Closure
Click on the track you're interested in:
released on 11.10.09 - run time: 66:10
01 Upside Down (4:28)
02 Just Dreaming (3:37)
03 Natalie (5:00)
04 I Got You (5:00)
05 All My Heart Can Hold (4:06)
06 Why (5:18)
07 Running Out of Time (4:13)
08 Alibi (4:33)
09 Sweet Virginia (4:17)
10 Still Feels the Same (4:28)
11 Quarterlife (3:16)
12 I Miss the Way (6:27)
13 This Girl (6:28)
14 I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye (4:04)
Produced, Recorded, Engineered & Mixed by Tom Wehrle at Milkshake Studios in Saint Peters, Missouri
Additional Mixing on Natalie by David Wehrle
Mastered by Jason Arnold at Skyline Sound in Hollywood, California
Art Direction & Design by Ethan Godt
Photography by John Wehrle
Below are some personal comments about this album. Each song I'll write some of my thoughts on the song. Why it was written, production info...or just whatever comes to mind for the particular song. This is my 4th project, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I started recording on this back in May of 2007 and finished it all up in August of 2009. This was a labor of love. The title of the album was concieved after watching an episode of The Office. As Closure is sometimes something we all seek at some point in life. For me, this album is closure to these songs, and quite possibly my musical career as a solo artist (who knows about that). Some people automatically jump the gun asking me if this is my last album...my answer to that is "I don't know". I don't know if I'll be around tomorrow, let alone a week from now, a year, 5 years, 10 years, etc. You get the point. We are never guarenteed tomorrow, and I wouldn't want to ever live life being so proud to think that I am. So...some of these songs (as you'll read below if you make it that far) are from way back yonder, and some are only a few months old. I hope you can find meaning in them regardless of their age, and like them for what they are...which, to me, is a group of 14 songs that have brought me closure here on this November 10th, 2009. - Tom Wehrle
Upside Down (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I orginally came up with the chorus of this song years and years ago, I honestly can't remember when exaclty, but, I finally managed to finish it. I can understand if some don't think this is a strong song at all, but for me, I felt it was pretty different from anything else I've ever done musically before, so I thought it would be a unique way of starting this album off.
State of the world
No ones sure of it anymore
What about you girl?
Have you heard it all before
That no one could love you more
So don't go closing that door
I only say what I mean
And you make my heart complete
So if you ever start to think
Something's bound to try and change the way I feel about you
Never let it get to you
And I'll try to show you everyday just what you mean to me
Cause if you could not see
When I look at you my world turns upside down and all around
There's nothing I would never do for you
Sometimes I wanna use words that never get rhymes
So let me say to you
Seasons come, seasons go
But if you run you won't know
That I love you so
So what do you hear in your heart?
Am I your missing part?
Cause I love everything you are, but...
Something's bound to try and change the way I feel about you
Never let it get to you
And I'll try to show you everyday just what you mean to me
Cause if you could not see
When I look at you my world turns upside down and all around
There's nothing I would never do for you
No I'd never change your mind
If you don't wanna be mine
But know I won't change my mind
Cause I always want you to be mine
Please be mine for life
Something's bound to try and change the way I feel about you
But never let it get to you
And I'll try to show you everyday just what you mean to me
Cause if you could not see
That something's bound to try and change the way I feel about you
But never let it get to you
And I'll try to show you everyday just what you mean to me
Cause if you could not see
That when I look at you my world turns upside down
Cause when I, I look at you my world turns upside down and all around
There's nothing I would never do
There is nothing I would never do for you
Tom Wehrle - keyboards, percussion & vocals
Dan Smith - acoustic & electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Just Dreaming (chord chart)
Written by Dan Smith
My good friend Dan wrote this song years ago, back in 1998 I think. Needless to say, I was messing around one day on acoustic and started playing it. Then thought to myself "I really like this song, I should re-record it." See, back in the day, Dan & I were in a band, and we had recorded it (and Dan sang on it). So I played him a quick demo version of new format, and asked if he was cool with me recording it, and of course, he said he was ok with it. I honestly didn't change much, but it definitely sounds more modern and more fun now (I hope at least). And as you've just learned, this is just yet another old song finding it's way to daylight...
