Songs

Jazz / Cabaret / Folk

A Croquet Kind of Day

Style – Solo Jazz; Medium Ballad Voice Type – All

Story – It’s a sultry summer day and the listener is invited to come and play a rather sexy game of Croquet.

Intro:

There are days that make you want to stay inside and read a book There are other days you’d like to sleep away Not too often, when you least expect it There will come a day All that you can think of is to play

Verses:

We’ve got a croquet kind of day How ‘bout if we just slip away The birds are perching on the wickets Grab the picnic basket too I’d like to spend this croquet kind of day with you

The birds are singing in the trees We’ve got a soft seductive breeze And if you hold your breath a moment You can tune in to the meditation of a honeybee Won’t you spend this croquet kind of day with me

Somehow the day is nearly through I’m glad I went through all those hoops with you I’ll remember all the great shots and the laughs we shared Whenever I am feeling blue I’ll just re-play my croquet kind of day with you

Your Face Flew By My Window

Style – Jazz Ballad Voice Type – All

Story – The singer wonders, “how did two loving people grow so far apart together?”

I sat here in the morning sun and your face flew by my window And I thought of all the things we’d done As your face flew by my window

And I wondered how two loving people grew so far apart together And my arms felt weak when I reached for the phone As your face flew by my window

Bridge:

I took a deep breath thinking backward Sinking in a purple haze I felt your arms around me Somewhat in a daze

Then I realized that you were neither here nor there And I wondered where you gone to And I cried and felt the pain in my heart As your face flew by my window

(Bridge repeat or Instrumental)

Then I smiled when I remembered special moments Of the time we were together And my heart was full of the glow of our love As your face flew by my window

Meadow

Style – Jazz Voice Type – All

Story – This particular meadow is at Point Reyes, California but for the singer, it could be any beautiful meadow on a perfect day, lying down looking at a perfectly deep blue sky.

Soft meadow grass, I’m laying low in the sun Warm and still, my mind is out for a run Just like a bird, I feel a song Flying high my heart will sing along

And I have wings I am free to fly away to a far off tree Floating in circles I glide Kissing the cheek of the sky Music all around me and I’m feeling a perfect glow Soaring over the meadow below

Look at the view The clouds around me at last High above an angel flying so fast My world is new From up above I can see and feel the warmth of love

Flying free on a wind that goes as far as the eye can see Higher and higher I fly Deep in the blue of the sky Music all around me and I’m feeling a perfect glow Soaring over the meadow below

Sweet Potato Pie

Style – Jazz / Blues, Slow Drag Voice Type – Solo Male or Female, All Ranges / Also available as Trio for SAA

Story – A sexy song about vegetables? YES! Ever wonder where the red-skinned potato came from? Well, this clever lyric by Nancy Schimmel explores that and more.

Potato Old said to Potato New “I’d like to be in a stew with you.” New Potato blushed like a ripe tomato That was the beginning of the red-skinned potato

Chorus

Pass the butter, little butterfly Oh, honey baby, you’re my sweet potato pie

Potato love is deep, potato love is slow But you just can’t stop it when it starts to grow Tubers down below and the leaves up above Gimme, gimme some of that sweet potato love

Chorus

I come all the way from Idaho to see what’s cookin’ And I ain’t just talkin’ and I ain’t just lookin’ I don’t want a masher I don’t want a boaster But if you’re a sweet potato I’ll put you in my roaster

Chorus

You’re the best potato on anybody’s vine I dig you the most, please say that you’re mine I love you in the pot, I love you in the oven All I ever want is your sweet potato lovin’

Chorus

Pass the butter, little butterfly Oh, honey baby, you’re my sweet potato pie Oh, honey baby, you’re my sweet potato pie

Nobody’s Valentine (from The Best Bad Things)

Style: Jazz Ballad Voice Type: All Range, Female

Story: Anyone who’s ever awakened alone on Valentine’s Day can relate to this.

I’m nobody’s valentine today Seems all my would-be lovers Are either lost or gone

Nobody’s bringing breakfast in bed No roses red will be at the door

It’s plain as the nose on my sad little face That some other person has taken my place And somehow or other, I fell out of grace Because I’m nobody’s valentine

I’m nobody’s valentine today No dinner invitation, no magnum of champagne

No big red heart full of chocolate for me No velvet box with a diamond or two

The handwriting on the wall is easy to read There won’t be a shining knight on a white steed To carry me off and provide what I need Because I’m nobody’s valentine

The Right Wrong Person

Style: Jazz/Cabaret Ballad Voice Type: All, Female

Story: In a general discussion of relationships, I commented on how, at the start, one may think a person is “just right,” only to discover soon after, that they are indeed, “all wrong.” After a brief pause, my friend replied, “Guess you kinda need to find the right wrong person!” That just struck me as so funny that I wrote a song about it. In the context of The Best Bad Things, this song comes up in a discussion amongst the girls in Sally Stanford’s infamous San Francisco Mansion on Pine Street.

Everybody’s got a fatal flaw or two I know I do, I’m only human But I can’t give up on love Believe me I have tried I’m still waiting for the right wrong person to arrive

Everytime I meet a new one I’m surprised To find hope still springs eternal You would think by now I’d heard Enough of those sweet lies But I’m still waiting for the right wrong person to arrive

He’ll have a heart as true as my own Be understanding and smart and funny Looks are important, it can’t be denied And a disposition that’s sunny A sensitive lover, he’s right by my side And of course, he’ll have plenty of money

Everyday I tell myself I’ve lost my mind I should leave this quest behind me Guess I’m just an optimist Although I don’t see why I’m still waiting I’m still waiting for the Right wrong person to arrive

Occasional Lady

Style: Country/Folk Voice Type: All, Female

Story: The singer of this song is defining a blueprint for intimacy that’s still considered somewhat unconventional. It’s possible the song’s even more relevant now in the early 21st century, than when it was written in the late 20th century at the beginning of the “Women’s Liberation Movement.”

I don’t want a cottage vine covered and plain I don’t want a mailbox to carry your name I don’t want a baby to drive me insane All I want to be is your occasional lady

We’ll laugh and have good times Drink wine and get high Take silly pictures, fly kites in the sky We’ll make love and cookies, and you will know why All I want to be is your occasional lady

Occasional ladies know when to go home Occasional ladies go out all alone Occasional ladies like freedom to roam And take life’s hand on their own (instrumental break)

You love me enough to not love me too much To let me be happy, to taste and to touch You know that I want you and I’d like to be Your longtime occasional lady, your occasional lady