Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1997 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/october-sun-by-mike-shupp/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">October Sun</a> by Mike Shupp
(c) (p) 1997 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00110

(lyrics)

Like a river to the sea
You will come back to me
Into the waiting night
You will be the light

Like the rain that fills the ground
You are falling down
And to this empty earth
You will be returned

Like a ship that sails alone
You are far from home
And through a raging storm
You will be reborn

Until your journey's through
I will wait for you
And when this circle ends
I will have you again

Like a river to the sea
You will come back to me
You will come back to me

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1997 Workplace Music (BMI)

River To The Sea

Words and Music by Mike Shupp&#13;
Copyright (c) 1997 Workplace Music (BMI)&#13;
&#13;
from the CD single <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/a-little-fun-october-sun/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Little Fun / October Sun – Single</a> by Mike Shupp&#13;
Release date: Oct 16, 1997&#13;
(c) (p) 1997 Private Mind Records&#13;
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00151&#13;
&#13;
Produced by Mike Shupp&#13;
Recorded and Mixed by Mike Harvey at Actiondale Recorders, Annandale, VA&#13;
Mastered by Mark Edmondson at South Moon Productions, Burke, VA&#13;
&#13;
Mike Shupp: Vocals, Guitars&#13;
Chris Zogby: Drums&#13;
Harry Dailey: Bass&#13;
Buddy Speir: Guitar, Background Vocals &#13;
&#13;
    (lyrics)&#13;
&#13;
Let’s have ourselves a little&#13;
Let’s have ourselves a little fun&#13;
We’re not under the gun&#13;
We’re not on the run, and we’re feeling&#13;
fine, so&#13;
&#13;
Drive on down the road, take it&#13;
Take it as far as it will go&#13;
Drive on into&#13;
Into this night&#13;
&#13;
Breakdown inside, another&#13;
Another roller coaster ride, well I&#13;
Don’t hold it against you&#13;
Don’t really resent you, it’s just this thing&#13;
that I&#13;
&#13;
Try hard to understand when I&#13;
Feel less than a man, you’ve got to&#13;
Breakdown into&#13;
Into the light&#13;
&#13;
Well I feel my emotions go cold&#13;
As I watch your devotion unfold&#13;
&#13;
Let’s have ourselves a little&#13;
Let’s have ourselves a little fun&#13;
We’ve got nothing to lose&#13;
We’ve got no good use for feeling down,&#13;
so&#13;
&#13;
Turn up the radio and we can&#13;
Sing every song we know ‘cause I know&#13;
We get into&#13;
Feeling alright&#13;
&#13;
Well I’ve got one good reason, if I&#13;
Seem displeased with your&#13;
Endless good time&#13;
Well you took me for a real good ride&#13;
&#13;
So drive on down the road and by the&#13;
Time that we are home&#13;
Maybe I’ll begin to&#13;
Have a little fun&#13;
Have a little fun&#13;
Let’s have ourselves a little fun&#13;
&#13;
Words and Music by Mike Shupp&#13;
Copyright (c) 1997 Workplace Music (BMI)

A Little Fun

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1997 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the CD single <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/a-little-fun-october-sun/">A Little Fun / October Sun – Single</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 16, 1997
(c) (p) 1997 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00152

Produced by Mike Shupp
Recorded and Mixed by Mike Harvey at Actiondale Recorders, Annandale, VA
Mastered by Mark Edmondson at South Moon Productions, Burke, VA

Mike Shupp: Vocals, Guitars
Chris Zogby: Drums
Harry Dailey: Bass
Buddy Speir: Guitar, Background Vocals 

&nbsp; &nbsp; (lyrics)

Yesterday, like any day
Cruel words sent you away
Cold, cold day, disappear

October sun
Don’t fade away
October sun
Shine down today

Leaves fall, I fall, you fall
Look around, see them lie
On the ground

October sun
Shine down on me
October sun
It’s only me

Shine down on me, shine all
around
On all I see, shine without a
sound

Yesterday, like any day
So I told you

October sun
Shine down on me
October sun
It’s only me

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1997 Workplace Music (BMI)

