Water Under The Bridge
© 2021 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice: lead, BGV's, melody & arrangement
Peter: guitars and arrangement
Marty Straub: Bass
Bud: lyric, arrangement, mix, mastering & photo
Thanks to Marty for the bass track and PG Music.

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

YOU BLEW INTO MY LIFE LIKE A HURRICANE
TURNING MY WORLD AROUND TILL LITTLE REMAINED
THERE WAS NO CALM BEFORE THE STORM
BUT NOW I’M DREAMING OF A NEW MORN

	TODAY I TOOK OUR PICTURE OFF THE FRIDGE
	NOW YOU’RE JUST WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
	YOU CAN PACK UP AND HIT THE ROAD
	TAKE ALL YOUR BAGGAGE AND LIGHTEN MY LOAD

YOU ACT LIKE YOUR FAMILY TREE AIN’T GOT BRANCHES
LORD, I’M NOT GONNA	TAKE ANOTHER CHANCE
RINGS  AND SCHEMES	DON’T WORK FOR ME
I KNOW IT’S GONNA COME I’M ALMOST FREE

	TODAY I TOOK OUR PICTURE OFF THE FRIDGE
	NOW YOU’RE JUST WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
	YOU CAN PACK UP AND HIT THE ROAD
	TAKE ALL YOUR BAGGAGE AND LIGHTEN MY LOAD

	YOU’RE JUST WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

Water Under The Bridge

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
© Trad Arr (Jimmy Cox 1923) J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Thanks to our music partner Peter, to a fine bass player Marty and to www.pgmusic.com
Our take on a nearly 100 year old domain song.  We tweaked the lyric to put it from a woman's perspective telling her man she'll make out OK without him.
Janice Merritt: vocals & arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitars & arrangement  
Marty Straub: bass
Bud Merritt: production, mix, mastering, photo, etc

YOU TRIED TO LIVE THE LIFE OF A MILLIONAIRE
SPENT ALL MY MONEY, YOU DIDN’T CARE
TOOK ALL OUR FRIENDS OUT FOR A GOOD TIME
BOUGHT EM BOURBON WHISKEY AND FINE WINE

YOU LEFT ME AND I FELL SO LOW
LOST ALL MY GOOD FRIENDS, I HAD NOWHERE TO GO
IF I GET MY HANDS ON A DOLLAR AGAIN
I’M GONNA HANG ON TO IT TILL THAT EAGLE GRINS

CAUSE NO, NOBODY KNOWS YOU
WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT
IN MY POCKET, NOT ONE PENNY
AND AS FOR FRIENDS, I DON’T HAVE ANY

WHEN I FINALLY GET BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN
YOU’LL WANT TO BE MY OLD LONG LOST FRIEND
THEY SAY IT’S MIGHTY STRANGE, WITHOUT A DOUBT
NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT

WHEN I FINALLY GET BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN
YOU’LL WANT TO BE MY OLD LONG LOST FRIEND
THEY SAY IT’S MIGHTY STRANGE, WITHOUT A DOUBT
NOBODY KNOWS YOU
NOBODY KNOWS YOU
NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

Passing Through
© 2021 Leon Sewell, Peter Fulham & Janice Merritt
Janice: vocals/melody/arrangement
Leon: lyric/arrangement
Peter: guitars/mandolin/arrangement
Bud: mix/mastering/RealTracks/RealDrums/photo
Thanks to www.pgmusic.com

He was a lonely traveller, she met him with a smile
Helped him to forget his troubles for a little while 
Ten thousand miles or more away from his home
Saw the welcome in her eyes, no longer felt alone
	Chorus
	Beware the man who’s passing through   Don’t give your heart away
	Counting on that man to stay  Beware the man who’s passing through

She’d loved and lost before, her friends said oh tread carefully
Dear friends please worry not, I’m certain that he cares for me
When I look into his eyes, I’m sure that love is what I see
Her friends said be that as it may, we beg you to go carefully
	Repeat Chorus

When the winter chills arrived, he dreamed of other latitudes
Her kisses lost their power to chase away his winter blues
I feel the time has come for me to take the road once more
My smile won’t fail, won’t let him see a single teardrop fall

  Bridge
  I’ll pretend I took him lightly    He won’t know I’ll miss him nightly
  Like ships that passed I’ll leave him thinking  He won’t know my heart is sinking   
  Let him think that I will soon forget   Oh, let him think that I will soon forget

	Repeat Chorus

Passing Through

Doubt's Shadow
© 2021 B. Merritt, J. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice Merritt: vocals/melody/arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitars/arrangement
Bud Merritt: lyric/mix/mastering/arrangement/photo
Thanks to Peter and PG Music www.pgmusic.com
www.janiceandbud.com


Doubt’s Shadow

V1
I lie and watch the fan slowly turning
Like a clock it’s shadows dance on the ceiling
Does each turn count the days since you left?
Or with each one am I closer to my healing?

