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Sweet Surrender

by Lauren Housley

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1.
NICE TO SEE YA Finally now do I see You’ve always been there for me Telling me the things I need to hear It’s never been about being wrong or right Win or lose but never quit the fight Live the life you’ve always dreamed about Things can stand in your way As they will if you stay Head off now, go and see the world Use the fear; give it all you‘ve got Show them all it was worth a shot You’ll only fail baby if you never try CHORUS And she said, Oh oh oh It’s nice to see ya You can come on over when you like When you’re lost, when you’re broken My door is always open Oh oh oh it’s nice to see ya Emotions high as I leave Making it hard to believe We’ve had our share of many ups and downs Still I love you after all these years Through the laughter through the many tears This is home and you’re welcome anytime CHORUS To see ya’s nice
2.
THE WAITING GAME Spent my teens roaming side streets Avoid the hard road when I could And in the corner of my mind I’d wait for you But the waiting did no good I used to think life was easy Now I know that’s not true The journey’s rough and oh the road is long But the road leads to you Followed the signs there in front of me and tried to be patience, know I’m on my way Will the sun shine on the other side? or will it always look the same? I just play the waiting game The waiting game Watch my dreams from the sideline Just a stone throw away Though I looked I never truly saw This is my game to play Close my eyes I need a breather Hit a wall with all my force Cause I know I believe in something more You can hear it in my voice I can feel it right in front of me But I try to be patient; know I’m on my way Is it brighter on the other side? Or is it always looking grey? I just play the waiting game, the waiting game Try to be patient, Try to be patient I’ve got to be patient, if I want it Will it always look the same? I just play the waiting game, the waiting game
3.
IF YOU WERE MINE Every night that I lay with you I wish it were more than a dream Holding on to what could’ve been Is breaking my heart at the seam Well I know that I can’t walk away If there’s a chance you could love me someday CHORUS If you were mine I’d give you the world Take what you want Now cause it’s yours I know you deserve the best I can give If you were mine Whenever you’re not here with me I feel like I’m melting away But when I’m with you baby, you make me feel Like I’m somebody There’s no chance I’m walking away I pray that you’ll love me someday CHORUS I’ll come running when you call me I will catch you when you fall And I’ll be there to hold you in the night forever, oh forever CHORUS
4.
FACE THE WORLD ALONE For the last twenty years I’ve been looking out for you But now you’re grown and ready to go And face the world alone For the past twenty years I’ve seen you every single day But now it’s time for us to say goodbye And face the world alone And face the world alone In my life I have seen The person you’ve grown up to be And I’m proud to know that you are mine And face the world alone Face the world alone You’ll be my baby, be my baby forever x 4 I knew this day had to come Please don’t worry about me Cause baby, baby, baby, babe it’s you’re time to shine And face the world alone x 4
5.
GHOST TOWN BLUES So black was the night Not a soul to be seen under the streetlight Heaven’s been shut, it’s closing down So what were you thinking? All alone in this ghost town tonight CHORUS So I said… Come on, ready when you want me No fear, keep the karma coming I’m here, standing on my own two feet Just keep on looking at me You ain’t got nothing on me So empty was the place With a smell of tobacco and a sour taste Darkness fell, in the blink of an eye So what were you doing? All alone with the bad guy that night CHORUS I’ve been walking for days And I’ve somehow lost the way All I hear are little voices say Go back (go back, go back, go back) Go back (go back go back go back) So heavy was the night As the shadows creep under the moonlight It’s only a dream, til I open my eyes So how did I get here? Deep in the heart of this ghost town, tonight CHORUS
6.
WHEN AUTUMN CAME I was waiting for my baby In the cold October rain Never did my baby show The night the autumn came The night when autumn came How the strangers passed in darkness As I waited to be claimed But nobody showed to take me home The night the autumn came The night when autumn came It’s dark and leaves are falling Summers dead and gone Blowing winds whisper thoughts of you As the heartache, the heartache lingers Stars and leaves are falling Summers far behind Howling winds whisper thoughts of you That echo round my mind, like echo’s Something deep within me Knew I’d never be the same You left me broken hearted The night the autumn came The night when autumn came
7.
SWEET SURRENDER Changing streets and closing arms Is this what I want my life to be? Don’t recognize this place at all Oh tonight there’s silence Chasing dreams into the dark So far to reach with walls surrounding me Growing tired with every thought I’ve tried to keep my silence but I must break this CHORUS You will find me by the river With my head up to the sky Come and heed my sweet surrender Now I hold my head up, hold it high Confusing night time with the day No sense of time all hours look the same Colours fading into grey What on earth has happened, got to end this CHORUS Oh no I won’t be afraid, you’re here with me and now the truth has set, set me free, I am free CHORUS
8.
SHOW ME WHAT LOVE IS Days are getting harder Mornings are the worst I wish you would find me Without you it hurts Hours last a lifetime Years go by so fast Seen you in my future Forgetting the past CHORUS And he will be loving and kind He’ll fix what’s been broken, he will try and show me what love is Show me what love is What love is, what love is Living life without you Nothing seems to feel right Cause I know that you’re out there Come and hold me tonight, tonight CHORUS What love is, he will show me what love is, be there for me he will be loving and kind fix what’s been broken, he will try he will be patient, by my side and show me what love is x 4
9.
IT AINT ABOUT YOU “I’ll be back in an hour”, you said to me You roll in after 7 and I could smell what you’d been drinking “When’s daddy gonna be back?” “he shouldn’t be too long” The words came out of my mouth well but they could tell what I was thinking PRE CHORUS You should’ve kept yourself inside so we could’ve tried to talk it right Here we go with another fight, tear each other up through the night CHORUS it aint about you it aint about me it’s about what’s gonna be best It’s about what’s gonna be best You’ve been out and about Every single night Now I’ve got a few questions, Since I heard about you flirting Have you forgotten we’re here? Or did you need some space? You may say I’m possessive but it ain’t just me you’re hurting PRE CHORUS CHORUS
10.
ALL YOU NEED IS A FRIEND Years and years of waiting for something No time for resting when all you do is sleep Plenty of chance for a decent conversation But you’re talking to yourself not the company you keep Round and round in circles, barely conscious Rolling with the flow of a never ending tale Tears and fears are taking up your time when All that they’ll achieve is the guarantee to fail CHORUS Sometimes all you need is a friend Who will love you and care for you, be there for you til the end They will know when you’re lost, never judge what you do When you’re out in the cold they’ll be searching for you Sometimes all you need is a friend It grows and grows a feeling you’re the only Person in the world who’s lost their every hope Shows and shows and the days are feeling lonely Watch out ahead it can be a slippy slope CHORUS

