(woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by the North Dakota Council on the Arts and by the members of Prairie Public.

[playing in bright smooth jazz rhythm] ♪ ♪ There's a lot people running their mouth ♪ ♪ That don't stay the night never come through town ♪ ♪ Some other people running about that don't take the time ♪ ♪ To suss you out still some of us ♪ ♪ Every night we make a toast to you ♪ ♪ Like Isn't it nice ♪ ♪ That somebody had the presence of mind to speak over you ♪ ♪ Let there be light ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I know it doesn't make me one of a kind ♪ ♪ That I came to you at an opportune time ♪ ♪ And it doesn't mean I'm one of the guys ♪ ♪ But I'm grateful you came and opened my eyes ♪ ♪ Still none of us up in the play We don't think enough ♪ ♪ 'Bout the beauty we make ♪ ♪ It's all work here every day but when the lights go out ♪ ♪ It's then that I say ♪ ♪ Sight to behold ♪ ♪ Nothing you could do would make me go ♪ ♪ We'll let the world judge what they don't know ♪ ♪ Giving me a heartbeat ♪ ♪ Making me never wanna leave ♪ ♪ We'll let the world judge 'cause they don't see ♪ ♪ 5000 candles ♪ ♪ 5000 candles burning bright ♪ ♪ All the light you could handle ♪ ♪ 5000 candles here at night ♪ ♪ 5000 candles ♪ ♪ 5000 candles burning bright ♪ ♪ All the light you could handle ♪ ♪ 5000 candles here at night ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ They keep telling me it's only a phase and that soon enough ♪ ♪ I'll see that I'm crazy for loving you the way that I do ♪ ♪ Because who could love somebody like you ♪ ♪ They say you're too, too, too dang small ♪ ♪ And I won't pretend it don't matter at all ♪ ♪ But no matter what the trouble ahead is ♪ ♪ I still won't regret this time that I spent ♪ ♪ Sight to behold ♪ ♪ Nothing you could do would make me go ♪ ♪ We'll let the world judge what they don't know ♪ ♪ Giving me a heartbeat ♪ ♪ Making me never wanna leave ♪ ♪ We'll let the world judge 'cause they don't see ♪ ♪ 5000 candles ♪ ♪ 5000 candles burning bright ♪ ♪ All the light you could handle ♪ ♪ 5000 candles here at night ♪ ♪ 5000 candles ♪ ♪ 5000 candles burning bright ♪ ♪ All the light you could handle ♪ ♪ 5000 candles here at night ♪ ♪ I wanna know who did that show me ♪ ♪ The match that lit that sky ♪ ♪ Look at all those candles ♪ ♪ Ode to the light that caught my eye ♪ ♪ Never could forget that ♪ ♪ Stealing my breath and I don't mind ♪ ♪ 5000 candles ♪ ♪ 5000 candles here at night ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ My name is Alma Cook, and I currently live in Williston, North Dakota.

I went to Columbia College, Chicago then spent a number of years, really most of my adult life living in Los Angeles before landing a remote job working in the Bakken Oil Play.

and going back and forth to Williston for business trips.

On each business trip it kinda felt like home was in the North and going back to Southern California, it just didn't feel as much like home.

So little by little I just gradually moved more stuff up there and just eventually put down roots, and that's where my family and I live today.

My dad was a big jazzhead, then my mom really appreciated contemporary Christian music.

So I had these two very different styles of music in my ears.

The first time I heard a song that made me go whoa, what is that was the song "Free" by Jimmie Allen.

I see all these common threads between that and the music I make now-- this funky backbeat, which is influenced by jazz and a little piano line that's influenced by jazz, but the song that's squarely in that pop genre.

It became really instrumental in bringing out the strength in my voice.

When you're a younger performer, you want to be the one who's wowing everybody.

Part of becoming a mature adult I think is understanding that your strengths are not everybody else's strengths.