CHORUS

Without you I struggle to find my next step
Without you the days seem to grow longer 
I do not want to leave doubt’s shadow 
It’s a safe harbor where my hope  can linger

V2

In my shadow the memories drift slowly by
Everywhere I turn there are too many voices
All my family and friends are trying to offer help 
When I listen they shout out too many choices 

REPEAT CHORUS

tag:  It’s my safe harbor here in doubt’s shadow

Doubt's Shadow

The lyric of this public domain song was written by Bessie Brown in 1924 (originally titled Hoodoo Blues).  We slightly tweaked a few lines and arranged it as an up tempo blues rock with a different melody.  Ms. Brown's songs are deserving of more attention.  She's a gem.
Janice: vocal, melody and arrangement
Peter Fulham: Guitar
Bud: mix, mastering, arrangement and photo

HOODOO BLUES 

I'm on the war path now, mean and evil’s my vow, 
Some woman stole my man, but I've got me a plan. 

Let me tell ya all bout it

Gonna sprinkle graveyard dust all around her door 
Gonna sprinkle graveyard dust all around her door 
Put a spider in her dumplings, make her crawl all over the floor
 
Goin' 'neath her window, gonna lay a black cat bone 
Goin' 'neath her window, gonna lay a black cat bone 
Burn a candle on her picture, she won't let my good man alone. 


Got myself some gris-gris, tote it up in a sack 
Got myself some gris-gris, tote it up in a sack 
Gonna keep on wearin' it till I get my good man back 

scat verse

I was born down in the bayou, I wear conjure in my shoes 
Born down in the bayou, I wear conjure in my shoes 
Gonna fix that woman, make her sing them hoodoo blues.

Hoodoo Woman

© 2013-2024 J. Merritt & B. Merritt  (New version 04/2024)
Janice Merritt: lead vocal, melody, mix & arrangement
floyd jane: harmony vocal
Peter Fulham: guitar solo, arrangement & mix
Bud Merritt: lyrics, arrangement, mix & mastering
Thanks to PG Music, floyd & Peter

THE OUTSKIRTS OF FUN
My sister threw me out for the third time this year
I've gotten so used to it I didn't shed a single tear
There's not a man left who'd think of taking me in
So I'm heading out for a place I've never been
CHORUS:
Maybe I could've hitched a ride up to the city  
But  last year well that didn't work out for me
When you find there are no places left to run
It's high time for moving to the outskirts of fun
SOLO
Out here there's not a pretty boy to be found
And it seems they're no dance floors around
I met a lot of folks who don't know how to party
I'm gettin' it now 'bout how misery loves company
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE:
It was  hard to admit how far I've fallen 
But I found me a home on the outskirts of fun
SOLO
REPEAT CHORUS
Yes, I’ll be moving to the outskirts of fun

The Outskirts Of Fun

© 2022 Trad. Arr. B. Merritt, J. Merritt & P. Fulham
Our blues rock arrangement of a classic late 1800's African-American Jubilee Gospel song.

Janice Merritt: vocals and arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitar and vocal
Bud Merritt: acoustic bass, arrangement, mix, mastering and photography

Old Time Religion

Just Say The Word (lyric below)
© 2022 All Rights Reserved
Janice: vocals, melody & arrangement
Ray Cochrane: lyric, melody, progression, mix & arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitar and arrangement
Bud Merritt: mix, mastering and photo
Thanks to Ray, Peter & PG Music

V1
I can't tell who I'm talking to
All I know is that you're not here
It would be a different time
It could just be I've imagined it
Little seeds of truth
Might hold me here again
I know it could be true
You & I 
Were something once.   

C1
Just say the word
All it takes is you
To say the words you could not say
So you showed me that there was no way
Spoken truly
Spoken clearly
Spoken voluntarily
That is all it takes
All it takes to end the day.

V2
Our future was so long ago
And I know you were unwilling
It was such a different time
It was not as I'd imagined it
Little seeds of doubt
Shifted you each tiny bit
I know that it was true
You & I 
Were something once.   

