© 2012 GromKo. Music (ASCAP)
Words and arrangement by Sarah Gromko
Music by Sam Wiseman

Never Enough

Words and Music by Sarah Gromko
©℗ GromKo. 2007

Once upon a time I gave advice to you.
Once upon a time I made you smile.
"Give us time alone," you say, "Redding my woes away."
Now all I ask of you is just say "No."

Thrice upon a time you walked home with me.
Twice upon a time you let me cry.
Squeeze my breath goodnight then slowly walk away.
Now all I ask of you is whisper "No."

Rubies are red. I watch you blue.
Don't let her mama be so cruel to you.
Maybe, if you loved yourself,
She'd love you too.

Coward, Saint, or Liar? Who? I want to know.
You're the one who forced my glance your way.
Spite your father's love. I'll let you turn away.
Please, all I ask of you is just say "No."

(tenor and Rhodes duet)

Rubies are red. I watch you blue.
Don't let her mama be so cruel to you.
Maybe, if you loved yourself,
She'd love you too.

Coward, Saint, or Liar? Who? I want to know.
You're the one who forced my glance your way.
Spite your father's love. I'll let you turn away.
Now all I ask of you is just type No.

Say No

Words and Music by Sarah Gromko
©℗ GromKo. 2007

What's this body for if there's no channel to siphon my electrons?
Yes, with situation 'lain' there's way less pros than cons.
If Eve had asked you first, would you have whacked that weed out of the garden?
Father says the place to go is back into that den.

By convulsing every night, my thoughts fly far from proper course.
And, when I stay within the flight plan, the flight fights such force.
I can cry. I can crave. I can scream for it. (I must, as human.)
But will you let me know the right choice? Which side will win?

But I shiver for them. I jolt in my bed for man. 
How can I suppress desires?
We know I'll never douse all desires.

He'll never give you what you cannot handle.
He made that promise with the oil and candle.

What's the difference of degree in angle that points from observation
To sarcasm or generous contemplation?
The latter is the path to human concern,
But my selfish body (sometimes of my own volition) makes the wrong turn.

How can I forget to season the host I've worked so hard for?
If I don't talk or read with you, I'll be blinded more.
How can I give fully the life I've often tried to cheat?
My vocation, without the love I'd hoped, might flower to your point of heat.

He'll never give you what you cannot handle.
He made that promise with the oil and candle.

Season The Host

Words and Music by Sarah Gromko
© ℗2007 GromKo.

Who gave us estimates of running time?
Who escalated our intent of absolute, reason, or rhyme,
Offering pipe dreams in a bamboo guise,
Obviously getting off on watching our saliva drown our eyes?

(flute solo)

You steal my sustenance to give me "life."
Rather: eliminate my only breath and suck my impulse dry,
Reptile who poses as paternal love…

(bass solo)

Now's my chance, but can I turn back?
Dependency has placed acquisition up too far.
All the power I'd been offered
Has only scarred my view.

Hand me a number like a baker's clerk.
The end result is not the product of how hard or fast I work.
Why waste a score, four years on theory?
Theory won't give me what I thought it would, just fabric memory.

You told me I was beyond hands of fate.
You promised with my charm and intellect I'd earn my heir estate.
Whose is the fruit that you've been peddling?

Scapegoat

Compared with Sarah Vaughan, Patsy Cline, K.D. Lang, and Annie Ross by professional musicians and critics alike, Sarah Gromko’s vocals “show a deep sense of artistic maturity.” Her debut recording as a bandleader was nationally recognized as “intimate,” “eclectic,” and “undeniably killer.” The attention led to a licensing contract with Universal Records.

Over the years, Sarah has been recorded as a background singer, a featured jazz vocalist, and for both national and international commercials and TV spots (i.e. Showtime, PBS). Under her direction, Gromko’s jazz quartet held residencies at New York City’s Puppets Jazz Bar, Kavehaz/Mannahatta, and Blue Water Grill, and currently Pearl Wine Lounge in New Orleans. Her live work focuses on original and jazz standards, and she enjoys surprising her audiences with clever, yet subtle, original arrangements.

Sarah has been singing professionally since age 15 and has been trained vocally by teachers from the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway, and jazz stages. She also has a film-scoring degree from Berklee College of Music.

She also has a wide array of credits in film music, orchestrations, music publishing, compositions, conducting, and music business and education.

sarahgromko