(woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

[playing rhythmic folk/country] ♪ ♪ Head over to the Ash Grove ♪ ♪ That's where the folks all go ♪ ♪ To go back in time ♪ ♪ It's just down Melrose ♪ ♪ That's where the legends grow ♪ ♪ I'll be close behind ♪ ♪ ♪ She's working night shifts ♪ ♪ Picking pennies off the ground ♪ ♪ Got nowhere better to be ♪ ♪ And got no way out ♪ ♪ She waits for it to rain ♪ ♪ Instead of washing her car ♪ ♪ And she only ever tips ♪ ♪ Five percent at the bar ♪ ♪ ♪ But she's over at the Ash Grove ♪ ♪ 'Cause that's where the folks all go ♪ ♪ To go back in time ♪ ♪ Well it's just down Melrose ♪ ♪ That's where the legends grow ♪ ♪ I'll be close behind ♪ ♪ ♪ The couple down the street ♪ ♪ They fell in love in '68 ♪ ♪ On the shores of Lake Michigan ♪ ♪ He asked her on a date ♪ ♪ And he looked her in the eye ♪ ♪ Then he took her by the hand ♪ ♪ Now she's kicking off her shoes ♪ ♪ And they're starting to dance ♪ ♪ ♪ Over at the Ash Grove ♪ ♪ 'That's where the folks all go ♪ ♪ To go back in time ♪ ♪ It's just down Melrose ♪ ♪ That's where the legends grow ♪ ♪ I'll be close behind ♪ ♪ I went to dinner with a man once ♪ ♪ He was a gambler of love ♪ ♪ ♪ He's lonely in all the wrong ways ♪ ♪ And only admits to one ♪ ♪ And he hates how it hurts ♪ ♪ Waving goodbye so I told him how to find me ♪ ♪ On a Saturday night ♪ ♪ ♪ Over at the Ash Grove ♪ ♪ 'That's where the folks all go ♪ ♪ To go back in time ♪ ♪ Oh it's just down Melrose ♪ ♪ That's where the legends grow ♪ ♪ I'll be close behind ♪ Hi, I'm Emma Josephine, I'm from Ham Lake, Minnesota.

I'm really excited to be here today to play some of my original tunes.

I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old.

I broke my leg, and since I couldn't play sports, my mom decided to put me into guitar lessons to keep me occupied.

And that's when I started writing music as well.

When I first come up with an idea to write a song, it's usually something I collect from my everyday life, then I keep it in my notes app on my phone.

'Cause I find it's really hard to start writing a song when you have nothing to even base it off of, and you're just looking at a blank page.

Sometimes the idea that I have doesn't take me in the direction that I really expected it to take me.

But that's part of the fun of writing a song is letting the song take you somewhere new, maybe somewhere unexpected that you didn't know you wanted to write about.

My song, "With You on a Tuesday Night" was written about an experience I had going to listen to some live music one night at a bar, and a lady sat down next to me.

She started giving me life advice.

She heard that I had just started going to college, and she gave me two pieces of advice-- to not talk to boys, and to call my mom more than I think that I should.

[playing in moderate folk-rock rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The lady at the bar last night ♪ ♪ Told me not to talk to boys ♪ ♪ She said they're trouble ♪ ♪ ♪ I don't cling to drunken words ♪ ♪ But her bitterness almost burned ♪ ♪ Worse than a whiskey on a Tuesday night ♪ ♪ But if that's what you need to feel all right ♪ ♪ Now I got some sort of hangover ♪ ♪ I think it's from being too sober ♪ ♪ Can't numb the night so I wake up ♪ ♪ Feeling a little bit older ♪ ♪ And I think that maybe she is right ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's not too many boys that will treat me nice ♪ ♪ But I'm a dreamer with another mess ♪ ♪ To make tonight ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She pointed across the room ♪ ♪ "That man at half past noon ♪ ♪ That's my trouble" ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I hate the way that she smiled ♪ ♪ Kind of sweet but then a little wild ♪ ♪ Smelled like a whiskey on a Tuesday night ♪ ♪ She said "you ever get tipsy just to feel alright?"

