Description: Uploading from the 2014 archives to make some space on my hard-drive. I wrote this song as a birthday present for my then-boyfriend and played it for him in the morning. That evening he proposed to me, using the same phrasing from the song: "I will be your husband. Will you be my wife?" 🙂

Description: Peter Mulvey wrote this song in response to the murders at AME Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. He encouraged other songwriters to share the song and write second verses for different victims, focusing in on what resonated about their lives. I chose to write a verse for Myra Thompson, who had been working for the ministry and received her license to preach the morning she died. She was buried this past Wednesday, as the flag flew at full-staff and continues to fly. We have a ways to go.

Description: My Uncle Mel introduced me to Randy Newman's tune "Louisiana 1927" and I learned and recorded it for him back in October while he was in the hospital. I share it now in honor of his passing. I love you, Uncle Mel. Rest in Peace.

Description: A song about Evel Knievel, written in response to this week's challenge. Lyrics: Evel Kneivel was not really evil He spelled his name E-V-E-not-I-L 'Cause he didn't want folks to think he was a Hell's Angel He was a daredevil not some angel from Hell He always kept his word Even when he knew he'd fail He'd try the jump and break some bones Rather than bail He broke 433 And he broke the Guiness Record Jumped 14 Greyhound buses, 19 cars and kept his word CHORUS In early years he made A big earth mover do a wheelie But he lost control and crashed it Against Butte's power main He lost his job, got into trouble Crashed in a police chase And jailed with "Awful Knoeful" Bobby Knievel got his name CHORUS He didn't like Hell's Angels 'Cause he didn't like drug dealers His film "Viva Knievel" stars him Foiling smugglers' routes He always urged his fans to wear Their motorcycle helmets And offered a reward If someone saw him stunt without CHORUS CHORUS

Description: I wrote this song while at the Dar Williams' "Writing a Song That Matters" retreat over Labor Day Weekend 2014. Sometimes to get the good songwriting vibe flowing, you have to sit down to write a really bad song. 🙂 Writers Block Blues (c) Ruby Ross, 2014 Lyrics: I'm gonna write me a really bad song No time for inspiration 'cause it's taking too long And I've got just two more days to be with you So I'm putting pen to paper Save my better songs for later It's true It's just what I've gotta do I'm gonna write me a really bad song With words that make you think that I've been smoking from a bong And some guitar playing that makes me sound like I've come unglued Oh to break this writers' curse Gonna write a crappy first Yeah it's true It's just what I've gotta do I'm gonna write me a really bad song A melody that jumps around, I think the key is wrong And it's got no bridge to bring it 'round to something that's new Gonna play the same progression Make a musical regression It's true It's just what I've gotta do I'm gonna write me a really bad song And face the fear that I will feel that I do not belong If I do no write a song a day that's perfect and true Gonna kill my expectation Make some room for inspiration It's true It's just what I've gotta do You do what you've gotta do To the break the writers' block blues

Description: "Waiting" by Ruby Ross (c) 2013 Lyrics: Alissa wipes the counter at Joe's Diner Another day, another blistered heal For $2.19 an hour she serves businessmen and bums And no one ever asks her how she feels Alissa knows the orders of the regulars She knows their faces, greets them each by name She's had a crush on two or three and served them extra smiles But it seems that no one ever feels the same Oh, she's waiting To put herself through school Yes, she's waiting It's a job that she can do Oh, she's waiting For a prayer and a song And she's waiting and she's waiting And she's waiting for her love to come along Alissa hopes a stranger might ask for her number And she'd have to say that that's against the rules But if he'll come back at 6 o'clock, she'll flip the lights and turn the lock And meet him there before the coffee cools So she pours herself another cup of coffee And she pours her heart out to another schmoe And at 6 o'clock her hopes slip down the sliver drain And mingle with an ocean of cold joe Oh, she's waiting To put herself through school Yes, she's waiting It's a job that she can do Oh, she's waiting For a prayer and a song And she's waiting and she's waiting And she's waiting for her love to come along She sees the heartaches and the headaches and the hungry eyes She sees the first dates and the breakups at the end of lies The world moves on, lives out soap operatic lives But not Alissa Her hopes are paralyzed She keeps waiting And she heaves another sigh She scrapes another plate into the garbage And hides her disappointment once again This one had seemed so promising, he'd stuck around for hours And he'd even asked if he could use her pen But the folded napkin only holds used chewing gum It's another night at home without a date And at 5 AM she'll open up and pour herself another cup And wonder if she'll ever catch a break Oh, she's waiting To put herself through school Yes, she's waiting It's a job that she can do Oh, she's waiting For a prayer and a song And she's waiting and she's waiting And she's waiting for her love to come along She keeps waiting, yes, she's waiting Oh, she's waiting For her love to come along

Description: Piano accompaniment to SSA choral piece I wrote as part of my senior project at Tandem Friends School in 2004. Recorded 7/25/13.

Description: Ruby Ross & The Precious Gems perform "Chase Me" at Neutral Ground Coffeehouse. "Chase Me" written & performed by Ruby Ross, BMI.