This River [CD]

JJ Grey & Mofro

This River [CD]




Chock-full of vibrant characters and compelling stories set to Stax-worthy soul, greasy Southern rock and funk and glorious ballads that stay with you long after the last notes fade.  Gutsy vocals, rugged horns and muscular grooves come together to create a down-home musical celebration.  

"Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold-blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul" - The New York Times
 


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1. Your Lady, She’s Shady 3:10
Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

You say your lady she's shady
You can't trust her for a minute if your backs turned

I seem to remember some cheap hotel on your credit card bill
That got your ass burned

You've wined and dined so many tricks at a time
You couldn't keep up with all the little lies

And now your jealousy has got you crying to me
So just stop.

Your lady, she's shady
Ah but you the one running around town
Acting like a dog in heat, in heat
Your lady, she's shady
Everybody seems to know it but you

You out there playing the field, dressing to kill
While your lady's home working

She's watching the kids while you've been hitting the skins
Somehow now it's got worrying

You think she's stepping out while you've been stepping in
You say she don't care about the kids

Bitch please! Quit trying to squeeze
Your big ass through the door of innocence

Your lady, she's shady
Ah but you the one running around town
Acting like a dog in heat in heat
Your lady, she's shady
Everybody seems to know it but you

Your lady, she's shady
Ah but you the one messing around town
Acting like a dog in heat in heat
Your lady, she's shady
All your dirty laundry in the street
Trying to keep it clean but all the people see
Your lady, she's shady
Crying the blues now, Crying the blues now, Crying the blues now,
Your lady, she's shady
Everybody seems to know it but you


2. Somebody Else 4:40

Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

Some people say that I don't play
They say I got a temper when I'm in that way
But I don't know who that person is that acts like a fool
That's somebody else Lord I swear it ain't me
I guess I'm my own worst enemy
Cause I don't know who I am when I am - that somebody else

I grab up the keys I fly out the gate
The family is fighting I don't want to be late
Cause I'm going to tell them all about my ass like I said that I would
We're out in the yard yelling at each other
Hate in my eyes sisters and brothers
I don't know who I am when I am - that somebody else

The neighbors are watching cause its getting real loud
But making my stand yo it makes me feel proud
But I know tomorrow I'll feel the shame when I cool down
Baring my fangs when I hear my niece
Yell to the neighbors "Lord call the police"
Cause I don't know who I am when I am - that somebody else

I can't hear the yelling no more
My eyes glaze over as I reach for the door
I grab my pistol time to show these fools what time it is
Now I'm in jail for the rest of my life
I can't see my kids Lord I can't see my wife
Cause I don't know who I am when I am - that somebody else



3. Tame A Wild One 4:21
Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

There's never been a man
To keep her underhand, or to hold her down
Cause she's as wild as a raging sea and just as beautiful too

Oh what was it in her eyes that scared him so
How come he felt so weak but tried look so strong

He tried to tame - tame a wild one
He tried to make a woman do right till she wants to do wrong

She, she was content
She loved to live each day as if another may never come

Ah but he
He did is best to hold her down
He built a cage a prison for the thing he loved most

He tried to tame - tame a wild one
He tried to make a woman do right till she wants to do wrong
He tried to tame - tame a wild one
Ah love is as free as it gets but it ain't ever cheap

He, woke to an empty house
Only the shell only the echo inside

He may never understand
Just why she left
But words can't build what's real
Or pull the life from a breath

He tried to tame - tame a wild one
He tried to make a woman do right till she wants to do wrong
He tried to tame - tame a wild one
Ah love is as free as it gets but it ain't ever cheap

4. 99 Shades Of Crazy 4:53

Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

I can't agree to disagree
Fighting like I'm fighting for life
They're only words but they cut like a blade
Swinging wide with all of my might

Ah yeah, I guess it's all of that coffee, that's got my mind in a whirl
I'm still cussing and bitching and there ain't nobody here

Oh yeah, you don't have to holler I hear you
I'm standing right here beside you
Oh, 99 shades of crazy, I'm 99 shades of crazy
Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy

Pour another drink, make it a double for me
Maybe I can drink this away
It's never fun when they pull out the gun
Beat you black and blue, boy
You gotta pay, you gotta pay

Oh, where the hell am I? I hope at least I had fun
I'm stumbling through New Orleans oh, to the rising sun

