1. Messin’ Around
2. If You Know Love
3. Let’s Waste Some Time
4. Rain
5. Sunday
6. Northern Star
7. Streets of Philadelphia listen
8. But Not For Me
9. Sticks and Stones
10. Tristes Souvenirs
11. Tonight
12. Tangerine listen

See also: Messin Around(Canada/US)

Credits

Recorded In Toronto, Canada At Canterbury Sound February 27/06 – March 3/06
Arnaud Méthivier Appears Courtesy Of The Label Bleu
Produced By Steven MacKinnon At The Canterbury Music Co, Toronto, Canada
Engineered By John “Beetle” Bailey
Executive Producer: Pegi Cecconi
Mastered By Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound, New York, USA

Photography: Andrew Macnaughtan
Assisted By Todd Fraser, Paolo Cristante and Sean Barker
Album Design: Susan Michalek
Make-Up: Premiere Artist Jody Daye For Estee Lauder
Hair: Philip at Glo Salon
Stylist: Roslyn Griffith
Assistant Stylist: Sandra D’angelo

We Acknowledge the Financial Support Of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters As Well
As The Government of Canada through The Canada Music Fund for This Project.

Thank You

Miss Johnson Sends Many Thanks and Much Love to the Very Talented, Supportive and Generous Quartet; Mike Downes, Colleen Allen, Andrew Craig and Mark Mclean. Thank You for Your Wonderfully Spirited Playing.

To Steve Mckinnon, Thank You For Your Friendship, Advice, Counsel, Beautiful Songs And For Taking Such Good Care Of This Record. To John Beetle “Ears” Bailey the Engineer and To Jeremy Darby at Canterbury Sound for the Tea and Laughs. Thanks. To Pegi “I Love My Job” Cecconi, Ray Danniels, Bob Farmer and the Whole Team At SRO-Anthem. Thank You for Bringing Me through To the Other Side. To My Incredible Team in France: Yann Ollivier, Vero Crosille, Axel Clemen, Benoit Bayer and Jacques Metges. Thank You So Much. To Gerrarde Durot who took me from The Pizza Express to The New Morning and then to the Olympia. What A Trip, Thanks! To Universal Canada Randy Lennox, Scott Morin, Sarah Scott, and Steve Cranwell. To Ralph James, Lorraine Webb, Steve Herman and Neil Warnock at The Agency Group. Thank You For Always Being There For Me (And I Mean Always)! To Carolyn V. Mill, Thanks Eh! To My Wonderful Guests, The Musicians Who Graced Us With Their Performances! Craig Ross (Thanks for the Great Tunes), Rob Piltch, Doug (The Dr. Is In The House) Riley, Guido Basso, Arnaud Méthivier, Vern Dorge, Bruce Cassidy, Micha Barnes And Billy Newton Davis. To All The Girls; Sanja, Ana, Zoe, Laura, Agnus, Asha, Joan, Faiza, Anna, Devon, Mia, Carole Padmore, Jaymes MacKinnon, Jan Riley, Toni, Kate And Heidi. Thanks for Sharing. To Bob Loung And Michael Veitch, Thank You. To Len Glickman For Taking An Interest. To Terence Queeley, Thank You For Production Always Managed And Vocals. To Kindred Spirits for Too Much Fine Food. To my fellas Rob, Otis and Henry and to Isabel. Thank You for Holding It Together While I Made This Record.

The Quartet and Miss Johnson Would like to thank
Heather Harvey: Jun Fujimoto and Yamaha Canada
Doug Walker: Walker Microphones
Dave Dysart: HHB Canada
Mario Lamarre: Bass Luthier
Mark Mclean: Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals And
Sticks and Regal Tip Brushes and Mallets Exclusively.

To My Friends Anna, Peter, Chantel, Nicole, D.D, S.A, P.S. & CVM who have inspired me with their move through change, cause change is hard, Rain is really for you. MJ

MESSIN’ AROUND ~ Molly Johnson

This eclectic collection of songs features new compositions by Molly Johnson, Steve MacKinnon, and Lenny Kravitz's guitarist and co-writer Craig Ross. In addition to the originals, the album is peppered with interpretations of songs by Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and George Gershwin.

