On another of their co-writes, "Getting There," Benmont Tench drives the track as Stuart Duncan's fiddle paints the backdrop and Smith's guitars crunch the entire middle into a solid country-rocker. With its mandolin, banjos, and gentle drum loop, "Sometimes Goodbye" is one of the freshest sounding tracks to come out of Music City in 20 years. Listening to it years later, it's so obvious that Clark is not only a bright talent, but an original one. Never has a statement of broken love and a personal decision to end it sounded so affirmative. Covering "Easy from Now On" after Emmylou Harris' definitive version took guts, but in keeping with the previous track it made sense. And it's an absolutely chilling version with Harris providing the backing vocal. Like the aforementioned, it's a strong statement of determination, of affirmation, and of feminist principle in defining oneself in one's own terms. Certainly one can read plenty of autobiographical interpretations into songs like this and examine Clark's personal life, but it's irrelevant to the work of art in the disc player as it affects the listener. "The Real Thing" is a kicking bit of country-rock with a riff that comes out of Prince's "When You Were Mine." The album closes quietly with Jann Arden's "Good Mother," dedicated to the woman who raised her, and a hymn to personal transformation from the ruin and waste of past mistakes to a future uncertain but supported by the maternal connection to unconditional love. It whispers to a close with acoustic guitars and Jonathan Yudkin's cello, and in the silence, the listener feels empowered, emboldened, and just a bit wiser. Screw Nashville; this record will be regarded as a classic one day. One can only hope that Clark will reconsider one day that what she made here wasn't a mistake, but a real work of popular art. If Shania Twain displayed on her records an ounce of the integrity delivered here in full, she'd be a recording artist instead of a pop star.
TERRI CLARK
FEARLESS
(Mercury 170157)
September 19/2000
Produced by Keith Stegall & Steuart Smith
1.
NO FEAR
(Mary Chapin Carpenter - Terri Clark)
« © '00 PolyGram Int, ASCAP / Why Walk Music, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Music, ASCAP »
I want a road stretching out before me
I want a radio in my ear
I want a full tank of absolution no fear
I want a rainstorm to pull me over
Then a sky that begins to clear
Towards the truest of destinations no fear
I used to hit every wall there was
I used to run away from love
All I ever wanted was right here
But I had to reach way down inside
I had to have faith I'd find no fear
I want the world just keep on turning
I want the dawn in my rearview mirror
I want to hear my own voice singing no fear
And when I need two arms around me
And there's no one near
When I'm alone let the only sound be no fear
I used to hit every wall there was...
[ guitar ]
I want peace love and understanding
A stogy and an ice-cold beer
Don't wanna live afraid of dying
I used to hit every wall there was
I used to run away from love
All I ever wanted was right here
But I had to reach way down inside
I used to stay up all night long
Wondering what I was doing wrong
All I ever needed was right here
But I had to reach way down inside
I had to have faith I'd find no fear
No fear no fear
**********
2.
SOMETIMES GOODBYE
(Beth Nielsen Chapman - Annie Roboff - Terri Clark)
« © '00 Almo Music, ASCAP / Anwa Music, ASCAP /
BNC Songs, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Tunes, ASCAP »
I've got an ice-cold cup of coffee and a paper I havn't read
A canyon in my heart and a hammer in my head
And a waitress with an empty stare that looks right through me
I'm sittin' at a table and I'm balancin' the salt
Weighing out my choices baby, It's nobodys fault
And I'm torn up by these voices talking to me
You say there's no good reason for me to walk away
You say there's so much good between us who would'nt want to stay
But how can I be with you if deep down I believe I'll loose a part of me
Sometimes goodbye is the only open door
I can't turn back when I know there's something more
I gotta find what my heart beats for
I've got a half a page of reasons and a napkin full of tears
From tryin' to pull my spirit through the pocket of my fears
As the lunch crowd empties out into the city
And there may not be a way for me to make you understand
I'll write down the words I'm feeling and I'll leave it in your hands
But the mem'ries of our love I'm taking with me
You say there's no good reason for me to walk away
You say we're meant to be together and I'm making a mistake
But this emptiness inside me as brought me to this road
And I have to let you go
Sometimes goodbye is the only open door...
The passion everlasting for deepest dream
For a chance to love like that there is no in between
Sometimes goodbye is the only open door...
What my heart beats for
**********
3.
