the Problem 2016
Jose Freitas - Guitar, Keys, Vocals, Bass, Claps!
Janine Levinson - Drums, Vocals, Claps!
David Levinson - Guitar, Claps!

CORIOLIS
I’m swimming now               
To the bottom of the pool
Touch the rough with my toes 
Under the world, not to drown
But to feel the water weigh me down

I feel the hum          
From the bottom of the world
From the poles, feel the cold
The magnetic pull on my cells
I can reckon the plates
As they high-five each other, 
And shake the ground

Coriolis, sticks and stones       
Pick me up and break my bones
Coriolis take my dreams and spin them around

You’re waiting now, at the edges of my soul
Hear the words as they flow      
Counter the clock, not to tell,
But to hint at the feelings 
And to hide the meaning in the sounds

I’m just a force of nature 
And to those with terrestrial dreams
I am out of reach and spinning –   
And I'm messing up the clouds

I'm spinning down           
To the bottom of the pool
Touch the rough with my toes 
And the water is bending the sound
But I know you can hear me 
As I feel the water weigh me down

Coriolis you spun me around
You picked me up and then you put me down


CORIOLIS

LYRICS BELOW!

One Day The Sun Won't Shine No More
Written, Performed and Produced by Janine and the Problem 2016

Janine Levinson - Vocals, Drums
David Levinson - Guitar
Jose Freitas - Guitar, Bass, Piano, Organ

One Day the Sun Won't Shine No More

One day the sun won't shine no more
One day i will go
The sun won't shine above no more 
But it may shine below
The sun will shine below

One day the dark will come along
And I won't see the stone
I won't have eyes for love no more
And I will walk alone
Said I won't see the stone

I won't see the stone as it's coming down
From the man in the ashy robes
Just about when he become my friend
He hands me a dying rose 
Hands me a dying rose 

The sun don't shine, the rain don't fall -
Is where my story ends
A blistering fire and an acid tongue
Are what I call my friends
Said fire will be my friend

One day the sun won't shine no more
One day i will go
The sun won't shine above no more 
But it may shine below
The sun will shine below!


The Sun Will Shine Below

LYRICS BELOW
The Breakable Me was written, recorded, performed and produced by Janine and the Problem in 2016

THE BREAKABLE ME

I’m a tough one; I’m a big strong girl
And you’re a rough one, but you gave me pearls
I’m so glad that you can see
Through my armor to the breakable me

I'm a hard case; I've got my fences high
But you're a soldier, and so you stand and fight 
Oh my dear,  I’m glad you see
Through my armor to the breakable me
                           
Suddenly something takes control 
And it circumvents my brain
Wind the maze and find the target
Before security complains

Well it's tomorrow,  and I still can feel
You arms around me, and though I'm made of steel
All my bluff,  and you can see
I'm not tough I'm just a breakable me

Because you knew telepathically
That bulletproof vest wasn't really me  - oh!
Precious one,  I’m so glad you see
Through my armor to the breakable me   
Through my armor to the breakable me 


The Breakable Me

video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JKy1nIUUyI&feature=share

Stuck To You Like Glue was written, recorded, performed and produced by Janine and the Problem in 2016

STUCK TO YOU LIKE GLUE (LILY) 

You and me, we're the best of friends
With you it's never boring
We've got a secret club, and a language too
We're writing our own story

I'm stuck to you like glue
And everything we do 
We do together
And you, you're stuck to me too
I'll be beside you
Until forever

You know, It's the funniest thing
That all the cool stuff you bring
Is right for me
And though we've been together for years
One thing is still clear
We're meant to be

I'm stuck to you like glue
And all I want to do 
Is be together

And you, you're stuck to me too
I know that we'll be
Best friends forever

When I'm with you, you know it makes it feel
Like it's always sunny weather
And no one knows the things that we've been through
You're my best friend forever!   FOREVER!!

I'm stuck to you like glue
         (I'm stuck to you, so proud of you)
And everything we do 
           (I'll be your best friend and know that) 
We do together

And you, you're stuck to me to
         (You're stuck to me)
I'll be beside you
        (So good to me,)  
		(we'll be the best friends)
Until forever, forever, forever
                                           (forever)


Jose Freitas - Vocals, Keys, Bass, Guitar
Janine Levinson - Vocals, Keys, Drums
David Levinson - Guitar

Stuck To You Like Glue

Accelerate!   
This is a song about QUAD racing ... maybe we'll see it in a movie soon!  It's very different from our usual stuff, but it was lots of fun to write and record.

