We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

I'm Wanita

by Wanita

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $17 AUD  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    We have 100 copies only of this limited edition red vinyl. All vinyl comes with a digital download code.

    Includes unlimited streaming of I'm Wanita via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    edition of 100 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $45 AUD or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    All vinyl comes with a digital download code.

    Includes unlimited streaming of I'm Wanita via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $40 AUD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of I'm Wanita via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 AUD or more 

     

1.
I can tell by the careful shuffle in his feet That he’s bringing me my coffee in bed As I drop the Codeine, he places in my hand But then his pain-wracked grin, makes me bleed ‘Cause I went out honky-tonkin’ again last night But then I dragged all my party friends home Now the empty bottles, he’s droppin’ in the trash Clunk through my head, just like a stone But he takes good care of me When I get tired of being me It’s so hard when you’re misunderstood Ah… but he knows I’m understated And I’m trying to be good He’s the only one who’ll ever know How hard i try and just how far I’m gonna’ go Just to be needed by the world so much A burden they’re all going to carry When ol’ Wanita’s hushed I try and settle my mind, when I’m talkin’ with myself That, it’s harder to be me, than for all of them ‘Cause I’m their wild and crazy, honky-tonkin’ Mama That’s gonna line all their pockets, right to the seams Oh, but I whimper his name and always, as it seems When I look up, Baba’s standing by my bed Jaded adoration, so finely etched in his face Then there’s nowhere else, for the Queen to hide… But he takes care of his honkytonk queen When I get out of hand and I’m a little obscene When I go off looking after everyone else Why, he just takes his place Up there on the shelf ‘Cause his belief is endless He knows I get despondent And that’s when I’m gonna’ get restless He trusts someday, I’m gonna’ be less insecure Ah, but right now, the whole world’s gonna’ know There’s no cure… He takes good care of me When I get tired of being me It’s so hard when you’re misunderstood Ah… but he knows I’m understated And I’m trying to be good He’s the only one who’ll ever know How hard I try and Just how far I’m gonna’ go Just to be needed by the world so much A burden they’re all going to carry When ol’ Wanita’s hushed…
2.
02 - Wanita - Rhinestone in the Rough - lyrics This ain’t Hollywood or Vegas But I’ll show you what I’m made of Playin’ four long sets each Friday night Down at Manny’s Bar I got the legs, I got the eyes Got everything the guys ‘round here Would think that I would ever need For me to be a star It’s a question of survival I’m two years too old for idol Sometimes, your best, well, It isn’t good enough I can sing like Patsy Cline Right here ‘til closing time Oh, I’m your little rhinestone in the rough I’m a small fish in an ocean Still clinging to the notion That it’s my job to get back up Each time life knocks me down Just a small piece of the action Oh, but I’m the main attraction I’m a shining star in a small-town bar In a small-town town It’s a question of survival I’m two years too old for idol Sometimes, your best, well, It isn’t good enough When you sing just like Loretta You know they won’t forget ‘ya Oh, I’m their little rhinestone in the rough There’s a small ten dollar cover If you’re a country music lover You’ll pretty soon discover Why they drink here Friday nights If they thought, they forgot me There’s no way that they’re gonna’ stop me I’ve got my wish, I can cut a disc And get my name in lights It’s a question of survival I’m two years too old for idol Sometimes, your best, well, It isn’t good enough And when I sing Shania I can set this bar on fire Oh, I’m your little rhinestone in the rough If I sound so much like tammy They oughta’ give this gal a Grammy Oh, I’m your little rhinestone in the rough Well, I’m your little rhinestone in the rough
3.
If you think I’m shallow Then you’re out of your depth ‘Cause after I’ve had you laughing I hid away and I wept You’re only as sick as your secrets What’s the temperature of truth I may, be yours, babe But, I’m everyone else’s too You don’t know someone ‘Til you know what they want You don’t love someone, ‘Til you know what they need Your bark and my bark are different barks Your dark and my dark are different darks It’s so painful and delicious When acceptance is overdue I may, be yours, babe But, I’m everyone else’s too Your dynamite eyes are jungle wicked And I guess, I thought you knew I may, be yours, babe But, I’m everyone else’s too You think I work so hard, at pretending to be me That I somehow forgot about you I may, be yours, babe But, I’m everyone else’s… too…
4.
