Wow Paul Petruccelli, love your words and arrangement. It's is so powerful while being tender and loving. The edge of emotion creeps into the vocal performance in a nice understated way - this is so refreshing in this genre that often suffers from overexpression!

So good Paul..wow what a song! fantastic work! congrats!

A Country ballad by a brother, shocked to learn his adult sister is being abused. 

Lyrics by Paul Petruccelli
Melody and Vocals by Sam MacGregor
Music and Production by Larry Magee
© 2022 13th Street Songs LLC

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Cold and Bitter

Verses

She came and stayed a week with me
Saw things no brother wants to see		
The bruises under her long sleeves
Each purpled scar. 

She’s not the girl she was before
Her voice so small, stares at the floor
I can’t imagine what she’s stayin’ for
There’s nothin’ left for her. 

Chorus

She figures leavin’ makes her out a quitter
The cup she drinks is cold and bitter
Prayin’ won’t fix it
“Sorry” don’t nix it
He’s a bad habit, ‘n it’s time she kicks it
Can’t understand how he could hit her
The cup she drinks is cold and bitter

Verses

Brought her back just to pack her things
Collect some clothes, her favorite rings
He screamed that drama was just her thing
And tried to bar the door. 

Pushed past his sorry ass, into the room
Told him the cops’d be there soon 
Kicked the bottles half-consumed
Litterin’ the floor. 

Chorus

She figures leavin’ makes her out a quitter
The cup she drinks is cold and bitter
Prayin’ won’t fix it
“Sorry” don’t nix it
He’s a bad habit, ‘n it’s time she kicks it
Can’t understand how he could hit her
The cup she drinks is cold and bitter

Bridge

She says she hasn’t figured out where she’s gonna go.
Someplace far from him, 
Far from the damage and the endless fear  
‘n I hold her and tell her that’s all she needs to know.  

Chorus

She figures leavin’ makes her out a quitter
The cup she drinks is cold and bitter
Prayin’ won’t fix it
“Sorry” don’t nix it 
He’s a bad habit, ‘n it’s time she kicks it
Can’t understand how he could hit her
The cup she drinks is cold and bitter.

O-oh, so cold and bitter.

Cold and Bitter (feat. Sam MacGregor)

Grabbing some joy and making the day just a little bit better.

Lyrics by Paul Petruccelli
Music and Vocals by Moss & Copper
Production by Larry Magee
© 2022 13th Street Songs LLC

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

A Little Bit Better

Verses

Rising up at the break of day,
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, as
Birds at the window shout their replies. 

My coffee nudges me awake,
Ignoring the urge to check on the news 
Just playing music that’s gentle and soothing, ‘cause

Chorus

I’m gonna grab some joy today
Tell a joke and make someone smile
Maybe go catch a matinee
Play silly games with my sister’s child
Call a long-lost friend
Ask him how he’s been
And spend all the hours making the world we’re in
Just a little better

O-oh, o-oh, a little bit better
Maybe not so much that you could tell
But I’ll know – yes, I’ll know – I’m making my day
Makin’ the day
Just a little bit better. 

Verse

Watching children play in the park
Sharing the slide, a seat on the swing
Giddy with laughter, eager to sing
And I know

Chorus

I’m gonna grab some joy today
Tell a joke and make someone smile
Maybe go catch a matinee 
Play silly games with my sister’s child
Call a long-lost friend
Ask him how he’s been
And spend all the hours making the world we’re in
Just a little better

O-oh, o-oh, a little bit better
Maybe not so much that you could tell
But I’ll know – yes, I’ll know – I’m making my day
Makin’ the day
Just a little bit better. 

Bridge

Let’s take a day to be like little kids again,
Remembering the lessons we all learned way back then. 

Chorus

I’m gonna grab some joy today
Tell a joke and make someone smile
Maybe go catch a matinee 
Play silly games with my sister’s child
Call a long-lost friend
Ask him how he’s been
And spend all the hours making the world we’re in
Just a little better

O-oh, o-oh, a little bit better
Maybe not so much that you could tell
But I’ll know – yes, I’ll know – I’m making my day
Makin’ the day
Just a little bit better. 

O-oh, o-oh
Just a little bit better. 
O-oh, o-oh
A little bit better.

A Little Bit Better (feat. Moss & Copper)

If I Ever Leave

Remember

Piano-Based instrumental with emotional strings that evokes sadness and melancholy mood. This instrumental is able to underscore somber scenes like funeral, breakups, and other painful life moments.

The Last Wish

Lyrics and copyright by Paul Petruccelli
Vocals by Rory Sullivan
Music and Production by Larry Magee

Proud To Know (Folk)

You're Here

Copyright and lyrics by John Quick
Melody and vocals by Xavier Maneri
Music and Production by Larry Magee

The Promised Land (Singer Songwriter)

MEANT TO LOVE YOU is about being in love, and sensing that we’re always exactly where we’re meant to be, guided from above, by whoever and whatever that means for each of us. That it’ll all be ok. Sometimes I write my songs to comfort myself, as much as my audiences. I hope you will love it, and that it touches you.

I wrote MEANT TO LOVE YOU last year, and received strong feedback every time I sang it live. People I didn’t even know teared up, and said they could imagine this song in a movie or on the radio.  Well, thank you, and I’m dreaming of that too!! 

4 talented Nashville musicians (3 of them from the band Alabama) played all the music for me. The #1 guy on my team, Gary Agresti helped me produce, arrange verse/chorus/ending, recorded my vocals, mixed and mastered. Gary, you invested so much time and love into this song, which I wrote for you. I’m deeply grateful to you for sharing your multiple talents, giving me so much of your time, caring about my songs and success, and for always seeing the best in me, musically and personally. I hope everyone enjoys this song!!

Marlena Phillips, NH - Melody, Lyrics, Vocals, Co-Producer.
Gary Agresti, NH - Producer, Arranging, Vocal Engineer, Mixing, Mastering.
Steve Peffer, Nashville, TN: Piano, Strings, Programming.
Jason Roller, Nashville, TN - Acoustic , Electric, and Nylon String Guitars
Kimo Forrest, Nashville, TN - Drums, Bass
Dave Ristrim, Nashville, TN - Steel Guitar
Don Mousseau - Cover Art 
Liberty Phillips - Cover Photo

Meant To Love You by Marlena Phillips

Lyricist & songwriter. I love helping turn beautiful music into songs. Looking to collaborate? Contact me: paulpetrucc@gmail.com

Cold and Bitter (feat. Sam MacGregor)

Paul Petruccelli

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mPHATic!!!

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