JUSTIFIEDSPAN>

Lyrics

Liner Notes

I’ve been kicked when I’m down
Why I do not know
I suggest you best not tempt me
‘Cause I swear I’m ‘bout to blow

Well don’t justify me to do what we’d both regret
Don’t justify me I don’t forgive and forget
Don’t even try, I’m not gonna lie
No, I won’t pull a punch
No, I won’t pull a punch if I’m justified
No, no, no, no, no

Some say I’ve got a mean streak
Just when I’m backed to the wall
I suggest you best not push me
Or the hammer’s ‘bout to fall

Well, don’t justify me to do what we’d both regret
Don’t justify me I don’t forgive and I damn sure don’t forget
Don’t even try, I’m not gonna lie
Oh, I won’t pull a punch
No I won’t pull a punch if I’m justified

Are you talkin’ to me?

I just need a little proof
To plead self defense
I suggest you best not test me
I’ll never serve a sentence

Don’t justify me, stand down while you can
No, don’t justify me, better just to be a better man
Don’t run and hide
That’d be suicide
No, there’s no reasonable doubt, there’s no doubt that I’m, I’m justified

Ooo, I’m just justified, I’m justified
Oh, I’m justified

CREDITS:

Music and Lyrics by
Mark Greenawalt (Future-Class X Publishing, ASCAP)

Lead and HarmonyVocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Drums - Mark Greenawalt

BEHIND THE MUSIC:

I wrote this song in November of 2023 as part of a songwriting challenge based on including the phrase 'I swear I'm gonna.' I had recently bought my silver burst Fender Strat and I really wanted to lay down a tasty blues song. I decided that I wanted to incorporate a Cry Baby Wah pedal. I used to have one back in the day and I especially remember using it on my keyboards when my band Center Alley played the Dire Straights song 'Money For Nothing' for that weird keyboard sound. I have no idea where that pedal ended up, so I went over to Milano Music to support local vendors and bought a new one. I was really happy with the tone that I got using a Marshall modeling amp. I wanted a sound inspired by Robert Cray but also with a bit of Gary Moore. I kept the bass, drums, and keyboards secondary, but hopefully 'in the pocket'. And lastly, I wanted to add some real horns. I'm getting pretty proficient on the sax so I first laid out two sax tracks that were an octave apart and then did my best to learn a couple notes on the trumpet to ride on top. I have a pbone trombone, but I don't think I'm ready for prime time with that so 'no trombone tracks were harmful on this song'.

TECHNICAL:

ISRC - QZDA62424905

Original tracks recorded and mixed using Logic X in Phoenix: Vocals on CAD Equitek microphone, Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, Jackson bass, Mendini Horns, and V-Drums with Superior Drummer Software, and all keyboards play through Roland V-Combo VR-09 using Logic X internal sounds.

Mastered with Mixea from Distrokid

PLACEMENTS:

More to come...