1. |
better days
04:45
|
|||
|
better days
(Sonia Tetlow)
It’s been a crazy couple of kindless years
For everyone I know
Jacked up, locked down, and disappearing
Spending too much time along
And I feel like
Do you feel like?
What’s the point?
If we can’t get ourselves together and make some better days
And keep on keeping on is easier said than done
When you’re stuck on the what for
And it’s hard to know in isolation
What really matters anymore
And I feel like
Do you feel like?
What’s the point?
If we can’t get ourselves together and make some better days
Better days for everyone, better than before
Better ways to see our differences as a blessing not a score
Better days for you and me, better days for us and them
We can be so much better, the whole is better than its sum
And looking round now there is anger among us
A split flint could spark a rage
But there is also this desperation
To connect and celebrate
And I feel like
Do you feel like?
What’s the point?
If we can’t get ourselves together and make some better days
Better days for everyone, better than before
Better ways to see our differences as a blessing not a score
Better days for you and me, better days for us and them
We can be so much better, the whole is better than its sum
|
||||
2. |
be the light
03:14
|
|||
|
be the light
(Paul Sanchez)
Obviously we’re all free to be the light
It’s okay, you can try for a day to be the light
Don’t really have to say nothing when you spent your whole life huffing and puffing
When you have to let go it’s good that you know to be the light
You can do as you please you can do it with ease just be the light
When you get down take a good look around and be the light
It’s all here for the taking and what you keep in your heart is what you are making
When it feels like you’re spinning start over again and be the light
Be the light for a friend
Be the light if you can
On a dark, sad night
Be the light, be the light
It’s all that you see not just you and me so be the light
A little bitty spec in the great what the heck so be the light
Try to enjoy some laughter ‘cause life’s going by and it’s smiling right at cha
When it’s all said this could all be in your head so be the light
Be the light for a friend
Be the light if you can
On a dark, sad night
Be the light, be the light
|
||||
3. |
happy just to be
05:23
|
|||
|
happy just to be
(Sonia Tetlow)
I remember I remember I remember
my first little dream
It was a sidewalk scene
Of a teenage me just walking along
Dressed all in jeans and feeling free
happy just to be
feeling happy just to be
It wasn’t much it wasn’t much it wasn’t much
but it was everything to want
When I was haunted by the thought
I’d never find in my troubled mind
That sweet peace of
happy just to be
feeling happy just to be
‘cause inside me there is a hollow
but in that hollow there is a flame
and when I was lost to sorrow
it was the light in the dark that saved me
And I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know
how I got to be
So lucky in this life with so much love
And I did dream some bigger dreams
But the best is still for me feeling
happy just to be
feeling happy just to be
feeling happy just to be
|
||||
4. |
been tryin to tell ya
03:10
|
|||
|
been trying to tell ya
(Sonia Tetlow and Mary Lasseigne)
I been tryin to tell ya you don’t have a shot
‘Cause I’m not the kind of girl who haunts your pick-up spots
I’m a boot-wearing lass, a smart-talking sass
I’ll look you in the ass before I kick your ass
I’m a long-haired butch-femme lesbian
I know by sight it may seem like I’m on your team
But darling, trust me, I haven’t dated boys since I was seventeen
I’m a boot-wearing lass, a smart-talking sass
I’ll look you in the ass before I kick your ass
I’m a long-haired butch-femme lesbian
Aw honey, you just haven’t met the right guy baby
You hardly even gave me a try now
So try a little harder just a little bit harder
like cats on the water
C’mon girl, you just need a little more time
You’ll wake up and you’ll take a shine mama
Before you know it you’ll outgrow it
you’re wife’s welcome too
I appreciate that you’re using your best line
But my girl here and I are clearly already doing just fine
I’ve tried hints and winks and all my delicate talk
But now honey I think it’s time we get something straight here and that’s that I’m not
I’m a boot-wearing lass, a smart-talking sass
I’ll look you in the ass while I kick your ass
I’m a long-haired butch-femme lesbian
Honey don’t cry
I’m just a long-haired butch-femme lesbian
|
||||
5. |
come what may
03:34
|
|||
|
come what may
(Sonia Tetlow)
I was taken from the start
and you were careful with my heart
We did dance until the dawn
I felt at peace within your arms
And then you said you’d marry me
We went and bought our wedding rings
