Water Under The Bridge
© 2021 J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice: lead, BGV's, melody & arrangement
Peter: guitars and arrangement
Marty Straub: Bass
Bud: lyric, arrangement, mix, mastering & photo
Thanks to Marty for the bass track and PG Music.

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

YOU BLEW INTO MY LIFE LIKE A HURRICANE
TURNING MY WORLD AROUND TILL LITTLE REMAINED
THERE WAS NO CALM BEFORE THE STORM
BUT NOW I’M DREAMING OF A NEW MORN

	TODAY I TOOK OUR PICTURE OFF THE FRIDGE
	NOW YOU’RE JUST WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
	YOU CAN PACK UP AND HIT THE ROAD
	TAKE ALL YOUR BAGGAGE AND LIGHTEN MY LOAD

YOU ACT LIKE YOUR FAMILY TREE AIN’T GOT BRANCHES
LORD, I’M NOT GONNA	TAKE ANOTHER CHANCE
RINGS  AND SCHEMES	DON’T WORK FOR ME
I KNOW IT’S GONNA COME I’M ALMOST FREE

	TODAY I TOOK OUR PICTURE OFF THE FRIDGE
	NOW YOU’RE JUST WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
	YOU CAN PACK UP AND HIT THE ROAD
	TAKE ALL YOUR BAGGAGE AND LIGHTEN MY LOAD

	YOU’RE JUST WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

Water Under The Bridge

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
© Trad Arr (Jimmy Cox 1923) J. Merritt, B. Merritt & P. Fulham
Thanks to our music partner Peter, to a fine bass player Marty and to www.pgmusic.com
Our take on a nearly 100 year old domain song.  We tweaked the lyric to put it from a woman's perspective telling her man she'll make out OK without him.
Janice Merritt: vocals & arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitars & arrangement  
Marty Straub: bass
Bud Merritt: production, mix, mastering, photo, etc

YOU TRIED TO LIVE THE LIFE OF A MILLIONAIRE
SPENT ALL MY MONEY, YOU DIDN’T CARE
TOOK ALL OUR FRIENDS OUT FOR A GOOD TIME
BOUGHT EM BOURBON WHISKEY AND FINE WINE

YOU LEFT ME AND I FELL SO LOW
LOST ALL MY GOOD FRIENDS, I HAD NOWHERE TO GO
IF I GET MY HANDS ON A DOLLAR AGAIN
I’M GONNA HANG ON TO IT TILL THAT EAGLE GRINS

CAUSE NO, NOBODY KNOWS YOU
WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT
IN MY POCKET, NOT ONE PENNY
AND AS FOR FRIENDS, I DON’T HAVE ANY

WHEN I FINALLY GET BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN
YOU’LL WANT TO BE MY OLD LONG LOST FRIEND
THEY SAY IT’S MIGHTY STRANGE, WITHOUT A DOUBT
NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT

WHEN I FINALLY GET BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN
YOU’LL WANT TO BE MY OLD LONG LOST FRIEND
THEY SAY IT’S MIGHTY STRANGE, WITHOUT A DOUBT
NOBODY KNOWS YOU
NOBODY KNOWS YOU
NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT

Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

Passing Through
© 2021 Leon Sewell, Peter Fulham & Janice Merritt
Janice: vocals/melody/arrangement
Leon: lyric/arrangement
Peter: guitars/mandolin/arrangement
Bud: mix/mastering/RealTracks/RealDrums/photo
Thanks to www.pgmusic.com

He was a lonely traveller, she met him with a smile
Helped him to forget his troubles for a little while 
Ten thousand miles or more away from his home
Saw the welcome in her eyes, no longer felt alone
	Chorus
	Beware the man who’s passing through   Don’t give your heart away
	Counting on that man to stay  Beware the man who’s passing through

She’d loved and lost before, her friends said oh tread carefully
Dear friends please worry not, I’m certain that he cares for me
When I look into his eyes, I’m sure that love is what I see
Her friends said be that as it may, we beg you to go carefully
	Repeat Chorus

When the winter chills arrived, he dreamed of other latitudes
Her kisses lost their power to chase away his winter blues
I feel the time has come for me to take the road once more
My smile won’t fail, won’t let him see a single teardrop fall

