Portraits gives you, the listener, snapshots of moments in the lives of five intriguing characters created by this gifted up and coming songwriter/rocker. Each portrait is audibly painted with stark dark lines contrasting the fine, fragile features of people, perhaps, not too unlike ourselves.
All Songs BMI Copryight 2021 written by Robin Mordecai except "Caroline" written by Jeff Plankenhorn and Robin Mordecai
Produced by David Messier
Recorded at Same-Sky Productions, Austin, Texas
Engineered and mixed by Andre Cantave
Assistant Engineering by Jackie Goff
Mastered by Nick Landis Mastering
Vocals, Guitars, Keyboard, Bass, Drums, percussion by Robin Mordecai
Background Vocals on "I Don't Blame You" and "Through the Storm" by Jackie Goff, David Messier and Laura Mordecai
Album artwork by Jonathan Maurel
Cover Design by Dick Reeves
Portraits is five of the many songs I have written over the course of all this worldwide COVID crazy of 2020 and 2021. It was crafted with my amazing producer and friend David Messier and "Studio Ace" engineer and good buddy Andre Cantave. Just us, here in Austin, TX, pandemically bubbled in Same-Sky Studio with me playing all the instruments and them behind the glass steering the ship. it's the best thing I've done so far and it feels really good!
I invite you to pull this up on your phone, go get in your car and head to a blue highway nearest you. Then crank up your stereo and drive!
Or, if you'd rather stay out of the crazy, go sit in your favorite chair (perhaps with a good scotch or sipping beverage of your choice) put on the headphones, close your eyes and watch the stories unfold like a good book!
However you choose, I hope you enjoy it!
Robin
The five accompanying portraits are by Austin artist, Jonathan Maurel. You can learn more about him here.
I FOUND CAROLINE IN A BURNED OUT LOUNGE
OFF BROKEN STREET AND LOST BOULEVARD
STICKING OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB ON THE HAND OF DELILAH
SHE WAS WAY TOO GENTLE TO BE DRINKING THAT HARD
FENDING OFF SAILORS, SUITS, AND HIPSTERS
WITH A WAVE OF ANY FINGER SHE’D CHOOSE
PERFECTLY CONTENTED WITH BAR ROOM WHISPERS
SAYIN’, “ONE MORE ROUND TO FIX MY BLUES”
CHORUS: HEY, CAROLINE I WONDER IF YOU ONLY
COULD FIND A PLACE IN YOUR WORN DOWN HEART
SOMMERVILLE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO LONELY
YOU BREAK IT DOWN THEN YOU TEAR IT APART
CAROLINE ALWAYS LEAVES HER HAIR DOWN
NEVER BEEN ONE TO PUT ON SHOW
SHE FINDS THAT TIME MOVES A LITTLE BIT SLOWER
THE MORE I PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR
CHORUS…
INSTR.
I PONDER NO ROMANTIC INTENTIONS
TO BE A FRIEND IS SOMETIMES MORE
A SOUL FOUND WITH COMMON DIMENSIONS
TO NEVER WORRY ‘BOUT SETTLING THE SCORE
I FOUND HER AGE WAS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER
SHE WAS WISER THAN DEMEANOR COULD TELL
SHE BROKE THE FOUNTAIN IN HOTEL LOBBY,
SAID, “ EVERYTHING’S BEEN DONE, YOU JUST GOTTA DO IT WELL”
CHORUS…
YOU BREAK IT DOWN THEN YOU TEAR IT APART, OH OH
YOU BREAK IT DOWN THEN YOU TEAR IT APART
WOULDN’T TAKE A SECOND, WOULDN’T GIVE A MINUTE
ALWAYS HAD A BAD HABIT OF RUNNING AWAY
WHEN LIFE WAS UNEXPECTED, COULDN’T PLAN IT
NEVER TRUSTED ANYTHING SHE COULDN’’T FEEL WITH HER OWN TWO HANDS
SHE NEVER WANTED, NEVER, TO FALL IN LOVE
SHE’S ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY
SHE NEVER WANTED, NEVER, TO FALL IN LOVE
DOESN’T LEAVE A NOTE, NEVER SAYS GOODBYE
JUST PACKS HER THINGS AND LEAVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR, COULDN’T ASK FOR MORE
THAN THE STARS UP ABOVE DOTTING THE MIDNIGHT SKY
SHE NEVER WANTED, NEVER, TO FALL IN LOVE
SHE’S ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY
SHE NEVER WANTED, NEVER, TO FALL IN LOVE
HEY!