Always wondering about the bad
And you wonder why that's sad
Here's a different thought for you to think
If you always trust your first instinct
Life would be different don't you think
Moving faster then you blink
So put away the planning board
Don't be lazy you can do more
You won't go anywhere just dreaming
I'm sick of tired of it everyday
Seeing chances go the other way
I need a new day to face
Never time enough to say
I'd be better off that way
I'll put it off another day
Always sit in the same old room
Always blaming last times move
Maybe thinking new will keep my cool
I'm sick of tired of it everyday
Seeing chances go the other way
I need a new day to face
It's easy to see when you close your eyes
It's easy listening to lullabies
So tell yourself you've got the time
It's time to move and not to think
You're only as strong as your weakest link
And moving tired takes all your strength
You won't go anywhere just dreaming
Tom Wehrle - keyboards, percussion & vocals
Dan Smith - acoustic & electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Natalie (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I always have the mindset of placing what I think will be the most likeable song as track 3. There's something about Natalie that I'll always love...one of those is that it's the first song of mine to have a real string quartet play on it. I really love the way this ended up sounding.
Scared and alone
That's how you feel right now
But do not fear
Because I know
You're really not alone
I've always been right here
Hey Natalie
Do you ever think of me and the way we were
Like back in Albany
Where you said you felt complete
With the way this world turns
Now in Flagstaff
Can you even find your way back to me Natalie
Guard your heart
For it's the wellspring of your life
So let me be your shield
I'll guard you with my life
Cause you are my life
Hey Natalie
Do you ever think of me and the way we were
Like back in New Orleans
Where you said you felt complete
With the way this world turns
Now in Flagstaff
Can you even find your way back to me Natalie
I said that "there's no use with yesterdays"
You know, I've tried to help you see that light
Of a brighter side of life each night
Hey Natalie
Do you ever think of me and the way we were
Like back in Abilene
Where you said you felt complete
With the way this world had turned
So hey Natalie
Do you ever dream of me and the way we could be
Like back in Paris
Where you said you'd find your way back to me
Can you find your way?
Will you ever find your way back to me Natalie?
Oh please Natalie come back to me
Tom Wehrle - keyboards, acoustic & electric guitars, percussion, string arrangement & vocals
Ethan Godt - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Ali Helnwein String Ensemble - string quartet
I Got You (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I orginally had what I thought would be all the songs locked in, but, I wrote a few more songs and felt that they should be on here as well. I Got You is one of those. I'm greatful that Phill was able to play horns on this, truly awesome stuff he came up with on this. Dan also has a pretty sweet guitar solo going at the end, I almost feel like I take that for granted sometimes, but he is truly one of the most amazing guitarist I know...love this tune though, the person I wrote it for is def one of a kind...I hope they know that :)
We're nothing alike, but baby that's what I like
You're everything I'm not
Cause you're outta my league, and I can't believe
How someone as beautiful as you could ever look my way
If roses are red, and violets are blue
The color I see in you is to good to be true
So if the sun fades away
What does it matter anyways when I got you yeah
See, today may be cold
But all I feel is your warm glow cause I got you yeah
I come alive, just looking in your eyes
I feel like I'm falling
I know I sound crazy, but I know what I like
And I've waited long enough to not even try
If roses are red, and violets are blue
The color I see in you is to good to be true
So if the sun fades away
What does it matter anyways when I got you yeah
See, today may be cold
But all I feel is your warm glow cause I got you yeah
You know the sun will fade
But in your arms I will stay cause I got you yeah
Baby I can't see
Everything that's to be
But if you wait for me
I'll love you forever and say eternity
So if the sun fades away
What does it matter anyways when I got you yeah
See, today may be cold
But all I feel is your warm glow when I got you yeah
And if the rain starts to fall
I'll hold your hands and stand tall cause I got you yeah
And when the sun shines
May it remind you how you're mine and I got you yeah
I got you
I got you
I got you
I got you yeah
I got you
I got you
I got you yeah yeah
Tom Wehrle - piano, keyboards, vocals
Dan Smith - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass & horns
Drew Bailey - drums
All My Heart Can Hold (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
Yet again, another older tune finally being completed...All My Heart Can Hold. I think I wrote this around the time I was working on When You Can't Wait for Tomorrow, but never finished the lyrics for the verses. At this point in the ablum you may be noticing the addition of 80's sounding synths...good job. That was the plan. So I can see people loving or hating this sound, but it is what it is at this point in time. But of course, I hope you like it!