♪ ♪ Now I got some sort of hangover ♪ ♪ I think it's from being to sober ♪ ♪ Can't numb the night so I wake up ♪ ♪ Feeling a little bit older ♪ ♪ And I think that maybe she is right ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's not too many boys that'll treat me nice ♪ ♪ But I'm a dreamer with another mess ♪ ♪ To make tonight ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She left me to go outside ♪ ♪ Smoke a cigarette ♪ ♪ Under a street light ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ That man at half past noon ♪ ♪ Took a long look up at the moon ♪ ♪ He said "She's worse than a whiskey on a Tuesday night" ♪ ♪ But everything he needs to feel all right.

♪ ♪ [playing in a minor key] ♪ You keep a good joke ♪ ♪ In your back pocket ♪ ♪ Like a good smoke ♪ ♪ And when you're talkin' ♪ ♪ Well there's hardly anything ♪ ♪ Worth listenin' to ♪ ♪ You got a big mouth ♪ ♪ And a few loose screws ah huh-huh ♪ ♪ ♪ Hey hey baby ♪ ♪ How 'bout a dance ♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah I know ♪ ♪ I don't stand a chance ♪ ♪ ♪ I wanna waste time ♪ ♪ Loving you I wanna ♪ ♪ Waste time loving you ♪ ♪ I ain't got nothing better to do ♪ ♪ So I'll waste time on loving you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You buy my song on the jukebox ♪ ♪ Mr.

blue eyes dark liquor and sweet talk ♪ ♪ You think I'm smiling 'cause of your smooth moves ♪ ♪ You like taking credit for work you don't do ♪ ♪ Ah huh-huh ♪ ♪ Ah ah ah ♪ ♪ ♪ Hey baby ♪ ♪ How 'bout a dance ♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah I know ♪ ♪ I don't stand a chance ♪ ♪ ♪ But I'll waste time loving you ♪ ♪ I wanna waste time ♪ ♪ Loving you ♪ ♪ I ain't got nothing better to do ♪ ♪ So I'll waste time ♪ ♪ Loving you ♪ ♪ Said oh ♪ ♪ Won't you walk this line with me ♪ ♪ Said oh ♪ ♪ Won't you be so kind to me ♪ ♪ I wanna waste time ♪ ♪ Loving you ♪ ♪ I wanna waste time ♪ ♪ Loving you ♪ ♪ I ain't got nothing better to do ♪ ♪ So I'll waste my time ♪ ♪ On loving ♪ ♪ You ♪ [softly finger-picking in slow tempo] ♪ Mind the gap ♪ ♪ Between the rich and the poor ♪ ♪ The ones who don't care ♪ ♪ And the ones who care a lot more ♪ ♪ ♪ Mind the gap ♪ ♪ Between the fair and unjust ♪ ♪ The ones breaking us down ♪ ♪ And the ones trying to reconstruct ♪ ♪ ♪ Don't mind me if ♪ ♪ All I sing are sad songs ♪ ♪ We're broken in half total collapse ♪ ♪ And I fell through the gap ♪ ♪ ♪ Mind the gap ♪ ♪ Between the red and the blue ♪ ♪ The ones losing their minds ♪ ♪ And the ones losing their minds too ♪ ♪ ♪ Mind the gap ♪ ♪ Between the lines that we draw ♪ ♪ And the walls that we build ♪ ♪ With our words and our hearts and our laws ♪ ♪ ♪ Don't mind me if ♪ ♪ All I sing are sad songs ♪ ♪ We're broken in half ♪ ♪ Total collapse And I fell through the gap ♪ ♪ ♪ Mind the gap ♪ ♪ Between what we've got to lose ♪ ♪ And what we've got to gain ♪ ♪ And the in between of all ♪ ♪ That we know and what's unexplained ♪ ♪ ♪ Don't mind me if ♪ ♪ All I sing are sad songs ♪ ♪ We're broken in half ♪ ♪ Total collapse ♪ ♪ And I fell through the gap ♪ My song "Telephone Calls," I wrote a song about leaving home for the first time and coming back to see that everything was way different than when I left it.

