CHRIS STREI
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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.

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
​© 2021 ChevyCat Music

  • Home
  • Who is Chris Strei?
  • Dates + Media
  • Lyrics
    • Annabella EP
    • The Moonshine Album
    • Damn Pandemic Christmas
  • Links
  • ChevyCat Music