richard cortez live @ radio active records featuring percussionist chris hand recorded february 9th, 2009 sleeping with strangers loneliness you're bringing me down and all these salty tears i've cried they're drowning this whole town you think i'd learn my lesson you think by now i'd know it don't matter how hot you're feelin' when you're heart is beating 20 below 20 below sleeping with strangers but dreaming of you the man that i live for the man i never knew i stumble through packed bars looking for you and just when i find him turns out it's not you emptiness the nights are so cold well, i'm drunk and passed out with no clothes on this routine is getting so old you think that i'd be satisfied you think that i could smile well, my friends all try to comfort me but it only lasts for awhile and so i'm... sleeping with strangers but dreaming of you the man that i live for the man i never knew i stumble through packed bars looking for you and just when i find him turns out it's not you did you lose your way? tell me it's not too late you know i'll try to wait but baby, it hurt so bad so, i count the days i keep track while you're away you know i'll try to wait but baby, it hurt so bad so bad so bad... sleeping with strangers but dreaming of you the man that i live for the man i never knew i will i'll be here at the bar waiting for you i hope when you find me i know that it's you...

bleeding love closed off from love i didn't need the pain once or twice was enough and it was all in vain time starts to pass before you know it you're frozen but something happened for the very first time with you my heart melted into the ground found something true and everyone's looking 'round thinking I'm going crazy but I don't care what they say i'm in love with you they try to pull me away but they don't know the truth my heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing you cut me open and I keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love i keep bleeding i keep, keep bleeding love keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love you cut me open trying hard not to hear but they talk so loud their piercing sounds fill my ears try to fill me with doubt yet I know that their goal is to keep me from falling but nothing's greater than the rush that comes with your embrace and in this world of loneliness i see your face yet everyone around me thinks that I'm going crazy maybe, maybe but I don't care what they say i'm in love with you they try to pull me away but they don't know the truth my heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing you cut me open and I keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love i keep bleeding i keep, keep bleeding love keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love you cut me open and it's draining all of me oh they find it hard to believe i'll be wearing these scars for everyone to see i don't care what they say i'm in love with you they try to pull me away but they don't know the truth my heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing you cut me open and I keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love i keep bleeding i keep, keep bleeding love keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love you cut me open and I keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love i keep bleeding i keep, keep bleeding love keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love you cut me open and I keep bleeding keep, keep bleeding love

guess it doesn't really matter just how much you want it if it wasn't meant to be, it just can't be meanwhile, my heart is breaking with each pitter patter and it's still hard to breathe when you look at me look at me guess i was wrong in thinking you had good intentions cause when it comes down to it, you just end up hurting me and well, they say if you love something so much you can't ignore it sometimes the best thing you can do is set it free so i set you free you won't be the first boy to leave me behind but you will be the first one i miss, yeah go on and walk away walk away cause you know you can and i won't say a word, no but i'll be thinking it i'll be thinking he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me not, he loves me not in my heart of hearts, i know you truly care about me and that you tried your hardest not to let this thing die but in my hands i hold a truth that you just can't accept so i'm a sobbing mess while you're trying to say goodbye oh, say goodbye.. cause love is not a choice you make no, loves not a decision love is not worth waiting for if it comes with a price ya know, when you came along i thought "hey! this really must be it!" but you wanted me to give up things that i couldn't sacrifice so... you won't be the first boy to leave me behind but you will be the first one i miss, yeah go on and walk away walk away cause you know you can and i won't say a word, no but i'll be thinking it i'll be thinking he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me not, or maybe he loves me well, don't think that you can just come back, no cause i don't forgive or forget - oh, no just because you broke my heart that doesn't mean that i won't stand and watch you walk away from the best kept secret that you ever had oh, no he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me, he loves me not he loves me not, he loves me not

