Letting Go

Clint's Mandolin
© 2016 Janice and Bud Merritt

Janice: Vocal and arrangment 
Bud: Bass, arrangement, mix and mastering
Thanks to PG Music


This song is a tribute to my step father. Clint was born in 1907, his father died young, and he had to get his first crop loan from the bank when he was only 14. He lived his entire life on the family farm. During the late 1920's and 30's he, a brother (Sanford) and a friend played in a string band.  The prelude was created from an old tape that I recorded over 40 years ago - Clint, Sanford and me pickin' in the living room.

Clint's Mandolin

clint and his brother worked the fields every day
times were hard but they held their farm together
on saturday nights they played in a string band
pickin’ at barn dances when a crowd could gather

years passed till they could no longer work the farm
i’d find him sitting out back on a feed sack cushion
playing mandolin, his brother on the five string
i’d join on guitar and listen to the tales they spun

time came when family and friends were all gone
he’d hold his mandolin staring into the past
i could feel the memories drifting all around him
some were fleeting but some will always last

today he rests a few miles from the old farm
his name and a mandolin are carved in the stone
a wise man who never left the land he loved
when i think of him i hear the ancient tones

above our mantle hangs clint’s mandolin
lord, i wish i could hear him play it again
i’d love to hear clint play his mandolin again

Clint's Mandolin

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

Back When We Were Young

This Wall
© 2017 Kenny Leverett / All Rights Reserved
Janice Merritt: lead and harmony vocals
Kenny Leverett: arrangement and harmony vocals
Bud Merritt: engineering/mastering

You built this wall around your heart
That somehow I can not get thru
What do I say when you turn away
Can’t find the right words for you

And this wall is shutting me out
This wall will break me no doubt
I’m losing my mind
It’s just a matter of time
Cause this wall is breaking my heart
Tell me why we can’t go back to the start
I wanna break down this wall

Chill in the air love isn’t fair
How did we find ourselves here
I missed the signs
Wasted my time
Letting you just disappear

And this wall is shutting me out
This wall will break me no doubt
I’m losing my mind
It’s just a matter of time
Cause this wall is breaking my heart
Tell me why we can not go back to the start
I wanna break down this wall

This Wall

ONE TRUE HEART

 tender words and touching moments
 don't come easy for a man like me
 i don't talk soft, i don't send flowers
 and i don't recite poetry
 if what you need comes wrapped in lace
 i can't be in your plan
 but if what you want is one true heart
 then, baby, i'm your man
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart can be the mountain
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that you build your dreams upon
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart is all that matters
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;what you've been looking for all along
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart can make you happy
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and i'm quite sure it can
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart is what you're after
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;then, baby, i'm your man

 i can't bring you diamonds
 i can't buy you fancy clothes
 i can't be depended on
 to let my feelings show
 but i can give you this man's word
 i can give you this man's hand
 if what you want is one true heart
 then, baby, i'm your man
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart can be the mountain
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that you build your dreams upon
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart is all that matters
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;what you've been looking for all along
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart can make you happy
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and i'm quite sure it can
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if one true heart is what you're after
    &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;then, baby, i'm your man 

additional harmonies: Janice Merritt (https://soundcloud.com/mootsman)

One True Heart

Devil's Whiskey

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

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

(remixed/new tracks/remastered: December 2017)
We based this tune on "I am a pilgrim" which is a traditional song dating back to at least 1864.  There are references to it as a Civil War camp song and examples of it as an African-American spiritual.  The most common version is based on Merle Travis' late 1940's recording.  We rewrote the lyrics to the first three verses and added a completely new 4th verse of our own.  The last two lines of the song are our take on Ghandi's "As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world ...as in being able to remake ourselves." 

© 2012-2017 Trad. Arr. Bud & Janice Merritt
www.janiceandbud.com

I AM A PILGRIM AND A SEEKER
TRAVELING THROUGH THIS WONDROUS  LAND
I MAY HAVE A HOME WAY ON DOWN THE ROAD,  GOOD LORD,
BUT IT’S NOT (MY LORD, IT’S NOT) NOT MADE BY MAN

I’VE GOT FAMILY AND SOME GOOD FRIENDS
WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE
AND I WONDER IF I’LL EVER SEE ‘EM, GOOD LORD,
OVER ON (YES, OVER ON) SOME OTHER SHORE

I MAY CLIMB UP ON THAT HIGH MOUNTAIN 
JUST TO REST MY WEARY SOUL
IF I COULD FIND BUT A MOMENT OF PEACE,  DEAR LORD,
I DO BELIVE (I DO BELIEVE) IT MIGHT MAKE ME WHOLE

I AM A PILGRIM AND A SEEKER
TRYING TO DO SOME SMALL PART
I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD, GOOD LORD
ALL I WANT (LORD, ALL I WANT) IS TO CHANGE MY HEART

Letting Go

peterf1957