Accelerate! - Janine and the Problem
I've got a need to ride 
At the speed of light
Accelerate!
I've been modified!

I'm on the outside line  
I never look behind
Accelerate!
Victory is mine!

Got a will of iron
I've got four strong wheels
I’m ahead, I’m alive 
I can dream, I can ride
I will rise to the top 
Cause I ain't gonna stop
Got a fire from within 
And I know I can win!

I got a frame of steel       
And fire in my wheels        
I've got a need to fly 
Four wheels to the sky!

I’m gonna block your pass    
I’m stepping on the gas
Accelerate!
You know I'm twice as fast
I’m making record time
You've been left behind
Accelerate!
I see the finish line!

I've got a heart of steel 
And fire in my wheels        
I've got a need to fly 
Four wheels to the sky!

You know your jump is coming short
You know I’m pushing you aside
You feel the breeze from my cc's   
You're dusted by my wind and I’m……

Gonna meet,  gonna score
Gonna be something more
Gonna fight, gonna drive
Gonna win, gonna FLY!!!!!
Gonna push to the end
Gonna ride like the wind
Gonna grind gonna rise
Like an eagle I will FLY!!!!!

Got a heart of steel       
And fire in my wheels       
I've got a need to fly
Four wheels to the sky!

I will match, I will score
I will be something more
I will fight, I will drive
I will win I will FLY!!!!!
I will push to the end
I will ride like the wind
I will soar I will rise
Like an eagle I'm gonna FLY!!!!!

Accelerate was written, performed and produced in 2016 by Janine and the Problem
Janine Levinson - Vocals, Keys, Drums
Jose Freitas - Vocals, Keys, Guitar, Bass, Drums
David Levinson - Guitar


Accelerate! - Janine And The Problem

Baby I'm in Love With You - Written, Performed and Produced in 2016 by Janine and the Problem and Wou-Wou & the Wormling:

Jose Freitas  - Guitar and Bass, Vocals
Janine Levinson - Vocals
David Levinson - Guitar
Craig Frank - Drums
and
Wou Wou and the Wormling - Mellotron and Guitar

BABY I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU
   
I’ve got a lot of good things tucked into my pocket
For you when you get home
I’ve got a picture of you right here in my locket
For when I am alone

Absence makes the heart grow fonder
At least that's what they said
But I can't hold out too much longer
I'd rather be with you instead

I bought a little candle and put it in the front
So your heart won't need to roam
Thinkin bout the moment when I can put a kiss to
Your lips when you come home

Absence makes the heart grow truer         
They told me it was so
You know my heart just can't be bluer
I wish that you would come back home
	
I miss you baby, I miss you so
I miss you baby, please come home

I've got a lot of feelings tucked into my pocket
They want to go outside
I'm thinking 'bout the day when we won't be apart
And I'll have you by my side
 
Cause absence made my heart grow fonder
My love just grew and grew 
I can't keep quiet any longer
Baby I'm in love with you!

 



Baby, I'm In Love With You!  --Janine and the Problem with Wou-Wou & the Wormling

OTHER PEOPLE PROBLEMS  
2016  -Janine and the Problem with MOAG (Man on a Grill)

Janine Levinson - Vocals 
Jose Freitas - Farfisa, Bass, Acoustic Guitar
MOAG -Drums, Guitar, FX, mix

OTHER PEOPLE PROBLEMS

You and me got the same disease
We're always feeling snubbed
But other people got other people problems
They don't think about us -We just got ourselves to love

But oh oh can't they see we're coming in their direction?
Woe, woe, what will be If we can't make the connection?

Nobody sees, they don't notice me
I walk among the dead
Those other people got their other people problems
They ain't thinking about me. 
They're inside of their own heads

Oh, Whoh, can't they see I'm shouting in their direction
Woe, woe, woe is me you know I need connection

The streets are full of buzzing dreams
a hive of blinding energy
stories walking on two feet
and every one a burning sun!!

