ALL USED UP*
words and music by Michael (Amoriello) Michnya

There was a time I knew you were mine like it was ordained 
We’d sit in the park 'til long after dark drinking in vain 
For beauty and truth, or just something to do, for the grapes or the grains 
Night after night til we got tight, feeling no pain

Now there're clothes on the bed and it's cold in this room 
And this ache in my chest is not from the flu 
The voice in my head cries ‘enough is enough’ 
My heart’s gonna let you use me til I’m All Used Up 
I’m All Used Up, All Used Up

Our beautiful dreams fell apart at the seams like mud in the eye 
Fell off the wagon chasin’ the dragon’s pretty white lies 
You always said we’d be better off dead than hung out to dry 
Ah, the best we can do is take the rough with the smooth and lord knows, I tried

Now there're clothes on the bed and it's cold in this room 
And this ache in my chest is not from the flu 
The voice in my head cries ‘enough is enough’ 
But my heart’s gonna let you use me til I’m All Used Up 
I’m All Used Up, All Used Up, I’m All Used Up

All the king's horses and all the king's men don't know what to do 
I gave my all but it wasn’t enough to get through to you

Now there're clothes on the bed and it's cold in this room 
And this ache in my chest is not from the flu 
The voice in my head cries ‘enough is enough’ 
Still my heart’s gonna let you use me til I’m All Used Up 
I’m All Used Up, All Used Up 
I’m All Used Up, All Used Up

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP.

* Instrumental version, lyrics given for easy reference

2019

All Used Up (Instrumental)

WIP - all comments welcome

YOU ‘N’ ME

As long as we’re together honey
Even if we don’t have much money
And our love will never pay the bills
We fool around like little bunnies
You laugh like all my jokes are funny
We take each day and make some brand new thrills

Say goodbye to your parent’s basement
Let’s hitchhike through the South of France
Like Gene Kelly skipping along the pavement
Singing in the rain doing a happy dance
Café au lait, croissants for breakfast
Flyin’ by the seat of our pants
What a pair the two of us will be, he-he-he
You ‘N’ Me

Well, we might whistle out of tune
Or float an idea like a lead balloon
But we’ve got magic you can’t explain away
There’s something ‘bout the way we spoon
That sends me up and over the moon
You don’t find that kind of love every day

Say goodbye to your parent’s basement
Let’s hitchhike through the South of France
Like Gene Kelly skipping along the pavement
Singing in the rain doing a happy dance
Café au lait, croissants for breakfast
Flyin’ by the seat of our pants
What a pair the two of us will be, he-he-he
You ‘N’ Me

Middle Eight

Say goodbye to your parent’s basement
Let’s hitchhike through the South of France
Like Gene Kelly skipping along the pavement
Singing in the rain doing a happy dance
Café au lait, croissants for breakfast
Flyin’ by the seat of our pants
What a pair the two of us will be, he-he-he
You ‘N’ Me, You ‘N’ Me
What a pair the two of us will be, he-he-he
You ‘N’ Me, You ‘N’ Me

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP.

You N Me

FIFTY WAYS TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY
words and music by Michael A. Michnya

My newlywed friends just had their first silly fight
He knew he was wrong but insisted on being right
She said, “Fine. Be like that. I hope you like the couch tonight
Must be FIFTY WAYS TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY.”

“Don't wait up for me,” he said, trying to be cool,
Then he stormed down to the bar where I was shootin’ pool
I listened to his story, and said, “Man, don't be a fool,
Must be FIFTY WAYS TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY,

When words aren't enough
Sing an 'I was all wrong' song
Swallow your pride
Apologize
Admit your mistake
Swear you’ll make it up, Bud
If you gotta lie,
Apologize.

I sipped my beer and told him, "Now, here’s the simple truth
Happy wife makes happy life, so what you’re gonna do
Go home and make her happy, son, even if you gotta use
All of those FIFTY WAYS TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY,

When words aren't enough
Sing an 'I was all wrong' song
Swallow your pride, Clyde
Apologize
Admit your mistake,
Swear you’ll make it up, Bud
If you gotta lie, Guy
Apologize.

