Songs

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1. IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIS		Listen
2. YOU GOTTA SLEEP SOMETIME		Listen
3. CHURCHES AND HONKY TONKS		Listen
4. IS IT JUST ME?		Listen
5. WOULD THAT MAKE IT LOVE?
6. A HOLE IN MY HEART
7. I KNOW YOU LIE		Listen
8. RIDE WITH ME TO TEXAS
9. YOU REMIND ME		Listen
10. GOOD NIGHT AGAIN
11. NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIS (Arleen Nicastro) Printable Version Scrambled eggs and big big biscuits Coffee in a chipped up cup Ain't nothin' like the quiet Just as the sun's comin' up Best head on out before it gets too high It can only get a whole lot hotter I've been dreamin' of a day like this With the sun shinin' out on the water half chorus: It don't get no better It don't get no better than this You grab a raft I'll grab an innertube And race you to the other side Here come the kids there ain't no time to lose Nobody's gonna stay dry A little later on we'll slice some cold watermelon And have some barbecue baby Sing songs around the light of a fire Where I can snuggle up next to you chorus: ('Cuz) it don't get no better It don't get no better than this It don't get no better (No) it don't get no better than this solo bridge: Days like this never last too long Before you know they've come and gone Let's try our best to stretch it out From the sun up till the sun down chorus ad lib © 1999 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
		I wrote the music to this song on November 21, 1995. I tried for years to put lyrics to this song, and finally came up with the title on March 10, 1999. I always get a pretty strong case of Spring Fever, but that year I was in LA, hoping to move back to Texas by Memorial Weekend, and I had a particularly bad case of the fever that Spring. I wanted to write a feel-good song, and had Jimmy Buffet's COME MONDAY in mind, so I put myself back in Texas mentally and tried to paint as many pictures as I could of what I was missing that Spring. The lyrics were written April 26 and 29, and May 4 of 1999.


	YOU GOTTA SLEEP SOMETIME Printable Version (Arleen Nicastro) This used to be a nice place Maybe you could tell me what a nice place like this Is doin' with a boy like you in it We used to have a good thing Until that good thing Turned into a bad bad thing chorus: You stole my heart (and) then you lied to me I caught you lookin' (around) when we both agreed we wouldn't be Well you killed everything we had When you went and did your bad bad thing Now you may be big And you may be wise But you gotta sleep sometime I never said I was perfect But whatever I do I try my best to steer clear Of any commandments But you've been breakin' them one by one Now I've run all out of cheeks to turn It's too bad for you that God blessed me with a good good memory chorus bridge: I know I'm supposed to be quick to forgive And quick to forget Now I've been workin' on that But I haven't quite got the hang of it yet chorus final chorus: Well you killed everything we had When you went and did your bad bad bad thing Now you may be big And you may be wise But I feel I need to warn you You gotta sleep sometime You gotta sleep sometime Everybody's gotta sleep sometime ad lib © 1999 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
This is one of the fastest songs I have ever written. On October 3, 1999, I started playing the piano part and was determined not to record any music until I had at least some lyrics. So I looked through my song titles and lyric ideas, took some notes, and in one take recorded into my hand recorder. My first recording of the song is pretty close to the final recording of it, so far as the writing is concerned. The whole song was written in 2 hours at my church in LA one Sunday afternoon.


