2025 Competition Entry:

Don’t Take Me Back Carleen by Son Stone

Genre

Folk

Artist

Co-writer(s)

no

Performer(s)

Ben Diamond (me): Lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Jeff Brody: Bass
Ross Scheintaub: Lead Guitar
Will Bryant: Piano, Organ, background vocals
Justin Guip: Drums

Description

I’ll let the song speak for itself.

Bio

I’ve been playing guitar since 1981 and I started playing Ki ho’alu (Hawaiian slack key or “open” tuning) in 1996. Over the years, I’ve studied Slack Key with Hal Kinnaman and Keola Beamer.

I’ve been fortunate to open for legendary players like Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna / Jefferson Airplane) and David Gans (SiriusXM host, Grateful Dead historian, author, and independent musician). More recently, I’ve been focused on writing and recording original folk music, some of which have been featured in American Songwriter magazine in 2022 and 2023. You can catch me and my band, Son Stone, at local Long Island venues like My Father’s Place. My long-anticipated 9th album was released on 3/20/24 and we had a great release party at The Bahr Gallery in Oyster Bay, NY on 4/20/24. (Links to latest album can be found on my home page at www.ben-diamond.com.) “Don’t Take Me Back, Carleen” will be on my next album.

Lyrics

CHORUS
Don’t take me back, Carleen, don’t take me back
There are lots of other men in town to choose
Everyone’s a winner when you choose somebody else
But if you take me back Carleen, we’re bound to lose

I saw you on the street today, I turned away as you went by
I must admit you looked so good, it nearly made me cry
Now I rue the day you hurt me and I made myself this pact
‘Cause I just wanna love you and have you take me back

CHORUS
Don’t take me back, Carleen, don’t take me back
There are lots of other men in town to choose
Everyone’s a winner when you choose somebody else
But if you take me back Carleen, we’re bound to lose

My kitchen was too small for you, my wallet was too tight
My feet were cold, I tossed and turned, it kept you up all night
You told your mother often of the graces that I lack
Its best we’re through, I’m wrong for you, but I still want you back

BRIDGE
Can I give you my heart to break,
Just for old-time’s sake?

(Solo over Chorus)

Can I give you my heart to break,
Just for old-time’s sake?

CHORUS
And if you take me back Carleen, we’re bound to lose
Don’t take me back, Carleen, we’re bound to lose

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