So the things that set my voice apart may not have been the things I wanted to be set apart for when I was younger, but I can appreciate that my voice has a gentleness to it.

And Emily King being kind of similar in her voice to my vocal tones showed me what I can do with what I've got.

[establishing the beat] [playing in smooth jazz rhythm] ♪ ♪ It all sounds so sweet ♪ ♪ For a moment ♪ ♪ But we're talking about me ♪ ♪ Patron cynic of human emotions ♪ ♪ When they tally that vote ♪ ♪ They're gonna notice ♪ ♪ I'm not as pretty up close ♪ ♪ I've got these marks on my face that'll come into focus ♪ ♪ In time they'll find ♪ ♪ I'm not really what they had in mind ♪ ♪ Any minute they could ♪ ♪ Leave me behind ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I lost a battle to the radio ♪ ♪ Send an SOS out ♪ ♪ I'm in distress can you take me home ♪ ♪ To say that I would never ever go astray ♪ ♪ Would simply be wrong ♪ ♪ In the wake of ♪ ♪ What I see in myself today ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Girls/guys cutting in line to be front & center ♪ ♪ Put the talent aside ♪ ♪ If you've got good looks then they will be remembered ♪ ♪ That's not my tea ♪ ♪ So maybe there's a limit to what I can be ♪ ♪ You know that magic charisma ♪ ♪ Never came naturally to me ♪ ♪ So in time they'll find ♪ ♪ I'm not really what they had in mind ♪ ♪ But I know I've got to ♪ ♪ Leave that behind ♪ ♪ Oh I lost a battle to the radio ♪ ♪ Send an SOS out ♪ ♪ I'm in distress can you take me home ♪ ♪ To say that I would never ever go astray ♪ ♪ Would simply be wrong ♪ ♪ In the wake of ♪ ♪ What I see in myself today ♪ ♪ I have never been inclined ♪ ♪ To berate a feeling ♪ ♪ And I don't want to waste my time ♪ ♪ On a cliché with no meaning ♪ ♪ If I never get a shot to shine ♪ ♪ I've gotta believe ultimately ♪ ♪ It's out of my hands if they misunderstand me ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh I lost a battle to the radio ♪ ♪ Send an SOS out ♪ ♪ I'm in distress can you take me home ♪ ♪ I got to say that ♪ ♪ I I would never ever go astray ♪ ♪ Would simply be wrong in the wake of ♪ ♪ What I'm telling you today ♪ ♪ ♪ What I'm telling you ♪ ♪ Today today ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing in a smooth Latin jazz rhythm] ♪ Here she comes ♪ ♪ She's smelling like vanilla and peaches ♪ ♪ ♪ Skin like honey ♪ ♪ I hardly even notice what she did ♪ ♪ ♪ Making trouble again and I ♪ ♪ I will defend her for the first round ♪ ♪ But though her words seem sound ♪ ♪ They don't hold any water when you write 'em down ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh fool me once fool me twice ♪ ♪ We're gonna get it right ♪ ♪ Maybe I should take that warning ♪ ♪ Or maybe it can wait till morning ♪ ♪ ♪ To know every word of advice ♪ ♪ Wouldn't it be nice ♪ ♪ I look at her and oh she's lovely ♪ ♪ But I'm getting kinda sick of that honey ♪ ♪ I look at her and oh she's lovely ♪ ♪ But I'm getting kinda sick of that honey ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She's got a grip on me ♪ ♪ Between a bad dream and a secret ♪ ♪ ♪ With a kiss so sweet ♪ ♪ Oh don't you know it puts me to pieces ♪ ♪ ♪ I have got to pretend that I will not defend you ♪ ♪ In the next round ♪ ♪ 'Cause though your words seem sound ♪ ♪ They don't hold any water ♪ ♪ When you write 'em down ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh fool me once fool me twice ♪ ♪ We're gonna get it right ♪ ♪ Maybe I should take that warning ♪ ♪ Or maybe it can wait till morning ♪ ♪ ♪ To know every word of advice ♪ ♪ Wouldn't it be nice ♪ ♪ I look at her and oh she's lovely ♪ ♪ But I'm getting kinda sick of that honey ♪ ♪ SIck of the way she'll take me by the neck ♪ ♪ And bite me when I'm stocking up the kitchen ♪ ♪ It's been a clean couple days ♪ ♪ I might've finally broken the addiction ♪ ♪ I swore I'd cut you at the source ♪ ♪ But when I shut the doors ♪ ♪ You leave me wanting more ♪ ♪ Honey ♪ ♪ Whatcha do that for ♪ ♪ Oh oh-oh oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oo oo-oo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ You know you seem so sound ♪ ♪ You always seem so sound ♪ ♪ You really seem so sound ♪ ♪ But you're only ever gonna weigh me down ♪ ♪ Down it's like ♪ ♪ Oh fool me once fool me twice ♪ ♪ I know it is all right ♪ ♪ Maybe I could take that warning ♪ ♪ Or maybe it can wait till morning ♪ ♪ To know every word of advice yeah ♪ ♪ Wouldn't it be nice ♪ ♪ I look at her and oh she's lovely ♪ ♪ But I'm getting kinda sick of my honey ♪ ♪ I look at her and oh she's lovely ♪ ♪ But I'm getting kinda sick ♪ ♪ Of that honey ♪ ♪ I look at her and oh ♪ ♪ She's lovely ♪ ♪ ♪ But I'm getting kind of ♪ ♪ Sick from that honey ♪ ♪ ♪ It's been a while since I called you ♪ ♪ ♪ I've forgotten how ♪ ♪ To write my own name ♪ ♪ Much less write a song ♪ ♪ I'm coming back to the place I was called to ♪ ♪ ♪ 'Cause I could never ever do you that way ♪ ♪ I can't write you off ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The big city got a little bit too crowded ♪ ♪ ♪ So I've been taking things at my own pace ♪ ♪ I have no regret ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been over here keeping myself grounded ♪ ♪ ♪ For all 32 years and a few days ♪ ♪ It's not over yet ♪ ♪ They say are you still singing ♪ ♪ Are you still doing that thing ♪ ♪ Where you're up there playing ♪ ♪ In a coffee-shop-bar type place ♪ ♪ And anyone who's anybody I mean not to be a busybody ♪ ♪ And not to give you advice, but everybody wants to be somebody ♪ ♪ So let me tell you how to be somebody it's true ♪ ♪ ♪ Nobody understands but you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hey did you hear about the big changes?

