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The Road That I Must Take

by Rick Paul

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1.
ON MY WAY TO YOU words and music by Rick Paul I thought I knew what I wanted So long ago Walking down the straight and narrow On the wrong road I didn't know How could I I was lost in the trees So many fears and tears would follow Until you found me When I look back now, I know it all was worth it Every wrong turn, bridge burned, all the heartache, too Hindsight helps me see Each mistake was meant to be A guiding light to lead me on my way to you I didn't know what I needed 'Til I looked in your eyes And couldn't find the words to wipe away The tears you cried So I reached out to hold you 'Cause I'd been there before And suddenly neither one of us Was lonely anymore When I look back now, I know it all was worth it Every wrong turn, bridge burned, all the heartache, too Hindsight helps me see Each mistake was meant to be A guiding light to lead me on my way to you I can't even begin to trace All the twists and turns that led to this place But here I am, and here you are It's like we've been following the same guiding star When I look back now, I know it all was worth it Every wrong turn, bridge burned, all the heartache, too Hindsight helps me see Each mistake was meant to be A guiding light to lead me on my way to you When I look back now, I know it all was worth it Every wrong turn, bridge burned, all the heartache, too Hindsight helps me see Each mistake was meant to be A guiding light to lead me on my way to you Hindsight helps me see Each mistake was meant to be A guiding light to lead me on my way to you © 2019 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
2.
Find My Way 04:13
FIND MY WAY words and music by Rick Paul I've been searching a lifetime For someone or something I don't know It's a winding road Did a couple 180s Took some curves too fast And some too slow Guess that's how it goes Now I've come to a crossroads On this crazy ride Not sure where I'm headed next Or how I should decide But I'll find my way Though I might make mistakes Find my way However long it takes I'll choose a road Though there's no knowing where it's gonna lead Gotta take it day by day But I'll find my way Heading out toward tomorrow Letting go of a past I've left behind Don't wanna waste more time Cruising down the highway You move real fast, but life just passes by In the blink of an eye Time to take the road less traveled See what I can see Throw away the map But hold on to my dreams I'll find my way Though I might make mistakes Find my way However long it takes I'll choose a road Though there's no knowing where it's gonna lead Gotta take it day by day But I'll find my way Life is a journey And I'm still looking for my path Each time I state my plan I swear I hear God laugh But I'll find my way Though I might make mistakes Find my way However long it takes I'll choose a road Though there's no knowing where it's gonna lead Gotta take it day by day But I'll find my way Gonna take it day by And I'll find my way © 2019 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
3.
I DIDN'T THINK words and music by Mary Lou Sudkamp and Rick Paul Since you're gone I'm looking back at things I didn't see All the times you changed your plans so you could be with me Nights you'd keep me talking long past when we said goodbye How'd I miss the questions in your eyes I didn't think to tell you I thought you knew I cared I didn't think you'd leave me I took for granted you'd be there So I guess what it comes down to After all the pieces fall Baby, I didn't think at all When you left I almost drowned in tears I held inside Couldn't see how wrong I'd been, or maybe it was pride I never knew my heart could ever feel such pain But now I realize I'm to blame I didn't think to tell you I thought you knew I cared I didn't think you'd leave me I took for granted you'd be there So I guess what it comes down to After all the pieces fall Baby, I didn't think at all How can I convince you to come back to me I know it may be too late Maybe I've sealed my fate But I'm telling you now I think … no, I know I love you I didn't think to tell you I thought you knew I cared I didn't think you'd leave me I took for granted you'd be there So I guess what it comes down to After all the pieces fall Baby, I didn't think at all Baby, I didn't think at all © 2003, 2018 Mary Lou Sudkamp (BMI)/Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
4.
I BELIEVE words and music by Rick Paul Out of step, out of tune I was shooting for the moon On a night with no stars in the sky In a maze, in a daze Lost my bearings, lost my way Ran in circles as my life went rushing by Oh, I lost my dreams along the way But I make this promise here today I will walk out in the light Head held high 'cause it’s my right I believe I believe I believe I will cast away all doubt Chart my course and go flat out ‘Cause I believe I believe I believe Yes, I believe There's a voice deep within That I've silenced now and then When the world seemed to point another way But there's nowhere to go Where I can hide from my own soul So I’ll listen close to what it has to say Now I see the road that I must take ‘Cause I see a difference I can make I will walk out in the light Head held high 'cause it’s my right I believe I believe I believe I will cast away all doubt Chart my course and go flat out ‘Cause I believe I believe I believe Yes, I believe Now I see the road that I must take ‘Cause I see a difference I can make I will walk out in the light Head held high 'cause it’s my right I believe I believe I believe I will cast away all doubt Chart my course and go flat out ‘Cause I believe I believe I believe Yes, I believe Yes, I believe Yes, I believe © 2011, 2016 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
5.
WHAT ARE WE words and music by Rick Paul It took me awhile to notice You were always there A friend indeed when a friend was in need With long, blonde angel’s hair It took the sun falling from my sky To see you in a different light But, girl, I’m liking what I see And I’ve gotta know how you see me What are we to each other Are we just friends Or is there more in store Somewhere down the line Did God bring us here to be together When the time is right Oh, I can’t sleep at night For wondering if you’re wondering What are we Are you seeing the signs I’m sending When I look at you Do I give it away with each word I say Are you feeling something, too When we’re talking in my car Tell me, can you read my heart We’ve gotta take it day by day But I’m hoping we’re heading the same way What are we to each other Are we just friends Or is there more in store Somewhere down the line Did God bring us here to be together When the time is right Oh, I can’t sleep at night For wondering if you’re wondering What are we It took the sun falling from my sky To see you in a different light Now I ask you to tell me truly Do I move you the way you move me What are we to each other Are we just friends Or is there more in store Somewhere down the line Did God bring us here to be together When the time is right Oh, I can’t sleep at night For wondering if you’re wondering What are we What are we What are we © 2009, 2017 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
6.
Seasons 04:16
