Robin Monterosso

Years ago, I heard the phrase, "...cut open the nightingale to hear it's song". The word picture created in my head struck me deeply; it's a thoughtful metaphor. Did I mention my passion for metaphor?
It's a cautionary tale of the power of beauty, lust... or... something...
it makes me think of so many possible choices in life...
you decide which ones.

Captured

     I captured a little bird that I had heard
     He sang the evening down without a word
    Without a word he now sits in his cage
    I hoped that we would enjoy his new stage

Refrain
        Oh little bird, you cannot flee
        I want to hear your melody
        Oh little bird, I'll never be free
        Your song has captured me

      Quietly birdy went on still and silent
      Daylight is passing in such tiny increments
      Such tiny increments shadows tick my
      While waiting for night and the nightingale's song

      I grow inpatient being so gracious
      Waiting for night to fall seems like all ages
      Like all the ages his silence grown old
      Shadows grow longer my heart grows cold

Refrain

   Quite in a rage I reach into that cage
     Grappled the neck of my small feathered mage
   My small feathered mage and his spell made me mad
     I have to find out what the nightingale has

   Sharp knife on the table is perfectly able
   To extract a spell not a tune just a fable
     A fable of folly and lust and of wrong
     I cut open the nightingale to find his song

(Refrain)

What I Didn’t Say

Vs.1
What I didn’t say you should’ve heard
If I had opened up my mouth and said a single word
You might not have turned away if you had heard

What I didn’t say, I’m tryin’ to
Powerless to get my meaning through to you
Now we’re fools in some charade still searching for What I didn’t say

Chorus 1
I’m silent at the top of my voice

My quiet’s big and mean and I’ve let it come between
Me and the man I love
What I didn’t say was not enough

Vs. 2
What I didn’t say came from the heart
But it was lost on my lips and I can’t start
To find my way back to you, help me through

What I didn’t say, I need to
But ev’rything I want and need is bound to you
And I need you to rescue me, set me free from
What I didn’t say

Chorus 2
I’m silent at the top of my voice
In a forest dark and deep captive to a speechless beast

I don’t have the strength to run I can’t escape what I’ve begun

Bridge
Sometimes this woman can’t speak her mind
I don’t know what gets into me and I
Can’t explain the prisoner locked inside,
But I know you hold the key

Vs.3
What you didn’t say says it best
As you take me in your arms and pull me to your chest
Wrap your love around my fear, you will hear
What I didn’t say

Rabbit Hole

Refrain
Down some rabbit hole of memory

In my mind your touch is taking me down

Through some door of distant fantasy

Walks the ghost of my old enemy now

Vs.1 A world of romance and regret, what ifs and what nots
Buried ‘neath packed down scars and fears

Twisting, turning, rushing, yearning, what ain’t and what for
Scurry thru a tunnel of old tears

Refrain (repeat)

Vs. 2 Jump in, jump out, back door’s open, hello and goodbye
         Now you see me, now you don’t my friend
         Three is comp’ny, two is something difficult to break
         One is me, and I’m all in the end

Bridge
Longing tries to burrow in my mind
Reminiscence can be dangerous to the unguarded kind
I’m runnin’ already’n you won’t catch me blind

Refrain (repeat)

Vs.3 I believe it’s time to leave and break your sordid spell
Revelation pulling me away

Now I know what’s done is done, tho’ your embrace goes on
It’s apparition calling me to play

These Bare Hands

Verse 1
June and Molly went downtown to get their nails done
I said I've got other things to do
Three kids, night school, and waitressing at Denny's
Would anybody argue that's not true
Guess I'm doing all I can
With these bare hands

Verse 2
I'm dukin' it out with life the hard way now
The gloves are off, I'm clawing my way out
I block I throw I get my share of licks in
Bring it If you have any doubt
I can fight like crazy man
With these bare hands

Chorus
   These two hands are rough and ready
    Prayin' hangin' on strong and steady
    They hold hands and hope a'plenty
    Bare but never empty
    Full of love to share and lessons from this life I live
    All I've got to give is in
    These bare hands

Verse 3
Mr. Right up and left with some Starbucks starlet
and I didn't waste my time falling apart
I've had to sell some things around this place to make ends meet
That wedding ring well that's a start
Won't have a diamond but I've got a plan
And these bare hands

Bridge
They take opportunity and grab onto
Whatever brings this family love
The gift is knowing what to keep
And what to let go of

Chorus
   These two hands are rough and ready
   Prayin' hangin' on strong and steady
   They hold hands and hope a'plenty
   Bare but never empty
   Full of love to share and lessons from this life I live
   And all I've got to give is in
   These bare hands
   These bare hands

One day I'm gonna go downtown and get my nails done

Robin Monterosso ©2014 WIng and Waltz Records/ Tim Wheeler ©2014 TuneCarver Music