TAKE MY TIME
(Don Pfrimmer - Angelo Petraglia - Terri Clark)
« © '00 Almo Music, ASCAP / Anwa Music, ASCAP /
BNC Songs, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Tunes, ASCAP »
Love is such a big rush you wanna hurry it along
Cause you can't get close enough and I know it wouldn't feel wrong
But it's all right going slowly just fine gettin' to know me
I'll give you one thing you can't buy
Baby you can take my time my time
Like a river flowing we can roll on and on
Not knowin' where we're going living in the moment before it's gone
Cause it's all right going slowly just fine gettin' to know me
I'll give you one thing you can't buy
Baby you can take my time
I know what you want I'll be here holding on
[ guitar ]
Cause it's all right going slowly just fine gettin' to know me
I'll give you one thing you can't buy
Baby you can take my
Heart will be waiting
Baby you can take my time my time
Going slowly gettin' to know me
You can take my time my time
**********
4.
EMPTY
(Gary Burr - Terri Clark)
« © '00 PolyGram Int, ASCAP / MCA Music, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Music, ASCAP »
Maybe it's been a little too long
Holding it in tryin' to be strong
It's funny the things we bottle up
Come streaming out when you feel enough
There is a trust the cautious will lack
Now that we've touched there's no holding back
I want to call out for love till I can't breathe
I want to stare at the truth till I can't see
Wanna pour out my soul till I'm empty empty
[ guitar ]
When only flesh and bone remain
I'll hold you close then start again
Feeling nothin' but a sweet release
When the ghosts are gone from inside of me
I've tried to fight it but what can I do
There's something deeper that surrenders to you
I want to call out for love till I can't breathe...
When I touch you when I hear you
How can I can I doubt when every time I'm near you.
I want to call out for love till I can't breathe...
**********
5.
GETTING THERE
(Gary Burr - Terri Clark)
« © '00 PolyGram Int, ASCAP / MCA Music, ASCAP /
Gabburr Tunes, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Music, ASCAP »
Well the sun sets in the west
But as fast as you go how would you know
You're a busy boy I guess
Who just wants the gold at the end of the road
Think of all you miss passin' through like this
You want an answer as soon as you say a prayer
You want to land the moment you're in the air
Baby the livin' is all in the gettin' there
Don't be the first in every line
Now and then you can be at the end
Cause there's only so much time
And you can't get back every minute you spend
You're not even sure what you're running for
You want an answer as soon as you say a prayer...
[ guitar ]
Think of all you miss passin' through like this
You want an answer as soon as you say a prayer...
The livin' is all in the gettin' there
Gettin' there
**********
6.
EASY FROM NOW ON
(Carlene Carter - Susanna Clark)
« © '76 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »
There he goes gone again
This same old story's gotta come to an end
Lovin' him was a one way street
But I'm gettin' off where the crossroads meet
Quarter moon in a ten cent town
Time for me to lay my heartaches down
Saturday night I'm gonna make myself a name
Take a month of Sundays to try and explain
It's gonna be easy to fill the heart of a thirsty woman
Harder to kill the ghost of a no good man
And I'll be ridin' high in a fandangled sky
It's gonna be easy it's gonna be easy from now on
[ accodeon - fiddle ]
Raw as a whip but clean as a bone
Soft to the touch when you take me home
When the morning comes and it's time for me to leave
Don't worry bout me I've got a wild card up my sleeve
It's gonna be easy to fill...
**********
7.
LITTLE GASOLINE
(Tammy Rogers - Dean Miller)
« © '00 Cross Keys Publishing, ASCAP »
Throwing pictures out the window
Scattered by the way the wind blows
Bye bye baby that's the last I'll see of you
Shoebox full of old love letters
I'll tear each one till I feel better
And I won't look back cause I don't like the view
What my heart needs now is rest
So I'm packin' up and I'm headed west
My mind's made up I'll put it to the test
Pushin' myself and this old machine
Burning fumes and what's left of my dreams
Let 'em go cause I don't need no strings
Just give me a road and a little gasoline
We talked in circles till the words ran out
And it all came down to an angry shout
Before I knew it I was in third gear and gone
Well this had been coming for a long long time
If I said I'm sorry well I'd be lyin'
If you think I'll never make it well you'd be wrong
What my heart needs now is rest...
[ guitar ]
What my heart needs now is rest...
Just give me a road and a little gasoline
**********
8.
