>>FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY, WELCOME TO MELROSE IN THE MIX, OUR SERIES OF LIVE RECORDING SESSIONS, HERE IN THE AUDIO STUDIO IN THE MELROSE CENTER.

HI EVERYONE, I'M JIM MYERS.

TODAY'S SESSION FEATURES SINGER-SONGWRITER AMY ROBBINS, PERFORMING WITH HER BACKING BAND FEATURING CASEY CARNELIE ON GUITAR, MATTHEW ROBBINS ON BASS, AND CURTIS LYONS JR ON DRUMS.

NOT LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE HOSTED A SESSION WITH AMY, AND ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO HER BEFOREHAND ABOUT HER COUNTRY MUSIC INFLUENCED FORMATIVE YEARS, HER ASSOCIATION WITH "THE SWAMP SISTAS," HOW SHE CAME UP WITH THE NAME OF HER 2019 "MAPLE SPARROW," AND MORE.

♪ BAND STARTS PLAYING ♪ >>ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TWENTY LOOKING THIRTY IN THE EYE.

IF WE LIVED OUR LIVES AS ANGELS YOU'D BE FALLING FROM THE SKY .

TRY AS I MIGHT, I JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE FUSS.

IF WE LIVED OUR LIVES AS CHILDREN, YOU'D BE, BULLY ON THE BUS.

♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ BACK WHEN WE WERE KIDS WE WOULD WISH ON A STAR.

IF WE LIVED OUR LIVES AS ASTRONAUT, I'D LEAVE YOU ON MARS.

WE WERE SO MUCH YOUNGER AND SO FILLED WITH DESIRE.

IF WE LIVED OUR LIVES AS CAVEMEN YOU'D BE, STOMPING OUT MY FIRE.

♪ BAND PLAYING ♪ FEELING SO SMALL AGAINST A PERFECT WINTER SKY.

IF WE LIVED OUR LIVES AS SALINE YOU'D BE FALLING FROM MY EYE.

HOUR TURN TO DAYS, DAYS TO TURN TO NIGHTS.

IF WE LIVED OUR LIVES BY DEADLINES YOU'D BE.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME .

♪ LEAD GUITAR SOLO ♪ ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIRTY LOOKING FORTY IN THE EYE .

SAY YOU'RE GETTING OLDER BUT YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO DIE.

WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP AND YOUR ASHES TURN TO DUST.

THE MARKER IN THE GRAVEYARD WILL READ.

"“BULLY ON THE BUS"”.

STOMPER OUT OF FIRES.

RAN OUT OF TIME.

FELL FROM MY EYE.

BULLY ON THE BUS.

♪ MUSIC ENDS ♪ >>I GREW UP IN LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA.

WHICH IS, SPECIFICALLY I GREW UP IN LADY LAKE, RIGHT BEFORE THE VILLAGES STARTED BUILDING.

IT WAS RURAL, LOTS OF COUNTRYSIDE, I RODE HORSES AND DID ALL THE HORSEBACK GAMES, BARREL RACING, AND POLE BENDING, AND MY GRANDPARENTS HAD THE LAKE HOUSE A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN IN OKAHUMPKA, AND WE WERE JUST, WE WERE COUNTRY FOLK.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE MY FAMILY CAME FROM.

WE HAD BANJOS AND FIDDLES AT THE FAMILY REUNINONS AND IT'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF WHO I AM.

I FIRST STARTED PLAYING MUSIC, PROBABLY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I STARTED PLAYING THE TROMBONE AND THE CLARINET AND I CONTINUED WITH THE TROMBONE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN I STARTED PICKING UP GUITAR AROUND THE AGE OF 15, AND WRITING SONGS KIND OF JUST CAME NATURALLY FOR ME.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING FUN TO DO AND THEN I REALIZED "I CAN ACTUALLY GET OUT SOME EMOTIONS THIS WAY, " YOU KNOW, MY ANGSTY TEENAGE YEARS AND THEN I CAME INTO A TIME WHEN I REALIZED THAT WRITING SONGS WASNT JUST FOR ME, THAT A LOT OTHER PEOPLE FELT THE SAME WAY.

WHICH IS REALLY INSPIRING TO KEEP WRITING.

♪ LEAD GUITAR OPENING ♪ YOU SAID YOU NEVER LOVED ME.

YOU JUST CAN'T GET RID OF ME.

BABY, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

YOU SAID THIS LIFE IS SCARY.

CALL IT BEST IF WE GET MARRIED.

BABY, THE EARTH STOOD STILL .

YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ME BETTER.

THAT'S WHY YOUR HEART IS SO SHATTERED.

BABY, I THOUGHT I KNEW ME, TOO .

YOU SAID YOU'D ALWAYS NEED ME.

YOU JUST DON'T BELIEVE ME.

BABY, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

OOOH, WOOAAHH OOHH.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

OOOH, WOOAHH, OOH OHH.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

I WAS YOUR LIGHT IN DARKNESS.

I WISH THAT I COULD STOP THIS.

BABY, I CAN'T MAKE THIS GO AWAY.

YOU SAID YOU'D ALWAYS LOVE ME.

AND THAT YOU'D BE PART OF ME.

EVEN IF I CHOSE NOT TO STAY.

♪ MUSIC SLOWS ♪ YOU SAID YOU'D ALWAYS LOVE ME AND THAT YOU'D BE PART OF ME BABY ... YOU SAID YOU'D ALWAYS LOVE ME, JUST NOT THIS VERSION OF ME, BABY... ♪ MUSIC PICKS UP ♪ YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

OOOH WOOAHH, OOH OH.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

OOOH WOOAH , OOH OHH.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

♪ GUITAR SOLO ♪ YOU SAID YOU NEVER LOVED ME.

YOU JUST CAN'T GET RID OF ME.

BABY, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

YOU SAID THIS LIFE IS SCARY.

CALL IT BEST IF WE GET MARRIED.

BABY, THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

♪ BAND PLAYS TOGETHER ♪ YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ME BETTER THAT'S WHY YOUR HEARTS SO SHATTERED BABY, I THOUGHT I KNEW ME, TOO.

YOU SAID YOU'D ALWAYS NEED ME.

BUT YOU JUST DON'T BELIEVE ME.

BABY, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

OOOHH WOOAH, OOOH OHH.

YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

>>WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I LSTEND TO A LOT OF 90'S COUNTRY.

IT'S JUST THE AREA THAT I GRE UP IN AND MY AGE.

I WAS LISTENING TO STUFF LIKE TRISHA YEARWOOD AND REBA MCENTIRE AND ALSO SOME OF THE OLDER COUNTRY ARTISTS, YOU KNOW, DOLLY PARTON'S HUGE INFLUENCE.

MY MOM ALWAYS LISTENED TO SATURDAY NIGHT GOLD RUSH COUNTRY SO THAT WAS ALWAYS IN MY MIND AS A KID AND THEN I GOT OLDER AND STARTED DEVELOPING MY OWN MUSICAL TASTE OUTSIDE OF WHAT MY MOM LIKED AND I GOT INTO STUFF LIKE JENNY LEWIS AND RILO KILEY AND LIKE INDIE ROCK TYPE OF STUFF, AND I THINK THAT BEING IN MY CONSCIOUSNESS HELPED TO EVOLVE THE SOUND AS WELL, AS WELL AS SOME BLUES STUFF.

NOW IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING THAT I'VE EVER LISTENED TO COMES OUT IN LIKE A WEIRD UNIQUE MIXTURE TO ME.

♪ MUSIC STARTS ♪ >>I WAS NEVER INTO THOSE SILLY SUPERSTITIONS.

I KNOW YOU'RE USED TO HAVING MY ATTENTION.

I REFUSE TO FEED THIS NEW ADDICTION.

I NEVER MEANT TO MAKE YOU SO DAMN SUSPICIOUS.

YOU GOT ME LIKE OOOHHH , OOHH OOOH.

I'M A FOOL FOR YOU.

YEA YOU GOT ME SO OOOOH, OOH OOH.

FOOL FOR YOU.

♪ BLUES GUITAR SOLO ♪ MUST BE SOME VOODOO CLOUDING UP MY VISION.

I KNOW YOU'RE USED TO HAVING MY AFFECTION.

I NEVER MEANT TO BE SO DAMN FICTICIOUS.

I REFUSE TO SPREAD THIS NEW INFECTION.

BUT YOU GOT ME LIKE OOOOH, OOH OOHH.

I'M A FOOL FOR YOU.

YEA YOU GOT ME SO OOOHH , OOH, OOH.

FOOL FOR YOU.

I WAS NEVER INTO THOSE SILLY SUPERSTITIONS.

I KNOW YOU'RE USED TO HAVING MY ATTENTION.

I REFUSE TO FEED THIS NEW ADDICTION.

I NEVER MEANT TO MAKE YOU SO DAMN SUSPICIOUS.

