THE ACHE OF POSSIBILITY 

Music and Lyrics by Louis Rosen (except four songs with words by Nikki Giovanni)

 Produced by Louis Rosen, Capathia Jenkins &  Scott Lehrer  

CD and Downloading now available at Louis' Store (top of the page)

or Downloading at itunes.com, amazon.com and most other online sites. (Click on the website's name to be taken to that site.)

“HIGHBROW  -  BRILLIANT - Catchy new pop standards..." New York Magazine: The Approval Matrix 

"LISTEN UP:  Long ago and far away I called Simon & Garfunkel "God's duo" against some pretty stiff competition ….  These days, I'd add to that list Louis Rosen and Capathia Jenkins."  Huffington Post  

 “…Manhattan-style sophistication, embodied in Rosen’s literate, image-rich lyrics and Jenkins’ nuanced delivery… Protest tunes that carry real bite.” iTunes Review 

“The smashing new CD, "THE ACHE OF POSSIBILITY"… an infectious sound that grabs you and never lets go…. "THE ACHE OF POSSIBILITY" is filled with the love of song.” This Week in New York 

“'The Ache of Possibility’ is a wonderful album.” Full-Time Blues.com 

READ the press highlights

WATCH LR's video of "The Middle Class (Used to Be) Blues"

LISTEN to interview with Louis, Nikki Giovanni and Capathia Jenkins on NPR'S "TELL ME MORE," Nov. 27, 2009.

LISTEN to interview & live performance on WNYC's Soundcheck with host, John Schaeffer, Dec. 20, 2010. Louis & Capathia are joined by Rob Moose (violin & guitar) and Dave Phillips (bass).

Personnel

Capathia Jenkins  -  vocals

Louis Rosen  -  vocals, acoustic, electric & nylon string guitar, piano, additional percussion

Kimberly Grigsby  -  piano

Rob Moose  -  violin, acoustic & electric guitar

Andrew Sterman  -  saxophones, flute, clarinet

Glenn Drewes  -  trumpet & fluegelhorn

Dave Phillips  -  acoustic &  electric bass

Erik Charlston  -  vibraphone & percussion

Mark Sherman  -  vibraphone & marimba

Gary Seligson  -  drums & percussion

Roger Squitero  -  Latin percussion

Paul Woodiel  -  violin

Instrumental arrangements by Louis Rosen

Vocal arrangements by Louis Rosen & Capathia Jenkins

Art Direction by Derek Bishop

LYRICS

2. I WANT TO LIVE TO LOVE YOU (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

I want to live to love you
Want to show you somehow every day
Want to keep our world a safe cocoon
And sweep your blues away

I want to live to love you
Want to hide out in our unmade bed
Offer licorice kisses for your lips
While love songs fill your head

I never imagined that our summer fling
Was anything more than us just passing through
Picture my surprise discovering
That the song I sing is a song for you
(2nd x: That the song I sing is a song I sing for you)

I want to live to love you
That's a promise I will guarantee
Always young is how our love will grow
If you'll grow old with me
(2nd x) What an ending when our story's told
If you'll grow old with me
 

3. THE ACHE OF POSSIBILITY (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

All too long I watched a world gone wrong
Years and years I watched a world gone wrong
A president with no sense of shame
A trumped up war in freedom's name
All too long I watched a world gone wrong

Far too long I watched a world gone mad
Years and years I watched a world gone mad
One man kills, another prays
Each awaits the end of days
White or brown, the goal's the same
Light the fire, then fan the flame
Far too long I watched a world gone mad

But I know
The ache of possibility is now
Once again, we plant the seed and speed the plow
Shed our sorrow
Stake a claim for the soul of tomorrow

All too long we let the lies go down
Our own fault, we let the lies go down
Ruthless power, hidden schemes
Nightmare stuff of waking dreams
Smoking gun or mushroom cloud
Easy lies to say out loud
Perfect words to stir the crowd

Incompetence with every lie
Soldiers and civilians die
Money can't relieve our fear
And billions disappear each year
Profit for some profiteer
And all too long we let it happen here

But I know
The ache of possibility again
There's work to do
We say a prayer and then
Shed our sorrow
Stake a claim for the soul of tomorrow

The bible says to seek and ye shall find
Mathew VII: Seek and ye shall find
Facts are there at our command
Private sale of public land
A tax break for the one-percent while poor folk sweat to pay their rent

Phones are tapped to ease our mind
Suddenly torture's redefined
Terror threats to scare us blind
And still another child gets left behind

From Baghdad down to New Orleans
Photo ops and phony scenes
Talking heads as go-betweens
Bloviate on TV screens
They say the ends will justify the means
I know the ends won’t justify the means

And I know
The ache of disappointments yet to come
Still we have to raise our voice and beat the drum
Shed our sorrow
Stake a claim for the soul of tomorrow

Yes I know
The ache of possibility is now
Once again we plant a seed and speed the plow
Shed our sorrow
Stake a claim for the soul of tomorrow
The soul of tomorrow
The soul of tomorrow

All too long I watched a world gone wrong

4. THE MIDDLE-CLASS (USED TO BE) BLUES (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

My rent's not paid
And my pay's been docked
And what my doctor told me
Well, it left me kind of shocked
He said, "I read about your condition in the news
You've got those 'Used To Be In The Middle-Class' Blues"