you were still there in the morning and i opened my eyes just to see that i was lost such an odd pair drinking coffee sitting outside the house i finally realized we were lost and if i recall it right last night i think you said you loved me how could you cross that line when there is so much to lose? we've wasted all this time just dancing around the issue... i'm tired of this mess and of dancing with you and it's over yeah, it's over now now that this thing between you and me is dying and i'm trying to get out oh, it's over yeah, it's over now now that this thing between you and me is dying and i'm trying to get out yeah, i'm trying to get out because you are an asshole you lie and cheat and steal and fake your pain and you take it all in vain the beauty right beneath your nose and i am surprised you know, i thought that you would really understand now that the issue at hand that's just the way the story goes but the phone don't stop it's ringing off the hook and i know that it's you trying to catch a glimpse of who is winning this game and everybody says that i should salvage what is left of my heart, yeah and i agree with them but i'm still sleeping with you and it's over yeah, it's over now now that this thing between you and me is dying and i'm trying to get out oh, it's over yeah, it's over now now that this thing between you and me is dying and i'm trying to get out yeah, i'm trying to get out there really is no other choice now i guess there's nothing left to say i'm tired of watching my voice now let's get it out of the way cause it's over yeah, it's over now now that this thing between you and me is dying and i'm trying to get out oh, it's over yeah, it's over now now that this thing between you and me is dying and i'm trying to get out yeah, i'm trying to get out you know i'm trying to get out...

your smile is vivacious baby maybe we could go for a walk sometime... your body's outrageous darlin' well, pardon me but can't you see you drive me insane you're just so goddamned sweet you're deep like meryl streep if you were mine to keep baby, i would sleep with you all day so, what is it that you're looking for out there? skinny dipping in that sea of men? cause if you are looking for me there's no need to swim, baby i'm a fresh-water, fly, fast-paced-kinda-guy, my waist is a twenty nine i'm just a boyfriend-to-be you say that you're hungry dumplin' well, i got a proposition why don't you come and eat me? and if you're not full then... oooh, then - dessert is on it's way served to you on a silver plate i'll be dressed in whipped cream boy, it may seem obscene i'm into every scene ...except skat, golden showers, hardcore bondage, bukkake, snuff films and bestiality so, what is it that you're looking for out there? skinny dipping in that sea of men? cause if you are looking for me there's no need to swim, baby i'm a fresh-water, fly, fast-paced-kinda-guy, my waist is a twenty nine i'm just a boyfriend-to-be and i don't care for the sorrow anymore... no, i don't care for the pain... i don't feed off jealousy... i just want you to pick up that phone baby, look for the dial tone and call me please please just pick up that phone baby, look for the dial tone and call me at (754) 244-1338 don't player hate appreciate take a moment now to contemplate and tell me... what is it that you're looking for out there? skinny dipping in that sea of men? cause if you are looking for me there's no need to swim, baby you know i'll make you happy... cause i'm 5'11 with a touch that heavenly my birthday's sept. 8th, i'm bout to turn 18 i'm open minded, artistic and STD free i'm a fresh-water, fly, fast-paced-kinda-guy, my waist is a twenty nine i'm just a boyfriend-to-be so why don't you call me?

asshole you're an asshole but that's okay cause you still love me anyway underneath all of the things that you say there's a person not too far away and in the morning when we rise and shine it's like half past breakfast and a quarter to wastin time we're like a big piece of the puzzle when our bodies are entwined and i'm starting to wonder who's foot is who's and is that your hand or is it mine cause the only bush i trust is yours and the country is going to piece behind closed doors and i'm sitting out on the couch watching mary tyler moore and i'm starting to wonder what all of this fighting is for and you don't know it but when you're asleep curled up looking precious making not a peep i lie awake sometimes just acountin' sheep thinking is there a better way to show you that i love you baby because talk is cheap so i just hang around and try out doing myself with chocolates and flowers and strawberry flavored lubricants and i don't know why... cause you're an asshole but that's alright because you still love baby at least twice a night and i love how frisky you get when you go to pick a fight the only thing that really gets on my nerves is that you actually think you're right i guess it makes you the man in the house cause you kill the bugs some of the cockroaches in this apartment look like they could be smuggling drugs and i'm sitting out on the fire escape where all the old ladies beat their rugs smoking a cigarette heavin a sigh and giving a shrug and i guess in the bed department it makes you a ten cause you make me go "oh, Oh, OH!" over and over again it's like ron jeremy meets a calvin klein ad and then there's a little bit of sid vicious in there cause you're always biting me by the end and you don't know it but when you're asleep curled up looking precious making not a peep i lie awake sometimes just acountin' sheep thinking is there a better way to show you that i love you baby because talk is cheap so i just hang around and try out doing myself with chocolates and flowers and kinky sex toys and i don't know why i don't know why i don't know why i don't know why oh... that's right cause you're an asshole but that's okay cause i still love ...anyway underneath all of the things that you say there's a person... there's a person... there's a person... not too far away...

