Worth It
(Patricia Vonne)

They roam in a haze
Waiting for your soul to take
Found you broken in a thousand pieces thrown
All alone and afraid
Waiting for the wave to break
I was standing as a witness to the crime
Hey little babe with the monkey on your back
Hey little darlin' you're worth more than that
Don't you know you're worth it
Don't you know you're worth it to me
What a strange, funny pain
That haunts the dark side of your face
But I see past the visions in your mind
They may haunt and they will plague
But they can never take away
Break the chain, face the fear, cut the ties
They're waiting at the door in temporary drag
They're coming back for more in temporary rags
They're laughing at your tears with a blood-stained grin
Slam you to the past and back again

Song note: "Sometimes we stand in our own way. This song is hopeful that we can reject bad influences in our lives and temptations from the dark side in order to maintain self worth.

Cut From the Same Cloth
(Patricia Vonne/Rosie Flores)

You're the warmth in my sleep
The kiss that makes me weep
Firestarter I try hard not to bother
You bring me to my knees
We echo each other like wind through the trees
Kindred spirits in sync like the breeze
We're cut from the same cloth
Cut from the same cloth
Cut from the same cloth
Love is gonna run you right out of town
You're the blood under my skin
The tonic in my gin
Undercover I'll love you like no other
Your taste is sweet as sin
I can feel your spirit by my side can you feel it
Baby I want you till the day I die can you feel it
Right from the start
Because we're cut from the same cloth

Song note: Writing with Rosie Flores is always an adventure. We wanted this song to be sexy and soulful. Joe Ely's and Rosie's passionate vocals sure bring it home.

FUENTE VAQUEROS
(Patricia Vonne/Michael Martin)

Fuente Vaqueros, Fuente de la vida
Un pueblito perdido en un santuario
En las orillas del Rio Genil
En la hermosa provincia de Granada
Hay una joya coronada
Fuente Vaqueros, Fuente de la Vida
Fuente de la vida y de la abundancia
Oye las guitarras y castañuelas
Vio su primera luz de dia en el pueblo
Donde nacio' Fuente Vaqueros
El camina en sus suenos
Por la oscuridad
En aguas heladas por la muerte
cuando entro' en la plaza de toros
bajo la luna
se detuvo a escuchar los grillos cantando
bajo los arboles de olivos
donde escucha el murmullo del agua
bajo los arboles de olivos
en la provincia de Granada
bajo los arboles de olivos hay una joya coronada
bajo los arboles de olivos en la provincia de Granada

Fountain of the Cowboy
(translation to Fuente Vaqueros)

Fountain of the Cowboy Fountain of life
A little village lost in a sanctuary of time
Along the banks of the Rio Genil
In the beautiful province of Granada
There is a crowned jewel
Fountain of life and abundance
Hear the guitars and castanets
He saw his first light of day
In the village where he was born
Fuente Vaqueros
He walks in his dreams
Though darkness chilled the fountain waters
When death walked into his bullring
Under the moon he stands to listen
To the cricket's singing beneath the olive trees
Where he hears the laughing waters

Song note: “Fuente Vaqueros” is a provence in Granada, Spain where Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca was born. He is quoted in saying “I saw my first light of day in Fuente Vaqueros”. I wanted to capture his fiery spirit through this song.

Truth Awakening
(Patricia Vonne)

Life's a crazy carousel fragile and unbound
On a broken ferris wheel high above the ground
Wheels keep turning round and round
Love is truth awakening
Your love is divinely king
Your love will wash me clean
Come and lay your burden down
I'll drink you from my lips
Breathe your breath and chase the sound
Of true love at it's best
A thousand kisses on the ground
Skin upon skin
No more lonely emptiness
If you need me just come knocking
Cuz I'll be knocking on your front door
gracing the edge of your lonely heart
Together we'll love and never part

Song note: This goes out to anyone who is madly in love. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Castle Walls
(Patricia Vonne)

Child not forgotten
Paint your fairytale
Climbing down your castle walls
Two hearts forsaken there
There's love all around
And I'm unbound
You're my everything
Hey little darlin' don't you fear me now
May our hearts surrender
Shield us from despair
Pleading voices soul collide
Now I'm under your spell
I'm unwound and I'm unbound
You're my everything
Hey little darlin' don't you fear me now
There may come a day when you and I
We'll share everything
Hey little darlin' don't you fear me now

Song note: A blood drenched love song.

