“FALLING”
“Falling” pairs the melodic sweep of Roy Orbison with a vintage, retro-country sound, wrapping a story of mutual attraction in a style that feels both timeless and distinctly Jolie and the Jackalopes. Goodnight has a knack for a well-turned phrase, and here she puts it to work with a sly lyrical nod to the classic country standard “Crazy Arms.” A song about two people sizing each other up, “Falling” finds its charm in the space between wanting someone and actually belonging to them.
“MEMPHIS DUST”
Written during a trip to Memphis for the Ameripolitan Awards, “Memphis Dust” draws on the city’s deep musical roots and the unexpected comforts of being somewhere new. A visit to the Stax Museum and a rain-soaked cab ride to the airport helped spark this classic doo-wop number, written as Jolie Goodnight was finding her footing after the death of her husband. Rather than dwell in heartbreak, she channels it into a buoyant, vintage R&B arrangement, where close harmonies and old-school romanticism carry the weight of a song about finding your way back to yourself.
“OH WELL”
Written in the aftermath of losing her husband, “Oh Well” finds Jolie Goodnight reckoning with the loneliness that can follow grief, when friendships fade and the people you counted on are no longer there. Rooted in Americana, the song pairs plainspoken storytelling with a road-worn, roots-rock sensibility. Rather than dwell on who left, Goodnight turns inward, finding resolve in the realization that sometimes you have to be your own lifeline. The image of climbing out of a dry well becomes a metaphor for self-belief and hard-won resilience. Both candid and defiant, “Oh Well” is a reminder that even when the bucket comes up empty, you can still find a way out.
LINER NOTES:
Jolie Goodnight: Vocals
Rian Castillo: Acoustic Guitars , Electric Lead Guitar, Electric Rhythm, Background Vocals. Upright Piano, Electric 12-String (Oh, Well), Organ (Oh, Well)
Sam Rich: Drums, Percussion
Dylan Cavalier: Bass
Recorded by: Kevin Butler, Test Tube Audio
Mixed & Mastered by: Kevin Butler
Photography: Sam Rich
Artwork by: Jolie Goodnight
This project is supported in part by an Austin Live Music Fund Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.
'“FALLING” LYRICS
Lyrics and Melody by Jolie Goodnight (BMI)
Don’t look at me that way,
A dangerous game to play.
Sparkling eyes and crooked smile,
Take off your coat and stay a while.
Cause broken rules
Mean broken hearts
Cut the deck and fold the cards
Stop the game before you start.
Cause I am falling
falling,
falling apart.
Apart.
You say you’ve got me in your head,
A yearning heart that been mislead.
A troubled mind won’t fade in time,
I’m not your’s and you’re not mine.
Cause I am falling
falling,
falling apart.
Apart.
“MEMPHIS DUST” LYRICS
Lyrics and Melody by Jolie Goodnight (BMI)
Give me (woah woah)
some of that Memphis dust (woah woah)
Some of that soulful rust (woah woah)
And I’ll get o-ver you
Woah lonely, (woah woah)
Like the city, I’m forgotten (woah woah)
Put on the shelf you left me darlin’
A girl left behind
The streets, they sparkle in the rain
And I remember, you’ll never call me again
Baby, (woah woah)
Play the record one more time (woah woah)
Pretend forever you’ll be mine (woah woah)
A lifetime melody
The streets, they sparkle in the rain
And I remember. you’ll never call me again
Give me (woah woah)
some of that Memphis dust (woah woah)
Some of that soulful rust (woah woah)
And I’ll get over you