C2
Just say the word
All it took was you
To say the words I would not say
Show me that there was no way
Spoken truly
Spoken clearly
Spoken so carefully
That is all it takes
Takes to say go away.
 
solo 

C3
Just say the words
All it took from you
You spoke the words I would not say
And showed me that I held no sway
Spoken bluntly
Spoken slowly
Spoken so deliberately
Even as you shook
Makes it all yesterday.

V3
Our futures were so far apart
I know you saw the truth
While I hoped for  more time
It clearly wasn't meant to be
Little seeds without
Tenderness don't sprout
Yet of this I have no doubt
You & I 
Were something once.  

C4
Just say the word
All it took was two
To bring a stop to what was not
To show me what I've not forgotten
Spoken truly
And sincerely
Though it cost dearly
That is all it takes
Takes to say a last goodbye.

Just Say The Word

© 2022 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice: lead vocals, BGV's, melody, cajon/shaker and arrangement
Bud: bass, lyric, progression, mix, mastering & arrangement
Peter: guitars - acoustic/electric/slide solos and arrangement
Thanks to Peter and PG Music

HANDYMAN

INTRO

I NEED A HANDYMAN   
ONE WHO CAN REPAIR MY BROKEN HEART
HE DON’T NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS    
JUST HELP ME MAKE A NEW START

I NEED A HANDYMAN   
ONE WHO CAN RAISE MY POOR LOST SOUL
HE DON’T NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS    
JUST HELP BRING ME OUTA THIS COLD

SOLO

I NEED A HANDYMAN   
ONE WHO CAN BRING A SMILE
HE DON’T NEED ANY SPECIAL TOOLS    
JUST BE GOOD AND STAY AWHILE

WANNA BE MY HANDYMAN?     
MY, MY, YOU LOOK SO FINE
YOU GOT ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED     
WE BOTH CAN MAKE IT WORTH YOUR TIME

SOLO

WANNA BE MY HANDYMAN?     
MY, MY,  YOU LOOK SO FINE
YOU GOT ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED      
WE BOTH CAN MAKE IT WORTH YOUR TIME

OUTRO

Handyman

© 2014-2018 Janice & Bud Merritt
(Remixed/remastered 10/2018)
Thanks to Tom Adams for the lead guitar!
tommyadamsmusic.com

image: pixabay.com

Cold Reality

Turn yourself  around and head in a new direction
Point yourself towards a brand new direction 
Find a place that's a little closer to redemption 

Sometimes all you need is to move on
Pick up the pieces and move on
Smell a proverbial rose, kick back in a new dawn

Quit all that worrying about tomorrow
Stop all your fretting over tomorrow
There's some things you'll just never know

Gotta stop 'em from messing up your dreams
nobody oughta mess round with your dreams
Set yourself free from their petty schemes

It seems your friends are letting you be
Yeah everybody’s decided to leave you be 
You don't need another dose of their cold reality

Cold Reality

Janice Merritt: vocals, melody & arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitars and arrangement
Bud Merritt: bass, lyrics, arrangement & production
© 2022 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Thanks to Peter & PG Music

Time is hard on your lies
Time wore down your lies
They’re easy to see in your eyes  

Time is hard on your secrets
Time showed me your secrets 
I’m left with nothing but regrets
 
Time is hard on a crossed heart 
You hoped to die crossing your heart
It was a vow broken from the start 

Time is hard on your fear
Time has exposed the fear
Now your judgement day draws near

Time Is Hard

© 2014  Trad. Arr.  Janice & Bud Merritt
www.janiceandbud.com
image: pixabay.com

This started as a public domain song recorded around 1930 by Gene Autry.  It appears that whoever wrote it borrowed most of the melody from a Jimmy Rodgers' In The Jail House Now.  We made significant changes to the lyric, changed the melody around a bit and arranged it as a western swing tune.
https://archive.org/details/AtlantaBound_201303

Macon Bound

He went home in the mornin, it was round about four 
Went home in the mornin, it was round about four 
And he saw another daddy goin` out his  back door  

Now he's Macon bound, Macon bound 
Gonna find that scoundrel quick as he's able 
Now he's Macon bound, Macon bound 
He’s gonna put that man on the cooling table 

He thought he had a good gal, treated her like his wife 
He thought he had a good gal,  treated her like his wife
But now he’s going to take another man’s life