The mix is as diverse as the artist herself - adult-oriented pop songs, smoking versions of jazz classics, and soulful originals. Messin' Around showcases Molly's gift as a vocalist but also as a serious composer. Over half of the songs on the album (including the first single "Rain"), were co-written by Molly, displaying the maturity that this Canadian icon has developed.

See also: Messin Around (North America)

BUY - iTunes Canada | iTunes US

Lyrics & Players 

Messin’ Around
(C. Ross/M. Johnson)

Take a walk down any street
Take a look at the people you meet
Hurried in their world rushing by
Well hey, they don’t really see, that there is a

Time to take things slow
There’s a time to just get down
There’s a time… for just messing around

Where ya goin
Take a look at the people you meet
Hurried in their world rushing by
Well hey, they don’t really see, that there is a

Time to take things slow
There’s a time to just get down
There’s a time… for just messing around

Time to take things slow
There’s a time to just get down
There’s a time… for just messing around

Everybody’s moving fast
Nothing here is ever gonna last
Things you try to hold and touch
Quickly moove in to the past

Time to take things slow
There’s a time to just get down
There’s a time… for just messing around

Time to take things slow
There’s a time to just get down
There’s a time… for just messing around

Mark Mclean: Drums And
Cymbals, Cowbell
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Fender Rhodes
Craig Ross: Guitar
Horn Arrangement: Steven
MacKinnon
Background Vocals: Micah Barnes,
Billy Newton Davis And Andrew Craig

If You Know Love
(S. MacKinnon/M. Johnson)

If you know love, like I know love
The sun don’t rise the same
When a heart sings, like a moonbeam
It shines on everything

If I told you, I was so sure
I woke up and Love whispered your name
Baby believe it, I could not lie, if I tried

If you know love, like I know love
The birds don’t sound the same
With your sweet smile going on for miles
It warms up everything

If ya told me, you were so sure
You found out that love had come to town
Don’t second guess it, if you know love

Cotton candy and summer nights
String of pearls and city lights
I would throw them all away for love

Al Cross: Drums
Andrew Craig: Piano
Mike Downes: Bass
Rob Piltch: Guitar

Let’s Waste Some Time
(M. Jordan/S. MacKinnon)

Once upon a time my heart was still
I would walk these streets and end up nowhere

Once upon a dream you were my thrill
I could never think of love without you

My life was so complicated
Playing cool’s so overrated
All we got to do is spend some time

We could make a quiet exit
Slip away in a minute
We’ll forget what was maybe just because
Come on baby lets waste some time

Here beneath the moon and starry sky
My hearts beating for you like a samba

Let the music play my radio
We could rescue love with just one kiss oh…

All the things we could uncover
One thing could lead to another
Anybody here could plainly see
We could make a quiet exit
Slip away in a minute
We’ll forget what was maybe just because
Come on baby lets waste some time

Mark Mclean: Drums and Cymbals,
Shakers, Tambourine
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Piano
Rob Piltch: Guitar
Vern Dorge: Bass Clarinet and Alto Flute
Bruce Cassidy: Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Colleen Allen: Flute, Clarinet And
Tenor Sax
Horns Arranged By Steven MacKinnon

Rain
(S. MacKinnon/M. Johnson)

I’m going ‘round the bend like it’ll never end, here I go again
I’m going round and around; you know I’m losing ground
Just keeping on and on

There’s a light up ahead, it’s burning bright in my head
Time moves fast once you leave your bed
(Like a streetlight on an empty road)

You know I can’t see the shine in the silver lining no more
It seems we aint got the time to make the rhythm rhyme
Just keeping on and on
Cause I got something here you’ll never know you need
No more tears are coming down from me

Cause that was just the rain, falling
Big old drops hitting the ground yeah
And everything has changed – oh darling
Goodbye Montréal, I’ll miss you after all – yeah

