(upbeat rock music) - [Announcer] "Ocean State Sessions," features performances by local musicians and brings you the stories behind the songs.

Coming up tonight.

♪ My heart and my soul ♪ ♪ Is pulling you into me ♪ ♪ I want you close ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to let you ♪ ♪ I'm never getting on the streets of the city ♪ ♪ Spend your time making money ♪ ♪ All the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ For other things you never get to ♪ (gentle halting music) ♪ You follow me like a shadow ♪ ♪ Everywhere I go ♪ ♪ Though one step behind me ♪ ♪ You always remain so close ♪ ♪ You linger like whiskey ♪ ♪ Coating my lips ♪ ♪ It burns in my chest and ♪ ♪ It gives me the spins ♪ ♪ But I am long grown now ♪ ♪ I know what you did ♪ ♪ And I'm trying somehow to live with it ♪ ♪ While you're far away now ♪ ♪ Loving your life ♪ ♪ Free from the damage that you left behind ♪ ♪ And it's unfair that ♪ ♪ My friends think you're cool ♪ ♪ It's like they've forgotten ♪ ♪ The monster in you ♪ ♪ You linger like whiskey ♪ ♪ Coating my lips ♪ ♪ And it's making me sick ♪ ♪ You stood in my presence ♪ ♪ Dressed like a friend ♪ ♪ Hiding your motives ♪ ♪ Your true intentions ♪ ♪ And I fell for your costume ♪ ♪ I let you inside ♪ ♪ And when I was wounded ♪ ♪ You stole my pride ♪ ♪ But I am long grown now ♪ ♪ I know what you did ♪ ♪ And I'm trying somehow to live with it ♪ ♪ While you're far away now ♪ ♪ Loving your life ♪ ♪ Free from the damage that you left behind ♪ ♪ And it's unfair that ♪ ♪ My friends think you're cool ♪ ♪ It's like they've forgotten ♪ ♪ The monster in you ♪ ♪ You linger like whiskey ♪ ♪ Coating my lips ♪ ♪ And it's making me sick ♪ (Alexus vocalizing) ♪ Making me sick ♪ (Alexus vocalizing) ♪ Making me, making me ♪ ♪ Making me sick ♪ (Alexus vocalizing) ♪ Said you're making me sick ♪ - So, I've always wanted to write songs that had subject matter that would make people think or ask questions about their lives.

All in all, so that we can all be a little bit better on this planet that none of us asked to be on.

(chuckles) And I started to do that, but feel that the music was a little heavy and it was, like lamenting.

And that's not what I'm about.

When people come to my shows everybody knows I want them to have a good time, you know.

I want you to feel happy.

I want to see smiles.

I want to see dancing.

You can't quite do that if the music doesn't elicit that response.

Marvin Gaye I think was just such a genius at putting poignant messages and asking great questions in music that feels good.

So I love me some Marvin Gaye.

I also love Amy Winehouse.

I think she was an incredibly honest songwriter, which I am inspired by simply because I know how hard it can be to tell the truth.

There are so many times I sit down to write and I can see that I'm not saying exactly what I need to say 'cause I'm like, "People are gonna hear this.

I can't say that."

But I really feel like she was just unashamed.

"This is me.

Take it or leave it."

And that's where the genius is.

So those are my top two inspirations.

Whenever I sit down to write, I'm like, hoping they'll give me some inspiration in the moment.

(gentle bouncy music) (Alexus vocalizing) ♪ I know the healthy thing to do ♪ ♪ Would me too wish the best for you ♪ ♪ They say forgive your enemies ♪ ♪ But that's way harder than it seems ♪ ♪ I'm on my knees, I fold my hands ♪ ♪ And ask the Lord for guidance ♪ ♪ But here I am getting bad again ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never say goodbye ♪ ♪ But I watched you walk away ♪ ♪ And though I told you to go ♪ ♪ I really meant to stay ♪ ♪ I haven't made my peace ♪ ♪ I'm ashamed to say ♪ ♪ I haven't made my peace 'cause I'm too afraid to pray ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For me ♪ ♪ Hmm ♪ ♪ Too afraid to pray ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For me, yeah ♪ ♪ Deep down inside ♪ ♪ I must admit I wanted blood for what you did ♪ ♪ To know that you were suffering ♪ ♪ Like I was when you walked away ♪ ♪ And though I hate myself for it ♪ ♪ When I tried to bury it ♪ ♪ I'd only end up getting mad again ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never said goodbye ♪ ♪ But I watched you walk away ♪ ♪ Though I told you to go ♪ ♪ You should have known that I meant stay ♪ ♪ I haven't made my peace ♪ ♪ I'm ashamed to say ♪ ♪ I haven't made my peace ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm too afraid to pray ♪ ♪ For you, yeah ♪ ♪ For me ♪ ♪ Hmm ♪ ♪ Too afraid to pray ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For me, yeah ♪ ♪ But I really want to ♪ ♪ I really do ♪ ♪ I wanna forgive you ♪ ♪ And I know, I know I should ♪ ♪ I wanna forgive you ♪ ♪ And free myself ♪ ♪ I need to forgive you ♪ ♪ I do ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never said goodbye ♪ ♪ But I watched you walk away ♪ ♪ Though I told you to go ♪ ♪ You should have known that I meant stay ♪ ♪ I haven't made my peace ♪ ♪ I'm ashamed to say ♪ ♪ I haven't made my peace ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm too afraid to pray ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For me, for me, for me ♪ ♪ Too afraid to pray ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ For me ♪ ♪ For me ♪ "Even Though" is a song that I wrote a few years back.

