2026 Competition Entry:
Late Bloomer by J. Stephen Smith
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Lyrics
She never made much
of an impression
You’d hardly notice she was there
Even with Her
favorite dress on
And purple ribbons in her hair
Purple ribbons in her hair
All the boys would
walk right past her
She never had the nerve to speak
And if one ever
had a question to ask her
You’d see the blood rush to her cheeks
Yeah the blood rushed to her cheeks
[chorus]
She is a late late bloomer
A Flower blossom in the August heat
She is a late late bloomer
And her fragrance is so sweet
They spent that school year
locker to locker
And he saw something that they missed
But he was bashful,
gangly and awkward
He dreamed of sharing their first kiss
Dreamed of sharing that first kiss
[chorus]
She is a late late bloomer
A Flower blossom in the August heat
She is a late late bloomer
And her fragrance is so sweet
[bridge
Now the spring has come and gone
No more petals on the ground
Now the nights are getting warm
he thinks it’s time he comes around
[chorus]
Please be my late late bloomer
A Flower blossom in the August heat
Please be my late late bloomer
yes your fragrance is so sweet
of an impression
You’d hardly notice she was there
Even with Her
favorite dress on
And purple ribbons in her hair
Purple ribbons in her hair
All the boys would
walk right past her
She never had the nerve to speak
And if one ever
had a question to ask her
You’d see the blood rush to her cheeks
Yeah the blood rushed to her cheeks
[chorus]
She is a late late bloomer
A Flower blossom in the August heat
She is a late late bloomer
And her fragrance is so sweet
They spent that school year
locker to locker
And he saw something that they missed
But he was bashful,
gangly and awkward
He dreamed of sharing their first kiss
Dreamed of sharing that first kiss
[chorus]
She is a late late bloomer
A Flower blossom in the August heat
She is a late late bloomer
And her fragrance is so sweet
[bridge
Now the spring has come and gone
No more petals on the ground
Now the nights are getting warm
he thinks it’s time he comes around
[chorus]
Please be my late late bloomer
A Flower blossom in the August heat
Please be my late late bloomer
yes your fragrance is so sweet
Author
Bio
J. Stephen Smith is an American singer-songwriter and music industry entrepreneur with over forty years of writing experience. His 2010 album Land of Plenty, recorded with The Redemption Center, received critical recognition — even as far away as Melbourne, Australia, where a reviewer compared his songwriting to the work of Mark Heard and T-Bone Burnett — and the Aquarian Weekly praised its “gritty hooks, intelligent lyrics and heartfelt vocals” in the tradition of Steve Earle. Drawing on the literary folk sensibility of Bruce Cockburn, the narrative grit of Steve Earle, the spiritual Americana of the late Mark Heard, and the fearless honesty of Lucinda Williams, Smith’s songs explore faith, loss, grace, and the human condition without easy answers.
In 1995 Smith founded Blind Records while living in Rochester, New York — initially as a platform to get unsigned and unheard artists airplay at local radio stations. The label grew to release several compilation albums under the series title The Immutable Record, and later released full albums by Jesse Sprinkle, Every Eye Closed, Mojo Heroes and The Redemption Center.
In 1995 Smith founded Blind Records while living in Rochester, New York — initially as a platform to get unsigned and unheard artists airplay at local radio stations. The label grew to release several compilation albums under the series title The Immutable Record, and later released full albums by Jesse Sprinkle, Every Eye Closed, Mojo Heroes and The Redemption Center.
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