Janice's new album available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple Music, iTunes Spotify, Pandora and others (07/08/2018).

All Over The Map

© 2014 Tom Adams & Janice Merritt  All Rights Reserved

The "Sacred Steel" is a tradition in Florida African-American Pentecostal churches. During the 30's some AA churches replaced the organ with the pedal steel guitar.  That's is the inspiration for Tom's pedal steel lead (with wah wah!).  For those interested in learning more about this tradition Wiki and YouTube have some great history on the Sacred Steel.  Some may be familiar, as I was, with the Robert Randolph Family Band that features the Sacred Steel albeit in blues and rock arrangments.  Production wise, I was just along for the ride on this one.  It was fun.
Bud

Janice: lead vocal and melody
Tom: lyric, pedal steel lead, lead guitar, guitar, choir loops, arrangement, engineering, mixing and mastering
Bud: lead vocal engineering

Missed The Message

I’ve been waiting here so patiently

Trying to believe what I already see

but I can’t see across to the other side

I've never understood why the river was so wide

maybe I missed the message

there’s an angel flying next to me


That old big muddy runs through our very souls

It doesn’t seem fair it’s mostly out of our control

what can we do with all its twists and turns

it’s one more prayer , one more lesson learned

maybe I missed the message

there’s an angel flying next to me


I take a little time out of every day

To sit and listen it’s just my way

blood flows like water I’ve seen many go across

i try to understand but I’m at a total loss

maybe I missed the message

there’s an angel flying next to me


Photo: picphotos.net


Missed The Message

São Thomé das Letras is a tribute to the mystical town of São Thomé das Letras, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A place filled with cosmic energies, mysteries, and unlikely encounters — where love, friendship, and freedom call home. Long live São Thomé das Letras.

São Thomé das Letras

Last night I left from work beneath the starlit skies,
Saw the moon up there aglow,
São Thomé began to show,
Red or white wine flows,
Down the hill it goes,
I’ll be on the road,
Forget me, São Paulo,
I can’t take it anymore — thank God it’s Friday, love, I swore.

Wanna see the werewolf and Brigitte Bardot,
'Neath this crazy, lovely moon,
Wanna find you soon,
Give you all you crave,
'Til there’s none to save,
This hunger to behave —
Like lovers do, oh please…
I can’t take this burning need that cuts like knives, my love, release.

Tigers and deer, all walking side by side,
Everyone the same inside —
Rich or poor in stride,
Tall or thin with pride,
Black, albino, wide-eyed,
Even strange is dignified —
‘Cause I can’t take this anymore,
These small-souled people I abhor, my love, I swore…

By day my eyes embrace the goddess, Nature bright,
But when night descends in fire,
That's when hearts conspire,
I will climb that stone,
Burn my herb alone,
With my mind full-blown,
Watch the sunrise in complete awareness;
‘Cause I can’t take this world of violence, my love, such madness…

We are children, craving just to live,
Animals with lost instinct,
If I don’t die, I blink —
Kill or waste in sync,
Like cats and dogs on the brink —
I’m out, I want to breathe again and give.
For in this crazy life, what stays behind…
Is only what you’ve learned while still alive.

++++++++++PORTUGUES

São Thome das Letras é uma homenagem a cidade mística de São Thome das Letras, em Minas Gerais, Brasil. Uma cidade cheia de energias cósmicas, mistérios e encontros pouco prováveis, onde o amor, a amizade e a liberdade fazem morada. Viva São Thomé das Letras.

