This is a work in progress. Recording was halted in May of 2020. With any luck, I'll get back to it.

And I Cry

I wrote this for a wedding. One of my favorites. Hope you enjoy.

Last First Dance

Barry Prior: Bass
Chuck Parrnelli: Electric Guitar
Larry Tracy: Pedal Steel
Rachel Lederer: Drums
Valerie Kramer: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

Copyright Valerie Kramer 2013

Hey, little sister, do you mind if I call you on the phone?
You see lately I've been thinking that like me you just might feel all alone
I only want to tell you how I wish that we could be friends again like we were then
I only want to reach into your memory and pull out all regret for all the things we said

Hey, little sister, do you mind if I come over for a while?
We could talk about those blameless moments that we shared to make us smile
And leave out all the parts where we tore apart each other's hearts like a work of art
I want to reach my arms across this great divide inside and hold you tight tonight

A slamming door for us never meant another would soon open
We were busy building shields while unkind words were spoken
Little girls on a battlefield with a king and queen learning how to be 
At war with themselves and everything between

Hey, little sister, do you mind if I apologize?
You see lately I've realized we're all just children in disguise
Pretending to be bigger than we really are like a superstar just leaves a scar
I want to make a promise that I'll never criticize, but that'd be a lie, still I'll try

Hey, little sister, do you mind if I come over for a while?

Hey, Little Sister

Copyright Valerie Kramer 2013

I live up high in them hills
My mountain shine don't need no still
I spent my life slaving for the swells
I've done my time swallowing swill

When the work was done out in the fields
All the cotton spun in the old gin wheel
I took my pay bought an old six string
And that boss man saw the last of me

Nobody knows what lay ahead
Things left undone and left unsaid
Gotta do what's right gotta live my life
Let me go up to mountain shine

Play my guitar by firelight
I sing my songs all through the night
When the sun comes up I'm feeling fine
Cuz I don't need nothing, but my mountain shine

Mountain Shine


Big black bird spinning round your head
Flat on your back feeling good as dead
Sea of sky goes round and round
Coming closer to the ground
So low you drown in blue
  
Big black bird looking down on you
No use in running from the bitter truth 
Raise a glass invite him in
Say a prayer for the living                           
Grab that old crow by the tail
And fly….and fly
 
Hold on tight take another ride on high
Blinded by light scream your battle cry

That old crow ain’t never gonna leave you alone
Perched in a bottle with skulls and crossbones
Let him fly high every night
No matter how you try
You fly a little nearer to the fire
              
And you fly………, and you fly……. and you fly………and you fly……
You fly, you fly, so high in the sky
Fiery wings melt in the light 
And you fall to the ground without a sound 
        
And you fly…….. and you fly………and you fly…




Old Crow

I fell in love with this song after hearing Fiona Apple do it. Enjoy!

Valerie  Joel Jesse - After You've Gone 04052014 _4

Valerie  Joel Jesse - Girl From Impenema 04052014 Mix 5_2

Ain't Ready To Go

This track is from the album Watch Over Me and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/valeriekramerwithmountai

Watch Over Me

That's My Joe

The Last Cowboy

In Those We Love

Words

Still the One to Blame

Nothin' to Do Today

Pancho and Lefty

Won't Lie Down

Tennessee

Ain't Ready to Go

Won't You Just Take Me Home

Make You Feel My Love

You're Coming Home To Me

Songbird

To Daddy

Wayfaring Stranger

For me, writing music is like my soul coming up for air. My body and my conscious mind are, much of the time, held down under society's expectations. When my spirit can't breathe, it bursts forth and takes control. It fights with my conscious mind, and the struggle is exhausting. But, when my soul wins, the feeling of liberty is inexplicable. Singing is like this, too. I am who I am meant to be through music.

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