October Sun

Words and Music by Mike Shupp&#13;
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)&#13;
&#13;
from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp&#13;
Release date: Oct 7, 2000&#13;
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records&#13;
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00202&#13;
&#13;
(lyrics)&#13;
&#13;
Got my head on straight today&#13;
Made it through yesterday&#13;
Relatively unscathed&#13;
No time to figure it out&#13;
Can't find a single lingering doubt&#13;
&#13;
Got my head on straight for once&#13;
Haven't felt quite this well&#13;
For so many months&#13;
No time to scheme and plan&#13;
Hit the ground start running as fast as I can&#13;
&#13;
Got my head on straight tonight&#13;
Gonna find out what went wrong&#13;
And make it all right&#13;
Sometimes I feel this way&#13;
Can't seem to make this feeling stay&#13;
Make it stay, make it stay&#13;
&#13;
No time to scheme and plan&#13;
Hit the ground start running as fast as I can&#13;
As fast as I can&#13;
&#13;
Got my head on straight at last&#13;
But voices are still calling me back to the past&#13;
High time, just turn and go&#13;
Stick around and I'll surely know my fate&#13;
And that can wait&#13;
That can wait&#13;
&#13;
Got my head on straight today&#13;
Yeah, today&#13;
Yeah, today&#13;
&#13;
Words and Music by Mike Shupp&#13;
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Head On Straight

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00204

(lyrics)

Condescending
Do away with words
We go as far as we dare

But I would not mind at all
Save for this certain fall
I don't even care
I'll just keep on grasping at the air

In the spotlight
Turn the tables now
It doesn't seem very fair

But I would not feel a thing
Walk home in the morning rain
Stories volunteered
Save face year after year, well

When are you going to give
'Cause I'm just tryin' to live

My life
My life
My life
With you

Condescending
Do away with words
We go as far as we dare

But I would not mind at all
Save for this certain fall
I don't even care
I'll just keep on grasping at the air

When are you going to give
'Cause I'm just tryin' to live

My life
My life
My life
Tryin' to live my life
Tryin' to live my life

Just tryin' to live
Tryin' to live my life
With you

Tryin' to live my life
Live my life
Just tryin' to live
Just tryin' to live
Tryin' to live my life
Live my life
Just tryin' to live
Just tryin' to live

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

My Life

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00205

(lyrics)

Stranded here in a world you fear
You 're on your own
Sacred heart now come apart
Where is your home
In a world so cold
In a daydream now grown old

Stranded here in this new year
What have you done
Something unmistakable
Are you having fun
Oh but do come in
Please confess your sin

This is not how it was supposed to be
This is not how they will remember me
This is not how it was supposed to be

Solid ground beneath your feet
And heaven above
Voices are
Speaking of
A place you know
Now do you want to go
Do you want to go

Stranded here what's left to fear
Nothing at all
Slowly you begin to see
What broke your fall
Just a changing guard
How can it be when you have come this far

This is not how it was supposed to be
This is not how they will remember me
This is not how it was supposed to be
This is not how they will remember me
They will remember me

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Stranded

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00206

(lyrics)

Put on any disguise you like
And you see through holes cut out for eyes
You're taking notes as your life goes by
Yeah you're wasting my time

Now I can't look down memory lane
There's a hole in the ground where I called your name
Something changed, something feels the same
Now I'm running away

When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die

Come to face the truth of it
No they don't even know the half of it
You ain't giving close to what you get
Are you willing to try

I won't take none of your advice
When you look at me with those vacant eyes
Oh yeah I know
It would sure feel nice

When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die
Oh when I die
Yeah when I die
Oh when I die

Quiet now
Let me touch your face
Let me hear the sound
You wanna make

So put on any disguise you like
And you might find me in between the lines
Mirror image, yeah it suits you fine
Oh I'm wasting my time

When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die
When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

When I Die

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00207

(lyrics)

It's so good to see you
So good to see you my old friend
Those days are gone
But we will bring them back again
We never end

What's happened to you
Have they all finally brought you down
I turn away
As the bitter words tumble out
They tumble out

Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
You always knew the right way
Don't listen to what they say
Don't let me see you this way

Well I tried my best
To keep this old spirit alive
I followed you
Only to watch your spirit die
Now where is your pride

Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
You always knew the right way
Don't listen to what they say
Don't let me see you this way

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Don't Let Me See You This Way

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00208

(lyrics)

Is this a game
That you don't wanna play
I see you here
Thought you were far away
Turn around
Not before it's too late

What could be wrong
Well you will never know
What it is like
When you never let it show
Innocent eyes
Always give you away

Well she looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
Her face

Your hair is black
Just like it always was
You look so nervous
There's no one you can trust
Such a shame
To see it turned out this way

I want to run
I want to hide
And tell you everything
I feel inside
I want to go
Then I want to stay

Well she looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
Her face

Isn't it the least you can do
Remember when I knew you
We said our sad, our sad good-byes
Now there's no trace in your eyes

Into the night
Leave you to watch the show
Empty streets
And nowhere left to go
Why do you
Always leave me this way

Well she looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
The way she looked right through me
She looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
Her face
I still see her face

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Right Through Me

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00209

(lyrics)

You're looking through an hourglass
Watching the sand fall
Wondering if your big plans will get you
Anywhere at all
Walking down an empty street
Silence in your ears
A million eyes upon you and you just
Wanna disappear- yeah

And oh, it's a crime how
You're always waiting for tomorrow
Stop wasting time now
You can't beg, can't steal or borrow
Can't beg, can't steal or borrow

Giving in to circumstance
You make it your ally
Counting on a second chance
Believing, believing your own lies
Now the sun is setting low
What happened to today
What could have been you'll never know
What will be only you can say
Only you can say

It's up there on the movie screen
It's shining in your eyes
It's cutting to the final scene
That's got you paralyzed
Down to the wire now
There's no turning back
Waiting 'til you find the power
You're gonna, gonna fade to black

And, oh, it's a crime how
You're always waiting for tomorrow
Stop wasting time now
You can't beg, can't steal or borrow
Oh, it's on the line now
There's no one left for you to follow
You're wasting time now
Stop waiting for tomorrow
Waiting for tomorrow
Waiting for tomorrow, waiting for tomorrow, tomorrow
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Waiting For Tomorrow

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00210

(lyrics)

What did you mean
When you said that to me
What did you mean
Could you enlighten me
I've heard that tone of voice before
And I'm already halfway out the door
I don't guess there would be anything more
I'll just pick my jaw right off the floor

What did you mean
When you said that to me
I couldn't believe it
Care to explain that to me
I'm just not sure if I heard you right
This will keep me up most of the night
I hope that's not what you think of me
I'm not thinking too clearly

Not thinking too clearly
Were you thinking at all
Not that guilty really
That I can recall

Why don't you just come right out with it
The pieces you're giving me don't fit
I don't want to get your meaning wrong
Is this how you've been feeling all along

What did you mean, what did you mean
When you said that to me
Misunderstand you, I don't want to
Misunderstand you, I don't want to
Misunderstand you

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

What Did You Mean

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00211

(lyrics)

Nothing ever changes
Nothing ever really does
In the game of love
Go and rearrange us
I won't be here when you call
Don't watch me fall

I don't need your reasons
I don't need to see you
I don't need to hear your sorry lies
If you want to find me
I'll be lost inside
Your starry eyes

Any situation
You can find a new way out
There is no doubt
Your imagination
You let it run away with you
Now do you know the truth

Far across the water
You went searching after
Now your answers they light up the night
I've still got your picture
I can still remember your starry eyes

I still remember your starry eyes
I can still remember your starry eyes
You light up the night with your starry eyes
Oh I'm lost inside your starry eyes

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Starry Eyes

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/the-key/">The Key</a> by Mike Shupp
Release date: Oct 7, 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00212

(lyrics)

Watching the sun go down
It's the end of today
I've been quite a while in this town
I feel far away

But don't tell me
What you think is wrong
Just save your breath
This moment is almost gone

Watching the sun go down
Fade into night
Give away all I've found
Wait for the light