You were mine for a short, But sweet, bitty baby time With golden locks and Big blue eyes that shined But I made a mistake When I dragged you away from Dad Not thinking I’d crush The heart of my best friend So, the last few years You’ve walked this world alone Since that big bad wolf Barged in and stole your Mum Something changed that day for good When it cracked your mind Now, I’m trapped with him In a big nice house to cry So, hush my little one Lay your pretty head Close your eyes, don’t cry Your mama’s right here again Tucking you in your bed You don’t have to hide Go to sleep in your Three-quarter feathers Lay back in a different time When your daddy comes in Then he will sing of All the fishies in the sea Like all the birdies in the sky Like them, we will fly And not go to land Until we’re all free And the hurt is way behind You’ll wake up warm And safe and sound Mister frost there, tickling your nose Then the sun will shine again On that sunny brook The door to the dark will close “Ellymay’s lullaby…Shhhh…. Go to sleep.” Never once considered I would ever go that far ‘Til the only thing I held, Was my shining star Flying high on the songs I’ve written From the grief I caused No stoppin’ to smell the rose ‘Til the petals fall So, I went away from home Just to cry in pain By lovin’ that big bad wolf And all my fame But, I didn’t see too late Your eyes turn grey Those golden locks Now matted and limp And your childhood slippin’ away So, hush my little one Lay your pretty head Close your eyes, don’t cry Your mama’s right here again Tucking you in your bed You don’t have to hide Go to sleep in your Three-quarter feathers Lay back in a different time When your daddy comes in Then he will sing of All the fishies in the sea Like all the birdies in the sky Like them, we will fly And not go to land Until we’re all free And the hurt is way behind You’ll wake up warm And safe and sound Mister frost there, tickling your nose Then the sun will shine again On that sunny brook The door to the dark will close
5.
Today 03:53
When he says “I love you”, But you’re always unsure There’s no reasons to doubt him But his lines don’t do it anymore And today, when I held him He didn’t hold on as long I could see he was distracted By his work or someone And today, my world crumbled ‘cause today, I found out Though I had my suspicions It still tore my world apart I always had an inkling But I could never be sure But today, I know for certain He don’t love me anymore The absence of a touch Gets overlooked when you’re busy The cold silence at dinner Can be a mind full of worries Today his dresser was moved When I found some old pictures Unfamiliar pretty faces With false names and addresses So today, I closed the door For the last time Well, I don’t need to wait ‘til five Just to hear my baby lie Today, I walk away I ain’t hanging ‘round to hear him say “oh darlin’, it’s nothin’ They’re just old friends of mine” And today, my world crumbled When today, I found out Though I had my suspicions It still tore my world apart I always had an inkling But I could never be sure But today, I know for certain He don’t love me anymore But today, I know for certain He don’t love me anymore
6.
Thought I’d make the coffee this morning When I crawled out of bed But the plastic bottle and it’s last drop Are wrapped around his head Then I put the laundry on Before goin’ out shoppin’ Rushin’ home to get it in by dark But the machine was full of washin’ Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that When I got through the door I plopped down in my chair Then I detected a familiar stench Wafting through the air Checked the sole of my shoe And a dirty trail on my carpet My neighbour’s cute little mongrel Had left a deposit, when they parted Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Got up to use the bathroom But my kid had just been With two squares left on the dunny roll No prospects of getting clean Then I waddled to the storage cupboard With my pants grippin’ my knees When I noticed all the blinds wide open For the whole world, to see the Queen Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Well, I thought I’d give it up for the day And I’d just retire instead But the dirty pile of sheets on the floor Told me, he hadn’t made my bed No matching pair in the linen ‘Couldn’t find one bloody set That’s right; they’re still in the washer ‘Cause; HE ain’t hung ‘em out yet! Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that Oh oh oh… don’t ya’ hate that…
7.
I'm Wanita 02:38
Am I a rocker or a swinger Tear your heart out with a weeper What songs do I play? Whatever I damn well please Am I a country blues singer Or a cowboy’s heart slinger? Guess they’ll find out when I kick ‘em all where it hurts I know what I am So what they think I am Don’t matter an iota to me I’m wild and I’m ropeable Fiery, non-stoppable Red-headed, crazy and mean Bold and brazen With no compromising Exactly what you’re gonna’ see Well, I’m Wanita Your rockin’, swingin’, honkytonk queen A little vulgar or crass or Do you think I’m white trash So careful now, you knockers There’s some who disagree Well, they’ve seen all my givin’ ‘Til my heart’s left bleedin’ They’ll fight to the death And defend my integrity ‘Cause they know who I am So what you think I am Don’t matter an iota to me I’m wild and I’m ropeable Fiery, non-stoppable Red-headed, crazy and mean Bold and brazen With no compromising Exactly what you’re gonna’ see I’m Wanita Your rockin’, swingin’, honkytonk queen At the end of it all I’m just having a ball Watching reactions to all my antics I’m Wanita Your rockin’, swingin’, honkytonk queen I’m Wanita Your rockin’, swingin’, honkytonk queen (Squeal) and don’t you forget it!
8.
