The Key

by Mike Shupp

The Key cover art
/

  • Digital Album

    Immediate download of 12-track album in your choice of MP3 320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.

    Formats ALAC (Apple Lossless—for iTunes) and FLAC are both full CD fidelity 16-bit / 44.1 kHz. This album has been meticulously transferred in the digital domain from the original production master. PDF Liner Notes booklet included with download.

    Buy Now  $9.99 USD

  • Compact Disc

    Includes immediate download of 12-track album in your choice of MP3 320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.

    Buy Now  $10.99 USD

    ships within 1 day

  • Share / Embed
1.
04:50
lyrics
download
2.
03:11
lyrics
download
3.
04:52
lyrics
download
4.
03:52
lyrics
download
5.
04:13
lyrics
download
6.
04:30
lyrics
download
7.
04:26
lyrics
download
8.
03:47
lyrics
download
9.
03:57
lyrics
download
10.
03:46
lyrics
download
11.
03:05
lyrics
download
12.
04:03
lyrics
download

about

Album Notes:

credits

released 07 October 2000
(c) (p) 2000 Private Mind Records
all songs by Mike Shupp (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
upc: 615824000220 | catalog: PMR-40002

Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Jeff Murphy
at Short Order Recorder, Zion, IL, December 6th - 18th, 1999
Mastered by Charlie Pilzer at Airshow Mastering, Springfield, VA
Design by James Lee at JML Design

Mike Shupp: Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bass
Chris Zogby: Drums, Percussion

tags

tags: pop rock Washington D.C.

license

all rights reserved

feeds

feeds for this album, this artist

about

"Big hooks, sharp pop instincts"
— THE WASHINGTON POST
"Once again Shupp has crafted a fantastic CD full of the ... more sounds radio should be yearning for... great melodies... 4 stars"
— PASTE MAGAZINE

Mike Shupp writes American guitar pop songs that conjure the heartland, cruising through summer nights with one hand on the wheel, and the unlimited potential in tomorrow. less

contact / help

For help with downloads, click here.

For all other inquiries, including help with merch, click here.

Redeem download codes here.

Track Name: Keep Me Waiting
(lyrics)

What changed your mind
For the fifty-first time
Turn me back out
What's this all about
You say you can't see
Can't see you and me
When you draw the line
Is that your secret sign

What will it be
One or the other
I'm thinkin' maybe you might
Might want to see
What we could discover tonight

You keep me waiting
You keep me waiting
You keep me waiting
All the time

There's only so much
I can take of your touch
Only one thing
Will keep us from sinking
Don't want to scream and shout
Or knock down drag out
When you draw the line
I can't read the sign

What will it be
Me or another
I'm thinkin' maybe you might
Might want to see
What we could discover tonight

You keep me waiting
You keep me waiting
You keep me waiting
All the time

What changed your mind
For the ninety-ninth time
Turn me back out
What's this all about
Don't want to scream and shout
Or knock down drag out
You draw the line
I see a green light

What will it be
One or the other
I'm thinkin' maybe you might
Might want to see
What we could discover tonight

You keep me waiting
You keep me waiting
You keep me waiting
All the time

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Head On Straight
(lyrics)

Got my head on straight today
Made it through yesterday
Relatively unscathed
No time to figure it out
Can't find a single lingering doubt

Got my head on straight for once
Haven't felt quite this well
For so many months
No time to scheme and plan
Hit the ground start running as fast as I can

Got my head on straight tonight
Gonna find out what went wrong
And make it all right
Sometimes I feel this way
Can't seem to make this feeling stay
Make it stay, make it stay

No time to scheme and plan
Hit the ground start running as fast as I can
As fast as I can

Got my head on straight at last
But voices are still calling me back to the past
High time, just turn and go
Stick around and I'll surely know my fate
And that can wait
That can wait

Got my head on straight today
Yeah, today
Yeah, today

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: The Key
(lyrics)

A place and a time
Do you remember mine
Fading ink on a dotted line
And would you understand
How the very best laid plans
Fall apart as the stars align
The lengths we will go to
Now it's "if we only knew"
So you pray for yours and I'll pray for mine
It's startin' to feel that way