But don't tell me
What you think I should do
Just save your breath
This moment feels brand new

Watching the sun go down
A chill in the air
I don't know where I am bound
Never used to care

You don't have to tell me
What I already know
Don't waste your breath
Yes I know, it's time to go
Time to go
Time to go

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)

Watching The Sun Go Down

Link:  Apple Music Connect “Wall Between Us (demo, ’90)”
http://www.mikeshupp.com/news/apple-music-connect-wall-between-us-demo-90/
Link:  Download
http://download.mikeshupp.com/track/wall-between-us-demo-90

Recently came across this demo of one of my earliest songs… recorded in 1990 with my good friends Ralph Warnock and Ema, at Ema’s Ikhaya Studios (the “version 1.0” location, in Herndon, VA). Beautifully recorded and mixed at the time by Ema on his Tascam 388 and mastered to DAT, those master tapes vanished, unfortunately, long ago; I have captured to digital here from this last remaining, well-worn cassete dub, via my Nakamichi MR-1 Pro cassette deck, into 96 kHz / 32-bit-float Pro Tools® session audio (cassette dropouts and all…)

Mike Shupp: Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Ema: Drum programming
Recorded and Mixed by Ema at Ikhaya Studios, Spring 1990, Herndon, VA

released March 2, 2016
(recorded in 1990)

Words and Music by Mike Shupp (c) 1990 Workplace Music (BMI)
(c) 1990 Private Mind Records
(p) 1990 Private Mind Records and Ikhaya Studios / Anthr-O-Tone Productions
ISRC: US-PM4-16-00001
upc: 615824001654 | catalog: PMR-400016

Wall Between Us (demo, '90)

Words and Music by Mike Shupp&#13;
Copyright (c) 2002 Workplace Music (BMI)&#13;
&#13;
from the album <a href="http://soundcloud.com/mike-shupp/sets/this-time/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Time</a> by Mike Shupp&#13;
Release date: Sep 27, 2002&#13;
(c) (p) 2002 Private Mind Records&#13;
ISRC: US-PM4-03-00301&#13;
&#13;
(lyrics)&#13;
&#13;
Outta sight&#13;
Didn't put up a fight&#13;
Now I wonder if you're right&#13;
This time&#13;
&#13;
Down and out&#13;
Now I'm found out&#13;
Another Saturday night out&#13;
Wastin' time&#13;
&#13;
Now I'm complicated&#13;
But I'm not quite elated&#13;
To hear your point of view&#13;
I guess I'm going to&#13;
I'll take a seat&#13;
I won't make you repeat&#13;
What you want to say&#13;
I know you've got a lot to say&#13;
I know you've got a lot to say&#13;
This time&#13;
&#13;
Come and go&#13;
Now the true colors show&#13;
Feelin' left out of the know&#13;
Time after time&#13;
&#13;
Break it down&#13;
Out on the streets of this town&#13;
Gonna take another round&#13;
Can ya do the time&#13;
&#13;
Now I'm complicated&#13;
But I'm not quite elated&#13;
To hear your point of view&#13;
I know you really want me to&#13;
I'll take a seat&#13;
I won't make you repeat&#13;
What you've come to say&#13;
I know you've got a lot to say&#13;
I know you've got a lot to say&#13;
This time&#13;
I know you've got a lot to say&#13;
This time&#13;
&#13;
Words and Music by Mike Shupp&#13;
Copyright (c) 2002 Workplace Music (BMI)

This Time

Singer, Songwriter, Musician

"Big hooks, sharp pop instincts"
— THE WASHINGTON POST
"Once again Shupp has crafted a fantastic CD full of the sounds radio should be yearning for... great melodies... 4 stars"
— PASTE MAGAZINE

Mike Shupp writes American guitar pop songs that conjure the heartland, cruising through summer nights with one hand on the wheel, and the unlimited potential in tomorrow. With his buzzing and crunching guitars, soaring vocal harmonies, and hooks that he seemingly has written into every other line of every song, Shupp's music, his third full-length CD release "This Time" (Private Mind Records), is...

Mike Shupp

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