I KNOW I WANTED MORE THAN YOU COULD GIVE
HEY!
I KNOW YOU HAD TO LEAVE SO YOU COULD LIVE
BUT I DON’T BLAME YOU
NO I DON’T BLAME YOU
NEVER LOOKS BACK, ALWAYS GET AWAY
BACK SEAT FULL OF HEARTS BROKEN ALONG THE WAY
THOUGHTS COME AND GO LIKE A BURNING MATCH
THEY FLICKER IN HER TEARS SHE’S TRYING TO HOLD BACK
SHE NEVER WANTED, NEVER, TO FALL IN LOVE
SHE’S ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY
SHE NEVER WANTED, NEVER, TO FALL IN LOVE
HEY!
I KNOW I WANTED MORE THAN YOU COULD GIVE
HEY!
I KNOW YOU HAD TO LEAVE SO YOU COULD LIVE
AND I DON’T BLAME YOU
WHEN YOU’RE READY TO COME HOME
I’LL BE WAITING BY THE PHONE
YOU CAN CALL ME ANY TIME YOU LIKE
I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WON’T CALL
AND SOMEDAY I’LL MOVE ON
BUT NOT TONIGHT
WELL, I KNOW I WANTED MORE THAN YOU COULD GIVE
HEY!
I KNOW YOU HAD TO LEAVE SO YOU COULD LIVE
AND I DON’T BLAME YOU
I DON’T BLAME YOU
HE WALKS ALONE IN THE DARK ON AN EMPTY STREET
EYE BLACK, HIP BRUISED, LIP BLEEDING
NEVER STOOD A CHANCE IN AN OPEN FIGHT
MUCH TOO SMALL IN SIZE TO THE OTHER GUY
UP AHEAD SHADOWS MOVE, HE CAN’T HEAR A THING
MOVING CLOSER TO THE CRIME HE HEARS A WOMAN SCREAM
HE BREAKS INTO A RUN, SHE’S CRYING, “HELP ME!”
HE BALLS HIS FINGERS TIGHT AS HIS WORLD GOES BLACK
THERE’S NO TURNING BACK
HE DOESN’T KNOW IF HE’LL SURVIVE
HE’S GONNA KEEP SWINGING ’TIL THE ANSWER ARRIVES
ALONE IN THIS DARK PLACE OF LIFE
HE’S ONLY LOOKING TO FEEL ALIVE
HERE HE LIES ALL ALONE ON AN EMPTY STREET
TASTING IRON ON HIS TONGUE HE RISES TO HIS FEET
STEADIES HIMSELF ON THE WALL WITH HIS BROKEN HAND
BALANCE ELUDE HIM AS HE STRUGGLES TO STAND UP AGAIN
THE WOMAN GOT AWAY, OF THIS HE’S PRETTY SURE
BUT HE NEVER SAW BEFORE HE HIT THE FLOOR
NOW HE STUMBLES HOME IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT
TO AN EMPTY HOUSE AND AN EMPTY LIFE
HAS HE WASTED HIS TIME?
HE DOESN’T KNOW IF HE’LL SURVIVE
HE’S GONNA KEEP SWINGING ’TIL THE ANSWER ARRIVES
ALONE IN THIS DARK PLACE OF LIFE
HE’S ONLY LOOKING TO FEEL ALIVE
HE KNOWS THAT EVERY CHOICE HE MAKES
WILL NEVER TAKE AWAY HIS PAIN
HE NEVER WANTED IT THIS WAY
RIDING OFF IN THE PALE SUNSET
SUNNY HUNG HIS HEAD IN CLEAR DISTRESS
LET A GOOD MAN DIE AS HE RAN AWAY
THE SHAME OF WHAT HE’S DONE WILL STAY
COWARDICE SAVED HIM ONCE AGAIN
NEVER STUCK HIS NECK OUT EVEN FOR A FRIEND
MAKING A TRAIL OF DUST THROUGH THE GREAT UNKNOWN
HE SEES A CALL WAITING ON HIS TELEPHONE
THE VOICE RANG OUT LIKE A WARNING BELL
TELLING HIM TO RUN, THAT HE’LL BURN IN HELL
FOR WHAT HE’S DONE, FOR WHO HE’S CROSSED
THE WRONGS HE’S COMMITTED, THE MONEY HE’S LOST
TEARS BEGIN TO FALL AND THE FEAR SET IN
THIS LONG ROAD TO RUIN HAS COME TO AN END
SLAMS THE CLUTCH DOWN AND THROWS IT IN GEAR
IF HE’S GONNA DIE, IT WON’T BE HERE.
