FOLLOWING THROUGH | frank-lazarus

FRANK LAZARUS

FOLLOWING THROUGH (2011)

Frank Lazarus returned to the fold with the release of his eighth solo album, FOLLOWING THROUGH, a collection of soulful, jazzy songs in the style he's developed over the last two decades.

The album began life as a solo piano workout, with Schiazza honing his chops in the tradition of Gregg Allman, Tom Waits and even Harry Connick Jr.

"The piano was the inspiration for this record," he said. "Guitar has been such a part of my soul that I needed to break away from it; challenge myself a bit. The piano is somewhat newer territory for me, so I really have to be into it to nail a track. You'll hear it on record - this is my most focused album in years, maybe ever, because I had to literally focus as hard as possible to make it work."

Unlike some of his recent records, FOLLOWING THROUGH isn't a concept record or a song-cycle built around a certain theme. Instead, it's just an album.

"I always approach albums with a certain theme in mind, and the projects usually end up being governed by that theme," he said. "This time, I let myself be the theme, so the songs are scattered, thematically, but not really, because they're all me... things I've felt, feared and conquered."

Sonically, the record is striking in its jazz and soul roots, and in its simplicity.

"I stripped it all back to its elemental form this time out: trust your instincts; minimize the overdubs. I had that in mind when I was cutting tracks for this record. The rule was simplicity. Drums, bass, piano, guitar. And voice. That's it. I want to let the melodies and the vocals do the talking, so I've pared everything back to basics."

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01 - RIGHT TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Something I'm saying has to be getting through

Otherwise, we're just playing games

Circling 'round like children do

We can pretend forever - another place, another time

But forever and ever don't work for hearts like yours and mine

Won't you stop dancing around for a moment?
Won't you stop grinning ear to ear?
Won't you stop loving me baby, so that

I can tell you what I know you don't want to hear?

There's a right time for everything

And right now's the right time to be letting go

You just don't get it - you try and give too much

You gave what you didn't have

When all I wanted was your love

Won't you stop asking me to reconsider?
Won't you stop sneaking off around the bend?
Won't you stop grabbing my arm as I walk away

And telling me that you think we should try again?

I don't want to see you coming 'around
It's only love that we'll be doing without

02 - BEEN AWAY TOO LONG

I've been all around the world and I've seen all sorts of things

I've bartered with beggars over stolen pearls and dined with exiled kings

I've been places nobody else could even see

Never knew if anybody was even missing me

The only road I didn't travel endlessly was the one 'was always there for me.

Every boat I've missed and breeze I've kissed, I've needed
To make me into who I am today

But things went amiss & it all came to this - some say I retreated

I just say that home is the next stop on my way

Yeah, I've been away too long, but now I'm coming home

To everything I've known - hope it's not all gone

Yeah, I've been away too long, got me so much to show

For all that I've roamed, but I've been away too long

So many roads in this big ol' world, they twist and turn

I followed every single one I desired

Traveled alone; sometimes it was cold, other times, it'd burn

It made me strong, but now I'm so tired

Yeah, I've been away too long, but now I'm coming home

Got an ache in my bones, need to lighten my load

Yeah, I've been away too long, I've got so much to show

Hope they let me in that door, I've been away too long

I rode that train to the end of the line

It felt so real in my mind

Released on FOLLOWING THROUGH, 2011 Vital Records.

03 - LOVE IS LEARNING

I don't do well with tears

Be them my own, or on your face my dear

My first impulse is to leave

But where woulId go that would offer me release?

In this life I want to go where I want to go

And what I want is to know that what I want can be my own

Still I sit here, still, as the world beneath me is turning

Baby, love is learning

I let you reach for me because I'm supposed to

Because it sure beats being lonely

In this life I want to hold what I want to hold

And what I want is to know that what I want can be my own

Still I sit here, still, while the soul within me is burning

Baby, love is learning

In this life I want to know what I want to know

And what I want is to know that what I want can be my own

Still I sit here, still, full of regret and yearning

Baby, love is learning

04 - VISION IN A DOWNPOUR

It's easy to love when the lovin's nice and easy

It's hard to hurt when you're feeling no pain

But I feel every little thing - so these feelings never sting

They just wash away like tears in rain

Boy you know it takes so little to please me

So little that it's hardly pleasing at all

I have always done without - that is why there is no doubt

I'll always be here when you call

Even if the sky opens up - rain falls to the ground

I will be with you love - I won't let you down

I've got good vision in a downpour

Just why, I can't explain, but I see through the rain

I've got good vision in a downpour

So when you're drowning in your pain, just call on me again

It's hard to speak when there's anger on your tongue

Hard to listen with sadness in the air

But I really want to be true - to the love between me and you

A love we've tested through the years

Even if the levees break - even if the waters rise

Even if the earth shakes, baby, I'll be by your side

05 - LOVELIGHT

So many times I left you all alone

Trying to figure it all out

But now I'm a stranger in my own home

And you've been doing without

Since we've been together the living's been hard

It's so easy to just move

We say forever, but the hardest part

Is actually following through - you know it's true

I wanna shine my lovelight back on you

Lately, I've been all I can

To climb on back into your heart

I really do hope it's for the best

And we can go back to where it starts

Or else it'd tear my apart

Won't you let me shine my lovelight back on you

Just 'cause I need some time, some time for me

Doesn't mean that I have to retreat

Maybe turning to you will help me see

Just how healing sweet love can be

I want to shine my lovelight back on you

06 - LIKE YOU'RE WATCHING ME

I shouldn't look at you - I sure shouldn't move in close

Just to get a whiff of you - your hair and your clothes

I move in close to you - I taste you through my nose

I just wanna steal you - it's a good thing nobody knows

When I'm alone I move like you're watching me

I rush on home, lose myself in a dream

I cry and moan and prove that I'm foolishly

Not my own - you're more me than me

Oh the hands are pure

But the part I'm not sure about is my heart

Poor thing, for all it's been through

The mouth is shut

But what really hurts are my eyes

Poor things, for all they've seen

07 - THEY WON'T LET YOU

Oh just about the time you need

Something special comes along

You reach out to grab it, but sure enough it's gone

It ain't just this time, baby - it's a lifetime long

Of never getting what you want

Oh, but don't it ever make you think?

