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cds
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stephanie's
songs
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This CD is dedicated to the memory of Stephanie Richards. The songs are all
in some way connected to this incredible woman who has impacted my life
in ways I would have never thought imaginable. A synopsis of each song follows.
All songs produced by Jim Marconi, recorded at Playroom Recording, Curtis
Leonard Engineer and mastered at Concerto Recording, David Yost Engineer
All songs arranged by Dolinar Spahija except Stephanie’s
Song
Lyrics and lead vocals on all songs by Jim Marconi
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CD (zip)
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1. Always On My Side
Lyrics | Listen
2. My Reanna
Lyrics | Listen
3. Up The Mountain
Lyrics | Listen
4. Like Laurel & Hardy
Lyrics | Listen
5. Stephanie's Song
Lyrics | Listen
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6. Changed On Me
Lyrics | Listen
7. Gift Of Love
Lyrics | Listen
8. I Don't Know Why
Lyrics | Listen
9. A Seed That Grows
Lyrics | Listen
10. God's Grand Design
Lyrics | Listen
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01 Always On My Side
Music by Michael T Snow
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
All other instruments Elton Deda
Back up vocals Jim Marconi
I wrote this song in February 2009 for Stephanie. I sang
it to her many times with a simple guitar orchestration. She loved it.
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As sure as the sun will rise in the sky
She’s always on my side
She sees into my soul and laughs at my jokes
And she’s always on my side
Reads my mind like an open book
She can tell a tale with a single look
Some might say it’s impossible, like a rainbow
and that pot of gold
Some might call it incredible, to finally find someone so compatible
As sure as the moon pulls on the tide
She’s always on my side
She says what she means and she’s smart as can be
And she’s always on my side
She’s as crazy as me and I’ll say happily
That this love of ours was meant to be
Some might say it’s improbable, to finally find
a love like this at all. Some might call it a miracle, to find the one who
can soothe your soul
As sure as the sun will rise in the sky
And she’s always on my side
She says what she means and she’s smart as can be
And she’s always on my side
She’s as crazy as me and I’ll say happily
That this love of ours was meant to be
Some might say it’s impossible, to finally find
a love like this at all Some might call it a miracle, to find the one who
can soothe your soul
I’ve known from the start, even when we’re
apart
That she’s always, always in my heart
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02 My Reanna
Music by Dolinar Spahija
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
All other instruments Elton Deda
I wrote this song in 2002. Like “The Bong Song” from my 1st
CD, this was written tongue and cheek relating to a subject near and dear
to Stephanie. I sang this song for her many times with a simple guitar backing
me up. I’m pleased with the way the song turned out. I’m sure
Stephanie is too.
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Through the day you are on my mind
Knowing you are near calms me down
When it's dark and cold you're my sunshine
In the evening when I come to
you
Through your eyes another world I see
Making everyday feel so brand new
(Chorus)
My Reanna, always there for me
Reanna, flower in my hand
My Reanna, scent that is so sweet
Reanna, helps me understand
For so long you've showed me the way
With the wisdom of an ancient sage
And I always want you ev'ryday
From the foggy mist a cloud I see
With all answers to the mysteries
It will be whatever it will be
Chorus
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03 Up the Mountain
Music by Michael T Snow
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
All other instruments Elton Deda
This song was written in February 2009. The feeling
of hope it projects was fueled by Barak Obama’s presidential win. Stephanie’s
excitement over this election inspired me to write Up the Mountain.
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We waited so long for that someone to come and lead
us up the mountain
We hope it’s today and we’ll be shown the way to climb up the
mountain
Thing’s have gotten too strange we keep praying for change as we gaze
up the mountain
This much I know that we reap what we sow it’s time we climb up the
mountainside
(chorus)
Where we’ll live as one, under the same sun and ev’ryone understands
It’s all part of a plan, living in harmony, together in peace, putting
a hold on our ego
And now comes the hour when we use all our power to climb up the mountain
We’ve squandered the years and we used up our fears and it’s
time to climb up the mountain
May sound like a joke but the more that it’s spoke we’ll rise
up the mountain
It’s never too late with our power to create as we climb up the mountain
side
(chorus)
Where we’re all a brotherhood, working on doing good, for all humanity,
to live with dignity and it’s up to me and you, to see this vision
through, we’re all in this thing together.
Now can’t you just feel it? Can’t you just feel it? Can’t
you feel the love coming over you and me?
