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

HI EVERYONE.

I'M JIM MYERS.

TODAY'S SESSION FEATURES SINGER-SONGWRITER REBEKAH PULLEY.

BASED IN ST. PETERSBURG, REBEKAH HAS LONG BEEN A FIXTURE IN THE TAMPA BAY MUSIC SCENE WINNING SEVERAL BAY AREA AWARDS WHILE RELEASING SEVEN ALBUMS OVER THE PAST DECADE AND A HALF.

HER MUSIC TAPS ROOTS ROCK, BLUES, OLD SCHOOL COUNTRY, AND OTHER GENRES TO PROVIDE A UNIQUE AMERICANA SOUNDSCAPE FOR HER EVOCATIVE VOICE AND LYRICS.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO REBEKAH BEFORE THE SESSION ABOUT HER SONGWRITING PROCESS, HER INFLUENCES AND INSPIRATIONS, HER UPCOMING PLANS, AND MORE.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>I'M OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER, BUT I'M STILL TOO YOUNG TO CARE ABOUT THINGS LIKE DYING AND WHAT LIFE IS LIKE OVER THERE.

THOUGH LIFE HAS SENT ME DOWN A ROUGH ROAD, I STILL STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES.

THOUGH THEIR BLOOMS FALL ONE BY ONE JUST LIKE MY YEARS DO I SUPPOSE.

POUR ME SOME SWEET LIFE AND GIVE ME LOVE TO BREAK MY HEART.

THEN PUSH ME TO A LIMIT I THOUGHT I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO START.

YOU KNOW I'M NOT THE SWEET THING THIS WORLD SET ME OUT TO BE.

I'VE GOT A LITTLE OF THAT DEVIL HIDING SOMEWHERE DEEP INSIDE ME.

THERE'S AN ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER THAT'S BEEN FIGHTING FOR CONTROL.

BUT I DON'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE VANITY'S A SIN I'VE BEEN TOLD.

POUR ME SOME SWEET LIFE AND GIVE ME LOVE TO BREAK MY HEART.

THEN PUSH ME TO A LIMIT I THOUGHT I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO START.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>I'M KIND OF ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES BUT I CAN POLISH TO A SHINE.

AND STILL APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS THAT I STUMBLE AROUND AND FIND.

THERE'S NOT MUCH CALL FOR AGING LOVERS AND DREAMERS.

YOU KNOW THIS HEART STILL BEATS IN TIME.

AND I KNOW BEAUTY WHEN I SEE IT BECAUSE I STILL SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

POUR ME SOME SWEET LIFE AND GIVE LOVE TO BREAK MY HEART.

THEN PUSH ME TO A LIMIT I THOUGHT I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO START.

GIVE ME LOVE TO BREAK MY HEART.

PUSH ME TO A LIMIT I THOUGHT I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO START.

PUSH ME TO A LIMIT I THOUGHT I WASN'T STRONG...

I THOUGHT I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO START.

I STARTED WRITING SONGS WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

I WAS WRITING POETRY I SUPPOSE AND LIKE JOURNALING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND EVENTUALLY I LEARNED TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT.

AND SO, WHEN I SAY YOUNG, I WAS LIKE SEVEN.

LIKE AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO WRTIE, I JUST WROTE.

BUT MY FATHER WAS A GUITAR PLAYER, SO HE TAUGHT ME TO PLAY GUITAR WHEN I WAS LIKE BETWEEN TWELVE AND FIFTEEN.

FOR A FEW YEARS, HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH ME ON GUITAR.

AND SO LIKE, THOSE POEMS AND EVEN JOURNAL ENTRIES LIKE SILLY THINGS, I WOULD TURN INTO SONGS, YOU KNOW.

AND I JUST ALWAYS...

I FEEL LIKE I'VE WRITTEN AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

SO IT'S HARD TO FIND LIKE THE SPECIFIC STARTING PLACE, BUT I THINK THAT'S SORT OF HOW IT KIND OF CAME INTO SONGWRITING.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>SISTER SALLY SHAKES LIKE A SAD WILLOW TREE WITH HER LONG HAIR FLOWING RIGHT DOWN TO HER KNEES.

BROTHER JOHN HE GETS EVERYTHING HE NEEDS WITH HIS TWO STRONG HANDS AND HIS STEADY STROLLING FEET.

LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN THE WARM DAY LEAVES THEIR SKIN, OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH A COLD NIGHT SETTING IN, BROTHER JOHN LEANS IN CLOSE TO SISTER SALLY'S SIDE.

