March 24, 2023

HS 28 : WIP – Woodrow in Progress

“I used to be your Friday night. Now I’m just a Sunday morning.”

I guess I thought I was mellowing when I wrote that so long ago.

Wrong again. I’ll let you know if I ever get there.

Turns out (for me) that even a song about sunsetting the past and waking up as something new, something great—like being someone’s darling!—still requires some wrestling with the darkness.

I mean, it’s not really a J Ross song without the darkness, right? “Shores of liquor stores and broken bells.”

You get me. No, really, I am smiling.

This was recorded at home sometime in 2005. I get a little mush-mouthed in the demo, so I’m including the lyrics below.

Feel free to sing along. Can’t wait to be your Friday night again.

Yours,

JR

PS. I am rooting for you today and always, Jojo House.

Used to be your Friday Night
J Ross

Wild-eyed, I hoped & returned 
To an island where I was living
Across the shores of liquor stores
Where everything spilled like a broken bell

I was a red pincushion then
And you were the needle that kept me true
I made this holy hell I’m living in 
But discovered what I’ve gotta do well

I used to be your Friday night
Now I’m just a Sunday morning
I used to try to hold my hand up to the light
But all I found was darkness

Once and for all I’ll close my eyes
And listen to the winter birds
As they take off for their flight
And make their way against the world

How did I lose sight of myself?
I’m not asking to be forgiven
How did you pull me back?
Into something worth livin’

I used to be your Friday night
Now I’m just a Sunday morning
I used to have to be at the center of the fight
But it’s enough to be your darlin’

So here is what I think that I owe
To the life I used to lead
Here’s the answer to the fold
Fold that page and make believe
That there’s nothing left to write 
And nothing left unforgiven
I don’t need the things in life
That I can’t have, without you in them 

Oh, I used to be your Friday night
Now I’m just a Sunday morning
Used to have to be the center of the fight
And now I’m just your darlin’

Oh, I used to be your Friday night
Now I’m just a Sunday morning
I used to have to be at the center of the fight
But now I’m just your darlin’