I actually wrote it with a friend of mine who I went to Berkeley with.

His name's Architect.

He's out of New Jersey.

He's great.

And the song itself is about falling in love and those initial moments of not really wanting to acknowledge that it's happening.

So I know for all my like independent women who are about their hustle and their work, right.

It always seems to be when you're like really doing well, you get your promotion or whatever, that this guy comes along, you're like, "Man, I'm not supposed to be falling in love right now.

Like I had all these goals, I'm meditating, I'm back in the gym and now you wanna come along."

And so there's this initial feeling of like, "No, I can't fall for this person.

They're just gonna ruin everything that I had."

But you can't, you can't get away from it, when love comes for you.

So even though you know you try to run away, love comes for you.

(gentle music) (Alexus vocalizing) (gentle music) ♪ I don't wanna love you ♪ ♪ No, I don't wanna care ♪ ♪ So I'll keep pretending there's nothing there ♪ ♪ Don't wanna fall for you ♪ ♪ You'll only let me crash ♪ ♪ But I keep on coming back ♪ ♪ Even though, even though I know ♪ ♪ Everything in my body, in my bones ♪ ♪ Is telling me run away, that one is wrong ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to let you go ♪ ♪ Even though, even though I know ♪ ♪ Everything in my heart and in my soul ♪ ♪ Is pulling you into me ♪ ♪ I want you close ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to let you go ♪ ♪ And I don't wanna touch you ♪ ♪ No, you'll only make me mad ♪ ♪ You will leave me feeling things I never felt ♪ (bouncy gentle music) ♪ And I don't want to see you ♪ ♪ Oh no ♪ ♪ With any other girls, no ♪ ♪ I just want you here ♪ ♪ In my world ♪ ♪ Even though, even though I know ♪ ♪ Everything in my body, in my bones ♪ ♪ Is telling me run away, that one is wrong ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to let you go ♪ ♪ Even though, even though I know ♪ ♪ Everything in my heart and in my soul ♪ ♪ Is pulling you into me ♪ ♪ I want you close ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to let you go ♪ (Alexus vocalizing) (gentle music) (Alexus vocalizing) ♪ I just can't ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to let you go ♪ (Alexus vocalizing) (Alexus vocalizing) (Alexus vocalizing) ♪ I just can't seem to let you go ♪ (Alexus vocalizing) (gentle sad music) - Influences are part of the reason Jerry and I have melded together the way we have over the years, because our influences are pretty much the same.

Every musician my age, I think, was influenced by the four lads from Liverpool.

I mean, I remember sitting on my mother's rug and watching "The Ed Sullivan Show" and saying to myself someday I'm gonna do that.

So the Beatles really are the reason that I became a musician.

I think this twist is the same.

But we have a a deep love for guys like Warren Zevon, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, those type of songwriters that wrote from their heart.

They weren't necessarily virtuoso players but they were virtuoso at something that Jerry and I refer to as applied emotional essence.

Their songs speak about things that they care deeply about and their performances show that.

(gentle upbeat music) (gentle upbeat music continues) ♪ Riding on the thrill of glory ♪ ♪ Reaching for the sky ♪ ♪ Everybody knew your story ♪ ♪ You were built to fly ♪ ♪ It was no one's place to question ♪ ♪ All the things you failed to mention ♪ ♪ No one's standing in your way ♪ ♪ Or ever asking why ♪ ♪ But with everything you kicked around ♪ ♪ In your pursuit of higher ground ♪ ♪ Do you still remember ♪ ♪ Who was there for you ♪ ♪ And when everything ♪ ♪ Was said and done ♪ ♪ You took good care of number one ♪ ♪ Till crystal clear on what you thought was true ♪ ♪ You were walking with no one ♪ ♪ You were talking with no one ♪ ♪ You never listen to no one ♪ ♪ You were walking with no one ♪ ♪ Working on your inner vision ♪ ♪ Taking what you could ♪ ♪ Overcoming indecision ♪ ♪ Made you feel so good ♪ ♪ Using every strength you had ♪ ♪ With no regard for good or bad ♪ ♪ Running down those roads that I just never understood ♪ ♪ But with all the time you spent to see ♪ ♪ If you could make what's meant to be ♪ ♪ Did you really think you'd be the only one ♪ ♪ And with nothing left for you to find ♪ ♪ You know I'm there to change your mind ♪ ♪ With no place left to go ♪ ♪ Or left to run ♪ ♪ You were walking with no one ♪ ♪ You were talking with no one ♪ ♪ You never listen to no one ♪ ♪ You were walking with no one ♪ (gentle upbeat music) ♪ Give the seal of your approval ♪ ♪ Give it all you got ♪ ♪ Protect yourself from your removal ♪ ♪ As if it means a lot ♪ ♪ No time for a fall from grace ♪ ♪ No time left for saving face ♪ ♪ No time to remember all the things that you forgot ♪ ♪ Like everyone you kicked around ♪ ♪ In your pursuit of higher ground ♪ ♪ Do you still remember they were there for you ♪ ♪ And when everything was said and done ♪ ♪ You're looking out for number one ♪ ♪ You can tell yourself ♪ ♪ That every lie was true ♪ ♪ But you were walking with no one ♪ ♪ You were talking with no one ♪ ♪ You never listen to no one ♪ ♪ You were walking with no one ♪ ♪ You were walking with no one ♪ ♪ You were talking with no one ♪ ♪ You never answer to no one ♪ ♪ You never cared about no one ♪ (gentle upbeat music) - Well, "Cryin' Shame" is every songwriter needs something to complain about.

