About
A spark – a glimmer flashes across the sky as three girls chase fireflies under a crabapple tree. Back then magic happened. A dry, five dollar bill is found in a snow storm. Secret letters appear under the wooden stairs. A young girl believes with her whole heart that she will be loved. And the seeds of these songs take root.
Many years later, while living in New York City and working with a whole host of interesting characters (JOE JACKSON, JEWEL, BRITNEY SPEARS, LADY GAGA, ROSEANNE CASH, BETTE MIDLER, ARIF MARDIN, ROB FUSARI, ENNIO MORRICONE, PHIL RAMON) the now-grown-up girl receives a note in a bottle. And it reads:
‘The spark & glimmer of the hummingbird. The song of the bird matters.
Repeat. The song of the bird matters’.
Spark! Songs are written and recorded. Stories of her life back in Canada. Long winters in a little white clapboard house. And hand to sky this is all she knows. So away we go.
Lyrics
1963
if my tongue wasnt tied
you might be surprised by my words
and if my heart couldn’t hide
i would let you into my world
oh I’m too shy
and I’ve been told I’m high
if I think you’d try
to love me
like I could really love you
and in the end all that’s real
is whatever we are feeling
like in 1963
you give me something to believe in
oh I’m too shy
and I’ve been told I’m high
if I think you’d try
to love me
love me
like I could really love you
west 13th
on my knees
counting stars and scars
oh I’m too shy
and I’ve been told I’m high
if I think you’d try
to love me
love me
like I could really love
I could really love you
you and me
living in the trees
counting stars and sparks
Me without you
close my eyes
picture everything
lightning strikes
when you least want it
am I lucky or unfortunate
in my hand a tiny spark
and your eyes they tell me everything
but someone else has got your heart
me without you
me without you
me without you
me without you
perfect storm
I could blow it all
pirouette
the dive before the fall
and I want to be the girl you take
for crazy and for good
I’m a roller coaster ride away
from feeling things I never could
me without you
me without you
me without you
me without you
and I’m swallowed up in pride
a morning glory in the dark
and the rush and hum will rattle on
even though we said goodnight
me without you
me without you
me without you
me without you
TRY
you never knew me back then
third from the left with the crooked grin
happy not lucky
that’s what they said
in my thrift store beret
chasing the doubters away
I tried
tried
tried
tried
skin full of cryptic tattoos
so many things that I didn’t do
but glimmer and lightening
a late blooming flower
your note said song of the bird
matters so make sure you’re heard
and try
try
try
try
crosses and crystals
gurus and mystics
santo daime
my headful of love sick goodbyes
well, never mind
just try
try
try
try
Song in G Major
there ain’t no good tomorrow
if my heart is broke in two
and the river that keeps rising
cannot carry me to you
there ain’t no good tomorrow
just what i got today
there ain’t no sweet redemption
until every stone is turned
and the pretty sky is broken wide
and my tears are finally heard
there ain’t no sweet redemption
no lesson to be learned
so let me stay right here
let the time keep running down
knock me out if i awake
before the spring has come around
there ain’t no new beginnings
until every leaf has fallen
and the yellow and the red
is the road that leads you home
there ain’t no new beginnings
’till you come back to me
and the words that I’ve been saving
unlocked and finally free
Give it up
heading north to thunder bay
far away from home
head still full of things you say
you’re all I’ve ever known
mother tell me how to love you
mother tell me how
and I’ll give it up – give it up
I’ll give it up to you
snowshoes lying in the trunk
I’ll need them now I know
cause everyone I’ve ever loved
is frozen in the snow
sister tell me how to love you
sister tell me how
and I’ll give it up – give it up
I’ll give it up to you
cut the timber down
light a match and burn the pieces
Jesus and his mother
and the mercy making keepers are gone
all gone
I’ve watched you stumble cross the room
tobacco and some beers
now all that’s left here in the gloom
is a bucket full of tears
father tell me how to love you
father tell me how
and I’ll give it up – give it up
I’ll give it up to you
I’ll give it up – give it up
I’ll give it up to you
I WILL FOLLOW
throw me a crumb
throw me a crumb
throw me a crumb
and I will follow you
tamp down the fire
tamp down the fire
tamp down the fire
and I will follow you
tell me you love me
and then leave me in the dark
give me a rose
make sure the thorns are good and sharp
and then take me to your house
but never let me in
throw me a crumb
throw me a crumb
throw me a crumb
and I will follow you
write me a song
but never sing it out loud
paint me a picture
of a dark and stormy cloud
and then kick me to the curb
and pick me up again
throw me a crumb
throw me a crumb
throw me a crumb
and I will follow you
tamp down the fire
tamp down the fire
tamp down the fire
and I will follow you
wreck my brand new car
and I will follow you
sell my best guitar
and I will follow you
The Prophet
so here’s the thing…
follow no one if you can
and set your compass straight
this is what the prophets do
this is what they crave
perfume burning into sky
temple bells explode
and all who enter into grace
bear witness to the love we hold
and I promise you’ll be looking back
a year from this day
I promise you will find the truth
of why you even came
and the stars will light the dark for you
the stars will light the dark
and the stars will light the dark for you
the stars will light the dark
as the prophet speaks your name
so marry your abandoned wish
hallucinate it real
scrap your skin on rock until
your body starts to feel
there’ll be days that howl and crash
and murder at your door
the stoned caress of loneliness
that leaves you wanting more and more
so lay it down and give it voice
until that storm has blown
cause even nomads need a place
a bed to call their own
and the stars will light the dark for you
the stars will light the dark
and the stars will light the dark for you
the stars will light the dark
as the prophet leads you home
may your purple soul be strong