He shot the rogue that stole away his woman
He shot the rogue that stole away his woman
It`ll be on the other side fore she sees that man

Now he's Macon bound, Macon bound 
There ain’t no use calling the bondsman 
Now he's Macon bound, Macon bound 
He’ll never see that gal again 





Macon Bound

Janice Merritt: vocals, melody and arrangement
Bud Merritt: lyric, arrangement, mix, mastering and photo
Peter Fulham: guitars and arrangement
Zeros
© 2023 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Thanks to Peter and PG Music
www.janiceandbud.com
www.pgmusic.com

V1
you never thought a minute about looking up
always staring left or right and following dollars
the game’s nearly over  there’s no overtime 
fate, oh fate, is gonna empty your coffers 

Chorus
didn’t life look grand through all those zeros?
sitting on top of the world’s billionaire list
a long ride up but a short fall down’s coming
don’t waste time thinking you’ll be missed 

V2
outa desperation you tried a little contrition
but mount redemption’s not an anthill
you kept bending reality to fit your schemes
now look around everybody’s had their fill

Chorus

V3
doing the right thing never came easy
because you don’t recognize the wrong things
friends are running while the hour glass runs dry
branded a loser no matter what the future brings

look around, no wealth, no friends, it’s all gone
the end is near, uh oh, your time’s up!

ZEROS

JaniceMerritt: lead vocal, BGVs & arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitar solo & fills
Bud Merritt: arrangement, mix, mastering & photo
Thanks to www.pgmusic.com
State Lines
© 2023 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
keep putting state lines between us 
one or two more state lines between us 
i never dreamed you’d be so heartless

you talked about life’s give and take
 forever preachin’ about life’s give and take
 but just givin’ is no piece of cake

about all you left me is an empty bed  
here i am lying in an empty bed 
who’ll be here tonight is best left unsaid

keep movin’ outa my memory lane 
get out…i want you out…of my memory lane
 i wanna see blue skies and no, no sign of rain

State Lines

© 2023 Trad Arr Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham
Janice: vocals and arrangement
Bud: arrangement, mix, master and photo
Peter: guitar solos
Thanks to Peter and PG Music
The nearly 100 year old Bessie Smith song Backwater Blues(public domain) is about a 1926 flood that occurred in Nashville, Tenn. We tweaked the lyric and chord progression a bit. 

It rained five days and the sky turned dark as night
I watched the river rise while the sky turned dark as night
Now backwater in the lowlands is an awful sight

Then came thunder and the wind began to blow
Lightnin’ flashed and the wind began to blow
There's thousands of people, ain't got a place to go

Sittin’ on my roof I spotted a boat on the backwater
I hollered at them and they came for me through the backwater
I jumped in their boat and it seemed like we rowed forever

Next day I climbed up a high, sandy bank
Sunny blue skies,  birds singing  while I stood on that bank
When I looked over at my house my heart sank

No, no,  I can't move any more
All our homes, all that water
The backwater left me no place to go

Backwater

© 2023 B. Merritt, J. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice Merritt: vocals, melody & arrangement
Bud Merritt: arrangement, lyric, mix, mastering and photo
Peter Fulham: guitar solos/fills & arrangement
Thanks to PG Music (www.pgmusic.com)

VERSE 1:
TOPS DOWN, TANK IS FULL, I’M HEADIN’ OUTTA HERE
MY ROUTES AREN’T ON AN APP BUT THEY ENDURE
THE ONLY GUIDES I NEED ARE MY HEART AND SOUL
I’VE LEARNED HOW TO EMBRACE DETOURS

CHORUS:
MOVE ON, YOU CAN’T SHAPE MY DREAMS
I’M NOT WAITIN’ AROUND FOR STARS TO ALIGN
DON ’T TRY TO FIND ME ON YOUR OLD MAP
JOY IS MY PATH, NO WORRIES ‘BOUT A FINISH SIGN

VERSE 2:
I KNOW MY WAY AROUND THE TOLLS AND TROLLS
I’M GONNA FLY, GONNA CHASE THOSE DREAMS
DON’T THINK ABOUT TRYING TO CLIP MY WINGS
GO FIND A FOOL TO SHARE YOUR SCHEMES

REPEAT CHORUS

You Can't Shape My Dreams

©  2014 Bill Osofsky, BMI & Janice Merritt
www.janiceandbud.com
Janice Merritt: Lead and harmony vocal
floyd jane: Harmony vocal
Tom Adams: Guitar solo
Bud Merritt: RealTracks, RealDrums, mix and mastering
image: pixabay.com