My shoes need soles
And my soul needs love
But my love needs money
Like a cold hand needs a glove
So it's shoes or love, I guess I gotta choose
Got those "Used To Be In The Middle-Class" Blues

The I.R.S. expects its money C.O.D.
My I.R.A., all I can say is R.I.P.
Those bank stocks that I banked on
They've gone up in smoke
My broker called today to say,
"You're broker than broke"

Doctor, fix me up
'Cause this fix I'm in
Has me back in drink
And the ice is getting thin
See, I'm losing ground
But I've got no ground to lose
Got those "Used To Be In The Middle-Class" Blues

My son's 529 Plan's going M.I.A
My pulse rate is the opposite of A.O.K.
I see rows and rows of red ink
Where there once was black
Stare into the abyss too long
It's gonna stare back

Got to find some cook
Who can cook my books
Like those Wall Street analysts
And mortgage lending crooks
Lots of laws and regulations to abuse
And I'm sick to death of writing I.O.U.'s
Got those "Used To Be In The Middle-Class
Mad as hell, you can bet your ___"
"Used To Be In The Middle-Class" Blues

5. WINTER DAZE (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

Winter days
I'm in a winter daze
I just seem to float through these
Winter days

Winter blue
Sky's looking
Winter blue
Getting cold
And I'm feeling
Winter blue

Hard times
Keep on
Hard luck
Well's gone dry
Work hard
Dream true
Hold tight
Dreams do die
Dreams can fly away from you
By and by

All in time
People say,
"All in time"
Bets are made
And sometimes it's
"All in" time

Hard times
Keep on
Hard luck
Well's gone dry
Bone dry
Dream deep
Dream true
Hold tight
Dreams do die
Can't let them die
Dreams can fly
Fly for you
Fly high

Winter days
I'm in a winter daze
I just seem to float through these
Winter days
This winter daze

7. ON THAT DAY (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

On that day when I first met you
We shared your only cigarette
You raised a glass to "no regret"
And soon my heart was racing

On that day
We stayed in bed
Shades were drawn
The clock was broken
Love was made
But left unspoken
And how my heart was racing

On that day I had no clue
Love and luck could see us through
All these years of days with you
And still my heart is racing…
Racing

On that day when I first met you
We raised a glass to "no regret"
I loved you then
I love you yet
And still my heart is racing
Racing
Like that day
Like that day
On that day

9. I NEED YOU (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

I need you
Like a seed needs the rain
Love, I need you
Like pleasure needs pain
Oh, I need you
I need to have you here in my life

I need you
Like yang needs some yin
Love, I need you
Like confession needs sin
Oh, I need you
I need to have you here in my life

Like Paul needed John
And John needed Paul
Like a ball needs a gown
And a base needs a ball
Like a thief needs the night
And a knight needs a grail
We were meant to be together
The sooner the better

I need you
Like a bird needs a nest
Love, I need you
Like lemon needs zest
Oh, I need you
I need to have you here in my life

I need you
Like a skier needs snow
Love, I need you
Like a soul needs to grow
Oh, I need you
I need to have you here in my life

Like a baker needs flour
A flower needs a stem
Like an "I" needs a "we"
And an "us" needs a "them"
Like a phone needs a ring
And a ring needs a gem
We were meant to be together
The sooner the better

I need you
I need you
I need you
I need to have you here in my life

Like Michelle needs Barack
And Barack needs Michelle
Like a well needs a spring
And a wish needs a well
Like a skeptic needs faith
And a preacher needs Hell
We were meant to be together
The sooner the better

I need you
Like a beach needs a wave
Love, I need you
Like a bear needs a cave
Oh, I need you
Like a painter needs oil
Love, I need you
Like a pot needs to boil
Oh, I need you
Like a lover needs spice
Hmm, I need you
Like naughty needs nice
Oh, I need you
I need to have you here in my life
I need to have you here in my life
I need to have you here in my life
I need to have you here in my life

11. A LOVER'S MELODY (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

There's no peace in the valley when the storm blows strong
There's no pill makes a sightless man see
I'm your angel of mercy, and I bring this song
A tender lover's melody

You can't breathe when the earth cuts loose beneath your shoes
You can't think when your soul feels at sea
I'm your guardian angel through these hard-time blues
And here's my lover's melody

A song to sing to see you through
Some cold and sleepless night
A simple song to bless the morning light

I know sometimes we sugar-coat how scared we feel
Nothing works and we're tempted to flee
But you and me, we can put our shoulders to this wheel
And spin this lover's melody

A song to sing to light the road
Some long and anxious day
A simple song to soothe and send you on your way

There's no reason to grieve about what might have been
We have vision to see what might be
And have no fear, 'cause I got your back
Through thick and thin
I promise you will heal with me
And sing this lover's melody
Sing this lover's melody

Stretch your wings and shed your skin
Hear my voice above the din
Song may be the remedy
For love is such a mystery
And you are all the world to me
That's my song
That's my lover's melody

12. LOVE OF SONG (Music & Lyric by Louis Rosen)

I sing
For you
I sing
For me
I sing
For love
Love of song
Love of song

I breathe
I sing
I sing
I smile
I smile
For love
Love of song
Love of song

There are songs that will move you
And songs that you move to
And prayer songs
And moon songs
Love songs
Birth songs
We fill the earth with songs

I weep
I sing
I sing
I heal
I heal with love
Love of song
Love of song