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No Turning Back

by Johnny Joelson

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Eric Stocker
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1.
More of This 03:41
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This is love This is hope This is friendship This is faith that tomorrow brings a better day This is green Open hearted This is yearning This is justice for all in every way There’s plenty more of this than there is of that Yes there’s plenty more of this than there is of that That is greed That is hatred That is hurtful That is serving one’s own needs above all else That is malice Condescending That is vengeful That’s a lonely man shouting “go to hell“ But there’s plenty more of this than there is of that Yes there’s plenty more of this than there is of that This and that The stranger is our brother Can’t have one without the other This and that There’s no heartache without bliss Tears without a kiss Let us open up our fists This is love This is hope This is friendship This is faith that tomorrow brings a better day This is green Open hearted This is yearning This is justice for all in every way And there’s plenty more of this than there is of that There’s plenty more of this than there is of that Yes there’s plenty more of this than there is of that There’s plenty more of this than there is of that
2.
No Turning Back 05:02
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Every life has triumph Sacrifice and loss I keep moving forward Got my fingers crossed The road is long and winding Filled with twists and turns After everything I’ve been through One thing I have learned There ain’t no turning back Train keeps rolling down the track I don’t know the future like I know the past But there ain’t no turning back Every life is precious As it unfolds Stories we all carry Secrets rarely told The earth is a sphere The seasons they go round But time flies like an arrow At least that’s what I found There ain’t no turning back Train keeps rolling down the track I don’t know the future like I know the past There ain’t no turning back When I feel righteous When I am frail When I pass go And when I land in jail These are times when time itself Does not seem so abstract But time just keeps on moving… That’s a fact So let me tell you darling There’s no time to waste We’re heading to the horizon Someday we’ll leave this place Hold my hand in yours I’ll hold yours to my heart Each morning when we wake up Will be a brand new start There ain’t no turning back Train keeps rolling down the track Let’s embrace the future, forget about the past ‘Cause there ain’t no turning back There ain’t no turning back Train keeps rolling down the track Let’s embrace the future, forget about the past ‘Cause there ain’t no turning back There ain’t no turning back
3.
Pass Over Me 03:26
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Freedom of movement Freedom from fear Freedom of imagination Whispers in my ear What’s got us so scared We can’t even see Let it pass over you Pass over me Freedom of expression Freedom of speech Even though justice Hangs just out of reach Temperature’s rising Degree by degree Let it pass over you Pass over me No need to dress up We’ll stay at home We can take off our masks Just you and me alone Outside, keep a distance It’s what we must do Take care of me And I’ll take care of you Freedom of the press Freedom to gather Without these freedoms Nothing much matters It seems there are plagues Incessantly Let them pass over you Pass over me Freedom from want Freedom from need Imagine we live In a world without greed Open the book Together we’ll read Let it pass over you Pass over me Pass over you Pass over me
4.
Hope in You 03:16
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You used to tell me you loved me every day Quarter in the jukebox, we agreed on every play But now my jokes rarely make you laugh Somewhere along the line our love jumped off the track I’ve always been a dreamer Now my dreaming days are few Hope you still have hope in me ‘Cause I’ve still got… … hope in you When we started off so many years ago Our love was like a garden and baby did it grow We always used to say good night and kiss I clamored for your touch, now your touch is what I miss I’ve always been a dreamer Now my dreaming days are few Hope you still have hope in me ‘Cause I’ve still got… … hope in you I tied a rope around my dreams And hung them from a star Even in the chill of night They warm me from afar Our love was once a tapestry, a living work of art The strings were frayed, but even played on this old guitar Love can age like whiskey, I’ve been told, Mellow like the setting sun, never growing old I’ve always been a dreamer Now my dreaming days are few Hope you still have hope in me ‘Cause I’ve still got… … hope in you Still I think about tomorrow every day I’m up at night, the pale moonlight helps show me the way When we were young we said our vows and I meant what I said I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll love you till I’m dead I’ve always been a dreamer Now my dreaming days are few Hope you still have hope in me Cause I’ve still got… … hope in you Hope you still have hope in me Cause I’ve still got… … hope in you.
5.
Only Human 04:35
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Last night I woke up in a dream Didn’t know it seemed Exactly where I was I was running far from home Didn’t know where I was going I was fleeing, just because I am human I have foibles I have mysteries Only human And my dreams Become my history Tonight I’ll wake up in a sweat What I fear I don’t know yet Perhaps I never will I will thrash, toss and turn In my dreams I’ll yearn Never quite fulfilled I am human I have foibles I have mysteries Only human And my dreams Become my history And I don’t know what tomorrow brings But the sun will surely shine its light When I wake up from a night of sleep It seems everything will be all right Though my nightmares may not end I wake to see you, friend So welcome in your world You give me loving every day You help me find my way Faith a flag unfurled I am human With my foibles And my mysteries Only human And my dreams Become my history Only human With a future and a destiny Only human Only human Only human
6.
Follow Along 02:28
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I wake up each day with eager impatience So many choices, so little time I see your face without trepidation How can you be so sure what’s on your mind How will I know if it’s major or minor How will I know if it’s right or wrong You are my compass, you are a master diviner Show me the way and I’ll follow along Your eyes speak of the promise another day will bring Just like the sun finding its place in the sky Higher and higher you sing Take hold of my hand, our love is unending Together I know we’ll always be strong Sun’s getting low, night is descending If you sing the melody I’ll follow along If you sing the melody I’ll follow along
7.
Down the Road 03:06
