Fordham & Walton (On My Way Up)

Girl you say
for you to be with me
I’ve got to pay
for you to be with me
but I say
I don’t have much to give
all I have is this man
is this love to give
ain’t that enough, baby?

said I’m on my way up, now
I can see the sky
said I’m on my way up, now
and I’m giving you a chance to reserve your seat on this flight, mama
said I’m on my way up, now
I can see the sky
said I’m on my way up, now
and I’m giving you a chance to reserve your seat on this flight,
first class mama, all the way
all the way

said it don’t matter
how much green his hustle grows
and it don’t matter
how much paper he got stacked under his bed

said I’m on my way up, now
I can see the sky
said I’m on my way up, now
and I’m giving you a chance to reserve your seat on this flight, mama
said I’m on my way up, now
I can see the sky
said I’m on my way up, now
and I’m giving you a chance to reserve your seat on this flight,
first class mama, all the way
all the way

•••

Music: Soulganic + ML Caldwell for Cosmic Urban Jazz (ASCAP)

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

Avonelle

Avonelle
you and me had a thing
started on the playground swings
for some reason you thought I was cool

Avonelle
we held hands walking home
stayed together till the street lights came on
had to admit it was cool

Avonelle
how have you been my friend?
Avonelle
it’s mighty, mighty good to see you again
Avonelle
oh, what’s that you’re saying?
Avonelle
you know we can’t go through this again

Avonelle
after you and I were through
I still kept in touch with you
because you were just that cool
Avonelle
you hooked up with someone we both knew
I had to admit he was the right fit for you
and at first everything was cool

Avonelle
how have you been my friend?
Avonelle
it’s mighty, mighty good to see you again
Avonelle
oh, what’s that you’re saying?
Avonelle
you know we can’t go through this again

Avonelle
after a while you saw who was who
turns out he had no respect for you
I didn’t like the way he treated you
Avonelle
now you’re coming to me, baby
and we just can’t do this, baby
but I’ll always, always be here for you

Avonelle
how have you been my friend?
Avonelle
it’s mighty, mighty good to see you again
Avonelle
oh, what’s that you’re saying?
Avonelle
you know we can’t go through this again

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

If I Could Forget You

it was ignorance that
gave you power
and it was my fear that
fueled your fire
you made me think that my skin was
something to be hid
behind a picket fence
and apple pies

but if I could forget you
it would be much better
if I could forget you
it would be much better
my brother, my sister
if we could come together
we could erase the pain
it would be much better

I’ve spread my wings
I’ve found my freedom
I’ve looked in the mirror and despite you
I’m liking what I see
still them lies you fed
they linger sometimes and
I’m gonna fight you
your residue
is what I’m gonna do

but if I could forget you
it would be much better
if I could forget you
it would be much better
my brother, my sister
if we could come together
we could erase the pain
it would be much better

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

Big Black Cadillac

Bobby and his old lady
they go way behind
in time

Bobby and his old lady
they go way behind
in time

you know they ain’t never had much
but good ol’ Bobby
worked his fingers to the bone
just to give them a good home

till along came Rufus
with his big black Cadillac
talking all smooth, like butter

till along came Rufus
with his big black Cadillac
talking all smooth, like butter

and there goes Rufus
said he’s talking to Bobby’s old lady
behind Bobby’s back
and you know she likes it

she likes his
big black Cadillac

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

Identity Crisis

Little girl
nowhere near a woman
blossoming
struggling to fill bigger shoes
what will you do,
when he plants his seed?
what will you say
to mommy and daddy?
remember who you are
remember who you are
your dreams ain’t that far
so i want you
to remember who you are

little boy
nowhere near a real man
oh, you wanna grow up too fast
don’t let them make you take that path
what will you do
when you’re left with the gun?
what will you say
when all your boys run?
remember who you are
remember who you are
your dreams ain’t that far
so I want you
to remember who you are