(Repeat 1st verse and chorus)
We’re billions of souls who all make up a whole
and as one
We’ll climb up the mountain.
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04 Like Laurel And Hardy
Music by Dolinar Spahija
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
All other instruments Elton Deda
Stephanie’s incredible humor and penchant for working an audience
was the impetus for writing this iconic tune.
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Life’s a comedy, ev’ryday with you
Such hilarity, here’s what we’re gonna do
Be a funny team, like Jerry and Elaine
Lucy and Desi, as clever as old Mark Twain
Big as Cheech and Chong, John and Yoko O
Fay Wray and King Kong, Larry, Curly and Moe
(CHORUS)
We’ll be the act that ev’ryone must see
Talk of the town before we are done
Together like old Laurel and Hardy
Da dee dee dum dum do dee dum
Make it a date let's call it a party
A holiday some fun in the sun
Together like old Laurel and Hardy
Da dee dee dum dum do dee dum
We’ll do Hollywood, Bogie and Bacall
With our luck we could. go out and grab it all
Fortune and the fame, People magazine
Go by our first name, like Brad and Angeline
Do a tv show, cut a movie deal
Oprah and Leno, Salvatore Dali surreal
(CHORUS X2) and at very end
Da dee dee dum dum do dee, da dum dum do dee
Da dum dum do dee dum
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05 Stephanie’s Song
Music Jim Croce {I’ll Have to Say I’ll
Love You in a Song 1973}
Piano Mario Romano
I wrote the lyrics to this Jim Croce tune in November 2008. Stephanie so
appreciated a song being written for her. She enjoyed it when I’d sing
this song to her.
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Well I’ve heard your mean and strange, if the
shoe fits wear it
And I might just be deranged, but I’m in love I swear it
How this all has come about, truth is God only knows
You see I’m so in love with you girl and it shows
You just came out of the blue, guess that’s
how these things happen
Real life fairy tale come true, like dreamin while your nappin
Didn’t cost a dime and I’m as happy as can be
Cause in life the very best things they are free
Well by now you’ve figured out, that I’m
kinda funny
And you know what life’s about, drugs and sex and money
Didn’t cost a dime and I’m as happy as can be
Cause in life the very best things they are free
Well I heard your mean and strange, if the shoe fits wear
it
And I might just be deranged, but I’m in love I swear it
How this all has come about, truth is God only knows
You see I’m so in love with you girl and it shows
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06 Changed On Me
Music by Michael T Snow
Guitar solos Curtis Leonard
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
Back up vocals Dolinar Spahija and Curtis Leonard
This song was written in July 2009. Not long after Stephanie passed away
I went to grief counseling. The counselor suggested I write a song about
my experience. This song represents my initial reaction to losing the woman
I was in love with. I would consequently write 2 more songs as I went through
the grieving process.
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Another day I have to get through now
And I’m sittin here wondering how
I’m here without you just like yesterday
And tomorrow is so far away
Who wrote this script, this tale, this tragedy
And then cast me as one of it’s leads?
When will this nightmare ever end?
Lost my life, my lover and my friend
(chorus)
Don’t eat, can’t sleep, not much to say
Things sure changed on me in a day
I just remember, cry and pray,
Things changed on me
Don’t eat, can’t sleep, not much to say
Things sure changed on me in a day
Will this pain ever go away?
Things changed on me, things changed
I’m getting tired of all this sloggin around
And I can’t get my feet off the ground
The weeks go by and they feel like months
And the months are feeling like years
I look around and I’m left standing here
Shedding nothing but buckets of tears
When will this nightmare ever end?
Lost my life, my lover, my friend
(chorus)
(At end) Things changed on me (x3)
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07 Gift of Love
Music by Dolinar Spahija
Guitar solos Curtis Leonard
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
All other instruments Elton Deda
Back up vocals Jim Marconi
This was the 2nd song I wrote dealing with my grief. As
my perspective changed, I gained the insight I would need to find a positive
in a situation that seemed impossible. I understood that she had given me
the gift of love. No small thing.