Why some do and some don't?

Why some always will, and why you just won't?

There's a line in the sand, baby

Guess which side you're on?
The side the other didn't want.

You only want what's coming to you - but they won't let you

You wanna do what they can do - but they won't let you

So sad, but so true

They say you've got all you need

They say he works in mysterious ways

And you should be grateful to live another day

But it ain't living, no matter what they say

When you've got one foot in the grave

You want your cake and eat it, too - but they won't let you

You wanna get rid of those blues - but they won't let you

You want to stop crying, boo hoo - but they won't let you

You wanna put on your walking shoes - but they won't let you

You want something shiny & new - but they won't let you

You wanna get rid of those blues - but they won't let you

08 - SELFISH MAN

When I look at you, I know what I see

Someone too beautiful to look back at me

The way you always do, so lovingly.

When I take your hand, I know what I feel

A touch so true - a love, so real

But I don't give back - I only steal

You want so bad for me to be what you want me to be

And I want so bad to say I can

But, try as I might, it's a losing fight

'cuz I can only be what I am

And what I am is a selfish man

When you tell me you love me, I say "I love you, too"

Then you smile, and I look down at my shoes

Last thing I wanna do is lie to you

Released on THE FOLLOWING THROUGH, 2011 Vital Records.

09 - SUNBURN

There must be something in the way she talks
That makes my fears subside for just one day
I hold the cold out for one moment's time
And I imagine every word she'd say

There must be something in the way I feel
If all my troubles seem to pass in time
Soak in the sun, let it burn your skin
Soak in the sun and let it ease your mind

We'll buy some food for thought
Hold some, so we don't get caught
Rub some on our sunburned skin
Buy some and hold it 'til the end

Whenever I wonder if that something's real
Whenever I wonder if that something's right
That something calls me and laughs out loud
And she don't know it, but she ends my fight

10 - DEAD AIR

Oh just about the time you need

Something special comes along

You reach out to grab it, but sure enough it's gone

It ain't just this time, baby - it's a lifetime long

Of never getting what youw ant

Oh, but don't it ever make you think?

Why some do and some don't?

Why some always will, and why you just won't?

There's a line in the sand, baby

Guess which side you're on?
The side the other didn't want.

You only want what's coming to you - but they won't let you

You wanna do what they can do - but they won't let you

So sad, but so true

They say you've got all you need

They say he works in mysterious ways

And you should be grateful to live another day

But it ain't living, no matter what they say

When you've got one foot in the grave

You want your cake and eat it, too - but they won't let you

You wanna get rid of those blues - but they won't let you

You want to stop crying, boo hoo - but they won't let you

You wanna put on your walking shoes - but they won't let you

You want something shiny & new - but they won't let you

You wanna get rid of those blues - but they won't let you

11 - AMENDS

I know it's hard - I know cuz I know

I've been down that road alone before

But that's no excuse. Girl, can't you see

That what you're doing to me can't be done no more

Baby, there's no shame

In taking your share of the blame

Until you make amends, I can't be your friend

I won't lend a hand - this must be an end

Until you make amends

This ain't nothing new - You say your world's torn apart

The scars on your heart have opened up again

That may be true, but those scars won't heal

If you don't let yourself feel some of your own pain

Baby, I'll see it through

But no more will I carry you

Everyone that you know tells you it's fine to let it go

And, babe, you'll never grow if you don't

Released on THE FOLLOWING THROUGH, 2011 Vital Records.

12 - RIGHT TIME FOR EVERYTHING

(INSTRUMENTAL)

13 - WHERE YOU USED TO BE

There's a hole in my heart where you used to be

There's a hole in my heart about five miles deep

It only takes a moment to make amends

But you know I'm stubborn

That's why I'm going to let this be an end

I just hope you stopped crying

There's a patch of bruised earth where you used to be

There's a patch of bruised earth filling up with misery

I never meant to hurt you even when I did

Over and over

I guess I just wasn't ready to save it

But, still, I hope you're not crying

There's a hole in my heart where you used to be

There's a hole in my heart that just bleeds and bleeds

It only takes a breath for me to swear that I'll love you forever

I guess I just ain't got none to spare

Still, I hope you're not crying

CLICK TO BUY:

01 - RIGHT TIME FOR EVERYTHING

02 - BEEN AWAY TOO LONG

03 - LOVE IS LEARNING

04 - VISION IN A DOWNPOUR

05 - LOVELIGHT

06 - LIKE YOU'RE WATCHING ME

07 - THEY WON'T LET YOU

08 - SELFISH MAN

09 - SUNBURN

10 - DEAD AIR

11 - AMENDS

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12 - RIGHT TIME FOR EVERYTHING

13 - WHERE YOU USED TO BE