São Thomé das Letras
Ontem eu sai do trampo, sob a luz das estrelas;
Vi a lua lá brilhando;
São Thomé esperando;
Vinho tinto ou branco
Vai cair, barranco;
Vou sair andando;
São Paulo me esqueça;
Porque já não aguento mais, ainda bem que hoje sexta feira, meu amor.
Quero ver o lobisomem e a Brigitte Bardot;
Nessa lua louca e linda;
Encontrar você;
E te satisfazer;
Até não mais poder;
Essa necessidade de fazer, amor...Por favor...
Porque já não aguento mais, esse desejo que corrói a veia, meu amor...
Tigres e veados, todos caminhando em paz;
Todo mundo é parecido;
Seja pobre ou rico;
Alto, baixo ou fino;
Negro ou albino;
Ou até esquisito, tudo vale a pena;
Porque já não aguento mais, essa gente de alma tão pequena, meu amor...
De dia meus olhos contemplam a deusa Natureza;
De noite é que o bicho pega;
Vou subir na pedra;
Vou queimar minha erva;
Com a mente aberta;
Ver o sol nascer com toda consciência;
Porque já não aguento mais, pra que no mundo tanta violência, meu amor...
Somos crianças carentes de viver;
Somos animais sem faro;
Se eu não morro, mato;
Vivo no marasmo;
Feito cão e gato;
To caindo fora, quero mais viver;
Porque dessa vida louca, o que se leva realmente é o que se pode aprender...

São Thomé das Letras

"THE MELODY OF 1999"

Written, performed and produced by Roman Gorielov.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Roman Gorielov.
Cover design and photo by Roman Gorielov.

https://linktr.ee/romangorielov

© 2025 Roman Gorielov.

acoustic ambient atmospheric catchy cinematic composer dreamy emotional ethereal exciting folk gentle guitar heartfelt heartwarming hopeful hypnotic idyllic inspiring instrumental keyboards lighthearted lyrical mellow melodic melody romantic sincere soulful touching

Suffering Demos

The Melody Of 1999

In loving memory of Uwe and Mick🙏
Additional fretless bass by Lutz Boddenberg

Some Come Running (Take II)

R.W. Davis: Lyrics
DC Ron: Music, arrangement, mix, master, vocals, harmonies, BGVs
Image by Freepik

The Trainwreck That's My Life

The Battle

Kappaar Daltonag

hmmmmiss you

camouflage magick

Pour le défi compo LZMP de septembre 2025: "Composer un titre qui soit inspiré d'un titre connu, voire très connu, mais sans que cela soit un cover".    Alors, voulant faire preuve d'originalité, je suis parti de "Au clair de la lune" !🤪

Interlude

SOON to move to Bandcamp as an album - in the meantime, you can also listen in sequence here: soundcloud.com/sonic-textures/sets/scalar-fields
instruments: Jeff Gardiner and jo richter
modulation, arrangement and all that: jo richter
image: Jeff Gardiner in collaboration with jo richter
for a change and despite the title, this one is instrumental only

scalar fields pt 11: vocal beads - with stonerjazz

Out Of Your World
© 2017 Janice & Bud Merritt / Revised 2024
Thanks to www.pgmusic.com
Janice: vocal, arrangment and melody
Bud: lyric, mix, arrangement and mastering

CH
i stumbled into the kitchen too early 
another morning for jack 'n coffee   
there's some writing on the wall, 
i reckon it about says it all
i've never been one to gamble
why are there cards on the table? 
i could've been your loving girl, 
now i just want outa your world

V1
i asked you to be my cupid,  
you said that was so stupid
i thought It was courageous,
you said I was outrageous

Solo

CH

V2
i broke my own rules to love you 
it's hard to say we're through
there's still one bridge left to burn
and then there's no way to return

Solo

Short Chorus
i stumbled into the kitchen too early 
another morning for jack 'n coffee   
i could've been your loving girl, 
now i just want outa your world

now i just want outa your world

Out Of Your World

Vulture
Video: https://vimeo.com/653244453
© 2017-2021  Janice Merritt, Bud Merritt & Peter Fulham / All Rights Reserved
Our attempt to write a 20's Delta Blues style lyric updated with a more modern blues production.
Janice: Vocal  / Peter: Guitars / Bud: Production/RealTracks & RealDrums

www.janiceandbud.com
Thanks to Peter and www.PGmusic.com

saw a vulture on my footboard
i cried oh my lord oh my lord 
ain't headin' to my reward

i've sold my soul 'n my body
never listened to anybody 
didn't ever say I was sorry

Solo

the tb done put me in bed
got me talking outa my head
my heart's filled with dread  

saw a vulture on my footboard
i cried oh my lord oh my lord 
i ain't heading to my reward



​

Vulture

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

© 2019-2021 Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham
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!

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!

Missed The Message

Janice & Bud Merritt

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