•••

Music: Soulganic + ML Caldwell for Cosmic Urban Jazz (ASCAP)

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

Detox

see my addiction
can’t even breathe
now let alone feel
arms and legs shake
days since I slept or ate
and forgot who I’m supposed to be
see
with you I drown
without you I burn
why can’t I ever seem to learn
my lesson
see myself stressing
and cracking and breaking
and I don’t really think I’m gonna make it, see

I’ve gotta flush you out of my system
my life my mind
I think I beat it this time
but then
back again like a needle in my vein
just to ease my pain
and I think that I like it
I’ve gotta flush you out of my system
my life my mind
I think I beat it this time
but then
like a fool I let you back in
I let you back in
to begin again

but there ain’t no twelve steps for you

every day it’s the same
wake up in the morning
and needing and thinking
and longing and reaching
out for that bottle of poison
that you keep on bringing to me
see over and over and over
I try to get away but
need you to stay but
wishing you would leave
so that I could be free
cuz of what loving you does to me

I’ve gotta flush you out of my system
my life my mind
I think I beat it this time
but then
back again like a needle in my vein
just to ease my pain
and I think that I like it
I’ve gotta flush you out of my system
my life my mind
I think I beat it this time
but then
like a fool I let you back in
I let you back in
to begin again

but there ain’t no twelve steps for you

I gotta find a way to get up off my knees
and I got a find a way
to break myself free
from your energy
that’s driving me insane

I’ve gotta flush you out of my system
my life my mind
I think I beat it this time
but then
back again like a needle in my vein
just to ease my pain
and I think that I like it
I’ve gotta flush you out of my system
my life my mind
I think I beat it this time
but then
like a fool I let you back in
I let you back in
to begin again

but there ain’t no twelve steps for you

•••

Music: Ryan McKeithan

Words: Ryan McKeithan

Closer

we existed for a moment
a moment in time together, oh girl

you’re my therapy when I’m in need
when I’m feeling low, when I’m alone

been so long since I’ve had
a real friend showing me the way
and it’s been so long
since I’ve had
your warmth on my skin
I wanna get

closer
to you

please don’t listen to all those doubts
that they have, cuz you know
there’s nothing like what you and I share

so why don’t you stay a little while longer
you don’t have to fade away

you know we can make it, girl
through all the troubles life can throw our way
and you know that we’ll survive
from the storm to the sun
I wanna get

closer
to you

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez, Ryan McKeithan

Clouds of Yesterday

we were supposed to go and find ourself a better life
we were gonna learn and grow and leave behind the city life
but I return and you are right there where I left you
and know you’re crying worrying about your Savior coming to get you

don’t look back
move ahead
search for it
through the clouds of yesterday

come on search it

so now you’re struggling with the memories so bittersweet
cuz when you’re locked up nothing tastes just like the sky and trees
and you’re growing weary with the choice between bending and breaking
but we are right here for you, and we’ll be waiting on your returning

don’t look back
move ahead
search for it
through the clouds of yesterday

come on search it

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

Time

Upon the rise of morning
Exhalations of my yesterday
Evaporate into the worries of
Everything that’s here today
And though I promised myself
To look for the silver linings
They grey of all the what-ifs
Threaten all my happiness

But I’m with you
And time is with us
And I won’t let go

Upon the mist of memories
I see glimpses of your favorite things
Although I can’t be there to show you
I can feel you know it
That if I could I would
Be there to watch you sleep so peacefully
Until the time when you awake
To find you next to me

But I’m with you
And time is with us
And I won’t let go

I count the minutes until
I hear your voice over my telephone
Always hoping, always waiting
For that sound of your smile
I count the days until I see
Your body next to mine
Knowing then we’ll no longer
Be slaves to time