El Marinero y La Sirena
(Patricia Vonne/Michael Martin)

Fue forzado a caminar la tabla
Se zambullo en el agua helada
Clavado debajo del galeon español
Sintio un golpe brutal
Descendiendo en la oscuridad
Sintio un abrazo fuerte
De dedos tenaces al girar
Con un beso de la vida
El marinero y la sirena
Pertenecen al mar tan negro
Oyen el llanto del destino
Un amor ardiente y herido
El esta destinado a navegar sobre el mar
Espumoso del amor
Y ella a nadar leguas abajo
Su corazon naufragado nunca podra saber
La allegria de nadar con su amor verdadero
Su amor es un tesoro
Que brilla mas puro que el oro.
Cuando veas caer una estrella mi hechicera
Recuerdame mi sirena
Aunque perteneces al mar ven conmigo
Sere tu refugio con permiso
En mi dolor hay esperanza mi marinero
Que el amor no es fatal solo sincero
Oye el llanto del destino mi carino
Desde el fondo del mar donde vivo

The Sailor and the Mermaid

He was forced to walk the plank
plunging into the icy waters
nailed beneath the Spanish galleon
He felt a crushing blow
descending into the darkness
he felt a warm embrace of tenacious fingers
spinning to the surface with a kiss of life
the sailor & the mermaid
belong to the sea
hear the cry of destiny
of an ardent wounded love
he is destined to sail
above love's foamy sea
And she, to swim leagues below
his shipwrecked heart can never know
the joy of swimming w/ his true love
their love is a treasure that shines
brighter than gold
when you see a falling star, my enchantress
remember me, my little mermaid
even though you belong to the sea, come with me
I will be your refuge
in my sorrow there is hope, my sailor
that love is not fatal but sincere
Listen to the cry of destiny
at the bottom of the sea where I live

Song note: I was on tour in Denmark when I was inspired to write this song about the sailor and the mermaid.I wrote it for my little nieces & nephews. The sailor belongs to the land, the mermaid belongs to the sea, so sadly they can never be.

COWSKULLS AND GHOSTOWNS
(Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche/ Shawn Sahm)

Tombstone Arizona Deadwood South Dakota
I'm running just as fast as I can
Deer in the headlights
Dead Mans Valley
I can see the blood on your hands
Come on over baby
There's a full moon rising
And a shot that'll rattle the dead
Rattlers in the basin
Bones in the churchyard
Of the ones that didn't have a chance
Cowskulls and ghosttowns
Prowl the streets by candlelight
Gunfighter's rage settled in the street
Rattle snake trigger brings a man to his knees
Down your road to perdition
In your own private prison
Hear the ghosts slamming the tracks
With the lives you've forsaken
And the souls that's you've taken
Watch the devil dance

Song note: Stepping back into the Old West where a “rattlesnake trigger brings a man to his knees” Shawn Sahm would say.

Love is a Bounty
(Patricia Vonne)

My love's as deep as the ocean
And your love's a drop in the sea
You promised me love and devotion
And brought nothing but heartache to me
But my love is a bounty
And my love once believed
But I would rather be lonely
Than to languish in your misery
I'd like a ranch style house in the country
But I'd settle for a dirt floor instead
Now the fire in your eyes is so empty
And the flowers are already dead
My love is a bounty
And my love once believed
I would rather be lonely than
To languish in your company
I feel the walls of our love falling down around me
I've tried to hard to build it up again
It's true that I can't make you love me
And I can't get you out of my head

Song note: This is the first song I ever wrote in my life with only 3 chords I knew at the time.

La Lomita de Santa Cruz
(Patricia Vonne)

La Lomita de Santa Cruz
El camino de las piedras
Que va hacia la lomita
El grito valiente de Domingo Pena
Pidiendo un milagro para matar la sequía
La sequía ha plagado la tierra
El rio corre seco y la cosecha murio.
Entre más cerca estás a Dios más probable que El escuche
Le rogué al sol y a la luna violeta

Holy Cross on the Hill
Holy cross on the hill
He walks the pathway of stone
That leads to the the sacred hill
The valient cry of Domingo Pena
Asking for a miracle to kill the drought
The drought had plagued the ghostland
The river ran dry and the harvest died
The closer you are to God
The more likely he is to listen
He prayed to the sun and the lavender moon

Song note: Inspired by my great –great- grandfather Domingo Peña who prayed endlessly to end a devastating drought in Rio Grande City, Texas in 1904. Today the Holy cross remains on the hill where my family has a pilgrimage every year in honor of our ancestors.

Gin and Platonic
(Patricia Vonne)

Since we've been together
you've been holding out on me
My dear, you've made it clear
this wicked fear of loving me
Well, I'm not out to get you
One heart can't beat for two
But must I hide forever this love I feel for you
I wanna writhe in muddy water
as I feel your lips on mine
Baby, you're my one desire
let your tired mind unwind
I wanna feel your arms around me
why can't you feel it too
What will it take to make you
feel the same way I do
We go together like gin and platonic
just like a hotrod with a million miles on it
but you're the one man that's got the key
baby won't you stake a claim on me
Be my Valentino, Romeo, or Jimmy Dean
a pair of reckless lovers up on that silver screen
I've given every indication but you ain't got a clue
indulge my fascination love me madly like I love you

Song note: Unrequited love... with a shot of humor to dry the tears.

Missing Women
(Patricia Vonne)

Cold black night silent screams
pierce the darkness
across the border town Juarez bleeds
casts a shadow of evil light
fallen crosses of human plight

Mothers & daughters lives burned & battered
cold & scattered in shallow graves
what evil soul could take a life, a human life, unholy reign

Across the desert of burning tears
Mujeres desaparecidas
veiled in mystery for so many years
Mujeres desaparecidas
for how long will the blood river flow
where will the children go

Cold black night silent screams
pierce the darkness
across the border town Juarez bleeds
fallen crosses & broken faith
human disgrace of violent rage
*This song goes out to the families of the missing women of Juarez, Mexico. You are not forgotten.