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How, how could I know,
That you’d come into my life and then you’d go
You, you showed me the way
No worries and no hurries live for today
Now I, now I can see, (yeah)
This love was meant to be
Then, I was alone and I tried to my best all on my own
Now, now I can see
The gift of love you gave, you gave to me
Now I’m, I’m unafraid (yeah)
You showed, you showed me the way
(CHORUS)
There may come a time someday when the one you love is gone and you’ll
have to find a way to be strong and carry on
It’s a testament to love that you feel the way you do
Let the gift of love help see you through
May the gift of love help see you through
Now, my story’s told
About how I lost my love and felt so alone
Love, love is the key
That will pull you from the brink of misery
Now I, I understand (yeah)
It’s all part, part of a plan
(CHORUS)
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08 I Don’t Know Why
Music Dolinar Spahija
All instruments Elton Deda
This song was written in April 2010, the final installment
in my grief trilogy. After 10 months of grieving, it was time to move on.
Stephanie’s presence has been a part of my everyday life since she
died. Although she tried to get me to move on from the beginning, it took
me 10 months to get through the process of grief. Without her help, I don’t
believe I could have written these songs much less moved on a better person
than when I started.
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There was so much I thought I knew, now I know, I
don’t know at all
It’s such a long and drawn out affair, one day you’re here
and the next day you’re there. The more I learn the less I know
It’s funny what I thought was true, now I know, I don’t
know at all
I used to plan my whole life through, now I know, I don’t know at all
Mmmm and then I see what’s framed on the wall
It’s you and me, and then I recall what used to be
Well baby we had it all, what’s once now is gone
And it’s time to move on
Why, no I don’t know I don’t know
Why, no I don’t know I don’t know
Why, the more I learn the less, the less I know and I don’t know why
Now I know (x4) I don’t know why
2:32
There was a time I thought I knew, now I know, I don’t know at all
I wonder what I’m gonna do, now I know, I don’t know at all
Life is a merry go round and round, one day your up and the next day
you’re down. The more I learn, the less I know
Mmmm what’s framed on the wall
It’s you and me, and then I recall what used to be
Well baby we had it all, what’s once now is gone
And it’s time to move on
Why, no I don’t know I don’t know
Why, no I don’t know I don’t know
Why, the more I learn the less, the less I know and I don’t know why
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09 A
Seed That Grows
Music by Dolinar Spahija
Guitar solos Curtis Leonard
Rhythm guitar Dolinar Spahija
All other instruments Elton Deda
Back up vocals Jim Marconi
This song is a retrospective look at myself after my 10
month period of grief following Stephanie’s death. When I could see
my situation from a different perspective, I realized that we all experience
joy and sorrow.
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Well I don’t wanna see you cry and I don’t
wanna hear you whine
About all the troubles that you have and how you’re hurt deep down
inside
I know that it’s a crying shame and I’m sure there’s someone
else to blame
But truth be told it’s gettin old and I don’t wanna hear you
complain
(solo)
So if you’re gonna stay at home and sit around and bitch and moan
Well that’s up to you but to tell the truth you’ll have to do
it all alone
Cause I don’t really have the time, to try and get inside your mind
I got troubles too and just like you, the answers can be hard to find
Chorus (A)
Well we all, we all have sorrow and we all, we all have joy
And we’ve all, we’ve all come a long way
From when we were a girl or boy
Chorus (B)
And it’s all part of the changes and it’s all part of the plan
And it’s all, all part of the struggle, the struggle we have to understand
(solo)
So I’ll be on my merry way, hoping for a better day
If you ask me how I’m feelin now, I’ll say I’m feelin great
See nobody really needs to know, when I’m down and then I let it show
Cause just like me it’s plain to see
They got troubles that are all their own
Chorus (A)
And it’s good to know, what we do and say
Is a seed that grows ev’ryday
Be ever mindful to, apply love and gratitude
Cause in the end when all is said and done
We’ve been plantin seeds for everyone
Chorus (B)
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10 God's Grand Design
Music by Dolinar Spahija
All instruments Elton Deda
Back up vocals Jim Marconi
This song was written in 2002. That it was produced and
recorded in 2010 came as a surprise to me. Although there is no direct link
to Stephanie, with her love of nature and the divine, I feel that this was
a fitting song to end the CD.
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Mist that rolls in from the sea
Rivers lakes and streams
Mountains rise with majesty, God's grand design
Birds that spead their wings and fly
Glide across the sky
Dawn and sunset light displays
Start and end the day
Help inspire along the way, God's grand design
Voices raised in unison, worshiping as one
Sing out praise His will be done, God's grand design
Faith that spans through all of time
Brings comfort to life
Like a beacon in the night
Shines the guiding light
Peace to those who seek and find, God's grand design
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