about

“Effortlessly classy soulful blues from God’s country… ‘Face The World Alone’ is the type of song that music fans dream of stumbling on….‘Sweet Surrender’ (album) by Lauren Housley is outstanding…” No Depression, 29/06/15

“Sometimes there comes along a talent that’s just too big to ignore. In this instance the talent belongs to Manchester based singer/songwriter Lauren Housley whose debut album, Sweet Surrender, is simply a rich, satin coated chocolate for the ears. PR Rating: ***** Superb“ Chris High, Purple Revolver, 21/07/15

Housley, born in Rotherham in South Yorkshire and now part of the thriving Manchester music scene, will release ‘Sweet Surrender’ on Big Bad Recordings on August 28, 2015. It’s full of infectious, feelgood uptempo numbers and stirring, soul-deep ballads, all composed by Lauren with songwriting partner Thomas Dibb.

The songs conjure memories of her forerunners among strong, empowered female artists as Janis Joplin, Eva Cassidy and Lauryn Hill, but with a distinct 21st century twist. The album confirms the arrival of a vocal and songwriting presence with tinges of blues, Americana-style country, old-school soul, pop and rock in her locker, but a warm, intense and engaging style that’s all her own.

The album follows the promise of her ‘Rather Be There’ single and the earlier ‘One Step Closer’ EP. To name just two highlights from ‘Sweet Surrender,’ the slow-burning intensity of the ballad ‘Show Me What Love Is’ turns heads every time she sings it, while the upcoming single ‘Ghost Town Blues’ moves stylishly among its soul influences from Massive Attack to Motown. And they’re just a taste.

‘Sweet Surrender’ was recorded in various sessions in Ireland, and in Wallasey, on Merseyside, overseen by producer Mark Lewis. Contributors include some of the best up-and-coming young musicians Britain has to offer, such as multi-instrumentalist and producer Steve Parry, whose extensive credits include being musical arranger on ‘The Voice.’

The versatile singer has also formed a country band, the Chorlton Country Club, as a fun side project, and is a member of the Manchester dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass collective, the Kaleidoscope Orchestra. Now she’s coming to a live venue near you, armed with a debut album that will turn heads and win hearts.

credits

released August 28, 2015

All tracks written by LAUREN HOUSLEY and THOMAS DIBB
All tracks produced by MARK LEWIS and THOMAS DIBB
Executive Producer LAUREN HOUSLEY
All tracks Engineered and Mixed by MARK LEWIS
All tracks mastered by PETE MAHER
Assistant mixing by ADAM STOKEL on tracks 2, 3, 4 and 5 at SPIRIT STUDIO (Manchester)
Assistant engineering by MARK WAGSTAFF and GREG CHICHE on tracks 5 and 9

Lead and backing vocals on all tracks by LAUREN HOUSLEY.

