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"Impressions"
Album Notes

1   CONTINUUM

Instrumental

 

2   CAMERINA GUTIERES â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

      A while back I was walking through an old Mexican cemetery on a hot summer morning. I came across a grave with a straw hat sitting on top. People are skeptical when I tell them I felt a sudden and sustained chill... as if walking past an open refrigerator. Touched by Camerina?

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Down in old Mexico

There's a tale everybody knows

Whispered like a shame and sin

Blowing in the wind

Since her death she lives

Under their breath

And her spirit just won't rest

Like the old man says

They've been touched

By Camerina Gutieres

There's a chill in the sultry air

When Camerina's there

You'll feel the telltale sign

Up and down your spine

Some blame it on that 

Old straw hat

Lying on her grave

Like the old man says

They've been touched

By Camerina Gutieres


So if you have a chance to go

To La Penita, Mexico

Just off that deadly mountain road

Where she died so many years ago

Camerina will make

You shiver and shake

Just standing by her grave

It's like the old man says

They've been touched

By Camerina Gutieres

​

3   YOU WON'T HAVE TO WONDER

       Someone suggested that people “in love” are on their best behavior in the hope that the other won’t notice their flaws before really getting to know them.  “And," this person noted, "they’re horny.” Well, yes, but it just takes time to see if people can accept those flaws and inherent differences. In the end, it's all a dance about taking a chance. When dating, it's best to remember that, more often than not, things won't work out.


I poured my heart and soul

Into my love for you

I never stopped to wonder why

I felt so sad and blue

You played the part of a tender heart

When it best suited you

You watched as I would go on and on

And play the perfect fool

(Chorus)
Now I won't cry anymore

And you won't have to wonder

Why anymore
 

I always wondered why

I had to beg for your time

I guess you knew I was yours

But you were never mine

Making plans or just holding hands

Seemed to put you on the spot

You played the game just long enough

To feel trapped but never caught

​

4   IN MY ARMS

If you’re lucky to have a special person in your life who cares and takes notice when you’re feeling a little roughed up by life, it reminds you that working through the dating process can be well worth it in the end.

​

 Is there a place where you can go

Where you're not ill at ease

Always eager to please

Where you can just be yourself

And not act like everybody else

 

Is there a place to ease your mind

Where you've got nothing to prove

They care enough about you

And all that you say and do

To bring out all the best in you

 

(Chorus)
"In my arms you silly boy,"

She whispered

"It's us against the world

Don't you forget it mister

I need as much as you need me

Now get up before you hurt your knees"

Is there a place where you can go

Where there's no need to hide

Your feelings inside

With no one there to confide

Someone to share this crazy ride

​

5   MARCH OF THE LEAF CUTTERS

Instrumental

I first encountered this fascinating life form during a night tour in Belize. To see how they work together and march long distances for food and the good of their “communities” is a worthwhile lesson.​
 

6   THANKS BUT NO THANKS, DOC

My list is long of the things I’ve avoided for health, safety or who knows what reasons, which would all fall by the wayside if told my days are numbered.

​

We can't quite tell 

Just what it is you've got

But you've gone from bad to worse

And it's worse than I thought

I give you five maybe six months tops

Before we know all hope is lost

Do as I say and lay

Off that Thunderbird wine

And you just might buy your self

A little more time

​

(Chorus)

I said, "Thanks but no thanks, doc

The least I can do is make the most

Of the time I've got

I'm not winding down I'll paint this town

What's the sense in cryin'

Maybe I'll just beat this thing

Without even tryin'"

​

I'm gonna smoke and toke

Till I draw my very last breath

Eat Krispy Kremes

Like I'm hooked on crystal meth

I've got a list of things

I haven't done yet

Things you'd never do on a bet

I'll fly to Montepulchiano

Just to watch the sun set

Tuscan dreams are the ones

You never forget

​

Think I'll sell the house

And buy a '63 Stingray coupe

Roar down that Dragon's Tail

In my birthday suit

I'll lead the cops

On a high-speed chase

Try to keep just one

Foot in my grave

If things go south

Before my day in court

Tell the judge I caught a flight

To the last resort

 

7   GETTING PAST OUR PAST

A song about a guy who needs to take drastic

measures in order to have a change of heart

and finally admit that the object of his affection

is just not taking things seriously.

​

I'm through looking for ways

To get along

I need just one more chance

To take us down

For her we're just a way

To pass the time

But that's never been enough

To her off my mind


(Chorus)

I'm on a mission

To kill the beast

Bring out the worst

In you and me

It's my one last chance

To make it through

And do away with you 


I'll take her out on a Saturday night

Have a few drinks

Then I'll pick a fight

I'll make damn sure

to do it just right

Put an end to the way

That she keeps me

Up all night

​​

8   THIN VEIL OF DECEIT

This is like a followup to a song on my last album called "The Urge to Do the Wrong Thing." We've probably all been guilty of going through great lengths to hide our flaws and mistakes at one time or another. It’s human nature but ultimately, you’re just kidding yourself more than anyone.

