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Baby Steps

by Joe Matzzie

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    THE 12" VINYL LP
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1.
My old friend, all the roads we have traveled My old friend, all the tales we could tell. My old friend, though the path leads us onward My old friend, who could know me so well? My old friend, how the stars shine to guide us. My old friend how our hearts call us home. My old friend, time is laughing inside us. I will think of you wherever I roam. There is a dirt road that cuts through the mountain. I hear it leading where I am meant to be And then’s the fire that burns without ending. My old friend, won’t you go there with me? My old friend, through the forest filled with memories My old friend, we have learned to survive Trails we walked are bathed now in shadow. My old friend, you gotta keep that fire alive.
2.
Home 04:18
Home. Going home, some day soon Down that crooked road. Picture it now; know somehow, Down and around the corner to a good old home. Grassy yard; drooping trees. Toys and shoes to the back I go. Swear it now; swear it so. None to soon and I’ll be coming home. Warm; safe and warm, same old place, Feeling safe like I got nothing to do. Stretch my legs; unpack my bag. Sand pours into the cracks on the wooden floor. Sweet, sweet face, be here now; The one I take everywhere I go. Say it now, say it so, when I see you I’ll know I’m home May the rain shower soft on your green grass May the sun keep you warm in the day And the wind ever lead down a new path And I’ll see you when I get home There’ll be good times when I get home. Turn, seasons turn, sun and moon. That’s just what we learn. One plus one. Two plus two. Soon you’re running out into the world. Cutting a path, leaving a trail; Doing the math that’s right for you. Don’t look back, one day soon, There’ll be someone coming up after you. Home, headed home, day may come; Down that crooked road. Leaving tracks; following clues Left here who can say how long ago. Thinking of you, headed for home Underneath your heavy load. After all you come to know, May you find happiness when you get home. [CHORUS] When the angels sing alleluia And the road disappears in the clay Then I’ll see you my friend when I get there Alleluia I’m coming home There’ll be good times when we get home
3.
If I had known that I would lose you, At “I Love You”, when I said it that day, I might not leave myself so open To be broken, but I love you anyway. Now I’m all alone in a crowded station. Lost in translation and hungry for change. And here come the trains; may they be the connection That one day may bring us together again To tell you “I Love you” again. You came and filled the days with color, For a summer, when the dragon-fairies play And restless hearts, they share a language, So what’s the damage, for a summer anyway [CHORUS] Braided flowers and the sparkle in your eye And the music of the starry spinning sky Fall approaches as the summer waves goodbye Now I’m all alone in an echoing station. Lost in translation and hungry for change. And here’s to the trains and the songs that they sing us. One day they’ll bring us together again To tell you “I Love you” again.
4.
Closer 04:48
When the sun is setting and the day’s no more And the trees are swaying like waves on the shore And your heart is restless and so far away There’s nothing left to say So pull a body closer. Let it take you over Moving to the rhythm. Nothing lasts forever But it can get better. A little time together So pull a body closer You try so hard to keep it under control What’s could ever fill that hole? You running from something inside But there’s nowhere to hide. [CHORUS] And how did it get here? Now that it’s so clear, don’t let it slip away. Lonely hearts, what’s it all about? Love’s the thing we can not do without. Make a choice or let the choice make you. Baby what you gonna do? So pull a body closer. Let it take you over. Moving to the rhythm. Nothing lasts forever, But it can get better. A little time together. So pull a body closer. Let it take you over. Moving to the rhythm. Nothing lasts forever, But it can get better. A little time together. So pull a body closer, closer, closer, closer, Closer, closer, closer. closer.
5.
He’s a real regular one That I see there every time. With the same tattered up cap And the same been-around look in his eye. It’s a good regular game When the spring weather arrives And the kids come to the park And a young city is coming alive And the old men sit till the hour is late At the tables set by the south west gate. Will they wait all day till you make a move? In Washington Square Park I’m holding out for you. Holding out for Meet me down at the fountain in Washington Square Smell of coffee and bagels is in the air. Chalk art covers the sidewalks in colorful style. Can I take it in for a while? There’s a girl new to the park Headed down Waverly Place With a mad journal of songs And a can’t-be-contained look on her face. There’ll be friends when she gets there There’ll be Shakespeare in the trees. Like the mad legends of old They will find destiny waiting to seize. And the night will fall, and they’ll break the lock And they’ll climb the stairs to the arch’s top. You can spend your life till you make a move. In Washington Square Park I’m holding out for you. [CHORUS] I have come silently by just to watch the old men play As they stare down at the board, Taking turns giving their checkers away, But my eyes focus on you by the pathway over there, And the man with the tattered cap laughs As we walk out of Washington Square.
6.
Plumb Wild 03:51
