One More Lullaby — SANCTUARY WEST RECORDS

“for what’s left of the wolves
who still see through the wool

for whom still dream with eyes open
from a hotbed of apathy”

No Robert LaSalle music was ever released until 2019. By the end of 2020, the artist self-released 200 songs from the previous decade and a half. As of February 2024, only three persons are known to have listened to the album.

The Canon: RIDE>Lullaby>Night>Awaken

Robert LaSalle, Nick & PD recorded this treasure trove of petrified gold dust on a zero dollar budget with pirated software on a laptop, played any instrument he could borrow, then wrote, performed, recorded & mixed all 18 songs at age 26 years old.

After many repeated phenomenal failures & tragedies, the artist couldn’t believe he now had 4 albums no one would release. Self-released on Bandcamp around Christmas 2012, it was downloaded by his mom and another guy named Steve. Twelve years later, released on all streaming platforms, Lullaby has earned $0.007 and has had at least 2 streams.

The artist’s favorite work he made entirely alone. One More Lullaby is my favorite album I ever did.

Produced, Engineered & Mixed by Robert LaSalle

All songs written by Robert LaSalle

All songs recorded by Robert LaSalle on a Macbook in various garages, basements, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms & closets in Huntsville, AL; Murfreesboro, TN; Nashville, TN & a cabin in rural Alabama called Redbug

Piano & organ recorded by Robert LaSalle carrying a laptop into Sound Cell’s piano room in Huntsville, AL

Art & design by Lea Nickels (anagram?)

Cover photos by Elizabeth Tollefson

Mastered by Bobby Holland

Pianos, Organs, Rhodes, Accordion, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Banjo, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Harmonicas, Trombone & Miroslav Philharmonic String Samples Arranged & Performed by Robert LaSalle & his alter egos, Nick & PD

Thanks to those who lent instruments, recording gear & recording space: Bobby Holland, Doug Jansen Smith, Dave Anderson, Rae Hering, Noah, Libbie, Dan & Miranda at “Ground Zero,” The McElhaneys & My Family

Disillusioned Dream

Wake the shepherd, count the sheep

Lull the Monster back to sleep

Close your eyes, and I will sing one more…

For disillusionment

One more… for my amusement

One more… before I lose it

One more… just sleep right through it

One more...

What's the use in having dreams

When everybody's fast asleep?

As if the world would ever need one more…

Tortured head-case

One more… whining about heartache

One more… who never made the grade

One more… record to throw away

One more...

Art is the shepherd

Pop culture is the mime

Mediocrity's the monster

Money's the mastermind

For the politics and cliques

That will whore out their pride

Give me one more!

...Stint of ambition

One more... for the passion that lies within it

One more... attempt at recognition

But what for?!… for the cold hard living

What for? This dream's so unforgiving… unforgiving

But what for? For anyone who's paying attention

Pay attention

For one more…

For anyone who'll listen…

I Cannot Read Between the Lines

I'm drinking tequila in the morning

I haven't been sleeping through the night

Now I do not know just what I'm feeling

Now I cannot read between the lines

I met her in the morning on a Sunday

I met her in the pouring summer rain

Now I cannot tell her what I'm feeling

Now I don't remember her name

I got no reason to run away

I got no reason to stay

I try so hard

But now I cannot read between the lines

I'm drinking tequila in the morning

I intend to keep her on my mind

As long as I don't know just where my mind is

I don't have to read between the lines

I got no reason to run away

I got no reason to stay

I try so hard

But now I cannot read between the lines

For all the lover's stories I've forgotten

For all the summer mornings I can't face

I know my life is falling into pieces

All the pieces fall back into place

RIP Stone Anderson

Wait Up for Me

Love is trained anticipation

Love is feigned collaboration

For all the love that I have wasted

Now I'm in love, and love's not waiting

No room berating accusations

No one's to blame for interpretation

Oh take my words the way I say them

Oh I'm in love, and love's not waiting

I'll wait up for you

You're all I hold onto

I'll wait for forever

For a love that may never

Wait up for me

Oh, wake up with me

Wait till tomorrow

And all the days that will follow me

Wait up for me

I'm to blame for the inquisition

You can't face your indecision

Oh love is vain and unforgiving

Oh I'm in love and love's not listening

I'll wait up for you

You're all I hold onto

I'll wait for forever

For a love that may never

Wait up for me

Oh, wake up with me

Wait till tomorrow

And all the days that will follow me

Wait up for me

This is just how two hearts beat

One heart breaks what the other feeds

One heart takes what the other needs

Wait for me

I'll wait up for you

You're all I hold onto

I'll wait for forever

For a love that may never

Wait up for me

Oh, wake up with me

Wait till tomorrow

And all the days that will follow me

Wait up for me

Without Love

Without love, you got no seed

Got no roots, you got no trees

You got no branches, got no leaves

You got no air to breathe

Breathe

Love, give me your love

Tell me where life comes from

Show me where life comes from

Love, give me your love

Give me your love

Without the air, you got no lung

You got no heart to feel my love

You got no mind, you got no tongue

To tell me now where life comes from

Love, give me your love

Tell me where life comes from

Show me where life comes from

Love, give me your love

Oh, give me your love

Give me your love

Tell me where life comes from

Show me where life comes from

Love, give me your love

No! Give me your love!

