Never satisfied
Growing up my father and uncle shared their love of jazz with me and I've been singing jazz, blues and soul ever since, thinking of them every time I open my mouth to sing. It took me 40 years to grow into me (Perfect Ideals) and start writing my own music. This is Never Satisfied. It's sexy, campy, introspective, hopeful and celebratory. It's about empowerment and human behavior and love. It's proof that there are no boundaries except the ones in your own head (mine happen to be age, size and experience). It is magic, it is joy, it is therapy and it is the gift I gave myself - but what good is a gift if you can't share it? So here it is! Enjoy!
Songs/Lyrics
Credits
Music & Lyrics - Bianca Grooves
Vocals - Bianca Grooves
Background Vocals on I Saw The Voices - Tanesha Gary, Bobby Lewis & Alto
Keys - Clifford Carter
Guitar - Larry Saltzman
Bass - Jeff Allen
Drums & Percussion - Joe Bonadio
Produced By - Joe Bonadio & Bianca Grooves
Recorded At BiCoastal Studios
Mixed By - Robert Smith at Defy REcordings
Mastered By - Sammy Wags At Koop Studios
NYC - GSH
When I’m needing comfort
Or special time to be alone
Among her noise and chaos
Is where I feel at home
Oh, strolling down her sidewalks
Her streets and avenues
Oh, listening to her rhythms
My soul recharges and renews
My New York City,
My New York City,
She’s my city
Her flavors, they entice me
The spicy curries on her lips
Beg me to seduce her
then sting and burn me when we kiss
I crave her cool gelato
I’m thick with jealousy
of her multitudes of lovers
‘Cause they don’t yearn for her like me
My New York City, my city,
She’s my city, she’s my lover,
She’s my sister, there ain’t no other,
She’s my city
She calls me like the sirens
When I’m deep within my grief
And sweet talks to my passion
For musical relief
In her velvet swinging jazz clubs
Those downtown bluesy bars
With rich smoke waftin’ lazy around
Blue Note’s sweet guitars
I rest in her arms, peaceful
Because she never sleeps
with wild neon midnights
And that underground mystique
Oh, reflective pools near Alice
Those quiet spots of scented greens
With fresh young dreams that shimmer in
Palettes of citrine
My city
Captivate you if you let her,
Yeah there ain’t no city better,
Yeah she’s my city
My New York City,
She is my city,
My city, she’s my lover,
She’s my sister, there ain’t no other,
Like my city
I don’t know why I love you
Well, maybe it’s because you remind me of myself
Never Satisfied
You want me to be your sinner
I put on my vinyl boots in black
You want me to be your angel
Don’t you see I got white wings on my back
You want me to be your teacher
I’m showing you everything I know about love
You want me to be your schoolgirl
Why don’t you teach me how to give you enough
Cause no matter what I give
And no matter what you get
You never seem satisfied with my love
No matter what you get
No matter what I give
You never satisfied with me baby
No matter who I am
Or who I try to be
You never seem satisfied with me
You want me to be your dancer
I’m groovin on my bright red high heel spikes
You want me to be your singer
I’m croonin’ really low and deep like you like
You want me to be your gymnast
I’m bending over backwards to keep you happy
You want me to be your waitress
I’m always serving you but your still hungry
Cause no matter what I give
And no matter what you get
You never seem satisfied with my love
No matter what you get
No matter what I give
You never satisfied with me baby
No matter who I am
Or who I try to be
You never seem satisfied with me
You may think that it’s sad
Or that I shouldn’t stay
Or that he’s really bad
But I like him that way!
I’ll be your sinner, I’ll be your sinner
And don’t you want me to be your angel
With my vinyl boots and my red high heels
And I don’t care if you never, ever, ever get enough
Cause no matter what I give
And no matter what you get
You never seem satisfied with my love
No matter what you get
No matter what I give
You never satisfied with me baby
No matter who I am
Or who I try to be
You never seem satisfied with me
I Give It All to My Man
I’m out with my girls
We’re having a drink
Hanging with that bartender
When he gives me a wink
That hot, sweet young man
With the innocent face
Relax, I won’t bite
I just want a taste
I just want a taste
And my daddy don’t mind
‘Cause he understands
I’m gonna bring it home
And give it all to my man
My man’s out at work
The workers come round
Gotta clean out my pipes
Gotta smooth out my ground
And the pool boy he knows
Well, I just wanna have fun
As he takes off his shirt
In the hot, steamy sun
In that hot, steamy sun
And my daddy don’t mind
‘Cause he understands
I’m gonna bring it home
And give it all to my man
The plumber’s gonna come
And unclog my sink
I’m bending over to show him
When my back gets a kink
Now I’m on all fours
The chiropractor’s behind, he’s
Cracking my back
While he straightens my spine
While he straightens out my spine
And my daddy don’t mind
‘Cause he understands
I’m gonna bring it home
And give it all to my man
My eyes are still bloodshot, I
Need my caffeine, I’ve
Dropped off the kids, it’s the
Same old routine
As I wait for my coffee
My eyes start to roam
To that sexy barista
Who’s making my foam
He’s making me foam
And my daddy don’t mind
‘Cause he understands
I’m gonna bring it home
And give it all to my man
Yeah my daddy don’t mind
‘Cause he understands
I’m gonna bring it home
And give it all to my man
I’m giving it all to my man
Blessed Solitude
They want my attention
That’s how it begins
First one then another
I’m starting to spin
They’re begging and pleading
And it’s scratching my skin
When will it end?