Where do you go my darling? Where do you go my child? Lying all day in the grassy field Lord knows that girl plumb wild. Long have they tried to teach you Tell you what’s not allowed Some gotta learn the hard hard way Lord knows that girl plumb wild. And every time I see your face it’s Another beautiful day. And I hope you’ll always stay I hope you’ll always stay May you forever stay plumb wild. Who was your friend from across the way? Remember the way she smiled Down at the Farmer’s Market. Where did you go, Plumb Wild? She whispered something in your ear Then you disappeared in the crowd. They called out your name a hundred times. Where did you go, Plumb Wild? [CHORUS] Folks at the church on Sunday Sittin so straight and proud Saying “Some just born no common sense. Lord knows that girl plumb wild”. If they can not understand it Then they try to shut it down You were just born with a restless heart Fated to be plumb wild. [CHORUS]
7.
I woke from a dream at 4 AM 
The sharks were a-circlin’ around me. The minute I woke up I thought of your face, And all of the sorrow that's found me. See, yours was the sweetest love I've ever known;
 I mourn for the death of our battle.
 You took me from the cell of my solitude.
 And brought me to the next Seattle. For there was a city,
 I read in the news,
 Where the next one to win
 is the next one to lose,
 And a window wide open
 for whoever will choose And I, they're reeling 'em in just like cattle
. If you ever get the courage to leave New York 
Then I'll be your next Seattle. She came to the city to find a home
 And do what it was she was here for.
 With each day that passing they planned their escape 
To all of the things they were dear for. For like a old secret
, the road it will call 
And his eyes they will sparkle
 like the mountains so tall.
 And the first twenty minutes
 were gone by the fall. 
And I
, hearing the same distant rattle.
 Meet me in Burlington 9 AM
 And we'll be headed for the next Seattle. It's a different world at 5 AM My friends and I are poised for battle
 Yet the same old world won't let us in. We're looking for the next Seattle.
8.
Spontaneous 03:25
I carry the thoughts that rub Down in my pocket they’re hidden and safe. And as I walk I can feel them chafe; In need of tender love. I’m gonna let ‘em out in the light one day, Ready to face what you might say. I’m waiting on the day when we can be Spontaneous, like we’re right there in the moment Spontaneous. Touch me now that I may feel it Spontaneous. Spontaneous I carry you in my heart And ever if the things I do or say Leave you feeling thrown away or broken all apart It’s memories of you that get my by; The deepest hue in your lonely eye. So let your colors fly and we can be Spontaneous. Say it loud with all intention. Spontaneous. Give them something they can mention Spontaneous. Spontaneous Pull out the filter and let it rip with all the imperfections. Like a cowboy shooting from the hip, Always in the right direction. Throw all caution to the wind till it comes back again. I carry the shining dreams Through midnight streets to the crashing shore, And all I wanna give them is a little bit more But more and more it seems Something’s always in the way, Keeping my restless thoughts at bay. There will come a day when we can be Spontaneous, like you’re right there in the moment Spontaneous. Touch me now and make me feel it Spontaneous, spontaneous, spontaneous, spontaneous
9.
Come with me while all the world is sleeping Through the fields on starlit winter nights. Hold me close, for time is not for keeping You and me on starlit winter nights. Shall I tell you a story made for wintertime When icicles form outside the kitchen window Days are short and nights come on so quickly Hiding secrets far beneath the silent snow Come with me while all the world is sleeping Through the fields on starlit winter nights. Now’s the time for memories worth keeping You and me on starlit winter nights. In the tail of November when hunters are in the forest Following tracks in the new fallen snow. We gather kindling among the pine and cedar A song to lift you, softly singing as you go. Come with me while all the world is sleeping Through the fields on starlit winter nights Hold me close, for memories worth keeping You and me on starlit winter nights. And later when we’re in the house safe from winter’s bite, watching as the fire burns bright. Come with me while all the world is sleeping Through the fields on starlit winter nights Hold me close, for time is not for keeping You and me on starlit winter nights.
10.
Baby Steps 04:28
When you’re starting out; baby steps, baby steps. What’s it all about? Baby steps, baby steps. Barely holding on; baby steps, baby steps. Light is almost gone; baby steps, baby steps. You got more questions than you got answers You got more dreams than one can bear And all you want is to have it all, Cause what else is there? Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps. Baby steps, yeah. Can I give a hand? Baby steps, baby steps. You know I understand; baby steps, baby steps. When you need a friend; baby steps, baby steps. I don’t mean pretend; baby steps, oh baby, Oh baby, baby, baby, baby You got the world upon your shoulder. You got your shoulder to the wheel. And what am I supposed to do but feel how I feel? Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps. I said baby steps, yeah. Baby steps take it slow. Give yourself a little room to grow Baby steps we’re on our way. I follow you anywhere you say Baby steps take your time. Gonna make it to the finish line. Baby steps, me and you. Side by side, gonna make it through. Baby steps, yeah Oh baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby steps. Oh baby, baby, baby, baby steps.