  Bridge
  I’ll pretend I took him lightly    He won’t know I’ll miss him nightly
  Like ships that passed I’ll leave him thinking  He won’t know my heart is sinking   
  Let him think that I will soon forget   Oh, let him think that I will soon forget

	Repeat Chorus

Passing Through

Doubt's Shadow
© 2021 B. Merritt, J. Merritt & P. Fulham
Janice Merritt: vocals/melody/arrangement
Peter Fulham: guitars/arrangement
Bud Merritt: lyric/mix/mastering/arrangement/photo
Thanks to Peter and PG Music www.pgmusic.com
www.janiceandbud.com


Doubt’s Shadow

V1
I lie and watch the fan slowly turning
Like a clock it’s shadows dance on the ceiling
Does each turn count the days since you left?
Or with each one am I closer to my healing?

CHORUS

Without you I struggle to find my next step
Without you the days seem to grow longer 
I do not want to leave doubt’s shadow 
It’s a safe harbor where my hope  can linger

V2

In my shadow the memories drift slowly by
Everywhere I turn there are too many voices
All my family and friends are trying to offer help 
When I listen they shout out too many choices 

REPEAT CHORUS

tag:  It’s my safe harbor here in doubt’s shadow

Doubt's Shadow

The lyric of this public domain song was written by Bessie Brown in 1924 (originally titled Hoodoo Blues).  We slightly tweaked a few lines and arranged it as an up tempo blues rock with a different melody.  Ms. Brown's songs are deserving of more attention.  She's a gem.
Janice: vocal, melody and arrangement
Peter Fulham: Guitar
Bud: mix, mastering, arrangement and photo

HOODOO BLUES 

I'm on the war path now, mean and evil’s my vow, 
Some woman stole my man, but I've got me a plan. 

Let me tell ya all bout it

Gonna sprinkle graveyard dust all around her door 
Gonna sprinkle graveyard dust all around her door 
Put a spider in her dumplings, make her crawl all over the floor
 
Goin' 'neath her window, gonna lay a black cat bone 
Goin' 'neath her window, gonna lay a black cat bone 
Burn a candle on her picture, she won't let my good man alone. 


Got myself some gris-gris, tote it up in a sack 
Got myself some gris-gris, tote it up in a sack 
Gonna keep on wearin' it till I get my good man back 

scat verse

I was born down in the bayou, I wear conjure in my shoes 
Born down in the bayou, I wear conjure in my shoes 
Gonna fix that woman, make her sing them hoodoo blues.

Hoodoo Woman

A Wiil And A Way
© 2021 Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham
Janice: vocals, melody and arrangement
Peter: guitars and arrangement
Marty Straub: bass (martystraub.com)Thanks!
Bud: lyric, mix, mastering and arrangement
PG Music: MidiSuperTrack piano (Logic Pro X Library), RealDrums/congas 
pgmusic.com

A WILL AND A WAY
Verse 1:
It’s a long path outta this swamp
Clear the fog, get ourselves in gear
Strive for the higher plain on the horizon
There’re times we must face our worst fears
	Chorus:
	When we have the will often we can’t find a way
	And when we find a way we may’ve lost the will
	Grab that moment when they come together
	The journey doesn’t always have to be uphill
Verse 2:
A little sacrifice will help pay it forward
Break outta your bubble, take a look around
Been here before and we did not surrender
Do the right thing and stand your ground
	Repeat chorus
(Bridge)
  Find the will, find the way
  Pull your self up, join the fray
SOLO
	Repeat Chorus:
	When we have the will often we can’t find a way
	And when we find a way we may’ve lost the will
	Grab that moment when they come together
	The journey doesn’t always have to be uphill
	No, the  journey doesn’t always have to be uphill

A Will And A Way

Randall Carver

Eternal June

© 2019 Bud Merritt & floyd jane
Janice: Lead & harmony vocals
floyd: Harmony vocal & arrangement
www.floydjane.com
Peter Fulham: Solo guitar & guitar fills 
Bud: Engineering, mix, mastering & Janice photo

