Revitalize

Rick Santers – vocals, guitars, Hammond B3 and mandolin
Jorn Anderson – drums
Peter Cardinali – bass
Lance Anderson – Hammond B3
Kimio Oki – percussion
Phil X and Ninette Terhart – background vocals
Jorge Jarzabek – nylon string guitar
Ed Krautner – violin 
Peter Cardinali – bass

Produced Jorge Jarzabek and Rick Santers
Engineers: Ed Krautner, Brad Nelson and Ed Stone
Mixing Engineer: Ed Krautner 

Recorded at The Metalworks, Chalet and Dandelion Studios, Toronto
Digitally Mastered by Bill Kipper at disques SNB, Montreal
Photos: Michael Smith   Back cover photo: Karen

All songs © 1996 Santoonz Music (SOCAN)
All songs by Rick Santers except “Not Gonna Die” by Rick Santers and Mike McGahey
and “Breakdown the Walls” and “Love Don’t Come Easy” by Rick Santers and Rik Emmett” 

Lyrics used by permission. All rights reserved. 

Original sound recording ℗  © 1996 Dandelion Records-

Ashes
Words and Music by Rick Santers

Snow capped mountains are where I’m gonna fly. Down Death Valley is where I go to die. Oh! the colour of the night bleeds into the day. Held on for too long and blew the kiss away. Up from the ashes into the heart of the flame. Down it all crashes for the passion to rise again. Crystal waters are where I’m gonna swim. Cold dark caverns where the lights go dim. See the rising of the sun – waning of the moon. Changing of the seasons changing all too soon. Up from the ashes into the heart of the flame. Down it all crashes for the feelings to rise again. Up from the ashes into the heart of the flame – Down it all crashes for the glory to rise again. A desert island I find tranquility. I light the fires now their burnin’ me. The pounding of the waves crash onto the shore. The dam is bound to break it can’t take no more. Up from the ashes into the heart of the flame. Down it all crashes for devotion to rise again.

Not Gonna Die
Words and Music by Rick Santers and Michael McGahey

Set adrift on the ocean. I watch our love go down like a burning ship. When I’m drowning, it’s hard to keep my head up high, but I gotta keep my head up high. Guess I should’ve seen it comin’. Your love for money was greater than your love for me. But I thought we had everything. Now that I’m alone tell me where do I begin. Life ain’t worth livin’ you turn lovin’ into sin baby. Oh! what kind of fool am I to cry these tears I cry? Oh! I’m not gonna die from a broken heart. I’m a soul survivor. Life’s harder than I remember it to be. But Oh Lord! I’m down on my knees. Pickin’ up the pieces of my shattered dreams. I walk this lonely highway. Distant memories are my only friends. I’ll search from sea to sea ’till it all begins to make some sense to me. If love is all or nothin’, so where does that leave me? chorus I fight to find my will. And I feel I’m standing still. Now’s the time to get on with my life. ‘Cause baby you’re gone but I’m still alive.  chorus

The Dream
Words and Music by Rick Santers

I had a dream I was flyin’ ‘cross the universe. I had a dream we were fallin’ from the sky. I had a dream I was movin’ in reverse. In my dream we never die. And there’s nothin’ I can’t do if I only wanted to. Gonna make the dreams I dream all come true. I had a dream I was breathing under water. I had a dream we were walkin’ on the moon. I was swept away by a raging river. In my dream I heard this tune. And there’s nothin’ I can’t do if I only wanted to. Gonna make the dreams I dream all come true. And I dream that I can fly and a rainbow fills the sky. In my dream we never die and we don’t ask why.

Do You Remember Me?
Words and Music by Rick Santers

Dancing Shadows in a rear view mirror whisper sweet memories. Hear the voices once so familiar. Do you remember me? Two perfect strangers long forgotten in a veil of secrecy. We lost the focus once too often. Do you remember me? Do you remember me? Do you remember me? Oh! Oh! Woe! Ya! Oh! Oh! Woe! Distant echoes movin’ nearer. A deja vu mystery. It got so hazy now it’s clearer. Do you remember me?. Face to face, the bells are ringin’. It sounds like poetry. We hold the cup out for what it’s bringin’.  chorus  Don’t pretend you don’t know me. You used to know me well. Now I’m back, and I’m here for a good time, a good time!  chorus 

Celebration 
Words and Music by Rick Santers

You can dig in deeper or you can walk away. You can keep it inside save it for a rainy day. Gonna pick up all the pieces. Got no time to waste. Lock that door behind me. And open up the pearly gates. It’s a celebration. Shine a light and rescue me. Temptation will never let me be. Lord have mercy over me. Some people call it freedom and others call it fate. Gonna find that new religion before it gets too late. Flyin’ like an eagle high above the clouds. Shootin’ up like a rocket ship and never look back down.  chorus  Keep the motion keep the pace. Find the grail if you can keep the faith. On our way to the promised land. Don’t be late c’mon and take my hand.  chorus  chorus  Lord have mercy. Try to help me see. Lord have mercy over me.

