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String Theory

by Johnny Z

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Here's the physical CD version, of STRING THEORY, which is a beautiful glossy gatefold album release. All lyrics are contained on the inside fold, with individual track information.

    Includes unlimited streaming of String Theory via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Round, Round, Round 03:24
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ROUND, ROUND, ROUND Remembering when I was just a boy I'd imagine worlds beyond my Illinois Mapping out a detailed strategy Escaping, wondering what was there for me What's there for me? At school they'd try to orient our lives Direction came from tales of some old wives And what was learned from dog-earred pages read, When Cliff Notes' cheat was our fall back instead? We went around, round, round, Each going our own way Around, round, round, No rules were ours that day Round, round, round. so much we had in mind Going without knowing what we'd find Heard it said, this day was one I'd rue But twisting words would never make it true And with no comeback I just let it seed Yeah, no response was best for me, indeed I'd go around, round, round, Going my own way Around, round, round, no rules were mine that day Round, round, round, So much I had in mind Going without knowing what I'd find When finally she came to me and said "I think that we should join as one instead Together we can take the day and seize Exploring endless possibilities" We'll go around, round, round, Together on our way Around, round, round, There'll be no rules today Round, round, round, Everything's allright We're going now keeping our dreams aligned Going now keeping our dreams aligned We're going now words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
2.
Mr Jellyman 02:50
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MR JELLYMAN A chill I can feel, the goosebumps they rise As a darkness envelopes this place His breath I can feel though his body, it hides He's there but I can't see his face But I know there's someone, from my skin as it crawls More than once I've confirmed that it's true So, don't close your eyes, it's not safe for your soul When the Jellyman comes 'round for you Mr Jellyman lurks in the shadows of night He'll prey on the weak and the small But make no mistake, he's a huge appetite And he'll go after any and all So, 'm hiding my best, as the specter roams 'round No escape, no comfort to share As the Jellyman searches I want not be found Not of this - no, I want it ne'er So, I'm telling you now, beware and forewarned That the Jellyman will come for you Don't let your guard down, when he's taking his form Cuz there'll be nothing that you can do Mr Jellyman lurks in the shadows of night He'll prey on the weak and the small But make no mistake, he's a huge appetite And he'll go after any and all Oh, make no mistake, he's a huge appetite And he'll go after any and all Yes, he'll go after any and all words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2021 Piano Street Music, BMI
3.
My Old Kentucky Home 03:45
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MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home 'Tis summer, the old folks are gay The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in bloom While the birds make music all the day Weep no more my lady Oh, weep no more today We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home For the old Kentucky home far away The young folks roll on the little cabin floor All merry, all happy and bright By 'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door Then my old Kentucky home, good night Weep no more my lady Oh, weep no more today We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home For the old Kentucky home far away Weep no more my lady Oh, weep no more today We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home For the old Kentucky home far away words and music by Stephen Collins Foster arrangement by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Public Domain
4.
Old Tom Mann 04:47
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OLD TOM MANN They say that old Tom Mann would shoot a stranger dead And pilfer any wealth before he'd bled Oh, just too many times that the old man put to rest While he was alive none measured less None measured less None measured less Than old Tom Mann But, one mistake he made was to kill a father's son The death of that boy angered everyone "That killer", they swore, "would swing from the highest limb" And not even Tom could escape which was due him Which was due him Which was due him Old Tom Mann Ao, they gathered in that town, all able bodied men Together they had vowed to this madness end And hot on the trail, before the moon could rise Old Tom knew he was in for a hell of a ride A hell of a ride A hell of a ride For old Tom Mann He knew that angry town was closing in at last And to see another day's too great a task So he went into the hills, as high as he could climb But, there was no place for him, he'd run his time He'd run his time Run his time That old Tom Mann Sometimes it takes a death to bring someone to life Or be the dead of night to see the light Why must we wait 'til it;s too late Why must we wait 'til it's too late 'Til it's too late Why must we wait? 'Til it's too late words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
5.
The Runner 02:49
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THE RUNNER Go, you've got to beat the rest So, that you might be the best What's this you're doing? Can you win the race? Now that you're moving you'll have to pick up your place Why does the world treat you unfair? Do changes catch you unaware? So busy running, there's no time to relate Your lack of caring's beginning to seal your fate The runner's filled with things he's always kept inside Feelings he's cheated and has always tried to hide Lovers he's left behind, as though he didn't know He's searching for something he can't hold So go, if you think you've got to run Although you're not racing anyone This thing you're doing, you should've never gotten in You're just confusing the winner with the win The runner's filled with things he's always kept inside Feelings he's cheated and has always tried to hide Lovers he's left behind, as though he didn't know He's only pretending not to know Only pretending not to know He's only pretending words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2020 Piano Street Music, BMI
6.
That's What I'm Talking About 03:25
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THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT Oh, man, no it ain't right My babe, she's a-hurtin' tonight Best watch out! That's what I'm talkin' about Someone's been spreadin' lies And it's time they took their prize Now, watch out! That's what I'm talkin' about You don't know with who you're messin' No matter, that's right! But, we'll soon hear you confessin' To save your little behind My ears have heard what's true And that's why I'm after you So, watch out! That's what I'm talkin' about And what's this I hear today? A boast you'll get away? Ha, ha! There's no way out! That's what I'm talkin' about Miracles may happen, I may change my mind Oh yeah, may change my mind Don't run, you can not hide Don't talk, we've heard your line Just watch out! That's what I'm talkin' about No one is on your side That's right and you know why Who's bad now? That's what I'm talkin' about You don't know with who you're messin' No matter, that's right! But, we'll soon hear you confessin' To save your little behind To save your little behind To save your little behind words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
7.
Danger Zone 04:34
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DANGER ZONE Another whiskey in my ice I've got my hands on something nice But, it won't matter what I do I'll lose control, what's new? I'm seeing babes now, every night They're baring thighs and looking right And it won't matter what I do I'll lose control, what's new? How can I keep out of danger? The zone is growing very wide I swear my life could not be stranger But, it's something, yeah something, that I like I couldn't budget to save my life And though my money's held so very tight It won't matter what I do I'll lose control, what's new? Oh, my intentions are always right Are these things new to me? Not quite It doesn't matter what I do I'll lose control, what's new? Another whiskey in my ice I've got my hands on something nice But, it won't matter what I do I'll lose control, what's new? I'll lose control, what's new? I'll lose control, what's new? words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
8.
When I Needed Someone 02:27
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WHEN I NEEDED SOMEONE You help me make it through the night Make me strong so I can fight When I needed someone When I needed someone You were that someone who was there You fill my soul with strength and grace You ease my mind and pain's replaced When I needed someone When I needed someone You were that someone who was there So, in my loving way Though my words can't begin to repay They're yours alone So, let me hold you in my way And let me love you, for today When I needed someone When I needed someone You were that someone who was there words by Sandra McIntosh and Johnny Stephen Zawacki music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
9.
Once We Were There 02:37
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ONCE WE WERE THERE Oh, to be in two places Both at the same time Even back then, could I make it? Don't even know what's on your mind Laughing like children Not knowing just where Our feelings would take us Though once we were there Why do I feel so lonely? Where have all my wishes fallen They're riding on a rusty coin To the bottom of a wishing well Laughing like children Not knowing just where Our feelings would take us Though once we were there We sit gazing out windows Just wishing we were out there As it was before this all happened And we had no worry or care We'd laugh like children Not caring just where Our feelings would take us Though once we were there Though once we were there Once we were there words by Terry Kirby and Johnny Stephen Zawacki music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
10.
Getting Over You 03:32
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GETTING OVER YOU In a small cafe out of town Almost want to stay and work it out But once was enough, I'm beginning to see Through all that I must, it's easy You may pass me by, I don't care You may not see why I'm not where You thought I might be, turn around and you'll see Me way out ahead, it's easy I'm getting over you, at least I'll try to Get over you, yeah over you Now I'm all alone, it's okay And I'm far from home, on my way To something I once took the pleasure to be That's all that I want, it's easy I'm getting over you, at least I'll try to Get over you, yeah over you, I'm getting over you, at least I'll try to Get over you, yeah over you words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
11.
Back to Louisiana 05:02
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BACK TO LOUISIANA I'm trying to find my way again But, which path must I abide? When losing love I tried to win I felt the loss deep inside I'm going back to Louisiana Need the love I used to find I'm gonna try to take the rain out of the sky And leave this darkness all behind Acceptance is not what we need In the dissonance of lies If only we'd begin again Then our truth from it could rise I'm going back to Louisiana Need the love I used to find I'm gonna try to take the rain out of the sky And leave my troubles all behind Oh, I'll come back to you And try our love anew Yes, I'd come back to you, because I still love you Is it only strength that we seek While turning from what is found? We'll go about our daily lives As the unknowing's words abound I'm going back to Louisiana Need the love I used to find I'm gonna try and take the rain out of the skies And leave these memories all behind Leave these memories all behind Yeah, leave these memories all behind words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI
12.
Looking Back 04:08
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LOOKING BACK I'm thinking of all the times I've spent with my old friends I'm thinking of how we've all been drawn apart Each looking for a goal that none of us can hold It's always there to give us a new start We tried our luck with songs, I guess we won some We tried our luck with love and some we lost I guess we're trying still, whether or not they're real Knowing not how much that either costs Alone I sit and gaze out over the ocean Alone I sit and think back on my life They both are too obscure and I'm not really sure Which one's out there and which is in my mind I'm thinking of all the times I've spent with my old friends words and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki © 2022 Piano Street Music, BMI

