Back Story - Credits - Lyrics
“I Always Knew” was written in 2000 as a possible entry into the American Idol Song Contest. I didn’t submit it but decided to make this recording.
It only took a glimpse, I often wonder why
Was it something in your smile, Or the deepness in your eyes?
It was just a single touch, with just the slightest brush
I couldn’t help but stare, As the wind blew through your hair
And it was you….it was you….I always knew
Verse II
One single twist of fate, that took all my fears away
How it feels here in your arms, it’s how I always want to stay
It wasn’t hard to see, we were always meant to be
Once I had you in my heart, there was no way we could part
Because of you…and all you do…I always knew
Bridge
You’re such a part of me,
You always know just how I feel
You are the only thing that matters,
I can’t believe this could be real
Verse III
It only took a glimpse, I often wonder why
Was it something in your smile, Or the deepness in your eyes?
It wasn’t hard to see, we were always meant to be
Once I had you in my heart, there was no way we could part
Because of you…and all you do…I always knew
“Ian Makes Her Cry” isn’t about a guy named Ian who is mean to “her”. It’s about a girl who is sad (for whatever reason) and is listening to an album written and recorded by the artist Janice Ian. The music is causing an emotional reaction while she’s in her doldrums.
While traveling in the 70’s, I met a lot of interesting people. Sometimes it would come up that I wrote songs and in this particular case, a lady named Kim Davis showed some of her poetry to me. One of those poems was “Ian Makes Her Cry”. It turns out we were both huge Janice Ian fans so I asked her if I could write some music to her poem. This is the result. I didn’t “fix” or “change” any of her words and made the melody fit what she had written.
You just don’t want to be happy
You get a kick out of being sad
Put her over the knee of her Pappy
And spank her good for being so bad
Verse II
Some people get satisfaction
Out of sitting around and feeling blue
She’s that kind of person
And it will soon get to you
Bridge
Leave her feeling alone
And she’s happy and complete
She sits contently in a dark room
Sullen, but sweet
Instrumental interlude
Ending
A candle glows while Ian makes her cry
Below the surface or above the sky
A candle glows while Ian makes her cry
“Are You Coming Home Soon” is the same music as “Ian Makes Her Cry”. I’ve always liked the music I wrote for “Ian” using Kim’s poem but also knew it wasn’t very commercial. I’ve recorded instrumental versions…just piano, piano and strings but the lyrics really add to the mood of the song.
The music to “Are You Coming Home Soon” was written around 1981 at the Holiday Inn in Modesto, CA on my trusty Wurlitzer Electric Piano, which I brought with me on the road. The lyrics were written with Nicole Stipp and she is also singing the lead vocal. Doug Flint is providing the beautiful acoustic guitar in the background.
The room is gray and blue
Our words were cold and heartless
But I’ll wait up for you
Echoes in an empty room
Would you even know if I was dying?
Are you coming home soon?And I’m feeling alone
And I’m feeling incomplete
Will you ever come home?
Will you ever come back to me?Instrumental
I look outside through the frosted window pane
And I wonder…
Are you watching the same moon?
I wonder, are you coming home soon?