Cris Conerty songs

Debut Album – Here’s to Sorrow

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:27:50 +0000

12 Original Songs, 10 Musicians, 3 Years of Songwriting and Recording

"Here's To Sorrow" is now available at CD Baby and other online music retailers! You may also order an old-fashioned autographed hard copy from the artist by sending $12 (M.O. or check written out to CCSLLC) to CCSLLC, P.O. Box 82, Colbert, WA 99005. Below is the album track list with excerpts. Click on the song title for lyrics.

Album Notes Musician Photos and Credits

Featured Listening

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

song title Speak Love
songwriter Cris Conerty
award Song of the Year 2012 Semi-Finalist

Put Your Boots Back On

admin — Sat, 26 Aug 1961 06:45:27 +0000

Musician Credits

piano Keith Brown
acoustic and electric guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
banjo Kelly Bogan

Inspiration

This song was inspired by my return home to my roots after the loss of my marriage. There is always a silver lining…and being back home close to family has been one of them for me. It’s great being back home, and yes, I’ve put my boots back on . . .

Lyrics

Hey pretty lady with the big sad eyes, you’ve gone and left your country life
For the city with your city boy; you thought he’d bring you lasting joy
But all he did was bring you tears, broke your heart after 20 years
I feel your pain, yeah, I know it hurt – he threw you off like a dirty shirt

Put your boots back on, go back home where you belong
There’ll be a long line of men waitin’ for you, the kind that won’t do you wrong, so
Honey put your boots, put your boots back on

Hey sweet darlin’ in another town, Mr. Right is lettin’ you down
Ain’t got no time for his pretty wife, Don’t you remember your country life
You wanna find mind blowin’ love; the kind that they got plenty of
Not gonna get it in a big skyrise, gotta have them country skies

Put your boots back on, go back home where you belong.
There’ll be a long line of men waitin’ for you, the kind that won’t do you wrong, so
Honey put your boots, put your boots back on.

Girl, you better get to some open land so you can find you a better man

Put your boots back on, go back home where you belong
There’ll be a long line of men waitin’ for you, the kind that won’t do you wrong
So baby, baby, baby put your boots back on

Take my advice , head for the door, I know what I’m talkin’ bout, I’ve been there before
Girl you better get on home, put your boots back on

Smackout Pass

admin — Fri, 25 Aug 1961 06:59:59 +0000

Musician Credits

piano Keith Brown
acoustic guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
banjo Kelly Bogan
harmonica Abraham Kellmer

Inspiration

“Smackout Pass” is the REAL name of the mountain pass where my brother and family live. I lived there during a mid-life transition and the effect this magical, serene setting had on me at an emotionally trying time in my life is celebrated in this fun song. My son and his cousins loved singing along on this song everytime I sat down to play it.

Lyrics

Every time I come off of that mountain I start thinkin’ of you
And how you took my lovin’ heart for granted and then you broke it in two (that was you)
That’s why I hit the road and kept on drivin’, that’s why I left you behind
I needed someplace I could do my cryin’ without you always on my mind

I need some mountain air! Lord, get me back up there
Do it quick ’cause I’m fading fast
Take me back, take me back
Take me back to Smackout Pass

Every time I come off of that mountain I start to loose my mind
Must be the low elevation, cause up there I’m fine, so fine
I start making those stupid decisions, I start to cry on my phone
I get to thinking I should never have left you everytime you say “Come back home!”

I need some mountain air! Lord, get me back up there
Do it quick cause I’m fading fast
Take me back, take me back
Take me back to Smackout Pass

Every time I come off of that mountain I start missin’ you so
But you’re no good for me, your love’s a mystery
I gotta tell myself “NO NO NO!!

I need some mountain air! Lord, get me back up there
Do it quick cause I’m fading fast
Take me back, take me back
Take me back to Smackout Pass

Say goodbye to me baby, ’cause I’m goin’ back to Smackout Pass

Why Do I Keep Coming Back

admin — Wed, 23 Aug 1961 21:20:53 +0000

Musician Credits

piano Cris Conerty
acoustic guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
mandolin Don Thomsen

Inspiration

There are many reasons why a person would hang on to a relationship that is unhealthy and painful, not the least of which is…love.

