Lemon Tree (2022)

Song & Solo by Hank Mobley (1960, Soul Station)

Original Vocalese by Alex Baird (2017)

You, I dig, your sweet perfume, nothing more, nothing less, only you, it’s true.

I can’t ask for any more, after you,

How happy, how glad, you got me, I live to have you.

It’s you, I dig, day in, day out, all I ask, is for you to be you, my love. Our lives both will always be intertwined,

That’s why I am ever so grateful being with you.

Can you recall how we met? Neither can I but I’d like to be there if you tell it how we used to.

Baby, just a potato, that’s me. I’ll be your potato. I’ll always live and love you ‘till our bitter days’ end. Even when you’re sick and tired of me, yet. Yours are the eyes and hands I want to hold and see because you’re mine, and mine alone, you complete me. Singin’ to ya. 'Cause I gotcha on my mind and in my toes your love is free, you could be lovin’ anybody but you picked me. I could be homeless, hopeless, I’d be without truth. Oh, but you somehow picked me like a cherry’s picked and here we are. Now, how could I ever go back away there? It’s you I dig.

Can you dig it? Like I dig you. This I’m diggin’, oh, Mobley you’re the one I dig. Jazzily, you are the master. How bout we learn about each other? Learn of you, oh, my dreams, they’ll be comin’ true for me, yeah the jazzy dream from you, all over you, learnin’ from you, all inspired in what you’re doing. I’ll keep on working hard so that you’ll find a way for me to make a change in all the world. I’m off, off to find myself and see, a parachute, somehow I’ll get there, fallin’ flyin’ fast and free, with love and care myself I’ll put to test. Self-love, oh what a life. I'd give up everything I have to have just you. Better get there, fast, nothing matters only you.

Oh, blow, show, go, purpose is what I, live for, feels like ma-agic, I’m here. Oh, without this I’d never have a dream or wish or sense, of a happiness found only in books. This feels like the answer, (make one line and not emphasize this) how could I ever go back to a simple life? It’s so good, to think I’ve found joy in life, to be so lucky. To think now later, I could pass this, onto interested people? Share my lovin’, passion, find someone who gets it, digs it. Happy to’ve found you, only. I never could just play, no!

Dabbling’s not the goal, mastery, cause I long to get so far ahead I’m swinging in the clouds, up so high. You could tell from very young she wants to dig and touch the sky, oh, hold it in a palm. After all, capturing that someone’s heart it’s what you hold on to. Picture a girl, little tiny girl, whole little world in her tiny hand, gotta figure out her big list, prioritize, don’t stop having fun. Her stride can’t be messed with cause she’s got so much going on. (chest this) And she said she’s so inspired, can’t touch her now she’s, free as a bird she’s blowing singing swinging hard. She’s got a fire, couldn’t touch her if you tried, wild!

Now with a single beat, holdin’ her own hand now, she could never be beat, what a gal, cause she’s got, she’ll be, happy, crazy, you leave, that’s when, take off in the sky, vitality, I guarantee, laughin’ she’ll be, on a single breath she’s got her lock and key, he’s never been, this, oh, cause goodness knows, how, pure a love can, show a broken heart a way, outta gloom, she’s found it, her heart’s true purpose, breathe baby now you’ve found your way out glad you’re there, follow the road, oh with passion you’ll go far, dream big and don’t you let yourself go far from home, go.

Music & Lyrics by Alex Baird (2020)

I don’t know why but I fought to keep you, too young to know my own mind.

I wondered how it didn’t come so easy, couldn’t tell myself why.

I had a head full of “what ifs,” but not the guts to say goodbye.

I knew deep down that we lacked the chemistry.

No one up there to keep us close.

And what a laugh to think of how I loved you, every moment fully posed.

You shared my firsts with me, but that was all I needed.

I picture how it would have been, with your mom keeping us safe every night.

I can see her in our bed, ‘cause an inch of privacy would do way more harm than good.

I gotta laugh when I remember us together, we were an unlikely pair.

We lasted longer than we probably needed, but who cares?

I keep a box in my bookshelf, but I never look inside.

Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart (1941)

Music & Lyrics by Alex Baird (2021)

The lemon tree you planted me, your love comes through the soil.

She’ll grow tall, and stretch her arms, shady, happy, loving.

Dapples of sunshine through her leaves, yellow gifts I’ll happily squeeze.

I grew up with the notion: when life gives you lemons you go through the motion.

You make lemonade out of those small, sour fruits.

They’ll silence your words and pucker your tongue,

But they bring a zest to life that’s second to none.

And you compliment me like some sugar and salt, I’d be nothing without you.

There’s something special about lemons, alone they’re unpleasant, as a friend they’re compelling. Well, I can be just as tart without you.

A lovely companion to something sweet, an incomparable friend to a savory treat, and you, you planted me a lemon tree, I’ll follow you wherever you go.

Music & Lyrics by Alex Baird (2017)

Don’t let me lose my way, I’ve taken my sweet time to get here, to stay here.

I’ll try my best to be the way I was before I met him, and I let him in.

And you, you’ve got the same baggage,

You, you’re working on you still ‘cause you’ve been dreaming for this too.

You’re everything I want, clear and clean and easy like things should be, but I’m scared.

I don’t know how to be, last time I drowned my instincts protectively, guarding me.

And words, like love, and care, and feel, mean something new.

I don’t remember what they meant before, but could they now proclaim the truth?