He begged forgiveness with a love song from the heart
I heard their make-up lovin’ was way off the charts
Thanks to those FIFTY WAYS TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY,

When words aren't enough, Gus
Sing an 'I was all wrong' song
Swallow your pride, Clyde
Apologize
Admit your mistake, Jake
Swear you’ll make it up, Bud
If you gotta lie, Guy
Apologize.
Take a word from the wise,
Don’t be shy, Sly
Apologize.

© Michael A. Michnya, AmorSongs, ASCAP

Fifty Ways to Say You're Sorry

Fifty Ways To Say You're Sorry

Headed Down the Road in my Volkswagen beetle
On my way to spend the night with a friend
On the eve of a week at the Philly Folk Festival
Camping out in a tent
I was in a hurry but I wasn’t worried
Man, I like to drive fast
The light up ahead had been green for awhile
So I put my foot down on the gas

As soon as  I got her up to full speed
The light turned yellow, then red
In the blink of an eye, I thought, “I’m gonna die”
And I cursed under my breath.
Well, I knew I was screwed, I was too close to stop
Too far to run the light
The traffic pulled into the intersection
Luckily just from my right

No time to think the only thing I could do
Cut the wheel hard to the left
Time stopped on a dime as my poor old tires 
Squealed their pain in protest
When me and the beetle were facing the way 
That we’d been a-coming from
That rusty tin can rolled onto her side
And my terrified moment was done

I was surprised to find I was alive 
And I hadn’t hit anything
I knew that I had to act pretty quickly 
In case she burst into flames
I fumbled around, unbuckled my seatbelt 
Got out the window as fast as I could
Pulled my guitar from the back seat
And went to sit by the wood

INSTRUMENTAL VERSE

I opened the case, took out my guitar 
Sat down and started to play
‘Til the local sheriff showed up with a tow truck
To haul me and my buggy away
‘Cause I’d lost my license, I had no insurance, 
And the registration expired
He took what paper I had to his cruiser
To see if I was a liar

Three good ol’ boys who'd been toking nearby
Strolled on over to me
The first one said, “Son, that was some of the best 
Darn drivin’ I ever did seen
Ain’t nothing leakin’ from this old Beetle 
On account of her air-cooled engine
All we gotta do is flip her on over
I bet she’ll start right up again.”

I supposed I had nothing to lose 
So I said, ‘Let’s give it a try.’
The four of us lifted from under the roof side
And sure enough got her upright
The sheriff came back, chased off my new pals
Had a buck fifty summons for me
But then he sent the tow truck away 
And let me back in the driver’s seat

I could hardly believe it when I turned the key
And the engine sputtered to life
The sheriff watched me drive off and it hit me
I damn sure could have died
Feelin’ older I drove a bit slower 
Takin’ my good ol’ time
The bourbon flowed when I got to her home 
She loved me to sleep that night

INSTRUMENTAL VERSE

On the road then next morning in my Volkswagen beetle
On my way to the Philly Folk Fest
The engine hummed like nothing had happened
But I knew I’d been blessed
I soaked in the scenery as I thought of the evening
And my night with my good friend
Thankin’ my god and my lucky stars cause
I never thought I’d see her again

Headed Down the Road in my Volkswagen beetle
After that night with my friend
Thankin’ my god and my lucky stars 
I was headed Down the Road again

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP.

Down the Road

Supposed to Be

I dreamt that we were thrown from a big jet plane
Just as it exploded in a ball of flame
I tried to take your hand as we fell down
You slipped away before we hit the ground

Right or wrong, love’s a mystery 
Caught between heaven and the deep blue sea
Sometimes wish I could rewrite history
In the end you’re right where you’re Supposed to Be

Been asking myself lots of questions lately
But the answers always seem to escape me
Spinning my wheels like a truck in the mud
I’m a boxer laid out in his sweat and blood

Right or wrong, love’s a mystery 
Caught between heaven and the deep blue sea
Sometimes wish I could rewrite history
In the end I’m right where I’m Supposed to Be

I’ve been lying to myself, ignoring your tears
I couldn’t save us in a million years

Right or wrong, love’s a mystery 
Caught between heaven and the deep blue sea
Sometimes wish I could rewrite history
Guess we’re right where we’re Supposed to Be
In the end we’re right where we’re Supposed to Be

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP.

