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

© 2014 Tom Adams & Janice Merritt

Tom plays guitar, arranged and produced the tune.
tommyadamsmusic.com

image: pixabay.com

I Don't Want To Hear You Say Goodbye

Tom Adams: Guitars, flute sample, RealTrack arrangement, RealDrum arrangement, mix and mastering.
Janice Merritt: Vocal
  © 2014 Tom Adams & Bud Merritt
 
I watched the sun paint the evening sky
and slept on the mesa in the star light
I sought a vision of a way back to you 
But there were no signs, I felt hope die

All I need is the touch of a healing hand 
Come on home and be my medicine man

I’m the daughter of Mother Nature’s son 
Grandfather said I was a chosen one 
Cleanse the spirit clear the mind 
Bathed in the mud, washed in the blood

I need is the touch of a healing hand 
Come on home and be my medicine man

I searched for herbs in the valley below
Down by the river a wise old crow 
left a message and flew into the sun
Flowers, leaves, roots won't cure me, no no

All I need is the touch of a healing hand 
Come on home and be my medicine man

Come on home and be my medicine man


Be My Medicine Man

© 2015-2022 floyd jane & Bud Merritt    All Rights Reserved
Remix/mastering: 09/2022
Janice Merritt: lead vocal
 floyd jane: harmony vocal
Tom Adams:  electric and acoustic guitar
 Bud Merritt: mix, mastering, blah blah blah

Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address used the phrase "mystic chords of memory" ... and it stuck with me.

MYSTIC CHORDS
 
V1
endless gigs...endless roadhouses...
he never quit... he never counted the losses...
night after night... of near-empty rooms
sometimes just a bartender, him and his tunes
 
Ch
now no more crowds... no more cheers
he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
in the corner, a battered Martin left for dead
While Mystic Chords of memory play... in his head
 
V2
behind the barn, the bus gathers dust
a silver eagle gone to rust
a million miles...a thousand towns
to find a stage, a pickup band, that elusive sound
 
Ch
but no more crowds... no more cheers
he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
in the corner, a battered Martin lies dead
While Mystic Chords of memory play... in his head
 
Bridge:
sometimes he still hears that roar
an ovation that makes his old heart soar
 
Ch
but no more crowds... no more cheers
he turns the radio up... downs a few more beers
in the corner, his battered Martin.....dead
While Mystic Chords of memory play... in his head
Mystic Chords of memory play

Mystic Chords

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

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

The Scepter
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQWgiGTKlgI
© 2017 Janice and Bud Merritt  / All Rights Reserved
www.janiceandbud.com
Somewhat of a double entendre...
Vocals by Janice and featuring PeterF on guitar.  Thanks for the Neil Young vibes Peter!

V1
storms are ragin' waters rising
can she keep from drowning?
what's the price to be paid… 
to not let her lighthouse fade 

Ch
she’s never said she was perfect
but she's always demanded respect
you want her to kneel at your altar
she's never followed the scepter  

Solo

V2
you've claimed to be her savior
that's never been in her future 
down a dark road may lie hope
she's gotta get off the tightrope  

Ch

Bridge
you burnt bridges and built walls
can her love really conquer all?

Solo

Ch

The Scepter

There I Am 
© 2017 Janice and Bud Merritt  / All Rights Reserved
Janice: Vocal
Peter: Guitar
Bud: RealTracks, RealDrums, engineering and mastering
www.janiceandbud.com 
Song video: https://youtu.be/FgGAOopld10

been up, been down, now I'm sideways
i'm miles and miles past giving a damn  
i've moved four times in five months 
no matter what road I travel there I am 

My past won't quit fighting my future
it's gonna be a battle to the bitter end
I nearly had love and nearly had fame
"nearly" hangs on like a sad friend

I keep trying trying to check my baggage 
Looking for a man who'll help me unpack
it's always more than their carry on limit 
Nobody's gonna cut this girl any slack 

been up, been down, now I'm sideways
i'm miles and miles past giving a damn  
i've moved four times in five months 
no matter what road I travel there I am

There I Am

© 1992-2017 Janice and Bud Merritt / All Rights Reserved
Dear Mama
Video: https://youtu.be/3P37laVMvu4
© 2017 Janice & Bud Merritt / All Rights Reserved
www.janiceandbud.com
Janice: lead and harmony vocals
floyd Jane: harmony and harmony arrangement
www.floydjane.com
Tom Adams: acoustic guitars
www.tommyadamsmusic.com
Bud: Audio/video production, Realtracks, mix and mastering.

Dear Mama

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

A song about Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico...
© 2018 bud merritt/floyd jane/janice merritt
Janice Merritt: lead vocal, percussion and arrangement
floyd jane: harmony vocal and arrangement
bud merritt:  mix, mastering and arrangement
Thanks to PG Music www.pgmusic.com
www.janiceandbud.com   www.floydjane.com
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/lxo3wl16Wsc

Maria Blue
Intro
mama used to sing maria 
about a girl so lovely 
but now mama’s gone
and maria has turned ugly

V1

the wind howled all through the night 
morning came i knew my life was gone 
water was rising and trees were falling
better off had i never seen that dawn

Ch

oh Mother Nature won’t you tell me
why did you send that storm 
was it only to make me wish 
wish that i’d never been born?