Lyrics

I walked out on you, baby, I had good reason to go
And why I still want you baby, I just don’t know
There’s been so much heartache and so many lies
I should be ready to tell you goodbye, so

Why do I keep coming back
When I know you’re just gonna let me down?
I’ve tried to leave you, but then I hear you say “I need you”
And you know I’ll turn around
I can’t seem to keep myself on track
Why do I keep coming back?

There’s plenty of life left for living, and I should give love a try
But I still want you to want me; it makes me cry
‘Cause I’ll never be able to love someone new
If I keep waiting, waiting for you

Oh, I can’t keep myself on track
Baby, don’t let me come back
Oh, I keep coming back
I can’t seem to keep myself on track
Why do I keep coming back?
Why do I keep coming back?

I walked out on you, baby….

I Wanted to Be Your Hero

admin — Wed, 23 Aug 1961 06:51:25 +0000

Musician Credits

piano Cris Conerty
acoustic guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
dobro Kelly Bogan
string arrangement Cris Conerty + Jared Crabb

Inspiration

This song helped me process the reality that we don’t always get what we want, no matter how bad we want it. And, being somebody’s hero is fine when that “somebody” wants to be saved, but if not, you’re nobody’s hero – just your own worst enemy.

Lyrics

I heard about the new love of your life
I heard that you proposed to her, gonna make that girl your wife
She has no idea what it took to get you where you are today

When you were mine, you were so confused
Fightin’ demons in your head with everything to lose
You needed me, but now there’s someone else to help you find your destiny

I wanted to be your hero, I wanted to be the one
Who was gonna save you, save you from the depths of hell
I wanted to be your savior, so you would go on needin’ me
But I found out the hard way, that don’t really work too well
I probably waited much too long to go
Cause I wanted to be your hero

I lived and breathed just to hear you say
“Because of you, my baby, I have found my way”
I put in the time, cried all those tears, went through the pain and all for what?
The vic’try should be mine

Lookin back, now I see, I was full of pride
It took a lot less courage to hold my ground, than to step aside
And let you go, don’t you know

I wanted to be your hero
I wanted to be your hero
I wanted to be your hero
I wanted to be your hero
I wanted to be your hero
I wanted to be your hero
I could’ve been your hero
I should’ve been your hero
I wanted to be your hero
I couldv’e been your hero
I needed to be that hero
Somebody’s hero
I wanted to be your hero
I wanted to be your hero
Your hero

Tell Me What My Daddy Did Right

admin — Sun, 20 Aug 1961 19:00:56 +0000

Musician Credits

piano Cris Conerty
acoustic guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
mandolin Don Thomsen
string arrangement Cris Conerty + Jared Crabb

……………….

2011 Song of the Year Runner-Up

Inspiration

One afternoon I sent my newly-married son a great country song inspiring husbands to do the special little things for their wives. He read between the lines and could tell the song reflected my own personal longings regarding the past. In response, he emailed me a brief note saying, “It doesn’t help me for you tell me what dad did wrong. I need to hear what he did right.” Indeed, there were many things he DID do right, and in addition to teaching me a precious lesson, my son inspired this song.

Lyrics

Beside my bed in a heart-shaped frame is a picture of my folks in the good old days
Mama and Daddy loved each other once, but finally went their separate ways
And Mama talks about it all the time: Daddy left her with a broken heart
I finally had to say, “Yeah, he made mistakes, but he’s still my Dad, the only one I got.”

