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Kenny Roby

by Kenny Roby

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1.
New Day 03:24
I don’t know where I’m a’ goin’ But I know where I been I think my poor heart’s a growin’ It will bloom again ‘Cause today is a new day There can be no other day Lord, you move me Yes you do If I take it easy on the water And don’t burn in the sun It’ll rise slow and steady like it oughta What’s begun has begun Ain’t gonna feel bad about my healin’ Let it roll if it rolls I remember swingin’ from the ceilin’ In my prisoner’s clothes Some fly by me, some stay behind me Well I am where I am And if you wanna know where you can find me Baby, whip out your calendar And look up today
2.
Only Once 03:07
I remember clearly I was younger than The youngest in my grade And I hold that picture dearly There’s no way you can have That picture made We were shoutin’ out the windows To a tune that everybody knew but me And the wind was blowin’ every note Takin’ all our troubles down the street I wish that I could go back Just kids sneakin’ in the back Back when we swore true love Was something that happened only once Some days it’s hard to get up I never slept through love When I was young Now the kids won’t ever shut up And I call in sick so I can be alone I used to think that I could be  Hopelessly romantic all my days Now nothin’s really heavy But it’s weighed enough To keep me in my place I wish that I could go back Just kids kissin’ in the back Back when we swore true love Was something that happened only once
3.
I’m gonna leave it behind, baby I’m gonna leave it behind It’s just a thought that crossed my mind I’m gonna leave it behind I’m gonna leave it behind, baby I’m gonna leave it behind Once I cross that Virginia line I’m gonna leave it behind Take a breath and hold the breath Then blow it in the wind Flash a shaky toothy grin To explain the shape I’m in I’m movin’ up the mountain But I ain’t found no place to stay I always been ok Even when I ain’t ok I didn’t leave a letter There weren’t nothing to explain And nothin’ to complain It’s just the wind and rain Some men hold and some men fold And some fall in between Some they build up steam And some just up and leave
4.
I call everybody buddy But I don’t call anybody I’m callin’ you tonight  To see if you’ll come over   It’s not only that I’m lonely    It’s more that you’re the only  Buddy that’ll hold me    Quite as loose as you do   There’s that inevitable separation When this train leaves the station  It’s here and then it’s long gone And we’re left here holdin’ these blues   I call everybody buddy But I don’t call anybody You’re the only one, baby That’ll hold me quite like you do
5.
Shot my pistol around this town Now her old man’s huntin’ me down I been carryin’ this load Up and down Rock City Road Between two graves and a hungry ghost   Everybody’s gotta walk this lonesome valley Walk this lonesome valley is what I’ll do Oh I’m married to a train And I don’t know her name But I know, where she’s drivin’ to   Savior come quick to my door I’m afflicted and I’m poor In this lonesome valley There’s no place to eat Gracious lord please set me free I’m conflicted and diseased Ain’t no shoes to fit my feet   Everybody’s gonna walk this lonesome valley Walk this lonesome valley’s what I do Oh I’m married to a train And I don’t know her name But I know, where she’s rollin’ to   If there’s two cards that I love  It’s the jack a diamonds and ace of clubs Stopped by to play And got caught in the rain   Well I stayed in the game too long They made the coffee cocaine strong Met a heavy hip woman Put her hand on my knee   Everybody’s gotta walk this lonesome valley Walkin’ this lonesome valley is what I do Oh I’m married to a train And I don’t know her name But I know, where she’s rollin’ to But I know, where she’s drivin’ to
6.
Darlin’ will you let me in It could be my last time through again You know me and you know dry land The ocean you don’t understand Sometimes I wish you’d get to me Faster than the ones that I can’t see They haunt my dreams back to the sea Sometimes I wish we’d talk ‘em free Well you think you can save me And I’m glad you try But I’ll be gone by tomorrow night Feed me water, wine and bread And find a place to lay my head Before the mornin’ if I die Take my bones from where they lie Put me on a train before you hurt You can keep my favorite shirt Take me to the edge of God’s green earth Leave me there for what I was worth My soul will kick and twitch enough To kick this coffin off its bluff Where I’ll rest in the cradle of the deep blue sea ‘Cause she’s the only one for me
7.
Every turn Barreling down 10 Winding a road I ain’t never been Before or will be again And it looked like magic And it felt like magic But I don’t believe it’s magic Anymore The hungriest ghost Devours the heart He can consume The light in every room But never the darker part And it glows like magic In a show like magic But I don’t believe it’s magic Anymore I find my way In the dark of the night No creatures or trees I can see in the light Nothing takes shape And nothing escapes In the land there Where all is fair and blind Where it can’t be magic Where we don’t see magic And we don’t need magic Just love
8.