I think anyway, at least the songwriters that I cut my teeth listening to.

You know guys that had something to say and for me, "Cryin' Shame" is just about the state of affairs.

Even though it was written probably about the same time as "Walking With No One."

But the state of affairs never seem to change.

So this song is just about seeing things that are wrong but not heeding any warnings and doing anything about them and just allowing the status quo to be the status quo.

(upbeat music) ♪ Everybody talking about the things they never did ♪ ♪ Never thinking about themselves ♪ ♪ Or the places they have been ♪ ♪ The damned don't give a damn ♪ ♪ All the things remain the same ♪ ♪ You watch the people drop around you ♪ ♪ And thinkin' it's your claim to fame ♪ ♪ Ooo, baby ♪ ♪ Ooo, it's a cryin' shame ♪ ♪ Ooo, baby ♪ ♪ Ooo, it's a cryin' shame ♪ (bright upbeat music) ♪ Everybody talkin' about the thrill of the chase ♪ ♪ Never thinking that their life is a total disgrace ♪ ♪ See the lie, you don't see the lie ♪ ♪ All the things remain the same ♪ ♪ You never see the other side's view ♪ ♪ Well, isn't it a cryin' shame ♪ ♪ Ooo, baby ♪ ♪ Ooo, it's a cryin' shame ♪ ♪ Ooo, baby ♪ ♪ Ooo, it's a cryin' shame ♪ (bright upbeat music) (bright upbeat music continues) ♪ Everybody talking about the ends and the means ♪ ♪ Never thinking that anything is the way that it seems ♪ ♪ You hear the call, you don't hear the call ♪ ♪ All the things remain the same ♪ ♪ You watch the children suffer around you ♪ ♪ Well, isn't it a cryin' shame ♪ ♪ Ooo, baby ♪ ♪ Ooo, it's a cryin' shame ♪ ♪ Ooo, baby ♪ ♪ Ooo, it's a cryin' shame, oh yeah ♪ (bright upbeat music) - On "Things That Buy You Time," if you give this song a real listen, Jerry is very clever lyricist.

And this song is really about the dilemma that every person faces, every person that has a job faces.

You go to work so that you can get money to buy things that buy you time.

You don't have enough time for your children.

You don't have time for their little league games, but you have time to go to work.

You have time for all the drudgery, you have time for taking care of your property, cutting the grass and there never seems to be enough time for having fun.

So this song is about that vicious circle that you'd like to have more time, but you're working for the things that can buy you that time.

So it's sort of like running around in a circle.

(deep upbeat music) ♪ Increase the memory, upgrade the system ♪ ♪ Cut the wires, make it mobile, would you please ♪ ♪ Need it quicker, I need it faster ♪ ♪ That old machine is just a ticket to disaster ♪ ♪ You spend your time making money ♪ ♪ For all the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ All the things you never get to ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're too busy ♪ ♪ Making money for the things that buy you time ♪ (deep upbeat music) ♪ You need more horses ♪ ♪ Acceleration ♪ ♪ For the highways of the world's greatest nation ♪ ♪ You want it quiet ♪ ♪ You want it pretty ♪ ♪ For navigatin' all the streets of the city ♪ ♪ You spend your time making money ♪ ♪ For all the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ For all the things you never get to ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're too busy ♪ ♪ Making money for the things that buy you time ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Boss is hungry ♪ ♪ Can't stop for dinner ♪ ♪ Too busy working on the next big winner ♪ ♪ Call for take out ♪ ♪ She's in a hurry ♪ ♪ What's your problem ♪ ♪ Baby, what's your worry ♪ ♪ You spend your time making money ♪ ♪ For all the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ For all the things you'll never get to ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're too busy ♪ ♪ Making money for the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ For all the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ For all the things that buy you time ♪ ♪ For all the things that buy you time ♪ (deep upbeat music) (fast upbeat rock music) - [Announcer] Go online to hear more music, meet the artists and more.

Visit ripbs.org.

(fast upbeat rock music)