Lyrics...
A number of journalists have referred to Rees as a "Wordsmith," and his focus on narrative is evident not just in the songs he writes, but in the larger thematic albums he produces. His songs often encapsulate distinct worlds inhabited by memorable characters.... Here are lyrics from his most recent release, Tattletale...
Mickey Mouse Romeo; Under New Management; Call It Done; Hatter's Song; Nobody Said; In the Arms of Tanya Vanessa; Can't Remember; Carolina Wren; Blue; Tattletale; Lost In Translation
Walt could have created this guy you’re fixated upon
As of late, my old friend
To the moon this buffoon your heart sends
Where’s it end? Where’s it end? Where’s it end?
There’s a chorus of voices alarmed by your choices
Too distracted, you hear not a word
Yet we all see this match as absurd
Fly away! Fly away, Little Bird!
He’s a puffed-up pretender - No heart - just bravado and show
You never remember the tells that these dandies have told
But we know
He’s just a Mickey Mouse Romeo
His lines are impressive, and sometimes suggestive of wit
But the jokes never hit
And I wonder what you see in it
I myself am a much better fit
Not a puffed-up pretender I’ve heart not bravado to show
I never remember the tells that those dandies all tell
But you’ll know
I’m not a Mickey Mouse Romeo
I’d give all my eye teeth for the style that is that Dandy
If it could get you to glance over at the heart of me
With those eyes that you invest
In that foppish handsome mess
I must confess my jealousy
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
No stoplights in this red light
Just green lights all in a row
It’s the fashion everybody sings in songs
Tumbling out of your radio
It’s an easy smile on an easy girl
A lotto number played around this world
Reach out a hand to touch a golden curl
To find ya gotta pay to play on that tilt-a-whirl
The whores are running the cat house and the pimps are all standing in line
and the johns are jonesin’ for a taste of something
johns have needed since the dawn of time.
They’ve thought to manufacture passion
Now they can reproduce the essence of smile
And we just grin and bear while they yank our hair
To push us up and down the miracle mile
The whores are running the cat house and the pimps are all standing in line
and the johns are jonesin’ for a taste of something
johns have needed since the dawn of time.
So they got action movies on the TV
That you were thinking was the six o’clock news
You elected the man the party placed in your hand
To give you proof that you had gotten to choose
They call it art when people don’t understand it
They call it Jazz when they pretend that they can
They dress up like the whore you bought two nights before
And call it pop if you don’t point out the scam
The whores are running the cat house and the pimps are all standing in line
and the johns are jonesin’ for a taste of something
johns have needed since the dawn of time.
Now the question that you’ve got to answer
Are you a whore, a pimp, a john or all three?
Then you’ll ask yourself the next question
Which one of these would you rather be
Cause we’re living in a free market system
We’re buying what we once got for free
And it’s the basis of this that makes you pay for a kiss
The more you pay the better it’s gotta be
The whores are running the cat house and the pimps are all standing in line
and the johns are jonesin’ for a taste of something
johns have needed since the dawn of time.
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Call It Done
Ours was a grand affair
But it didn't turn out as planned
For better or for worse
We’ve always stayed together
Never ever came undone
Despite the doubts of everyone
Now here we are fragmented pieces
United only in our name
Sharing nothing but the blame
Always these pointed fingers
Deflecting focus from ourselves
Mostly pointing at the shame
We've got to do more; overcome this thing
If there's any hope to carry on
How can we just throw it all away?
All this progress
Are were willing to call it done?
Really willing to call it done?
It's such a dark thing
Hiding from each other
What we have in common after all
How do we come to stand here
Denying we’re sisters and brothers
Focused on building up the walls
Is it easier to stay in darkness?
Not even labor for a flame
Simplify the pain with blame?
Always with these pointed fingers
Deflecting focus from ourselves
And turning from the shame again
We've got to do more; overcome this thing
If there's any hope to carry on
How can we just throw it all away
All this progress
Are were willing to call it done?
Really willing to call it done?
Ours was a grand experiment
Didn't always turn out as planned
For better and for worse
But when we work together
We always seem to get stuff done
And shine a light for everyone
But not here in this darkness
No there ain't no burning flame
And I'm afraid we're all to blame
Just throwing accusations
Rejecting basic decency
And the world looks on ashamed
We've got to do more; overcome this thing
If there's any hope to carry on
How can we just throw it all away?
All this progress!
Are were willing to call it done?
Really willing to call it done?
I’m not willing to call it done.
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Hatter’s Song
Scratch the surface and you’ll see what’s under there
What ever comes to light might be a cross to bear
The bliss of ignorance much easier to take
You can sleep through life or you can choose to stay awake
Maybe you’ll wake up and realize you took it all in stride
Or did you shake up?
Angering souls who sought to hide?
The things that really matter.
Too tough to talk about in casual banter
Did you hold their eye too long? Mad as a hatter
I said hello, and you seemed both anxious and amused
Like it’d been awhile since someone’s talked to you
You just kept shuffling, like the sidewalk might be sly
Set there to trip you up, you never gave reply
Too much to take up
Had to be somewhere else it seemed
Far off expression.
Which of us real and which one dreamed
When you figure that out
Come by the house and we’ll drink ‘till we pass out
Perhaps I’ll even sing this song? Oh, what a clatter
The hatters gave their minds for fashion
Unmade by their own stock and trade
What caused this hatter here?
What sacrifices made?
Maybe you woke up a man who had taken life in stride
Perhaps that shake up
Shook out the things I hoped to hide?
The things that really matter.
