ANNABELLA EP
Words and Music by Chris Strei • Recorded, edited, mixed, and mastered at ChevyCat Music
Special thanks to Jay Reihl for Drums and Bass (performance and recording) • Artwork by Natalie Jayne Brown
In February 2020 I started writing a small collection of reflective songs about my experiences as we welcomed and said our farewells to Annabella. We left the hospital the day the world seemingly shut down and after spending two sleepless nights in the hospital, paired with thankful grief, the timing couldn't have perfect for us. I can't express enough how that statement is purely from a introspective point of view.
I just had a room finished to be my studio and I spent lots of time sitting there, thinking, noodling on guitar, and writing reflective songs the way I do with any heavy situation in my life. It's how I cope. While I was just writing songs - without any intended direction - about what I was feeling and experiencing, one of the artists that has influenced my songwriting the most released a concept meant to tell a continuous story. Without even hearing it, it sparked the idea of arranging these songs into a journal style concept. I thought it would be a great idea to make this EP something of a musical short story. The time has finally come to start releasing these songs.
Story synopsis:
The EP titled "Annabella" is a story that begins with a mix of emotions. The wonderful feeling of joyous anticipation of meeting Annabella contrasting with the realism of talking about how we'll only have a limited amount of time with her. When Annabella arrives we're overwhelmed with happiness that we do get to spend time with her. Even just a few days feel like the greatest blessing. We know this is only temporary but for now we're at peace and enjoying the moment. Once we say our farewell, there's nothing left do but go home as the world is closing in order to control the spread of a virus. We're not alone though, we have each other, we're thankful for what were given, and we're thankful that we can just stay at home while we recover from this experience. Each day we wake up different. Some days have tears, some days have smiles and laughs, some days have adventures through our minds and examine who we are and who we want to be. As we venture our minds there are moments where we can't tell if we're falling apart or if we're rebuilding ourselves. The story concludes with a self-reflection of the reckless person I used to be with substance, who I see my past self as, and who I've become through sobriety as I make the choice to be better for both of us.
Special thanks to Jay Reihl for Drums and Bass (performance and recording) • Artwork by Natalie Jayne Brown
In February 2020 I started writing a small collection of reflective songs about my experiences as we welcomed and said our farewells to Annabella. We left the hospital the day the world seemingly shut down and after spending two sleepless nights in the hospital, paired with thankful grief, the timing couldn't have perfect for us. I can't express enough how that statement is purely from a introspective point of view.
I just had a room finished to be my studio and I spent lots of time sitting there, thinking, noodling on guitar, and writing reflective songs the way I do with any heavy situation in my life. It's how I cope. While I was just writing songs - without any intended direction - about what I was feeling and experiencing, one of the artists that has influenced my songwriting the most released a concept meant to tell a continuous story. Without even hearing it, it sparked the idea of arranging these songs into a journal style concept. I thought it would be a great idea to make this EP something of a musical short story. The time has finally come to start releasing these songs.
Story synopsis:
The EP titled "Annabella" is a story that begins with a mix of emotions. The wonderful feeling of joyous anticipation of meeting Annabella contrasting with the realism of talking about how we'll only have a limited amount of time with her. When Annabella arrives we're overwhelmed with happiness that we do get to spend time with her. Even just a few days feel like the greatest blessing. We know this is only temporary but for now we're at peace and enjoying the moment. Once we say our farewell, there's nothing left do but go home as the world is closing in order to control the spread of a virus. We're not alone though, we have each other, we're thankful for what were given, and we're thankful that we can just stay at home while we recover from this experience. Each day we wake up different. Some days have tears, some days have smiles and laughs, some days have adventures through our minds and examine who we are and who we want to be. As we venture our minds there are moments where we can't tell if we're falling apart or if we're rebuilding ourselves. The story concludes with a self-reflection of the reckless person I used to be with substance, who I see my past self as, and who I've become through sobriety as I make the choice to be better for both of us.
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Sunshine
I can't find my rebels ways I left them in the dark Now I just can't find my fight I just can't find my spark Maybe I'll see the sunlight When you lay me in the dirt Maybe that's when my fire Will start burnin' Maybe I've just gone crazy Maybe I've just gone blind Maybe you'll save my life Oh, maybe You're my sunshine You're my sunshine I've done some things That I still mean And I've said a whole lot worse Now this guilt I have reminds me Til you lay me in the hearse Maybe I'll see the sunlight When you lay me in the dirt Maybe that's when my fire Will start burnin' Maybe I've just gone crazy Maybe I've just gone blind Maybe you'll save my life Oh, maybe You're my sunshine You're my sunshine Maybe I'll see the sunlight When you lay me in the dirt Maybe that's when my fire Will start burnin' Maybe I've just gone crazy Maybe I've just gone blind Maybe you'll save my life Oh, maybe You're my sunshine You're my sunshine |
Annabella
I've been praying Through the night I've been waitin' to hold you tight I've been faithful I've been bruised I've been sleepless since I met you I won't beg you To make you stay Spread your wings I'll be ok I'll hold you while you part Annabella you're in my heart Annabella you're in my heart I've been falling Head over heels I've been yearning to hold you still Sweet and tender A love so true When I sing I sing for you I won't beg you To make you stay Spread your wings I'll be ok I'll hold you while you part Annabella you're in my heart Annabella you're in my heart I won't beg you To make you stay Spread your wings I'll be ok I'll hold you while you part Annabella you're in my heart Annabella you're in my heart Annabella you're in my heart |
I'm Still Standing
I've got a letter locked up in a box of you full of broken thoughts A date night playing inside my head repeating like a song The day the world stopped turning was the last I saw your face Three days in isolation before they came to take you away I'm still standing for better or for worse Not a damn thing is worth the work I'm still standing on my own two feet Not a damn thing can take the memory I drove her home that night with the radio off to ease our broken hearts Into a year of nothing while we reflect on what we've lost I'm still standing for better or for worse Not a damn thing is worth the work I'm still standing on my own two feet Not a damn thing can take the memory I'm still standing for better or for worse Not a damn thing is worth the work I'm still standing on my own two feet Not a damn thing can take the memory of you |