I Won't Lose Control

(verse)

Yeah, I get out here with friends a couple times a month

Naw, I don't do karaoke, only tried it once

Thanks, a frozen margherita, sure, I'd love to dance

But I think it's only fair to warn you in advance


(chorus)

You can look at me that way

You can talk to me that sweet

But don't think that smile of yours

Is gonna knock me off my feet

I might hold you close and tight

I might kiss you hard and slow

I may let down just a bit

But I won't lose control


(verse)

I think Dierks is kinda cool but I still love George Strait

I like guys who have it all but don't exaggerate

Cause I've been down that road, it's got a wrong-way sign

And lately I've been taking good care of this heart of mine


(chorus)

You can look at me that way

You can talk to me that sweet

But don't think that smile of yours

Is gonna knock me off my feet

I might hold you close and tight

I might kiss you hard and slow

I may let down just a bit

But I won't lose control



(bridge)

Blue eyes, soft sighs, ain't gonna do it

Nice try, but I, can see right through it

You might, excite, a little part of me

But I don't let my guard down very easily


(repeat chorus)


I Won't Lose Control

Chaos of Change
© 2023 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice Merritt: vocals, melody & arrangement
Peter Fulham: solo/fills guitar & arrangement
Bud Merritt: lyric, arrangement, mix & mastering

V1
chaos of change hangs over them like storm clouds 
rare moments of clarity are lost in shouting crowds
everyone knows the facts  they read them on the internet 
groveling around in their bubbles without regret

 V2
win  lose  draw while never thinking of compromise
hunkered down and deaf to surrounding cries 
chasing illusions  always leaving reality behind
scrolling timelines seeking more of their kind

Solo

V3
an armor of self righteousness, that  is their shield
proudly screaming they will never yield
fingers swipe with eyes afire through endless feeds
claiming to seek truth while planting dangerous seeds

Outro solo

Outro vocal

i’m drowning in the echo of news 

coming up for air and singing some blues

Chaos Of Change

© 2014 - 2023 Janice & Bud Merritt
2023 remixed and mastered
www.janiceandbud.com
Janice: vocal, melody and arrangement
Bud: lyric, arrangement, mix, mastering and photo
floyd jane: guitar lead and fills (www.floydjane.com)
Thanks to floyd and www.pgmusic.com

Bottom Land
I've been suffocating in this dank bottom land
There's never a leaf moving in the bottom land
The heat's been pressin' me down like God's own hand

I dreamed it's different over Jerusalem ridge 
I've heard tales of peace beyond the ridge
Family says you ain't leaving, this is your heritage

Five generations have left nothing to call my own
Blood feuds and murder, nothing to call my own
Less I count seven sunken graves with one field stone 

I could wake up and walk off the land tomorrow
Head down the road, stick out a thumb tomorrow 
Nothing here but a trailer and a row too long to hoe

Bottomland

© 2023 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice Merritt: vocals, melody & arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitar, arrangement & mix
Bud Merritt: lyric, arrangement, mix & mastering
Thanks to PG Music (www.pgmusic.com)

THE OLDER I GET THE LESS I GET IT

V1
The right says the left are all wusses 
The left says the right is heartless
Blue tie man says the climate's changing 
Red tie man says no, they're all lying

CHORUS
you can get lonely in the middle ground
it’s a desert that can bury your spirit
Strip away the labels, are we so different
I reckon the older I get the less I get it

V2
The doc says eat this diet and live to 90
Next doc says no I'd never make it to 50
I read on the net buy gold and never worry
Then my broker says you'll go broke in a hurry

CHORUS

Solo

V3
Buy local organic, save the small farmer
No, save your money it's not the answer
Talking head says a pipeline'll cause a spill
but the other one just says drill baby drill

CHORUS

Outro solo

Tag vocal
A wise friend told me to be like grass, I said oh please
He said keep firm roots but let your blades sway in the breeze

The Older I Get The Less I Get It

A short greeting to PG Music, friends and family.
Janice: Lyric, melody, vocals and arrangement
Bud: RealTracks, RealDrums and tech stuff
Thanks to PG Music

WONDERMENT
less is more, more or less 
there is no way to happiness 
don’t you know that happiness is the 
way-ay-ay-ay

look over here, look over yonder, 
always be on the lookout for wonder,
here’s my gift to you 
my optimistic attitude, ooh, ooh, ooh

treasure life’s melody that’s so divine 
share your smile, let your inner light shine
open your eyes and hearts and minds
to joy and peace and hope and love

may this holiday season fill your hears with love
thanks to PG Music, forum members, family & friends
here’s to a happy new year full of music and joy
for us all!

