Craig Morrison - Craig Morrison

JUST ANOTHER SUNDOWN (Robert Ellis Orral, Angelo, Steven Lee Olsen)
Lyric: I’m missing you so, I want you to know, that every time you go away, it gets a little colder here… seconds seem slower, every little drop of rain falls a little faster when the skies cry a beautiful red, and you’re not around… just another sundown…

This was actually the last track we chose, when another song we had originally selected had been cut. I believe it was a blessing in disguise as it suits the album perfectly, and is definitely a standout favorite. This song came to life from the moment we cut it, and then we added the banjo with Scott Vestal about a week later and it added a whole extra dimension… awesome.

HEART BROKE DOWN (Mark Irwin Abramson & Josh P. Kear)
Lyric: I’m heart broke down on the shoulder of the I-‐65, there’s gas in the tank and the engine’s cranked, I’m just too tore up to drive…

“Heart Broke Down” has a real Tom Petty feel that sucked me in... and who hasn’t been “heart broke down?” I can definitely relate to the situation. I can never stay mad at the person I love, and don’t we all love a happy ending? Once we cut this track, Mark recorded some amazing 12-‐string Rickenbacker that brought it to life.

FENCES (Danny Simpson & John Edwards)
Lyric: They can box you in, they can keep you out, you can put em up, and tear em down, some people hide behind em, you can peek through a hole to the other side, watch somebody living your life, or you can learn to climb fences…

“Fences” was the first song I found for this album, and I had to have it. When I listened to the demo while on a radio tour in Bundaberg, Australia, I just could not put it down. I love the message, as I believe life is about overcoming hurdles. Probably everyone can relate to this in one way or another. The fences we all face -‐ be it my Grandmother getting out of bed in the morning, or starting over and rebuilding a life -‐ we all have them and it’s what we choose to do about them. For me, I climb. “Fences” came together like a dream. (Fences hit No. 5 on the Australian Country Music Tracks).

WHERE I’M AT (Andrew M. Dorff, Luke Robert Laird, & Jessi Leigh Alexander)
Lyric: If somebody handed me a ticket, said I could re-live any moment from my past, I’d say thank you for the invitation, and without hesitation, I’d throw it in the trash. I wouldn’t take that ride if I could, I’m good where I’m at…

“Where I’m At” again plays a role in telling the story of my life, which is why I chose to record it. It’s about the outcome of life’s lessons. The storyline perfectly transcends from the track “Fences” -‐ the choices we make to overcome our obstacles are what make us who we are. “I can’t change the past and even if I could, I’m good where I’m at...”

WASTED ON ME (Jay C. Knowles & Odie Blackmon)
Lyric: Your heart is a diamond, it’s a rare and precious thing, baby I’ll take it and I’m never gonna break it, no it won’t be wasted on me…

“Wasted On Me” called out to be recorded. Nichole loved the message in this one. A beautiful word, “diamonds” are precious, and what a better way to describe the heart. It’s just one of those songs -‐ the minute I performed it live, I felt that uplifting vibe and it felt great to sing.

SOMEBODY’S GIRL (Jonathan Lawson, Matt Evans & Jeppe Riddervold)
Lyric: What if she’s perfect? What if she feels the same way? What if she leaves the words leave’n me, standing with nothing to say? What if we discover that we’re meant to be…

“Somebody’s Girl” is THE SONG I wish I had written for MY wife. Lyrically, this song gave me goose bumps from the first time I heard it. The twist at the story’s end just demonstrates the songwriters’ brilliance. Probably at some stage every person has experienced a time where they question and procrastinate (my wife would say I am a professional at it!). But we really need to try to initiate openly, and honestly -‐ and perhaps overcome those fears from some of life’s challenging “fences.” By just starting with “hello,” we might open a world of possibilities. When Joel came in and laid down the mandolin, this track became beautiful.

REMINISCE (Craig Morrison & Nichole Morrison)
Lyric: Was underneath that railroad bridge, I stole that first kiss, a touch, a hand, that warm embrace, that makes us reminisce…

“Reminisce” has a long history. It first came about around four years ago and was titled “Need You Now” with the first pre-‐recording. Since re-writing with Nichole, it has taken on an entire new direction with the message about reminiscing over the memories of youth, fun and new love. We chose this track because of the infectious tempo and feel -‐ so come on baby now, let’s make some more fun memories to reminisce over.

LOVE YOU MORE (Russell Davis & Ross Copperman)
Lyric: If you were a song I would sing you, if you were a sinner I’d save you, if you were a river I’d run with you to the sea, if you were the wind I’d ride you, if you were a treasure I’d find you, I’m sure you’ve heard I love you before… but I love you more…

How many times in life have you wished you could say “I love you” and mean it more -‐ that feeling to shout it out louder than ever before? In relationships we all need to know we are loved, and sometimes we fall short on expressing that feeling. The writers were clever with the childish and somewhat innocent use of the word “more.” We cut this song in one of the earlier sessions and I had a chance to play it around for some feedback. I knew then that this album was going to be something very special.

DOIN’ COUNTRY (Craig Morrison & Nichole Morrison)
Lyric: Killin’ time, shootin’ pool, hell I’ll play guitar, he’ll play the fool, all bets down, drew 5-‐card flush, Dan’s lookin’ itchy, hell boy don’t rush… we’re doin’ country…

“Doin’ Country” was a song Nichole and I had for some time and there was always something special about it as a demo. When performing it live, the chorus has a driving, chanting, anthem feel. The story line depicts country life at the core. It can’t be taken away, and that is something very special to us as a community -‐ we love doin’ country. I love the intro chords right through to the finish. It’s a rockin’ country song, and I think you need one on every album.

STAY UP LATE (Ben Hayslip, Jimmy Yearly & Sonya M. Isaacs)
Lyric: We can kiss on the couch, dance in the kitchen, sit on the porch, listen to the crickets, sing us a song and our worries away…

The guitar riff alone in “Stay Up Late” is worth staying up for -‐ I love this song. I chose it because the story embodies everything I feel about romance -‐ a guy’s way of being romantic and I couldn’t have said it better myself. In the studio, the guys locked into this song as if it was second nature; you couldn’t get the smiles off of our faces. This song is sexy country through and through, it draws people to sway in their seats and move their hips out on the dance floor.

HOT KINDA LOVE (Craig Morrison)
Lyric: You got a hot kinda love, cupid’s burnin’ arrows were sent from above, you got a hot kinda love, I’m close to the edge, come on now give me a shove…

“Hot Kinda Love,” what can I say? I wrote this one a long time ago, but it just had a fantastic hook that couldn’t be ignored and I had to revisit it. The lyrics are simple and to the point: “We all have and need our own Hot Kinda Love.” I think Mark did a superb job creating a honkytonk, country feel. I love it -‐ it’s fun, exciting and groovin’ and just allows me to cut loose as an entertainer. This song took Country Song Of The Year 2011 with the Australian Songwriter’s Association (ASA). It’s a great track to finish the album, because it makes you want to play it again and again.

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