So many more hours
Still left in my day
I’m tired and I’m finished
But there’s more to say
Already I’m wishing
I could fade away
And visit you
Cause when I need my, blessed solitude
That’s when I come running to you
Doesn’t matter which one I choose
I know I’ll find, blessed solitude, in you
Now out to dinner
The fighting’s severe
I can’t take the shrieking
That’s piercing my ears
I’m ashamed, I’m embarrassed
Wish I could disappear
Into your soul
I finally surrender
That’s how it ends
The pads of my fingers
Are tingling and tense
But the tone of my voice
Begins to ascend
As you draw near
​
Cause when I need my, blessed solitude
That’s when I come running to you
Doesn’t matter which one I choose
I know I’ll find, blessed solitude, in you
My fingers are here
My mind will succumb
You pour over me
And my fears become numb
Your warm bass rounds out
The treble of my drum
Until I’m done
Cause when I need my, blessed solitude
That’s when I come running to you
Doesn’t matter which one I choose
I know I’ll find, blessed solitude, in you
Blessed solitude
Blessed solitude in you
Say It Again
So what did you say?
What did you say?
What did you say?
Well say it again!
I want to hear you shout it,
I want to hear you sigh it,
I want to hear you cry it, so tenderly
I want to hear you moan it,
I want to hear you read it,
I want to hear you plead it, down on your knees
What did you say? (I didn’t hear it)
What did you say? (Can you repeat it?)
What did you say?
Well say it again!
In the morning when you’re hungry
In the evening when you need sleep
In the daytime repeat it, till you can’t speak
I want to hear it when I feel right
I want to hear it when I feel wrong
I want to hear it when I feel strong, till you make me feel weak
What did you say? (I didn’t hear it)
What did you say? (Can you repeat it?)
What did you say?
Well say it again!
I want to see it rainbow
I want to smell it sweet
I want to taste it spicy, burning with heat
I want to hear you sing it
I want to see you move it
I want to feel you groove it, wild and offbeat
Perfect Ideals
Perfect ideals, they don’t fit me
I see you looking at my clothes
What you think of my money?
Do you like my vision
Of beauty and youth?
With my thick, round hips
My words dry like vermouth
‘Cause it took all those years
Just to grow into me
So with my thighs and my wrinkles
I’m feeling like a queen
Yeah, I got flaws
They make me unique
And perfect ideals
You ain’t got me
‘Cause you don’t define me
Perfect ideals, don’t go down smoothly
I’ve got a drink in my hand
And it’s a quarter to three
And my kids are about to
Walk through that door
I better drink this down
And give myself another pour
‘Cause one day is stress
And the other’s divine
I know it’s not perfect
But at least I know it’s mine
Yeah, I got flaws
They make me unique
And perfect ideals
You ain’t got me
‘Cause you don’t define me
Perfect ideals, feel offbeat to me
They try to narrow down my sound
But I sing in my own key
And they want me to choose
If I’m cool or I’m hot
Am I rock, soul or blues
Or folk, jazz or pop?
