Christopher Cross
Take Me As I Am
2017 - Christopher Cross Records
"Take Me As I Am" is a unique offering from Christopher Cross, a hybrid of sorts – the songs are instrumentals with choruses to create the lyrical landscape. This is not quite a “guitar” album, but it leaves the listener with no question about his expertise on the subject. Two very special songs are “Roberta," dedicated to Christopher’s mentor, Joni Mitchell, and “Truth” with a lyric by Rob Meurer, one of the last songs Rob wrote before his tragic passing. This song is sung as a duet with Gigi Worth, a name that will be familiar to Christopher’s fans. Gigi and Rob were also very close, which makes her performance on this track all the more meaningful. The album closes with a song in memory of Rob called "Alvah," (Rob’s middle name), which features beautiful string arrangements by Chris Walden. In Christopher’s words, “It was a blessing to work with all these talented folks in the making of this album which holds so many bittersweet emotions for me. I didn't expect to make another one, but, as Rob reminded me once, it's what we do.” Enjoy!
 
TAKE ME AS I AM
ROBERTA (FOR JONI MITCHELL)
DOWN TO THE WIRE
BABY IT'S ALL YOU
OLD DAYS
RIVER OF TEARS
TRUTH
LIKE MINDED SAVIORS
ALVAH (IN MEMORY OF ROB MEURER
 
PERSONNEL:
Drums – Keith Carlock
Bass – Will Lee
Sax – Andy Suzuki
Keyboards – Eddy Hobizal
Vocals on “Down to The Wire” – Erin Ivey
Vocals on “Baby It’s All You” – Kim Parent,
Marcia Ramirez, and Britt Savage
Vocals on “Truth” – Gigi Worth
Lyrics


HAILA
 
HAILA
SO ELUSIVE AND SUBLIME
NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER
HERE IN THIS PLACE AND TIME
 
HAILA
SO ALLURING AND DIVINE
LIFT US TO THE ETHER
TRUTH IS SO CRYSTALLINE
 
HAILA
SO PLEASE MEND OUR HEARTS AND MINDS
LIFT US TO THE ETHER
LOVE IS SO CRYSTALLINE
 
 
TAKE ME AS I AM
 
FAITH WILL YOU ABSOLVE ME
OR HOLD ME TO FIRE
FOR ALL FOR ALL THE FOOLS I’VE BEEN
COULD YOU ABIDE ME
TRUST THIS LONELY SQUIRE
AND TAKE ME AS I AM
 
FAITH WILL YOU TRUST ME
FORGIVE THIS NAKED LIAR
FOR ALL MY WAYWARD SINS
COULD YOU EMBRACE ME
AND FIND IT IN YOUR HEART
TO TAKE ME AS I AM
 
 
ROBERTA
 
SHE IS THE SUN
SHE IS THE SEED AND WATER
SHE’S THE SHAMAN
DON JUAN’S RECKLESS DAUGHTER
 
THE GIFT OF PURPOSE
A PATH TO CALL MY OWN
ALL THESE GIFTS
FROM MY MUSE
ROBERTA, ROBERTA
 
 
DOWN TO THE WIRE
 
IT COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE
(DOWN TO THE WIRE)
IT COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE
(DOWN TO THE WIRE)
ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE
(DOWN TO THE WIRE)
 
I’M SO TIRED OF LIVING ON THAT WIRE
 
 
BABY IT’S ALL YOU
 
BÉBÉ, T’ES TOUT POUR MOI
 
BABY, IT’S ALL YOU
YEA, IT’S ALL YOU
 
LOST IN THE DANCE
WE GIVE INTO DESIRE
 
BABE, I’M ON FIRE
 
 
OLD DAYS
 
OLD DAYS
OLD WAYS
THINGS ARE NOT THE SAME
 
TIME FRAYS
MY MIND STRAYS
THE EVANESCE OF THE FLAME
 
SLOW FADE
LOVE CONVEYED
BITTERSWEET MEMORIES
AMENDS MADE
GRATEFUL PRAISE
A VOICE AMONGST THE TREES
 
OLD DAYS
THINGS ARE NOT THE SAME
OLD WAYS
THINGS ARE NOT THE SAME
 
 
RIVER OF TEARS
 
ALL THOSE KNIGHTS
IN ALL THOSE YEARS
RUSTED AWAY IN A RIVER OF TEARS
NOW YOU LOCK YOURSELF IN FORTRESS OF FEAR
AND NEVER SEE THE SUN
 
BUT I’LL LOVE YOU LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW
I WILL BEG, STEAL AND BORROW
THAT IS WHAT I’LL DO FOR YOU, BABY
I’LL DO FOR YOU, BABY
 
 
TRUTH
 
WE SCRATCH AND FIGHT TO LEARN
WHERE IN THIS HEAVEN OUR TRUTH IS
BUT WILL THE YEARS ALL BURN
BEFORE WE LOOK WE LOOK WHERE OUR YOUTH IS
 
THE DOVE IS NOT DISTRESSED
FOR THE TRUTH OF WHY OR WHEN
HER TRUTH IS FOOD AND REST
SO SHE CAN FLY AGAIN
 
EMBARRASSED NOW BY ALL THAT HAIR
YOUNG AND FOOLISH WE DECLARE
DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE GAME WAS
STILL OUR AIM WAS TRUE
 
WE TOOK THE WORLD AND MADE A FUSS
BUT NOW THE WORLD HAS TAKEN US
WE ARE BEATEN BUT WE’RE LEARNING WHAT TO DO
 
THE TRUTH
 
WE KNEW IT IN OUR YOUTH
 
 
LIKE MINDED SAVIORS
 
CALLING OUT TO ALL MY NEIGHBORS
RISE AND SAVE OUR WONDERLAND
YOU AND I LIKE MINDED SAVIORS
RAISE YOUR VOICE WE’LL TAKE A STAND
 
CALLING OUT TO ALL MY NEIGHBORS
RISE AND SAVE THIS PROMISED LAND
YOU AND I LIKE MINDED SAVIORS
VOICES STRONG WE’LL MAKE OUR STAND
 
CALLING OUT
 
 
ALVAH (IN MEMORY OF ROB MEURER)
 
HEY MY FRIEND
GUESS YOU’RE IN THE WIND
FINDING OPEN PLACES
WHERE YOUR SOUL CAN ROAM
 
WE MISS YOU SO
BUT WE KNOW YOU KNOW
YOUR LIGHT WILL SHINE FOREVER
HERE AT HOME
 
HEY MY FRIEND
GUESS YOU’RE IN THE WIND
FINDING OPEN PLACES
WHERE YOUR SOUL CAN ROAM
 
I MISS YOU SO
BUT I KNOW YOU KNOW
YOUR LIGHT WILL SHINE FOREVER
HERE AT HOME
 
HEY MY FRIEND
GUESS YOU’RE IN THE WIND
FINDING OPEN PLACES
WHERE YOUR SOUL CAN ROAM
 
I MISS YOU SO
BUT I KNOW YOU KNOW
YOUR LIGHT WILL SHINE FOREVER
HERE FOR ME AT HOME
 
 
All songs except “Truth” written by Christopher Cross
Maraju Music (ASCAP) © 2017; “Roberta” © 2016
 
“Truth” written by Christopher Cross and Rob Meurer
Maraju Music (ASCAP) and Malaprop Music (ASCAP) © 2017
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