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1.
When I look at you gently I see you've grown old. You say life's been good But heaven's taken hold. You say what you've learned I hang on each breath. You say you're goin' home There isn't any death. Who have you loved and What have you done? It's not for countin' The times you have one. Did you put back together What life tore apart? Were you courageous Did you mend your own heart. You look at me gently See the price that I pay When my worry 'bout tomorrow Steals the joy from today. You want me to know There's no brass ring to chase. Always believe in unexpected grace. Who have you loved and What have you done? It's not for countin' The times you have one. Did you put back together What life tore apart? Were you courageous Did you mend your own heart. You look at me gently You say soon I'll grow old. Look for the good Before heaven takes hold. As your words turn to whispers I listen intently. You tell me remember Look at life gently. Who have you loved and What have you done? It's not for countin' The times you have one. Did you put back together What life tore apart? Were you courageous Did you mend your own heart.
2.
[Verse 1] Wish I was a Kellogg's Cornflake Floatin' in my bowl takin' movies Relaxin' awhile, livin' in style Talkin' to a raisin who 'casion'ly plays L.A., Casually glancing at his toupee [Verse 2] Wish I was an English muffin 'Bout to make the most out of a toaster I'd ease myself down Comin' up brown I prefer boysenberry more than any ordinary jam I'm a "Citizens for Boysenberry Jam" fan [Bridge] Ah, South California [Verse 3] If I become a first lieutenant Would you put my photo on your piano? "To Maryjane-- Best wishes, Martin" Old Roger draft-dodger Leavin' by the basement door Everybody knows what he's Tippy-toeing down there for
3.
Joy 02:32
What animates the soul is a miracle yet with our first breath we cry with our first step we stumble in our first kiss, our good bye Two hearts call from their solitude Your hands touch mine Oh it’s been so long Souls reunite and it feels like home Two voices entwine In one song and in the moon of pink snow we gave our hearts to joy, joy we gave our hearts to joy What animates the soul is a miracle yet with our first breath we cry with our first step we stumble in our first kiss our good bye When I go Not so far away Will you hold my hand as you hold my heart watch over me till it’s time and my spirit flies again and we part and in the full moon of sorrow our hearts remember joy, joy our hearts remember joy and in the full moon of sorrow our hearts remember joy, joy our hearts remember joy
4.
Molly 03:22
When I was a young man I ran away from home I went to join the circus I went to see the cotton candy world And make me lots of money On my own For Molly oh my pretty Molly She's waiting all alone Someday soon I will return to her Then I made the big time Bright lights show biz I'm really in the circus There's only one thing wrong I haven't saved a penny on my own For Molly oh my pretty Molly But she's writing every day Molly understands so it's okay Ride a windy boxcar And see a thousand children young and old. Oh that greasepaint smile can hide your soul Here comes the carousel Guess which town it is Feel the thrill Greasepaint covers everything But winter's chill I'm reading Molly's letter The ink is fading and The page is turning yellow Long ago I promised Molly Don't you know I... I will close my eyes And go to her
5.
I once had a girl Or should I say, she once had me? She showed me her room "Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?" She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair I sat on the rug Biding my time, drinking her wine We talked until two And then she said, "It's time for bed" She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown So I lit a fire Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?
6.
In my dreams I’m never in my chair, And time and distance melt like mist from the shore Scattered friends and loved ones gone before me Are gathered safe in my arms once more In my dreams my name is she who dances The drum says move but the rope says stay In my dreams my name is she who flies What holds me back slips away What holds me back slips away If I could I’d change just that one moment We’d walk together, Broken hearts to heal If I could I’d call on some rough magic To make these dreams so real, so real In my dreams my name is she who dances The drum says move but the rope says stay In my dreams my name is she who flies What holds me back slips away What holds me back slips away Take my shoes and give them to the dustman And these questions, the ones that ask why Take my guitar and give it to my daughter Then take my tears and teach them not to cry In my dreams my name is she who dances The drum says move but the rope says stay In my dreams my name is she who flies What holds me back slips away What holds me back slips away In my dreams I’m never in my chair And time and distance melt like mist from the shore Scattered friends and loved ones gone before me gather me safe in their arms once more gather me safe in their arms once more
7.
Use 03:53
You got more than me, he’s got more than you. If he’s got a mansion, you’ve got to have two. There’s never a bottom to your wishing well, You think you’ll get to heaven through the three gates of hell. When you leave your mark it will be a bruise, Cause the world is your oyster and you’ll Use and use and use and use, Use and use and use and use and use. You make us believe everyone poses danger. You teach us to fear every dark skinned stranger. You pour your poison into the once pure river. You promise a change but you never deliver. You destroy the past while you make the news, But as long as you’re lying well you’ll Use and use and use and use, Use and use and use and use and use. You want to reap what you’ve never sowed, The weak and the weary they carry the load. You hitch a ride on the backs of the poor, When all dreams have died, you send them to war. When you leave your mark it will be a bruise, Cause the world is your oyster and you’ll Use and use and use and use, Use and use and use and use and use. In all of our hearts there’s kindness and greed, The one that will win is the one that you feed. In all or our hearts there’s kindness and greed, The one that will win is the one that you feed. When you leave your mark it will be a bruise, Cause the world is your oyster and you’ll Use and use and use and use, Use and use and use and use and use.
