Artists live for those rare moments when everything lines up; when they gather the right songs and the right people in the right place at the right time, and find themselves and their music truly coming alive. Brigitte DeMeyer is experiencing just such a moment. Rose of Jericho is proof. Although this is album number five for DeMeyer, it also marks a trio of significant firsts: her first time taking the reigns as co-producer; her first time recording in Nashville since she made it her home; and her first time telling her stories of balancing motherhood and music. She’d built a solid foundation with her first four albums, collaborating with giants of the Americana world—world-class drummer and producer Brady Blade especially—and showing herself to have a wonderfully natural feel for country-steeped, blues-infused roots-pop, right down to her supple, peppery singing.

1. One Wish

Lyrics and Music By: Brigitte DeMeyer;
© 2011 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

If I had one wish to make
May every day be fine is what I’d say
May all the weary rest and joyful play
If I had one wish to make

If I had one joy to sing
I’d tell the people about a mighty king
Who gave me faith and love and everything
If I had one joy to sing

If ever I could do right by you
I’d rue the day that I got through
The very door from once I flew oh
If ever I could do right by you

If I had one wish to make
May every day be fine is what I’d say
May all the weary rest and joyful play
If I had one wish to make

2. The Fix I’m In

Lyrics and Music by: Brigitte DeMeyer
©2011 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

Smile, oh smile upon me sunshine
Cry, cry not upon me rain
And oh maybe
I will see tomorrow
Where the open arms of home for me await

Climb, climb up o’er the mountains
Miles, fly miles across the fields
And all this distance
And all our tribulations
Won’t be big enough to get by me

Give me some blue to see
Give me some air to breathe
Give the hand of my baby holding on to me
Want to see my child’s face
Want to live in just one place
And if I make it back again
I’m going to square this fix I’m in

Smile, oh smile upon me sunshine
Cry, cry not upon me rain
And oh maybe
I will see tomorrow
Where the open arms of home for me await

3. Alright A-Coming

Lyrics By: Brigitte DeMeyer
Music by: Brigitte DeMeyer and Chris Donohue
©2010 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

Bootleg baby
Velvet maybes
Pouring down upon the roof
Local honey
Freeway money
Take it all and head for you

Dice a tumbling
Love’s a rumbling
About some breakout news
Pass the sugar
Pass the love dear
Tear me off and cut me loose

I see alright a-comin’
(ooh it’s coming, ooh yes it’s coming)
I see alright a comin, coming round the bend

Took this long to finally find something
To keep me running from the midnight kind
Don’t know how don’t know when
It’s coming back again

Solo

I see alright a-comin’
(ooh it’s coming, ooh yes it’s coming)
I see alright a comin, coming round the bend

Took this long to finally find something
To keep me running from the midnight kind
Don’t know how don’t know when
It’s coming back again

4. Miss Johnson’s Honey

Lyrics By: Brigitte DeMeyer
Music By Brigitte DeMeyer and Brady Blade
©2011 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

Raising up street children in a world of confusion
Praying that everyone would find their way
Combing out the tangles
Braiding up their illusions
For a better way yeah

Shaded by the tallest flowers growing free and sunny
Shelling peas with sisters got the dirt out right
Meetings at the church near every Wednesday night and Sunday
We’re gonna drink some trouble down tonight
We’re gonna drink some trouble down tonight

You fill me up just like ol’ sweet Miss Johnson’s honey
And old school rebel paradise
‘Cause of you they’re sleeping fine tonight
‘Cause of you they’re sleeping fine tonight

47 now reminding me of your blue chevy
Taking me to everywhere that I could find
Going to have to turn around ’cause things are getting heavy
And I don’t think that I can say goodbye

You fill me up just like ol’ sweet Miss Johnson’s honey
And old school rebel paradise
‘Cause of you they’re sleeping fine tonight
‘Cause of you they’re sleeping fine tonight

5. Mr. Taxi Man

Lyrics and Music By: Brigitte DeMeyer and Chris Donohue
©2011 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

Mister taxi man
Rolled out the colors true
Blew them off his hand
‘Til I could see right through
He let the clouds roll in as I was missing you

He was a messenger, tie dyed in motherland
His every word it went down
like medicine, he said
Don’t you worry baby, there’s no need to be blue

There is a road I know, where everybody goes
Where we can live in the sunshine
We’re going to understand, every woman child and man
Ain’t going to be alone, on that last ride home
Hey Mr. Taxi Man…

Solo

There is a road I know, where everybody goes
Where we can live in the sunshine
We’re going to understand, every woman child and man
Ain’t going to be alone, on that last ride home

Then Mr. taxi man Pulled to the curb a-saying
Around the cornor there’s a better day coming
This guardian angel in a worn beret He took my money and the clouds away

I’m going to see you again, after the last ride home

6. Amen Said The Deacon

Lyrics by: Brigitte DeMeyer
Music By: Brigitte DeMeyer/Chris Donohue
© 2011 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

Amen said the deacon
Sign here said the Lord
If you want to get to Heaven
You got to tell it to the warden

Mama can’t see her baby
But she can hear him crying
Don’t know much about praying
But she keeps on trying

Amen said the deacon
Sign here said the Lord
If you want to get to Heaven
You got to tell it to the warden

