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Better Together

by No Strings

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1.
Violet's Blue 02:34
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Violet's Blue Lifetimes ago, yesterday too Again tomorrow that old "I love you I'm yours forever, I'll always be true Violet, you'll never be blue" She gives her heart so sweetly Smiles when she hears him say "My love is yours completely" His words carry her away Now that he's won her, made her his own He takes another, she cries alone His words were empty, never were true He just left sweet Violet blue Trusting too much is tragic One day she'll turn things 'round Then once again the magic Once more she's heaven-bound Love's still elusive, just out of reach Tears come with baggage, lessons to teach Maybe tomorrow, who knows? do you? But for today, Violet's blue.
2.
If I Didn't Love You So 02:24
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If I Didn't Love You So When you were here, the world was in tune Life was a warm embrace Now you are gone, the melody's ended It's an empty dream I'm chasing Sweet babies would laugh, songbirds would sing Moonlight delight me, church bells would ring Willows would dance while soft breezes blow If I didn't love you so Jasmine in bloom would perfume the air I'd read curled up in my favorite chair Autumn's bright leaves would put on a show If I didn't love you so (Now the world's all in grey Beethoven's not sublime Dew won't sparkle at dawn Poets forgot how to rhyme) Sunsets would paint the evening sky red Peaches 'n cream, then sweet dreams in bed Life would be lovely, tied with a bow! If I didn't love you so.
3.
Labor of Love 02:04
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Labor of Love Now, falling love is chancy Staying in love, an art More than a passing fancy Needs the mind, not just the heart Oh, infatuation's kid stuff Manna that falls from above But sometimes when it's a bit rough That takes the labor of love There may be days he'll displease you Times he'll fall short of the mark But then forgiveness will seize you When you feel his warmth in the dark You can't always have things your way Sometimes you let off steam You're heading out the doorway Love's the impossible dream Just finding someone is Kismet Ah, but when push comes to shove To ride off into the sunset That takes the labor of love.
4.
Breakfast At My Place 02:31
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Breakfast At My Place The hour's late, the dancers few The music's about to end I'd like to spend some more time with you While night and morning blend... How would you like to have some breakfast at my place? Watch the sun come over the hill Would you consider breakfasting at my place? And give my nosy neighbors quite a thrill We could have crepe suzettes, a fondue or french toast For a continental affair We could talk about the things we like most Who can say where we may go from there? What a nice way to start the day, in tune Sippin' from a demitasse Bide an idle afternoon Who knows what may come to pass? We could be sittin' in my kitchen while stars pale Listenin' to sweet Ella swing Or we may be writin' our own love tale To a tune the two of us can sing Right from the day we met I found you disarming Dreamed we're more than friends by and by I hope my invitation's not alarming Would you like to give my dream a try?
5.
Going Home 02:46
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Going Home Going home to a world I left behind In a life long ago Childhood days where I travel in my mind To warm memories of lamplight on snow Going home, robins nest in maple trees Mama's flowers all in bloom And the stream runs with snowmelt to our knees While a breeze stirs the curtains in my room Steamy days, young ones turning brown Cold lemonade then we go Sent to bed while the sun's going down Evenings when fireflies glow Going home, bright with autumn's turning leaves Papa writing a poem Gone so long but sometimes my heart still grieves And I miss them so I keep going home.
6.
That's What I Like About You 02:06
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That's What I Like About You The dimples that show every time you laugh And when you say I'm your better half You listen with love while I talk things through That's what I like about you The way that you're willing to close your book When smiling at my come-hither look The fact that your eyes are my favorite blue That's what I like about you Just being near you is heaven, my friend Goodness, how fast my heart beats, you know that Our love is sweeter than anything penned By Byron or Shelley or Keats The way that you reach for my hand in bed That look of love when love's unsaid The tears in your eyes when you said "I do!" That's what I like about, I'd hate to be without, That's what I like about you.
7.
Find the Joy 02:41
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Find the Joy lf you waken all wrapped in sorrow With blue skies a dim memory Why should you wait 'til tomorrow to smile? Just try reliving a day of gladness When your heart was full and carefree And soon you will find that ol' sadness just isn't your style Moment by moment can we really decide How happy we're gonna be? Sweet Pollyanna you may deride But just between you and me Life is short, find the joy and take it You know that it's all up to you Laughter and song seem to make it worth while And any mirth you beg, steal or borrow Is bound to help carry you through Oh, why should you wait 'til tomorrow to smile?
8.
Some People 03:08
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Some People Ipods and Blackberries close at hand Texting and webcams a snap A technological wonderland Or is it a tender trap? I find that some people like to gad about Have lists of things they're mad about They never take a moment to pause I see them so busy multi-tasking while I simply sit here asking if Smelling the roses is a lost cause Lying down on a hilltop Out and under the sky With the stars as a backdrop Wondering how, when or why (we got here) This age of instantaneous Everything leads to craziness Some people take no time just to dwell On all the questions to meditate about If you've a shadow of a doubt Take some deep breaths, Slow down, it feels swell.
9.
Closing Time at the Zoo 02:17
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Closing Time at the Zoo It's late! It's late! It's closing time at the zoo You'll never finish all you wanted to do The pandas, polar bears, a parrot or two It's sad you can't see them all What's there to do? Once you believed...just last night, so it seems You could have everything; just follow your dreams Too late! Too late! It's closing time at the zoo No time to waste, but somehow you always knew You'd have to wrap it up before you were through For soon they'll be closing the gates at the zoo.
10.
'Til Hell Freezes Over 02:10
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'Til Hell Freezes Over 'Til the seasons have stopped turning, There's no neon on Broadway Parted lovers don't spend lonely nights yearning, Here is where I'm gonna stay 'Til there are no cliffs at Dover, 'Til the French don't rendezvous And if I might add: 'til hell freezes over, I'm gonna stick with you We'll be together until stars are cold And all the seas have run dry In any weather, to have and to hold We'll give it that old college try 'Til the Earth falls off its axis, 'Til the lawyers all fight fair Darling, it's as certain as death and taxes You and I will be a pair I've just found a four leaf clover Baby, that's a lucky sign So I'll say again: 'til hell freezes over, You're gonna be all mine.