BUT YOU GOT ME LIKE OOOOH, OOH OOHH.

I'M A FOOL FOR YOU.

YEA YOU GOT ME SO OOOHH , OOH, OOH.

FOOL FOR YOU.

>>HONESTLY, THIS HAS REALLY CHANGED MY MUSICAL PATH AND BETH MCKEE AND THE OTHER GIRLS ARE VERY ENCOURAGING.

IT HELPS TO STAY INSPIRED AND CREATIVE.

WE ASSIGN EACH OTHER PROMPT PHRASES LIKE A CHALLENGE, LIKE WRITE A SONG ABOUT THIS AND HAVE IT DONE IN 3 WEEKS.AND THAT HELPS YOU TO REALLY STAY ON YOUR TOES AND STAY CREATIVE, AND SOMETIMES YOU GET IN THOSE SLUMPS AS A WRITER WHEN YOU CANT REALLY THINK OF ANYTHING TO WRITE ABOUT.

SO, IT HELPS IN THAT WAY.

I'VE IMPROVED MY PERSONAL SKILLS JUST BY PLAYING WITH OTHER MUSICIANS.

THAT ALWAYS HELPS, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT MIGHT BE A HIGHER SKILL LEVEL THAN YOU.

THEY'VE ALWYAS BEEN SO OPEN WITH ME, THEY'VE TAUGHT ME A LOT OF STUFF AND I REALLY LIKE THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS OF THE SWAMP SISTAS.

WE ALWAYS DO "THE LALA" EVERY YEAR.

IT'S PARTNEDED WITH SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK AND WE RAISE MONEY FOR HUNGRY KIDS DURING THE SUMMER TIME.

♪ MUSIC STARTS ♪ >>WHEN I WAS A YOUNGER GIRL I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM.

THE WORLD WAS AT OUR FINGER TIPS.

I THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BEAT IT.

YOU TOOK ME TO OUTER SPACE.

SHOWED ME THE INNER RINGS.

PROMISED ME THE GALAXY, SAID I'D BE YOUR EVERYTHING.

YOU STAYED SO SAD.

THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD WAS A FEATHER ON YOUR BACK.

TIME AFTER TIME.

DWELLING ON THE TROUBLES IN YOUR MIND.

YOU'LL NEVER SEE THE WORRIES THAT ARE MINE.

IF I WERE A SMARTER GIRL MAYBE I'D LEAVE.

GO AND STUDY MEDICINE.

CURE SOME BAD DISEASES.

MOVE TO THE OCEAN SIDE.

LIVE WITH A CHANGING TIDE.

NO VOWS ARE LEFT TO KEEP, STILL HATE TO ADMIT DEFEAT.

YOU STAYED SO SAD.

THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD WAS A FEATHER ON YOUR BACK.

TIME AFTER TIME.

DWELLING ON THE TROUBLES IN YOUR MIND.

YOU'LL NEVER SEE THE WORRIES THAT ARE MINE.

♪ GUITAR SOLO ♪ NOW THAT I AM OLDER I DO BELIEVE THEM.

THE WORLD HAS COLD CRUEL FINGER TIPS BUT.

I KNOW THAT WE CAN BEAT IT.

I'LL TAKE YOU TO OUTER SPACE.

SHOW YOU THE INNER RINGS.

PROMISE YOU THE GALAXY, SWEAR TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING.

DON'T YOU STAY SO SAD.

THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD IS A FEATHER ON OUR BACKS.

TIME AFTER TIME.

I'LL CARRY THE TROUBLES WEIGHING ON YOUR MIND.

AND YOU CAN TAKE THE WORRIES THAT ARE MINE.

EVERY TIME.

I'LL CARRY THE TROUBLES WEIGHING ON YOUR MIND.

DON'T YOU CRY, WE'LL BE FINE.

>>WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE IN HOWEY IN THE HILLS, FLORIDA, WHICH IS OVER IN LAKE COUNTY.

IT WAS AN OLD FAMILY HOUSE ON HIS SIDE OF THE FAMILY, AND I WAS GOING THROUGH ONE OF THE CLOSETS AND THIS WOODEN BIRD FELL OFF THE TOP SHELF.

IT WAS A SPARROW MADE OUT OF MAPLE.

I SAID "LOOK AT THIS CUTE LITTE MAPLE SPARROW!"