Boy gave her an apple
She took it from his hand
Begging for a biting
That would be her living end

Amen said the deacon
Sign here said the Lord
If you want to get to Heaven
You got to tell it to the warden

AMEN, AMEN x4

Maybe all that thirstin’s
Making her go wrong
Maybe all that churchin’
Just ain’t in her song

Amen said the deacon
Sign here said the Lord
If you want to get to Heaven
You got to tell it to the warden

REPEAT

7. Jeremiah’s Blues

Lyrics By: Brigitte DeMeyer
Music by Brigitte DeMeyer and Brady Blade
© 2010 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

They said he was the only one
He was a profit and he was a woebegone
Handing out forgiveness
Here to over come

Tried to reach the people oh
He had a fire and he had reason
Against the root of all the evil’n
That’s was going on

Oh Jeremiah kicking at the dirt

Come and sit here by me son
I’m here to tell you that you ain’t got to worry none
As long as you believe
They gonna come around (ain’t gonna come undone) along

Oh Jeremiah kicking at the dirt
Some day they’re gonna listen to every word

All that whistlin’ in the wind
Just like your very own gospel hit you in the chin
Knocking you around
Then coming back again

Oh Jeremiah kicking at the dirt
Some day they’re gonna listen to every word
Oh Jeremiah, kicking at the dirt

8. Sip Molasses

Lyrics By: Brigitte DeMeyer
Music By; Brigitte DeMeyer/Brady Blade
©2011 Brigitte DeMeyer/BMI

He put his hand in the hand of a woman
He threw his glove down upon the ground
He lost his snap when he circled back
And he never came never came back around

She cracked that boy like she was whipping
She wore him low down upon her hip
He loved that woman for a living
Come sundown she’s gonna sink that ship

Sip Boy, sip molasses
Sip Molasses ‘til your eyes do shine
Moon slung low, a hundred kisses
Sirenita and a spell divine

Some say they saw him keep on walking
Some say pretty drank him up but good
The parlor window’s always left wide open
And only wind left where he once stood

Sip Boy, sip molasses
Sip Molasses ‘til your eyes do shine
Moon slung low, a hundred kisses
Sirenita and a spell divine

9. Rose of Jericho

I am a poor one
But a big man’s girl
I am a citizen in the thick of this world
I have no pedigree with blood running blue
But pockets full of honey and intentions true

I heard something ’bout love
Maybe I read it in the bible
And the things you got to do to get to Heaven
Or they’re gonna hold you liable
My boots are dusted and I’m flat busted but I ain’t rusted no
Just looking for some water to cool me down
Said the Rose of Jericho

Gonna squeeze this world
Of all it’s juice
Gonna take this heart and cut it loose
Gonna take it down to the pearly gate
And see if anyone will let me in the place

10. Say Big Poppa

Say Big Poppa
Say Big Poppa
You’re looking swell let me whisper in your ear
Slide on over, drag them bones behind
Far as I can tell my dear you’re lucky day is here

C’mon seven you been gone too long
Send-me-way down Esplanade where I belong
Roll ‘em once, roll ‘em twice
Staring down them ol’ snake eyes
They don’t hold that last street car ‘til dawn

Say Big Poppa
Say Big Poppa
You’re looking swell let me whisper in your ear
Slide on over, drag them bones behind
Far as I can tell my dear you’re lucky day is here
Oh you’re lucky day is here

Sugar dawlin’ mama needs some shoes
Gonna wear ‘em walking down that delta rue
Ticket to my Bourbon home
Is waiting there inside your palm
Throw it down there ain’t no time to lose

Say Big Poppa
Say Big Poppa
You’re looking swell let me whisper in your ear
Slide on over, drag them bones behind
Far as I can tell my dear you’re lucky day is here
OH your lucky day is here

11. Westside Mama

Wiley and willing and
Waiting again
Aproned up tight
Snapping sheets in the wind

Blue up above for a
Million square miles
30 days counting and there’s
No sign of life

How many morrows
Must I wander through
How many more ’til there’s
Nothing but you
How many morrows are there
Left to see
West side mama, south side me

Old tick of the clock
Getting louder each night
Turn down the moon with some blackberry wine
Sleep ain’t been coming around here for awhile
Wailing and whistling my way through goodbye

How many morrows
Must I wander through
How many more ’til there’s
Nothing but you
How many morrows are there
Left to see
West side mama, south side me

12. Somebody Please

Is it true what they say about believers
Always skinning their knees
Is it true what they say about deceivers
Always getting the grease
Tell me something, that means what it means
Tell me somebody, please

If I write me a letter to the governor
Will he ever give my reprieve
If I reach out a hand for my brother
Will he reach one back for me
Give me someone, that is what they seem
Give me somebody, please

There ain’t no use in the hiding
This heart don’t come off my sleeve
If there’re saint’s running loose in the wild dear
I heard somewhere they’re yours for free
Show me somewhere that’s deep as the sea
Show me somebody, please

Record Details

Record Tracklist

1. One Wish

2. The Fix I’m In

3. Alright A-Coming

4. Miss Johnson’s Honey

5. Mr. Taxi Man

6. Amen Said The Deacon

7. Jeremiah’s Blues

8. Sip Molasses

9. Rose of Jericho

10. Say Big Poppa

11. Westside Mama

12. Somebody Please