Jeffry Braun

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hang in the balance I’ve shown other lovers, the chinks in my armor, the faults in me parry, the holes in my prose. I was standing defenseless as every one chose, to cut me at the heel, in the weakness I exposed. I’m willing to dance (for you) on the highest of lines, And hear the gasps of my friends — when they think I’m gonna fall. c. but I’ll hang in the balance, cos’ love’s just a risk anyway, I’ve got my eye on the prize of you and me every day, Now, you know that I feel, this is the real deal. b. You are the spirit in my stride, protecting the light from the lion’s pride, I may end up alone in the clothes of a lamb, with everything that I hold close, slipping through my hands. But all I can ask you is… to put your trust in me, I’ll do you no wrong, I just want you to be the muse of my song c. So I’ll hang in the balance, cos’ love’s just a risk anyway, I’ve got my eye on the prize of you and me every day, now, you know that I feel, this is the real deal, you gotta know that I feel, this is the real deal.	m u s i c i a n s \| hang in the balance rhythm guitar: Marc Teamaker bass: Jonathan Hughes hammond organ: Matt Kalin drums: Anthony Realbuto additional guitars, vocals, harmony: jb saxophone: Stas Przymylski, Chris DiFrancesco trombone: Steve Wands shakers, tambourine, funk guitar chords, additional drums: JC Santalis a r t w o r k Photograph by Chrissy McCarrons, coloring by jb. ..................................
chambers of the heart Seems like every time I’m in New York, I drive by your street, every single time I speak your name, and I wanna call you up, I’m falling faster, further, I know I’ll fall apart, when a girl like you gets stuck inside the chambers of my heart. Living in this state has got me spinning in another busy day, I try to find the words to make you see this thing my way, I’m falling faster, further, I know I’ll fall apart, when a girl like you gets stuck inside the chambers of my heart. c. Baby, how you doin’ today (I miss you) Baby, how you doin’ today Well, if I were a boxer I would be the kind to fight until I fall, Cos’ love is pretty strange to me, I haven’t felt it much at all, I’m falling faster, further, and I know I’ll fall apart, when a girl like you gets stuck inside the chambers of my heart. b. Everybody seems to have advice on how they think I should live my life, (its) like there’s only one sure way for me to do it right, I know I did the best thing for you and your little girl, bringin’ rays of sunshine to a partly cloudy world. c. Baby, how you doin’ today (I miss you) Baby, how you doin’ today	m u s i c i a n s \| chamber of the heart electric guitars, acoustic guitar, shakers: JC Santalis bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto main acoustic guitar, vocals: jb harmony: Scott Sylvester, jb a r t w o r k Photograph by Chrissy McCarrons ..................................
reason why You won’t remember me holding your hand, as you revealed your family story, sad daggers to plunder my soft skin with weakness and tears. It’d been so long, since I let down my guard, protecting myself from the inevitable, because I know, behind that wall, is weakness and tears. c. You’ve got a satchel of things, you can bring ’em inside with you, or you can leave ’em at the door, it never mattered to me... I know what I saw, and I know who you are, I know why I tried, there’s never one reason why (one reason why) I breathe another sigh, goodbye, and flutter on backwards again, relieving my pressure and my fiction, my weakness and tears. c. You’ve got a satchel of things, you can bring ’em inside with you, or you can leave ’em at the door, it never mattered to me... I know what I saw, and I know who you are, I know why I tried, there’s never one reason why (one reason why) If you’re keeping score, (tell me) who’s winning now, cos’ I know what I lost, and I know what I found.	m u s i c i a n s \| reason why theme guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion: JC Santalis acoustic guitar, wurlitzer, additional guitars, vocals, harmony: jb bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto a r t w o r k Collage of images by Ross Alvord with Deb Unger (Keys) assembled by jb ..................................
follow my heart I’ll try to thicken up my skin, its always been too thin, it may seem its how I’m made, like I let myself get played. I may be fragile but I’m smart, I’ve opened up my guarded heart, to show you the man I’m tryin’ to be, and make you proud of me. c. I’m gonna follow my heart, its gonna lead me to you, where ever you may go, I kinda’ wanna go there too. Every day’s a chance to shine and share the hopes we’ll try to find, And wear this smile you gave to me, for putting faith in me. c. I’m gonna follow my heart, its gonna lead me to you, where ever you may go, I kinda’ wanna go there too. c. I’m gonna follow my heart, its gonna lead me to you, where ever you may go, I kinda’ wanna go there too. I’ve got the kind of love that I wanna share it with you, where ever you may go, I kinda’ wanna go there too, go there too, go there too, go there too.	m u s i c i a n s \| follow my heart guitars, wurlitzer, music box sounds, vocals, harmony: jb bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto drum loop, percussion: JC Santalis a r t w o r k photograph by jb ..................................
