"China Plates" was my submission for the 2014 Yellen Foundation Songwriter's Contest, run by the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. I was lucky enough to have been chosen as the winner this year and have some incredible musicians help me bring my song to life.
This song is for anyone who holds a disdain for tradition; for those who don't value the status quo or material possessions or keeping up with the Joneses. I like to think there's more to living than that. There are more important things than owning the nicest china plates. 
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar - Jess Chizuk, Bass - Jerry Livingston, Drums - Howard Wilson, Strings/Piano - Richie English, Lead Acoustic Guitar - Tom Lorentz

China Plates

I'll have a coffee, mister,
2 creams, 2 sugars.
You know it reminds me of 
the way he tasted that cold winter
I hope you don't mind,
I'll be paying with nickles and dimes
It's not about the coffee,
I'm just here to rest my eyes,
I don't care for coffee,
I'm just trying to waste my time

I'd tell you my story
If you bother tuning in
It's already written in the
freckles on my skin
I could tell you the heartache,
I could read you the news
I'm just the gravel stuck there
underneath his shoes

I'll have a coffee, mister,
2 creams, 2 sugars.
You know it reminds me of 
the way he tasted that cold winter
I hope you don't mind,
I'll be paying with nickles and dimes
It's not about the coffee,
I'm just here to rest my eyes,
I don't care for coffee,
I'm just trying to waste my time

The road is a warmer place
than people often say
But I've heard wiser words
that couldn't make me stay
Once I was a captain
I was drifting away
but we were lost before 
I made any headway

Don't mind me
Don't even listen to me
It's just a story, I swear

One for the road now, mister,
2 creams, 2 sugars.
I'm sure that you know by now
that's how he tasted that cold winter
And i've come to find,
I'm out of nickles and dimes
Enjoy that coffee,
I'm just here to rest my eyes,
I don't even like coffee,
I'm just trying to waste my time

The Coffee Song

Oh I wish that I could catch a break
these days it's always give and take, 
Oh I've given my best, but still my life is a mess still, I don't know why.

Know why we had to take it slow,
just a taste of what we'll never know,
still we gave it our all, getting up for the fall, cold phone I won't dial.

We put each other on hold, catch my breath between the dial tones, 
maybe we're better off alone, this has to stop, finally the call drops.

Oh you swore that things would be okay,
and I watched your promise bend and break.
In a storm we can't weather your arms were my shelter,
from all this rain.

If I let you would you let me go?
just end it, and hang up the phone,
on the wires between us the silence is deafening,
but we don't move.

We put each other on hold, catch my breath between the dial tones, 
maybe we're better off alone, this has to stop, finally the call drops.

Oh I wish that I could catch a break
these days it's always give and take, 
We gave it our best, but we're still a mess,
Please, tell me why

We put each other on hold, catch my breath between the dial tones, 
maybe we're better off alone, this has to stop, finally the call drops.

Jess Chizuk

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