Oh darlin’, please forgive me It’s started all again The dark clouds are getting lower Black dog’s howling in the wind So, when I get crazy And the cycle begins Just wait on the sidelines To hold the devil’s right hand Most of the time I can accept The fate that I dig myself into All the reasons I never made it, I guess But every now and then, I get blue Darlin’, run for cover I’ve done it, all again The dark clouds are gettin’ lower When the bottle takes command But there’s nothing you can do To try and influence a fool Who lives life chasing rainbows? Setting the bar to the moon Most of the time I don’t regret The fate I dug myself into And for all the reasons I never made it, I guess But every so often, I’m gonna’ get blue Darlin’, please forgive me It’s starting again The black dog’s howling louder And he’s circling in my head But each time I go under And I land flat on my face Believe me, for the last time It’s gonna’ be longer ‘til my next, fall from… grace
9.
I thank God for Jamie Johnson That I’ve still got room to move We’ve got time for just one more With a slow, three-quarter groove It’s a soundtrack to your memories From where it all went wrong Sometimes you’re going to need, A heartache song It’s the way that Harlan wrote them Gets right to your heart And it’s the whiskey chased with memories In that lonely, late-night bar They’re the songs that you can drink to When the dream is almost gone Sometimes you’re going to need, A heartache song You get rain with every rainbow And a thorn with every rose The world ain’t got it in for you It’s just the way it goes That’s where gals like me come in ‘cause here’s where we belong Sometimes you’re going to need, A heartache song There are times you wanna tell him ‘Bout the changes he’s made in you But you need to keep it simple Just three chords… and the truth You were just about to sing it But he’d already gone That’s when; you’re going to need, A heartache song You get rain with every rainbow A thorn with every rose The world ain’t got it in for you It’s just the way it goes That’s where gals like me come in But we don’t stay too long Sometimes you’re going to need, A heartache song You get rain with every rainbow And a thorn with every rose The world ain’t got it in for you It’s just the way it goes And that’s where fools like us come in When the hurtin’ gets too strong Sometimes you’re going to need, A heartache song Sometimes you’re going to need, A heartache song
10.
They thought I wouldn’t amount to much For a time, so did I Sparked by the coal miner’s daughter’s legacy, I’ll carry until I die Always knew I was so much different When I felt separated in time Like being trapped in another era Feeling like I’d lost my mind Today I stand on hallowed ground Like I dreamed since I was a girl My heart was already there Now my voice, joins legends from before It all seems so much clearer now From the place where I stand Carefully positioned in front of a microphone Touched by legends’ hands Music flowing all around me My eyes so tightly closed Thinking they stood right here before And it’s like I’ve come home Today, I stand on hallowed ground Like I dreamed since I was a girl My heart was already there Now my voice, joins legends from before Today, I stand on hallowed ground Like I dreamed since I was a girl My heart was already there Now my voice, joins legends from before This place is surely blessed At last, I’m set free Thank you, Miss Loretty You’ve paved the way for me
11.
The lights are a dimmin’ The music plays low Well, I’ve been sitting here drinking And watching the show As he took down the bottle from up on the shelf In a mirror behind it, I saw myself And I thought… Somehow, if somewhere, someone still cared I’d be looking at a lady That I was back then Instead of living on memories And dreams that we shared When somehow, somewhere, someone still cared It all started one evening In the arms of a man When I didn’t consider all that we had It might have gone unnoticed And it’s not what I planned When my husband discovered no ring on my hand (Oh, gee…) Somehow, if somewhere, someone still cared I’d be looking at a lady That I was back then Instead of living on memories And dreams that we shared When somehow, somewhere, someone still cared Somehow, if somewhere, someone still cared
12.
My Last Song 04:31
The last thing I remembered to say Before all the pills kicked in Was I always did my best Right until the very end Oh, all you teachers Tell all your students Your best is not good enough But until this student is ready Well, you have all but, given up on Wanita So go on, you fickle-hearted So, go on regardless, and without me Ah, but don’t turn your heads for a moment ‘cause the world, It don’t revolve… around you If it be my momentary drama Making all my words less intense Just know my very last ones No truer word said in jest Oh, all you teachers, You can tell all your students Your best was not good enough But until that student is ready Well, you’ve all but given up on the queen So go on, you fickle-hearted Oh, go on, regardless and without me Oh, but don’t turn your heads for a moment ‘cause the world, it don’t revolve around you And to my only offering Spawned from my fucking loins I pray you can reconcile yourself When life has flipped the coin on ya’ Dearest, dearest man of mine What a saint to bear the load Of loving a woman dropped to earth From another era Where the story’s left untold So, I’m gracious for all your pretty flowers You’re carefully gonna’ pick for my wreath You know, I pray each thorn that’s gonna’ prick you Reminds you how I bleed Oh, all you teachers, You can tell all your students Their best is good enough Oh, but until this student is ready Well, you all but, given up on Wanita So go on, you fickle-hearted Oh, go on, regardless and without me Oh, but don’t turn all your heads For a moment Well, the world It don’t revolve around you Around you Around you Around you Oh no, it doesn’t Never did, never does, never will Revolve around you Or me, or anyone else