THE GOOD NEWS

when you said that it was over... i think i caught a trace of doubt
you left the front door standing open when you walked out
there were no angry words, no ultimatum or curse
so the good news is the bad news could’ve been worse
 
the good news is you didn't clean out your drawer
your tattered Tom Petty t-shirt’s in the corner on the floor
i don't believe you'd ever leave that coffee mug behind
it's all these little hopeful signs that keep running through my mind
 
when you said that it was over... i think i caught a trace of doubt
you left the front door standing open when you walked out
there were no angry words, no ultimatum or curse
so the good news is the bad news could’ve been worse
 
the good news is there's still time i can say the right thing
show some redemption, gain the forgiveness that might bring
you've always been willing to look past my song and dance
to find it in your heart to give me one more chance
 
when you said that it was over... i think i caught a trace of doubt
you left the front door standing open when you walked out
there were no angry words, no ultimatum or curse
so the good news is the bad news could’ve been worse

no final farewell read chapter and verse
the good news is the bad news could’ve been worse
the good news is the bad news could’ve been worse

The Good News

Devolution

The Way Things Are
© 2020 Bud Merritt, Janice Merritt & Peter Fulham
(Lyric below)
All Rights Reserved
Janice: lead / harmony vocals, melody and arrangement
Peter: all guitars & arrangement
Bud: lyric, arrangement, RealTacks, RealDrums mix & mastering
www.janiceandbud.com
a child heard her teacher yell     
there’s a bad man  get on the floor
she looked up and saw two policemen 
running through the door
everybody was crying
then somebody said it’s ok
all you have to do is 
pretend it’s just a play

she asked her Daddy 
why can’t we all wish upon a star?

but he said honey 
that’s just the way things are 


the child watched a lot of 
starving children on tv
there were bombed out buildings 
as far as she could see
she wondered where 
are the mommies and the daddies
who’s going to care 
for all the little babies?

she asked her mommy 
why can’t we all wish upon a star?
but she said honey 
that’s just the way things are 

the child thought why are there 
so many fires and hurricanes
the people and little animals 
are in so much pain
why are pretty birds 
and little fishes dying?
why did the creek 
on granny’s farm quit running?

she asked her mommy 
why can’t we all  wish upon a star?
but she said honey 
that’s just the way things are 

the child wondered why 
so many people hate each other
she thought the good book 
said love one another
a friend said her neighbor 
was gonna go to hell
they went to a different church 
was all she could tell 
 
she asked her daddy 
why can’t we all wish upon a star?
but he said honey 
that’s just the way things are 

she asked her mommy 
why can’t we all wish upon a star?
she said oh, honey	 
that’s just the way things are

The Way Things Are

© Leon Sewell, Peter Fulham & Janice Meritt
Janice: Vocals and arrangement
Peter: Guitar and arrangement
Leon: Lyrics
Bud: vocal engineering, mix, mastering and photography

HIGH HOPES

SHE HAD HIGH HOPES  THOUGHT SHE’D FOUND A SOULMATE
HER FUTURE LOOKING BRIGHT SHE HIT THE HIGH NOTES
HE KEPT THE RHYTHM STEADY  LONG INTO THE NIGHT

Pre—Chorus:
SHE HAD STARS IN HER EYES DIDN’T SEE THROUGH HIS DISGUISE
THOUGHT SHE’D FOUND HER MR. RIGHT	
HE WASN’T THINKING PAST THE END OF THE NIGHT

Chorus:
SIXTY MINUTES IN A SIXTY DOLLAR MOTEL ROOM
SHE’S NOT A BRIDE HE’S NOT THE GROOM
SIXTY MINUTES IN A SIXTY DOLLAR MOTEL ROOM
DIDN’T THINK HER DREAMS WOULD MELT AWAY QUITE SO SOON

HE KNEW THE RIGHT LINES HE HAD THAT EASY SMILE
HE HAD THE TRICK TO MAKE HER LAUGH	
HE POURED SOME MORE WINE	KNEW JUST THE RIGHT TIME
TO HINT AT SORROW IN HIS PAST

Pre—Chorus:
SHE HAD STARS IN HER EYES DIDN’T SEE THROUGH HIS DISGUISE
THOUGHT SHE’D FOUND HER MR. RIGHT	
HE WASN’T THINKING PAST THE END OF THE NIGHT

Chorus:
SIXTY MINUTES IN A SIXTY DOLLAR MOTEL ROOM
SHE’S NOT A BRIDE HE’S NOT THE GROOM
SIXTY MINUTES IN A SIXTY DOLLAR MOTEL ROOM
DIDN’T THINK HER DREAMS WOULD MELT AWAY QUITE SO SOON

Devolution

R Carver