I’m Not Givin’ Up – EP

$8.50 – $12.50

I have just finished another five song EP of originals written by Michael McLean and myself. I love writing, recording and releasing EPs because the songs are so fresh and relevant.Since the Pandemic, I have been on a mission to write, write and write a little more! This EP is a great mix of serious songs, fun upbeat songs, humorous songs and a power ballad. It’s a nice mix and I am certain you will enjoy it!

The project was recorded in my studio here in Central Oregon with remote musical and vocal contributors:

Michael McLean
Dean Parks
Michael Dowdle
Bill Batstone
Dave Pearlman

Cover Art: Jessica Agg
Mastered by: Kevin Bartley

$8.50
$12.50
SKU: GRP-INGU Categories: , , Tags: , , ,

Description

Track 01 – I’m Not Givin Up

Well after a 53 year professional recording career writing and recording original songs, this one is pretty easy to figure out. Even though after all these years, the process of writing songs is what I love the most. Some ask me if I am ever going to retire and my answer is, “Retire from what?” This has never been a job, it’s what I have done since I was a teenager when I started hearing melodies in my head. I have spent a lifetime trying to get better at my craft and I suspect I won’t stop until the ideas stop. What a great gift to be born with which and one I have never taken for granted.

Lyrics

The Talent:
Players and Singers: John Batdorf and Dean Parks
Produced, Arranged, Engineered and Mixed By John Batdorf
It’s like I woke up & saw the runway ahead, had been extended
Places I could go and things I could do that I thought had ended
So what can I share that’s only mine to share while I’m still livin’
And what are the gifts I want to leave that only I’ll be givin’ now

Chorus
I’m not givin’ up til I write a song that you pray is gonna find you
I’m not givin’ up til I tell the tale that comforts and reminds you
There’s something inside us all that’s yearning for expression
Not somebody else’s but our heart of heart’s true confession

My gift may come slow but I’m sure you’ll know
Just who exactly sent it
Nobody but me sends you gifts like these
No one else could reinvent it
We all have a voice we buried deep in the great pandemic
Let’s shout it out now all the truths we know that are authentic

Chorus
I’m not givin’ up til I write a song that you pray is gonna find you
I’m not givin’ up til I tell the tale that comforts and reminds you
There’s something inside us all that’s yearning for expression
Not somebody else’s but our heart of heart’s true confession

Bridge
And the gift I got, I’m more than grateful for
Extending to the skies, where I can truly soar

Chorus
I’m not givin’ up til I write a song that you pray is gonna find you
I’m not givin’ up til I tell the tale that comforts and reminds you
I’m not giving’ up, you came with a gift, a gift that is so worth giving
I’m not giving’ up, and neither should you, you make all of our lives worth living
There’s something inside us all that’s yearning for expression
Not somebody else’s but our heart of heart’s true confession

Song by John Batdorf / Bat Mac Music BMI & Michael McLean / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2023 – All Rights Reserved

Track 02 – At This Age

Well as with the first song, I have been writing and recording since the teenage years but a few things have changed, especially the physical part. As we age, even though our brain tells us we’re still young, but the reality is, we’re not! So what? Instead of feeling down, I thought poking fun at all the things that come with being fortunate to live this long, let’s just thank our lucky stars and have a laugh!!

Lyrics

The Talent:
Players and Singers: John Batdorf and Michael Dowdle
Produced, Arranged, Engineered and Mixed By John Batdorf
Act your age
No one thinks that facelift makes you look young
Act your age
Your toupee is just not foolin’ anyone
Act your age
Why you buyin’ cars that you can’t fit in
Act your age
Quit lyin’ about the things you’ve done and places you’ve been
The things you’ve done and places you’ve been

B Section
I get it we all wanna stop time from marching on
But maybe we could try and see some things are long gone

Act your age
The beer belly and Speedo’s not your best look
Act your age
The jiggles that you’re shakin’ should be left unshook
They should just be left unshook

B Section
I get it we all wanna stop time from marchin’ on
But maybe we could try and see some things are long gone

At my age
The hair I wish was on my head is in my ears
At this age
I cannot remember why I’m even standing here
Not a clue why I’m still here
Memories are the strangest things
The older we all get
We can’t hold on, and yet we can’t let go
Of friends who won’t let us forget
At my age
Seems like everybody’s whispering to me
At this age
There is not a font that’s big enough to read
At this age
There’s stiffness in my back and neck who knows the cause
At this age
Everything seems harder for this old grandpa
Harder for us old grandpa
Almost everything gets harder, At this age

Song by John Batdorf / Bat Mac Music BMI & Michael McLean / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2023 – All Rights Reserved

Track 03 – Cheer Me Up

Many of you know that many of my songs are pretty serious about stuff that matters, it’s fun to write a song that doesn’t make us think so much. This one was written to just have a good time listening and enjoy the moment! As a writer, I need that too.