Oh baby, what’s happenin’ here Was it happenin’ here before It’s gonna keep happenin’ here I fear And I wish it wouldn’t happen no more I went to the market like my mama told me to Three dollars, a case quarter and a dime Give a turkey a little money He won’t put it in his shoe Poor turkey gonna blow it every time Oh baby, what’s happenin’ here Was it happenin’ here before It’s gonna keep happenin’ here I fear And I wish it wouldn’t happen no more Everywhere I go I carry this sack On my back Everyone I know is walkin’ this track Whistlin’ to crickets Without a ticket, wonderin’… Oh baby, what’s happenin’ here Was it happenin’ here before It’s gonna keep happenin’ here I fear And I wish it wouldn’t happen no more I went to see my baby Way down by the creek Well, she told me she would meet me down there I was talkin’ to a bullfrog He said “Yonder come your sweet” But she was walkin’ and talkin’ to a bear Oh baby, what’s happenin’ here Was it happenin’ here before It’s gonna keep happenin’ here I fear And I wish it wouldn’t happen no more Everywhere I go I carry this sack On my back Everyone I know is walkin’ this track Whistlin’ to crickets Without a ticket, wonderin’… Oh baby, what’s happenin’ here Was it happenin’ here before It’s gonna keep happenin’ here I fear And I wish it wouldn’t happen no more I wish it wouldn’t happen no more
9.
These walls are uneven Narrow stairs split the house The doors are all crooked And the floor’s pitchin’ south This place gets me dizzy But I don’t think it’s the walls Could be Lizzy lookin’ at me Like the ghost in the hall She says “Love don’t come easy And I’m so hard to please Since I gave mine to Johnny Behind my daddy’s oak tree But It’s a god-sized hole And you won’t fill it With anybody like me” There’s a kid stuck inside me And he was startin’ to bloom Now he’s rotten with envy In this hourly room He says “Man, I ain’t angry” But he’s bitter at the thought That he spent all your money On a bag that he bought He was supposed to get coffee And he was supposed to get bread Then he met an old gypsy And she kissed him on the head “It’s a god-size hole And you won’t fill it With anybody like me” I got rocks in my belly I leave stains in the sheets And I bet you can smell me ‘Fore I turn down your street I got a funny disposition And this smile on my lips But they’re tremblin’ from tuggin’ All the weight of these ships It’s a god-sized hole And you won’t fill it With all the ships in the sea It’s a god-sized hole And you won’t fill it With all the water in the sea
10.
I spent some time in Nashville In the money and the pourin’ rain Too much too young I had no will to wrestle with Bobby again So I packed my case and left that place And killed that man in a storm I thought that I could save my face And keep my baby warm You got to know You got to know When to let your baby go You got to know You got to know When it ain’t your baby no more I dipped my feet in 12 mile creek With the ghost up on the trail And I told that soul it was time to go A ghost can’t pay no bail I held him here for many a year And I guess he served me well But he can’t hear and he’ll grow in fear As a far as I can tell I took my boy to a fishin’ hole And I showed him how to cast And I told him how to use that thumb To cut down on the lash I taught him how to cut and cook But I can’t make him eat And told him “Fred, go lay your head” But I can’t make him sleep So head on down to your hometown And tell everyone your back And hold your head up straight and high To every Johnnie and Jack And gather your skeletons from the dance Them bones were made to break Then say a prayer and leave ‘em there At a fire down by lake
11.
Suzanne 03:55
There’s a twenty In an envelope In there with it A note that I wrote There’s no anger And there’s no pride But a deeper seated Anchor inside She’s a deep water ship And it’s a deep water crew We can keep to the coast But we’re toast if we do I can still see the sunset A’ comin’ down on you Will you write me back Will you write me back Will you write me back Suzanne, Suzanne There’s no highway Too far to drive Fill the tank And keep your eyes On the open sky If there was currency From you girl I could buy enough fuel To drive the world It’s the longest road I’ve ever driven in a day And I only made two stops But I still lost my way Couldn’t get you to say That you wanted me to stay Will you call me back Will you call me back Will you call me back Suzanne, Suzanne Almost patient And mostly kind But this mountain’s Been wearin’ on my mind There’s no river Too far to cross But I keep losin’ my footin’ On the rocks If I was a poet I’d find the right lines Tried to pay off the muses But I blew it this time And I used my last quarter Now I’m down to a dime Will you call me back Will you call me back Will you have me back Suzanne, Suzanne
12.
I’m workin’ on a new house That’s what it’s all about I’m workin’ on a new house Can’t work on the old house Got wrecked in a hurricane When the geese were flyin’ south So I’m workin’ on a new house Think it’s better than the old house I used to do work for hire Settin’ everything on fire If you needed anything burned down I’d burn down this whole town I specialized in bridges and old ships Til’ they’d sink to the bottom of the sound I’d do any work for hire Even settin’ the woods on fire Now I’m makin’ an aeroplane Outta paper from a diary Glued together with sweat and tears From workin’ in a factory I used to make gadgets and widgets And heart-shaped candy treats I’m makin’ an aeroplane Outta paper from a diary Blow your trumpet at the new moon Take up a new melody Start singin’ a different tune Stop singin’ ‘bout you and me Write a song about the secrets of crickets Or the dish runnin’ ‘way with the spoon But don’t sing about you and me Blow your trumpet at the new moon Stop singin’ ‘bout you and me Blow your trumpet at the new moon