8.
Everybody wants to be a cat Because a cat's the only cat Who knows where it's at Everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat 'cause everything else is obsolete Now a square with a horn Can make you wish you weren't born Ever'time he plays; And with a square in the act He can set music back To the caveman days I've heard some corny birds who tried to sing But a cat's the only cat Who knows how to swing Who wants to dig A long-haired gig Or stuff like that? When everybody wants to be a cat A square with that horn Makes you wish you weren't born Ever'time he plays; And with a square in the act He's gonna set this music back To the Stone Age days Everybody wants to be a cat Because a cat's the only cat Who knows where it's at; While playin' jazz you always has a Welcome mat 'cause everybody digs a swingin' cat Everybody digs a swingin' cat
9.
My pocket's empty baby Singing the blues for you My pocket's empty baby You know I loved you true Even my old kettle Is whistling the blues for you... Back again I'm still waiting, Back again With you... The nights are lonely baby I need you all the time I'm lonely baby Need your lips on mine Even my old kettle Is whistling the blues for you... Back again I'm still waiting, Back again With you... My pocket's empty baby Just singing them blues for you My pocket's empty baby You know I loved you true Even my old kettle Is whistling the blues for you... Back again I'm still waiting, Back again With you...
10.
Pilgrims 03:37
Pilgrims of horizon The table lay bare I searched for a mask Hid my face in your hair Lost in charade and a lover's slow chant Your breath on my eyelids The covers thrown back We sleep walked in daylight Kept castles of stone Dreamed of the sun He appeared flesh and bone The parting, the calling The knife in its sheath And pressed between pages The moment's bare leaf Now I'm asked to remember But the night has grown long You're calling to shadows I can't make you strong Burnt by madness A mind's dull refrain I walk through the silent forest of rain The future, the future To see what we've wrought I can't find the courage To say what I thought I love your strange ways And I can't let you down But the room is so empty The hills are so brown
11.
Mood Indigo 04:19
[Chorus] You ain't been blue, no, no, no You ain't been blue 'til you've had that mood indigo That feeling goes stealing down to my shoes While I sit and sigh, "Go 'long blues" [Bridge] Always get that mood indigo Since my baby said goodbye In the evening when the lights are low I'm so lonesome I could cry 'Cause there's nobody who cares about me I'm just a soul who's bluer than blue can be When I get that mood indigo I could lay me down and die [Chorus] You ain't been blue, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no You ain't been blue 'til you've had that mood indigo That feeling goes stealing down to my shoes While I just sit around and sigh, "Go 'long blues"
12.
Tell me honey, now tell me please Is my lover now hard to please I'm gettin' groggy in my knees Baby it must be love A funny feelin' up and down my spine To my head like cherry wine Make me feel like the world's all mine Baby it must be love I hear church bells ringin' I see visions clear I hear the birdies singin' I know darn well there's no birdies near I don't like your shirts and ties They don't seem to harmonize They don't match them big brown eyes Baby it must be love Rich man, poor man, beggar man, king It'll make you give up everything Every time you feel that sting Honey it must be love Made a preacher lay his bible down Made a rabbit hug a hound Made King Edward give up his crown Baby it must be love I hear church bells ringin' I see visions clear I hear those birdies singin' I know there ain't no birdies near I don't like your shirts and ties They don't seem to harmonize They don't match your big brown eyes Baby it must be love
13.
Demon Lover 03:51
I knew a girl who came from Little Falls Her name was Agnes Hines She fell in love with a boy named Jimmy Harris But he had a short life-line A year after Jimmy was killed in a car crash She married a man from Cornell They had three little kids and a big house In upper Montclair The gypsy wind it says to me Things are not what they seem to be Beware One day her husband's at work and the kids are at school And who comes toolin' up the drive Looks just like Jimmy Harris And he says he's just got back from Paris And he's lookin' very much alive Ooh, Jimmy she cried I thought you had died He laughed and he said So did I cherie And if it was not for your love I would not be here The gypsy wind it says to me Things are not what they seem to be Beware The neighbors say that as they pulled away in his Chevrolet His face began to change And in the middle of that bright suburban morning They disappeared in flames Maybe you have a demon lover Who might have been your husband or your wife Watch out for people who belong in your past Don't let 'em back in your life.
14.
Blue Skies 03:09
Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do i see Blue birds singing a song Nothing but blue skies from now on Never saw the sun shining so bright Never saw things going so right Noticing the days hurrying by When you're in love, my how they fly Blue days, all of them gone Nothing but blue skies from now on Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do i see Bluebirds singing a song Nothing but blue skies from now on
15.
That's All 04:15
I can only give you love that lasts forever And a promise to be near each time you call And the only heart I own For you and you alone That's all, that's all I can only give you country walks in springtime And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall And a love whose burning light Will warm the winter night That's all, that's all There are those, I am sure, that have told you They would give you the world for a toy All I have are these arms to enfold you And a love time can never destroy If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear You'll be glad to know that my demands are small Say it's me that you'll adore For now and ever more That's all, that's all If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear You'll be glad to know that my demands are small Say it's me that you'll adore For now and ever more That's all...that's all
16.
Gone 01:19
All along the fading line Streets track lives of twisted time All my thoughts are gone Fear is left unformed When you say the day is o'er I will speak as one no more Drift into the dawn