Wonderment

Devil's Gonna Get You
A blues rock interpretation of the public domain song by the great Bessie Smith 
Janice Merritt: vocals, arrangement and mix
Peter Fulham: all guitar tracks, arrangement and mix
Bud Merritt: PG Music RealTracks/RealDrums/MidiSuperTrack, arrangement, mix, mastering and photo
Thanks to PG Music and Peter Fulham
© 2024 trad arr J. Merritt, B, Merritt & P. Fulham

Devil's Gonna Git You

© 2024 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham 
A blues rock interpretation of the 1923 world wide public domain song (Clarence Williams) popularized by the "queen of the blues" Bessie Smith.
Janice Merritt: vocals, percussion (cajon), arrangement & mix 
Peter Fulham: acoustic guitar solos/rhythm, arrangement & mix
Bud Merritt: upright bass, arrangement & mix
PG Music: all additional tracks (www.pgmusic.com)

Lady Luck

Cold Plate was inspired by  “revenge is best served as a cold dish” that has variations dating back to the 16th century. 
Janice Merritt: vocals, arrangement & melody
Bud Merritt: lyric, mix, mastering & photo
Peter Fulham: solo/rhythm guitar, mix & arrangement
Thanks to Peter & www.pgmusic.com (RealTracks and RealDums) 
© 2024 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham

V1
How many times have I been told not to leave
Guess I need to find a long bridge to burn
Wanna see glowing embers in my rear view mirror 
You’ve shoved me past the point of no return

Chorus
I think I could make a profession out of revenge
But folks say it’s best served as a cold plate
So I need a little distance, I need a little time
Your days coming but it may be a long wait

V2
I’m not going to worry if my past defines me
In a few minutes I can leave where I lived my whole life
No more you  no more them  only me and the horizon
Any direction will carry me away from the strife 

Chorus

Cold Plate

© 2024 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice Merritt: vocals, melody, mix, progression & arrangement
Bud Merritt: lyric, arrangement, mix, RealTracks/RealDrums* & mastering
Peter Fulham: guitar solos/fills, horns, sitar, arrangement and mix
* www.pgmusic.com

IN THE EVENING

V1
some days ole sol can be too bright
that’s when I look forward to night 
I want to be awake to gaze at the moon
there’s no need for me to seek high noon 

Chorus 
I always come alive in the evening 
listening to the night birds singing
surrounded by the glow of fireflies 
I no longer think of blue skies

Turnaround (4 bars)

V2
when the full moon is shining bright 
that’s when my spirit takes flight
walking through a field of silver dew
with every step my soul renews

Chorus
Solo
Bridge
when I see the sun rise I’ll bid the night adieu
but my moonlit dreams will always come shining through

Chorus
Outro

In The Evening

©  2015 Janice and Bud Merritt (remix 2017)

Ever get tired of those prescription drug ads and their litany of side effects?  That inspired this tune.  A big thanks to Tom Adams for playing lead guitar.  

www.janiceandbud.com 
www.tommyadamsmusic.com

Side effects

I get side effects from you baby yes I do
Yeah they come from hanging round you
Maybe I should have read your label cause
When you're away they make me blue

I get side effects every time you walk by
They always make me feel oh so high 
Maybe I should have read your label cause
My heart flutters when you catch my eye

I get side effects when I'm in your arms
They come on quick and set off my alarms
Maybe I should have read your label cause
I get dizzy when you turn on your charms

I get side effects when you call me sweetheart
when you say I'm yours they always start
Maybe I should have read your label cause
They run my temperature right off the chart 

Come on baby give me some side effects

Side Effects

The Rising Sun Blues
New Mix including upright bass and  guitar addition: 02/2022
© 2016-2022 Trad. Arr. Janice Merritt, Bud Merritt & Peter Fulham  All Rights Reserved 
Photo by Bud of Janice.
www.janiceandbud.com
Thanks to PGmusic.com
Janice: vocal and arrangement
Bud: upright bass, RealTracks, RealDrums, arrangement and production
Peter Fulham: guitar solos and fills
With a melody dating back to British 1700's tavern songs and a lyric suggesting a “house of ill repute” this tune has been, in our opinion, too often presented from the male perspective (as started by the Animals in 1964) and/or as a “pretty” folk song. Janice and I tried after extensive lyric research to re-create (via writing several new verses) what we think was likely the original intention, i.e,  the story of a young prostitute.  Keeping with the New Orleans setting we arranged the song with a “jump blues” feel fitting the location.  This song has long begged for a blues interpretation and I hope we did it justice.