Did he ever look you in the eyes, hold your hand, pull you close tell you how much he loved you
Did he ever bring you flowers for your birthday, listen to you sing, tell you he was proud of you
What about that string of pearls he gave you and you wore with pride?
Daddy says he’s sorry and you’ll never know how deep he loved, and how long he cried

Please don’t tell me what my daddy did wrong
I know that he hurt you but you gotta move on
He has a good heart; he fought a good fight
Don’t tell me what went wrong
Tell me what my daddy did right

And I heard from my mama the very next day
She said “I thought about the words you had to say
I gotta live my life and not burn any bridges
Especially the one to you

Please don’t tell me what my daddy did wrong
I know that he hurt you but you gotta move on
He has a good heart; he fought a good fight
Don’t tell me what went wrong
Tell me what my daddy did right
Don’t tell me what went wrong
Tell me what my daddy did right
Don’t tell me what went wrong
Tell me what my daddy did right

Long Drive Home

admin — Sun, 20 Aug 1961 04:12:16 +0000

Musician Credits

piano Cris Conerty
acoustic guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
banjo Don Thomsen

Inspiration

After sorrow comes the sunshine! This song marks a turn in my life – when really good things started happening. I’ll let the song tell the story! One of my favorites to sing!

Lyrics

I saw him walking with his arm around her
And people called, they thought I’d want to know
After all the years we’d been together
I knew the time had come to let him go

I finally got the nerve to straight up tell him
“Honey you don’t know it, but I know everything.”
And he cried like a baby and told me that he loved me, and he’s so sorry
And I said, “I know, baby” then I packed up all my things

“It’s a long drive home, and that’s OK
I’ve got a lot of things to forget along the way.”
And that heartache in the rearview I left standin’ on the steps alone
I don’t mind a long drive home

I cried a lot of tears but I got better
And later on I fell in love again
We started life together with a promise to be honest
And then we bought ourselves a piece of country land

Now it’s a long drive home and that’s OK
I’m sittin’ by a man who loves me all the way
And that heartache in the rearview’s gettin’ smaller soon it’ll be gone
I don’t mind a long drive home, home

Yeah, it’s a long drive home, and I don’t care
Cause now I’ve got REAL love waitin’ for me there
And all that heartache in the rearview? I can’t see it anymore it’s gone, gone, gone
I don’t mind a long drive home, home
It’s been, it’s been, it’s been a long drive home
I’m home, I finally found my way back
Home, I’m home
It’s been a long drive home
Long drive home

Second Chance For Love

admin — Sat, 19 Aug 1961 00:36:13 +0000

Musician Credits

acoustic guitar Kelly Bogan
additional acoustic guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
fiddle Kurt Baumer
banjo Don Thomsen

Inspiration

For all those women out there who think they’ll never love again, take heart – this song is based upon my true love story!

Lyrics

When the love of my life turned out to be not that
And it was lookin’ like my prospects for love were grim
I complained to God that there wasn’t a man on the planet I could trust
Next thing I knew, HE hand-delivered him

Oh Yeah
God gave me a second chance for love
Another chance to get that happy ending
A fairytale romance, a handsome prince, with a heart of gold I can’t get enough of
God gave me a second chance for love

Now every day of my life, I get to feel his love
And he always says he loves bein’ in my world
He’s the best friend I always wanted, and the soul mate I never had
And he calls me his “sweet baby darlin’ girl”

Once upon a time there was a damsel in distress
Now she’s walkin down the aisle in a long white dress

A fairytale romance, a handsome prince, with a heart of gold I can’t get enough of
God gave me a second chance for love
God gave me a second chance for love

Do That Again

admin — Fri, 18 Aug 1961 06:29:04 +0000

Musician Credits

acoustic and electric guitar Dave King
percussion James Walker
bass Daniel Powers
banjo Kelly Bogan

Inspiration

I could write a song about an epic relationship spanning a lifetime, OR I could write a song about that amazing FIRST KISS….

Lyrics

I’m goin’ crazy ‘cause I had to wait a whole week for our first date
It’s finally Friday night and there you are, you pull up, you get outta your car
We hug each other and we say hello, but neither one of us wants to let go
Nothin’s gonna stop this sweet little first kiss, now I want more

Won’t you do that again if I just close my eyes?
Make my blood rush, my knees weak, give me butterflies
Baby can’t you feel the chemistry?
Things are heating up between you and me
I think we’re meant to be, hey
Won’t you do that again?

I had to wait another week, but when I saw ya, I kissed your cheek
Over and over till my lips met yours, I’m comin’ back for more

Longer this time
Your kiss is so sweet on these lonely lips of mine
Oh yeah