and all your roads be glory bound
may your guarded heart be wrong
about what’s lost and what’s surely found
and the stars will light the dark for you
the stars will light the dark
and the stars will light the dark for you
the stars will light the dark
Ways of love
she got a beat up pair of combat boots
baby wings and tender roots
fifteen candles on her cake
lipgloss and a hello kitty keychain
she got big plans to make her mark
chase the fire – glimmer and spark
no more time for childish things
sparkly crowns and ten cent rings
and she’s off to learn the ways of love
broken hearts abound in the stars above
lovers wish – bitter tears
wiped away by the years
the ways of love
the ways of love
she keeps a secret tucked away
from this picture perfect day
her mama’s medicated and daddy drinks
she’ll save them both – or so she thinks
and she’s off to learn the ways of love
broken hearts abound in the stars above
lovers wish – bitter tears
wiped away by the years
the ways of love
the ways of love
gone too fast
gone too fast
years go by in a flash
hummingbird sings it’s song
and freaks like me sing along
and she’s off to learn the ways of love
broken hearts abound in the stars above
lovers wish – bitter tears
wiped away by the years
the ways of love
the ways of love
the ways of love
Details
rain falls down on the hot sidewalk
steam comes up from the subway stop
a punk rock princess her finger to the sky
mascara running down – tears in her eyes
a bottle blonde boy heading to the west side
checkin’ his reflection in the people going by
and a mother too young to really mother someone
is holding her little child waiting for the sun
god is in the details
in the details
in the details
god is in the details
headlights on in the middle of the day
heading to the pretty little cemetery
hydrants on and the kids run through
doing all the funny things that little kids do
the queen of the block with her tin foil crown
cardboard castle lying on the ground
and some teenage girls from another borough
are perfectly oblivious to the world
god is in the details
in the details
in the details
god is in the details
in every window – on every street
stories unfold
a heart could burst – my heart could break
watching it all go by
spark and flash in the desert sun
finger on the trigger of a gun
photographs of a lover’s glance
tucked inside a soldiers hat
tuesday morning and the sky falls down
ashes of the angels all around
and the tenderness of my little girls smile
and knowing that she’s only mine for awhile
god is in the details
in the details
in the details
god is in the details
Francis
you on a rock in the sea
your hair in the wind so pretty
cryin’ in your blue dungarees – so young
dreams came real easy back then
you’d smile and the world would just spin
time was your very best friend back then
somewhere on the Isle of White
you kissed naiveté goodbye
and it’s one, two
here it comes again, again
three, four lock the door
one fine day
you’ll need some medication just to deal
with the ghost of innocence
Francis
he was a stranger to love
and you, with your hand like a dove
could break open his troubled heart so wide
silver bells and golden rings
promises of better things
and it’s one, two
here it comes again, again
three, four lock the door
one fine day
you’ll need some medication just to deal
with the ghost of innocence
Francis
dressing up like a pirate
you’re off on your own
looking for some lost treasure
beneath blood and bone
what you want is something your eyes can’t see
what you need is magical thinking
and it’s one, two
here it comes again, again
three, four lock the door
one fine day
you’ll need some medication just to deal
but you’re still innocent
Francis
I go with you
steady on into the night we go
it’s raining now but cold enough to snow
through the park round the reservoir
we’ll watch the boats if we get that far
and i will wait for a thousand years
if luck runs out I won’t disappear
and in the end the only thing that’s true
wherever you go
I go with you
chasing lights down the boulevard
taxi cabs or are they shooting stars
the sky is white snow flakes hit the ground
we’re almost home but we don’t slow down
and i will wait for a thousand years
if luck runs out I won’t disappear
and in the end the only thing that’s true
wherever you go
wherever you go
wherever you go
I go with you
call my name and i will run to where you are
up to jupiter and back is not that far
not that far
and i will wait for a thousand years
if luck runs out I won’t disappear
and in the end the only thing that’s true
wherever you go
wherever you go
wherever you go
I go with you
Prayer for a new day
close your eyes and sleep
and I’ll throw petals at your feet
singing hallelujah – hallelujah
you did all you could do
some were lost but some broke through
singing hallelujah – hallelujah
send a spark up to
fallen star so you can find your way
mediation on
humble words wrapped in a song for you
the sky is filled with snow
one last wish before you go
singing hallelujah – hallelujah
burn a paper star
send it up to where you are
rest your soul upon
words of grace sung in a song for you
say a prayer for a new day
from the cradle to the grave
singing hallelujah – hallelujah
hallelujah – hallelujah
Music
Spark and Glimmer arranged and produced by:
Nikki Gregoroff, Matt Anthony & Paul Weinberg
Music & Lyrics by Nikki Gregoroff
Mixed by Matt Anthony
matt@enginesound.com
paul@mambomusic.com
LuckyPuck/Ascap 2014
Video
Photos
Press
“Nikki Gregoroff writes musically intricate songs that fit her superb smooth vocal style…..her vocals are fine and soulful….”
– Backstage
“She has a vibrant vitality…..Nikki has a voice capable of a successful solo career”
– The New York Times
“Nikki Gregoroff is gifted enough to deserve a concert platform of her own”
– Time Magazine
“She has something special; she demonstrates the kind of vocal prowess and depth that make the listener want more and more……an important new singer who clearly deserves to be heard”
– New York Daily News
“….sensational vocalist, Nikki Gregoroff, possesses a soaring voice…..she stole the show- nearly blowing the roof off the amphitheater”
– Cashbox
“Nikki’s strong clean voice knocked ’em dead in the aisles….”
– The Toronto Star