(I Ain't No) Mule

The second track produced between Matt and Bruce Pierce, at American Bull Studio, in Upton, MA.

The song came quickly to me a few years back after reading a newspaper account about an old cold case.

Bruce provided invaluable suggestions for the song, and Brooks provided the perfect haunting accompaniment to emphasize the plaintive text.

Not everybody is who they want to be.

Vicke Lee came from Kansas; told everybody she was from Denver
And fifty years ago, they say she took a ride from a man said he'd take her there
Anywhere.
They say she took a ride from a man said he'd take her there.

Some say she boarded a bus out of town
Left her husband in a diner waiting.
He never said goodbye, never did kiss her.
He paid the check and said, "That's the strangest thing
Strangest thing
Why would anybody go running off that way?"

Others say she ran with her professor.
He made her feel so smart, new, and free.
She was gonna go where nobody knew her
Find someplace where maybe she could start again
Start again.
Everybody deserves a chance to start again.

Dyed her hair from black to brown to ginger
Sighed in the mirror, did it all again.
Her husband said, "I love you for who you are."
Vicke said, "Maybe who I am ain't who I want to be,
Want to be."
"Not everybody is who they want to be.

Vicke Lee came from Kansas; told everybody she was from Denver
And fifty years ago, they say she took a ride from a man said he'd take her there
Anywhere.
They say she took a ride from a man said he'd take her there.

Not everybody is who they want to be.

released October 1, 2021
Words and music by Matt Robert
Recorded summer of 2021 at American Bull Studios, Upton, MA.
Engineer/Producer: Bruce Pierce
Mastering: Bob St. John

Nylon guitar, Dobro, vocals: Matt Robert
Piano and Accordion: Brooks Milgate Drums: Bruce Pierce

Cover art by Quinn Robert/Distortion.net on Instagram.

www.facebook.com/MattRobertMusic
www.facebook.com/brooks.milgate
www.facebook.com/americanbullstudios
www.facebook.com/bob.s.john.127

October 1, 2021

Vicke Lee

Wild Wind Blowing is a tune I wrote a few years ago after reading Norman Mailer's Executioner's Song.

The recited passage is an excerpt from the book.

Judge he wants my life
Jury wants it, too
Law they want to take my life
Wild wind blowing

I stood before the judge
Said he’d take my life
I said, “You can have it, judge”
Wild wind blowing, baby
Wild wind blowing, baby
Wild wind blowing, baby
Wild wind blow

Wild wind blow
Wild wind blowing, baby
Wild wind blow
Heard my mama call
(2x)

Spent my life in jail
No one gave a damn
Now that I’m almost gone’s
A wild wind blowing

Folks they trying to save me
Others do me in
Pickin’ me apart like buzzards, baby
Wild wind blowing
Wild wind blowing, baby
Wild wind blowing, baby
Wild wind blow

Chorus: (2x)

Jail it took my life away
Judge he took the rest
Said before he was through
He’d put four in my chest

People keep on talkin’, now
Wild wind blowing, baby
There lips keep on movin’, baby
Wild wind blowing, baby

Chorus and repeat until fade


credits
released January 17, 2022
Wild Wind Blowing - Words and music by Matt Robert
Guitars - Matt Robert
Lead Vocal - Matt Robert
Second Vocal - Keri Anderson
Drums - Bruce Pierce

Recorded October, 2021-January, 2022, Mooncusser Recording, Upton, MA
Engineer/Producer - Bruce Pierce
Mastering - Bob St. John

Wild Wind Blowing

released May 19, 2022 
Guitar/Bass/Vocals: Matt Robert
Drums: Bruce Pierce
Keys: Brooks Milgate
Flute: Sarah Carcia

Recorded March/April, 2022 at Mooncusser Recording, Upton, MA
Words/Music: Matt Robert
Engineering/Production: Bruce Pierce
Mastering: Bob St. John
Artwork: Quinn Robert/Distortion

Didn't You See

Dollar Store

A song I wrote for my dear niece's wedding father/daughter dance.

I’ll never forget
The day that we met
The stars aligned
And fortunes were set

I looked into your brown eyes
Saw a piece of me
We’ve grown as one since that day
And now it’s so hard to give you away

May we always sing together
Even if I sing off key
May you always be new
Always be free

Raise your glass to the good times
Face the hard times with grace
May the good winds blow you onward
And the sun always warm your face

I’ll never regret
Letting you go
To spread your wings
And your dreams to follow

I’ll always walk beside you
Stand strong by your side
As you make your way
I’ll watch it all with pride

May we always sing together
Even if I sing off key
May you always be new
Always be free

Raise your glass to the good times
Face the hard times with grace
May the good winds blow you onward
And the sun always warm your face
credits
released January 9, 2023
Recorded between November, 2022-January, 2023 by Bruce Pierce, at Mooncusser recording, Upton, MA.

Words/music, acoustic guitars, and mandolin: Matt Robert
Lead guitar: Quinn Robert
Bass and drums: Kevin Christensen
Keys and accordion: Daniel Gay

Mastering: Bob St. John
Digital art: Quinn Robert (Distortion.net on IG)

For Maddie

A polka-ish story song set in down-and-out 1930s Paris and, ultimately, about faith,

A Prayer for St. Eloise

"Hot Water" addresses the current - which is to say age-old - conflicts of good and evil in a sort-of talking blues style.

Hot Water

Flubber was a Worcester, MA, band from September, 1990, to the end of 1993, made up of Bill Butkus, Mark Debennedictis, Paul Plourde, and Matt Robert.

Matt Robert 2

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