I WAS LIKE "WHOA THAT'S A GREAT STAGE NAME," SO I STARTED PERFORMING UNDER THAT, AND PERFORMED SOLO, I HAD KIND OF A ROTATION OF BAND MEMBERS THAT WOULD COME IN, AND EVERYBODY KIND OF HELPED EVOLVE THE SONGS INTO WHAT THEY BECAME, AND THEN I GOT TO THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO MOVE ON FROM THAT NAME AND BE AMY ROBBINS, MY REAL NAME, AND I THOUGHT NAMING THE ALBUM "MAPLE SPARROW" WAS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO PUT A BOW ON IT AND MOVE ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER.

>>I WAS LOSING MY MIND, I HELD YOURS NEAR WE COULD REWIND, I'D HOLD ON STILL BE STILL, MY HEART BE STILL ...

IF YOU DON'T WANT ME AROUND, AROUND MIGHT AS WELL BE SLEEPING UNDERGROUND.

ALL DRESSED UP WITH NO ONE TO SEE.

I GUESS ITS JUST AS WELL, THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME .DRINK REAL FAST AND TALK REAL SLOW WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT YOU CAN FOLLOW ME HOME.

FOLLOW ME HOME.

FOLLOW ME HOME.

I WAS LOSING MY MIND, I HELD YOURS NEAR.

WE COULD REWIND, I'D HOLD ON STILL BE STILL, MY HEART BE STILL ...

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SAVE ME, DON'T SAVE ME I'LL BE SLEEPING WITH A THOUSAND NEON DAISIES ALL DRESSED UP WITH NO ONE TO SEE.

I GUESS ITS JUST AS WELL, YOU BURN HOLES IN ME DRINK REAL FAST AND TALK REAL SLOW WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT YOU CAN FOLLOW ME HOME FOLLOW ME HOME.

SINCERELY, I WAS LOSING MY MIND, I HELD YOURS NEAR WE COULD REWIND, I'D HOLD ON STILL BE STILL, MY HEART BE STILL ...

I WAS LOSING MY MIND, I HELD YOURS NEAR WE COULD REWIND, I'D HOLD ON STILL BE STILL, MY HEART BE STILL ... >>I HOPE THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FEELING GOOD ABOUT MY MUSIC AND "OH SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY MEANT SOMETHING TO ME."

I TRY TO WRITE POSITIVE LYRICS AND UPLIFTING THINGS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW LIFE CAN BE, AND I LIKE TO TAKE A SAD SUBJECT AND TRY TO MAKE IT CHEERFUL AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT COMES THROUGH IN WHAT I DO.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE HAPPY.

>>YOU WERE STRUNG OUT ON WHISKEY I WAS STANDING AT THE GATE.

YOU SAID THAT YOU'D MISS ME.

I SAID "“HONEY, THAT'S YOUR FIRST MISTAKE"” IN BETWEEN THE SIRENS AND THE SHEETS ARE PROMISES MY HEART COULD NEVER KEEP YOU COULD LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF, PUT THE BOTTLE BACK ON THE SHELF, MAYBE THEN YOU WOULDN'T FEEL SO ALONE AND EMPTY MOON IS HIGH AND WHISKEY FLOWS REDDEST EYES AND WHITEST SNOW, YOU SHOULD'VE JUST BROKE UP WITH ME IN BETWEEN THE SIRENS AND THE SHEETS ARE PROMISES MY LIPS COULD NEVER KEEP YOU SHOULD'VE JUST BROKE UP WITH ME WHILE YOU HAD THE CHANCE COULD'VE JUST BEEN THE WHISKEY NO SHOT OF STRAIGHT ROMANCE YOU SHOULD'VE JUST BROKE UP WITH ME, DARLIN' NOW YOU CAN'T BLAME THE WHISKEY.

DRIVING SOUTH TO FLORAL CITY, YOU LEFT ME STANDING IN THE RAIN.

SAID YOU WEREN'T GOING WITH ME I SHOULD LEARN TO SELF SUSTAIN YOU SAY CHEATING HEARTS ARE ALL THE SAME.

VOWS ARE DIRTY WORDS ALL WRAPPED IN VAIN IN BETWEEN THE SIRENS AND THE SHEETS ARE PROMISES MY HEART COULD NEVER KEEP.

YOU SHOULD'VE JUST BROKE UP WITH ME WHILE YOU HAD THE CHANCE >>THANKS FOR JOING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF "MELROSE IN THE MIX" FEATURING AMY ROBBINS.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGIAN WITH ANOTHER LIVE RECORDING SESSION, HERE IN THE MELROSE CENTER AT THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

♪ APPLUASE ♪ >>THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.