Without love, you got no life

Without life, you got no love

Love...

All I Ever Wanted

All I ever wanted

I proudly flaunted

I framed on the wall

A picture too small

I put all my faith into a very vacant place

All I ever wanted

Years beat upon it

Threw me into

Its impending doom

All I wanted awaits me

But all I want is gone

All I ever wanted

It shouldn't bother

To make itself known

There's no stepping stones

I put all my faith into a very vacant place

All I ever wanted

Is fewer and less often

I have all I need

To make my retreat

All I wanted awaits me

But all I want is gone

A stiff drink and a fire

Take my desires

All but just one

All

But

Your love

Open No More

And all I know to do

Is tell myself that I'm over you

Whether or not I know it's really true

I'm broke and broken, so I'm through

What I've become, I know I can't afford

Well I can't settle, and I can't score

All I can do is close the door

And tell myself that I don't need you anymore

That door will open no more

Open no more

Queen bee

You sink your sting deep into me

You give me temporary relief

Feels like heaven inside of misery

You feel like love, I know you're just a fling

A one night stand with a wedding ring

A vacant cage, a cardboard box with wings

Looks like a castle to a desperate king

My eyes are open no more

Open no more

An amusement park, I think that's what it's like

It's fun to go there from time to time

You pay the toll and ride all the rides

But it's no fun to stay there overnight

'Cause when the ride ends

Here come the shakes after the lone binge

Wake up faceless, I've made the same mistake again

Let go the reigns the way I lost so many friends

That ride is open no more

Open no more

This ain't the way home

It's just a detour on a winding road

When I can't get to where I want to go

It's better on the sidewalk than the gutter, you know

I wouldn't be here if I could find my home

Can't settle down, can't settle for this

Stuck here, enraged and perilous

All I've ever wanted was an ounce of respect

Before all I say and do is done and said

I won't give in to the temptations of second best

This road only leads through a life of regret

Oh, no more no more

Oh it ain't open no more

This road is open no more

That door is open no more

Open no more

Open no more...

All Too Human (Training My Broken Heart to Glow)

Don't say to me "I love you"

Don't "Baby just wait"

Don't give me your style

Don't give me your grace

Don't give me a sign on a dead end road

Don't give me your heart

Don't give me your soul

I'm too broken to do this again

I'm all too human to let love in

I don't want a soulmate

I don't want to hold my broken heart open

Don't want you to see my soul

Love, you're shooting in the dark

I'm turning on my broken heart

It's blinded by love on a whim

I'm all too human to let love in

Training my broken heart to glow

Red light's stop and green light's go

There's no love here to block the road

So I'm training my broken heart to glow

Maybe I love you from the pit of my soul

I'm all to human to ever know

Training my broken heart to glow

Red light's stop and green light's go

There's no love here to block the road

So I'm training my broken heart to glow

Oh, this is yes and this is no!

Oh, this ain't no one way road!

So I'm training my broken heart to glow

(With one more lullaby)

I'm training my broken heart to glow

…Training my broken heart to glow

One More Lullaby

Dry heaves in the underground

Where my dreams come tumbling down

But why leave for another town

To burn more bridges down?

I bleed for a worthy cause

Sleep is not all I've lost

Some dreams' just born to rot

One more is all I got

(No, no, no, no, no) It's not over

(No, no, no, no, no) This is not goodbye

I'll sing you one more lullaby

(Wake the shepherd, catch the dreamer

Falling from the heavens, rotting on the vine… inside)

One More

One More Lullaby

As a child, I knew what I'd do

My whole life, gave it all to you

Lullabies don't make dreams come true

Now that RIDE is through

Ten years I'm still counting sheep

Turned your tears into melodies

Take my tears, and take my dream

Lull yourself to sleep

(No, no, no, no, no) It's not over

(No, no, no, no, no) This is not goodbye

I'll sing you one more lullaby

(Wake the shepherd, catch the dreamer

Falling from the heavens, rotting on the vine… inside)

One More

One More Lullaby

If words can never hurt us

Let's say goodnight

Every single word was

Meant to make you cry

For all it's worth

Just one more lullaby

Last but not least

The time has come to dream

Fall asleep

I'll sing one more lullaby

This will come true

No matter if your dreams ever do

I'll sing one more lullaby

One more, one more, one more, one more

Lullabies don't make dreams come true...