You know people come and people go
And things change

You might like it today and then it all goes away
It’s all been rearranged
So when you find yourself finally free
To surrender to me
You should know it just can’t be

Cause that was just the rain, falling
Big old drops hitting the ground
And everything has changed – oh darling
So good bye Montréal, I’ll miss you after all

Funny how we don’t see it come
When suddenly everything is done
-and all you can do, is listen to the rain

Mark Mclean: Drums And
Cymbals, Shakers
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Fender Rhodes
And Hammond B-3
Steven MacKinnon: Piano
Rob Piltch: Guitar

Sunday
(C. Ross/M. Johnson)

On this sunny Sunday afternoon
Just a lazy wasted day in June

Let the world slip away
On this almost perfect afternoon
Can’t we stay in bed all day?
Just this one day
This golden Sunday with you

Watching clouds drift
Gently by all day
Wondering if you’ll just
Come down and play

Let the world slip away
On this almost perfect afternoon
Can’t we stay in bed all day?
Just this one day
This golden Sunday with you

Can’t it be easy
Just to be true
Just like a photograph of you
Fades in time, don’t let it fade from view

Cause i know that my love
Can easily buy
Happy days filled with golden times
Even on a rainy day

Feel the kiss of afternoon’s bright sun
Feel yourself completely come undone

Let the world slip away
On this almost perfect afternoon
Can’t  we stay in bed all day
Just this one day, this golden Sunday with you (x3)

Feel yourself completely come undone

Mark Mclean: Drums And
Cymbals, Shakers
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Fender Rhodes
And Triangle
Colleen Allen: Flute
Craig Ross: Guitar and Arp Solina

Northern Star
(S. MacKinnon/M. Johnson)

Little man ,Where’d you go?
What’d you do? In a flash
Fingerprints, All that’s left
On your way, Key in hand

Go set the world on fire with your big ideas
Say it good and loud for them all to hear
And Lord have mercy on those virgin ears
And don’t you forget this

With every bridge you burn
With every lesson you unlearn
You can always find your way back home

And when it’s all confused
You’re overwhelmed and underused
Set your compass to the northern star
And find your way back home

Little girl, All grown up
So you think, In a whirl
Faded pink, All that’s left
On your way, Swim or sink

Go set the world on fire with your courage and grace
Find your own way to your special place
And lord show some mercy on those who get in your way
And don’t you forget this

CHORUS

Through the crack in the concrete
Through the grit in your eye
Through the dirt on the window
Try to find your light in the sky
In the dead of morning
In the still of night
The place that you come from
Is always in sight

CHORUS
BRIDGE

Mark Mclean: Drums and Cymbals Recorded
January 2001 at Manta Sound, Toronto
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Piano and Horner Clarinet V6
Doug Riley: Hammond B-3
Vern Dorge: Tenor Sax
Bruce Cassidy: Trumpet
Colleen Allen: Alto Sax
Horn Arrangement: Colleen Allen
Background Vocals: Micah Barnes, Billy
Newton Davis and Andrew Craig
Horn Arrangement by Colleen Allen

Streets of Philadelphia
(Bruce Springsteen
/Arrangement By Steven MacKinnon)

I was bruised and battered
and I couldn't tell what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
Saw my reflection in a window
I didn't know my own face
Oh brother are you gonna leave me
Wasting away
On the streets of Philadelphia

I walked the avenue
till my legs felt like stone
I heard the voices of friends
vanished and gone
At night I could hear the
Blood in my veins
Just as black and whispering as the rain
On the streets of Philadelphia

Ain't no angel gonna greet me
It's just you and I my friend
And my clothes don't fit me no more
I walked a thousand miles
Just to slip this skin

The night has fallen, I’m lyin' awake
I can feel myself fading away
So receive me brother with your faithless kiss
Or will we leave each other alone like this
On the streets of Philadelphia

Mark Mclean: Drums And
Cymbals, Tea Towels,
Tambourine
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Hammond B-3
Steven MacKinnon: Piano
Rob Piltch: Guitar

But Not For Me
(George & Ira Gershwin)

 
They’re writing songs of love
But not for me
A lucky star’s above
But not for me

With love to lead the way
I’ve found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play
Could guarantee

I was a fool to fall
And get that way
Hi ho! alas!
And also, lackaday!