But I’m with you
And time is with us
And I won’t let go

We’ll be together
Once again
It’s what time has told

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

Smell, Pt. 2

I’ve often heard
that smell is really closely related to memory
how we refer to a time and place
really based on how someone smells
and you
baby you smell beautiful

like a paycheck dipped in a Christmas bonus
and your perfume’s working overtime

you smell perfect

like Sunday family dinners
fried chicken, black eyed peas,
collard beans, and cornbread
all of it on an oak table
your pawpaw built with bare hands
and none of it is lit by candle
because it smells
like the light bill’s been paid
and it’s surrounded by your perfect family
where your brother’s not drunk,
your father’s not screaming,
and your mother’s not depressed
wearing the same dress she had on
for the past four days
cuz it’s the last thing she had on
when your father said she looked pretty

can you smell that?

it smells a lot like love
rotting in a broken heart
like a refrigerator that won’t close
fully because the seal has been damaged
and everything you put inside
is starting to slowly spoil, I
think that’s why men wear cologne
to cover up dying insecurities

but you
I remember you
you smell beautiful
I remember you
you smell beautiful
that’s how I remember you
you smell beautiful
that’s how I remember you

and I remember you like
like an old museum
and I’m not talking cliche kind of way
hanging upside down from Sistine Chapel
no, I mean like
a real labor of love
the same reason God the seventh day off
because His hands and conscience kept cramping
from perfecting the little flaw in your smile
you smell like God has been here
left in a hurry
and the scent of His existence is still dancing in the room

I remember you
you smell beautiful
I remember you
oh love, you smell beautiful
I said I remember you
because you smell beautiful
I promise I remember you
because you smell so beautiful

you smell like 1986 incense burning
while my father and I clean the house
to the background of Soulganic
you smell like good memories
and even better music baby
you smell like the wind chasing yesterday
you smell like southern sun melting little girls’ hair grease away
you smell like like old church pews
my uncle June singing blues
you smell
you smell beautiful

how I remembered you?
how I remembered you is like a sunset sinking into a horizon baby
it’s hard to put you out my mind
sometimes
every time I inhale my mind races like
old Chucks and football socks across recess parking lots
you’re like the wind
blowing into my yesterday
chasing away fears
baby have no fear I’ll be right here forever
waiting to smell your existence
I offer you no resistance I collapse at your feet
I’m willing to serve you
Love you
Simply because you smell
so beautiful

And I remember you
you smell beautiful

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Boris “Bluz” Rogers

Spoken word: Bluz

Living the Life

you’ve rehearsed it
it’s automatic
you got the drug
to support the habit
you picked up to survive this torture

you want
to live the life
you want
to live life

started out
on the stage
wasn’t enough
and so you laid
to build the walls of your shelter

you want
to live the life
you want
to live life

showing your skin
pleasuring in the back seat
when will it end
your misery?

you want
to live the life
you want
to live life

•••

Music: Soulganic

Words: Anthony Rodriguez

CREDITS:
Cory McClure (drums, keys) • Ryan McKeithan (acoustic & electric guitars, vocals) • Anthony Rodriguez (lead vocals, bass, tambourine) • Lucas Torres (congas, bongos, cowbell)

Recorded late 2006 and early 2007 by: Scott Slagle at Asylum Digital Recording Studios, Charlotte, NC

Engineered by: Scott Slagle

Mixed by: Scott Slagle and Soulganic

Mastered by: Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering, Charlotte, NC

All music written, composed, arranged and performed by Soulganic with the following exceptions: “Fordham & Walton (On My Way Up)” composed by Soulganic for Soulganic (ASCAP) and ML Caldwell for Cosmic Urban Jazz (ASCAP), and “Smell Pt. 2″ performed by Soulganic with spoken word by Bluz

All words by Anthony Rodriguez for Soulganic with the following exceptions: “Detox” written by Ryan McKeithan for Soulganic (ASCAP), and “Smell Pt. 2″ written by Boris Rogers

Handclaps: Soulganic and Jonathan Rodriguez