Spilt Milk is kjband’s twelfth album. It is the follow-up to 2020’s Portraits. In 2020 during the pandemic lockdown, with working in spilt milk kjbandthe studio not an option, kjband songwriter Ken Johnston used his creative time instead on writing new songs. Originally conceived as a six song EP, after the six songs were well on their way in the recording process, Ken and his lyricist partner, Carolyn Moses, wrote three new songs. So, a six song EP became a nine song album, and the additional three songs had to be recorded from scratch.

The songs reflect a more mature viewpoint, from anticipating retirement (Weekend), looking back on past choices (Spilt Milk), and dreading the inevitable loss of a loved one (Don’t). All the songs are deeply personal and emotional.

The result is some of Ken and Carolyn’s best work, helped by the usual stellar musicians that have graced previous kjband records – Peter McCulloch on vocals, Chris Delis on guitar, Kevin Presutti on saxophone, Ken Adessa on drums and percussion, Gary Georgett on keyboards, and Marco Vitali on violin. The incredible Ian Stewart joins the band this time on bass.

Recording of this album started in the spring of 2021 and was completed in late 2022. It is available on ITunes, Spotify, YouTube, and other streaming services.

Songs on Album

(click to read lyrics)

What would life have been like if we’d married up front?
Would that version of us, weathered time’s test?
Or landed us in unhappily ever after?
It’s the great unknown which choice was best

One path or the other / Was right to take?
One path or the other / Which would be a mistake?

There were near captures, amidst the steady pursuits
As those years washed away with the tide
Each narrow escape brought me back to home, just the same
And you still landed right by my side

One path not the other / Won’t regret the lost days
One path, not the other / This was the only way

Probably best not to shed tears over milk spilled
Since every step taken leads to where you’ll be
Curiosity never helped the cat get anything but killed
Though the mouse was always chasing me

One path not the other / Led us both here
One path not the other / Now walk with me, my dear

Let’s bury the lost years under our bands, you and I
And not mourn for what may have been missed
We got lucky to have played the long game
And both finished winners, like this

Ken Johnston

You wake up every morning, jump into your routine
Fill the time the best you can then do it all again

Weekday work, weekend drink, have all the fun you can
Just two days then you’re back to dealing with ‘the man’

The boss says he’s aggressive, firm, demanding at work
Nice words that also describe the classic jerk

If your work is fun then you’ve got it made
If not look forward to the weekend days

One day…
The weekend – every day, weekend every day

If you’re young you can always push yourself for change
If you’re not at least you have less time to stay the same

Grab the moment, seize the day, don’t let it slip away
But who has the time in this crazy age

One day…
The weekend – every day, weekend every day

Everyone is doing what they can but life is rough
Whatever it is it’ll have to be enough

Look at the time has it really been forty years
Goodbye, farewell, I won’t be shedding any tears

One day…
The weekend – every day, weekend every day

Ken Johnston

When I look at you
I can’t help but to
Think of when you were a child
Can’t see who you are now

How did you get to be
The young man that I see
Was there something I could have done
Was it too soon to leave?

I did the best I could to take care of everyone
Put your happiness ahead of mine
Then I thought you were old enough, thought that you’d be fine
Dared to think maybe it could be my time

I found my happiness
While you lost yours somehow
I really want to help
But it seems too late now

I did the best I could to take care of everyone
Put your happiness ahead of mine
Then I thought you were old enough, thought that you’d be fine
Dared to think maybe it could be my time

If I could turn it around
Than you can too
You just need to find your way
It’s something you can do

Ken Johnston
 
Don’t leave me alone
Don’t leave me alone
Don’t leave me alone
Don’t leave me alone

What would I do
Without you?

Don’t go away
Don’t go away
Don’t go away
Don’t go away

One of us will have to go first
The other will have to carry on

Ken Johnston

Can’t help but to be who I am
Can’t help but to feel what I feel
Wanting to go so far
But limited by what is real

Why does it always have to be
So hard to stay on my feet

Can’t help but to be who I am
Can’t help but to feel what I feel
Wanting to go so far
But limited by what is real
I hope soon that one day
I will find my way

I’ve got to do it anyway
I’ve got to say what I have to say

Can’t help but to be who I am
Can’t help but to feel what I feel
Wanting to go so far
But limited by what is real

This is the only chance that you’ve got
You’ve got to give it your best shot

Johnston/Moses

You won’t remember that you loved me first
But there was a time
When there was no one else but me
You’ve put another on the pedestal that was my special place
I knew this was bound to happen and that you’d drift away, scot free

I hope that what you learned from me makes you the man to beat all

You won’t remember the first time you said ‘I love you’, it was to me
That the first time you held a girl’s hand, it was mine
Or how you said you’d never find another more suited to you than I
Or how you cried when I said you would and it would be both right and fine

I hope the girl who wins your heart appreciates all you grew to be

You won’t remember how you begged me to lay with you and never leave
I was your first real love but knew I wouldn’t be the last
You vowed you wanted to be with me until the end of time
Though I saw it coming, I don’t know how this day got here so fast

I hope you’ll remember that I was only there to teach that girls like gentle, loyal, and true
As, apart from letting go, it’s the most important thing us mothers of sons can ever do

Johnston/Moses

She was shattered but you’d never have known it
There were large pieces gone missing
Though she didn’t outwardly show it
Her body betrayed her over the smallest of things
She was in no way prepared for what that betrayal would bring

But you gave her spirits a lift
Your support made her whole
And you made her feel … unbroken

Her mind was fractured, fading like an old pressed flower
A long path to mental ruin
Slow triumphant progression, never lost its power
Though the two were embraced in this torturous bind
No one was prepared for a victory of body over mind

But you saw deep inside
To the things you can’t hide
And you made her feel … unbroken

You were there by her side
For the entire ride

Everyone needs just one to make them feel … unbroken

Ken Johnston

The old clock ticks away the seconds
Cutting a rhythm that plays all day
We jump in and we ride it
Learning lessons along the way

Always seems we learn the hard way
Have to know pain before
You can appreciate the good things
Happiness, love, and joy

Lessons learned
Dues have been paid
Lessons learned
Knowledge gained

Every day a gift to cherish
It is fun to reap what you sow
Raising up a loving family
We’re as proud as we can be

Lessons learned
Dues have been paid
Lessons learned
Knowledge gained

Johnston/Moses

The clean of new sheets across my feet
The calm of the ocean, the joy of the swim
The feeling of your complete embrace
A twinge of excitement at the touch of my skin

The shocking nerve of this cursed bliss
The phantom tingle of the things I miss

My child sitting close against my side
The feeling of stability, the serenity of balance
A confident pace whether pitched or steep
Sudden exhaustion churned with turbulent sleep

The shocking nerve of this cursed bliss
The phantom tingle of the things I miss

In my mind’s recesses lurk the things that I miss
Keeping mind over matter soothes the sting of all this