Behind the song "Cry"

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This was written in 2017, Chuck was living in Wakefield Michigan and was making handcrafted Tobacco pipes and hadn't picked up a guitar for several years. After purchasing a Squier Affinity Telecaster, Vox VT40X and a Squier P-Bass off of Amazon, "Cry" was the first song he had written in 10 plus years. Tom Hale was living in Virginia and had been in a band (Spectrum) with Chuck many years before but they had always kept in touch regardless of the miles apart. Chuck was tipped off to Audacity a free DAW by Tom and this got the ball rolling. Chuck recorded The Guitar parts and sang the track and e-mailed his parts to Tom. Upon receiving the song Tom went to work on the keyboard parts and made the song complete. The song was actually recorded 1/2 step down from standard tuning, that is the key it was written in by Chuck originally and it never changed.

Lyrics

“Cry”

Lyrics by Chuck Gillispie

I never needed anyone

I was always fine on my own

I opened my heart and let you in

that's when my world began to spin

I didn't know

I could hurt so bad

I didn't know love

Could make me feel so sad

And now I cry 

I cry all alone

I've lost all faith

Trust is gone

I can't try anymore baby

Just leave it alone

You go your way

And i'll go mine

I guess it's true

Good love is hard to find

And now I cry

Cry

Cry

I didn't know

I could hurt so bad

I didn't know love

Could make me feel so sad

And now I cry

This song leans hard towards John Lennon's style of songwriting, Chuck had kicked this song around for about 4 months and kept putting it on the back burner. In April 2020 Chuck Finally finished this lovely retro sounding song under lockdown from the Corona Virus. Chuck and Tom had written several songs that haven't been added to this site but were released through CD Baby.

Chuck was never happy with them as he didn't feel his vocals were very well suited to those types of songs even though many people liked them. "I won't ask why"/  "After all"/ "Made for me" and "Amen," but this song took the songwriting duo in a more comfortable direction for Chuck.

Tom, Edward Young and Jeff Speeks finished the song in Honaker Virginia and Chuck did the mixing back in London. The song is full of Beatle-esque techniques, super compressed vocals, Lennon style Keyboard and Acoustic guitar gluing it all together. A backwards lead part added by Chuck was the perfect Beatle-esque part along with a George Harrison guitar tone. 

Lyrics

Chuck Gillispie

I've been wasting all my time

waiting on the line

contemplating rhymes for you.

Why am I so blind?

This happens all the time.

Am I just a fool?

For you......

Everybody's somebody's fool. 

I've been dreaming today

My minds so far away

Tangled up the thoughts of you.

What else can I do,

If I only knew,

Why I’m such a fool, 

For you......

Everybody’s somebody’s fool     

When your head over heels, 

Every look she gives you feel

every word she speaks 

is like music to your ears.

Everybody's somebody's fool.

When your head over heels, 

Every look she gives you feel

every word she speaks 

is like music to your ears.

Well everybody's somebody's fool. 

I've been wasting all my time

waiting on the line

contemplating rhymes for you.

Why am I so blind?

This happens all the time.

Am I just a fool?

For you......

Everybody's somebody's fool.

Everybody’s somebody’s fool

Everybody’s somebody’s fool

Enter Mark Samons,

Chuck had attended Gahanna Lincoln High School (Gahanna Ohio) until 1978 with Mark Samons.

They never really did anything together musically as Chuck was in a band with his step brother and Cousin and Mark was playing in another local band. Chuck had posted on a few Facebook Music pages that he was looking for a lyricist in early 2020. Mark eventually replied and the two began collaborating together.

Mark had some of the lyrics to "Rolling" written and Chuck decided to do an Allman brothers style of song in open E tuning and Mark added some wonderful guitars to accompany Chuck's smooth acoustic  track. 

Mark also sang this song, the only track so far and his vocal style is perfect for this one. This song has a great laid back groove that is easy to listen to.

Lyrics

Chuck Gillispie & Mark Samons

Like a freight train I'm rolling,

right on down the line.

I know where I'm going,

I'm not wasting anytime, this time.

I just can't help myself,

there's nothing I can do.

can't seem to get enough,

loving from you.

You're the song that I'm singing,

you're the tune I play.

You're the season of colors,

without you girl,

my whole world is gray.

Three months on the road now,

and I've sang a song or two.

 just need this to be over,

 tired of singing these blues, it's true.

As I grow older, 

wanna spend my time with you.

and in our glowing twilight,

everything will be brand new.

Yea i'm rolling coming back to you.

Like a train I'm rolling,

right down that center line.

I hear that big twin humming,

she's firing right on time, every time.

It's all the little things,

only you can do.

Got me rolling, Got me rolling, got me rolling,

coming back to you.

Yea coming back to you.

This song is a Bluesy style rock ballad that smacks you right up the side of the head and grabs your attention right away. Tom Hales sweet organ parts, Chucks crisp acoustic guitar, the amazing blues leads of Mark Samons and the precise drumming of Joe Greenfield give this song an incredible vibe.

The lead vocal drips of emotion and pain, this is one you can listen to over and over.

Lyrics

Chuck Gillispie

I don’t need your explanations,

You don’t even need to say goodbye.

I’m tired of these conversations.

I don’t know why I ever tried.

I know you are the reason,

That I hurt inside.

This whole situation,

Has been a long compromise.

(Sax Break whole verse)

I’m so tired of hurting,

I’m Tired of your lies.

This whole situation,

is a long compromise.

Guitar Break  

I know you are the reason,

That I hurt inside.

This whole situation,

just a long compromise.

I won’t miss you tomorrow,

I just want to be freed.

Break out of this prison,

You have this need to make me bleed.

"Nevermore" is a instrumental written in a Medieval Celtic style with layers of guitars, Jeff Creamer of Ottawa Canada went crazy and gave this song all kinds of flavor.  A mix of Spanish and Celtic influences, Tom Hale added the Keyboards and Jeff Speeks on Drums.

In the style of English Blues from the 70's, "What can a poor boy do?"  is a gritty rocker that is fun with guitars, guitars and more guitars,  Mark Samons Slide guitar is the key element and Chuck's voice is compared to Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) on this one. Mike Hardy added the drums.