Still doesn't make sense to me
This life a mystery
I try, but I still can't find the whys
I've looked everywhere you've shared
For someone just to care
For me, but there's no one here but me
So hold me
Hold me
Never let go, cause you're all I know
Hold me
Hold me
Don't you know, you're all my heart can hold
One day we'll reach the end of this road
A time for letting go
This pain, that's so hard I can't erase...the pain...
Tom Wehrle - piano, keyboards & vocals
Ethan Godt - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Why (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I was asked by my brother recently which song was my favorite on the album, and I couldn't answer him. But, since then, I've thought about it for awhile, and I'd have to say, it's between this song and This Girl. Those 2 are my favs.
Will we ever understand
This great masterplan
That we call life
Cause maybe we're better off unknown
Then being labled cold as stone
Because we know
Why do we always have to fight
Why do we only see one side
Why are we always right
I used to think my days would never end
But now I've seen that changing wind and I can't pretend
Cause all I need is You
To make it through
But how about you
Why do we always have to fight
Why do we only see one side
Why do we need to show our might
Why do we only see our side
Why are we always right
Can someone please fill a dying need
Forget your beliefs
You can change the world if you try
If you'd only wonder why
Yeah someone please fill the dying need
Forget your reprieve
Yeah we can change the world if we try
If we only wonder why
Why do we always have to fight
Why do we only see one side
Why are we always right
Tom Wehrle - piano, keyboards
Ethan Godt - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Running Out of Time (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I wrote the music to this while sitting at a piano in a hotel lobby in Helsinki, Finland. I'll probably never forget that about this song. But of all the songs on this project, this is the one that I most identify with right now, and thus why it's smack dab in the middle of the album.
The moons rising fast
My suns going down
I can't go like this without a sound
Maybe I'm late
Maybe I'm wrong
But I'll never know if I don't try
So I'll try one last time tonight
To say what I wanna say
Before it's to late
Cause I know what I love
And what I dream of
But I'm running out of time
Back as a kid I never learned
What it meant to hit the ground
Now I've seen
Now I know
Sometimes you have to stand and fight
I'm gonna fight with all my life tonight
To say what I wanna say
Before it's to late
Cause I know what I love
And what I dream of
But I'm running out of time
How many lives have lived and died
How many lives have lived and died
Without a second try
I wanna live my life
I wanna live life
I wanna live my life
Before I die
I wanna say what I wanna say
Before it's to late
Cause I know what I love
And what I dream of
Yeah I'm running out of time
Yeah it's do or die
Cause I know what I love
And what I dream of
But I'm running
Yeah I'm running
But am I running out of time
Looked in my heart
What do I find
I could be running out of time
Tom Wehrle - acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, drums & vocals
Phill Grooms - bass
Alibi (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
Wrote this for someone I know going through some tough times, and didn't wanna believe in love.
You're alive
So much is inside
That beating heart
Waiting for a start
To love again
And not pretend
That the brokenness was a promise
For you today
You just can't wipe away your feelings that way
I know sometimes it's hard to see
Everything you wanna be
Just hang in there, this air will clear
And love will be your alibi
To make all your dreams come true
The ones no one knows but you
Yeah love is not the enemy
But come to be your alibi tonight
The road ahead can feel long
When everything is going wrong
But if every day, turned out great
There would never be, joy in the pain
For you today
You just can't throw away your dreams that way
I know sometimes it's hard to see
Everything between you and me
Just hang in there, this air will clear
And love will be your alibi
To make all your dreams come true
The ones no one knows but you
Yeah love is not the enemy
But come to save you tonight
Tonight, I know you'll find a way to fly beyond your dreams
Tonight, tonight, you can fly
Yeah, you can fly
I know this world can bring ya down
But love can turn it all around
Tom Wehrle - piano - keyboards & electric guitars
PD Young - accordion
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Sweet Virginia (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I think if you read the lyrics to this properly, you'll understand what this was really written about. Anyhow, this song was first written back in 2005, I've changed the verses a few times and really love how this ended up sounding.
