I Can’t Be New 2004
Always ready to reinvent herself, in 2004 Susan Werner released her album of instant songbook classics “I Can’t Be New” on Koch Records. For years she incorporated cabaret-style numbers in her live performances, exchanging her guitar for a piano (when there was one to be had), and she’d been asked by her audience to put all those songs in one recording. Fans and critics alike sang her praises: the All Music Guide calling it “a brilliantly constructed, soulful, and cleverly tender effort by a songwriter and musician who is in such complete command of her gifts that it’s almost scary.”
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1
I Can't Be New
2:54
Lyrics
I Can't Be New - Lyrics
Coffee, ham and eggs
I can be your diner
Tired aching legs
I'll be your recliner
And when you need a breath of air
I'll be your balcony
When you need a laugh
I can be your joker
Cut a loss in half
I can be your broker
'Cos all of that and more
You have been for me
And I'll be the release
When the pressure's heightening
I can be the grease
When your wheels are tightening
And when you need a dance
I can be that old soft-shoe
I can be your girl
Through the best and worst time
But I can't be the girl you notice
For the first time
There's so much I can do
But I can't be new
And when they're buying you steak baby
I can be the gravy
When they throw you in the lake
I can be the navy
Be that three-day leave
I can be that bad tattoo
I can be the sky
The very wild blue yonder
Still I can't catch your eye
When it starts to wander
As I've seen it do
Oh at least a time or two
I'll be anything for you baby
But I can't be new... -
2
Late For The Dance
3:36
Lyrics
Late For The Dance - Lyrics
I arrived last night at half past two
In my best dress and my best shoes
I rushed up the stairs to look for you
But I was late for the dance
And there was nothing left but faint perfume
And floating smoke in an empty room
And a janitor leaning on his broom
I was late for the dance
I'd been taking my sweet time
Yes I'd been hesitating
But I finally made up my mind
And you weren't there, no
You weren't there
Just tin-foil ashtrays and cigarette butts
And lipstick-printed plastic cups
The barkeep said, "We're all closed up"
I was late for the dance
And I asked the doorman if he'd seen you
He said, "What a pity"
He said you waited on the stairs
Then left with someone
Left with someone
I looked up at the stars and cussed
I thought what might have been for us
But the band was leaving on the bus
And I was late
I was late for the dance -
3
Seeing You Again
2:41
Lyrics
Seeing You Again - Lyrics
It was so nice
Seeing you again
So nice
Seeing you again
It would be so nice
Seeing you again
Again
It was so nice to see that familiar grin
I wouldn't think twice if you said you're in
It would be so nice seeing you again
Again
And if our love the first time 'round
Suffered a reversal
Well maybe our love that first time 'round
Was just a dress rehearsal
'Cos it was nice seeing you again
So nice
Seeing you again
It would be so nice
Seeing you again
Again
A-ha
So nice
A-ha
And if it means that time's gone by
And we haven't found a new love
Well maybe it means that we should try
The good old deja-vu love
'Cos it was nice
Seeing you again
So very nice
Seeing you again
So nice
Seeing you again
Again
A-ha
So nice
I wouldn't think twice
If you said you're in
So how ya been -
4
I'm Not Sure
4:15
Lyrics
I'm Not Sure - Lyrics
Ask me the first time and I'll tell you yes
Ask me one more time and I'll second-guess
Thought I was certain, that was premature
Is this love
Well I'm not sure
You say forever and it sounds like something sung
I say forever and it trips my tongue
I had been hoping time would be the cure
But time's gone by
And I'm not sure
No I'm not sure and you know I wanna be
Like you are with me
Free of reservations
I'm not sure
No and you deserve more than this
My uneasy kiss
Full of hesitations
Oh to be dancing carefree 'cross the floor
Hard to keep dancing, one foot out the door
I know it's too much, too much to endure
But when you'll go
Well I'm not sure
I'm not sure, no and you deserve more than this
My uneasy kiss
Full of hesitations
'Cos love is the one drug no one does without
Love is a cruel drug when it's cut with doubt
Somewhere my darling you'll find love that's pure
But it's not mine (aah)
No it's not mine (aah)
'Cos I'm not
Sure
No I'm not sure
And you know, and you know, you know I wanna be
Like you are with me
I wanna be, yeah -
5
Much At All
4:08
Lyrics
Much At All - Lyrics
I like the sound of quiet with my coffee
I like the look of nothing on the wall
I like to read myself what's in the morning paper
So I guess that I don't miss you much at all
And I never shared your love of the big, big city
I never gave a damn for basketball
I seem to get along without the new New Yorker
So I guess that I don't miss you much at all
But oh the days when we were lovers
We were such the electric pair
Doomed in a way like all the others
Classic affairs are always rare and fleeting
And I must have missed the changing of the seasons
Well I've seen enough New England in the fall
I've seen enough of anywhere we were together
So I guess that I don't miss you much at all
And doomed in a way like all the others
Classic affairs are always rare and fleeting
And now I'm staring out the window in the kitchen
Sitting in the stairwell in the hall
Trying for the life of me to do some living
It's good how I don't miss you much at all -
6
Tall Drink of Water
3:01
Lyrics
Tall Drink of Water - Lyrics
The summer sun's blazing
It bakes the ground
But I'm waitin' baby
'Til you come 'round
You're like a tall drink of water
On a long hot day
Withering flowers
Thirsty grass
Here you come shining
Shimmering in the glass
Just like a tall drink of water
On a long hot day
And all of this summer puts thoughts in my head
Thoughts that simmer the sheets of my bed
And I don't remember just what you said
But oh I'm sizzling now
And you're six foot and something
So cool, so slim
Just add a slice of lemon on the rim
You're a tall drink of water
On a long hot day
And I don't remember just what you said
But oh I'm sizzling now
So pour me a pitcher of those sweet, sweet eyes
And let the mercury forever rise
'Cos you're like a tall drink of water
You're like a tall drink of water
On a long hot day... -
7
You Come Through
3:13
Lyrics
You Come Through - Lyrics
You come through
In every little thing you say you'll do
Baby you come through
You make good
In every single way you said you would
Baby you make good
Oh baby you deliver
In a world
Where they promise you the moon and all you get's a sliver
In a world
Where they offer you a drink and throw you in the river
Mm but baby you're a giver
And you're giving me a love that's so reliable
Yes it's undeniably true
That you
You bring the sweetest love I ever knew
It's irresistible too
Because you make good
You come through
Doo doo doo...