And on our knees we did speak our vows
Face to face with no one around
I will always be with you
No matter come what may
Day by day we learned the ropes
To keep our heads and hold each other close
We bought a house and got a dog
When I got a gig you came along
And we did travel near and far
Always together even when apart
And on our knees we did speak our vows
Face to face with no one around
I will always be with you
No matter come what may
You are the one you’re my song of the sun
We said forever though we knew we could never
‘cause who ever thought we’d live to see
our own wedding day
But when they struck the DOMA down
And we could marry in our country now
We hopped a plane north for New York
And found ourselves in Washington Square Park
There beneath the arch aglow
From Christmas lights and virgin snow
With joyful tears we did speak our vows
Face to face with friends all around
I will always be with you
No matter come what may
|
||||
6. |
foolin me
04:06
|
|||
|
foolin me
(Sonia Tetlow)
When you’re sitting on top of the world you can’t stop
but thinking how you’re going to fall
‘cause there ain’t no escaping the risks I’ve been taking
seeing just how far I could go
But I’ve been foolin me
I’ve been foolin me
Fooling, I’ve been a fool
A fool again
And I swore to myself that this time could tell
A tale of another kind
But the words start crumbling as I come stumbling
Down that old double bind
‘cause I’ve been foolin me
I’ve been foolin me
Fooling, I’ve been a fool
A fool again
‘cause when you get down to the bottom
I’m just strung out as any fiend
I got an itch I can’t scratch, got a fix that won’t last
I’m just a junkie for the sweet release
And I’ve been foolin me
I’ve been foolin me
Fooling, I’ve been a fool
Foolin me
I’ve been foolin me
Fooling, I’ve been a fool
A fool again
|
||||
7. |
in our hands
03:45
|
|||
|
in our hands
(Sonia Tetlow)
It’s hard to know just how to go when your rudder runs aground
Can’t even turn to where you’ve been when it so quickly disappears
Where are you now? Where did you go?
While I was waiting all that time and did you know?
I can never reconcile the heights and the hollows
I need something
that I can see
we hold in our hands
I am running now down streets grown both crowded and spare
Zig-zagging like a kite on a string at the mercy of the wind
Searching the masked faces for shining eyes
Ceding the sidewalk as a kindness
Navigating all the day after day after days
I need something
that I can see
we hold in our hands
And I am free in my next dream
that’s hovering just out of sight
And I am breathing with intension
to hold back the night
And I am high as the red-wings
circling in the soaring skies
Wholly in this moment
wide awake and tired
Craving a common language in this tongue-tied Babylon
Can we agree at least that I, me, mine is no way to lead
How many people have to die
Before we the people on left and right
Form a more perfect union and cast the mad king aside
And this is something
that I can see
we hold in our hands
something
that I can see
we hold in our hands
in our hands
in our hands
|
||||
8. |
kicked the covid
03:32
|
|||
|
kicked the covid
(Sonia Tetlow)
I spent 2 years on basement Zooms
but I kicked the Covid
As a virtual person trapped in virtual rooms
but I kicked the Covid
It got so I didn’t know myself
From the great wide wonder to a tiny little shell
But we all did what we had to do to kick the Covid
Yes I kicked the Covid
But it’s true it kicked me first
Then it waited me out ‘til I ventured about
And it Fested right into me
I lost my way and my cousin too
but I kicked the Covid
Forgot everything I thought I knew
but I kicked the Covid
I watched the world just pass me by
so much wasted time Lord it makes me tired
But we all did what we had to do to kick the Covid
Yes I kicked the Covid
But it’s true it kicked me first
Then it waited me out ‘til I ventured about
And it Fested right into me
And I don’t regret seeing my friends
Or rolling with the Road Show and Paul Sanchez again
‘cause I might be living on borrowed time
but I kicked the Covid
and life without living is a life of dying
and I kicked the Covid
Yes I kicked the Covid
But it’s true it kicked me first
Then it waited me out ‘til I ventured about
And it Fested right into me
It Fested right into me
It Fested right into me
|
||||
9. |
take a breath
04:49
|
|||
|
take a breath
(Sonia Tetlow)
Before the break of dawn you wake up in a fright
Your heart beating faster than the racing of your mind
‘Cause it’s been a long road around
but you are stronger than the fear that grips you now
So take a breath my darling, long and slow
Take a breath my love and let it go
When everything felt certain it always was a lie
‘cause we are never doomed to failure nor destined to fly
it’s just a long will of life
