- written, produced and performed by Shane Forest Cooley (ASCAP)

lyrics
Just a Dream

I felt you in a dream
I felt your legs in my lap
And I felt you smiling at me
I felt you in a dream
But it was just a dream
There were men on stilts
It was the zombie apocalypse 
And I kissed your lips

And everything was falling away
And I couldn't concentrate
‘Cause you were there

All in a dream
I get these weird dreams every morning
Right before I wake up
And I don't know where I am these days
It was just a dream
I felt your feet on my lap
And I thought you were still with me
'Til I awakened

And everything had fallen away
And I had to begin my day
All alone
I could use a little time away
To find my happy place
And start moving on

Start moving on

words & music © Shane Cooley 2021

Forest

Just a Dream

- written, produced and performed by Shane Forest Cooley (ASCAP)

lyrics:
Coyote

I kept a dirty dirty secret
In my blue jean pocket
I had another one I hid up my sleeve
And I believed that I could keep it
But karma comes around to every rascal
Every low-down no good fool
And if you think you can keep your secret
Well it's as easy as keeping your cool

A coyote
In grown man's clothing
Forever lonely
Forever free
Down in the valley
Out on the streets
If you push me
I'll show my teeth

When I was living
With caveman junkies
Riff-raff and kings of funky breaks
There was so much 
That I was learning
Like how to make
My own mistakes

A coyote
In grown man's clothing
Forever lonely
Forever free
Down in the valley
Out on the streets
If you push me
I'll show my teeth

Well I gave you fair warning
I gave you fair warning
Didn't I?
I gave you fair warning
I gave you fair warning 
Didn't I?

A coyote
In grown man's clothing
Forever lonely
Forever free
Down in the valley
Out on the streets
If you push me
I'll show my teeth
If you push me 
I'll show my teeth

words & music © Shane Cooley 2021

Coyote

-Written, performed and produced by Shane Forest Cooley (ASCAP)

-Recorded at Cooleyland in Mollusk, VA

-All instruments performed by Shane Cooley

-Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering, NYC

-Cover art by Shane Cooley

lyrics:
Stella Ray

Mm Stella Ray
I am grateful for your ways
And unfiltered kindness
And your traveling soul

I've been astray
For several years or twenty
Rip Van Winkle wakes up and finds it funny
How people spend their money these days

Everyone is pent up
Living in a box
And they don't know
Any other way but to play the game
Win the prize and wind up in the suburbs
But honey that's not me at all
And I don't think that you're like that either
So maybe we could meet up somewhere sweeter
Down the line when you want it or need it
Stella Ray
Oh Stella Ray
Stella Ray

Stella Ray
Another fella may come on to you
But that's alright
Every night is your night and mine
And then it's our time
Whenever you want it or you're needing it
I'm not asking you to sign any dotted lines
Man I've been there before
It left me defeated and out of my mind

Pent up
Living in a box
And they don't know
Any other way but to play the game
Win the prize and wind up in the suburbs
But honey that's not me at all
And I don't think that you're like that either
So maybe we could meet up somewhere sweeter
Down the line when you want it or need it
Stella Ray
Oh Stella Ray
Stella Ray
Stella Ray

Stella Ray
We're in a room of marimbas
So shiver me timbers
And let's have a time or two

We may only live once
But note the resemblance
Of what's been unspoken 
And what keeps us open

So we don't wind up pent up
Living in a box
And they don't know
Any other way but to play the game
Win the prize and wind up in the suburbs
But honey that's not me at all
And I don't think that you're like that either
So maybe we could meet up somewhere sweeter
Down the line when you want it or need it
Stella Ray
Oh Stella Ray
Stella Ray

Stella Ray
Oh Stella Ray
Stella Ray

Stella Ray

Stella Ray (WAV)

music & lyrics by Shane Forest Cooley (ASCAP)

- Lori Ellen: backing vocals
- all other instruments performed by Shane Cooley

lyrics:

If I was a dinosaur I'd be a triceratops
All big and horny
From the bottom to my top
Used to think I'd be a T-Rex
But my arms are too long
And I ain't king enough
To be old King Kong nah

And if I was any other animal I'd be a marsupial
I could rent out my pouch
Complete with TV and couch
I could store all my stash and go crusin' down to Bonnaroo
Do-do-do-do
But I ain't captain enough
To be Captain Kangaroo nah

But if I was a dinosaur I'd be a triceratops
All big and horny
From the bottom to my top
Used to think I'd be a T-Rex
But my arms are too long (aw)
But I ain't king enough
To be old King Kong nah

The Circus Rolls On

Triceratops

Triceratops (WAV)

music & lyrics by Shane Forest Cooley (ASCAP) (c) 2022
all vocals and instruments performed by Shane Cooley

lyrics:

I ain't as nimble as I used to be
Sometimes I rarely have a bite to eat
So I am gonna find a slice of life
A piece of the pie alright

And I'm still hungry like when I was young
Still I'm fiery like a smoking gun
So I am gonna go and find some fun
Before time runs out

The river's long and the river's wide sometimes
But you'll stay on track
If you don't look back

So if you wanna come and visit me
We could take a tour of history
Pirates and presidents that used to roam
And my personal ghosts

The river's long and the river's wide sometimes
But you'll find your way
Still you'll have your day

