Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete

by Sy Smith

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Limited Edition Vinyl (Autographed & Numbered)
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
This beautifully-designed gatefold vinyl album (graphic design by LeeJames Designs - www.leejamesdesigns.com) is the perfect way to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of Sy Smith's signature album "Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete"! The moment you put the needle on the record and hear the upright bass line for "Perspective" wrapped in the warmth of analog sounds, you'll know you've made a sound investment in this collector's item. Only 400 will be made available in the world. Order from this website and Sy will autograph it personally to you.

Includes unlimited streaming of Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Perspective 04:07	lyrics
Perspective Your love takes me higher I don’t wanna zoom out, I wanna keep it in perspective Your love feels like fire I don’t wanna burn out, I’ll keep it calm, cool, collected Seems like every time we touch, the sensation’s just too much And I fall into this hole with you By the time I’m coming to, you do that little thing you do And I lose my self control with you I’m not saying that I wanna stop, a quitter I am not And I’ll go to the very end with you I’m just saying baby please be kind, we’re talkin’ bout my time And I want to spend it all with you Your love takes me higher I don’t wanna zoom out, I wanna keep it in perspective Your love feels like fire I don’t wanna burn out, I’ll keep it calm, cool, collected Is this part of your masterplan? To have me eating out your hand If so, I’ll feast all day and night Feed me love til I’m obese with thee, I’ll be a beast with thee Doing things with no damn decency I’m not saying that I wanna stop, a quitter I am not And I’ll go to the very end with you I’m just saying baby please be kind, we’re talkin’ bout my time And I want to spend it all with you Your love takes me higher I don’t wanna zoom out, I wanna keep it in perspective Your love feels like fire I don’t wanna burn out, I’ll keep it calm, cool, collected (Scat section) Your love takes me higher I don’t wanna zoom out, I wanna keep it in perspective Your love feels like fire I don’t wanna burn out, I’ll keep it calm, cool, collected I don’t wanna zoom out I don’t wanna burn out
2.	Can't Get Over You 03:54	lyrics
I don't wanna leave you behind But there's so much of me left out there to find I know that if I stay around You'd pick up that axe you love to grind Oh Such is the conundrum In my soul Beating me like a drum To a pulp Cannot solve the riddle Impossible Climbing high, still can't get over You I don't wanna take it from here Picking up pieces that you hold so dear Can't plant my feet in sandy ground Feelings wash ashore but nothing is clear Oh Such is the conundrum In my soul Beating me like a drum To a pulp Cannot solve the riddle Impossible I get so high, but can't get over You
3.	Camelot 04:53	lyrics
Oh, la da da yeah Oh, la da da yeah Floating slowly over time Skipping heartbeats feels just fine Happens when your lips meet mine I go deep inside, where I don’t have to hide Camelot in my mind, Camelot in my mind Touch me with your silent gaze Pierce me with your fickle ways Promise that I won’t be fazed I’ll go deep inside, where I don't have to hide It’s all in my mind It’s all in my mind It’s all in my mind It’s all in my mind La da da yeah I can see it, it’s all so clear One day you will too my dear Til then I’ll just keep you near Keep you deep inside, locked up deep inside Camelot in my mind, Camelot in my mind La da da da yeah Open up your soul to me Catch that breeze and fly so free It’s so much better when you give into it, see? It’s so deep inside, and it wants to take flight Whoa yeah It’s all in my mind It’s all in my mind It’s all in my mind It’s all in my mind Camelot Images may appear closer than they really are to you Just keep believing and one day your love will come to find you Aah, Aah, Aah, Aah
4.	We Were Never Free 05:03	lyrics
Pretty little flowers Brighten up my space No one knows the horrors That got them to this vase La la la la la Ba ba ba ba bah Easy breezy showers Wash away the stains No more bloody sidewalks Thanks to summer rain Oh my love You made a fool out of me Oh my love Had me believing I was free Oh my love There is a thing called gravity Oh my love It'll bring you right back where you belong Pretty little flowers Brighten up my space No one knows the horrors That got them to this vase Oh my love You made a fool out of me Oh my love Had me believing I was free Oh my love There is a thing called gravity Oh my love It'll bring you right back where you belong We were never free We were never free We were never free We were never free
5.	Catastrophe 03:07	lyrics
I'll go, I'll go, I'll go away from this catastrophe I'll go, I'll go, I'll go away from this catastrophe I don't wanna wait no... I don't wanna wait no... no more I don't wanna wait no... I don't wanna wait no... no more I'll go, I'll go, I'll go away from this catastrophe I'll go, I'll go, I'll go away from this catastrophe I don't wanna wait no... I don't wanna wait no... no more I don't wanna wait no... I don't wanna wait no... no more
6.	i'll always come back to you (a prelude) 01:29	info
7.	Closer Than You Know 05:38	lyrics
When you get this message I'll be home with you I'm closer than you know When you get this message I'll be one with you I'm closer than you show If you look around you, you will See I found you in the throes of what you know as your despair Let me surround you in a sea of sound To compliment your demise with my repair I'll be right here When you discover that you need my love I'll be right here When you recover from your thirst for blood I'll be right here When you can see that I was never gone I'll never leave you all alone When you get this message I'll be home with you I'm closer than you know When you get this message I'll be one with you I'm closer than you show It's never-ending this soul-suspending Confidence at the core of empty eyes You don't have to play it You don't have to say it anymore Close the door and say goodbye I'll be right here When you discover that you need my love I'll be right here When you remember where you started from I'll be right here When you can see that I was never gone I'll never leave you all alone When you get this message I'll be home with you I'm closer than you know When you get this message I'll be one with you I'm closer than you show
8.	doowop with dad (a prelude) 01:39	info
9.	Now And Later 04:31	lyrics
Before you thinking I’m soft, let’s get one thing understood You can’t keep on brushing me off, you’re gonna treat me like you should, uh huh You’re cooler than a polar bear’s toenails, oh hell, the hawk’s got nothin’ on you When it gets a little bit warm, I’ll betcha’ll warm up to me too I can’t wait for summertime when I make you mine and I’ll never let you go And once I gotcha, never gonna drop ya, I’ll put ya in my pocket so… I can save a little some for now, And save a little some for later, uh huh Winter’s got me covered up I need the sun to come out soon When you see me in this dress, I know you’ll change your attitude, uh huh You’re cooler than the pillow’s other side, no jive, bet you bleed iced tea, for true I’ll give it ‘bout 15 degrees, and then I’m putting all of this on you I can’t wait for summertime when I make you mine and I’ll never let you go And once I gotcha, never gonna drop ya, I’ll put ya in my pocket so… I can save a little some for now, And save a little some for later, uh huh I can save a little some for now, oh yeah… And have a pocketful of joy, pocketful of joy, pocketful of joy A pocketful of joy, pocketful of joy, pocketful of joy, oh, oh… I can’t wait for summertime when I make you mine and I’ll never let you go And once I gotcha, never gonna drop ya, I’ll put ya in my pocket so… I can’t wait for summertime when I make you mine and I’ll never let you go And once I gotcha, never gonna drop ya, I’ll put ya in my pocket so… I can’t wait for summertime when I make you mine and I’ll never let you go And once I gotcha, never gonna drop ya, I’ll put ya in my pocket so… I can save a little some for now, And save a little some for later, uh huh I can save a little some for now, And save a little some for later I can save a little some for now, And save a little some for later
10.	suri speaks (a prelude) 00:45	info
11.	Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete 04:19	lyrics	buy track
Sometimes a rose will grow in concrete Sometimes the caged bird will sing Sometimes the whole can be incomplete Sometimes the captive don’t complain Sometimes the choosy have no options Sometimes the loser wins the fame Sometimes we’ll never get no answers But still the questions will remain Sometimes the sweet will leave you sour Sometimes forever lasts a day Sometimes the cure is in a flower Sometimes the lost will make their way Sometimes the killers are so gentle Sometimes survivors live in pain Sometimes we’ll never get no answers But still the questions will remain Sometimes a rose will grow in concrete Sometimes the caged bird will sing
12.	it's all in my mind (a reprise) 02:01	info