I'm feeling weak
When I think on these things
So help me please
Help me find the reasons why I can't breathe
With you, by my side
I know, I'm alive
More with you, so stay in my life
Oh, sweet Virginia you're on my mind
Like pale clouds across a blue sky
Oh, I fight my feelings of what's inside
To tell you how I feel tonight
Oh, you're on my mind
Now you got me wondering
Why did I ever leave you like that
With all the memories
As crazy as they might seem
Say, I come back to you
Will you be, who you were to me?
Oh, sweet Virginia you're on my mind
Like pale clouds across a blue sky
Oh, I fight my feelings of what's inside
To tell you how I feel tonight
Oh, you're on my mind
These lies we hide run deep
The places we run no one will ever see
All the spaces I could dwell
But none of them could set a spell like you have
On my mind
So if I come, back to you
Know I won't, ever leave you
Oh, sweet Virginia you're on my mind
Like pale clouds across a blue sky
Oh, I fight my feelings of what's inside
To tell you how I feel tonight
Oh, sweet Virginia you're on my mind
Like pale clouds across this blue sky
Oh, I fight my feelings of what's inside
To tell you how I feel tonight
Oh, you're on my mind
Tom Wehrle - keyboards & vocals
Dan Smith - electric guitars
Jeremy Montgomery - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Still Feels the Same (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
Wrote this song before Room to Dream, and in fact, recorded it first for that project, but just felt it didn't fit. And also, another big problem was that one of the overhead mics on the drums stopped working randomly (going in and out) throughout the song. Needless to say, I re-recorded the drums with Drew a few years later while tracking the drums for When You Can't Wait for Tomorrow. However, I still didn't feel like it fit...but alas, it will now see the light of day! Always really loved the song, so I'm happy to get it out there...better late then never, right?
Always wanted more
Someone to love her for
All that she is
All she could be
Fumbling to see
She calls her life
A meaningless fight
When she works like a dog
(Nobody knows)
Says she's in love
(I feel more alone)
Each passing day
She still feels the same
Yeah, she still feels the same
Time go by
She's moved along in her life
But still are questions
Questions of why
Inside and out
She's crazy about
Nobody's there
Nobody cares to reach out when I'm in despair
But I know somebody's there
Somebody cares and will reach out when you're in despair
I have your answers to life if you look
I know you'll find
I'm on your side
When she works like a dog
(Nobody knows)
Says she's in love
(I feel more alone)
Each passing day
Each passing stay
Each passing way
She still feels the same
Nobody knows how you feel inside
Nobody knows how you're feeling inside
Nobody knows
Yeah you still feel the same
Tom Wehrle - acoustic & elextric guitars & keyboards
Dan Smith - ebow
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
Catherine Hurst - vocal
Quarterlife (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I wrote this a few years ago after seeing a quick little preview for a "new made for the internet" show by the same name (Quartlife). Needless to say, you've probably never heard of it as to my knowledge, it bombed. Anyhow, I wrote the creators of the show after writing it (cause it actually hadn't aired yet) to see if they might be interested in using it for their theme song. But, I never heard back from them. I thought it was pretty good, so I recorded it fully for this...