CHURCHES AND HONKY-TONKS (Arleen Nicastro) Printable Version You know that it's nice here but it's not home I long for the people and the places I've known Stories and punch lines Music and a little wine At the churches and (the) honky-tonks of home Old wooden seats full of friendly faces Wisdom passed down throughout the ages Advice and the latest news Laughs to chase away the blues At the churches and the honky-tonks of home bridge: They used to travel in from miles around Once or twice a week to lay their money down They came by the dozens and some came alone But they came religiously To the churches and the honky-tonks of home interlude I don't know how to tell you good-bye I don't mean to hurt you but I Miss where I came from And I get a little lonesome For the churches and the honky-tonks of home For the churches and the honky-tonks of home For the churches and the honky-tonks of home © 1998 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page		The music for the verses of this song was written on September 30, 1995, in 3/4 time. The lyrics to the 3rd verse were written on January 24, 1998, which is when I wrote the title, and it was originally the first verse. The 2nd verse was written on February 12, 1998, the 1st verse and the music to the bridge were written on February 18, 1998, and the lyrics to the bridge were finally written on March 10, 1998. The song was recorded with a 6/8 feeling. I sure struggled with the lyrics, and I think the last piece of the puzzle, the bridge, is the piece that ties it all together.



This music was inspired by a piece of music I wrote on July 27, 1994, and revised on December 14, 1998. It was started in 3/4 time, and then I began playing it with a totally different feel, in 4/4 time. I liked both versions and continued to play them both. The lyric idea came to me on December 13, 1998, while my friend from 5th grade, Scott Jackson, was preaching in the First Baptist Church of Little Elm, in Texas. I made several pages of notes on December 14, 1998, including starting the 1st and 3rd verses and the chorus, and lyrics seemed to fit to the melody easier in 4/4 time. The lyrics for the 1st verse were written on December 14, 1998, January 6, and January 11, 1999. The lyrics for the 2nd verse were written on February 18 and March 24 of 1999. The lyrics for the 3rd verse were written on December 14, 1998, March 7 and 24 of 1999. The lyrics for the chorus were written on December 14, 1998, and January 11, 1999.	IS IT JUST ME? Printable Version (Arleen Nicastro) Is it just me or has the world become angry Everybody's fighting over who's to blame Strangers passin' on the street can't seem to find a word to say One looks at the ground the other looks away first chorus: Is it just me who feels a burden And who thinks it's a shame In the quiet hours is it just me who prays Is anybody else listenin' to their conscience And (talkin' 'bout) tryin' to make a change Or is it just me Is it just me or are we so selfish we can't see beyond our own lives Our own friends and our own families We won't let our children walk the streets at night alone But we'll turn our backs to those who call it home first chorus solos second chorus: Now is it just me who feels a burden And who thinks it's a shame In the darkness is it just me who prays Is anybody else listenin' to their conscience Talkin' 'bout tryin' to make a change Or is it just me Is it just me or are we losing our patience (We've) gotta have it all; gotta have it right now 'Till the days and the weeks and the years and the ones we love pass away But at least we have all we think we have to have today first chorus tag: Sometimes I feel like it's just me © 1999 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page

I wrote the words to the 3rd verse of this song as I was spending more time with my family in Texas, particularly some of the older folks, and especially my father. Time and again I witnessed people my age choosing to make money rather than to make time for their children, their partners, and their parents. I realized again the importance of making time for the ones we love, and the urgency in doing so, and these words were written to encourage others to do the same, and not to put it off.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, my project incurred a number of lengthy delays, and sadly, my father passed away unexpectedly in Dallas one month before my project was back in my hands again. As a result, he was never able to hear the CD.
The title of this song reminds me of my Dad. He used to use this phrase all the time, and the 3rd line of the 3rd verse turned out to be more true than I ever could have imagined it would be when I wrote it. This song will always be for my Dad.

WOULD THAT MAKE IT LOVE? (Arleen Nicastro) Printable Version What if I could make you laugh When you were just about to cry If I could believe you When you said you'd never lie Would that make it love And would that be enough What if we could talk Until all hours of the night If we could disagree And still have both of us be right Would that make it love And would that be enough chorus: Would that make it love If we both felt the same Would that make it love If we shared the same name Would that make it love Would that make it love What if you could hold me And make my worries go away What if we agreed no matter what That we would stay Would that make it love And would that be enough chorus interlude repeat chorus twice ad lib © 1997 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
		This music and the lyrics were written on April 3, 1997. I had pages and pages of lyrics, asking essentially, "What if blah blah blah . . . would THAT make it Love?" I don't know why I needed so desperately to know the answer to that question on that particular day. This was originally written as a ballad, very contemplative, and I performed it that way for years. I wanted it to be on the CD, because the lyrics are so strong to me, but I didn't want the CD to be too ballad heavy. The first time Ed Tree played it, he played the guitar part that is on the CD, and it totally changed the whole groove of the song. I was singing it at the same tempo, but his accompaniment gave it movement, and made it come alive. I can't even perform this song now the way that it is on the CD without Ed playing the guitar, so I still play it as a ballad on the piano when I play it by myself.