Oh yeah, you don't have to holler I hear you
I'm standing right here beside you
Oh, 99 shades of crazy, I'm 99 shades of crazy
Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy

Lord have mercy on me
Noventa nueva tonos de loco

I need some peace, just some relief
From this voice, killing me
You stare at me, and you glare at me
All this pain it's all the same, it's all insane
(you see)

Is this really happening or did I make it all up?
I'm bound for Chattahoochee on a turnip truck

Oh yeah, you don't have to holler I hear you
I'm standing right here beside you
Oh, 99 shades of crazy, I'm 99 shades of crazy
Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy

Ah you're crazy you're crazy
Hold my feet, feet to the fire
You hold my feet to the fire
I never said I was down with you

5. The Ballad Of Larry Webb 4:54
Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

He never missed a day of work, always had a kind word
Four buttons on a worn out shirt, but neatly cleaned and pressed
He couldn't read or write, but never failed to see a sight or hear a sound.
A triumph in this life to watched it all go by - with a smile

All that is, all that will be, all we have is each other

His son died young his daughter as deaf as stone.
His castle a shotgun house an easy chair his throne
He'd work from day to night and in the evening he'd feel its bite of pain
But every sunrise he'd greet it all with open arms and love - for all that is.

All that is, all that will be, all we have is each other

Many thought him simple but so few see the truth
So loud we live that we can't feel the glory anymore
And then I heard he died but all I could feel was the joy, oh the joy

All that is, all that has been, all we have is each other
All that is, all that will be, all we have is each other


6. Florabama 5:08
Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

There's a place down on the coast
Between Florida and Alabama
Ah the women down there get a little, little too hot to handle
The air so sweaty so sticky so tricky
Trick or treat baby trick it on me
Love on the beach sweet as peaches and cream

I can feel the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
Something in that salty air feels just right
I can feel the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
Gonna be a party in Florabama tonight

Ah this blankets to small
Going to get a little sandy
Candied-lipped sweet tip, sweeter than cotton candy
Ah a little sweat never hurt nobody, nobody, nobody at all
Least of all me - baby can't you feel it now

I can feel the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
Something in that salty air feels just right
I can feel the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
Gonna be a party in Florabama tonight

I can feel the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
Something in that salty air feels just right
I can feel the breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
Gonna be a party in Florabama tonight


7. Standing On The Edge 5:02
Music & Lyrics Andrew Trube, Anthony Farrell

Time, has a way of rolling on
And no matter how hard you try
You can't seem to hold on

But maybe, we can hold onto one another
Inside of our love
For a little while

Why not, it's all up to us
Here we are - standing on the edge of love

Tonight is a drop, in the ocean of eternity
In all this current we flow, out into the open sea

Our destination is unknown
But if we let our hearts choose the course
One thing is for sure, we can get there together

Why not, it's all up to us
Here we are - standing on the edge of love

8. Write A Letter 5:20

Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

Soft as a voice, spoken from heaven
Honey for my ears, temper my soul
The warmth in the rain, the green in the bottom
The echo in the night when a train whistle blows

Holding up your arms, V is for Victory
Power versus force, power wins
Radiate the joy from deep in your essence
It's always the beginning it's always the end

I write these words and I'm going to send them home to you

I'm going to write a letter, send it home
First class, first class baby
Let them know where I'm going to be
I'm going to write a letter, send it home
Just as fast, as fast as you can mister postman
If you please

I've been waiting, been waiting, waiting so long
Time ain't standing still, ain't standing still
While I sing, sing this song

Holding up your arms, V is for Victory
Power versus force, power wins
Radiate the joy from deep in your essence
It's always the beginning it's always the end

I write these words; someday I know I'll understand
Ooh baby want you understand

I'm going to write a letter, send it home
First class, first class baby
Let them know where I'm going to be
I'm going to write a letter, send it home
Just as fast, as fast as you can mister postman
If you please

9. Harp & Drums 6:12
Music & Lyrics by JJ Grey

You know, you know, you know
What I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

Beat your feet you find that you just don't shine it
Knowing what you know but you just can't hide it
Know what I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

You know, you know, you know
What I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

Beat your feet you find that you just don't shine it
Knowing what you know but you just can't hide it
Know what I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

You know, you know, you know
What I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