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I’ve been walking down the road I’ve been walking down the road I try to follow where you go I’ll keep searching high and low I’ve been driving all night long I’ve been driving all night long Pretty soon I’ll see the dawn I hope you hear me sing this song When you left me for the last time girl Said you’d always be my friend It seems that I’m still chasing you My love for you will never end Got my shades drawn down and tight Got my shades drawn down and tight I sure am missing you alright I can’t fall asleep tonight I’ve been walking down the road I’ve been walking down the road I try to follow where you go I’ll keep searching high and low I’ll keep searching high and low
8.
Diastole 03:11
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For every time the heart beats There’s a moment in between Blood cascades like a waterfall Soundless and unseen Diastole Diastole Rest with me Diastole There’s a time to take a breath Before we let it go Fill up, inspiration So easy and so slow Diastole Diastole Rest with me Diastole The quiet space between the notes Not empty, so much more Power in the silence After and before A time for every season Winter turns to spring When the storms are over Peace the quiet brings Diastole Diastole Rest with me Diastole Diastole Diastole Rest with me
9.
In the Beginning 04:54
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In the beginning We once were formless ‘Tween Heaven and Earth The void was enormous Before there were humans Before there was light In the beginning The future seemed bright I don’t know where to begin The force that makes the earth spin Sits on the head of a pin I may not have that quite right Big bang or some master Calling shots from the rafters Just before or right after They turn on the light Whoa oh whoa whoa oh yeah yeah yeah yeah Whoa oh whoa whoa oh yeah yeah yeah yeah Take a look at us now We got some puffed up and proud The senseless tin got so loud And I can’t tell you why Missiles aimed at each other Won’t be fathers or mothers If we destroy one another Were we born just to die? Whoa oh whoa whoa oh yeah yeah yeah yeah Whoa oh whoa whoa oh yeah yeah yeah yeah Let us stop all our taunting Stakes are huge, they are daunting The reality haunting We must try to be calm Need some ego deflation And a whole lot of patience Or face annihilation Just one nuclear bomb Just one nuclear bomb Just one nuclear bomb Whoa oh whoa whoa oh no no no no Whoa oh whoa whoa oh no no no no Whoa oh whoa whoa oh no no no no Whoa oh whoa whoa oh no no no no A new beginning Again we’ll be formless A new beginning The void so enormous A new beginning Will there be light A new beginning Will the future be bright
10.
Agree With Above 02:43
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I still remember I’ll never forget In scrubs making rounds the day we met Reached for the same chart at the same time Miss Molly Goldberg Room 349 Molly sweet Molly, she never did know Her laments brought together a love that would grow On that fateful day I learned about love You wrote down your thoughts I agreed with above Divine providence, alignment of stars We knew right away the future was ours On that fateful day I learned about love You wrote down your thoughts I agreed with above We’ve had our ruptures, hard times we’ve shared Whatever’s been broken we’ve learned to repair The fears and uncertainties gave us some scares But our love’s still on track after all of these years Molly sweet Molly, I never will now What happened to her, where did she go? If she’s up in heaven gazing down on this earth I want to offer my thanks for what it is worth If she’s up in heaven looking down from above I wanna thank you sweet Molly for helping me find my love
11.
Mosh Pit (with my daughters boyfriend) 02:59
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Packed in like sardines inching closer to the stage I looked around I didn’t see anyone my age The smell of pot was wafting through while the roadies checked the sound I looked left then I looked right, I was lost then I was found (In the) Mosh Pit With my daughter’s boyfriend Mosh Pit How did I get here Mosh Pit A bit too close for comfort Wished that I had thought to bring a chair He and I stood side by side not sure just what to say We took a couple selfies to pass the time away Then the chords rang out my favorite song I started singing like a bird I turned to him and doncha know he knew every single word (In the) Mosh Pit With my daughter’s boyfriend Mosh Pit How did we get here Mosh Pit I think I just might like him Guess I’ll go and grab a couple beers It’s been three years since we first met He lives so far away We send each other playlists Share them every day Folk, jazz, or rock ‘n’ roll Some new tunes, some much older But when Wilco comes to town we stand… Shoulder to shoulder (In the) Mosh Pit With my daughter’s boyfriend Mosh Pit I’m so glad we’re here Mosh Pit If you’re still my daughter’s boyfriend See you back in Newport next year See you back in Newport next year See you back in Newport next year
12.
Come On Back 03:31
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Your lamp shined bright behind your eyes Until the day you said goodbye You knowing look, my friend, no longer knows Our band of brothers loved you so Always a master of time and love Your harmonies fit like a glove I hear the notes, your voice not there It isn’t right, it isn’t fair We want you Back We need you Back We love you Back Come on Back The earth still turns, the sun still shines But everything is out of line Somethings missing, it’s sad but true The something missing, Jack, is you We want you Back We need you Back We love you Back Come on Back Got a low down feeling that just won’t lift The time we shared, sweet brother, was such a gift We want you Back We need you Back We love you Back Come on Back Come on Back Come on Back Come on Back
13.
Skin in the Game 03:04
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You may be a superstar with all kinds of fame You might be a private soul, no one knows your name Light a thousand lights with a single flame To change the world you need skin in the game You might make a difference marching in the street Offer up a message to everyone you meet Write a check and sign petitions with your name To change the world you need skin in the game Or simply stay at home Turn off the lights, unplug the phone Act the lazy pacifist Let others be the activists What’s one more cold shoulder The youth can serve till they get older I’m pretty comfy in my chair Does anybody really care? If we gather together, raise our voices high Young and old, meek and bold shout out to the sky Love is a rainbow shining through the rain To change the world you need skin in the game To change the world you need skin in the game
14.
Not Alone 02:57
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Your mama’s gone, your dad’s gone too Not so sure what you’re gonna do But honey I’m staying here with you You’re not alone Our love’s not perfect, that’s a fact Something always keeps us coming back So many years ago we made a lifetime pact We’re not alone What we have will someday end The human heart doesn’t beat forever Let’s hold on tight, babe, until then Promise I will try Stand right by your side Again My mama’s gone, my dad‘s gone too I’m not sure what I was meant to do But honey I’m staying here with you I’m not alone You’re not alone We’re not alone

