T Ann Erskine's CD Niche
Lyrics
1. UNEMPLOYMENT BLUES 4:59
(copyright 1983 Therese Ann Erskine)
Ooooh, I’ve got the unemployment blues
Trouble through and through
All my bills are overdue
They’re threatening to sue me
Oooh through and through
I try to hold them off,
but they just say, “Cough it up!”
don’t know what I’m gonna do
I’ve got no cash, no frozen assets,
but soon I will
If I don’t find some way to pay that heating bill!
Ooooh, unemployment blues
Trouble through and through
The days go by
A step ahead, a step behind
Try not to be idle while you bide your time
Plant a garden. Read a book
Clean up your neighborhood
Just don’t waste your time
Ooooh, unemployment blues
Trouble through and through
It’s a game of win and lose
The employers pick and choose
And I’m so tired of resumes and interviews!
Yes, I think you’re bright,
but your background isn’t right.”
Or “Yes, you’re qualified, but 200 folks appled.
Sorry. Good luck to you.”
Ooooh, unemployment blues
Trouble through and through
Dear Lord, I need a vacation
from the boredome and frustration
All the calls I’m making and those endless applications!
I’ve got the blues, unemployment blues
Trouble through and through
The days go by. God will provide
Try to count your blessings while you bide your time
Help a friend, help a stranger
Rearrange your furniture
Just don’t lose your mind
When you’ve got the blues, unemployment blues
Trouble through and through
Trouble through and through
I’ve go trouble (through and through)
I’ve got trouble (I know you do)
I’ve got trouble through and through
Acoustic Guitar: Mike Taplinger
Guitar Arrangement: Tim Erskine
Strat, Bass, Backgrnd Vocals: Mike Taplinger
2. LULLUBY FOR JAMIE 2:23
(Traditional Latvian)
Lullaby for Jamie,
softly sleeping child
Gently mother rocks you
Light her hand and mild
Snow white lambs for Jamie
soon they will be shorn
and their finest wool
shall always keep you warm
Horses drew the carriage
on your christening day
God grant six white steeds
to speed you on your way
Guitar: T. A. Erskine
Flute: William Hoff
3. DREAMIN AGAIN 4:21
(copyright 1983 Therese Ann Erskine)
I wanted to talk with you
There’s been something amiss
Through some rapids we walked in uncertain bliss
We waded a stream, sat on a boulder
My arm ‘round your body and yours on my shoulder
Dreamin again, I was dreaming’ again
You’re the star again, baby
On the screen in my mind,
you’re playing time after time
With me, your leading lady
We went to a party
and everyone came
You showed me to people, told them my name
You were all dressed up like Louis Quatorze
complete with a wig and a justacorp
Dreamin again, I was dreaming’ again
You’re the star again, baby
On the screen in my mind,
you’re playing time after time
With me, your leading lady
You got married!
Came to my house
Only fair to tell me about it
I asked why you did it. I just couldn’t believe
You said you didn’t know, that you had to leave
But I was dreamin again, only dreaming’ again
You’re the star again, baby
On the screen in my mind,
you’re playing time after time
With me, me
Dreamin again, I was dreaming’ again
You’re the star again, baby
On the screen in my mind,
you’re playing time after time
With me, your leading lady,
your leading lady, your leading lady
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards: Mike Taplinger
4. Chanson D'Aube (Dawn Soung) 1:32
(French troubadour song)
Awaken now, oh my beloved!
Come greet the dawn, the day is fair!
Awaken now, behold thy lover
Singing here to banish all thy cares
Arise, and open wide thy lattice
Come see how the morning sun doth shine!
Could I have all the sun’s bright treasure,
I would exchange it for one smile of thine
Guitar: John Sheehan
5. ENCORE 3:50
(copyright 1983 Therese Ann Erskine)
The show closed a long time ago
The poster's torn and faded
The paper flaps, like clapping hands for players on the stage
Once there was laughter, music, colored lights
but now the stage is quiet
They say to always leave 'em wanting more
It was grand. It was glorious, magical, euphorius
They say to always leave 'em wanting more
She closed the drawbridge years ago
kicked out all the pages
and the shining knights -- capricious hearts
she mistook for sages
Took her riding on a noble steed throgh a wild, enchanted forest
They say to always leave 'em wanting more
It was grand. It was glorious, magical, euphorius
They say to always leave 'em wanting more
Sometimes shyer, sometime bolder,
the head prevails as the heart grows older
Ruthless lessons take their toll
Youthful passion now controlled
to guard against the heartache, the heartache
She hears the minstrels in the town
the lyres and the lutes
The piper plays a love song on his sweet, enchanted flute
Oh its grand, it's glorious, magical, euphorious
but would he leave, like some before?
She longs to join the revelry; taste another fantasy
but can she risk the heartache
the heartache
the heartache?