LAST THING I WANTED
(Mary Chapin Carpenter - Kim Richey)
« © '00 Why Walk Music, ASCAP / Mighty Nice Music, BMI / Wait No more Music, BMI »
Last thing I wanted was someone who wants me so much
I don't like nobody leaning on me
Last thing I needed was somebody hanging around because
In their eyes I am something to see
Like a hole in my head like a rock in my shoe
Like an ache in my heart when I think of you
Last thing I wanted last thing I wanted was you
Last thing I thought I'd do was open my heart to you
I got good reasons for keeping it closed
Last place I thought I'd be was here with you next to me
Cause I'm used to sleeping alone
Like a hole in my head like a rock in my shoe...
Sometimes what we want ain't what we need
Maybe baby I need you
Like a hole in my head like a rock in my shoe...
**********
9.
TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING
(Mary Chapin Carpenter - Terri Clark)
« © '00 Why Walk Music, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Music, ASCAP »
All this running nowhere fast all these faces that I pass
All these souls that don't reach out leave me feeling so without
I think you got here just in time I think it's meant to be
And I'm ready to do anything I want to tell you everything
Every nightmare every dream every fear I've ever had
All the good and all the bad all the secrets that I've kept
My mistakes and my regrets the relief that it would bring
Just to tell you everything
Just to be all you need when you need somebody there
Just to let go and still know you wont go anywhere
Just to find myself again tell you who I've always been
Just to feel my spirit rise when I look into your eyes
And see what I've been dying for baby I want nothing more
Than these songs I'm ganna sing when I tell you everything
[ guitar ]
Just to be all you need...
All this loneliness that ruled all the years that had me fooled
Now they seem to slip away when you turn to me and say
I think you got here just in time I think we're going to be just fine
And it would be enough for me just to tell you everything
Baby I'd do anything I want to tell you everything
**********
10.
REAL THING
(Angelo Petraglia - Terri Clark)
« © '00 PolyGram Int, ASCAP / Green Wagon Music, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Music, ASCAP »
I've been looking for a way to fill this empy place
With everything from poetry to love in cyberspace
I contemplate my future I analyze my past
I twist myself up like a pretzel in my yoga class
I find attraction in small distractions
It's a piece that I've been missing a voice when I really listen
A groove thats gonna make me sing a feeling only love can bring
I'm ready for the real thing
Meditatin' medicatin' looking for a fix
Now I'm gettin' to the bottom of my bag of tricks
Tryin' to catch a break with each ticking of the clock
Searching for the prize inside my cracker jack box
Something to save me from all this waiting
It's a piece that I've been missing...
[ guitar ]
I've looked around and I've discovered
Nothing can touch me like a lover
It's a piece that I've been missing...
**********
11.
MIDNIGHT'S GONE
(Gary Burr - Terri Clark)
« © '00 PolyGram Int, ASCAP / MCA Music, ASCAP /
Gabburr Tunes, ASCAP / Terri Ooo Music, ASCAP »
We got our first McDonald's and it made the headline news
In a town where no one locks their doors at night
All the lights are flashing yellow we just roll right through
And there's not a super store in sight
But there's more to life I told myself
I'd say goodbye by the time the clock struck twelve
But I can't pull the trigger on that changing world out there
With all these dream I can't believe I'm still standing here
It's time to face the fact I'm not the rebel that I thought
Cause midnight's gone but I'm not
Everyone I run into has known me all my life
There are no secrets you can call your own
Since the age of seventeen I faced the morning light
Saying this day is the day I'm gonna go
All I have to do is drive away
But the things that make me crazy always make me stay
But I can't pull the trigger...
[ guitar ]
But I can't pull the trigger...
**********
12.
GOOD MOTHER
(Robert Foster - Jann Richards)
« © '00 Songs Of PolyGram Int, BMI »
I've got money in my pocket I like the color of my hair
I've got a friend who loves me got house I've got a car
I've got a good mother and her voice is what keeps me here
Feet on ground heart in hand facing forward be yourself
I've never wanted anything oh I oh I I've never wanted anything so bad so bad
Cardboard masks of all the people I've been
Thrown out with all the rusted tangled tented wornout miseries
You could say I'm hard to hold but if you knew me you'd know
I've got a good father and his strength is what makes me cry
Feet on ground heart in hand facing forward be yourself
I I've never wanted anything oh I oh I I've never wanted anything so bad so bad
[ cello ]
I've got money in my pocket I like the color of my hair
I've got a friend who loves me got a house I've got a car
I've got a good mother and her voice is what keeps me here
Feet on ground, heart in hand facing forward be yourself
Heart in hand feet on ground facing forward be yourself
Just be yourself just be yourself
**********