Angel From Heaven 
Words and Music by Rick Santers

You came to me like an angel from heaven. I welcomed you here like a gift from above. I hold you near with all sins forgiven. You’re my gift of love. You came to me like an angel from heaven. You opened my heart and you filled it with song. From your virgin breath my spirit has risen. Empty for so long –  Fragile, now I’m strong.  I found myself lost at sea I was tossed adrift like a ship on the ocean. A beckoning light was barely in sight, it glimmered with hope and devotion. chorus  A glimmer of hope and devotion. You came to me like an angel from heaven. A touch so sincere like the flight of a dove. You dried my last tear and returned my innocence. You’re my gift of love. I was empty for so long. Fragile, now I’m strong. You’re a gift of love.

Break Down the Walls
Words and Music by Rick Santers and Rik Emmett

Little Miss Innocence ‑ I see you. It’s only the guilty who have somethin’ to hide. Come put your hand in mine, don’t walk the line, step into the light. Breakdown the walls standing between us. Breakdown and cross the Great Divide. C’mon and take a chance. I know you’re gonna like it when we begin to dance. Breakdown the walls you hide behind. The whole world’s waitin’ outside your window – yes it is baby. You’re sittin’ on the inside, starin’ out. You’re way up in your ivory tower, I can see you there, Baby let down your hair!  chorus  Let’s breakdown the walls!   chorus  

Love Don’t Come Easy
Words and Music by Rick Santers and Rik Emmett

I can’t justify why I need someone. Waiting for your reply keeps me hangin’ on. So why do we act so shy? Have we got what it takes? What would you do if I offered my heart? Would you throw it right back in my face? But I, I don’t want charity. ‘Cause nothing comes free. It’s all a mystery to me but I keep hangin’ on. Gonna find someone and never let go. ‘Cause love don’t come easy. Don’t be afraid to let it show. ‘Cause love don’t come easy.  Now I hear you callin’ out. Far away, but so near. Lonely voices full of doubt. Can’t seem to get there from here. Oh! this is my rhapsody so colour me blue. It’s all a mystery to me but I keep hangin’ on.  chorus  I can’t justify why we need someone. Waiting for your reply keeps me hangin’ on and on and on. But I keep singing this melody ’till the heartache is gone. It’s all a mystery to me but I keep hangin’ on.  chorus  chorus  ‘Cause love don’t come easy for me for me. Love don’t come easy for me.

Words and Music by Rick Santers

Never gave a good reason. Never saw a sign. When I think of all that could have been I almost lose my mind. My heart is feelin’ hung over. I’ll never drink again. I feel temptation every now and then but you got no time for me any more. This mystery has no answers. I’ve tried a thousand times. Still I wonder what I could have done to turn water into wine. I sit alone in silence. Conscience my only clue. You were the one who used to help me through. Now you got no time for me. You got no time for me anymore, anymore. Oh! What can I do? What can I say? Oh! Now that you’ve gone so far away. Never gave a good reason. Never saw a sign. When I think of all I could have done I almost lose my mind. Oh! What will I do? What will I say? Oh! If you come back maybe someday. You got no time for me. So, you got no time for me.You got no time for me… anymore. 

Words and Music by Rick Santers

I found what I was lookin’ for. A shelter from the rain. Your smile was sayin’ that you felt the same. Then you surrounded me with magic. And released me from the past. Never had a doubt it was gonna last. You make me feel so right. Won’t you stay with me tonight? I’ve waited for you, are you ready for me, Oh! baby can’t you see! I never wanna let you go. I’m not afraid to tell you so. I never wanna, never wanna let you go. And I want the world to know. I was livin’ in the darkness. Thought I’d never see the light. Then you showed me the morning through the night. No words can tell you what I’m feelin’. My life will never be the same. Don’t dare to leave you now and look for love again. You make me feel so right. Just keep our love in sight. I was made for you, you were made for me. Oh! baby let it be!  chorus  I never wanna let you go. I want the whole world to know. I never wanna let you go. I just had to tell you so. I never wanna let you go. Now I want the world to know. And I’m gonna hold you close. –

For Erik, Connor and Jaime.

After many years of writing, recording and producing albums, first with international recording act SANTERS, and later with Canadian icons TRIUMPH, I’ve released my solo debut – Revitalize.

“Simple, direct and to the point.”

With this album I wanted to set my solo career apart from the band work I’ve done in the past. This is acoustic guitar-driven, vocally inspired tone poetry. Straight forward and honest. From heartfelt acoustic ballads to cruisin’ band numbers, I cover the spectrum while always remaining true to my muse. From Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan to John Lennon and John Fogerty, my singer/songwriter influences instilled a back to basics approach to get to the heart of my songwriting.

“The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”

The songs on Revitalize reflect my need for self-expression and the love of this craft. “Do You Remember Me?”, “Breakdown the Walls” and “Celebration” are all out feel-good tunes. Acoustic ballads, “Angel from Heaven”, “Love Don’t Come Easy” and “Got No Time” testify to loves’ pain and pleasure, while “Ashes” and “The Dream” show the depth and versatility that taps into the source of my musical core.

“Success is a journey, not a destination.”

I wanted the final recording to reflect the simple honesty in the songs themselves. To achieve this I assembled a group of world-class talent to record this spirited album. To keep a spontaneous atmosphere in the studio we decided to record the band without formal rehearsals. Everyone got copies of the songs with my acoustic and voice, that’s it!  A few days later we all met in the studio and started recording.”

– Rick