about

When you close your eyes and listen to Kenny Roby's self-titled album, you can imagine an alternate world where Roby channels Leonard Cohen. Only in that dimension, Cohen is moonlighting as a southern culinarian where his deft touch knows just how much vinegar is needed to keep things from getting too sweet. He keeps the ingredients simple and lets them simmer precisely as long and slow as needed.

In more literal terms, Kenny Roby has become quite adept at finding the quiet space between beauty and sadness in a song. From Roby's earliest days as a musician fronting 6 String Drag, he was labeled an “old soul.” Someone who had lived countless lives and regaled listeners with stories of those adventures. Or in another reality, Roby is the troubadour version of Hermes in Greek mythology (or Mercury in Roman tales), carrying souls to their final resting place, but learning some of their secrets along the journey and carrying their tales in his songs.

Whatever the metaphors used to describe his artistry, there is no denying that Kenny Roby is an under-appreciated American treasure. This latest record finds him taking his craft to a new level. He is a singer/songwriter with an abundance of gifts. Not the least of which is his ability to draw listeners into his world with disarming ease. There's a shared intimacy throughout the collection, like gentle breeze rattling the screen window or the arm of a phonograph rhythmically clicking at the end of an old Bobby Charles’ record. You can feel the air hanging thick as it tends to do when Summer comes into focus, and you can hear Roby's finely-hewned, weathered voice, bend that air to his will.

Written and recorded in Woodstock, NY after relocating from Raleigh, NC in 2019, Kenny Roby embraces the spirits of singer/songwriters like Fred Neil, Van Morrison, Tim Hardin, Karen Dalton and, of course, Bob Dylan who once inhabited the very same hills. While he's a fairly recent resident to the Catskill Mountains, Roby speaks of the area with the reverence of a long-timer. He’s acutely aware of his surroundings and he knows there are things he can't explain, which is okay with him. He’d rather spend his time feeling it.

While 2020's The Reservoir was a confluence of ghosts thrust into a world of uncertainty, Roby emerged with a renewed sense of self. With the loss of longtime friend and collaborator, Neal Casal it would have been easy to tailspin and retreat to unhealthy habits. Instead, Roby once again found the beauty in sadness. He approached his sobriety with a new intensity and treasured the things Neal left behind. Even now, Casal's spiritual connections continue to draw people into Kenny Roby's orbit and he has a new appreciation for Neal's legacy.

The self-titled new album represents a fresh start for Roby. He knows he's lucky to be here, coming through the other side and playing the cards he was dealt. There are waves of relief and liberation in his delivery. Like a prisoner exiting the yard for the final time, knowing he won't be coming back. Over the album's dozen tracks, Roby—supported by a cast including Daniel Littleton (guitars), Jeff Hill (bass), Tony Leone (drums) and superb guest vocals from Amy Helm and the legendary John Sebastian on harmonica—takes us on a sprawling walk through the neighborhood of his mind. Along the way he introduces us to these characters who inhabit this space. They’re damaged and they know it. But not broken. The talk flows easy and Roby never overstays his welcome. In Roby they find a kindred spirit. Someone who has given a voice of hope to their despair and fractured lives., Roby delivers a song packed with restraint and promise.

Kenny Roby likes this place he's built and he has grown to love the characters that live here with him. While he doesn't know what the future will bring, he appreciates today and knows there will be a new one tomorrow, come what may.

credits

released August 5, 2022

Kenny Roby - vocals, acoustic guitars, Mellotron, chitarra battente
Daniel Littleton - acoustic and electric guitars, 12 string electric guitar, electric piano, piano, Mellotron, shruti box
Jeff Hill - bass guitar, bowed bass, cello
Tony Leone - drums, percussion

with special guests:
John Sebastian - harmonica on New Day, Married to a Train,
I Don’t Believe It’s Magic
Amy Helm - vocals on New Day & I Don’t Believe It’s Magic
Dori Freeman - vocals on Leave It Behind
BRIAN MITCHELL - accordion on Ain’t Your Baby No More
Amy Laber - autoharp on Only Once, I Don’t Believe It’s Magic, Suzanne

All Songs by Kenny Roby © Monkey Cup Music (BMI)
Except “What’s Happenin’ Here” written by Kenny Roby, Jeff Hill,
Tony Leone, Daniel Littleton © Monkey Cup Music (BMI)
Jerry Jeffreys Music (ASCAP) Last Affair Music (BMI)

Recorded and mixed by Chris Bittner
Applehead Recording
Woodstock, NY

Mastered by Chris Athens

Cover art by Ivan Minsloff
Layout by Gregory J. Del Deo

Thanks and gratitude to all the friends, fans and loved ones
who made this record and my journey possible

Special thank you to
Gary Waldman, Kevin Calabro and Missi Callazzo

Available via Royal Potato Family
royalpotatofamily.bandcamp.com

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Kenny Roby North Carolina

Founding member of 6 String Drag. Their 1997 album “High Hat” was released to national critical acclaim. (co-produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy and released on Earle’s Warner Brothers imprint label E-Squared)
In 1998, Roby went solo and released three excellent but vastly different solo records: Mercury’s Blues, Rather Not Know, and The Mercy Filter. His new album Memories & Birds out 4/2/13.
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