Hot Rod Heart
(Patricia Vonne/ Johnny Reno)

Well her name is Enedina
and she runs with the pack
She loves high rollers and Jack Kerouac
Ready for the roundup lookin' supreme
In her 49' Merc rebel grease machine
She's got the pedal to the metal at 110
racin' with the devil all over again

She's got a hot rod heart, black jeans tight
two lane blacktop in the pale moonlight
power shift love, gears wound tight
Hot rod girls are gonna roll tonight

Sat urday night down at the drive- in
In her 59' Chevy with gull wing fins
Ride the motorbaby like a rebelene
She loves her El Dorado when she's cruising the scene
Well, she knows every year model and make
She's hell on wheels and she'll raise the stakes

She's got a hot rod heart, black jeans tight
two lane blacktop in the pale moonlight
power shift love, gears wound tight
Hot rod girls are gonna roll tonight
She's got a heart rod heart burning bright
Hot rod girls are gonna roll tonight

She's got a new tattoo to match her red stingray
C'mon everybody lets get ready to play

There ain't nothin' better than a GTO
Or 20 Flight Rock on the radio

In a pink cadillac with a dual carburetor
I'm off to the chicky run so I'll see ya later
*Hot Rods, Rockabilly Music, & Kandy Kolored dreams. These are a few of my favorite things.

Battle Scars
(Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)

You wanna leave but you can't let it go
I wanna know I wanna know
I see the pain linger in your soul
Tears thru your heart like a fatal blow

*Can you show me
cuz each & every time you hold me
Our love burns eternally

Rise like the sun when you're cold & wasted
& you feel like racing to me
You're my heart you're my heart
( when your worlds gone crazy)

When life is cruel better place your bets
gotta live more gotta fear less
battle scars and a tangled mess
time to move on with no regret
Devils eye filled with sin when you're alone and dejected
and you feel you're losing again
you're my heart my heart
*AHH!The measurement of both difficulties & triumphs of commitment.

TORERA
(Patricia Vonne/ Israel Rodriguez)

Como mi padre y mis antepasados
hay algo que nadie puede entender

Toda mi vida lucho por mis derechos
y mi propio honor
en esta tradicion.

Torera!
Lucha hasta la muerte
Torera!
Lucha por tu honor
Torera!
Porque yo tengo la sangre de la torera

Es porque yo soy mujer independiente
o es porque yo tengo ganas de vivir
Los ojos del toro
Son mas amables que los de aquellos
Perseguida con fulgor
Desde el dia en que naci

Todo este odio
No vale la pena
Quita te las cadenas de la sociedad
La eleccion de mi vida
Es como el aire que respiro
lo cierto es que me eligio
y nunca lo negare'
*Torera is a female bullfighter. In a traditionally male arena, they are few. She personifies strength in adversity. She defends her honor with her life and she does it with dignity and grace. She speaks to the artistic soul.

Jett Rink
(Patricia Vonne /Robert LaRoche)

If you were in my western flick
over Reata we'd ride
oh, we'd strike it rich like Bick Benedict
never repent on a dime

Through oil fields of West Texas
just beyond the Marfa lights
we'd walk the red earth
sense a new birth
beneath the blazing sky

Oh!, yeah I'm richin'
Oh! yeah, I'm rich for my well has come in, yeah

Be my shelter from the storm
and I'll taste your sweet lips of wine
hold me close beneath the stars
at your table I will dine

Vaya con Dios pistolero
Oh, love's just the luck of the draw
Viva vaquero!
arriba tu alma
just like Peckinpah

Oh!, yeah I'm richin' Oh yeah I'm rich, boy
Oh! yeah, I'm rich for my well has come in, yeah

You've got that gritty streak of ol' Jett Rink
You light the fire in my eyes
You've got that roguish charm that makes me weak
You're my wildcatter in disguise
* Jett Rink is a romantic song inspired by one of my favorite films "GIANT". I fantasized what MY ultimate western flickwould be if I included the iconic figure of James Dean and maverick director Sam Peckinpah's visual eye.

The Dogs Dance
(Patricia Vonne/Robert LaRoche)

Waves of sorrow wounded pride
when we can't get along
demons follow dead of night
in the cold New York dawn
I'm holdin' on I'm holding on

Rise move to the next town
Rise with me honey
I'm holding on I'm holding on

Cruel addiction
web of lies
and we know that it's wrong
shameless silence
muted cries
in the pain of the song
I'm holding on I'm holding on

Face the madness won't leave your side
till the demons have gone I'm holding on
Rise
*Inspired by the novel of the same name, written by my friend Scott Krantz. It's about addiction and the struggle to survive a soul assaulting life lived on the dark side.