Although I can’t dismiss
The memory of her kiss
I guess
She’s not for me

It all began so well
But what an end
This is the time
A fellow needs a friend

When every happy plot
Ends with a the marriage knot
And there’s
No knot for me

Mark Mclean: Drums And Cymbals
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Piano
Guido Basso: Flugelhorn
Arrangement by Mike Downes

Sticks and Stones
(M. Downes/M. Johnson)

Sticks and stones -      Words will never break my heart
Sticks and stones -      Baby we just gotta part
Sticks and stones -      How we gonna work it?
You’ve got sticks and I’ve got stones.

Sometimes it’s hard to see
Through all the trees, the birds and bees
Yeah all those things
It can be a little grey, in your world some days
Wanna see the sun break through again

Well let me spell it out
The times they’ve changed
Don’t stay the same, it’s what its all about
So you take a few words
To twist then shout
Free at last, of this there is no doubt

Mark Mclean: Drums and Cymbals
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Piano
Doug Riley: Hammond B-3
Background Vocals: Guido
Basso/Mark Mclean/Mike
Downes/Steven MacKinnon And
Terence Queeley

Tristes Souvenirs
(M. Downes/M. Johnson)

The rain is pouring outside
I gaze through this glass
Drowning in tears
All of our fears now realized

Is it too late to change?
Things that are done
All of these years
Looking in mirrors

Oublions ces tristes souvenirs
Oublions ces tristes souvenirs

Let's try to forget the mistakes
We've made throughout the years
Oublions ces tristes souvenirs
And start again free and clear

The flower’s bending right down
Down from the rain
Like my sad heart
Beating in vain, falling apart

Cries once when we laughed
Now things we've said
Cant turn it back, can't turn it 'round
Oublions ces tristes souvenirs

Oublions ces tristes souvenirs
Let's try to forget the mistakes
We've made through out the years
Oublions ces tristes souvenirs
And start again..start again..
start again, free and clear.

Mark Mclean: Drums and Cymbals
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Piano
Colleen Allen: Clarinet
Arnaud Méthivier: Accordion

Tonight
(Steven MacKinnon)

I take my time
When things are weighin’ on my mind
I’m gonna let the string unwind
Tonight

Watch your step
‘Cause baby it aint over yet
You’re gonna wanna call that bet
Tonight

Whenever
We’re together
We dance like fireflies
Or maybe more like moth to flame

And I wonder
Are you under
The spell that’s got me here
You are vinegar, I am oil
You’re my tin and I’m your foil

Just a sigh
You didn’t even have to try
And no one else can make me high
Tonight

Whenever
We’re together
I don’t hear symphonies
More like Mingus in the park

You’re waitin’
I’m statin’ the obvious refrain
This could be my last hurrah
They way you use that je ne sais quoi

So divine
I’m takin’ all my own sweet time
And everything is oh so fine tonight
Everything is just so fine tonight
Baby gonna make you mine tonight

Mark Mclean: Drums and Cymbals
Mike Downes: Bass
Doug Riley: Piano

Tangerine
(Prince) Arrangement by M. Mclean

Some days I feel tangerine
Some days I feel blue
Some days I just wanna black out
everything I felt 4 U
Even though I take your picture
everywhere I go
I use it for a coaster,
and drink the overflow

Some days
I make a lot of money
and give it all away
2 take my mind off the tangerine colour
of your negligee (silk PJs)
Beggars can’t be choosy,
if they don’t know how 2 serve
U got a different phone number
and a lot of nerve

Some days I feel tangerine
Some days I miss you 2

Mark Mclean: Drums, Tea Towels
and Tambourine
Mike Downes: Bass
Andrew Craig: Triangle
Colleen Allen: Flute