plastic surgery you're moving to brooklyn just like we planned only a few things have changed since our last draft like i know i know i won't be there and i know you're be scared and need me to hold your hand oh yeah your'e leaving me stranded on an island of despair and you don't care you don't care oh, you're too busy fixing your hair in the mirror well, don't worry you look fine and we're washing away at sea the tattoo of you and me now there's plastic surgery to remove us and goodbyes are just so hard so you leave them in my front yard your last three words those last three words i'll miss you and so i'm deflated like a big red balloon tossing and turning in my sleep about you and i am tired now so tell me why i keep playing these games with you somehow, somehow and we're washing away at sea the tattoo of you and me now there's plastic surgery to remove us and goodbyes are just so hard so you leave them in my front yard your last three words those last three words only god can judge you only i can love you you may not believe but you still have a heart only god can judge you only i can love you you may not believe but you still have a heart and we're washing away at sea the tattoo of you and me now there's plastic surgery to remove us and goodbyes are just so hard so you leave them in my front yard your last three words those last three words

to be beautiful he looks up from a magazine with 100 tips how to be more beautiful he wants to be beautiful he gets high and watches tv waste the day away watching NBC as the world goes down did they blow something up today? did they kill someone by mistake? while the president sits on his coffee break making a hole in one standing naked in front of myself in the mirror trying to open my head and my heart and see clearer no, i may not be what i'm supposed to be may not the things you see on MTV ...guess i'm the anti-christ and as the gas prices jet sky high they're screaming "fight for your country! it's a red-white-blue do or die - whatcha waitin' for?" don'tcha know when it rains it pours these days and i'm drowning in the pop culture's latest new craze and i'll hold on and i'll be strong while trying to maintain some kind of self respect next time i just won't cry when i'm saying goodbye i'll say "so long!" i'll say "farewell, my friend! keep on fighting the good fight til we reach the end! because we can't lose, no, not this time!" and as for love i think that it's strange but i know pain pain has been a good friend and if there's one thing i know it's that i'm going to be fine because i have opened my eyes just in the nick of time he looks up from a magazine with 100 tips how to be more beautiful he wants to be beautiful he wants to be he wants to be beautiful to be beautiful, yeah

richard cortez performs "my funny valentine" with the lauren meccia trio

richard cortez helps rescue a baby bird... plus out takes!

please tell my mother please tell my mother i'm sorry for all the things i said when i was young tell her i owe her a lifetime of songs i know will go unsung bring her flowers - say they're from me and let the card read "i'm sorry i missed your birthday the year i left home and turned 18" and if she asks you why i don't pick up the phone when she calls tell her you don't know but please tell my mother that i'm lost please tell my brother i'm sorry for all the names i called him when i was young tell him when i'm by myself i still think about the times when we had fun remind him of the barricades we built by my mother's bed hiding away the secrets of our childhood that i just can't seem to remember today and if he tells you that he's angry tell him that's okay - tell him that's okay but tell him i'm sorry anyway and tell my father that there's a reason for my distance tell him i still wonder why when i cried he was so cold he said "boy's don't cry" he said "dry your eye now my little man" and if he asks you why i look at him that way when he comes around tell him you don't know even so tell him i'm sorry anyway please tell my mother i'm sorry for all the things i said when i was young tell her i miss the smell of coffee and how the clothes were always hung tell her i say hi tell her i'll get by even though i'm falling apart... please tell my mother i'm sorry and that i mean it - don't forget that part.

animal crackers we don't talk much like we used to no, you don't say much but oh, i love you still you know i always will somehow you leave me speechless my silent little love you don't touch me like you used to all the passion is gone we may not stain the sheets but my heart is complete even though i cannot stay the whole night long all i have is nighttime television all my favorite sitcoms and nothing is the same while the channels change it's all commercials til i'm wrapped up in your arms again... so you're gonna build an ark to save us from ourselves say he has a plan say you're just a man and you'll forget me when the flooding finally comes well, i look at the pictures upside down and we look happy yeah, things don't seem so bad i look at the pictures upside down and we look happy even though we're sad so you line up all the animal crackers seperate them into pairs but somehow i don't fit ya know, god wouldn't permit a man to like down with another man i've done my fair share of repenting hail mary this, hail mary that maybe jesus was just a carpenter maybe the world is flat... for 40 days and 40 nights i will wait here for you in the rain, in the pain but take a second glance boy while you have the chance boy cause i'm about to wash away... maybe god made a mistake when he sailed you away on that man-made ship made of popsicle sticks in the rain... and if you don't come back for me i'll send you a dove to show that there's green in what you left for dead...

