Compilation of songs from my one man band performance at "Porchfest" in Milford CT on 10/02/2021.

Live Preview - Porchfest 10.02.2021

This album is a cross section of material written in and about my twenties.

released January 1, 2017 

Music and lyrics are written and performed by Steven Ringwald. 

Recording, mixing and mastering by Brandon Bujinowski at If and Only If Productions in NYC.

I'm Not Insane

I Got You

Better Than This

Submission for Song a Week 2018 - Week 38

EPIC DREAM
I saw a thousand midgets slapping mugs on their knees.
Singing folk songs, dancing around a bowl of cheese.
And there was a naked man with a tattoo of a spider on his head (They called him Mr. Jerusalem)
He smoked 17 cigars and shouted "Santa Claus is Dead!"
(Think of the children!)

Snap to again, it's 4:00AM, 
I woke up in a sweat last night
It's cause I had this fucked up dream
And nothing about that dream did feel right

A herd of Buffallo unionized, demanding two weeks off with pay.
But all they did to protest was graze and sleep and shit all day.
(Not very effective)
So their bosses just said "Fuck it. They'll crack before we do!"

Snap to again, it's 4:00AM, 
I woke up in a sweat last night
It's cause I had this fucked up dream
And nothing about that dream did feel right

No nothing did feel right

Nothing about that dream did feel right
(Well alright)

EpicDream

Week 1_SAW 2020
Copyright 2020

Me You're Looking For

Don’t want to be myself. Don't want to even try.
Can you relieve this hell? Can you help me get by?
Because I’m on my knees. I’ve been down so long.
Am I being weak? Am I being strong?

You said “Let it go, go, go. 
It’s just a little relief.
And if the best is what you want.
Then it’s me you’re looking for.”
So I let it go, go, go.
For a little relief.
And if the worst is what you want,
Then it’s me you’re looking for.

In a Diamond Sky, I’m flying with Lucy.
See it all go by, but, what did I see?
Been in a haze so long. Now it’s on repeat.
Am I being strong? Am I being weak?

You said “No, no, no. 
It’s just a little relief.
And if the best is what you want.
Then it’s me you’re looking for.”
So I let it go, go, go.
For a little relief.
And if the worst is what you want,
Then it’s me you’re looking for.

This highest high, can’t see a low
And I’ve made promises, I know
But it’s so hard, I just need to...

Let it go, go, go.
It’s just a little relief.
And if an answer is what you want,
You can keep on looking...

Cause I’ve let go, go, go.
It's just a little relief.
And if the worst is what you want.
Then it’s me you’re looking for.

Cause I’ve let go, go, go.
Goodbye to me.
And if the worst is what you want.
Then it’s me you’re looking for.

Me You're Looking For

Song A Week 2020 - Week 2

"King & Queen" 
by Steven RIngwald

You were my princess. 
Short hair, white dress,
Eyes full of promises.
A rose on my chest.
Snake skin shoes to impress.
We let our lips seal our promises.

And ever since, we’ve been
King and Queen.
Titles that are made for passing.
It was like a dream,
Sporadic and serene.
The start of our own fairytale ending.

Our princess laughed as we said goodnight.
The kingdom at rest, I held you tight
And drifted into mindless slumber.
The castle keeps us safe from cold.
Though time creeps in and makes us old,
Never shall we wish to be younger.

Not since we’ve been
King and Queen.
Titles that we planned on passing.
Think of all we’ve seen.
All we’ve dared to dream.
We made our own fairytale ending.

All my gold is here for you.
A dowry, gifted to,
The princess I’m walking towards the altar.
This will be your time.
We shall watch how life can rhyme.
And pick you up if you should ever falter.

I think of all we’ve seen
As King and Queen.
Titles that we didn’t mind passing.
And when I fade, I’ll dream
Of you, my Queen.
Evermore. Love outlasting
Us.

King & Queen

My week 3 submission (A Week Late!) for Song a Week 2020.

Crawl Before You Walk

Such a strange conversation. Don’t know what it’s heading toward.
Why does your every word have to be a metaphor?
And then you hit me with a question that I wasn’t ready for.
You cut through the guess work as you cut me down to the core.

Hey, what if I
Walked away, said goodbye?
Spit in your face, and your eye?
Just walked away, said goodbye?

We’ve been together for years, how can she ask this?
Won’t somebody please explain the tactics?
But then I’m grinding gears, what she’s looking for is
Me to profess my love with signature dramatics
Well…

If you said you were not going to stay
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away
Do you think I’m too proud to say
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away
It’s not a game that I want to play
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away
So don’t even joke about it this way
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away

We’ve been together for years, how can she ask this?
Won’t somebody please cut out the dramatics?

Hey, what if I
Walked away, said goodbye?
Spit in your face, and your eye?
Just walked away, said goodbye?

If you said you were not going to stay
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away
Do you think I’m too proud to say
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away
It’s not a game that I want to play
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away
So don’t even joke about it this way
I would be on my knees to crawl before you walk away

Crawl Before You Walk

Song a Week 2020 - Week 7

This work in progress is Co-written by Krysi Kroft and Steven Ringwald.

"Bitter"

So, so, so, so, so, so...

Bitter.
I am bitter.
Said I’m Bitter about the way, all the words you tried to say,
Just weren't right.
Bitter.
Yes, I am bitter.
Bitter about the way, you just walked away. 
Now I can’t stand the sight…

Of me in the mirror
Am I seeing clear, or,
Am I just twisting the knife?
But I can’t bring myself
To think of something else.
No, nothing about this is right.

I’m so, so, so, so, so, so,
So, so, so, so, so, so…

Bitter.
Yes, it’s bitter.
The taste in my mouth today,
From begging you to stay.
But you still said goodbye.
And I am bitter.
So fucking bitter.
Bitter in every way, never felt so betrayed,
Pent up inside...

of a house, full of fear.
Was a home with you here.
O, how I tried.
I have to let go
Deep down, I know,
The love has died.
And it feels... 

So, so, so, so, so, so,
So, so, so, so, so, so... Bitter.

Bitter

Song a Week 2020
Written by Steven Ringwald

Playing catch up on the weeks I failed to submit for. Here is another one based on the old Week 4 Prompt.

"Fist Full of Fives"

It feels like I'm always second guessing.
I'm just like the thinker, my mind is messing
with truths and trials. I try to let go of mistakes.
Isn't that what it takes? Isn't that what it takes?

Am I more alive right here by your side
Or out on the strip with a fist full of fives?
I swear to decide, respect what's at stake.
Because isn't that what it takes? Isn't that what it takes?

To let go. To be Free. 
Just be me.
Find a way. Find a stream
And drift towards a dream.

With a pen in hand I swear I will attack this.
Let the weight of the world off my back, won't be atlas.
Slow and steady and strong, embrace the shakes.
Isn't that what it takes? Isn't that what it takes?

I failed to accept that there is no failure.
Felt so inept, I wouldn't dare go for
All I see for me.
All I can be and all that I was meant for.
All I ever really needed was a mentor
I had to believe...

To let go. To be free.
Just be me.
To find a way. To find a stream
And drift towards a dream.

Steve Ringer