I have a parking spot at my parent's house right next to the driveway, and I had worn the grass right down to the dirt.

One day I had come home from college and saw that they had started regrowing the grass in my parking spot.

So "Telephone Calls" became a protest song for everything changing while I was away.

[playing in bright folk rhythm] ♪ ♪ I drive home on a Friday ♪ ♪ Hardly awake and the traffic is bad ♪ ♪ They cut down the tree by my driveway ♪ ♪ The weeping willow looked a little too sad ♪ ♪ Now they're growing grass ♪ ♪ Where I used to park ♪ ♪ And they painted the kitchen walls ♪ ♪ And I hate that the closest ♪ ♪ I've come to this place all year ♪ ♪ Has been telephone calls ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm getting lost on my own street ♪ ♪ The one I used to run down with my barefeet ♪ ♪ I've been gone for too long ♪ ♪ I wish growing up didn't feel so wrong ♪ ♪ ♪ I keep my memories in boxes ♪ ♪ They're filled with letters written by hand ♪ ♪ And photographs of how it used to be ♪ ♪ When I was too young to understand ♪ ♪ Now I sleep in the extra bed ♪ ♪ And my brothers have gotten tall ♪ ♪ And I hate that the closest I've come to this place ♪ ♪ All year has been telephone calls ♪ ♪ I'm getting lost on my own street ♪ ♪ The one I used to run down with my barefeet ♪ ♪ I've been gone for too long ♪ ♪ I wish growing up didn't feel so wrong ♪ ♪ ♪ I don't think that anything's the same ♪ ♪ But it feels like nothing's changed at all ♪ ♪ When I drive home on Monday ♪ ♪ Don't forget to call ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm getting lost on my own street ♪ ♪ The one I used to run down with my barefeet ♪ ♪ I've been gone for too long ♪ ♪ I wish growing up didn't feel so wrong ♪ ♪ [playing a rhythmic country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I used to be a cowboy ♪ ♪ Born in the heart of Texas ♪ ♪ I used to be more reckless ♪ ♪ I'd sleep with a loaded gun ♪ ♪ Well I worked long days ♪ ♪ Smoked cigarettes for lunch ♪ ♪ Spent my nights on the run ♪ ♪ From all of my darkness ♪ ♪ ♪ Ohh oh ♪ ♪ Who I used to be ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I used to be a fisherman ♪ ♪ Up at the Crawdad River ♪ ♪ Back before my liver ♪ ♪ Tasted heartbreak once ♪ ♪ The fishin' got me thinkin' ♪ ♪ And the thinkin' got me drinkin' 'bout you ♪ ♪ I spent every afternoon ♪ ♪ Drinkin' 'bout you my love ♪ ♪ ♪ Ohh oh ♪ ♪ Who I used to be ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I used to work at a truck stop in Kansas ♪ ♪ Oh there's nothing in Kansas ♪ ♪ But people passing through ♪ ♪ Well the summers got long ♪ ♪ And the winters got windy and cold ♪ ♪ And I got lonely ♪ ♪ So I passed on through ♪ ♪ Ohh oh ♪ ♪ Who I used to be ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I used to be a poet ♪ ♪ When I was much younger ♪ ♪ I used to still wonder ♪ ♪ What all of this meant ♪ ♪ Now I am owned by ♪ ♪ Social consciousness ♪ ♪ And drunken responsiveness ♪ ♪ And a dollar bill ♪ ♪ ♪ Ohh oh ♪ ♪ Who I used to be ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ ♪ Ohh oh ♪ ♪ Who I used to be ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing in bright country/rock rhythm] ♪ ♪ When I turned ten ♪ ♪ I thought by now life would make more sense ♪ ♪ I'd work a corporate job my pockets deep ♪ ♪ But I'm here and I'm pinching pennies ♪ ♪ When I turned twelve ♪ ♪ I learned how to give my parents hell ♪ ♪ I was real good at slamming doors ♪ ♪ And talking big and keeping score ♪ ♪ I used to think