say goodbye You come to my house on a grey day in a shirt that smells like rain. c. Its after the fall, I try to make my world still spin, I’ve been here before, atoning for imaginary sins, you say that hiding love is telling lies, that’s just an excuse for you to say goodbye. Now I’m in the park where we used to play and girls pass wearing parts of your face. c. Its after the fall, I try to change the way I learn, I’ve been here before, standing on the bridge as it burns to say I didn’t listen to you would be telling lies, and that’s just an excuse for you to say goodbye. b. when you get done doing what you’ve got to do with my heart, you can leave inside a cardboard box and mark it “lost and found.” Wherever you go, to you I’m bound (I’m bound) I watch my daylight fade, my twilight dreams dissolve away in tossing tries at missing sleep. c. Its after the fall, I try to make my voice still sing, I’ve been here before, waiting for the pain to match the color of the sting another song to show myself how hard I try, Cos’ that’s just the best way I’ve found to say goodbye Sometimes I find it hard to say goodbye, say goodbye	m u s i c i a n s \| say goodbye wurlitzer, mellotron strings, snare drum vocals: jb harmony: Julia Richardson, jb bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto a r t w o r k Photograph of sculptures by Patrick Cordelli with found objects and other photos by jb ..................................
smile (2005) So we’ll play our separate parts. Live separate lives. Beat separate hearts. In all of our time together, I never thought, it would end up this way, but— c. If you’re feeling lost, come find me— I’ll get you back on pace. If you’re feeling sad, come look for me— I’ll give you the smile off my face. So, we’re better off apart. Have different dreams. Start different starts. I had to learn to understand, This way, was the better way. c. If you’re feeling lost, come find me— I’ll get you back on pace. If you’re feeling sad, come look for me— I’ll give you the smile off my face. b. I’ve been lost before… I’ll get lost again… But even in my sorriest of states, I’ll never turn my back on you, my friend. c. If you’re feeling lost, come find me— I’ll get you back on pace. If you’re feeling sad, come look for me— I’ll give you the smile off my face.	m u s i c i a n s \| smile (2005) drums: Ravi Padmanabha, Anthony Realbuto bass: Jonathan Hughes guitars, wurlitzer, hammond organ, vocals: jb drum editing, baritone guitar, guitar at end: JC Santalis harmony: Julia Richardson, jb a r t w o r k Photograph by Chrissy McCarrons ..................................
greenland August’s Arctic Circle sun, hangs around too long, just a few hours every night, is when the day goes gray. c. But its too cold to snow and its too light to sleep, so I’m wastin’ my time thinkin’ about you. November’s giant moon, had me on the isle of Ireland, singin’ songs I wrote for you, there ones you’ve never heard c. But I’m too sad to cry and I’m too tired to sleep, so I’m wastin’ my time thinkin’ about you. b. Its not about right or wrong, its not about feeling too strong I’m a genuine article — someone who cared, after all that’s said and done — just some who cared. I kick around towns by myself, cos’ its somethin’ I know how to do, didn’t think I’d get so accustomed, to hangin’ around with you, c. I’m too proud to write to you, Don’t know if you wanted me to, So I’m wastin’ my time thinkin’ about you, I’m wastin’ my time thinkin’ about you.	m u s i c i a n s \| greenland acoustic guitar, vocals, organ, piano: jb guitar riff: Jason Braun bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto saxophone: Stas Przymylski, Chris DiFrancesco trombone: Steve Wands a r t w o r k Photographs by jb with passport stamp from Greeland ..................................
bleecker street If all you had left was tonight, did you live the day the way you wanted to? cos’ I made the mistake of waiting on your call, when I knew you wouldn’t come through. I’ve been around the world enough to know when to change the place I’m going to, cos’ I see the way this street it gonna run, it doesn’t seem to be the way to get to you. c. So I wandered the steps of Rome alone, got lost in the Aqueducts of Spain, I never felt sadder with subways rumblin’ under me, like I did on Bleecker Street. b. There was a time when I could count the miles, to figure out how far to meet you half way, I’m gonna find a new horizon line, to make through... to make it through today. I’m supposed to fall the other way, like that’s even possible to do, I’ve spent too much time in the company of tears, counting wishes that never came true. c. I wandered the steps of Rome alone, got lost in the Aqueducts of Spain, I never felt sadder with subways rumblin’ under me, like I did on Bleecker Street. I wandered the steps of Rome alone, got lost in the Aqueducts of Spain, I never felt sadder in a city that’s been good to me, like I did on Bleecker Street.	m u s i c i a n s \| bleecker street lead guitar: Jason Braun rhythm guitar: Marc Teamaker bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto additional guitars, organ, vocals: jb harmony: Scott Sylvester, jb tambourine, shakers, baritone guitar, additional drums: JC Santalis a r t w o r k Photographs and drawing with digital by jb ..................................