Too tough to talk about in casual banter
Did I hold your eye too long? Mad as a hatter
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Nobody Said
Nobody said that Spring was easy
It never behaves as you’d expect
The frost can come on in an instant
Or the deluge can roll on in
Nobody said that Spring was easy
Nobody said.
Nobody said that we’d be easy
We wouldn’t behave as lovers do
Jealous hearts can beat the loudest
Unfiltered words that we can’t undo
Nobody said that we’d be easy
Nobody said.
And we all know
But never dare to tell
‘Cause that would break the spell
What chance have we instead?
To bloom or fall off dead?
Nobody said.
Nobody said the end comes easy
The heat of summer here and gone
We’re left with colors that anticipate the cold
And lonely winter unforetold
Nobody said the end was easy
Nobody said.
Nobody said that Spring was easy
Nobody said.
©2022 by Rees Shad, Sal Maneri & Shadville Music
In the Arms of Tanya Vanessa
In the Arms of Tania Vanessa
Empty echoes of choices made
In the Arms of Tania Vanessa
Canyons of grief and river silt stains
When the elements themselves had turned against them
Misleading waters seductive and calm
Like all of the others before then.
The lies that they’d told them
Why now did they trust?
In the Arms of Tania Vanessa
Only possessions are left to embrace
In the Arms of Tania Vanessa
Grasping to hold
What was lost in this place
A journey of promise, betrayal, and hardship
Fueled by love for each other
Y una vida mejor
In all of the lies that they’d told them
Like this river
why now did they trust?
In the Dreams of Tania Vanessa
Empty echoes of choices made
In the Dreams of Tania Vanessa
Canyons of grief and river silt graves
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Can’t Remember
I can’t remember what that flowers called
On the trellis outside your room
But I swear to hold you in my arms
Next time that flower blooms
Next time that flower blooms
I don’t recall the words you sang to me
Out the window of that room
But I swear if you sing it like a prayer
I’ll surely be coming home soon
Pray I’ll be coming home soon
Can’t remember what that bird is called
Nesting in your house’s eaves
But like your voice, its’ song is here with me
That’s where this love of ours blooms
It’s why I’ll be coming home soon
I can’t remember what that flowers called
Or the trellis… or your room
I lose these things but never lose your voice
In my memories I’m coming home soon
I’m always coming home soon.
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren woke me up this morning
Up this morning with the sun
Carolina Wren woke me up this morning
Up this morning to get my day begun
Sweet little bird got a song like freedom
Song like freedom from a hollow tree
Sweet little bird got a song like freedom
Sounds like freedom when it comes to me
As you’re sleeping, I get dressed.
I touch your cheek with one last caress…
Went downstairs and got the fire started
Fire started for my bread
Went downstairs and got the fire started
Made my coffee so as to clear my head
As you’re sleeping, I get dressed.
I touch your cheek with one last caress…
As you’re sleeping, I move on.
I hope your heart’s touched by that bird’s song….
Carolina Wren saw me off this morning
Off this morning from the back porch swing
Carolina Wren saw me off this morning
Off this morning with his song to sing
As I travel, as I roam,
I’ll hear that song in my dreams of home
As you’re sleeping, dream of me,
As I’ll dream of you endlessly
Carolina Wren woke me up this morning
Up this morning with the sun
Carolina Wren woke me up this morning
Up this morning to get my day begun
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Blue
You make me blue
You make me blush
When I’m with you
No need to rush
I’m a gentleman and quite polite
But when we are alone at night
You do the things you do
And, Babe… you make me blue
I’m quite respectable by all accounts
I am presentable
I never slouch
I’m cheery even when it rains
And some say that I might have brains
And I never speak my mind unless with friends
I’d never wish to be untoward
I don’t wish to offend
But when we’re alone
Just me and you
I lose these inhibitions
It’s a passionate exhibition
I don’t hold back when we’re in the sack
It’s what you make me do
Because, Babe…you make me blue
You make me blue
You make me blush
When I’m with you
No need to rush
I’m a gentleman and quite polite
But when we are alone at night
You do the things you do
And, Babe… you make me blue
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Tattletale
Can’t keep your cards to your chest
Can’t see a cop and not confess
It’s your disposition. There Ain’t a confidence you’ll keep
Buy an anniversary present and offer that girl a peak
You Tattletale
Can’t keep a secret to yourself
Tattletale
Display it on your mantel shelf
Your telltale heart beats to reveal
The things that others could conceal You Tattletale
Nothing is hidden. You ain’t got no sleeves
Just tattoos of secrets… often ‘bout me
Open door to visitors that should have been left closed
No secret’s safe. Your impish ways leave my secret life exposed
You Tattletale
Can’t keep a secret to yourself
Tattletale
Display it on your mantel shelf
Your telltale heart beats to reveal
The things that others would conceal You Tattletale
Unsafe with secrets; no use for camouflage
Can’t hold your breath or hide a step; demanding my triage
You Tattletale
Can’t keep a secret to yourself
Tattletale
Display it on your mantel shelf
Your telltale heart beats to reveal
The things that others would conceal You Tattletale
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music
Lost in Translation
Lost in translations
we often question what we mean
By those words of love
Lost in translations
We often question what we mean
By the words that are whispered in the dark
I can’t make it up to you
No, I can’t even try
When these strained translating hearts can lie
Hold my eye and ask me
If I’d die to save our love
And I won’t blink at all
I’m a true believer
You think has deceived ya
I have no reason to lie
You can’t make it up to me
No, you can’t even try
When your strange translating heart denies
my true love
©2022 by Rees Shad & Shadville Music