A collection of love songs and break up songs from The Scooches' albums.

Lovin' & Leavin' Songs

Banjo Nickaru Very Next Thing

(3:57) - Folk - FCC Friendly - Give It To Me Real is the beginning of a deeper connection. No more stonewalling! Give it to me real! Tell me what you feel! We all need to communicate with each other, and believe that our truths can be heard and understood. I am here. I am listening. I can handle your truth!

Recorded live, this was the second take. Nick overdubbed Fender Rhodes.

CHORDS & LYRICS: Give It To Me Real

After so much time	D	D
Avoiding my glances	G	A
You’ve got something on your mind	D	D
I’m taking my chances	G	A
No more staying quiet	Em	A	
Talk to me. Just try it.	Em	A
  
I can take it	Bm
What’s on your mind	G
I won’t break	D
And I’m not blind	Em
You’ve got something holding you back 	Bm	Em
I can feel	G	F#
Give it to me real	Bm	E7
Give it to me real	Bm	E7
 
You used to smile	D	D
Like I was golden	G	A
It’s been a while	D	D
What cha been holding back	G	A
So much left unspoken	Em	A
I don’t think we’re broken  	Em	A

I can take it	Bm
What’s on your mind	G
I won’t break	D
And I’m not blind	Em
You’ve got something holding you back 	Bm	Em
I can feel	G	F#
Give it to me real	Bm	E7
Give it to me real	Bm	E7

Look in my eyes. My heart’s open	G	Bm
I’m ready for this cry	A#dim	Gmaj7
Reach for me now. I will listen,	Em	Bm
So please don’t lie.	A#dim	/ 	/ F# /         /

I can take it	Bm
What’s on your mind	G
I won’t break	D
And I’m not blind	Em
You’ve got something holding you back 	Bm	Em
I can feel	G	F#
Give it to me real	Bm	E7
Give it to me real	Bm	E7

Break open and reveal
The way you really feel
Not perfect, not ideal 
No, don’t conceal  (I won’t break… I won’t break...)
Give it to me real


Track 10 on the upcoming album Lift You Up.
ISRC code:QZXRQ2300010
Formatt: R&B, Singer/Songwriter
Length: 3:57

Who’s Who On The Recording:
Betina Hershey, voice, lyrics/composition
Miles Griffith, voice
Russell Hall, bass
Amad Johnson, drums
Nick Russo (Banjo Nickaru), guitar, music director, producer

Authors: 
Betina Hershey (music/lyrics)
Nick Russo (music/arrangement)
recorded and shot at Soundtronics in NYC
sound engineer & co-producer, Len Monachello

Lift You Up

Give It To Me Real

(5:35) - Folk - Leavin’ is a song about how we have to leave people behind to follow our dreams, but yes, we will be back! Written for my kids. This song came out as I was driving away to tour with my band, missing them already. I captured it on voice memo and immediately added it to our set list. - Betina Hershey

LYRICS: Leavin'
(For Seriana and Lydian)

Leavin’. It’s so hard to be leavin’ you
Like I know I gotta do.
Believe me. Oh, please believe me. I love you so
Even though I'm gonna go.    

The road keeps calling, I keep falling
For the dream ahead.
It calls me nightly, holds on tightly
Though I’d rather be with you instead.
But I’m leavin’.  
Yeah, I’m leavin’.   

Remember, by mid September I’ll come back here
So There’s nothing more to fear.
I’m returning when dreams stop burning inside my mind,
And I’m ready to unwind.

The road keeps calling, I keep falling
For the dream ahead.
It calls me nightly, holds on tightly
Though I’d rather be with you instead.
But I’m leavin’.  
Yeah, I’m leavin’.   

Well, I know it’s gonna be hard
When the road between us is long	
But no matter how far you are
I’ll be back before it all goes wrong		

Stop bugging. Let’s get to hugging and say goodbye, even as we cry.
Just hold me. Go on and scold me but I tell you true, I’m coming back for you.

The road keeps calling, I keep falling
For the dream ahead.
It calls me nightly, holds on tightly
Though I’d rather be with you instead.
But I’m leavin’.
Yeah, I’m leavin’.   

Still believing
Though I’m grieving
By the next full moon
Though I’m leaving now 
I’ll be back soon
Though I’m leaving now
I’ll be back soon	
Though I’m leaving now
I’ll be back soon
Take this as a vow
I’ll be back soon
Though I’m leaving now
I’ll be back soon



Track 6 on the upcoming album Lift You Up.
ISRC code:QZXRQ2300006
Formatt: R&B, Singer/Songwriter
Length: 5:35

Who’s Who On The Recording:
Betina Hershey, voice, lyrics/composition
Miles Griffith, voice
Art Hirihara, organ
Harvey Wirht, drums
Nick Russo (Banjo Nickaru), guitars, electric bass, piano, music director, producer

Authors: 
Betina Hershey (music/lyrics/arrangement)
Nick Russo (music/arrangement)
recorded and shot at Soundtronics in NYC
sound engineer & co-producer, Len Monachello

Leavin'

(3:53) Folk - FCC Friendly - I Broke The Egg is a break-up song that involves a dropped egg, dancing, and a bath. Yes, this is a funny, raucous song with a twist.