​

White lies and misdirection

All too often it's the case

The truth gets lost in things we do

To help us save face

It's such a thin veil of deceit

When we let our foolish pride
Help us find excuses

For the things that we can't hide
 

(Chorus)

Such a thin veil of deceit

You can run but you can hide behind

A thin veil of deceit


That voice that you hear

In the back of your head

Calls into question

Something you just said

So watch your tongue

You better watch your step

Fraud by self-deception

Robs the soul 

And starves the head

​

9   THE TROUBLE WITH YOU

It might be the way you dress or part your hair or drive or myriad other things that let you know you’re more a source of someone’s frustration than undying affection. Learn to take a hint.

(Chorus)

The trouble with you

You're always tryin' to change me

Make me think that maybe

I'll just make it on my own

You deconstruct and rearrange me

I get the feelin' that maybe

I'm better off alone

​

It's gotten to the point

Where I might disappear

I can't even recognize

That stranger in the mirror

Everything I do or say

Rubs you wrong these days

Maybe I'll just go away

Take what's left of me

And go away

 

When we first met

 It seemed that I could do no wrong

You the music, me the words

To the perfect song

Now it seems they're just

The good old days

Maybe I'll just go away

Take what's left of me

And go away
​

10   WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT LOVE?

Yes! Yet another relationship song! Guess they're long-hanging peaches when you're searching for something to write about. This one is about talking someone jaded by bad love into thinking that in the end, it’s all worthwhile.

​

(Chorus)

What's so special about love?

That touchy-feely

Not my really

Kind of stuff

You make it seem like you

Can't get enough

But what's so special about love?

​

I see your point

But I'll tell you friend

Love is gonna get you in the end

The touch of her hand

And her sweet kiss

Become things that are

Too good to be missed

​

You say love can die

And be untrue

A mess that always 

Gets the best of you

But true love tries

And makes it all worthwhile

And that's why love

Never goes out of style

​

11  DOWN AND UP, UP AND DOWN

This is a gentle jab at some of today’s pop stars who are having great success in going great lengths to express their internal trauma over broken relationships—sometimes with not-so-veiled references to their dastardly old lovers. It’s like shared therapy for  them and their emotionally charged young listeners.

​

They tell me that I sing 

Like I can't catch my breath

Maybe I'm just running out of you

Since our untimely death

I'm at a loss for words

You might never have guessed

The way I ramble on and on it's always

"Oh, please, just give it a rest"

I'm into boys, I'm into girls

I can't make up my mind

Why can't you just wait

For me to decide


(Chorus)
Down and up, 
up and down
Join us for our traveling

multi-city merry-go-round

Down and up, up and down

Therapy tailored

To the beat of our sound

 

This smells like teen spirit

But I'm going on 32

I'm working like the devil

To get through to you

We all feel so empty and disillusioned

That's what friends are really for

My every disappointment

Seems to strike a chord

Some might start to wonder

Do I kiss and tell little white lies?

Do I shade the truth

Just to make it all rhyme?

 

(Chorus)
Down and up, 
up and down
We'll all unload our baggage

When we get to your town

Down and up, up and down

Like therapy tailored

To the beat of our sound

12  THIS FAMILY

       I wrote this one a while back and took my sweet time committing it to a recording. Some of the sentiments are genuine and relevant to my childhood      family, with the ending suggesting that the years haven’t been kind to those relationships or improved them in any meaningful ways. It is what it is. Maya Angelou once said, “Family isn't always blood, it's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter  what.'' But they were important once, and helped shape who you are.
​

This family

Thrives on its memories and its past

This family likes to talk and laugh

But those feelings never seem to last

And this family

Just goes through the motions to get by

God help this family

Before it dies

 

And this family

Is starved for affection at its core

This family likes to talk itself

Into believing nothing's wrong anymore

And this family

Has mastered the illusion and disguise

God help this family

Before it dies

(Bridge)
I'm sick and tired

Of the games we play

The push and shove

Until we get our way

Will someone tell me 

What it's going to take

To find a way around

The same mistakes

This family

Competes for the love in mother's eyes

This family just goes out of its way

To cut each other down to size

And this family

Will live to regret the way she cries

God help this family

Before it dies

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© Bradford Kissell. All Rights Reserved. Images and music on this site

can only be used with the expressed written permission of the author.

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