Beat your feet you find that you just don't shine it
Knowing what you know but you just can't hide it
Know what I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

You know, you know, you know, you know,
You know, you know, you know, you know,
Lord you know, you know, you know, you know
You know, know 

You know, you know, you know
What I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about

Beat your feet you find that you just don't shine it
Knowing what you know but you just can't hide it
Freedom, what you freed? But you feel like you're moving
Nobody don't feel it when you feel like you grooving
Know what I'm talking about
Lord it feels so good deep inside you know what I'm talking about


10. This River 5:20
music & lyrics by JJ Grey

I stare at a picture but there's nothing for it
I pull on the bottle and watch this river roll on by
Trying to find purpose trying to see meaning
Trying to make sense of the nonsense that I've called my life

Cause only this river can bear me to safety
Only this river can bear me away

See them all work and play there on the other bank
Warm in their houses while I face my cold alone
Guess I've been drinking away to keep the wolves of my mind at bay
but if you run you die I'm just too tired to care

Cause only this river can bear me to safety
Only this river can bear me away
I feel Her flowing, flowing right through me
I hear Her whispers drowning my words
Only this river can save me from myself

Where did my soul go?
Where did my spirit hide?
Why won't they rescue me from the pain in my mind?

Only this river in all of Her glory
Only this river can bear me away

Only this river

Produced by Dan Prothero and JJ Grey
Executive Producer Jesse Aratow
Recorded at Retrophonics Studio in  Saint Augustine, Florida by Dan Prothero
Additional recording at The Egg Room

Mixed by Dan Prothero at The Studio That Time Forgot  in San Francisco, California
Edited by Dan Prothero at Phantom Toll Booth
Mastered by Ken Lee at Ken Lee Mastering
Artwork by JJ Grey
Studio photos by Dan Prothero

JJ Grey - Lead and Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Harmonica, Tambourine, Bass, Acoustic 6- and 12-String Guitar

Andrew Trube: Electric Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Anthony Farrell: Organ, Piano, Clavinet, Electric Guitar
Todd Smallie: Bass
Anthony Cole: Drums, Organ
Art Edmaiston: Tenor  and Baritone Saxophone
Dennis Marion: Trumpet
Special Guest Stan Lynch: Shaker

All songs written and arranged by JJ Grey
Published by JJ Grey Music, BMI
except Standing On The Edge written by Andrew Trube and Anthony Farrell
Published by TrubeMusic, ASCAP / Parsley Bosworth, ASCAP


Wow! Never ceases to amaze me how much fun and how much work it can be making a record. I must be the luckiest person in the world to get to play and record with the people I do. I want to thank everyone who made this album possible and every album I've been a part of possible. I could have never done any of this without all the help from all my friends and family.

Thank you all.

Dan Prothero, Jesse Aratow, Daryl Hance, Cassie Siegel and everyone at Madison House, Jim and Nancy Devito, all the guys in my band, Stan Lynch, Spookie Daly, Rob "Daddy-O" Breitenfeld, Joshua Knight and Monterey International, Bruce Iglauer and the gang at Alligator Records, Neal O'Brien, Sue and Dave Williams, Chris Delucchi, Aaron Coteff, Colin Peterson, Danny Owen, Clay Daniel, Hal-Joe, The Hance Family, Mark Baxter, Suzi Matthews, John Schumm, Robbie Weitnauer and Elephant Trunk, Michael Waggoner at Gibson, Mark Baier at Victoria Amplifiers, Shane Smith and Bolt Amplifiers, Ted Webber and Webber Speakers and as always, my family.

THIS RIVER
I stare at a picture but there's nothing for it
I pull on the bottle and watch this river roll on by
Trying to find purpose trying to see meaning
Trying to make sense of the nonsense that I've called my life

Cause only this river can bear me to safety
Only this river can bear me away

See them all work and play there on the other bank
Warm in their houses while I face my cold alone
Guess I've been drinking away to keep the wolves of my mind at bay
but if you run you die I'm just too tired to care

Cause only this river can bear me to safety
Only this river can bear me away
I feel Her flowing, flowing right through me
I hear Her whispers drowning my words
Only this river can save me from myself

Where did my soul go?
Where did my spirit hide?
Why won't they rescue me from the pain in my mind?

Only this river in all of Her glory
Only this river can bear me away

Only this river