Credits

All instruments and vocals performed by Jeffry Dwight except as noted: lower ahh vocals on More to You than Meets the Eye, Steve Ratzlaff; ethereal guitar licks on Changes, Frans Sluiter. Songs written 1972-1997. Arranged, produced, performed, recorded, engineered, mixed, and digitally mastered for CD by Jeffry Dwight, Sept-Nov 1997.

Instruments and recording equipment by Alesis, Aphex, AudioTechnica, BBE, dbx, Digitech, Ensoniq, Ibanez, Korg, Kurzweil, Ovation, Peavey, Rane, Roland, Sony, Symetrix, Takamine, Tascam, and Yamaha. Additional percussion sounds by Jeffry Dwight, using various bits of his body and whatever he could find knocking about in the kitchen drawers. Vozo the Brave (an invisible parrot) did not perform on this album, although Roxanne the Not-So-Inaudible (a dog) did. All work performed in Jeffry's family room. Phone-ringing sounds provided by annoying persons who called at the wrong times.

Liner Notes

I’ve always loved music. When I was in third grade, I begged my parents to let me sign up for violin lessons at school. My parents obligingly scraped up the money for a used fiddle, and I started lessons. In those days, beginner’s lessons were taught in a group, with a dozen eight-year-olds playing at the same time. A kind person would think they were probably playing the same song. I thought I was doing splendidly, and had a wonderful time. Yet after a few sessions, Mrs. Weems sent me from the room. The next thing I knew, I was the guest of honor at a parent-teacher conference, where the teacher kindly explained to us about tone deafness, and said I couldn’t take lessons with the group because it wouldn’t be fair to the other students. I felt sorry for them, then had one of those sudden flashes of shame and understanding: She was talking about me, not them. I was tone-deaf. She was kicking me out.

Two years later, still in love with music but mortified by my terrible tone-deafness, I decided to take up the drums. Using birthday and paper-route money, I bought myself a fine new silver snare drum, and signed up for classes. I didn’t make it through the first lesson. Mr. Balzar was a nice guy, but had many students and only so much time. It didn’t make sense, he told me, to continue - I had no sense of beat. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Count with me,” he said, and beat out a pattern on his knees. I didn’t quite say, “1,2,3,5,” but I might as well have. I donated my drum to the school band and retired in disgrace.

When I was a sophomore in High School, I found my father’s old Sears Silvertone guitar in the attic. Wiser than before, I didn’t seek lessons. Instead, I taught myself in secret, and it went pretty well. After that, piano seemed pretty natural. Bass was just another kind of guitar, and drums weren’t that hard either. More than playing any one instrument, though, I enjoyed writing songs and arranging all the parts. Most of my early songs were pretty terrible, but some were okay. I wrote Changes one morning when I was fourteen; it’s still one of my favorites, and I haven’t changed a note in twenty-five years.

This album is dedicated to Mrs. Weems and Mr. Balzar. Wherever you are, screw you both. And, for future reference, don’t ever tell me that I can’t do music, okay? I may never be good enough for grade school orchestra or band, but I do all right. I’m thinking maybe it’s time to try the violin again.

—Jeffry Dwight, 1997.

Simple Songs

Sometimes, in the night, I think you're here with me
Oh, sometimes, I believe that it's really you I see
I don't know who the living's for
And I can't seem to think straight any more
But simple songs are all I'll sing
And simple dreams are what I'll dream


Sometimes, in the dark, I hear you talk to me
Oh, sometimes, I believe — it's such a scary thought, you might be real
I don't know who the living's for
And I can't seem to think straight any more
But simple song are all I'll sing
And simple dreams are what I'll dream

Changes

Oh the changes we must endure, merely to survive
Thinking only for myself, when will peace arrive?
Do you know? My heart says yes, my mind says no
How can I know?


Face the feelings hidden within; toss them to the wind
Always lonely, never alone; will it ever end?
Do you know? My heart says yes, my mind says no
How can I know?


Can you feel the knowledge deep within you
Trying to be free?
Do you know the reasons for your feelings
Can it really be?


See me now I'm standing here, full of doubt full of fear
All I need, all I want is to hold you now, hold you near
No more sorrow, no more fears
All I need, all I want, is a chance...a chance at love


Oh the changes we must endure, merely to survive
Thinking only for myself, when will peace arrive?