Rising Sun Blues

there is a house in New Orleans 
they call it the Rising Sun
it's been the ruin of many a poor girl 
and me, oh God, I am one

i could have a good man and family
if I hadn’t fallen into a life of sin
and now I'm working at the house
just trying to please all them men

mama works all day at the mill 
she sews those new blue jeans 
and my daddy was a gambler, Lord 
he lost his life down in New Orleans

somebody, go tell my baby sister
 tell her not to do what I done
stay away from that house  
the one they call the Rising Sun

I ain't  gonna leave New Orleans
 my race is almost run 
yeah, I gave up all my young life
 beneath, beneath, the rising sun

 beneath, beneath, the rising sun

The Rising Sun Blues

©  2016 floyd jane and Bud Merritt  All Rights Reserved
www.janiceandbud.com
www.floydjane.com
vocal: Janice 
mix/mastering: Bud
photo: Bud

Ways Of Forgetting

we never worried much... about borderlines
stepping over them together.. in perfect time
I went along.. helping burn.. every bridge we ever crossed
you'd laugh and say "don't worry about what we've lost"

but I'm sick of tv, old songs, ...of who i've been 
a half finished book next to a fifth of gin     
a sad story or drink won't erase our last goodbye 
old ways of forgetting don't work                   
no matter how i try  

I danced across the strange landscape you painted
but following blind left me jaded
wasting away in your imagined playground
now I've gotta try ‘n turn my life around

but I'm sick of tv, old songs, ...of who i've been
a half finished book next to a fifth of gin     
a sad story or drink won't erase our last goodbye 
old ways of forgetting don't work                   
no matter how i try    

Ways Of Forgetting

Hometown Refugee
Janice: vocal & melody
Peter: guitar
Bud: production/mix/mastering/lyric
Thanks to Peter and PG Music
https://www.janiceandbud.com

you can’t go back girl it’s a dead end
don’t know why the hell I ever tried
maybe I dreamed of the invitation 
or it’s another memory that lied

should’ve headed on never slowed down
now I’m a refugee in my home town 

my old friends have become strangers
they’ve grown cold, dark, bitter
i see them circling their wagons
trolling me to pull that trigger

should’ve headed on never slowed down
now I’m a refugee in my home town 

a courthouse clock with the wrong time 
store windows reflect ghosts of past 
parking meters stand like rusty sentinels 
nothing lasts  nothing lasts 

should’ve headed on never slowed down
now I’m a refugee in my home town

Hometown Refugee

Good Karma
© 2018 Janice & Bud Merritt / All Rights Reserved
Janice: Vocal, arrangement and melody
Peter Fulham: Guitar
Bud: Production, arrangement, lyric, mix/mastering

Good Karma
V1
i’ve got some good karma in the bank
i try hard every day to make a deposit
i earn it by trying to do the right thing
every little bit lifts my spirit 

V2
i’ve got some good karma in the  bank 
kind deeds and words add to my balance
not a lotta work just open your heart 
go ahead take a chance 

V3
i’ve got some good karma in the bank
doesn’t take long to pay dividends
always show compassion 
use some to make amends

V4
i’ve got some good karma in the bank
it pays me a lot of interest 
the more i use it the more I earn 
it’s how i continue life’s quest

Good Karma

© 2019-2021 Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham
Video: https://vimeo.com/638846158
Janice: vocal, melody and arrangement 
Bud: acoustic bass, RealTracks, RealDrums, arrangement, lyric, mix and mastering
Peter: lead/rhythm guitars and arrangement
Thanks to pgmusic.com
www.janiceandbud.com

Scat!

