Album Notes

Life seems to start to flow like rippling water,
When I think of you, and the way you love me;
(How do you do it?) How do you do it?
Oh, the way you love me--
I could swim right through it . . .
[from the CD’s 2nd song]

Emmy and Alli are sisters who are extremely close—-in attitudes, personalities, and interests—and SISTERS, from their family’s home studio, is the result of some of the most enjoyable hours they’ve shared together. They grew up in New Jersey, playing a lot of tennis and singing a lot of music of various kinds. They are also both very active in socially-oriented organizations, particularly in the area of healthcare. After graduating from Virginia’s James Madison University, Allison now works in software and business consulting in the Washington, DC, area. Emily’s a JMU undergrad currently, and will be majoring in the field of healthcare.

Their dad wrote (or co-wrote) all but one of these songs, played the instruments and produced the tracks, with an eye to the sisters’ eclectic tastes in music. The album mostly reflects a variety of pop styles, but also includes country, jazz, and classical influences.

Lyrics from the songs:

1 “One Down And One To Go”

One Down And One To Go—-
Love knocked me off my feet, I know,
And I’m fallin’ for sure--
What are you waitin’ for?
I don’t want to fall alone, oh no!

2 “Swim Right Through It”

Just walkin’ around the block is a new sensation;
The world is a current and I never knew it.
But thanks to the way you love me,
I can swim right through it . . . .

3 “The Stone In Your Shoe”

I’ll be the broken window pane,
The one the wind comes whistlin’ through—-
The sound of the rain,
Goin’ round in your brain,
I’ll be The Stone In Your Shoe.

4 “I Know You By Heart”

I sit in class and study you
You’re all I think of all day through.
I close my eyes and see you there—-
That’s where my dreams all start.
I Know You By Heart.

5 ”One Wrong Move"

. . . As much as I’m around you,
I’m still not sure what’s in your heart—-
I’m afraid that I’ll make One Wrong Move.
Oh, I tell myself it’s not a spell that’s gonna break,
with just One Wrong Move;
But sometimes it feels like that’s all it’s gonna take-—
Just One Wrong Move,
and the whole thing will come tumbling down . . .

6 “Things We Said Today” (Lennon-McCartney)

You said you’ll be mine, boy, ‘til the end of time
These days such a kind boy seems so hard to find.

7 “21st Century Minstrel”

Why did I give this heart of mine
To a 21st Century Minstrel?
He’s out there chasing neon rainbows, and a pot of gold—
But it’s a long climb
from the hard times
To the tinsel . . .

8 “Bad Boy”

He’s got no earrings, no tattoos,
But he’s a Bad Boy;
No warning labels—-no “Born To Lose”
But he’s a Bad Boy . . .
He’ll show you all the constellations . . .
But the boy was born under an Exit sign . . .

9 “I should leave you now”

I Should Leave You Now,
If I knew what’s good for me--
I Should Leave
And any fool would know . . .

10 “I’ve been To New Orleans (In My Dreams)”

I would walk for blocks and blocks,
Just to get down to the docks,
Where I’d watch those big white boats go
Sailin', sailin', sailin'--
I’ve Been To New Orleans (In My Dreams),
I was singin’ a ragtime tune,
Dancing under that Creole moon . . .
I’ve Been To New Orleans (In My Dreams)

11 “Leaf Pile”

And isn’t this why leaves start falling?
Just to end up here and calling:
"Jump into this yellow-red,
This crisp October feather bed!"
There’s just one season for this fun—-
We’ll rake them up when we are done . . .