about

STRING THEORY, my fourth solo full length album and ninth overall, will be released worldwide, through all major digital streaming and download services, on 21 May 2022. A limited number of the compact disc version will also be available via Apple, Amazon, Bandcamp, other online retail outlets, and through me directly.

The name is derived from the term music theory and that most of the instrumentation is string based. I incorporate many of my guitars (principally my Martin D-28 and Breedlove Concert, but also the Takamine nylon string classical, Art & Luthrie dreadnought, and Gretsch New Yorker arch top), bass (the Rickenbacher 4001) and virtual/electronic strings (piano and guzheng) all come to mind. I've supplemented these strings with a touch of percussion (drums, shakers, triangle), split between acoustic and electronic.

As with the 2021 MIND THE GAP album, I perform all instruments, record, mix and master this one. With the isolation that the pandemic afforded me, I believe my skills have progressed on all counts. If you've missed last year's release, I urge you to check it out. It's also being streamed everywhere, as is my EN ROUTE and SKIFFLE albums.

credits

released May 21, 2022

All instruments (guitars, bass, percussion, piano, electronic guzheng), recording, mixing and mastering by Johnny Zawacki

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Johnny Z Owosso, Michigan

Spotlight Recordings is an independent company, based in Owosso, Michigan, originally conceived to release the recordings of Johnny Z. It has since grown to include other independent artists.

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