But I mix all those styles
I know they don’t approve
Not trying to please anyone
Just loving my own groove
Orbits
She knelt on the bank
Beside the stream
Silvery cool
And across the way
Gently unfurled
Weeping Willow
She studied the stream
Pondering time
Clearing her mind
For long as she sat
Water would change
Yet stay the same
And the Moon
Goes round the Earth
Goes round the Sun
Goes round the Milky Way
Around our friends
Around our men
Around our children
Till we begin
To reach the end
Just to begin again
Three sat round the fire
Sharing their prayers
Beautiful souls
Through strength and support
Ideas were formed
Harmonies flowed
Stars pierced velvet skies
Smiling above
Whispering delight
Though much was outpoured
How much they gave
They received more
And the Moon
We revolve
And we spin
She laid down the board
And filled the jars
With colored sand
With patience and care
Placed grains to form
Intricate art
Covered by a shield
Questioning not what process would yield
This impermanent life
After those days
Wind blew it away
(And the Moon) goes round the Earth
Goes round the Sun
Goes round the Milky Way
(We revolve) around our friends
Around our men
Around our children
(And we spin) Till we begin
To reach the end
Just to begin again
Sometimes A Song
She was a good friend, supportive, well, sort of
Generous with her time to wine and dine and undermine me
The life of the party, she was so full of personality
I was her best friend, she said, with absolute superficiality
And I could never be so clever and write a song about her, but you know…
Sometimes a song is just a song and
Sometimes a dream is just a dream
Sometimes I don’t mean what I say
And sometimes I say just what I mean
And if you think that this song is about you, well
Sometimes a song is just a song
He was impressive, he was handsome and popular, he was my idol
The richest man I ever knew, I know it’s true, between me and you, because he said so
He told me “You get what you pay for, that why I like to spend”
And he was right ‘cause he had the best of everything - including love and friends
And I could never be so clever and write a song about him, but you know…
Sometimes a song is just a song and
Sometimes a dream is just a dream
Sometimes I don’t mean what I say
And sometimes I say just what I mean
And if you think that this song is about you, well
Sometimes a song is just a song
And I could never be so clever and write a song about him, but you know…
Sometimes a song is just a song and
Sometimes a dream is just a dream
Sometimes I don’t mean what I say
And sometimes I say just what I mean
And if you think that this song is about you, well
Sometimes a song is just a song
So if you’re wondering if it’s about you, this song I sing
Ask the person next to you if they’re wondering the same thing
‘Cause if you ask me, I’ll assure you the answer is no
And even if it was, you know I’d never, ever, ever tell you so
And I could never be so clever and write a song about you, but you know…
Sometimes a song is just a song
It’s just a song
Sugar Honey
Why you tease me,
And make me plead?
Always deny me
The things I need
Like your caresses
Supple and blue
Your whispered promises
Better be true
Cause you see
You are to me
My sugar, honey, my sweetie pie
When you kiss me,
My oh my…
Love me, touch me
Oooh make me sigh
You’re my sugar, my honey, my sweetie pie
My candy coated,
Valentine
Make me quiver
So divine
Balmy Sunday
Every day
Let down my guard and
My lingerie
Cause you see,
You are to me.
My sugar, honey, my sweetie pie
When you kiss me,
My oh my…
Love me, touch me
Oooh make me sigh
You’re my sugar, my honey, my sweetie pie
You are my sweetie pie
I need a little sugar in my bowl
I need a little hotdog in my roll
I'm Only Bad When I'm With You
I’m only bad when I’m with you,
With everyone else I’m a good girl,
My moral compass is straight and true,
But next to you, it’s all aswirl
You see I’m even-keeled, reliable and strong
You expose my inner weakness, hidden for so long
Of wild carelessness, bold overture
I can’t resist the taste of this enrapture
I’m only bad when I’m with you,
With everyone else I’m a good girl,
My moral compass is straight and true,
But next to you, it’s all aswirl
Under this white shirt, I’m wearing red
My chains are hidden beneath your bed,
These clothes conceal black studded fantasy
That you reveal when you come near me
I’m only bad when I’m with you,
With everyone else I’m a good girl,
My moral compass is straight and true,
But next to you, it’s all aswirl
Like blood and sharks, in a feeding frenzy
Your luscious lips, you’re ripped, I slip, I drip, you drive me crazy
This fire burns my clothes to ashes
My feelings come in waves and flashes
Well I am an addict and I will never get enough
I’m so strung out and you know that it’s not on love
My days and nights obsess with thoughts of you
I love the feelings that you give me and the things you make me do
I’m only bad when I’m with you,
With everyone else I’m a good girl,
My moral compass is straight and true,
But next to you, it’s all aswirl
The Flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
Oh, Oh It just doesn’t flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
Oh, oh It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
the flow, the flow
Tell everyone we’re close
You keep buyin me gifts
If we were then you’d know
That I don’t give a shit
Bout money, cars or clothes
Or people that you know
Cause when it comes to friends
It’s all about the flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
Oh, Oh It just doesn’t flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
Oh, oh It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
the flow, the flow
A desperate attempt
To speak to my ego
With sugary compliments
You eagerly bestow
I don’t dig your energy
Or the color of your glow
Cause when it comes to me
It’s all about the flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
Oh, Oh It just doesn’t flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
Oh, oh It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
the flow, the flow
So listen, here’s the thing
I just don’t play these games
Don’t want the jewels you bring
Don’t care about the names
If you have to work that hard
To get beyond hello
Then you never really learned
It’s all about the flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
Oh, Oh It just doesn’t flow
Tryin so hard to make this friendship go
But girl It just doesn’t flow
Oh, oh It just doesn’t flow
No, no It just doesn’t flow
the flow, the flow
Don’t you know about the flow?