KEEP ON RIDIN’
KEEP ON RIDIN’, SUNNY
KEEP ON RIDIN’
KEEP ON RIDIN’, SUNNY
IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT
AS HE LAYS HIS HEAD DOWN
HE HEARS A KNOW AT THE DOOR
HE’S OUT THE WINDOW BEFORE THE BED’S COLD
LOST AT A DINER IN A ONE HORSE TOWN
HE ASKS THE WAITRESS TO POUR HIM ANOTHER ROUND
FROM BEHIND HE HEARS A VOICE LIKE STONE
JUST LIKE THE ONE FROM THE TELEPHONE
KEEP ON RIDIN’
KEEP ON RIDIN’, SUNNY
KEEP ON RIDIN’
KEEP ON RIDIN’, SUNNY . . .
HE TORE A PAGE OUT OF HIS JOURNAL AND CAST IT OUT TO SEA
THE WORDS INSCRIBED UPON IT WERE NOT BUT A MEMORY
FOR THEY HAD CAUSED QUITE A STIR AMONGST HIS FAMILY
THEY NEVER KNEW WHAT HE COULD BE
HE RAN HIS FINGERS ACROSS THE BOW OF A SHIP HE STOLE TO SEA
TO CROSS THE WORLD’S OCEANS AND FIND WHAT HE COULD BE
HE KNEW THE WATERS, ROUGH WITH CHANGE, WOULD KEEP HIM COMPANY
AS HE SAILED INTO THE STORM AHEAD HE SHOUTED AT THE SEA
“THE WIND MAY HOWL AROUND ME
AND THE THUNDER MAKES ME SCARED
I’LL FIGHT THE WAVES BEFORE ME
STEAL LIGHTENING FROM THE AIR
THOUGH MY COMPASS MAY BE BROKEN
AND THIS VOYAGE MAY BE DAMNED
I’LL YIELD NOTHING TO THESE WATERS
I’LL FIND MY WAY TO LAND”
POISED BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE STORM BEGINS TO CRACK
THROWING LIGHTENING WIND AND OTHER THINGS TO SEE IF HE’LL TURN BACK
BUT BEHIND HIM IS ONLY RUIN SO FORWARD HE WILL GO
THE SEA THINKS IT CAN PULL HIM DOWN INTO THE DEEP BELOW
RAIN STAINS HIS INNOCENCE
WASHING HIM CLEAN OF THIS
A FEARFUL CHILD WITHIN
ALL THIS UNCERTAINTY,
WILL HE EVER JUST BE
THE WIND MAY HOWL AROUND ME
THE THUNDER MAKES ME SCARED
I’LL FIGHT THE WAVES BEFORE ME
I’LL STEAL LIGHTENING FROM THE AIR
THOUGH MY COMPASS MAY BE BROKEN
AND THIS VOYAGE MAY BE DAMNED
I’LL YIELD NOTHING TO THESE WATERS
I’LL FIND MY WAY TO LAND
THE WIND MAY HOWL AROUND ME
AND THE THUNDER MAKES ME SCARED
I’LL FIGHT THE WAVES BEFORE ME
I’LL STEAL LIGHTENING FROM THE AIR
THOUGH MY COMPASS MAY BE BROKEN
AND THIS VOYAGE MAY BE DAMNED
I’LL YIELD NOTHING TO THESE WATERS
I’LL FIGHT MY WAY TO LAND
THE WIND MAY HOWL AROUND ME
I’LL MAKE THE THUNDER SCARED
I’LL FIGHT THE WAVES BEFORE ME
STEAL LIGHTENING FROM THE AIR
MY COMPASS MAY BE BROKEN
BUT THIS VOYAGE WON'T BE DAMNED
I’LL YIELD NOTHING TO THESE WATERS
THEY’LL TEACH ME WHO I AM
FIND MY WAY TO LAND . . . .