	A HOLE IN MY HEART Printable Version (Arleen Nicastro) Don't look at me with those blue eyes And that innocent smile I can tell by the way you walk You've been up to those tricks for awhile What is that cologne I smell Well you sure are dressed to impress Don't think I don't know what you're up to I've been around the block myself chorus: What makes you think I'd need a man To tear my world apart I need another man in my life Like I need a hole in my heart I see you've ordered some red wine And the candlelight can only help You got a cozy little table in the corner for two Well you sure are sure of yourself chorus solos I've had enough of this I'm gettin' out of here 'Cuz you know what they say If you can't stand the heat Sometimes it's best to walk away repeat chorus 3 times ad lib © 1997 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
The music for the verses and chorus of this song was written on August 25, 1993, and the lyrics were written in their entirety on December 6, 1997, with very little tweaking later. The music for the bridge was written on March 3, 1998. The musical hook before and after each verse was written on May 21, 1999, as we were recording the piano parts, and I have played the piano solo pretty close to the way it is recorded ever since the first time I sat down and played the song. It's a fun solo.


I KNOW YOU LIE (Arleen Nicastro) Printable Version When you say that you love me When you say that you love me When you tell me that you love me I know you lie Now when you kiss me so tenderly Oh baby when you kiss me so tenderly When you kiss me so tenderly I know you lie bridge: Now what kind of fool do you take me for Oh now everybody's somebody's fool But Honey I sure ain't yours You can tell me that you're never gonna do it again Tell me that you're sorry and you wanta make amends You can say you're sorry baby And try to apologize Yeah you can say you're sorry baby but I know you lie (hey hey hey) solo Now you can get down on your knees And beg forgiveness for your sins But I can't believe my ears have gotta hear all that again How many times do you expect me to forgive you Now you can say you're sorry baby but I know you lie Yeah you can say you're sorry baby but I know you lie Oh you can say you're sorry baby but I know you lie ad lib © 1999 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
		David Raven and I were working on arrangments in his studio at 3:00 in the morning on March 14, 1999, when I played this piece of music for him. He loved it. We recorded the music as I hummed a melody, since I had no lyrics. Later that day at my house I wrote a set of lyrics, and on September 6, 1999, over Labor Day Weekend, I rewrote the lyrics to the bridge and the final 2 verses. The inspiration for the lyrics is not what it seems.


	RIDE WITH ME TO TEXAS Printable Version (Arleen Nicastro) Ride with me to Texas Where the skies are blue We can just make it back for springtime When the bluebonnets bloom The crickets will sing Every night when the stars shine And honey you'll see Everything will be fine Everything will be fine chorus: I hear they're happy there They're finding dreams we lost somewhere It may hold the answers to our prayers And I'm off to Texas Won't you ride with me Won't you ride with me to Texas I know it's summer there now But there's work out in the oil fields And fertile ground The heat scares some folks away But somehow the strong survive And though they work hard in the daylight The evenings really come alive Evenings really come alive chorus, solo, chorus Won't you ride with me to Texas I hear it's beautiful in the fall The sun shines through the changing leaves It's always been my favorite time of all I've known a few who are from there And if there's one thing I've learned No matter why they had to leave They can't wait to return They can't wait to return chorus final chorus: I hear they're happy there They call it God's Country And I've thought about it long enough I swear That I'm off to Texas Won't you ride with me Won't you ride with me Won't you ride with me © 1996 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
This music was written in its entirety on August 24, 1996, and the lyrics were written on November 20, 1996. I performed the song that way for years, with a great response, and shortly before the final vocals were recorded I wrote some new lyrics to the chorus, on January 25, 2000. This song is my version of "Please Come To Boston".