about

I am so excited to be able to bring this album to you. It was recorded in 2021 and includes collaboration with musicians recording from their homes all over the world; London to Moscow to New York to Los Angeles. Oh and one of the mix engineers Sam lives in Adelaide Australia and Mastering Engineer Dana lives in Portland OR so there's that.

The title, Baby Steps comes from a song I wrote about the experience of finding out I had cancer in 2017.

Many of these songs were written during the global pandemic in 2020.

Track 8, Spontaneous was started in June 2020 as a song about the pandemic, but when I finished in on June 21, Fathers Day, I realized I had written a song about my relationship with my father. Track 9 Starlit Winter Nights was inspired by memories of a romance that started in a log cabin in Eastern PA. Washington Square and Lost In Translation are both songs written while isolating at home in Reseda CA but drawing on memories of years spent in New York City.
The Next Seattle is the oldest song on the album, written around year 2000 while living in the Breslin Hotel in New York City
My Old Friend was written after watching a Robert Redford, Nick Nolte movie,
Plumb Wild was inspired by my niece.
Thanks to everyone for buying, streaming, sharing, elevating and supporting. I make the music for you.

credits

released September 10, 2021

Produced by Joe Matzzie
Words and Music by Joe Matzzie
© 2021 There’s Been A Publishing, ASCAP
Mastering Engineer: Dana White Specialized Mastering
Cover Design and Layout by Joe Matzzie
All musicians on this album also served as Engineer, as they recorded themselves remotely.

Joe Matzzie: Guitar & Voice on all songs, Harmonica on 1; Mandolin, Bass, Percussion, Knee Slaps on 2; Keyboard on 3, 4, 10; Hammered Dulcimer on 5, 6, Claps on 6, 8, Snaps on 8
Craig Akin: Upright Bass on 1, 3
Joe Berglund: Upright Bass on 6
Richard Bruner: Violin on 2
Rory Dempsey: Upright Bass on 5
Tommy Drinkard: Banjo on 6
Andy Hammil: Upright Bass on 4
Dmitry Karev: Accordion on 9
Nate Laguzza: Drums on 1, 6, 10, Spoons & Shakers on 6
Marty Rifkin: Pedal Steel on 7 & 9
Stephen Thomas: Synth Programing on 9
Chad Watson: Bass on 10

Gal Petel: Mix Engineer on 2, 3, 8, 9, 10
Sam Lench: Mix Engineer on 4, 5, 6
Jacob Montague: Mix Engineer on 1, 7
Ed Tree: Recording Engineer on 10
Peter Chun: Preliminary Mix Engineer on 2

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Joe Matzzie Los Angeles, California

Award Winning Songwriter/Guitarist/Vocalist Joe Matzzie grew up in Pittsburgh PA surrounded by acoustic music. Music Connection Magazine describes Joe’s voice as “a signature, high register rasp that conveys the ever-present feeling of love in his lyrics”. Although his genre falls within Americana Folk, his authentic charm has more than once been likened to that of Jazz legend Cab Calloway. ... more

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