Lyrics

The Talent:
Players and Singers: John Batdorf and Michael Dowdle
Produced, Arranged, Engineered and Mixed By John Batdorf
Chorus
Cheer me up, Cheer me up, Cheer me up
You’re the finest way I know
Cheer me up Cheer me up
That smiling face your love and grace will always
Cheer me up

And every time I see that move
When I see you’ve found your finest groove
It just lifts me higher, I’m inspired when you’re dancing

Every time I see you shine my world gets much brighter
As you’re cheering one another now it lights up my heart somehow so

Chorus
Cheer me up, Cheer me up, Cheer me up
You’re the finest way I know
Cheer me up, Cheer me up
That smiling face your love and grace will always
Cheer me up

And every time you laugh with me
I think I’m seein’ exactly what you see
And the cloud is gone, the line’s redrawn, and we’re together
Everyone is welcomed in and none of us are wondering
If they will get the warm embrace of everybody in this place

Bridge
In the circle
It’s a miracle
We’re expanding
Who belongs and joins us in the dance

Chorus
Cheer me up, Cheer me up, Cheer me up
You’re the finest way I know
Cheer me up Cheer me up
That smiling face your love and grace will always
Cheer me up

You’re the finest way I know
Cheer me up Cheer me up
That smiling face your love and grace will always
Cheer me up

Song by John Batdorf / Bat Mac Music BMI & Michael McLean / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2023 – All Rights Reserved

Track 04 – Come Tomorrow

This is my acoustic power ballad for the record. It’s a song about how some of us in our lives put off the important things until there is that point where the opportunity has passed them by. Get the important stuff done now while the chance is still there.

Lyrics

The Talent:
Players and Singers: John Batdorf, Dean Parks and Dave Pearlman
Produced, Arranged, Engineered and Mixed By John Batdorf
Come tomorrow, I’m all booked up today
Come tomorrow, when I can get away
Come tomorrow, I’ll be sure I’m ready then
I’ve been missing you, my friend
Come tomorrow

It’s been crazy, with all I’m going through
I’m so ready, to spend more time with you
I’ll be done soon, and you can take me anywhere
I’ll be ready then I swear
Come tomorrow

Bridge
Though, I’ve been searching through my past
For so long
To find the courage that is gone
So I looked in the usual places
Without finding any traces
Of what once got me through the door
Feeling young and strong

Come tomorrow was the message that she left
Come tomorrow, but I’m not quite ready yet
Come tomorrow the last words I heard her say
But I never knew it meant
Please right away

Come tomorrow, was said so many times
Come tomorrow but in between the lines
Come tomorrow those words haunt me to this day
When I hear someone say come tomorrow. 2x

Song by John Batdorf / Bat Mac Music BMI & Michael McLean / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2023 – All Rights Reserved

Track 05 – None Of Us Know

When we’re young and trying to figure out our life plan as time goes by, some of the stuff we thought was so right isn’t quite as right as we had originally thought. That’s OK. We all hope that wisdom comes with age and we shouldn’t ever be afraid to move forward and admit that just we were wrong. Everthing’s gonna be just fine.

Lyrics

The Talent:
Players and Singers: John Batdorf, Michael Dowdle and Bill Batstone
Produced, Arranged, Engineered and Mixed By John Batdorf
Nobody can live this long and not
See what we once thought was right is just wrong
It loosens our grip on certainty

B Section
None of us know what we think that we know
Til our vision begins to expand
None of us know what we thought that we knew
Until we see where the whole truth lands

Chorus
Today just might be the day that
I have gone from hope to knowing
Not all that there is to know
But something real is truly growing
More than the first glance that became a romance
More than a fleeting connection
Now I know that I know it’s more than love I’m feeling

What was it before that made me so
sure I’d found the real thing I knew would last
That’s when I gave up on certainty

B Section

Bridge
Somehow I’m not scared anymore
I feel safer than I’ve ever felt before

Breakdown Chorus
None of us know what we think that we know
Til our vision begins to expand
None of us know what we thought that we knew
Until we see where the whole truth lands

Chorus

Song by John Batdorf / Bat Mac Music BMI & Michael McLean / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2023 – All Rights Reserved

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