SEASONS words and music by Derry Jones and Rick Paul Her words were as cold As the ice on the window I had no secret to soften her heart In the Winter The sun warmed the earth And her smile came to flower Our laughter flowed like a high mountain stream In the Spring A time to love A time to cry A time for beginnings A time for goodbye A time to live A time to die The seasons of her heart In the heat of July We were were burning so brightly No indication of grey in the sky In the Summer But how can you find A song for October Where are the words to speak of the pain In the Fall A time to love A time to cry A time for beginnings A time for goodbye A time to live A time to die The seasons of her heart The seasons of her heart © 1998, 2019 Malcolm D. Jones (PRS)/Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
7.
WISHING YOU WELL words and music by Rick Paul There's not much I can say After what you just said Goodbye's not what I'd hoped to hear Now I can't get it out of my head All those words I'd rehearsed They just grew wings and flew After they tied up my tongue When you said we were through So now I'm wishing you well like some old school acquaintance Going through hell, but numb to the pain Since you rattled my world, and my mind came unfurled My heart wants to yell, but I'm wishing you well Had that little square box Hidden inside my coat I was on my way down to one knee When your words made me choke Now I'm all come undone Guess I've got no Plan B I've lost my composure But I can't let you see So I'm wishing you well like some old school acquaintance Going through hell, but numb to the pain Since you rattled my world, and my mind came unfurled My heart wants to yell, but I'm wishing you well I can't believe what I'm saying My heart and brain are charred I should be crying or screaming But I sound like a greeting card Wishing you well like some old school acquaintance Going through hell, but numb to the pain Since you rattled my world, and my mind came unfurled My heart wants to yell, but I'm wishing you well Like some old school acquaintance Going through hell, but numb to the pain Since you rattled my world, and my mind came unfurled My heart wants to yell, but I'm wishing you well I'm wishing you well Like some old school acquaintance Wishing you well I feel like a greeting card Wishing you well © 2007, 2019 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
8.
Stories 04:56
STORIES words and music by Rick Paul What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories to you tell yourself Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories to you tell yourself Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell Tell me, how do you shake the feeling Convince yourself it wasn't real Can you look in the mirror with a straight face And deny what you used to feel What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories to you tell yourself Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell I need to shake the feeling Convince myself it wasn't real But I can't look in the mirror with a straight face And deny what I still feel What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories to you tell yourself Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell I tell myself, "one day I'll forget you" But my heart sees through the lie It's not even wishful thinking Just a lame attempt to get through the night What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories to you tell yourself Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories do you tell What kind of stories to you tell yourself Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell Do they help you get to sleep at night 'Cause I can't get to sleep at night What kind of stories do you tell © 2019 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
9.
UNDERTOW words and music by Mary Lou Sudkamp and Rick Paul It was painless really Heard a lotta stories about it But I didn’t think it could happen to me So I wanna warn you It can happen when you least expect it It’ll getcha, just you wait and see Caught off guard You don’t see it coming You just get paralyzed When you should be off and running The current drags you in Ooh, your heart goes in a spin Caught in the undertow of love I know what you’re thinking You know all the signs and symptoms And you know how to play the game so well But you’re foolin’ yourself Doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, friend You’ll surrender, when you’re under its spell Caught off guard You don’t see it coming You just get paralyzed When you should be off and running The current drags you in Ooh, your heart goes in a spin Caught in the undertow of love You may think you can test the waters Without goin’ in too far But before you even know it Oh, no Caught off guard You don’t see it coming You just get paralyzed When you should be off and running The current drags you in Ooh, your heart goes in a spin Caught in the undertow of love Caught in the undertow Caught in the undertow of love © 2004, 2018 Mary Lou Sudkamp (BMI)/Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
10.
LIKE A LOVER WOULD words and music by Rick Paul I wanna hold you Like a lover would I wanna kiss your lips Like a lover should I wanna hold your hand I wanna be your man I wanna hold you Like a lover would I wanna please you In every way I wanna tease you Every night and day Though I know it ain't right To be here in your arms tonight I wanna hold you Like a lover would I know that you and I Will never add up on paper But my heart ain't paper It pumps real blood And, baby, you're just a baby When it comes to love But I... I can't resist your touch I wanna hold you Like a lover would I wanna kiss your lips Like only a lover should I wanna hold your hand I wanna be your man I wanna hold you Like a lover would I wanna hold you Like a lover would © 2010 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
11.
YOU MAKE LIFE EASIER words and music by Rick Paul The world goes rushing by at a dizzying pace I'm an information-overloaded rat in the race Could use a vacation Not more complications No Then you help me unwind Take a load off my mind Oh You make life easier Yeah You make life easier Oh yeah I can relax 'cause you're always there You make life easier Yeah, yeah I get frazzled by the politics each day on the news All the doublespeak and bickering just leaves me confused Things could be so much better If we'd all work together Ooh But when I get concerned I know I can turn to you You make life easier Yeah You make life easier Oh yeah I can relax 'cause you're always there You make life easier Yeah, yeah When I get stuck You unstick me When I feel broken You fix me You make life easier Yeah You make life easier Oh yeah I can relax 'cause you're always there You make life easier Yeah, yeah I can relax 'cause you're always there You make life easier Yeah, yeah © 2011, 2016 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved
12.
SWEET, SWEET COLOR OF LOVE words and music by Rick Paul Don’t send me flowers Anymore They don’t thrill me Like they did before And I don’t want them To remind me Of those old times I don’t need fireworks In the night They don’t fill me With delight They’re only ashes On the wind Once they’ve faded Color my world In brilliant hues A rose-red smile Under skies so blue Just show me the sweet, sweet, sweet color Of love Color my world In brilliant hues A rose-red smile Under skies so blue Just show me the sweet, sweet, sweet color Of love Don’t send me flowers Anymore They don’t thrill me Like they did before And I don’t want them To remind me Of those old times Oh, I don’t want them To remind me Of those old times No, I don’t want them To remind me Of those old times © 2011, 2013 Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved

about

"The Road That I Must Take" is my fourth full-length album, and my third of all original songs. The title comes from the fourth track, "I Believe", from a section that reads, "now I see the road that I must take 'cause I see a difference I can make." While the album isn't a true concept album in that only two of the songs were written after plans for the album started taking shape, the album does have a loose theme relating to purpose and paths through life and love. This theme emerged, at least partly, due to various crossroads I have recently encountered in my own path, some of which I am still facing.

The general philsophy behind the album is that all the decisions we make along the road of life, and all the developments that arise from those decisions, lead to where we are today. Sometimes developments that seem very negative at the time they are encountered end up being necessary for growth and to allow for even better things to come. Of course, we may only understand this in hindsight, but in the presence of hard times and difficult decisions, we can at least keep the faith that this will be true.

On the musical front, whereas my most recent prior album, "In and Out of Love Again", went in a fairly heavily keyboard-centric pop direction, this album is much more electric guitar-oriented, going in a more rock-oriented direction. Seven of the recordings had been released as singles prior to starting this album project, but six of those have been remixed here to bring the recordings up to my current production standards. One song was newly recorded for this album but released earlier this year as a single. The other four, all of which were recorded for this album, have not previously been released.

credits

released August 2, 2019

Performed, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Rick Paul. Cover artwork and photography by Rick Paul.

(P) 2019 Rick Paul
All Rights Reserved

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Rick Paul Laguna Hills, California

Rick Paul's songs combine memorable pop/rock and country melodies with mature, often thought provoking, lyrics on life and love. His singing has drawn comparisons to Dan Hill, Randy Newman, and Neil Young, while his piano playing is most frequently compared to Rick’s biggest musical influence, Elton John. Rick performs frequently in Orange County, California. ... more

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