LYRICS: I Broke The Egg
by Betina Hershey

I broke the egg, I let it fall, 
I saw it crack against the wall
And now it’s oozing to the floor

You saw my fingers as it flew
Oh, yeah, your face turned stiff and blue
And then you slammed right out the door 
And now you won’t be back no more

And so you’re gone, gone, gone
And yeah it’s good, good, good
So good for me
You held me back, back, back
I wanted slack, slack, slack 
And now I’m free

My naked foot stepped in that mess
So slimy, sticky, I confess
That I began to shake my toe

And now I’m laughing like a fool
I have no plans for keeping cool
I’m letting loose and letting go

And so you’re gone, gone, gone
And yeah it’s good, good, good
But not for you
You held me back, back, back
I wanted slack, slack, slack 
And now we’re through

And in the aftermath I shook
I had to take a bath and look
At how we always up and walk

You needed me, I needed you
But there is one thing we don’t do
We don’t know how to sit and talk

And so you’re gone, gone, gone
And yeah it’s good, good, good
But not for me
You held me back, back, back
I wanted slack, slack, slack 
But now I’m free

And so you’re gone, gone, gone
And yeah it’s good, good, good
But good for who?
You held me back, back, back
I wanted slack, slack, slack…
But I wanted you.

Who’s Who On The Recording:
Betina Hershey, voice, lyrics/composition
Miles Griffith, voice
Kenny Kosek, fiddle
Jennifer Vincent, double bass
Harvey Wirht, drums
Dr. David Pleasant, tambourine, Gullah Geechee stomping
Nick Russo (Banjo Nickaru), guitar, banjo, music director, producer

Track 5 on the upcoming album Lift You Up.
ISRC code: QZXRQ2300005
Format: Americana, Newgrass
Length: 3:53

I Broke The Egg

We (Nick Russo & Betina Hershey Russo) wrote I'm Gettin' Married for each other for our own wedding.

We released this original on September 30, 2016 on our album, "Very Next Thing" by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

http://www.BanjoNickaru.com

I'm Gettin' Married

Opening track of our new album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Betina Hershey, vocals/guitar
Nick Russo, resonator/slide
Dr. David Pleasant, harmonica/percussion
Mamadou Ba, electric bass

http://www.banjonickaru.com

Freight Train

From our new album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

http://banjonickaru.com

You Are My Sunshine

Sweet Georgia Brown composed in 1925 by Ben Bernie & Maceo Pinkard (Kenneth Casey, lyrics).

From our new album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Features:
Betina Hershey, voice/guitar
Nick Russo, banjo
David Pleasant, percussion

http://www.banjonickaru.com

Sweet Georgia Brown

1926 Harry Woods tune.

From our debut album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Features:
Betina Hershey, voice
Gordon Au, trumpet
Dennis Lichtman, clarinet
Nick Russo, banjo
Essiet Essiet, bass
Dr. David Pleasant, drums

http://banjonickaru.com

When The Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin Along)

Harry Dixon Loes (1895-1965) wrote this spiritual in the 1920s and was first collected by John Lomax in 1939.

From our debut album 'Very Next Thing' by Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

Release date: September 30, 2016

Features:
Miles Griffith, voice
Betina Hershey, voice
Nick Russo, guitar
Mamadou Ba, bass
Dr. David Pleasant, drum

http://banjonickaru.com

This Little Light Of Mine

Anywhere They Go (written by Betina Hershey and Nick Russo)exemplifies Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches' connection to world music. With "Anywhere They Go" Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches is fusing Indian Raga influence. This is a brand new song and will be released on our next album in 2017, entitled "Which Country?" Betina wrote this beautiful melody & lyrics. Nick Russo wrote the chords, the arrangement and acted as producer. 
     Here, Banjo Nickaru (Nick Russo) is channeling sitar & raga on 5 string banjo also with help from our guest sitar player, Neel Murgai.  Harvey Wirht is our guest drummer on this recording. Len Monacello, recording engineer; Sara Pettinella, videographer and photographer. Keep an eye open for our soon to come 2017 video premiere for Anywhere They Go!

Anywhere They Go Mix

NYC-based The Scooches fuses global music with Americana sounds, including folk, roots, New Orleans styles, music of the 1920s, and originals.

"...it's unlike anything most listeners will find elsewhere."
San Diego Troubadour

"Americana music at its purest and most impressive" No Depression 
 
“Unfailingly high-spirited." LONDON TIMES

"It underscores, too, how sounds from another time can be renewed and re-imagined, by creative minds and right hands, in the present moment. (Banjo Nickaru & Western) Scooches are ridiculously fun." Rambles. 

LIFT YOU UP #1 Album - FAI Folk Chart July 2023
GET US OUT OF FEARLAND  #2 Album - FAI Folk Chart April 2018 
THE VERY NEXT THING  #6  Album - FAI Folk Chart September 2016

“Remarkable musical dexterity, with songs that bask in a genuine roots regimen and a sense of timeless tradition.” Elmore Magazine

Led by Betina Hershey and multi-instrumentalist Nick Russo, the Scooches feature standout musicians from New York, Suriname, Mexico, and Sapelo Island, who have performed at Kansas City Folk Festival, Club Passim, Isis Music Hall, Blue Plate Special, WFUV, John Platt's “On Your Radar” and all around the world. Band members have performed with artists such as Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Julia Roberts, and Wynton Marsalis. Plus they have made appearances in movies such as Disney's "Enchanted,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Away We Go” and PBS Masterpiece, “The Chaperone.” 


"Fresh and vital" Classical Arts 

“Nick Russo has worked with artists all over the jazz spectrum. His latest release brings a decidedly unorthodox approach.”DOWNBEAT  ⋆⋆⋆⋆