After 40 years of songwriting, and 25 years of marriage... an actual love song.

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Angel

Eddie

better way

Rough cut, recorded live on my iPhone.  Just tired of all the noise.

Ranting in the Fray

CopperheadRoad.mp3

Rough Tracks

None of My Business

Words I've Wasted

Ready When I Leave
Mike Frankē

Come on in, the door's open. Pull up a chair.
Don't act like a stranger; I know you've been biding your time out there.
I’ve been expecting you for a whole lot of years.
I guess it’s about time you’re here.

I’d like to sing you a story, of a life well lived.
About a man content that he gave all he had to give.
I been tryin’ to write that tune for a whole lot of years.
Time’s up, now you’re here.

CHORUS
I don’t wanna go scared or angry.
Never wanted to die in my sleep.
Wanna meet my end eyes wide open.
Wanna be ready when I leave.

I’ve got a million excuses; bet you’ve heard ‘em all before.
As if a little more time would make a difference, anymore.
I’ve been avoiding you for a whole lot of years.
And I still can’t believe you’re here.

CHORUS

I know it's time to go now; I’m sorry to complain.
I guess every worthy journey brings a little pain.
But I’ve been blessed with a whole lot of years.
So show me, where we go from here.

CHORUS, Tag

Ready When I Leave

Sell What’s On The Truck
Mike Frankē (c) 2020

There's an old man downtown
Sells tomatoes by the pound
They the best for miles around
Guarrateed

I asked if he' ever tried
To possibly diversify
He just shook his head and smiled
Said to me

CHORUS
Sell what’s on the truck (x2)
You don’t need what you ain’t got
Sell what’s on the truck (x3)
Don't try to be what you are not
Just sell what’s on the truck

Well my sweetheart said baby please
Will you tell me truthfully
Do you like me in these jeans
Do they make my butt look fat?

Well, I don’t need a PhD
In feminine psychology
To know what she was asking me
Had nothin’ to do with that

CHORUS

My little boy is growin’ older
Met a girl, got a little bolder
Had his heart broke when he hold her
How he loved her so

He cried his eyes out all night long
Asked me what what he was doin’ wrong
I said if I had a clue I'd pass it on
Better let it go


CHORUS

Well I am trying to be a better man
Doin’ the best I can
Worin' on that master plan
Searchin’ faithfully

Life was bein’ pretty rough
I got all wrapped up in my stuff
I never felt quite good enough
'Till the preacher said to me

CHORUS (x2), Tag

Rough Cuts

Sell What's On The Truck

Clocks on the Wall
Mike Franke (c) 2011


It was love at first sight when he saw her that day
Tending her roses outside
His reputation preceded, but the romance succeeded
They were soon a new groom and a bride

The wedding was small, it was no big-to-do
Just a dinner, and a dance 'round the floor
They just shared their confessions, combined their possessions
He was 90, and she 84

And they hung all their memories in the hallways and rooms
Scattered and unsynchronized
Their cuckoo collection played random selections
From the pages of both of their lives

CHORUS
Every clock on the wall tells a story
With its own individual chime
Wait a minute or ten, one'll come 'round again
In its own individual time

Now Kathy does things in particular ways
Like the way she takes corn flakes with juice
You'll get a piece of her mind, but she's generous and kind
No time for things of no use

And George swings a hammer, he still shovels snow
Still croons a tune now and again
And the dress uniform he wore in the army
Still fits him like it did then

CHORUS

From Jamaica, West Indies, to Jamaica in Queens
Kathy came, though it's been a long time
Now she lives on Long Island, where George keeps her smilin'
Sipping ice cubes in their wine

And the TV is blaring at midnight again
As they nod off to sleep on the couch
They're happy together; might just live forever
Content, tick tock, their house

CHORUS, out

Rouch Cuts

Clocks On The Wall

Do You Have Any Questions
Mike Frankē (c) 2020

CHORUS
Do you have any questions that I could answer for you?
‘Cause my time is near to an end
And there isn’t much left I’m still able to do.
It would make me so happy
To leave you one more piece of me
Do you have any questions?

I was a boy when the war came and took all we had
I don’t talk about it much, it just makes me sad
Mother tried hard to hide her fear
Dad was never around, then he disappeared
I was a boy when the war came and took all we had

There was many a way to die, and little to eat
We stole the clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet
We didn’t think much of the stories we heard
When the game is survival, the truth gets blurred
There was many a way to die, and little to eat

(Break)

We ran from the Russians and fled to the Western line
The bombs fell around us, and lit up the darkest of times
Somehow we lived through it, two of us boys
Mom didn’t make it, we made a choice
We ran from the Russians and fled to the Western line

It was hard for orphans, but we knew how to survive
Our wits and our grit and our innocence kept us alive
We weren’t so tough, but the other kids knew
If they picked a fight, they’d be fighting two
It was hard for orphans, but we knew how to survive

When the tanks rolled into town, it was something to see
The yank on the top of the turret waved up at me
With the sound of the people cheering them on
We came down out of hiding to welcome the dawn
When the tanks rolled into town, it was something to see

(Break)

When we came to this country we didn’t have much to our names
But we had each other, and we worked at the men we became
We made lives for ourselves, your uncle and me
Poured everything into our families
When we came to this country, we didn’t have much to our names

You know, I never regretted to leave the old country behind
It never came easy, but I didn't mind
I wish that I'd had more time with your mom
We had a good life, and now she's gone
But I never regretted to leave the old country behind

I’m proud to say, we did the best we could do
I guess we did alright, looking at you
My day is done, now it's yours
Pain is forgotten, love endures...
I’m proud to say, we did the best we could do

CHORUS

Do You Have Any Questions

Key Lime Pie
Mike Frankē (c) 2020

You make me smile; Satisfy me
Make me more of a man than I thought I could ever be
A little is not enough for me when it comes to you
Forgive me, if I indulge the way I do

When we're together, I lose control
I want you all to myself; won’t share you with another soul
And my obsession, just might lead me to the grave
But we're only livin' when we misbehave

CHORUS
I love you, key lime pie
A twist of fruit on top, fresh whipped cream on the side
I like other sweets, but I cannot deny
That I love you, key lime pie

You've always been a guilty pleasure, I must confess
Nobody understands like you do, how I like it best
I still lick my lips when you come in the room
But I will try not to, finish too soon

I want to make it last, all night long
Never get tired if you, every mouthful turns me on
Anything that feels this good, must be a little sin
And if we don't get enough, we'll just get it again

CHORUS, out

Key Lime Pie

Solo acoustic singer-songwriter.  Blues-infused Americana.

mikefrankemusic

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