♪ ♪ How I'm the luckiest girl in the whole state ♪ ♪ I have all I want ♪ ♪ I got married had a little baby ♪ ♪ But I haven't picked up a pen since last May ♪ ♪ When I almost lost it all ♪ ♪ But I kept on singing ♪ ♪ I kept on puffing my chest ♪ ♪ Stayed up late talking ♪ ♪ To the people that love me best ♪ ♪ And anyone and everybody well they're gonna be a busybody ♪ ♪ They're gonna give you advice like ♪ ♪ I bet you could really be somebody ♪ ♪ Then they're gonna tell you how to be somebody it's true ♪ ♪ ♪ And that's why I'm coming back to you ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh it's true ♪ ♪ I can't be nobody but you ♪ ♪ ♪ The only body I can be is you ♪ ♪ ♪ The only body I could ever be is ♪ ♪ Hey ya da-da-da da-da-da-da ♪ ♪ Ooo oo-oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ ♪ The only body I could ever be is ♪ ♪ You ♪ [establishing the beat] [playing in a syncopated jazz rhythm] ♪ ♪ Watch me stick a hand up say please ♪ ♪ Take me higher and higher ♪ ♪ But there's nothing like how it feels ♪ ♪ When I'm starting a fire ♪ ♪ ♪ Save me lord I'm burning ♪ ♪ ♪ When they look at me up & down ♪ ♪ I'm devoted devoted ♪ ♪ But the second no one's around ♪ ♪ I'm a rogue locomotive ♪ ♪ And I'm off track ♪ ♪ Help me now I'm swerving ♪ ♪ ♪ And what can I say ♪ ♪ I've got excuses in mind ♪ ♪ Like I've had a bad day ♪ ♪ Yeah chalk it up to the timing ♪ ♪ I've got a love/hate relationship ♪ ♪ With all the crazy business ♪ ♪ I rail against in all of my rhymes ♪ ♪ Hear me talk about all this lip ♪ ♪ That you're serving you're serving ♪ ♪ But I bet you're gonna hear me slip ♪ ♪ And you won't get a word in ♪ ♪ Even edgewise ♪ Oh not again.