where every moment matters and we get to decide
So take a breath my darling, long and slow
Take a breath my love and let it go
It’s been a long time, we’ve come a long way
Hoping still to find a measure of grace
And when everything around us feels out of control
I need you to hold on
‘cause everything is better
even if it falls apart
when we’re together
attached at the heart
So take a breath my darling, long and slow
Take a breath my love and let it go
|
||||
10. |
won't give in
04:57
|
|||
|
won’t give in
(Sonia Tetlow)
When the world starts to close its heart and I don’t know what to do
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
When all our hopeful journeys go from promise to the blues
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
‘cause I believe
there’s more of us than them
who believe
that we all have the right to live in our different skins
And when family turns on family and friendships grow thin
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
And when voters act like henchmen and muppets mask as men
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
‘cause I believe
there’s more of us than them
who believe
that we all have the right to live in our different skins
And when the mighty wield their heavy swords with hollow words and disregard
And people bow and pray to hate that their righteous rage will make them great
And everyone is on the take except the fools with the most at stake
Who sold their souls to a fraud and fake who gives not one damn about their sorry sakes
And all around the world the heads still shake in disbelief at our mistake and fearful now that it’s too late
but I believe
there’s more of us than them
who believe
that we all have the right to live in our different skins
So for Malcolm and Martin and Rosa and John
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
For Harriet and Susan and Eleanor and Gloria and Tarana and Ruth
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
For Adrienne and Audre and Alice and Toni and Zora and Muriel
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
And for Michael and Eric and Breonna and Ahmed and George
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
I won’t give in, I won’t give in
I won’t give in
|
||||
11. |
lost heart
03:49
|
|||
|
lost heart
(Sonia Tetlow)
Well I’ve been here too long alone
I tell all my friends that I want to come home
The strangest part is seeing clear
What I thought was real disappear
I’m running hard back in time
Searching for this lost heart of mine
Am I too far gone to ever find
All the reasons I left behind
I feel today dry as a bone
Can’t get blood from a broken stone
And I don’t know how to say when’s when
But it’s a far cry from starting again
I’m running hard back in time
Searching for this lost heart of mine
Am I too far gone to ever find
All the reasons I left behind
And it’s a long hard road to remember
It’s a sad sad way to begin
But I’m too damn tired to surrender
I’ll just keep going… ‘til the sun comes crashing in
Running hard back in time
Searching for this lost heart of mine
Am I too far gone to ever find
All the reasons I left behind
|
||||
Sonia Tetlow Atlanta, Georgia
Sonia Tetlow is musician who studies the craft of song, a songwriter who performs with abandon, giving herself freely to the moment of live music making. Her music blends Atlanta indie and hints of punk rock with the New Orleans rhythms of her roots. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with artists such as Patti Smith, Indigo Girls, and Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show. ... more
If you like Sonia Tetlow, you may also like:
Locals // If You Swim Far Enough
by Rachel Alina & Birdie Busch
A musical and visual journey through Ocean City, New Jersey via gentle Americana and an illustrated poetry book.
go to album
Zed For Zulu
by Those Pretty Wrongs
Jody Stephens of Big Star and Luther Russell of the Freewheelers team for a radiant LP packed full of slide guitar and pop smarts.
go to album
24th Street Blues
by Tom Heyman
Tom Heyman documents life in San Francisco circa 2023, refusing to succumb to easy characterization & instead capturing the city’s nuance.
go to album
Downey to Lubbock
by Dave Alvin
Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
go to album
New Day With New Possibilities
by Sonny & The Sunsets
The latest from Sonny Smith's long-running San Francisco outfit is clever and very sweet and more than a little bit country.
go to album
Moods Baby Moods
by Sonny & The Sunsets
featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 15, 2016
go to album
Talent Night at the Ashram
by Sonny & The Sunsets
The latest release from the Polyvinyl stable is charmingly lo-fi, eccentric, sun-kissed, NorCal beach pop.
go to album