Wake up

Feed Me the Fire

I grew up way down in the valley

I grew up without the lord

I woke up one day on the mountain

I woke up out in the storm

My mother, she gave me thunder

My father gave me the rain

The Devil, he gave me lightning

Before Jesus ever had a chance

Leave, leave, leave me with the moonshine

Let me sing, sing, sing long into the night

Light me up or strike me down

Not goin' out lyin' on the ground

Feed, feed, feed me the fire

Nothing I done is worth forgiving

I been bought, and I been sold

I never asked no one to go on living

I never asked no one to save my soul

Leave, leave, leave me with the moonshine

Let me sing, sing, sing long into the night

If you're gonna' strike me dead

Get those embers burning red

Keep on feed, feed, feeding me the fire

The sky's falling, the thunder's pounding'

Oh, I got the fury, I got the flame

I'm goin' back up to the mountain

To light those embers in the rain

Leave, leave, leave me with the moonshine

Let me sing, sing, sing long into the night

Rather hang my head

Than see those embers soakin' wet

Keep on feed, feed, feeding me the fire

Lead, lead, lead me to great heights

Don't make me dream, dream, dream now until I die

I'll never wilt or fade away

You'll have to take me up in flames

Feed, feed, feed me the fire

Keep on feed, feed, feeding me the fire

Oh keep on feed, feed, feeding me the fire

Don't you try to take me down softly

Don't you try to pawn me off on The Lord

Well I'll die in the same place where you bought me

If I'm gonna burn out, well I'll burn out in the storm

Between a Sadist and a Masochist

Don't do what he did

No don't do what he did

The sadist in his head

Is all alone

All alone

Guess who wins

Between a sadist and a masochist?

I've nothing to lose

Guess who wins?

When I'm done with him

The remnants of his face

Will paint the roses red

Why'd you let him live?

Why?

Don't do what he did

Leave me to rot

But let him live

No don't be there when

It happens again

Again

When I'm done with him

The remnants of his face

Will paint the roses red

Why'd you let him live?

No! No!

Why'd you let him live?

Why?

Why'd you let him live?

Headache

I am a heartache

Headstrong

You are a headache

Holding on

I am the dusk and

You are the dawn

The moon will rise above us

We'll both be gone

Save me from this ever present pain

Let me lie down with the rain

Take me from this evanescent plain

Let it not fade away

Of the grace which adorns us

We brake our backs

For all who will mourn us

And all they lack

Save me from this ever present pain

Let me lie down with the rain

Take me from this evanescent plain

Let it not fade away

Save me… Oh, save me

The chains that once bind us

Achilles' heal

The light that once blinds us

Soon reveals...

Save me from this burden of a mind

Let me fall down with the tide

Take me from the fury I confine

The lowest ebb is mine

I am a heartache

Headstrong

You are a headache

Holding on

It Pours

The rain is pouring

Lightning strikes over the gulf stream

Everyone knows where it's going

Everyone knows where it's been

Out on the ocean

No one here needs to know me

No one knows where the storm's going

Don't want to know where it's been

When it rains, When it rains, It pours

On dry land I was tripping

Over holes I was too big to fit in

With all those regrets, I kept digging

I fell to the bottom so fast

Then the rain started pouring

Carried me back to the ocean

Washed away all the emotion

Drowned all that was left of my past

When it rains, When it rains, It pours

Rain, rain, go away

You've taken me far enough

Rain, rain, go away

I can't take it all at once

When it rains, When it rains, It pours

I'm headed inland

Try and start all over again

I can't go back to where I've been

Those bridges are scorched and scorned

Take the rain as a lesson

Set my sights in a brand new direction

Bury all of my regrets

And dry out till the next thunderstorm

When it rains, When it rains, It pours

Parables

Fill up all the vacant holes

With the father, son and holy ghost

You'll never see them hiding behind the pope

You gotta believe him, he's the only one who knows

Oh, he knows

Preacher, he can't turn a cheek

The reaper, he's laughing through your teeth

Eye for an eye, well he don't practice what he preach

Blind lead the blind, where the one eyed man is king

He's counting sheep

Don't waste your parables

On heaven or on hell

Don't wait for miracles

To save you from yourself

Age old parables

Hide behind your fear

Beautiful fairytales

Falling on deaf ears

People… living for one another

Why can't you see us? Why can't it be enough?

Think your father's deciphering prayer through the guff?

You can't hold water with all your weight on that crutch

How's it holding up?