I ain't as nimble as I used to be
But certain things do rejuvenate me
And darlin' you seem like a slice of life
A piece of the pie alright

And I am ready for that slice of life
That piece of the pie alright

Slice of Life

Slice of Life (WAV)

music & lyrics by Shane Forest Cooley (ASCAP) (c) 2022
- Lori Ellen:  backing vocals
-all other instruments by Shane Cooley

lyrics:

Like the Flamingo Cowboy
Riding his pink horse
I'm a thousand miles into the skyway
I've felt worse

Thirty days in Texas
Felt like thirty years
Galactic shamans and electric scoundrels
Keeping it weird

And the circus rolls on
And the circus rolls on

Green-eyed lady of the Hill Country
With eyes like St. Elmo's Fire
Yeah I noticed you wink at me
I just thought I was tired

I am the Flamingo Cowboy
Riding into the neon sunrise
I would ride all night
Just to meet those green eyes

And the circus rolls on
And the circus rolls on

Pink elephant clouds
Roam the big Texas sky
Ghostly visions and endless songs
Never felt so right

Skimming through the shenanigans
Love scenes in fast-forward
Mental illness on Polaroid
Lonesome as fire

And the circus rolls on
Yeah the circus rolls on

The Circus Rolls On (WAV)

*recorded and produced by Shane Cooley at Cooleyland Recording in Mollusk, VA

*mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering in Brooklyn, NY.

*music & lyrics by Shane Cooley (c) 2021 (ASCAP)

-Shane Cooley - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keys, bass, percussion


lyrics (words & music by Shane Cooley)
It's the holidaze
Done my way
Down home
Life by the bay
Things are slightly different
But the same

Winter's here
Frost bites
Nibbles on my ears
Feels just right
Things are slightly different
But the same

Same season
Different flavor
I'll be in my cozy sweater
On my best behavior

These holidaze

Holidaze
Done my way
On my porch
In a strong haze
Things look slightly different
But the same

If you wanna come
Up my way
For a sugar plum
Dream for a day
We could keep each other toasty

Same season
Different flavor
In my cozy sweater
On my best behavior

This holidaze
These holidaze
These holidaze

Winter's Walk

Holiday

Holidaze (.WAV)

“I kept a dirty, dirty secret / in my blue jean pocket” is the first line of “Coyote,” the moody single and opening track to singer/songwriter Shane Cooley’s new album, Forest.  From that line alone, one might glean that this journey is not just a  leisurely stroll through the woods. 

Cabin fever is a sensation that most of us have become familiar with during the 2020s.   Forest explores the depths of that sensation.  Moved by both the tumultuous times in the world and his personal life, the album delves into the shadows of Cooley’s conceptual wilderness.  The result is a hauntingly thoughtful blend of minimalist folk and American roots music.   “About a year ago, I went for a walk in the woods, and wandered off-trail,” said Cooley.  “I completely lost my bearings, and had to fight my way through heavy brush towards the setting sun, where I knew I would eventually find a road or highway.  I think that feeling is at the epicenter of this album; being lost in a dark, dangerous place, with only your instincts to guide you.”  

 Cooley self-produced Forest in his river cottage in remote Mollusk, Virginia, and played all of the instruments.  Most of the songs were conceived during moonlit walks in the woods, a place where Cooley has always felt at home.   Sprinkled throughout Forest are nature sounds captured during the recording process.  The album was mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering in Brooklyn, NY.  “I have known Shane for a decade, from working on his early projects,” said Kevorkian, “I always thought he was a very talented young artist then.  Mastering his new record reinforced my opinion.”

Shane Cooley, age 34, has been writing, recording and performing music for over 20 years.  The son of a high school principal and an art teacher/wildlife magazine writer, Cooley grew up in rural Virginia.  After raising money for the 9/11 Red Cross Relief Fund with a self-penned song at age 14, he found a purpose and identity as a musician.  He has been releasing music ever since.  

After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature at The College of William & Mary, Cooley hit the road, touring both the United States and Europe. He spent most of his twenties in the music hub of Austin, TX, where he still frequently performs.  His 2015 release, Kings Highway, was deemed “an absolute triumph” (The Daily Press), earning his reputation as a skilled and prolific songwriter.  “He’s one hit away from radio stardom,” wrote Billboard critic Jeff Miller.  Along his travels, he has shared the stage with Grammy-nominated artists Wood & Wire, along with Shakey Graves, Wild Child, and more.  

Cooley’s songs have found their way to the airwaves of television shows such as NBC’s “The Mysteries of Laura,” and IBC’s “The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.”  He also composed the music for the Amazon Book Trailer for bestselling author Lori Foster’s Tough Love.  The CW television show Songwriters Across Texas recently aired a documentary episode about Cooley’s life as a singer/songwriter.  
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in 2020, Cooley leaked his acoustic anthology, 50 Songs to boost the spirits of his fans, along with performing weekly live stream concerts on his Facebook page.  The live streams continue to occur on Wednesdays at 8pm EST.

“Coyote” releases as a single on April 8, followed by the full album, Forest, on April 22 (Earth Day).  Cooley will be raising funds and awareness for The Nature Conservancy in conjunction with his release.  Shane Cooley’s music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Pandora and more.

Shane Cooley (Official)

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