Rhonda Nicole

SoulLover

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"SoulLover" is a song I penned while living in Osaka. Originally I'd envisioned it as more uptempo, almost like a country song. For some reason Bonnie Raitt and Lenny Kravitz were on my mind while writing this song, so maybe that's why it originally came to me as a country-sounding tune. Once we got into the studio and began working it, however, Montrose and I took it in a slightly different direction!

Lyrics written by Rhonda Nicole
Music composed by Montrose


Well I might sail away on an ocean/
find my own private paradise
Or I might just be fine with the notion/
of finding peace in your angel eyes
You and me are the perfect solution/
to one another longing to be whole
Open wide for this love revolution/
and the waters of freedom will flow

And I know this much is true/
cuz I got you, my soul lover

In these days of instant gratification/seems like no one has time for romance
But I'd trade all things complicated/
for the simple joy of holding your hand
A girl like me don't take nothing for granted/
a love like this don't come around everyday
When the seed has been properly planted/
the flower that blooms will take your breath away

And I know this much is true/
cuz I got you, my soul lover

Just Fine

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I wrote "Just Fine" while sitting in my car in line waiting for the car wash at the Exxon station at Maple and Oaklawn in Dallas, a few summers ago. It is about someone in particular. He shall remain unnamed. *Smile* Montrose nearly wore me out when we were recording the background vocals, as the "hoo-hoos" had to be perfectly precise!

Lyrics written by Rhonda Nicole
Music composed by Montrose

He's not my/
but he should be
We're not like/
we're just friends, see
I'm not his/
but I wouldn't mind
We don't do/
but it would be nice if maybe we could try

We say "I love"/
and it's easy
Down to ride for/
he gives freely
Could we ever/
would it work for us?
Time will reveal/
cuz in God we trust/
and God knows what's up

I like the way he talks to me
And I love the way he shares my dreams
We don't dabble in minor things
Life's too short to play those games
He is my dearest, closest friend
He is the one who knew me when
And he loves me still
It's alright...

Like You Should

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Montrose wrote this song for me back in '03, after a long and pitiful conversation about me and "some guy" and our saga. We first performed it at Opening Bell Coffee in Dallas (formerly Standard & Pours Coffee & Stocks) during an acoustic show in late 2003 or early 2004, and it was an instant lighter-in-the-air-woman-scorned anthem.

Lyrics written and music composed by Montrose

Look over my heart like it's up for sale/
You sort through my feelings like the daily mail
I'm offering sunshine but you bring me rain
You make promises you know you won't keep/
And I keep believing cuz I'm in too deep/
We're going in circles as the years go by

Tell me
Why does the wrong thing feel so right?
Why is the one I want the last one I need?
Why does the bad thing feel so good?
And why don't you love me like you should?

I can't make sense of the things you say/
Cuz we don't communicate but we talk every day
Look back and these days, they feel like wasted time
I gotta admit I'm a fool for you, babe
In spite of the games you play/
And the crazy things you do
I'm tied up and twisted and I can't break free

Tell me...
Why does the wrong thing feel so right?
Why is the one I want the last one I need?
Why does the bad thing feel so good?
And why don't you love me like you should?

I stand at the crossroads wondering which way to turn
If you are my fire, then let me burn, let me burn
I'm searching for reason in your blinding light

Why does the wrong thing feel so right?
Why is the one I want the last one I need?
Why does the bad thing feel so good?
And why don't you love me like you should?

Wanderlust

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"Wanderlust" is actually the last song I wrote for "Nuda Veritas", having decided that I didn't want another "you do me wrong and won't love me right" song on the album. I'd written this song called "By the Time", about someone falling in love with the person who's been in love with them forever all late and after the fact and I just decided I'd had enough of that conversation. I also had this song called "Virtual Woman", but I couldn't quite work it out for the CD. "Wanderlust" came to me at a stop light--just the chorus--and I went home and wrote the rest of the song. I'd been listening to a lot of the Black Crowes' music and Joan Osborne's "Relish", so I was hearing/feeling this southern rock vibe at the time. Ultimately I ditched the sad sap "By the Time" (it's a great song, though!) and added "Wanderlust" to the CD. 'Twas a good choice!

Lyrics written by Rhonda Nicole
Music composed by Montrose

I'm a woman with gold in my bones/
my heart is heavy with the brilliance I own
Ever searching for the next outbound road/
The song on my tongue will lighten my load

The farther I see
The further I go
til I reach the end of the line

Give me a moment/I'll tell you a story
of falling with no place to land
It's just me, myself, and my wanderlust
And the world in the palm of my hand

I'm the ruler of my own Xanadu
where the stars dance at the whims of my moons
Love's my mission/
my theory to prove
So I'll keep walking til I find my way to you

My heart is broken
My heart is mending
And I got nothing but time

Give me a moment/I'll tell you a story
of falling with no place to land
It's just me, myself, and my wanderlust
And the world in the palm of my hand

Beyond this mountain
Across this desert
There's a peace I'll call home
Out of this valley
After the storms roll
When I find it, I'll know

From the shadows of a life I once led/
Come the memories of a life left for dead
And the remnants of the skins I shed/
will litter the path of the road up ahead

The farther I see
the further I go
to leave all this heartache behind

Give me a moment/I'll tell you a story
of falling with no place to land
It's just me, myself, and my wanderlust
And we're traveling at the speed of light
It's just me, myself, and all my dreams
Movin' on down the line...

Mia

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I wrote "Mia" late one night after having had my palm read by a fortune teller named...Mia. The lyrics of the song are almost verbatim what she revealed to me during my reading.

Lyrics written by Rhonda Nicole
Music composed by Montrose

She said, "You're lonely, child
You smile to hide the tears inside your soul"
She said, "You're fighting, child
Blaming yourself for what you didn't know"
She said, "You're searching, child
Trying to find the missing link"
She said, "Look deeper, child
The answers are much closer than you think"

So I'm standing here/
arms stretched out to my side
Any second now the wind will blow
and I'll take the dive

She said, "You're trusting, child
But those you trust judge you behind your back"
She said, "Be careful child
Watch what you say, watch how you act"
She said, "He's waiting, child
But your neurosis keeps you locked in doubt"
She said, "Look deeper, child
Cuz he can't love you til you work things out"

So I'm standing here/
arms stretched out to my side
Any second now the wind will blow
and I'll take the dive

She laid the cards out before me
And she told my story
She laid her hands on mine and whispered..."In time"...

"SoulLover Groove"

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This is the "outtro" for "Nuda Veritas", a piece of "SoulLover" left over from the original recording.  Montrose and the band just kind of started grooving at the end, and the plan was to have a sax player lay some notes down over the groove.  After we listened to the track with and without the sax, we decided we liked it better without the additional instrumentation and left it as it.