Don't waste your parables

On heaven or on hell

Don't wait for miracles

To save you from yourself

Age old parables

Hide behind your fear

Beautiful fairytales

Falling on deaf ears

Darkness... lies among the lies among you

Neither was it virtue nor vice that hung him

Take a good sentiment, flunk it up and rub it in

Don't waste away, for no one lives and no one dies for sin

There is no sin

Only marionettes

Dancing in the night

Chasing their shadows

Somehow they find the light

Virgin marionettes...

I Don’t Want to Know

I've never been more certain of uncertainty

I'm certainly sure

That you're uncertain too

You'll never stop me digging for another world

I'm searching for truth

Won't find it in you

I don't want to know your opinion

So keep it to yourself

For evermore, for heaven or for hell

I don't want to know your opinion

I'll find out for myself

For evermore, in heaven or in hell

In all of this uncertainty

I have everything I'll ever need now

I'll never be confused

I'm not a Shepard, not a sheep

I believe what I can see now

Oh, you can see it too

I don't want to know your opinion

So keep it to yourself

For evermore, for heaven or for hell

I don't want to know your opinion

I'll find out for myself

For evermore, in heaven or in hell

I don't believe it

I'll never believe it

No I don't need it

I'll never need it

No I don't need it

Never need it

I'll never believe ya

No I don't need ya

I am forgiven

Miss HypoChristian

Don't need religion

I am forgiven

I'll save myself, I'll save myself...

Halleluja

No one needs ya

I'll save myself, I'll save myself...

Halleluja… (Amen, Amen)

No I don't need it

I'll never believe it

Sideways

Lately, I don't see the right way

I like to see things my way

I like to see them sideways

I see no place to live or die while trying

When everyone I know is dying

And there's no saving grace

Deep under the soil

There's a boy for every girl

And a girl for every boy

A prize for tears and toil

It's you, it's you...

My mind was trained to think that when it rots away

Somehow I will float away

That's not how I was made

Of the many Gods, and I've had plenty

I lost my fear to pity

And now I'm truly saved

Deep under the soil

There's a girl for every boy

And a boy for every girl

A prize for tears and toil

It's you, it's you...

No more records for the lightweights

No one's singing them sideways

No matter where I look or whether

I'm looking in the right place

Don't need to pack a suitcase

With no choice, every little boy and girl

Will end up in the same place

Seeing these things sideways

We're all sideways

Oh, we're all sideways

Come Hell or High Water

From day one

Teach your son

You can be what you wanna be

Be all you can be

In the free land of liberty

But mother

What's wrong with these lunatic hypocrites

Son, don't talk religion

No don't talk politics

Why should I bother

To change the hearts and minds that be

Come hell or high water

They'll never see it quite like me

I could have studied

Chemistry or biology

But I spent my time

Making art and ideology

No regrets

I did my best

Restrained and restricted

My lips will be sealed

But my words will live again

Why should I bother

To change the hearts and minds that be

Come hell or high water

They'll never see it quite like me

Once, I had a voice

When the voice was still new to me

Once, I had a voice, I had a voice

Why should I bother

To change the hearts and minds that be

Come hell or high water

They'll never see it quite like me

From day one

Teach your son

Who's the lion, who's the lamb

The dreamer goes down

Right where he began

Sandpaper

I'm through with all that I could ever do

Life has always been a little held up

A farce: the hand from above

A forced superficial love

Food and shelter aren't enough

To keep me tame and humble

Now I sleep, and now I stumble

Became weak, and then I crumbled

I once screamed, but now I mumble

I won't meet your expectations (Ooh, not good enough)

Won't bow down to the cliche (Ooh, don't give a funk)

Let's all rise for the occasion (Ooh)

Oh, this divine realization that I'm through...

Oh I'm through… Oh, now I'm through…

I'm through… Oh, now I'm through…

Lift a glass in celebration

Here's the toast, I'm going to say it!

I'm through with my shallow muse

I'm through with you

I'll waste away, embracing every vice I keep

Forget my insecurities

The bottle lifts anxiety

Can't fix me with sobriety

I'll drift into oblivion

Let me drift, don't reel me in

Don't need responsibility

The tasks of mere civility (Ooh)

Got me stuck in this vicious (What everybody wants)

Life of fake ambition (But everybody sucks)

I'm sick of part-time living (Shake it off)

Well, I failed at all I attempted

So I'm through…

Oh I'm through… Oh, now I'm through…

I'm through… Oh, now I'm through… Oh, now I'm through...

Refill the bitter with sweet relief

Cheers to victory masked defeat!

I'm through… with remnants of roots... I grew

I wrote that chit for you and all the populous (oooo, funk you)

Commercial scum that'll rot and rust (funk me too)

It's in my rear-view mirror

Well I don't like it either

Well I'm through… I am through… Oh, now I'm through…

Oh, now I'm through… I'm through… Oh, now I'm through…

(Decipher the words of victory masked in defeat)

Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream

They won't come true

Oh, now I'm through