What is this life really for
'Cause I don't know anymore
You hold the key, you know the score
Leave my name at your door

Don't you know your own mind
Well I can be unkind
Didn't I tell you so long ago
Far be it for me to say
When I'm faking every day
Reaching out from so far below
It's startin' to feel that way

What is this life really for
'Cause I don't know anymore
Throw the key, hold the door

Well I don't know
I don't know
I don't know anymore
Here we go
Here we go
Here we go, down that road once more

Ask and you receive
Not easy to believe
Empty handed out in the cold
Turnin' on your heel
Knowin' how it feels
Knowin' you're only growin' old
You're startin' to feel that way

What is this life really for
'Cause I don't know anymore
Turn the key, unlock the door

Well I don't know
I don't know
I don't know anymore
Here we go
Here we go
Here we go, down that road once more

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: My Life
(lyrics)

Condescending
Do away with words
We go as far as we dare

But I would not mind at all
Save for this certain fall
I don't even care
I'll just keep on grasping at the air

In the spotlight
Turn the tables now
It doesn't seem very fair

But I would not feel a thing
Walk home in the morning rain
Stories volunteered
Save face year after year, well

When are you going to give
'Cause I'm just tryin' to live

My life
My life
My life
With you

Condescending
Do away with words
We go as far as we dare

But I would not mind at all
Save for this certain fall
I don't even care
I'll just keep on grasping at the air

When are you going to give
'Cause I'm just tryin' to live

My life
My life
My life
Tryin' to live my life
Tryin' to live my life

Just tryin' to live
Tryin' to live my life
With you

Tryin' to live my life
Live my life
Just tryin' to live
Just tryin' to live
Tryin' to live my life
Live my life
Just tryin' to live
Just tryin' to live

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright (c) 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Stranded
(lyrics)

Stranded here in a world you fear
You 're on your own
Sacred heart now come apart
Where is your home
In a world so cold
In a daydream now grown old

Stranded here in this new year
What have you done
Something unmistakable
Are you having fun
Oh but do come in
Please confess your sin

This is not how it was supposed to be
This is not how they will remember me
This is not how it was supposed to be

Solid ground beneath your feet
And heaven above
Voices are
Speaking of
A place you know
Now do you want to go
Do you want to go

Stranded here what's left to fear
Nothing at all
Slowly you begin to see
What broke your fall
Just a changing guard
How can it be when you have come this far

This is not how it was supposed to be
This is not how they will remember me
This is not how it was supposed to be
This is not how they will remember me
They will remember me

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: When I Die
(lyrics)

Put on any disguise you like
And you see through holes cut out for eyes
You're taking notes as your life goes by
Yeah you're wasting my time

Now I can't look down memory lane
There's a hole in the ground where I called your name
Something changed, something feels the same
Now I'm running away

When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die

Come to face the truth of it
No they don't even know the half of it
You ain't giving close to what you get
Are you willing to try

I won't take none of your advice
When you look at me with those vacant eyes
Oh yeah I know
It would sure feel nice

When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die
Oh when I die
Yeah when I die
Oh when I die

Quiet now
Let me touch your face
Let me hear the sound
You wanna make

So put on any disguise you like
And you might find me in between the lines
Mirror image, yeah it suits you fine
Oh I'm wasting my time

When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die
When I die
I'll kiss it all goodbye
Write your name up in the sky
When I die

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Don't Let Me See You This Way
(lyrics)

It's so good to see you
So good to see you my old friend
Those days are gone
But we will bring them back again
We never end

What's happened to you
Have they all finally brought you down
I turn away
As the bitter words tumble out
They tumble out

Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
You always knew the right way
Don't listen to what they say
Don't let me see you this way

Well I tried my best
To keep this old spirit alive
I followed you
Only to watch your spirit die
Now where is your pride

Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
Don't let me see you this way
You always knew the right way
Don't listen to what they say
Don't let me see you this way

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Right Through Me
(lyrics)