SO CLOSE THAT HER WARMTH BURNS AWAY THE EDGES OF THE NIGHT.

AND THEY GO BURN, DON'T BURN ME DOWN.

ROLL, BUT DON'T ROLL AWAY FROM THIS TOWN.

SHINE, BUT DON'T BLIND MY EYES.

SAIL, BUT DON'T SAIL AWAY FROM MY SIDE.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>SISTER SALLY'S LIPS TASTE AS SWEET AS SUMMER WINE FROM THOSE BIG RED GRAPES HANGING LOW AND HEAVY FROM AN AUTUMN VINE.

BROTHER JOHN'S HANDS ARE ROUGH FROM WORKING THAT NINE TO FIVE.

BUT HE DOES IT ALL FOR SISTER SALLY JUST TO BE THERE BY HER SIDE WHEN SHE GOES...

BURN, BUT DON'T BURN ME DOWN.

ROLL, BUT DON'T ROLL AWAY FROM THIS TOWN.

SHINE, BUT DON'T BLIND MY EYES.

SAIL, BUT DON'T SAIL AWAY FROM MY SIDE.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN THE WARM DAY LEAVES THEIR SKIN.

OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH A COLD NIGHT SETTING IN.

BROTHER JOHN LEANS IN CLOSE TO SISTER SALLY'S SIDE.

SO CLOSE THAT HER WARMTH BURNS AWAY THE EDGES OF THE NIGHT.

AND THEY GO BURN, BUT DON'T BURN ME DOWN.

ROLL, BUT DON'T ROLL AWAY FROM THIS TOWN.

SHINE, BUT DON'T BLIND MY EYES.

SAIL, BUT DON'T SAIL AWAY FROM MY SIDE.

THEY GO BURN, BUT DON'T BURN ME DOWN.

ROLL, BUT DON'T ROLL AWAY FROM THIS TOWN.

SHINE, BUT DON'T BLIND MY EYES.

SAIL, BUT DON'T SAIL AWAY FROM MY SIDE.

I WISH YOU WERE WHISKEY TO GET ME STRONG AS I NEED TO BE.

AND SHARE ALL THESE WORDS IN MY HEART THAT WON'T LET ME SLEEP.

I STAY UP ALL NIGHT THINKING ABOUT WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING.

I'VE GOT TWO FISTS EMPTY FOR DRINKING YOU IN.

I'D CONSUME YOU SLOWLY, HOLD ON TO YOU TIGHTLY, SHARE WITH YOU DAILY ABOUT THE STUFF WE ARE MADE OF.

I WISH YOU WERE WHISKEY TO STILL THIS WARBLING SOUL THAT WILL BE ROAMING THE NIGHT FOR SOMEONE TO HOLD ON TO TIGHT.

I WISH YOU WERE WHISKEY.

I WISH YOU WERE COCAINE.

I WISH YOU WERE TOBACCO.

I WISH YOU WERE HEROIN.

I'D CONSUME YOU SLOWLY, HOLD ON TO YOU TIGHTLY, SHARE WITH YOU DAILY ABOUT THE STUFF WE ARE MADE OF.

I WISH YOU WERE WHISKEY.

I WISH YOU WERE COCAINE.

I WISH YOU WERE TOBACCO.

I WISH YOU WERE HEROIN.

I THINK I'M KIND OF LIKE AN EMOTIONAL SONGWRITER.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DO... LIKE HAVE TOPICS.

LIKE THEY'LL WRITE ON A TOPIC OF LIKE SOME SOCIAL INJUSTICE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE OR, I DON'T KNOW.

SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OR YOU KNOW.

I TEND TO WRITE MORE FROM LIKE A FEELY PLACE OR LIKE EMOTIONAL WRITER.

IT PROBABLY STEMS FROM LIKE AS WRITING INITIALLY, STARTING MY WRITING PROCESS LIKE THROUGH JOURNALING AND STUFF.

SO, USUALLY IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW.

IT'S JUST AN OUTLET FOR ME, SORT OF AN OUTLET TO GET WHATEVER WEIRD STUFF I'M FEELING OUT OF MY SYSTEM, YOU KNOW.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>THERE HE WAS.

HE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU.

YOU DIDN'T APPLAUD ALL THE THINGS HE USED TO DO.

THERE YOU WERE.

NO SHIRT AND NO SHOES.

YOU COULDN'T WEAR ALL THE SAME THINGS THE WAY HE USED TO DO.