That sweet ache -- her heart won't break anymore
It's been broken in from the times before
That sweet ache -- her heart won't break again
'cause it's broken in broken in
Guitar: John Sheehan
6. FRIENDS DON"T HAVE TO BE LOVERS 2:17
(copyright 1977 Therese Ann Erskine)
Don't get excited if I happen to touch you
Don't send me cards with perfume
Yes, you're pleasant as yet,
but we just met
Could you step back and give me some room?
Hey, settle down and talk to me
Maybe it's love we'll discover
But if we don't, don't give up completely
Friends don't have to be lovers
Don't get all nervous if I sit down beside you
Don't worry if I'm standing near
Often the signs are really benign
Don't make me regret coming here
You can walk away or talk to me
Maybe it's love we'll discover
But if we don't, I won't give up completely
Friends don't have to be lovers
Some try for laying
Some try for love
Maybe we're trying too much
People get anxious
Solicity steers us
and there's too much handling
and not enough touch
Won't you come sit down?
Please talk to me
Maybe it's love we'll discover
If not, there's no loss
unless you give up completely
Friends don't have to be lovers
Guitar: T. A. Erskine
7. BALOO BALEERIE 3:18
(Traditional Gaelic)
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo balee
Gamg awa' peerie fairies
Gamg awa' peerie fairies
Gamg awa' peerie fairies
Frae oor ben noo
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo balee
Down come the bonnie angels
Down come the bonnie angels
Down come the bonnie angels
Tae oor ben noo
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo balee
Sleep soft my baby
Sleep soft my baby
Sleep soft my baby
In our ben noo
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie
Baloo balee
Guitar: John Sheehan
8. AUTUMN/WINTER ILLIONOIS 5:10
(copyright 1984 Therese Ann Erskine)
Nature plays a symphony continually
And every creature plays a part
There's the rebirth in the spring
The song that summer sings
There's a time for every season
in His work of art
Before the winter curtain falls on the frozen land
Gentle automn steals the show
Its performance is unique
Its arrival bittersweet
For its stunning, tearful beauty
is a prelude to the dreary bleak that follows
Pull out your flannels and your wools
Put away your summer clothes
You know you won't be needing them anymore
For the days are growing shorter
Harvest time is nigh
Above the trees, V's of geese are flying
southward in the sky
They'll bide their time in warmer weather
While we stay and shovel snow
They know better
How do they know?
Evergreens are quiet as the fall movement begins
and automn's ushered in
Birches strike their golden notes
Maples sound their brillian chords
In a stirring grand finale nonpareil
Each leaf writes its own awesome eulogy
Like a bold apology
Compensation for the chills
and the dreary bleak that follows
Pull out your flannels and your wools
Put away your summer clothes
You know you won't be needing them anymore
For the grass is growing shorter
The air is getting dry
The squirrels hustle-bustle 'cause the days are slipping by
Soon they'll sleep away the winter
while we curse the bitter cold
They know better
They know better
Midwest winter bites like a shark!
That vicious wind will blow you apart
and scream with delight when your car won't start
Guitar: John Sheehan
Keyboards: Mike Taplinger
Sound Effects: T. A. Erskine
9. NICHE 4:30
(copyright 2003 Therese Ann Erskine)
Melancholy morning
cold Chicago day
The sky has taken on a familiar shade of gray
Mirrors my mood as I weigh what I should do
Standing at the crossroads of my youth
Illinois, I am leaving
There's a whole world to explore
My boredom and my wanderlust are too much to ignore
But your prairies and you dairies, your cities and your shore...
I'l remember all your heart and your open door
Black-eyed Susans watched me as I drove to SLC
Taking up an offer of some hospitality
Trying to make a switch, looking for my niche
wondering how the puzzle pieces fit
Bloom where you are planted
Plant where you will thrive
Will you stay and make a stand or
search around for your promised land
your means to provide?
High on a mountain on a hazy, Jersey day
The sky ha taken on that familiar shade of gray
Waiting for the sun, thinking 'bout how far I've come
and all my friends along the way
Hey NJ, I gotta leave ya
I can't afford to stay
But your roads and your diversity
take my breath away
From the Highlands in the skylands
Pine Barrens to Cape May
and the Great Gateway
From the Highlands in the skylands
Pine Barrens to Cape May
I don't know what lies ahead,
but I'm going away – someday
Guitar: John Sheehan
Guitar Arrangement: John Sheehan and T. A. Erskine
Produced and Arranged: T.A. Erskine
Songs composed by Therese Ann Erskine, copyright 1983-2004;
Lead vocals: T.A. Erskine; Guitar: J. Sheehan. Keyboards: Mike Taplinger
Cover design: T.A. Erskine
Layout assistance: David Erskine
“Double Arch, Utah” watercolor on paper, copyright 1986 Therese Ann Erskine
Recorded at: Mix-O-Lydian Studio,
Don Sternaker, ENGINEER, and
Inside Edge Studio,
Mike taplinger, ENGINEER
Mastered at: Hungry Goat Studio,
John Kurgan, ENGINEER
Original and traditional folksongs. Female vocals with acoustic guitar.