Huerta de San Vicente
(Patricia Vonne)

He buscado la fortaleza
del espiritu del principe Andaluz
dentro del parque extremo sudoeste de la bella ciudad
Una casa blanca en la calle Virgen Blanca en la bella Granada

Segui las senales y suspiros fantasmales
que me guian a la Huerta de San Vicente
se huele el aroma de jazmin y azahar
en los jardines de clavelinas
de tu deseo tu balcon esta abierto
donde se puede ver la Sierra y Alhambra

La Huerta de San Vicente
La perla de Granada
Romancero Gitano
La perla de tu alma

Poeta de Sangre hijo de Granada
victima de la guerra civil
la sangre no corre mas en tus venas
pero existe en tus obras, Lorquiana
abre tu puerta y di la verdad con tus obras y tertulias
*I wrote this song after visitng the home of the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca in Granada , Spain Though he died tragically during the Spanish Civil War, his spirit continues to live through his works.

Dutch Cigarette
(Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)

Me and my baby on a long train to Oslo
going on our 13th night
we play at Muddy Waters and we go where the wind blows
travel by the dawns early light
well we eat like kings then we play till we're wrecked
we wake up and start over again
with guitars blazing no we ain't dead yet
with 3 hours of sleep and a dutch cigarette

Down the river Seinne Champs Elysee in Paris
tete café ole' bon
my mama told me for every good deed you cherish
you're bound to get a jewel in your crown
well in my life I must have done something right
I couldn't dream up all of this
me and my baby burning red tail lights
with 3 hours of sleep and a dutch cigarette

Lakeside view Bluesiana Velden
playing rock n roll all night
RockHouse in Saltzburg Reeperbahn in Hamburg
sensory overload alright
well we're making new friends from both sides of the world
so you must forgive the state I'm in
cuz it's a fairy tale life that I'm living in
with 3 hours sleep and a dutch cigarette
*A rollicking travelogue of our European tour adventures, burning through road maps, 3 hours sleep, sensory overload… you get the picture.

Karolina
(Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)

Can you hear me Karolina
far away as the sun burns down
I'll be waiting for you
come what may I won't let you down

Can you hear me Karolina
fallen grace sacred ground

Love abandoned child's heart left broken
though memories fade a hard rain comes down
with each days passing world's collapsing
show me the way to break through your heart

Can you hear me Karolina thorns of faith
Saviors crown
Hear me calling Karolina come home safe come home now

Can you hear me Karolina far away as the sun burns down
I'll be waiting Karolina words of faith sacred ground
hear me calling Karolina come home safe come home now
*Back in NYC, I was a "Musician on Call" who would sing to the children in the hospital. This song is for all those children who changed my life.

Will We Ever Be
(Patricia Vonne)

As I traveled the world over
you were just a memory
until I swam in picture postcards
from California to Tennessee
how you won me over
the way you kissed me tenderly
you had no rich man's gold to speak of
but a song you sang to me
I will always love you
even though we're not meant to be
will we ever know the answer
will we ever be

With a thousand miles between us
you know my life's a shade of blue
will you meet me at the alter
where we'll boldly say I do
and if I cannot lay beside you
I'd crawl inside this telephone line
where I'll hibernate forever
till I feel your lips on mine
*For anyone who is brave enough to endure a long distance relationship.

Mujeres Desaparecidas
(Patricia Vonne/Israel Rodriguez)

Quien podra comprender
a ver la vida y la unjusticia
seres queridos por doquier
sufren pidiendo justicia

Madres de rostros
esperanzados
no descansan en el ayer
buscan en el desierto el desden
y infierno, y oscuridad

coro: En el desierto de lagrimas
mujeres desaparecidas
no te rindas en la oscuridad
mujeres desaparecidas
el buen Dios te alentara
y te abrigara

Quien podra comprender
a ver la vida y la unjusticia
tu llanto se escuchara'
tu esperanza resplandecera'

("Spanish version of Missing Women")

Joe's Gone Ridin'
Vonne/ LaRoche

Joe's gone ridin, ridin on the rail
Joe's gone ridin, he'll be on your trail
Don't try to fight him , you're only gonna fail
Joe's gone ridin ,ridin' on the rail
From the cotton fields of Tx, down to the Rio Grande
He's a gypsy cowboy who always takes a stand
he hustled pool, hopped the train, headed down to San Antone
a restless heart, he lives life down to the bone
5 card gamble at the Boomtown saloon
he always plays to win while howling at the moon
tequila, wine, fists are flyin' and I'm caught in a mess
but I love to play the part of the damsel in distress
When you plead and you cry and they just won't let you by
But if Joe says then Joe says
Tumbleweed, devil dye & they spit between your eyes
But if Joe says then Joe says
There ain't no openin' band for no wine festival
but if Joe says, Joe says
Don't mess with Texas or a green eyed girl.
Don't penalize my case just cuz I defend my world
gotta speak your mind with every breath, fight for what you believe
I just wanna live a life without that human greed
*Inspired by the generous spirit of Joe Ely.

Texas Burning
Vonne/LaRoche

Texas burning see the heat rising
The fields have withered and the wells run dry
Now my heart is yearning where the home fires burning bright
I'm going home, I'm going home I know
Ageless mother paint me a picture
With shades of sorrow and golden pride
Love will never leave you lonely like a lost child crawling in the night
Who's gonna hold you who's gonna hold you now
Well I don't want wait here any longer
I just want to lay on warm familiar ground
Texas burning until tomorrow it's where they'll lay me down
Texas burning with it's red eyes shining how I miss that comfort
As every day goes by now my heart is yearning where the home fires
Burning in the night I'm going home yeah, I'm going home I know
* I wrote this song in my NY apt when I was feeling homesick for my family back home in Texas.