I'm looking at you
Falling through the lies
Losing your step
Wondering all the time
Where will you be
How can you see tonight
Cause I know
The pain you show
Makes you stronger if you let it go
Cause if you hide
Your feelings inside
No one would know your quarterlife
I see it everyday
The pain you embrace
With the things you wish would stay
But always fade away
So take that chance
Throw it on the line, tonight
It's your life
We live or die
Can't you see
That changes could be
What makes you stronger if you let it go
For tonight
The feelings you hide
Won't make you stronger if you hold it inside
Cause I know
The pain we show
Makes us stronger if we let it go
Cause if we hide
Our feelings inside
No one would know our quarterlife
Tom Wehrle - piano, acoustic guitar, keyboards & percussion
Dan Smith - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
I Miss the Way (chord chart)
Written by Michael W Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick
Additional music by Tom Wehrle
I first recorded this for a competition years ago, then stumbled upon it a few months before I was finallizing everything for this album. Needless to say, the first version I recorded in a day (from what I remember), this version had a little more time put into it, and also, I didn't play all the instruments on it (which I always think is a good thing to get more musical influences into a recording then just my own ideas). I really love the way this ended up sounding though, so much better then my original 1st version too :)
Once a true believer
Once there was a fire in your soul
You were the epitome of blessed faith astir
With thirst for holiness
And hunger for the Word
Now you move in other circles
To the beat of different drums
And I see only glimpses of the one you used to be
The inspiration that you were to me
I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you too
He's missing you
Some are calling you a prodigal
Some aren't calling you at all
But far away someone is calling you back home
Do you hear it anymore out there on your own
I miss the way His love would dance within your eyes
I miss the way His heart was the soul of your life
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
And somewhere in the saddest part of heaven's room
Our Father sheds a tear for you
He's missing you too
Tom Wehrle - keyboards, drum programming & acoustic guitars
PD Young - lap steel
Logan Miller - bass
This Girl (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
This was the other tune that I had Drew Bailey come back in to play drums on, around Oct/Nov 2008. As mentioned earlier, Why and this song are my favs on the album, the last track (I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye) is high on that list too. I know this sounds like the last song on album, but, I couldn't leave this project like that. Who knows how many people even notice, but, I like to start songs and end songs the same way sometimes, and that's exactly what I did for this one. I love this song and care deeply for the person I wrote it for. Hopefully I can be a light in their need if they ever need me to.
God I hope I'm wrong about this girl I care for
Cause I don't know what road she's on
Or headed for tonight
So I pray for her in every way
And to be a light in her need
Cause she's acting so tough
When all she needs is love
How many songs will I write for her in my life
Cause I wish, I wish I knew
What was running through her mind tonight
So I could pray for her in every way
And to be a light in her need
So I'll pray for her to find her way
And she'd see the light she needs
Cause she's acting so tough
When all she needs is love
Yeah, she's acting so tough
When she needs so much
So much more then I could ever give
Can't you see
Everything you need
Is love completely
Completely free
Can't you see
Everything we need
Is love completely
Completely free
Tom Wehrle - keyboards, acoustic & electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye (chord chart)
Written by Tom Wehrle
I remember exactly when I came up with this idea like it was yesterday. Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things we have to do in life sometimes. And it's a word I don't like to say.
These words I swore I never would say
Find me here, they've found me today
Time won't stand still, no time won't let me go
To hide from these things that I already know
And it's hard to stay strong
When I know that you're gone
And you've moved along
But I don't want to say goodbye
To you in my life
No I don't wanna waste my life
So I don't want to say goodbye
Now it's 3 AM just a few hours before
The last time I'll see you once more
And it's hard to breathe air
When I know you're not there
To keep me where
I don't wanna say goodbye
To you in my life
No I don't wanna waste my life
So I don't wanna say goodbye
I still need a reason
Because I'm believing
There's gotta be another way
That somehow you could stay
Know I'll wait
Cause I will never say goodbye
To you in this life
No I don't wanna waste my life
So I don't wanna say goodbye
To you in this life
No I don't wanna waste my life
So I don't wanna say
No I don't wanna say
No I'll never say goodbye
Tom Wehrle - acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards & vocals
Ethan Godt - electric guitars
Phill Grooms - bass
Drew Bailey - drums
All songs © 2009 Shakin' the Music (ASCAP) except I Miss the Way © 1988 O'Ryan Music Inc. (ASCAP)/ Emily Boothe, Inc. (BMI).
All songs used by permission. All rights reserved.