© 2020 PD - B. Merritt / J. Merritt / P. Fulham

An early 60's rock version of Ma Rainey's song that entered the Public Domain on Jan 1, 2020.
Janice: Lead / background vocals & arrangement
Peter: Guitar - solo / fills & arrangement
Bud: RealTracks, RealDrums, vocal engineering, mix/mastering & arrangement
www.janiceandbud.com
Thanks to PG Music

OH SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
HONEY, SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE
OH, OH, OH SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
OH HONEY, SEE, SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE NOW
YOU’VE GONE AND LEFT ME
LORD, NOW THE BLUES HAVE COME

SO I’M GOIN’, I’M GOIN’ AWAY BABY
AND I WON’T BE BACK TILL FALL
OH YES, I’M GOIN’, I’M GOIN’ AWAY BABY
AND I WON’T BE BACK TILL FALL
IF I FIND ME A GOOD MAN
WELL, I WON’T BE BACK AT ALL

AND I SEE, SEE SEE RIDER, I LOVE YOU, YES I DO
AND THERE AIN’T ONE LITTLE THING DARLIN’
I WOULD NOT DO FOR  YOU
I NEED YOU BY MY SIDE
SEE SEE, KEEP ME SATISFIED

WELL, NOW SEE, SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
SEE HOW THE MOON IS SHINING BRIGHT
NOW SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
SEE HOW THE MOON IS SHINING BRIGHT
IF I COULD WALK BESIDE YOU
EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT
OH SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
HONEY, SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE
OH, OH, OH SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
OH HONEY, SEE, SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE NOW
YOU’VE GONE AND LEFT ME
LORD, NOW THE BLUES HAVE COME

SO I’M GOIN’, I’M GOIN’ AWAY BABY
AND I WON’T BE BACK TILL FALL
OH YES, I’M GOIN’, I’M GOIN’ AWAY BABY
AND I WON’T BE BACK TILL FALL
IF I FIND ME A GOOD MAN
WELL, I WON’T BE BACK AT ALL

AND I SEE, SEE SEE RIDER, I LOVE YOU, YES I DO
AND THERE AIN’T ONE LITTLE THING DARLIN’
I WOULD NOT DO FOR  YOU
I NEED YOU BY MY SIDE
SEE SEE, KEEP ME SATISFIED

WELL, NOW SEE, SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
SEE HOW THE MOON IS SHINING BRIGHT
NOW SEE, SEE SEE RIDER
SEE HOW THE MOON IS SHINING BRIGHT
IF I COULD WALK BESIDE YOU
EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT

See See Rider

Countin' The Blues
The lyrics were written by Ma Rainey nearly 100 years ago.  She was a remarkable woman and artist and worth your time to read about.  When you learn about her life the words become more and more meaningful. We created the melody and the arrangement.
Peter on his Gibson is riffing with himself on his Fender.... :)
www.janiceandbud.com

[Verse 1]
Layin' in bed this mornin' with my face turned to the wall
Layin' in bed this mornin' with my face turned to the wall
Trying to count these blues so I could sing 'em all

[Verse 2]
Memphis, Rampart, Beale Street set 'em free
Memphis, Rampart, Beale Street set 'em free
Graveyard, 'Bama Bound, Lord, Lord, come from Stingaree

[Verse 3]
Lord, ‘rested at midnight, jailhouse made me lose my mind
Lord, ‘rested at midnight, jailhouse made me lose my mind
Bad Luck ’n Boll Weevil made me think of old Moonshine

[Verse 4]
Lord, goin' to sleep now for mama just got bad news
Lord, goin' to sleep now for mama just got bad news
To try to dream away my troubles, countin' these blues

Countin' The Blues

Janice Merritt: lead vocals, harmony vocals and melody
Scott Collingwood: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, arrangement & mix
Ray Cochrane: lyric, melody, bass, rhythm guitar, arrangement & mix 
Bud Merritt: vocal engineering, mastering & photography

The Blues Is Nothing
© 2021 S. Collingwood, R. Cochrane & J. Merritt
Wake up from dreaming, 
Where nightmares are nothing new, 
Break up from loving,
When loving has nothing for you.
But recall the pain and go there again
The blues is nothing but history ignored.

You won’t learn from this 
You won’t heed my call
You won’t believe me
No, not at all
Until you’ve been here 
And walked in my shoes
My shoes, my blues
Until you’ve made the mistakes 
That everyone makes
The blues is nothing but history ignored.

The blues is nothing,
But a history in song, of every wrong
The blues is nothing but history ignored.

The Blues Is Nothing

We enjoy writing and producing Americana songs.  Janice's 2018 Americana album All Over The Map, her 2020 blues album Am I Blue Enough and her 2023 blues album Deep In The Domain are streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon,  Youtube and other platforms.  We appreciate you checking them out!

Janice & Bud Merritt

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