Is this a game
That you don't wanna play
I see you here
Thought you were far away
Turn around
Not before it's too late

What could be wrong
Well you will never know
What it is like
When you never let it show
Innocent eyes
Always give you away

Well she looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
Her face

Your hair is black
Just like it always was
You look so nervous
There's no one you can trust
Such a shame
To see it turned out this way

I want to run
I want to hide
And tell you everything
I feel inside
I want to go
Then I want to stay

Well she looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
Her face

Isn't it the least you can do
Remember when I knew you
We said our sad, our sad good-byes
Now there's no trace in your eyes

Into the night
Leave you to watch the show
Empty streets
And nowhere left to go
Why do you
Always leave me this way

Well she looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
The way she looked right through me
She looked right through me
Cut like a knife right through me
I close my eyes I still see
Her face
I still see her face

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Waiting For Tomorrow
(lyrics)

You're looking through an hourglass
Watching the sand fall
Wondering if your big plans will get you
Anywhere at all
Walking down an empty street
Silence in your ears
A million eyes upon you and you just
Wanna disappear- yeah

And oh, it's a crime how
You're always waiting for tomorrow
Stop wasting time now
You can't beg, can't steal or borrow
Can't beg, can't steal or borrow

Giving in to circumstance
You make it your ally
Counting on a second chance
Believing, believing your own lies
Now the sun is setting low
What happened to today
What could have been you'll never know
What will be only you can say
Only you can say

It's up there on the movie screen
It's shining in your eyes
It's cutting to the final scene
That's got you paralyzed
Down to the wire now
There's no turning back
Waiting 'til you find the power
You're gonna, gonna fade to black

And, oh, it's a crime how
You're always waiting for tomorrow
Stop wasting time now
You can't beg, can't steal or borrow
Oh, it's on the line now
There's no one left for you to follow
You're wasting time now
Stop waiting for tomorrow
Waiting for tomorrow
Waiting for tomorrow, waiting for tomorrow, tomorrow
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: What Did You Mean
(lyrics)

What did you mean
When you said that to me
What did you mean
Could you enlighten me
I've heard that tone of voice before
And I'm already halfway out the door
I don't guess there would be anything more
I'll just pick my jaw right off the floor

What did you mean
When you said that to me
I couldn't believe it
Care to explain that to me
I'm just not sure if I heard you right
This will keep me up most of the night
I hope that's not what you think of me
I'm not thinking too clearly

Not thinking too clearly
Were you thinking at all
Not that guilty really
That I can recall

Why don't you just come right out with it
The pieces you're giving me don't fit
I don't want to get your meaning wrong
Is this how you've been feeling all along

What did you mean, what did you mean
When you said that to me
Misunderstand you, I don't want to
Misunderstand you, I don't want to
Misunderstand you

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Starry Eyes
(lyrics)

Nothing ever changes
Nothing ever really does
In the game of love
Go and rearrange us
I won't be here when you call
Don't watch me fall

I don't need your reasons
I don't need to see you
I don't need to hear your sorry lies
If you want to find me
I'll be lost inside
Your starry eyes

Any situation
You can find a new way out
There is no doubt
Your imagination
You let it run away with you
Now do you know the truth

Far across the water
You went searching after
Now your answers they light up the night
I've still got your picture
I can still remember your starry eyes

I still remember your starry eyes
I can still remember your starry eyes
You light up the night with your starry eyes
Oh I'm lost inside your starry eyes

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)
Track Name: Watching The Sun Go Down
(lyrics)

Watching the sun go down
It's the end of today
I've been quite a while in this town
I feel far away

But don't tell me
What you think is wrong
Just save your breath
This moment is almost gone

Watching the sun go down
Fade into night
Give away all I've found
Wait for the light

But don't tell me
What you think I should do
Just save your breath
This moment feels brand new

Watching the sun go down
A chill in the air
I don't know where I am bound
Never used to care

You don't have to tell me
What I already know
Don't waste your breath
Yes I know, it's time to go
Time to go
Time to go

Words and Music by Mike Shupp
Copyright © 1999 Workplace Music (BMI)