about

“Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete” (SRWGC) is fifth studio album by critically-acclaimed progressive soul artist Sy Smith. Often called the “Queen Of Underground Soul”, her previous works include “The Syberspace Social” (named in the top 10 albums of 2005 by The Boston Globe), “Psykosoul Plus” (2007) “Conflict” (2008, with charting radio singles “Fly Away With Me” and “The Art Of You”), and “Fast And Curious” (called “one of the best releases by a female” of 2012 by Soultracks.com). SRWGC is the first album completely written and produced by this multi-talented singer/songwriter/musician and features her slick synth bass playing and lithe fingering on piano/keys along with her incomparable soprano voice and signature harmonies/vocal arrangements. Sy Smith is finally having her singer/songwriter moment (think a 21st century Roberta Flack) - this album flourishes with compelling musical/vocal arrangements, thoughtful lyrics and Sy’s voice sounding better than ever.

As a producer, Sy displays an expected but not-before seen maturity on SRWGC. When she does play keys and synth bass, she does both effortlessly; but she brings in some of the top sidemen when the songs call for a different touch. Sy enjoys international acclaim having toured/recorded with some of the best-known recording artists including Whitney Houston and Meshell Ndegeocello. She’s currently a featured special guest on tour with Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti and is featured on his Grammy-nominated DVD “Live In Boston”. SRWGC features many of these previous/current bandmates including legendary percussionist Sheila E. (with whom Sy has toured/recorded) and violinist Lucia Micarelli (bka Annie on HBO’s Treme). Vocally, Sy’s soprano soars effortlessly; she shows off a sure-footed whistle tone (a la Minnie Riperton), confident jazz chops (Sy has been featured with numerous orchestras in tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, including at Carnegie Hall & Kennedy Center), a full-out commanding belt in her upper register - but usually her whimsical, conversational tone is utilized to tell the stories on this project. Still carrying a strong pen, Sy reveals victories won and battles still being fought as she allows her listeners into the most intimate spaces she’s ever exposed. The title track is a powerful, if haunting, ode to people (especially Black women in this case) who come through the harshest of trials and still bloom as beautifully as roses. Sy is that defiant rose throughout this entire project.

credits

released February 16, 2018

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about

Sy Smith Los Angeles, California

Queen who does queen stuff. Been in the game queenin out for years. Servin y’all royal goodies from Syberspace. Get into it.

shows

Apr 27

The Miracle Theater, Inglewood

Los Angeles (LA), CA
Jul 19

Missy Lane's Assembly Room

Durham, NC
Jul 19

Missy Lane's Assembly Room

Durham, NC
Jul 20

Missy Lane's Assembly Room

Durham, NC
Jul 20

Missy Lane's Assembly Room

Durham, NC
Jul 31

Ron Robinson Theater, Central Arkansas Library System

Little Rock, AR
Sep 1

Jazz Cafe

Camden, UK

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