We still got the same disease
We're always throwing stones
Too much thinkin' about other people's problems
But we still got us We don't have to be alone

Oh, Whoh, can't they see I'm shouting in their direction
Woe, woe, woe is me you know I need connection

All This Wondering

Let Go of that Echo . 2019

Song, Vocals, Bass, Keys, Percussion, Piano:  Janine Levinson @janinelevinson
Keys: Jose Freitas
Mix: Doug Grean @terpsichords

Let Go of that Echo

Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye
My head’s full of blackbirds but they won’t fly

Gotta let go, let go  

Sang a song so quiet, nobody heard
Kept it in the cage with the sad blackbirds

Gotta say no, say no to that echo echo  
That just won’t let me be free
That just won’t let me let go  -- gotta say no, say no

Sing a pretty question, keep it in my clothes
Answer with a puzzle and weave my prose?  no!!   

I gotta let go, let go of that echo echo       
that just won’t let me be free
that won’t let me let go
Gotta say no, say no to the echo, echo   
Oh I gotta be free,
I don’t know If I can let go, let go 
And just be me!

Kiss me in a signal, tap me a song
Four and twenty codewords can’t be wrong. no!

Gotta let go, let go of that echo echo 
That just won’t let me be free
That just won’t let me let go -- gotta say no, say no

I’m gonna stand tall and speak up   
I gotta say yes to find love
I’m gonna be real and speak out   
I gotta say yes to find  out
I’ve gotta let go, let go, of that echo

Let Go of that Echo

I spent a few hours with the Problem (Jose Freitas) early this year and we recorded some tracks on this tune but never finished. I foraged through my external hard drive  a few weeks ago and found the pieces to assemble this...  a nip and a tuck and few baubles added....

With the Problem's amazing piano and vocals and maybe other stuff, I just don't remember. 

You Have No Idea -  Janine & the Problem 2020 

Make special room for my ordinary pain
For my ordinary life
Look out for me
Cut a wide berth, part the cornflower sea
I’m comin’ through 
Make way for me

Woh, woh, woh
You have no idea

Clear a wide swath for my ordinary walk
For my ordinary dance and my average talk
Make special time for my everyday words:
Ballistic, prophetic …  I’m super poetic

Oh, oh, oh
You have no  idea

Take a gander at me 
My unusual scars will enthrall you
Connect up the dots till you find your way out of the galaxy
Get used to my back
It will always be right here in front of you. 
And float on my words 
You will smile when you see where they lead

Woh woh woh 
You have no idea

I’m sure you can see through my exquisite pain 
To my rarefied brain --I’m a superstar
I know you’ll excuse the excuses I use 
I suffer so hard for my art!

Oh oh oh       
You have no idea 

Make special room for my ordinary pain, 
For my ordinary life  
Look out for me
Cut a wide berth, part the cornflower sea
I’m comin’ through
Make way for me

You Have No Idea

This one was developed and recorded one afternoon about a year ago with Jose (the Problem) when no one was thinking about mics or recording quality or nuthin', and I can’t really remember what we did. I opened it back up a few weeks ago and did a little editing. But it was basically live. I was playing v-drums somewhere back there with a little speaker, while Jose played piano with at least one mic. We may have added the vocals separately. I don’t know. I just don’t know.

Tales From a Midnight Bucket
                            Janine Levinson & Jose Freitas

It pours on me from a midnight bucket somewhere in my chest
Getting cold, maybe tears, maybe oil, maybe blood
I don't know

It hounds me so from a twisted chair squeaking as it rocks
Burn my ears, maybe cries, maybe songs, maybe pleading
I don't know

Just my black heart, my injured soul
No place for love   
No place for hope
It’s me and my black soul  

It gets a hold: a wire machine with poison in the gears
Bitter oil, maybe pitch, maybe tar, maybe grease
I don't know

It’s underneath my parchment skin and worms its way to light
Maybe bugs, maybe hair, maybe bone, maybe bile 
I don’t know

Just my black heart, my injured soul
No place for love   
No place for hope
It’s me and my black soul     
ooooooooh!

Strings of tar
Rising twister helpless in the rancid air
Cataract stars 
Fraying leather 
Helpless in the rancid air

It shoots in me a spear of ice freezing in my chest
Getting cold, maybe tears, maybe soil, maybe gone
I don't know  

It undermines my blistered soles and forces me to crawl
Maybe dirt, maybe worms, maybe flesh, maybe gold 
I don’t know 

Just my black heart, my injured soul
No place for love   
No place for hope
It’s me and my black soul

The Midnight Bucket (Live) (Probably)

Thank you for visiting !
Janine and the Problem recordings are:
Janine Levinson @janinelevinson, Jose Freitas & David Levinson @midiits 
with the occasional visiting player

cover art: janine levinson

Janine and the Problem

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