about

Special thanks to the many wonderful musicians who graciously offered their incredible talents to this album. Much of the recording was performed in isolation—- in home studios near and far, over the course of several months—- due to the pandemic. I truly appreciate the patience and endurance of all involved.
I am especially indebted to Jim Henry—-my first guitar teacher more than thirty years ago—- who served as friend, mentor and guiding light throughout every aspect of this project. Working closely with Jim over the past 16 months has been a true life highlight. We shared not only blood, sweat and tears, but more than a few smiles, giggles and guffaws along the way.

Peter Weitzman provided inspiration, support, and invaluable advice, particularly during the creation of the songs. I am blessed to have him in my life.

Finally, this album would not be possible without the loving support of my wife, Joanne Levin, who listened to these songs hundreds of times, and always offered key insights from lyrics to production. Joanne has a wonderful ear and a generous heart, and she has helped sustain me in every way over the years. I lovingly dedicate this album to her.

credits

released July 18, 2021

Johnny Joelson - Acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals
Jim Henry - Acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, dobro, tambourine,
harmony vocals
Rich Cahillane - Bass
Doug Plavin - Drums, Percussion
Chris Haynes - Keyboards, accordion
Greg Snedeker - Cello
John Ragusa - Alto and tenor flute
Chris Brashear - Fiddle
John Clark - French horn
Peter Weitzman - Electric guitar
Tracy Grammer - Violin, harmony vocals
Harmony vocals
- Lisa Bastoni
- Dan Zukergood
- Joanne Levin
- Sarah Joelson

All Songs Written by Johnny Joelson © 2021
Produced by Jim Henry and Johnny Joelson
Recorded and Mixed by Jim Henry, Rubytone Studios, Shutesbury MA
Recorded and Mastered by Dave Chalfant, Norfolk Studio, Northampton, MA
Cover Design by Rebecca Neimark, Twenty-Six Letters
Photography by Sarah Joelson, Michael Martin and David Schutt
Released by Cooleyville Records, 2021

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Johnny Joelson Northampton, Massachusetts

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