Lying here with you.

Written by Buddy Johnson (1955)

Music by Kenneth Griffith, lyrics by Peggi Griffith (1961)

I’ll take the sadness from your eyes

Catch every tear that your heart cries

I’ll give my love in every way

You’re in my arms to stay

Warm is the smile your eyes will find

Soft as your lips on mine

I’m here beside you to show the way

You’re in my arms to stay

Music by Kenneth Griffith, lyrics by Peggi Griffith (1957)

As long as you want me, as long as you care,

As long as you need me, I’ll always be there.

As long as you’re near me, I’m yours to command.

If you call, I’ll hear you, so please understand.

My life has always been lonely, without you castles will fall.

My heart belongs to you only, without you I’m nothing at all.

So love me forever, this is my prayer.

As long as you want me, I’ll always be there.

Music & Lyrics by Alex Baird (2016)

I was your favorite person, now I wonder if anything will ever be the same.

You were my favorite person, now you fill me with regret.

You handled every dream I had, and you let me down constantly, treading recklessly.

I feigned the strength I was lacking, so that you’d come back to me.

You break my heart, out of the blue, and I am left alone.

You break my heart, I beg of you to take me back, what do you do?

You take my hand, and you listen, while I convince you of everything I’d change to keep you.

I take your hand and I know that you will never love me like I loved you.

Music & Lyrics by Alex Baird (2021)

I’m beginning to see what I’ve been missing.

Time keeps passing, and I lose the habit.

My expectations are sky high, disappointment on the daily.

I forget what it’s like to feel that connection.

She’s coming in, oh, I’m coming back.

It’s been awhile, oh, we’re coming out.

You know that feeling of the sunlight?

When it comes out of the clouds and gets all on your shoulders.

We’re different people now than what we were; maybe talk less, and listen more.

I crave some touch, I want to feel that connection.

She’s coming in, oh, I’m coming back.

It’s been awhile, oh, we’re coming out.

I want to be better than I was, I want to love that connection.

Song by Kenny Dorham (1963)

Solo by Dexter Gordon (1976)

Melody lyrics by Kenny Burrell and Larry Jackstien (1993)

Vocalese by Alex Baird (2019)

Sometime when you’re alone, don’t be surprised,

When your love appears before your eyes,

Softly snuggling in to be there by your side.

Slowly now, don’t hurry now or hide.

Just when you think your world is upside down,

He’ll come by to change your gloomy frown.

You can tell he loves the heart and soul of you,

Smile again, it’s no time to be blue.

To swim could only make you live for so long

Eat breathe and sleep to make the days pass

Keep your head up, keep your head out

As long as air is flowing does it matter what kind of life you’re living, fearing everything open the door and find it’ll be okay again

Take a breath now, peer around, listen hard, and pretend it’s all right because they’ll laugh and think you’re joking while you’re scared.

Smile and nod now, looming, awake, you’ll see that it gets better

These secret conversations that you have inside your mind will go (and) make you crazy if you let them

It’s small, doesn’t hurt, distract, and meditate to bring you back

But where’s that blue sky, hiding behind the storm clouds above

They won’t hurt you, that’s what they say, words meant to be trusted twist and turn, blacker than the darkest night sky

Deep and navy not a star in sight to bring reality back

Thoughts in circles run, thoughts in circles now spin

Thoughts in circles now trying to make every situation the same, the chord has changed, it doesn’t work, don’t try to make it happen

You think of beauty, you try and fight it, but there’s beauty

Everyone will try and get their say in what you do and how you live

No, there’s no wrong, go on and let me be how I’m meant to be

Destiny’s bigger, remember, the fog will pass

Questioning every thought you’ve ever had, “you’re wrong if you know you love him, don’t

Love him just to be loved," you matter just like you did before, give yourself patience

Scarred from boys who broke you, boys who tore you down inside, your wishes matter like they al-ways have

If he can say he loved you and do what he did to you then know, you’re tired

Thinking and breaking and slamming and crying and falling and wishing that everything couldn’t have happened the way it did but the regrets don’t make it so

Caring about what he said while you were trying hard to tell the truth will make it hard to live.

Fear is not the truth, that’s what he wants, go and pull yourself back now

When your mind is spinning paranoia’s always there, everything is pressing down there’s nowhere to go, rise up, know that clouds can go so far

If you go high, there’s a world above, the dark and eerie storm clouds

Find and capture blue, it’s waiting for you it’s ever optimistic

Hiding above all the rain and the hurt that you let control your every thought, take away the power

‘Cause otherwise you’ll miss out on your most important mem’ries,

Stay present, remind yourself again, those thoughts let ‘em go out the other ear

And suddenly out of the blue you’re coming home, you’re here now

You’re laughing and breathing and listening moving and dancing you’re back to the way that it always can be when you pull yourself out of the habit treat yourself to loving, yourself

You’ve earned it, power, in growth, and you will find

Tragic is the thought that you will have regret, future is now

See that, look there, the fog is lifting reclaiming back the joy, forever yours

Sometime when you’re alone, don’t be surprised,

When your love appears before your eyes,

Softly snuggling in to be there by your side.

Slowly now, don’t hurry now or hide.

So help him understand the love you share,

Hold him in your arms and say you care.

Know within your heart her love is always there,

Smile again, it’s no time to be blue.

Music & Lyrics by Paul Simon (1976)