Can’t you see, between you and me, it’s the energy that sets you free and lets you be whoever you were meant to really be
When the harmony and melody flow easily you know that it is synchronicity
Tomorrow Will Be A Better Day
Long ago thought I knew
My job was to advise
And educate you
To teach you things concerned
About life growing old
And my lessons learned
Then one day asurprise
My mistakes mirrored back
In your young eyes
And after that long day
late in the eve
I’d say it for you
And maybe for me
Before I would to leave
Tomorrow will be a better day
Tomorrow will be a better day
And now that this day
Has come to an end
You’ll wake in the morning
And you’ll feel better again
Come to me many times
Ask for help and advice
With tears in your eyes
Patiently I explain
How you could avoid pain
But you still complain
Emotion blurs the line
between us what a mess
is it yours or mine?
And after that long day
late in the eve
I’d say it for you
And maybe for me
Before I would to leave
Tomorrow will be a better day
Tomorrow will be a better day
And now that this day
Has come to an end
You’ll wake in the morning
And you’ll feel better again
We repeat this pattern
I can see you’re stubborn
And you’ll never learn
Cause you don’t hear what I say
Want to do it your way
Much to my dismay
My anger overflows
I give up even though
I love you so
And after that long day
I knew what I should say
But I was too tired
To say it that day
But then I heard you say…
Tomorrow will be a better day
Tomorrow will be a better day
And now that this day
Has come to an end
You’ll wake in the morning
And you’ll feel better again
Tomorrow will be a better day
Tomorrow will be a better day
Tomorrow will be a better day
Tomorrow will be a better day
Be a better day
There’ll be better days ahead
I Saw The Voices
I was so low,
The devil took pity on me
I offered my soul
But he said
“I don’t take no charity”
And then
I saw the voices…
In my bones through and through
Every inch, front to back
I was so blue
That my blue turned to black
And then the muses, they came to me
(the muses came)
And then they cast their spell
(they cast their spell)
And freed me from my misery
(Yes I was free)
And delivered me from hell
I saw the voices,
I saw the voices,
And they’re smilin’ on me
I was so low,
The devil took pity on me
I offered my soul
But he said
“I don’t want your charity”
And then I saw the voices,
I saw the voices,
I saw the voices
And they’re smiling on me
I saw the voices
And they smile down on me
Can’t you see them smiling?
Oh can’t you feel them smiling?
Oh how I see them!
Oh I can feel them!
Oh!
I see the voices
(I see the voices)
I see the voices
(With thunder and lightning)
I see the voices and they’re smiling on me
(I see the voices)
I feel the voices and they’re smiling on me
(With thunder and lightning)
(I see the voices)
(I see the voices)
(I see the voices)
I see the voices (With thunder and lightning)
I feel those voices
(I see the voices)
I see ‘em, I see ‘em
(With thunder and lightning)
I see the voices
(I see the voices)
***THANKS***
To the muses, with my deepest gratitude, respect and humility, who granted me this gift that saved my life.
To my mother Barbara, who surrounded me with music, support and love. Who truly believes that I CAN (even when I think I can’t) and that when I DO, it’s amazing (even when I think it isn’t).
To Chiara, Dante and Lucia, who suffered through hours of listening to my music in the car, slept through hours of scales, chords, harmonies and melodies, whispered through hours of recording sessions, and still had the kindness to tell me they liked my music.
To Marion, who started me on, and continues to guide me through, this journey.
To Larry, who knew when to hit me with a slide, a wah-wah or a “Curtis Mayfield”.
To Jeff, who funkified the bass lines.
To Clifford, who blew me away every time he laid it down.
To Joe, my drummer, who kept it OUTSIDE the box .
To Joe, my producer, who heard the music the way I heard it, translated that to the guys, and most of all, talked me off the ledge.
To Larry, Jeff, Clifford and Joe who shared their talents with me and brought this music to life.
To Tanesha Gary (Lead Soprano), ??? (Director), and Bobby Lewis (Pastor) of the Harlem Gospel Choir who brought to life the depth, spirituality and magnitude of experience that is I Saw the Voices.
​
To Robert, who turned the tedious task of mixing into an uproarious laugh-fest and when I could no longer tell the difference between take 1 and take 2 (or 3 or 4…), made the decision for me.
And finally, to my husband Paul, who has throughout this journey been many things - my executive producer, my manager, my accountant, my personal advisor, my editor, my project manager, my roadie, my groupie and my number one fan. But, above all, is and will always be, my one true love.