Crying in the Night

I see you walking through your life alone
Wondering where the feeling's gone
Nothing's ever wrong, but nothing's ever right—
Just leaves you crying in the night


Pain is hard but truth is worse
The things you love the most are what you curse
You won't back down, but you never fight—
Just leaves you crying in the night


[Chorus] Feelings come and feelings go
But feeling numb's the status quo
You live your life alone and then you die
Never really knowing why


You look for wisdom in the moon and stars
You find some comfort in your signs and charts
The things they say are true, but never really right—
Just leaves you crying in the night


You pray to God to make you whole
As if believing could save your soul
You love the darkness, you fear the light—
Just leaves you crying in the night

Getaway

Children crying for the break of day
Poets talking 'bout a better way
The harlequin has got nothing to say
I'd better make my getaway


[Chorus] Can you see the stars in my eyes
Did you know 'bout the long lonely nights
But I see I'm just fooling myself
When I say I'm getting away


One more day I'll keep holding on
One more time, one more song
I don't imagine it will take too long
To make my getaway

Paulie

Paulie, do you hear me calling? Do you give a damn?
Well, ask the man, "What's your name?"
Is it all the same?


Paulie, are you scared and lonely 'cause your world's so wild?
Well you're still a child—it's all right
To hold on tight


[Chorus] Take my hand, I'll lead you in
To the place it all begins
Take my hand, I'll set you free
So your shattered life can be whole again


Paulie, won't you tell a story? Tell me who's to blame
For your pain — It's still not too late
But don't hesitate


Well I don't know where your feelings go
When you're deep within your mind
And I can't heal all the pain you feel
If you won't let me inside you


Oh, Paulie, tell it to me slowly, it's between yourself
And no one else, but oh, don't you know
I love you so

Burn Your Bridges

My friend you've changed, you're not the same at all
The summer's gone and so's the you I knew so well
Don't want to tell you, but if I don't who will?
My friend you've changed, but I know you still


[Chorus] You've always wanted to be a star
You've somehow managed to make it this far
It's time to burn your bridges behind you


My friend you've changed, oh, how I can tell
It's never easy when you're life is constant hell
Don't want to let you down, but I can't let go on this way
My friend you've changed, but it's not too late

Losing What You Feel

Did you know?
I could have warned you, nothing stays the same
And did you think that she still loved you
Don't you know, people change
I guess you felt the change


I guess you felt the changing times
Like a change in weather, the hurting makes it real
Nothing's gained when there's nothing ventured
Oh but you're losing what you feel
Losing what you feel

More to You than Meets the Eye

There's more to you than meets the eye
Something buried deep inside
Set it free, don't retreat
Oh you know the best is yet to be


[Chorus] You don't go on, you don't go forward
Because the past is haunting you
But you can't stand still, you can't slide backward
Because the future's calling you
Calling you


A part of you has almost died
'Cause something hurt you deep inside
So long ago, don't you know
Oh you have to learn to let it go


Hard to know when to let it in
Hard to know when to trust
Hard to know when to let it out
Hard to know when to trust

Bye-Bye Baby

She came on a winter's day
I don't know why she came
I wish she'd go away
I know, I know it's all a game
And as she's calling out my name
I can see love in her eyes
I thought by now she'd realize
That it's time to say goodbye
Bye-bye now baby, bye-bye....

Militant Spring

I see you watching me
You think that I don't see
Oh but you know I do
'Cause I've been watching you


[Chorus] First you say you'll stay
Then you're never here
Then you go away
But you're never gone, ever gone
Are you dear?

Lullaby for Grownups

Well I'm home again
And it's been a long, long day
Yes I'm home again
I'm going to sleep the night away
Don't want to wake you now
'Cause you look so beautiful
Don't want to wake you now


Sleep on, tomorrow might be worse
Sleep on, while I sing this final verse


Just want to look at you
And make sure you're still there
Just want to look at you
'Cause I know how much you care
Don't want to wake you now
'Cause you look so beautiful
Don't want to wake you now


Sleep on, tomorrow might be worse
Sleep on, while I sing this final verse
Sleep on, sleep on
Sleep the night away
Sleep the night away