HERE I AM.

THE SAME AS I WAS.

LETTING IT ALL RIDE ON RED.

JUST BECAUSE.

THERE THEY ARE SMOKING CIGARETTES ON SOMEDAY MUSEUM SIDEWALKS THAT WE'LL ALL FORGET.

NOBODY'S COOL ANYMORE.

NOT LIKE JOHN LEE HOOKER OR ELVIS OR MARILYN MONROE.

NOT LIKE GUNSLINGERS OR TRAVELLING SHOWS, MAE WEST OR JAMES DEAN OR ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE.

NOBODY'S COOL ANYMORE.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>THERE HE WAS.

HE LOOKED JUST LIKE YOU.

YOU DIDN'T APPLAUD ALL THE THINGS HE USED TO DO.

THERE YOU WERE.

NO SHIRT AND NO SHOES.

YOU COULDN'T WEAR ALL THE SAME THINGS THE WAY HE USED TO DO.

NOBODY'S COOL ANYMORE.

NOT LIKE WOODY GUTHRIE, JOHNNY CASH, OR MODEL A FORDS.

NOT LIKE GREEN ONIONS, MOHAIR SUITS, OR HAN SOLO OR ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE.

NOBODY'S COOL ANYMORE.

NOBODY'S COOL ANYMORE.

NOTHING SEEMS COOL ANYMORE.

NOBODY'S COOL ANYMORE.

I THINK I REALLY ENJOY PLAYING AT MUSIC FESTIVALS, STUFF LIKE THAT YOU KNOW.

I THINK MOSTLY BECAUSE I JUST LOVE PLAYING AT FESTIVALS.

THERE'S ALWAYS USUALLY A REALLY GOOD VIBE AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL.

LIKE PEOPLE ARE THERE FOR MUSIC SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW.

AND ALSO, AT LOT OF TIMES AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF IT IS THE AFTER, LIKE IN THE EVENINGS.

YOU CAN GO AROUND AND LIKE...

THERE ARE THE CAMPFIRE JAMS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

LIKE, PEOPLE JUST SITTING AROUND AND JUST PLAYING.

NOBODY'S TRYING TO PUT ON A SHOW OR DO ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYBODY'S JUST GENUINELY SHARING SONGS AND HAVING A GOOD TIME, YOU KNOW.

I THINK I REALLY ENJOYED THAT A LOT.

MUSIC FESTIVAL STUFF IS FUN.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>I DON'T WRITE R&B.

I DON'T WRITE POP OR COUNTRY OR MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS OR RAP OR INDIE.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE NOTHING?

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE SOMETHING?

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THERE IS WHERE I MAKE A LIVING BEING.

THE OTHER FROM THOSE THAT HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND.

THE OTHER FROM THOSE WHO NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.

THE OTHERS HAVE AN OPINIONATED OPTION BELOW THE OTHER BOXES.

I'M THE OTHER.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME?

AM I SOME KIND OF FREAK?

READING BOOKS FROM THE ENDING MAKES FOR A HAPPIER BEGINNING.

WHAT KIND OF STUFF ARE YOU MADE OF?

DO YOU ASK YOURSELF SIMILAR QUESTIONS HEARING THE SAME SONG OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

ARE YOU LISTENING FOR A HAPPY ENDING?

ARE YOU THE OTHER FROM THOSE THAT HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND?

THE OTHER FROM THOSE WHO NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.

THE OTHERS HAVE OPINIONS AND OPTIONS BELOW THE OTHER BOXES.

♪ GUITAR PLAYS ♪ >>OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

ARE YOU THE OTHER FROM THOSE THAT HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND?

THE OTHER FROM THOSE WHO NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.

THE OTHERS HAVE OPINIONS AND OPTIONS BELOW THE OTHER BOXES.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

ARE YOU LISTENING FOR A HAPPY ENDING?

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE SPECIFICALLY AWAY FROM MY MUSIC, OR MAYBE MORE SPECIFICALLY GARNER OR GAIN FROM MY MUSIC.

JUST EXCEPT THAT THEY HAVE AN EXPERIENCE.

MAYBE IT MOVES THEM IN SOME WAY, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE HONESTLY.

I KNOW FOR ME, LIKE IF I HEAR MUSIC AND I'M INSPIRED, IT GENERALLY INSPIRES ME AS A MUSICIAN TO WANT TO GO PLAY AND WRITE MORE.

>>THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF MELROSE IN THE MIX FEATURING REBEKAH PULLEY.

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