La Gitana de Triana
Patricia Vonne

La Gitana de Triana
Con la fuerza de las campanas
Sevilla es la cana
La conquista de las almas
Cruza el Guadalquivir
Ella baila por esperanza
al compas de la guitarra
Ay, que noches embrujadas
Con el eco de las palmas
Cruza el Guadalquivir
es la cana, esperanza
Gitana de Triana…cruza el Guadalquivir!
ay, que Guay Vaya la Gitana
Vaya con Dios Vaya alegria
Ay que Guay! Vaya la Gitana
Oye las palmas
Por las calles de adoquin
Las palomas de paz estan volando y mas
Los caballos estan paseando
La gitana sique bailando
Y la gente esta gritando!
Cruza el Guadalquivir
*In Sevilla, Spain, across the River Guadalquivir, is Triana which was once an old gypsy quarter. It is here that my sister decided to run away and become a gypsy dancer. I wanted to capture her passion for flamenco and the haunting magic of the city.

Rebel Bride
Vonne/LaRoche

Slippin on my white lace satin dress string of pearls down my back
Well I'm getting ready my heart's strong and steady
for my one eyed rebel jack
without you my life's a shade of blue and I don't know where I'm at
come on over honey to my land of milk and honey
let's hitch us a ride like Bonnie and Clyde oh yeah!
Rebel Bride Rebel Bride
Come on little honey won't you step inside
Rebel Bride Rebel Bride
I want a piece of heaven my castle of stone
I want to be the queen sitting on my thrown
My love is a rage made of flesh and bone
So let's hit the ground running baby let's tear out of here
Reno won't you play on my wedding day with the mission bells amplified
The walls may shatter but hell it don't matter cuz baby our hands are tied
My love is a flame and babe you know I would forever want you by my side
So I'm getting ready my heart's strong and steady
Let's hitch us a ride while your kissing your bride oh yeah!
*Every bride needs a righteous wedding song!

Lonesome Rider
Vonne/ LaRoche

With blood red boots a shadow stumbled through my door
Throwing matches & flickin' ashes onto my dirt floor
I don't know from where he came I don't care where he's been but
I was lying in my darkness when he saved my skin
I wish that I could let it be instead it's taken over me
And I can't escape it now
Oh Lonesome Rider, Oh Lonesome Rider
Burning down that dusty road of Hwy 59
He's my only lonely outlaw who'd lay it on the line
Well our love was just another faded memory until he came into my garden
Yeah he came and rescued me
I wish that I could just be free instead it's taken over me
And I can't escape it now
There's a strong wind whipping in the distant fire light
One road to freedom I can see the pale moon rise
*Dedicated to the Gotham City Riders of NYC. They were at every show I did in the Big Apple. Each one shared with me their passion for riding Harleys. Their words are woven into this song which is a tribute to them. Thanks boys.

Guitarras and Castanuelas
Vonne/Rodriguez

En la distancia se pueden oir
Lamentos de guitarra llorando su sufrir
Siguiryas se bailan, hasta el fin
La bella gitana el cantar es su vivir
Choque de mano, choque de palillos
Con la fuerza de pasion es su destino
El compas de la guitarra con sus manos esculpidas
Anda castanuelas heridas OLE!
La juega sagrada por dias duraria
Poemas de Lorca cante jondo asi
La bella gitana el cantar es su vivir
Con las castanuelas heridas hasta morir
*Dedicated to Alejandro Escovedo. Another hero of mine who has been so supportive, and of whom I've had the pleasure of dueling guitars and castanets!

Long Season
Vonne/ LaRoche

It's been a long season it's been a long ride
But you plead treason with all of your lies
You've been selling me dreams that never ring true
Can't afford patience I'm running out of time
True desperation I'm losing my mind
You've been playing these games well I can play too
But you walked out without a sound and let me wander
Alnoe in the crowd
I knew when you said it you wouldn't let me go
But you didn't mean it your heart didn't show
Baby what went wrong let's make it right
My head's all hazy and I'm feeling like a fool
But love's never easy did black turn to blue
Baby what went wrong don't shoot out the lights
Can't avoid the rain storm's coming down don't let me wander
Alone in the crowd
*Relationships… need I say more?

Fiesta Sangria
Vonne/Reina

Tenemos que vivir y amar en harmonia
cuando tu vida esta llena de temor y angustia
canta la cancion del lobo
de la luna y el rio
Fiesta, Fiesta Sangria Andaluz!
Debemos tartar de olvidar las penas negras
no vale la pena esta vida si la desperdicias
aprovecha las cositas buenas
y salud a la manzanilla
Fiesta , Fiesta Sangria Andaluz!
Cuando el camino te lleva a un laberinto
y te sientes perdido cada dia y cada momento
sigue bebiendo la vida
y no sientas esta humana sequia
Fiesta, Fiesta Sangria! Andaluz!
olvida tus problemas, todos tienen soluciones!
*The Spaniards are a life embracing people. In Sevilla, on Wednesday nights in my favorite cantina, there were 'Fiesta Sangria' parties. It was an invitation to celebrate friendship and life.