about

Michael and Mia first sat down together to play music 45 years ago. The collaboration continues with the follow-up to their previous album "Cover Art". "Rough Magic" re-imagines the music they heard from childhood to the present, mostly interpreted in finger-style guitar and voice. Michael added some mandolin and slide, Mia arranged harmonies, and they looked to talented local musicians to provide compelling backup. Mia and Michael each contributed two original songs and Michael co-wrote two more with the gifted Seattle singer/songwriter Tamara Lewis. These originals are mixed with an eclectic selection of cover songs - some arranged in surprising ways.

In this life the best we can hope for is some rough magic - please enjoy!

credits

released July 19, 2019

Recorded by Michael Derning
Additional recording by Michael Thomas Connolly at Empty Sea Studios • Seattle, WA
Assisted by Jeremy Wesley
Mixed by Michael Thomas Connolly at Empty Sea Studios • Seattle, WA
Mastered by Rachel Field at Resonant Mastering • Seattle, WA
 
Michael Derning – vocals, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, harmonica, tambourine
Mia Arends – vocals, vocal harmony arrangements
 
Michael Thomas Connolly - upright bass, tabla, snare, violin, piano, hand percussion
Brad Gibson - Drums
Colin Isler - Cello

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Michael Derning & Mia Arends Seattle, Washington

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