about

Lyrics by Harriette Wagner
Music by Dr. Richard Wolk



We met in April 2005. His music caught my ear. At a Folklore Society potluck; a happening every year.
From, our hostess, Sharron Brown's piano, tunes kept tumbling forth. Wow! My curiosity was clearly piqued. I had to know more and how.
A grey haired gentleman was playing; I was rapt in the notes as they fell. Between melodies I asked him. "Who wrote these tunes? Please tell,"

He answered with a modest smile. "I did."," Are there lyrics," I pressed. "Well, I'm better with notes than words", he responded. "I need a lyricist."
"I've done lyrics, I volunteered; may I give it a try?" "Certainly, he eagerly answered. When can you come by?"
I told him I planned to retire at the end of 2005. Then I'd have some time. Let's stay in touch. I didn't know if this match would survive...

Life deposits gifts on our doorsteps, often unclaimed. Sometimes if the time is right we'll reach out and grab them tight and our journey's never quite the same.

Dick and I wrote many songs together. He might meet me at his door with the melody complete, sometimes with a title, too, directing my endeavor. He accepted all my work with joy; our rapport was really sweet.

Then life shows up again, not always welcome. You're drawn away, led down a different road. You wonder what just happened, nothing lasts forever; you're left wondering what does the future hold. You confront new obligations, sometimes you have no choice. You're wrapped up in the folds of time some more. So much to do, so much undone; you thought you had forever. Time's now sprinting at full speed, now pounding at the door.

Then all too soon your muse is gone and you are left among the shards of works unfinished, songs never to be sung. Tunes left just a'borning, words adrift from melody. The truth of time's inexorable march is printed so indelibly...

But Dick's kind spirit remains alive among those scraps of melody just lying there awaiting his deft touch, while I am wrapped in lyrics, some long overripe, speaking to me sometimes over much. Perhaps creative bursts will yet arise, birthing songs that I have yet to know.
Today they tarry in limbo still, purring on my window sill. Unborn, replete with life, yearning to bloom and grow.

Thank you, Dr. Wolk.



No Strings is a Mother/Son duo recording a wide variety of original songs, jazz standards, rock/pop/country/folk songs + spoken word presentations.

credits

released June 2, 2019

Voice, piano, electric piano + organ by Matthew Embry
Guitars by Danny Kolb
Oboe by Maria Sensou
Arrangements by No Strings
Recorded/mixed/produced by John Koontz
Edited/finalized by Matthew Embry
Recorded in California @ EIEIO Studios + The Nest
Cover by No Strings
Mastered by Steve McDonald at the Octagon
Site wallpaper by Bonnie Jean Primbsch



see lyrics, visuals, and/or liner notes by clicking on individual tracks.
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<name your price> is the digital equivalent of <no one turned away for lack of funds>, sliding scale $0-?, small amounts appreciated.

A Work In Progress Records is an independent record group concerned with do-it-yourself releases distributed on an anti-profit/donation basis.

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No Strings

No Strings is a Mother/Son duo recording a wide variety of original songs, jazz standards, rock/pop/country/folk songs + spoken word presentations.

Upcoming ME-related Shows:
4/26...Cedarbrook
4/27...Tower PorchFest (w/ Tony Imperatrice, Chris Janzen Trio, Blake Jones, Chelsea Jones, Ruth and the Kernel)
4/29...Oakwood Gardens
4/30...Nazareth House

matthewembry.bandcamp.com ... more

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