Blood on the Tracks
Vonne/LaRoche

Give me one more day I'll be walking in the sun
Finally had to leave that world behind
We ain't ever going back we ain't ever going back
Well they talk about our wicked lives
Whispered that we never should have come here
Caught us in a trap gonna tear us down at last I hold you close dear
Hear me when I say I can't spend another night
hangin' on the edge of that line
we ain't ever going back we ain't ever going back
our hearts have been scarred there's blood on the tracks
time after time we keep hoping just to find our fields of gold here put your hand in mine honey cross that borderline our of a dark year
*This song is about survival, resolve, & redemption…

Sax Maniac
Vonne/LaRoche

He's a sax maniac with a devils eye
Hair slicked ba ck and head cocked high
He can rattle and play any club in town
& revel and level it to the ground
Running down the streets in a a Hitchcock haze
running for cover thru the alley ways
The junkyeard dogs are howling tonight
rippin' and rockin' round the factory lights
oh bee bop baby gonna blow your top hey oh hey o
gonna rip it rock it rattle & hide
bee bop baby gonna blow your top better keep running
down at the diner where the records spins
feel the third degree w/ a 5th of gin
the hotrod cars are revving up tonight
big rockin' daddy's gonna start a fight
gotta meet Jimmy at the 5 & dime
with a soda pop grin and a rhubarb pie
cool cat cryin' on the microphone
to the sound of a dirty saxaphone
*The first live show I ever saw in my hometown of San Antonio was Johnny Reno and the Sax Maniacs. I was too young to get into the club so I did what any determined fan would do. I took my dad along with me!

Traeme Paz (Patricia Vonne/Israel Rodriguez)
(from the motion picture "Once Upon a Time in Mexico")
No quemaras mi corazon
No me desangres ladron
Porque no hay nada en este mundo
o mas pr0fundo que el amor
noche tras noche yo lloro
y tantos dias pasaron
como el cielo encendido ay mi querido te espero
no me traigas tu pesar
no quiero atravesar
porque amor es la verdad
y canto la realidad
Cuando quieres regresar
a mi tierra de lagrimas
como la rosa encendida
Ay mi querido
Traeme paz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Won't Fade Away (Patricia Vonne)
I get the feeling that the end is near
by your cold kiss and the lingering fear
of just the thought of losing you
but your heart is empty and mine is full
I’m feeling useless I feel estranged
I want to save you, save you from the change
you gotta take it baby day by day
don’t wanna stand and watch you dig your own grave
oh I want to believe that you’re in love with me
but if you leave I won’t stand in your way
cuz my love won’t fade away
chorus:
Fade Away, baby don’t call it a day, baby don’t throw us away
for my love won’t fade away
Don’t you remember baby, don’t you even care
the love we built together my love was always there
You chose to walk straight through the crossfire
you chose to walk it alone
yeah it killed the pain but it killed your desire
and now you lie on your bed of stone
oh I want to make you see that you belong to me
but if you leave I won’t stand in your way
cuz my love won’t fade away
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shine a Light (Patricia Vonne/ David Garza)
You’re the one in a million you’re the one life to live
You’re the heart beating thunder and your spirit’s wearing thin
The tide pulls me under the flood swallows me whole
can we stay above the water
chorus:
Shine a light on me Shine your light on me
the truth is hard to see so shine your light on me
You’re the devil on my shoulder
you’re the writing on the wall
you’re the fight that’s never over
nothing left to do but crawl
And your memories all that smolder
When you haunt me noon and night
Will you wake me when it’s over?
chorus:
Shine a light on me Shine your light on me
the truth is hard to see so shine your light on me
but don’t get too close with your sweet stuff
reminds me of the hell of love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dance in the Circle (Patricia Vonne/Robert LaRoche)
Black eagle speak 500 nations weep
they tore your world apart with a cold clear rifle round
oh spirit rise, heal our wounded soul
protect the life we know as we dance on hallowed ground
~ dance in the circle ~
With guns they came to ravage and to fight
Lord, hear the battle cry of our sons and daughters
red rivers flow across the spirit land
united we will stand hear the children cry out loud
~ dance in the circle ~

Land of the free behold our destiny
our blood is of the earth now the sky is crying
oh spirit rise, set our souls free
don’t deny our liberty as we dance on hallowed ground
~ dance in the circle ~
(dedicated to the Native Americans...inspired by Leonard Peltier)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOLEDAD (Patricia Vonne/Robert LaRoche)