now or never Hold me now, please hold me now, as if tomorrow were as certain as a woman’s mind. Hold me now, just hold me, and tell me all the things you know a man wants to hear. Hold me now, please hold me now, forget about the way that you remember it. Hold me now, just hold me now, show me everything you think you are. c. Just give me love or give me nothing, the promises I’ve never heard, just give me love or give me nothing, I’ve got no time for useless words… its now or never. Touch me now, please touch me now, no matter what you say you know — I’ll take it the wrong way. with tearful eyes, a thin disguise that hides the answers to the questions — I should have never asked. c. Just give me love or give me nothing, the promises I’ve never heard, just give me love or give me nothing, I’ve got no time for foolish words… its now or never.	m u s i c i a n s \| now or never guitars, guitar riffs, wurlitzer, vocals, harmony: jb drums: Anthony Realbuto bass: Jonathan Hughes guitars, guitar solo at end: JC Santalis a r t w o r k Photograph by Chrissy McCarrons, coloring by jb ..................................
favorite things You are the color orange, japanese maple tree, You are the warmth of a sweater, cranberry tea. You are Saturday morning, the song of early birds, you are the comfort of company, discovering an interesting word. c. These are a few of my favorite things. You are soft afternoon sun, holding the hand of a child, you are the pattern of dovetails, your pouty lips that I can make smile. c. These are a few of my favorite things. b. I am not a home by the sea. I could not have swept you off of your feet. I am not some battered shell, that washed up on your beach, with the rhythm of your heart out of my reach. You are singing me your new song over a telephone line, now I know that my phone won’t ring, and I miss you all the time.	m u s i c i a n s \| favorite things wurlitzer, piano, acoustic guitar, midi horns, vocals: jb bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto trombones: Steve Wands electric guitar chords: Jason Braun percussion: JC Santalis a r t w o r k Photograph by Wendy Marvel ..................................
take on water I’m sure you would have let me gather scattered clouds, fix the morning as it breaks each day, I was dumb enough to believe that I could fit that bill, an unsung hero, play my part and go away. I’m sure you would have let me leap buildings in a single bound, and save your world from harm each day, I was dumb enough to believe that I was made of steel, when steel is a metal even rain can rust away. c. Seems to me you let me build our house on sand, with tides of anger tearing down the walls. We take on water, sinking like stone, we take on water, bail me out, I can’t do this alone. I’m sure you couldn’t know how far I had to fall, to still be loving you today, I was dumb enough to believe the best was yet to come, when all our good times were already miles away. c. seems to me you let me build a house of cards, could not understand why you’d want to make it fall. We take on water, sinking like stone, we take on water, bail me out, I can’t do this alone.	m u s i c i a n s \| take on water electric guitars, acoustic guitars, wurlitzer, mellotron strings, piano, drum loop, vocals: jb bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto shakers, tambourine: JC Santalis a r t w o r k photograph and coloring by jb ..................................
what the heart wants She seems to like to find the ties that bind, she pulled me in on a string, and though you go in willingly, as soon as you think your close, she sets you free. She always seems to take the lion’s share, accepts whatever it is you’ve prepared, and though you give unselfishly, as soon as your left with just bones, she sets you free. c. She says, “the heart wants what the heart wants” So why does mine, never seem to want what’s good for me? If the heart wants what the heart wants, mine wanted you, yours didn’t want me. You seem to think the best thing I can do, is just to never talk to you, to break the faces off the monuments, and set you free. b. But I’m gonna get myself out of this bad routine, and throw a wrench in my own damn machine, cos’ I’m gonna wreck this train of thought, rip up all my tracks and go run free. c. She says, “the heart wants what the heart wants” So why does mine, never seem to want what’s good for me? If the heart wants what the heart wants, mine wanted you, yours didn’t want me, mine wanted you, yours didn’t want me, mine wanted you, yours didn’t want me.	m u s i c i a n s \| what the heart wants wurlitzer: Marc Teamaker bass: Jonathan Hughes drums: Anthony Realbuto hammond organ: Matt Kalin guitar riffs, percussion, clerk bell: JC Santalis additional wurlitzer, vocals: jb harmony: Julia Richardson, jb a r t w o r k Photograph by Katie Braun (post) and Chrissy McCarrons (hands), coloring by jb. ..................................
• All words and music by Jeffry Braun, except Now or Never by Adam Crawford and Jeffry Braun • Supermozo Music c,p 2005, BMI • Produced by Jean-Christophe Santalis & Jeffry Braun except Hang in the Balance, Bleecker Street & What the Heart Wants produced by Jean-Christophe Santalis, Marc Teamaker & Jeffry Braun • Mixed by Jean-Christophe Santalis • Mastered by Will Quinell at Sterling Sound, NY • Recorded at Raw Recording; Patterson+Mahopac, NY. Additional Recording at Redline Studio; Buffalo, NY Supermozo Studio; Bedford Hills, NY Riverside Studio, Riverside, CT Dronelab Studio, Buffalo, NY.