warrior nothing comes easy i guess that's life i guess they're right the critics and the cynics baby they say love don't last they say it's a fad for the modern day hippie baby well, i don't wanna be just another message on your machine... so pick up the phone please i'm begging on my knees i know this is coming at the worst time... i know that you have all your ducks in line... well, you've got your dreams babe and i have mine... but i'm falling for you... as we're saying goodbye as we're saying goodbye... yet, i feel i can trust you with my heart my fragile heart you handle me with such precision the things that you say stay with me all day as i marvel in the great division of you and me as we fall asleeep and the mattress creaks everytime you pull at the sheets reaching for something only your wildest dreams could describe i know this is coming at the worst time... i know that you have all your ducks in line... well, you've got your dreams babe and i have mine... but i'm falling for you... as we're saying goodbye as we're saying goodbye... i'm holding my breath so i can take it all in the last time you touch me the last time you touch me because i never want it to end the last time you hold me the last time you hold me so i just bite down hard and slap on the grin the last time i see you the last time i see you because there's really no use to pretend the last time i breathe you the last time i breathe you in... so, i keep on singing singing songs about love because i don't care what people say about my choice of words or lack there of sometimes i wish people would just go away because my heart's a warrior and so in my song and i'll scream it at the top of my lungs until the war is over until you are gone until you are gone... music and lyrics by richard cortez myspace.com/richardcortez www.wollenbergrecords.com

the song for when everyone's gone stoned and alone in the heart of new york watch the rain come down outside swallowing my pride living out of cardboard boxes just a wasin' my time and i been keeping busy doing nothing how bout you? has the weather been okay? did you call your mom today? you know i love you so much... guess that's all i wanted to say and i don't wanna be more than a person i wear the same jeans everyday but i got nothing much to say it's getting harder and harder to write a song but i do it anyway... and this is a song for when everyone's gone and nobody's there to pick up the phone and when you don't belong or you just don't care this song will be there to carry you home well it seems like everybody's going crazy! what with the 80's back in style... i've been confused for awhile. and i've been wandering around astor place looking for my misplaced smile... and everybody's trying to sell me something. well, i say we tell em' that we're broke, and that we're lookin' for a toke, and that we're down on our luck, we don't give a fuck, and the government is a joke.. and this is a song for when everyone's gone and nobody's there to pick up the phone and when you don't belong or you just don't care this song will be there to carry you home my refrigerator's empty- i'm sailing down the avenue. well the bodies are a plenty - but the souls are a few. my guitar is outta tune and i don't know what to do... it's asking me - "who are you?" and this is a song for when everyone's gone and nobody's there to pick up the phone and when you don't belong or you just don't care this song will be there to carry you home c'mon and carry me home... because i'm stoned and alone in the heart of new york... watch the rain come down outside... swallowing my pride... living out of cardboard boxes just a wastin' my time...

"trainwreck" i'm a trainwreck i confess i'm a head-on collision masochistic mess so don't try to stop me it'll do no good just let me walk away like we both know i should before i ruin just how beautiful this memory could be of you and me lying tenderly i'm a handful this i know i'm no good unless i'm on the stage playing a show so don't try to hold me because i'll just fall and i'll shatter into pieces baby both big and small and there's no way that you could figure out how to put me back together again my friend they all say take a chance they all say hold your stance the world is spinning so fast these days they say i think too much worry about such and such instead of the task at hand stop writing songs about your broken heart richard... don't throw it all away cause you're afraid that he might stay i'm a lost cause i'm a long pause in an uncomfortable conversation with myself and you're my last chance my last shot at romance so i'm sorry ahead of time here's hoping you change your mind cause to settle down with me you gotta be crazy and i don't really know what you see when you look that way at me but i hope this song is good enough of an apology for loving me... all music and lyrics by richard cortez

founder of wollenberg records, richard cortez, sings a classic tune from his drunken college days.

richard cortez, founder of wollenberg records, sings "greg's song" off his newest release "live @ the red room" - enjoy! www.wollenbergrecords.com