Ay, mi vida no es la vida
te fuiste sin despedida
y aparte de ti no existo mas
tu eres mi vida cuando me mirabas
en el fondo de mi alma
ahora siento la inmensa soledad
como una dura almadana
coro:
Soledad nunca te olvido
que te he querido
deseo lo mejor a ti adios, adios.
tu eres mi vida el sol y la luna
y hasta la madrugada
despierto pero tu no existes mas
existes solo en mis lagrimas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MUDPIES and GASOLINE (Patricia Vonne/Robert LaRoche)
Mama told you not to play by the fire
and now you’ve gone and wrapped yourself in barbed wire
everytime I see a red light you say go
sun’s burnin’ on a hot summer day
I’m in a hurry honey clear the way
Daddy still ain’t home and the baby’s cryin’
chorus:
Mama’s cookin’ up the rice and beans
while we’re makin’ mudpies with gasoline
We’re on a hellride! we’re on a hellride! oh yeah!
An honest man with a lack of greed
workin’ night and day 10 mouths to feed
Mama’s all alone and the chicken’s fryin’
sun’s burnin’ on a hot summer day
I’m in a hurry honey clear the way
Daddy still ain’t home and the baby’s cryin’
chorus:~~~~~~
Jumpin’ fences losin’ your senses
this ain’t your first rodeo
Like a hellcat causin’ every train wreck
Johnny better run, better run for sure!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DEVOTION (Patricia Vonne)
You want to swear your loves devotion
you want to light the fire in my eyes
Our hearts are raging like the ocean
as our emotions running high
Our love was driven by the thunder
and like a hunger leads me back to you
Everytime I feel your passion
I could not imagine living without you
chorus: ~~~~~~~~
wrap your angel eyes around me
your arms are sweet as shelter from the rain
through every storm we try to run free
like horses in a hurricane
so many times our faith has withered
so many promises we just can’t make
when we cross that frozen river time will only trigger
the ice is gonna break
Chorus: ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love is the reason we keep it together
and love is the reason we’re still around
love is the reason let’s keep it together
don’t give me a reason to run
So now we’re standing at the crossroads
staring down both roads that seem to never end
why can’t we ever go the distance
why can’t we ever make amends
you wanna swear your love’s devotion
you wanna light the fire in my eyes
our hearts are raging like the ocean
tangled by emotions burning deep inside
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BANDOLERA (Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)
Viva Bandolera!
arriba duena, arriba duena
alza la bandera la vaquera, la vaquera!
Era la mexicana buscando su corazon
Diego de la Chapa cautivado en perdicion
Vinieron pistoleros su amor lo prendieron
por eso se vengara su amado El Alacran
Defiende con fiereza Bandolera hasta el fin
con talisman en su mano sin pistolas que hagan sufrir
Ay, rinches cobardes sin honra ni compasion
con pistolas y las dagas se matan sin razon
Cruz en la montana desea la libertad
cubierta de las flores de sangre y lagrimas
Ay, rinches cobardes
sin honra ni compasion
con pistolas y las dagas
se matan sin razon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can You Hear Me (Patricia Vonne)
Can you hear me calling out your name
since your love has gone my roof can’t hold your rain
why should our love have to end this way
you can’t tell me there’s nothing left to say
Chorus:
Can you hear what I’m saying can you hear me at all
because I feel the pressure weighing I feel I’m talking to a wall
you’ve always had trouble saying that your sweet love is true
baby hear what I’m saying It’s killing me it’s killing you
I won’t apologize for loving you
I might as well apologize for living too
for all those times that you’ve walked out my door
you never fail to leave me wanting more
baby all our friends are saying that true opposites attract
and baby you’re the man I married
what do you have to say to that
you say it’s your way or the highway
and that I best make up my mind
baby hear what i’m saying
I’m getting off this hopeless ride
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MORNING AFTER (Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)
Sunday morning night is dawning
over the mountains through the clouds
I’ve been waiting my heart’s breaking
I was lost but now I’m found
chorus:
If you lead me to the water
will you save me if I drown
will we see the morning after
will our tears melt the ground
Lord and Savior dressed in velvet
are you my angel whose eyes I trust
I’ve had wishes melt and crumble
and I’ve seen true eyes turn to rust
chorus:~~~~~~
Run through the fire, run through the trees
would you run through the desert just to be with me
run across the river swept to the sea
or will you try and bury me
Chorus:~~~~~~~~~
night is dawning cold moon rising
phantoms blowing in the wind
Well I’m still standing and I’m still waiting
as I slowly shed my skin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
El Cruzado (Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)
Last night I saw you again out of the corner of my eye
young an reckless my friend tell me what’s keeping you alive
5 years gone by in misery without a clue if you’re alive or history
somehow I knew that you’d come back for me
Chorus:
He’ll be waiting for me down in Mexico
5 miles to the border, yeah....
I know where I’m going where my love will flow
5 miles to the border, El Cruzado
He blazed across the Rio Grande left me his gun and indian stones
I held his cross inside my hands and I prayed till the red sun rose
there’s just one more that I can bare just to feel your sweet lips kiss my hair
I swear I still can feel you standing there
chorus:
He’ll be waiting for me down in Mexico
5 miles to the border , yeah...
I know where I’m going
where my blood will flow
5 miles to the border, El Cruzado
We’ll be dancing on the moon
he’ll be coming home, coming home soon
Last night I saw you again
out of the corner of my eye
are you a ghost from the dead
are you the love of my life
black fever clouds are rolling in
and I will run till I’m soaked to the skin
and now my heart is wearing thin
but I’m not giving in
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severina (Patricia Vonne/Robert Rodriguez)
No hay razon por besos Quiero ese cielo rincon
Severina Corazon
Ay, vida mia eres mi dulce inspiracion
Severina Corazon
ay, sin razon
madre, llena de vida del amor, canta divina
la reina, de castilla por las calles de Sevilla
gitana bailarina, la pasion, la alegria
estrellas escondidas en el cielo maravilla
*(dedicated to Severina Rodriguez)
(1912-2002)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dead Eyes Shine (Patricia Vonne/ Robert LaRoche)
Stay with me spirit lay beside me now
the evil that we’re facing burns us to the ground
unholy darkness how can I begin
answer to our maker a life that’s filled with sin
who will quench the fires that rage beneath my sheets
haunt me when I’ve waken taunt me when i sleep
a lover’s whisper pierce the hollow night
while vampires wait to taste their warm delight
chorus:
black gates have opened ground is falling through
How long will it take to save myself from you
Lord, I’ve been searching to find the strength within
my love that once surround me has turned to skeleton
grey disilusion plague my weary mind
oh spirit won’t you bring back life where dead eyes shine
life where dead eyes shine
spirit won’t you bring back life where dead eyes shine
I’m the one who wants you I’m the one who cares
Don’t leave me in this darkness baby all alone to bear
haunt me when I’ve waken taunt me in the night
oh spirit won’t you bring back life where dead eyes shine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SONG NOTES:

Won’t Fade Away (Vonne)
I was once dating a man who loved his liquer more than he did me. The lyrics were stream of conciousness and the music took on a cyclical frustration that mirrored our one day at a time struggle. Ultimately it is a song about the strength of love in the worst of times with the full realization that you cannot save a person from themselves.

Shine a Light: (Vonne/Garza)
I was playing guitar at David Garza’s studio when he asked if I had any songs I wanted to work on. The collaboration was magical. I had a couple skeletal verses and where I lacked lyrics, he simply chimed in. He wrote the melody for the chorus and what had become my favorite part the B verse which begins- “but don’t get... to close... with your... sweet stuff” and with that “Shine a Light” was born.

Dance in the Circle: (Vonne/LaRoche)
I have always held a special place in my heart for the American Indian. My great-grandmother was Indian. I wanted to write a prayer -like battle cry which tapped into the spiritual strength and undying courage her people possessed. This song was greatly inspired by the books “500 Nations” written Alvin M. Josephy Jr. and “Prison Writings” by Leonard Peltier.

Soledad: (Vonne/LaRoche)
It took me about a year to figure out that this was not meant to be sung in English. LaRoche brought me the music. I was inspired by Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetry and I attempted to invoke his spirit through my music.
Mudpies and Gasoline: (Vonne/LaRoche)
Hellride! I was reminded of this pyrotechnical practice by my older brother. I was horrified to say the least, but it sure made a great title! LaRoche came up with the music and we both integrated the lyrics. Don’t try this at home!

Devotion: (Vonne)
For the first time ever did I wake up with a melody in my head. I grabbed my guitar which I kept by my bed and began to play the chunky muted chord progression. The chorus originally had lyrics but last minute I pulled them out and opted for a lonesome lament. I love to quote movies so in this song I used “ the ice is gonna break” from Stephen King’s gripping novel the “Dead Zone”.

Bandolera: (Vonne/LaRoche)
I started writing this song in Nuremberg, Germany while on tour with “Tito and Tarantula”. Indpired by the Mexican corridos, this is a fictional story about a female bandit who avenges her husbands death.

Can You Hear Me (Vonne)
This isn't a song that requires a lot of explanation. It's about a woman desperate to connect with her man on a very basic level and never quite doing so. There's frustration and intense love. In the end however, after years of "talking to a wall" she eventually has enough love for herself to escape the cycle and jump the wall. “ you say it’s your way or the highway and I best make up my mind... well baby, hear what I’m saying...I’m getting off this hopeless ride.”

Morning After: (Vonne/LaRoche)
When I was 19 I bought a one way ticket to Milan, Italy where I spent 6 months soaking up the culture. Something that I did not anticipate was the numerous encounters I would be having with certain lascivious Lotharios who seemingly took fiendish delight in spanking their women in the streets and subways of that fair city. If you’ve ever seen the famous photo by Ruth Orkin titled “American Girl in Italy” that would have been me. Robert brought me the music and it stirred in me those same feelings of longing for trust in the midst of extreme loneliness.

El Cruzado: (Vonne/LaRoche)
Written as a tribute to my mentor and musical hero Tito Larriva of the Cruzados. The song is about a woman in search for her lost love south- of- the border whom she believed she would inevitably reunite with.

Severina (Vonne/Rodriguez)
Written with my brother Robert for our beloved grandma “Momo” who had 11 children of her own and lived modestly in the border town of Rio Grande City, Texas. My brother’s and sisters spent our summers there and woke up every morning to the sound of roosters crowing and the smell of her homemade tortillas. To our happiness, she lived to hear the song before her passing.

Dead Eyes Shine (Vonne/LaRoche)
When LaRoche played me the drop D tuning, it conjured up ghostly dark images and the longing for salvation. The lyrics were inspired by one of my favorite scenes in Emily Bronte’s classic Wuthering Heights when Heathcliff loses his beloved Cathy and delivers a heartwrenching prayer over her deathbed.