that I knew a thing or two ♪ ♪ I used to think that I really had a clue ♪ ♪ But if I could I'd go back and forget it ♪ ♪ The more you know the more you wish you didn't ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I turned eighteen ♪ ♪ I thought love was all a girl would need ♪ ♪ I kissed a boy and never saw him again ♪ ♪ Turns out not all boys grow up to be men ♪ ♪ When I turned twenty-one ♪ ♪ I thought the future could be outrun ♪ ♪ Turns out your list of things to do ♪ ♪ Is never done it grows up with you ♪ ♪ ♪ I used to think that I knew a thing or two ♪ ♪ I used to think that I really had a clue ♪ ♪ But if I could I'd go back and forget it ♪ ♪ The more you know the more you wish you didn't ♪ ♪ And by the time that I turn twenty-two ♪ ♪ I'll know a few more things to be true ♪ ♪ And as much as I hate to admit it ♪ ♪ The more you know the more you wish you didn't ♪ ♪ The more you know ♪ ♪ The more you wish you didn't ♪ ♪ [playing in fast-paced folk/country rhythm] ♪ I'm heading down to the Irish vale ♪ ♪ Where the river runs clean ♪ ♪ I'm not a vagabond ♪ ♪ But I'm not home yet somewhere in between ♪ ♪ So I'll walk these rolling hills ♪ ♪ And trade my miseries ♪ ♪ In the Irish vale ♪ ♪ That's where you'll find me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm heading down to the Irish vale ♪ ♪ To find my great true love ♪ ♪ He looks a little like the man ♪ ♪ That I've been dreaming of ♪ ♪ So I'll grab my best dress ♪ ♪ And a little luck ♪ ♪ In the Irish vale ♪ ♪ I'll find my love ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm heading down to the Irish vale ♪ ♪ Where the gorse has finally bloomed ♪ ♪ Spring awakes again ♪ ♪ And the winter's makin' room ♪ ♪ So I'll lose myself ♪ ♪ Just like I used to ♪ ♪ In the Irish vale ♪ ♪ The mountains bloom ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm heading down to the Irish vale ♪ ♪ Where the days last real long ♪ ♪ The months are short ♪ ♪ And all the sudden years ♪ ♪ Have come and gone ♪ ♪ So I wake up everyday ♪ ♪ And thank the dawn ♪ ♪ In the Irish vale ♪ ♪ I'll sing my song ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing rhythmic folk/country] ♪ Oh he's holding my hand ♪ ♪ But I wish he wasn't ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's just the start ♪ ♪ Of another "I love you" ♪ ♪ But that's not enough was it ♪ ♪ Don't you say you're sorry ♪ ♪ Oh no don't even worry ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll fall in love with my six string ♪ ♪ Fall in love with stomping boots ♪ ♪ I'd rather make a home on the road ♪ ♪ Than fall in love with a fool ♪ ♪ Oh he likes when I smile ♪ ♪ So he's cooking me dinner ♪ ♪ ♪ Even though he'll be gone ♪ ♪ Before the ground freezes for the winter ♪ ♪ And I know I should be sad ♪ ♪ But I don't even like him like that ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll fall in love with my six string ♪ ♪ Fall in love with stompin' boots ♪ ♪ I'd rather make a home on the road ♪ ♪ Than fall in love with a fool ♪ ♪ Oh and when you leave ♪ ♪ I'll just write it in a song ♪ ♪ ♪ You already know the words ♪ ♪ You're already singing along ♪ ♪ So I'll fall in love with my six string ♪ ♪ Fall in love with stompin' boots ♪ ♪ I'd rather make ♪ ♪ A home on the road than ♪ ♪ Fall in love with a fool ♪ ♪ So I'll fall in love ♪ ♪ With my six string ♪ ♪ Fall in love ♪ ♪ With stompin' boots ♪ ♪ I'd rather make ♪ ♪ A home on the road than ♪ ♪ Fall in love with a fool ♪ ♪ (woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.