Supposed to Be

This life’s been hard to live since I was young
Daddy went and died on me when I was only one
Left me to wonder what I did to deserve it
Mama tried her best to raise me up right 
From my first days at school all I ever did was fight
Somehow, I found the wrong crowd to fit in with

Pray for me, baby, forgive my sins
Pray for me, baby, let your love shine in
Pray for me, baby, save my soul
Pray for me, baby, in your church of rock n roll
Pray for me, pray for me

I always found somebody else to blame
I damn near killed myself tryin’ to ease my pain
Used whiskey and women so’s I didn’t have to face it
Nearly lost myself in a world of hurt
Actin’ like I’s havin’ fun goin’ from bad to worse
Now, I’m done runnin’, I’m gonna embrace it
 
Pray for me, baby, forgive my sins
Pray for me, baby, let your love shine in
Pray for me, baby, save my soul
Pray for me, baby, in your church of rock n roll
Pray for me, pray for me 

Mama always told me I could be someone
I never believed her ‘cause I was her only son
Thanks to you I know there must be something to it
I never knew another anything like you
You’re the only person feels safe enough to talk to
You could break what’s left of my heart and I’d help you do it

Pray for me, baby, forgive my sins
Pray for me, baby, let your love shine in
Pray for me, baby, save my soul
Pray for me, baby, in your church of rock n roll
Pray for me, pray for me

Pray for me, baby, pray for me

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP.

Pray For Me

You can make the coyotes howl
Wild like an alley cat on the prowl 
Do what you want, no apologies
One glance’ll bring a grown man to his knees
Blow up all my best laid plans
Outlaw Woman

Outlaw Woman
You can’t be tamed
Outlaw Woman
Your rules, your game
I wouldn’t want it any other way
My Outlaw Woman

Things get crazy when you show up
In a limo or a pick up truck
Back tat peeking over cut-off jeans
My Bonnie Parker highway queen 
In the thick when it hits the fan
Outlaw Woman

Outlaw Woman
You can’t be tamed
Outlaw Woman
Your rules, your game
I wouldn’t want it any other way
My Outlaw Woman

Spill blood for those you love
Lightning flashing stormy weather
You’re more than woman enough
Do what the boys do only better

Outlaw Woman
You can’t be tamed
Outlaw Woman
Your rules, your game
I wouldn’t want it any other way
My Outlaw Woman

Outlaw Woman
Outlaw Woman
I wouldn’t want it any other way
My Outlaw Woman

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP

Outlaw Woman (WIP)

BLACK SHEEP OF NASHVILLE
words and music by Michael (Amoriello) Michnya

Grew up in a broke down trailer park
On country songs sure to break your heart
Feelin’ the ache of my growin’ pains
Like howling wind on the lonely plains
The only thing that got me through
The dustbowl wasteland of my youth
Was three chords and the cold, hard truth
From the Black Sheep of Nashville

Hank and Townes were both gone too young
Waylon, Johnny and Merle followed one by one
Country’s heart and soul is growin’ old
Seems Willie and Earle are all that’s left
I’ll take ‘em over all the rest
Gimme one last toke as their credits roll

Tucked a goodbye note ‘neath the family bible
Lit out like a guilty man on trial
I was old enough to quit high school
Too dumb to know what I was gettin’ into
Bent my back in the school of hard knocks
Played my guitar around the clock
Sang the songs from the honky tonk jukebox
From those Black Sheep of Nashville

Middle 8

A Teas Rose gave a place to stay
Had some good times ‘fore we parted ways
She’s pretty as wildflowers in spring
Terrible as winter and as unforgiving
Took pills ‘til the pills took me
Did a year in the county but I got clean
By the grace of God now I’m as free
As those Black Sheep of Nashville

Hank and Townes were both gone too young
Waylon, Johnny and Merle followed one by one
Country’s heart and soul is growin’ old
Seems Willie and Earle are all that’s left
I’ll take ‘em over all the rest
Gimme one last toke as their credits roll

I don’t mind growin’ long in the tooth
Long as I can still pick the tunes
Three chords and the unvarnished truth
From the Black Sheep of Nashville
Gimme three chords and the simple truth
And those Black Sheep of Nashville

© Michael A. Michnya, Amor Songs, ASCAP.

The Black Sheep of Nashville

My mother's love of music and willingness to wait until I was interested is the reason I perform under her maiden name. 

Mike (Amoriello) Michnya

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