Mm baby you deliver
In a world
Where they promise you the moon and all you get's a sliver
In a world
Where they offer you a drink and throw you in the river
Mm but baby you're a giver
And you're giving me a love that's so reliable
Yes it's undeniably true
That you
You bring the sweetest love I ever knew
It's irresistible too
Because, you got to know, because
You make good
Oh baby you make good
Yeah you make good
You come through -
8
No One Needs To Know
2:58
Lyrics
No One Needs To Know - Lyrics
No one needs to know, my love
How sweet our love can be
No one needs to know, my love
The sweet things you do to me
Sometimes the secretest of secrets
Are best kept to themselves
For they lose their power
When we tell someone else
So no one needs to know the way
Your glances cast a spell
No one needs to know how fast
How very hard I fell
And if you're still in love with someone
That you loved years ago
Well darling
No one needs to know
So no one needs to know the way
Your kiss feels on my cheek
And no one needs to know I know
Your words before you speak
And if you're still in love with someone
That you loved years ago
Well darling
No one needs to know -
9
Let's Regret This In Advance
2:45
Lyrics
Let's Regret This In Advance - Lyrics
Standing there before the altar
Lovers make a vow
But forevers sometimes falter
In the here and now
Still it's in the holy Bible
One should never stray
So you and I'll be wholly liable
If there's hell to pay
So let's regret this in advance
Why wait until it's over
If we're gonna take a chance
On what tonight may bring
Let's tell all there is to tell
And speak of things unspoken
We both know, we know full well
That true hearts will be broken
So let's feel sorry at the start
And save all the hours later
After both of us depart
From what tonight may bring
If we're about to do
What we set out to do
And yield to this romance
Let's not wait until it's over, no no
Let's regret this in advance
If we're about to do
What we set out to do
When we began this little dance
Let's not wait until it's over
Let's just regret this in advance -
10
Don't I Know You
3:05
Lyrics
Don't I Know You - Lyrics
Don't I know you from someplace
I'd swear I know you from someplace
'Cos that really is some face
Don't I know you from someplace
Don't I know you from somewhere
I'd swear I know you from somewhere
From those lips beyond compare
Don't I know you from somewhere
You, I know you from our honeymoon
And from the happy day we met
But when the bills pile high
And when the babies cry
How very quickly we forget
Don't I know you from sometime
Yes it's really been some time
So let's steal tonight from time
'Cos I know you from someplace
You brush against my skin
The passion's back again
This love song isn't over yet
'Cos I still know you from somewhere
I can still hear the drum there
We were never far from there
'Cos I know you from somewhere
I still know you from sometime
Don't I know you from someplace -
11
Philanthropy
2:53
Lyrics
Philanthropy - Lyrics
I used to keep unto myself
I didn't think of no one else
I didn't go out of my way
I couldn't spare the time of day
Couldn't stop and lend a hand
To my fellow, fellow man
Couldn't look him in the eye
'Cos I was barely getting by
But since you fell in love with me
It's like I won the lottery
I'm happy as a soul can be
I've taken up philanthopy
(Doo we, doo we, doo we, doo we do)
'Cos baby every time we kiss
It's a hundred thousand just like this
Directly into my account
What a staggering amount
And when I sleep you hold me tight
I make a million overnight
And that's the way I start each day
With so much more to give away
So now when I walk down the street
I smile at everyone I meet
I'm kind to everyone I see
I've taken up philanthropy
Baby you're so good to me
I'm feeling very Carnegie
Oh baby you're my every wish
I'm feeling Rockefeller-ish
I'm feeling very much inclined
To benefit all humankind
To bring whatever I can bring
'Cos I don't want for anything
Since you feel in love with me
It's like I won the lottery
I'm happy as a soul can be
I've taken up philanthropy
Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven -
12
Stay On Your Side of Town
2:54
Lyrics
Stay On Your Side of Town - Lyrics
I get the north side where the brownstones are
You get the south side and the big blues bar
Cross the river and you've come too far
Stay on your side of town
I get the sunrise on the lake at dawn
You get three bedrooms and the sprawling lawn
That's the deal and yes the deal's still on
Stay on your side of town
I thought I saw you walking on the pier last night
I thought I saw you walking through the crowd
I thought I saw you walking on the pier last night
And I almost went to find you
Someone should remind you
That there's a line along Grand Avenue
And there's nothing different we can do
Not at least until I'm over you
Stay on your side of town
I thought I saw you walking on the pier last night
And I wouldn't say it matters but
'Til my heart un-shatters
I get the north side where the brownstones are
You get the south side and the big blues bar
Cross the river and you've come too far
Stay on your side of town -
13
Coda: Maybe If I Sang Cole Porter
1:45
Lyrics
Coda: Maybe If I Sang Cole Porter - Lyrics
Maybe if my heels were higher
Maybe if I grew my hair
Maybe if I wore those Spanish earrings
Maybe you would see I care
But maybe if I sang Cole Porter
Sang those ballads tenderly
You'd maybe finally see
How happy we could be
And you'd maybe fall in love with me