YOU REMIND ME (Arleen Nicastro and David Raven) Printable Version I forget how good You are And how much You love me I forget how much I need You in my life And that You're watchin' out for me I can't remember all the times that You have saved me And though I know You know what's best for me I forget But You remind me chorus: When I need affection You give me love When I need proof You give me faith When I need power You give me peace When I need a little comfort You give me strength When I need retribution You give me grace When I need somethin' to ease the pain You heal me (Lord) When I need to be reminded You remind me When I doubt my direction And I'm tempted to stray And I wonder if my efforts Will ever make any difference any way When I'm distracted by confusion all around me And can't understand the dues I have to pay When I forget You remind me chorus bridge: You remind me I'm Yours You remind me I'm safe and secure You remind me what I don't need You remind me what I need You remind me what I need chorus bridge You remind me what I need © 1998 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) and David Raven (BMI) top of page
		I started this music on July 15, 1992 in Nashville, and completed it on May 6, 1998 in LA. It was originally structured with a verse, pre-chorus and chorus, which was later changed to verse, chorus, and a bridge that repeats. I came up with the title on April 26, 1998, and wrote several pages of lyrics on May 6 and May 9, 1998, before having David Raven come over and try to help me finish it on May 13, 1998. It was my first co-writing session and it was magic. We were totally on the same page lyrically, and wrote the 1st verse and chorus together. I wrote the lyrics to the bridge after he left on the 13th, and wrote the 2nd verse the next day, May 14, 1998.


	GOOD NIGHT AGAIN Printable Version (Arleen Nicastro) For fifty years he loved her For three more now she's loved him He was the big strong man of the house But she took good care of them They kissed good night every night As she headed off to bed While he'd read for awhile then sneak in beside her And kiss her again as she slept chorus: Good night my love Good night again Good night my love Good night again He told her his secret he'd kept for years Shortly before his last kiss And gave her one more thing about him She hadn't even known she would miss All those years he had kissed his bride And she never even stirred Now she smiles when she lays down to sleep at night And remembers how he used to kiss her chorus bridge: He tried to tell her he loved her And he tried hard to show her With his sweet words and his little acts of kindness But it was something so simple Something so sacred The sweetest gift he gave her was a kiss chorus solo repeat chorus twice © 1998 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) top of page
This music was written on July 14, 1992, in Nashville, and like so many other songs, I sang a variety of versions of lyrics for years. Then my Great Aunt Evelyn told me the sweetest story about her and my Great Uncle Earl, and I knew immediately that it would become a song. She hadn't ever told anyone the story before and I was so moved, not only by the story, but by the fact that she chose to share it with me, that shortly after that, on May 25, 1998, all of the lyrics came to me at once. I rewrote the introduction on December 9, 1998 in New Braunfels, Texas, at the home of my good friends from high school, Alice and Keith Meyers. Dedicated to my Great-Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Earl


NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP (Arleen Nicastro) Printable Version Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take interlude Lord Jesus we need You now Like we did so long ago The world is searchin' for somebody like You Lord we need You so interlude Forgive us in our arrogance When we turn away from You And God please bless us in our humbleness As it leads us back to You © 1999 Arleen Nicastro (BMI) First verse - traditional children's prayer top of page
		The music for this song was originally written on November 10, 1995. For years I sang a variety of different versions of lyrics. I used to play it in the evenings, as the last song when I finished rehearsing. All of a sudden on March 26, 1999, I sang the prayer and it just worked perfectly, and the second verse came immediately. On July 31, 1999 the final verse came to me.