V2

we wade through streets... turned to rivers
hungry babies, ever crying
medicine gone, a thirst none should know
old man prays "Lord, I'm dyin'"

Ch

solo

V3

we live in tents and cardboard huts
children drink from dirty puddles
seems the big folks forgot about us
all wrapped up in their own troubles

Ch

Outro

Maria Blue

© 2018 Tom Adams and Janice Merritt
All Rights Reserved
Tom: guitar/lyrics/arrangement/mix/mastering 
Janice: vocal/melody
www.tommyadamsmusic.com
www.janiceandbud.com

I'd Rather Be Lucky

© Janice & Bud Merritt
https://www.janiceandbud.com
Janice: vocals
Tom Adams: guitar
Bud: production / mix / mastering / photo of Janice

Thanks Tom! (https://www.tommyadamsmusic.com)

Lady In The Fedora
V1
lost in thought driving into the evening sun
It been a long day,  he was about half past done. 
he pulled off the highway for gas and a meal
a live music sign hung in front of a local grill

V2
she was perched on a barstool looking so serene
singing  with heart and soul, the room was cheering
She was playing cool licks on a fine old Martin
but she had something special that got his attention

Chorus 
she smiled at him beneath the brim of her hat
lord he had never seen anything quite like that
he couldn’t quit staring at the lady in the fedora  
oh that lady in the fedora how he adored her 

Bridge 
years have past since that night
but he never forgot his first sight
Oh the day he drove down to Georgia
he still adores her his wife in the fedora

Chorus

Lady In The Fedora

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

© 2018 Bud Merritt / Janice Merritt / Peter Fulham
www.janiceandbud.com
Janice: lead vocal / melody
Bud: lyric / arrangement / production / photo of Janice
Peter: lead - rhythm guitars / arrangement
Thanks to www.pgmusic.com
Intro
they call me the black widow
i’ve had seven husbands 
they call me the black widow
i’ve had seven husbands
look at this web ain’t it grand?
 
see how it hangs watch it shimmer
i have plenty of room
see how it shines crawl right in
i have plenty of room
i’m needin’ another bride groom

solo

lemme show you my hourglass
cause I know how you feel
lemme show you my hourglass
i know how I make you feel
you’ll make me a fine meal

they call me the black widow
i’ve had seven husbands 
they call me the black widow
i’ve had seven husbands
look at this web ain’t it grand?

i’ve had seven husbands
look at this web ain’t it grand?

outro

Black Widow

© 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!

Rust On The Rails  
© 2019 Janice & Bud Merritt
Photo of Bud at eight years old :)
https://www.janiceandbud.com
Janice: vocals, arrangement and melody
Bud: RealTracks, RealDrums, lyric, engineering, mixing/mastering
An autobiographical song....

Verse 1
A child sits on a worn store bench next to his daddy
he stares at the dirt path leading to the train station
nearby the postmaster loads the wooden mail cart 
the kid waits to chase him in the hot Georgia sun 

Verse 2
when older the boy rides his bike down to the station
sittin’ on the loading dock he eats a brown bag lunch
men in fedoras ‘n mama’s with strollers  wait in  line
the conductor’s circled by colored dots from his punch

Verse 3
years later the young man visits the station house
his old postmaster’s there hanging a mailbag on a crane
the freight train slows down but no longer stops
its hook snatches the bag, he sees little stays the same

Bridge 
now an old man, eyes grown dim, he gazes down the line
the rusting rails shimmer and taper into distant pines 

 Turnaround 

Verse 4
standing in the shadow of the leaning water tank 
his thoughts are broken by a crow with its caw
the tracks bear no train, only faded memories
a station house that’s nothing but crumbling brick walls

the tracks bear no train, only faded memories

05/21/2019

Rust On The Rails

John The Revelator
© Trad Arr Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham
Janice: Vocals / cajon / arrangement
Peter: Guitars / arrangement / mix assistance
Bud: Arrangement / RealTracks / mix / mastering / cover art
John the Revelator is a traditional gospel/blues song typically heard in a call and response format. Its chorus refers to John of Patmos writing about the opening of the seven seals (which brings  about the apocalypse)while the verses contain additional biblical references. The first written version is said to have appeared in 1880, although it's possible the song is considerably older. We've been unsuccessful in locating the specific reference to this date.   Regardless the African-American origins are indisputable and are, unfortunately, not always referenced.  Interpretations have been done by Blind Willie Johnson, Son House and more of late John Mellencamp, Depeche Mode, Gov't Mule and Larkin Poe.

There are a multitude of lyric variations.  We chose these with a bit of tweaking.

Tell me who's that writin’? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
He wrote the book of the seven seals

	God walked down in the cool of the day
	Called Adam by his name
	And he refused to answer
	Cause he was naked and ashamed

Tell me who's that writin’? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
He wrote the book of the seven seals

	You know he had twelve apostles
	And three he led away
	He said, Watch with me one hour,
	'till I go yonder and pray


Tell me who's that writin’? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
He wrote the book of the seven seals

	Well who is worthy, thousands cried holy 
	Bound for some, Son of our God
	Daughter of Zion, Judah the Lion 
	He redeems and binds us with his blood

Tell me who's that writin’? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
Who's that writin'? John the Revelator
He wrote the book of the seven seals

John The Revelator

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!