‘Nice To See Ya’
CRAIG HANSON - Drums, ALAN KEARY - Bass, THOMAS DIBB- Electric Guitar/Acoustic Guitar/Resonator/Backing Vocals, SCOTT POLEY - Dobro, STEVE PARRY- Organ, Rhythm Section and Vocals Engineered by DAVE KEARY at RED DOOR STUDIO (Limerick)

‘The Waiting Game’
CRAIG HANSON - Drums, ALAN KEARY - Bass, THOMAS DIBB - Electric Guitar/Guitar Solo/Piano/Backing Vocals/Claps, JACK MCCARTHY - Congas and Percussion, Mark Lewis - Backing Vocals/Claps, STEVE PARRY - Trumpet/Sax/Trombone/Organ/Wurlitzer, Rhythm Section and Vocals Engineered by DAVE KEARY at RED DOOR STUDIO (Limerick)

‘If You Were Mine’
JOHN HIRST - Drums, ALAN KEARY- Bass, THOMAS DIBB - Electric Guitar/Acoustic Guitar/Banjo, EWAN GUILFORD - Piano, SCOTT POLEY - Pedal Steel/Acoustic Guitar/Percussion, TOM BARBER-REDMORE - Backing Vocals

‘Face The World Alone’
JOHN HIRST - Drums, MARK LEWIS - Bass/Percussion/Backing vocals/Friction Fingers, THOMAS DIBB - Electric Guitar/Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals, LIVIU GHEORGHE - Piano/Electric Piano/Prepared Piano, SCOTT POLEY - Pedal Steel

‘Ghost Town Blues’
CRAIG HANSON - Drums, MARK LEWIS - Bass/Backing Vocals/Percussion, THOMAS DIBB - Electric Guitars/Piano/Tambourine/Backing Vocals, STEVE PARRY - Organ, LAUREN HOUSLEY - Claps and Foot stomps, Ghost Town Blues Choir - TOM BARBER-REDMORE, JON KENZIE, PENNY NICHOLLS, HAYLEY WILLIAMS

‘When Autumn Came’
THOMAS DIBB - Piano, CHRIS HILLMAN - Pedal Steel, ANDY CRICK - Cello, SIMMY SINGH - Violin

‘Sweet Surrender’
CLIVE MELLOR - Harmonica, JOHN HIRST - Drums, JOHN POPE - Double Bass, THOMAS DIBB - Electric Guitar/Acoustic Guitar/Piano/Backing Vocals, STEVE PARRY- Organ/Production/Engineering, SCOTT POLEY - Pedal Steel, RACHEL LASHAM - Percussion, MARK LEWIS - Backing Vocals

‘Show Me What Love Is’
STEVE PYCROFT - Drums, JOHN POPE - Double Bass, ALEX DEE - Electric Guitar, THOMAS DIBB - Acoustic Guitar/Piano/Backing Vocals/Banjo/String Arrangement, SCOTT POLEY - Pedal Steel/Electric Guitar, STEVE PARRY - Organ/Production/ Engineering, MARK LEWIS - Backing Vocals, String Quartet - Leos Strings: RACHEL SHAKESPEARE - Cello, CAROLINE PETHER- Violin 1, ROSEMARY ATTREE - Violin 2, ALEX MITCHELL - Viola

‘It Ain’t About You’
STEVE PYCROFT - Drums, JOHN POPE - Double Bass, THOMAS DIBB - Electric Guitars/Acoustic Guitar, STEVE PARRY - Wurlitzer, RACHEL LASHAM - Congas and Percussion, Backing Vocals - PENNY NICHOLLS and HAYLEY WILLIAMS

‘All You Need Is A Friend’
CRAIG HANSON - Drums, MARK LEWIS - Bass/Backing Vocals/Percussion, THOMAS DIBB - Piano/Acoustic Guitars/Backing Vocals, PHIL ROGERSON - Backing Vocals, RACHEL LASHAM - Percussion, STEVE PARRY- Organ

Album photography by SVEN ESELGROTH
Album artwork by JULIA LOWE

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Lauren Housley Sheffield, UK

Lauren Housley is a singer and songwriter hailing from Yorkshire, UK. Her love of music started early, with a deep connection to great songs, the craft of storytelling and emotive vocal performance.
Lauren released her debut album Sweet Surrender in 2015, quickly garnering acclaim from fans and fellow musicians. Her new album is set for release in 2020.
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