♪ I'll sock it to you 10 times ♪ ♪ ♪ And what will I say ♪ ♪ I've got excuses in mind ♪ ♪ Like you know I've had a bad day ♪ ♪ So I chalk it up to the timing ♪ ♪ I've got a love/hate relationship ♪ ♪ With all the crazy business ♪ ♪ I rail against in all of my rhymes ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ ♪ Na na no na ♪ ♪ ♪ Foo foo foo foo foo oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And you know I don't ya ♪ ♪ Know oh oh oh what I'm gonna say ♪ ♪ I've got excuses in mind ♪ ♪ Like you know I've had a bad day ♪ ♪ So why don't we just chalk it up to the timing ♪ ♪ I've got a love/hate relationship ♪ ♪ With all the crazy business ♪ ♪ I rail against in all of my rhymes ♪ ♪ You know, I heard about this Man ♪ ♪ He was knocked down and broken ♪ ♪ But He's got a solution on hand ♪ ♪ And it's locked and it's loaded ♪ ♪ You know, I heard about this Man ♪ ♪ He was knocked down and broken ♪ ♪ But He's got a solution in hand ♪ ♪ And it's locked and it's loaded ♪ ♪ You know, I heard about this Man ♪ ♪ He was knocked down and broken ♪ ♪ Got a solution He's got a solution on hand ♪ ♪ It's locked and it's loaded ♪ ♪ This Man ♪ ♪ Knocked down fi fi fi fi fo da ♪ ♪ ♪ Locked and it's loaded ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ [finger-picking in a moderate tempo] ♪ ♪ I'm not so small ♪ ♪ As they try to market ♪ ♪ I'm not so calm ♪ ♪ Nor am I so harmless ♪ ♪ ♪ Mine is not a fire fed by chemical ♪ ♪ And what kind of lover would I be ♪ ♪ If I didn't let you know ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm not in line ♪ ♪ With the clean-cut kindness ♪ ♪ Like just knock ten times ♪ ♪ If you need some guidance ♪ ♪ But I know what you're made of ♪ ♪ I know what you're hungry for ♪ ♪ And what kind of lover would I be ♪ ♪ If I didn't want it more ♪ ♪ ♪ So if at the ride's end you're ever tired and weak ♪ ♪ And find you're needing someone to confide in ♪ ♪ You can abide in me ♪ ♪ And I can be your all 'cause ♪ ♪ There's still time ♪ ♪ To love you like I hope to someday ♪ ♪ ♪ Pay no mind ♪ ♪ She's only in it for the head rush anyway ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh ooo ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh ooo ♪ ♪ Oh-oh oh-oh I'm not so vain ♪ ♪ That I need to impress you ♪ ♪ And you're not so brave ♪ ♪ That I need you at my rescue ♪ ♪ Don't matter what you do ♪ ♪ It doesn't matter who's involved ♪ ♪ What kind of lover would I be ♪ ♪ If it mattered at all ♪ ♪ So you might've fought me ♪ ♪ You might've thought I lied ♪ ♪ Or thought you caught me tongue-tied ♪ ♪ It didn't phase me turn the page and find ♪ ♪ I'm not gonna change my mind ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's still time ♪ ♪ To love you like I hope to someday ♪ ♪ ♪ Pay no mind ♪ ♪ She's only in it for the head rush anyway ♪ ♪ Oh oo-oo-oo-oo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ There's still time ♪ ♪ Oo-oo-oo-oo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ To love you like I hope to ♪ To love you like I hope to someday ♪ ♪ Ooo ah ah I ♪ ♪ ♪ She's only in it for the head rush anyway ♪ ♪ ♪ She's only in it for the head rush anyway ♪ ♪ ♪ She's only in it for the head rush ♪ Anyway ♪ ♪ [playing a rhythmic jazz/blues beat] ♪ ♪ This is not what it looks like Your Honor ♪ ♪ I might've been unkind ♪ ♪ I'm not a crook everything is by the book ♪ ♪ When I'm present in mind ♪ ♪ He got the better of my sanity ♪ ♪ When he put the pressure on my vanity ♪ ♪ Coming at me overbearing he daringly ♪ ♪ Summoned up the nerve to look at me and say ♪ ♪ Oh girl don't tell me the issue ♪ ♪ Lord knows it's a cold world ♪ ♪ But nobody asked you ♪ ♪ Now if you just sit tight ♪ ♪ I'll put your head on right you're gonna see the light ♪ ♪ He thinks he's a hotshot it got in my way ♪ ♪ I wasn't really trying to fight today ♪ ♪ But if I don't run my mouth it looks like I got nothing to say ♪ ♪ So can I get a little get a little more grace ♪ ♪ I'm making trouble and I'm struggling to save face ♪ ♪ And then my cover blows and colors show ♪ ♪ I know how the story goes ♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my place ♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my place ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Am I really at fault now Your Honor ♪ ♪ Since when is caring a crime ♪ ♪ It was impolite but it would've come out right ♪ ♪ If I'd taken my time ♪ ♪ See it grates me irritates me ♪ ♪ To see somebody thinking he can deflate me ♪ ♪ I can't track my place in his lack of case ♪ ♪ And I don't know if I can keep a straight face ♪ ♪ He say Oh girl ♪ ♪ You're walking a fine line ♪ ♪ You might've heard it's a cold cold world ♪ ♪ So I gotta get mine ♪ ♪ Now if you take my hand I'll be the better man ♪ ♪ And help you understand ♪ ♪ He thinks he's a hotshot it got in my way ♪ ♪ I wasn't really trying to fight today ♪ ♪ But if I don't run my mouth it looks like I got nothing to say ♪ ♪ So can I get a little get a little more grace ♪ ♪ I'm making trouble and I'm struggling to save face ♪ ♪ And then my cover blows and colors show ♪ ♪ I know how the story goes ♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my place ♪ Yeah!

♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my place ♪ ♪ Did I da-da di di di di da ♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my ♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my place ♪ ♪ You you put me back in my ♪ ♪ You put me back in my place ♪ ♪ Oh ow he thinks he's ♪ ♪ It got in my way ♪ ♪ He thinks he's ♪ ♪ And it got in my way ♪ ♪ Oh he thinks he's a ♪ ♪ And it got in my way ♪ ♪ He really thinks he's a ♪ ♪ And it got in my way ♪ ♪ Got in my way got in my way ♪ ♪ Yeah he thinks he's a hotshot ♪ ♪ And it got in my way ♪ ♪ I wasn't really trying to fight today ♪ ♪ If I don't run my mouth ♪ ♪ It looks like I got nothing to say ♪ ♪ Yea can I get a little ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm makin' trouble and I got to save face ♪ ♪ And then my cover blows and colors show ♪ ♪ I know how the story goes ♪ ♪ You'll put me back in my place ♪ (woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by the North Dakota COuncil on the Arts and by the members of Prairie Public.