about

AUSTRALIA'S QUEEN OF HONKY TONK releases the first song from the forthcoming I'M WANITA album, while the album has gone on pre-order as a lush, opaque, limited edition red vinyl, black vinyl, CD and digitally.

Owning the red hair and lipstick beyond persona, the crown of Australia’s Queen of Honky Tonk belongs to Wanita.

Wanita’s forthcoming third album ‘I’m Wanita’ was recorded by Billy Yates & Larry Beaird at world-renowned Beaird Studios, Nashville. This album has been preceded by two albums, the first recorded at ‘The Pub’ in hometown Tamworth and the second at Garth Porter Studios, Sydney.

Released today is Everyone Else's Too, the first single from the new album. As Wanita explains, the song is "a great philosophical insight into me! It sums me up perfectly."

Wanita’s voice is respected around the world. ‘I’m Wanita’ reveals her life in a way that has never been disclosed through the words and notes of a song before, backed by a documentary that captures the essence of Wanita and her albums in moving pictures.

Wanita’s latest album has already been described by someone fortunate enough to have heard it as having "captured the dichotomy of Wanita’s life and torrid mood swings, her monumental stage presence, her exceptional vocal capacity and her deep connection with traditional country music". It should be rightly noted though that Wanita’s mood swings are only brought on by being with people who display laziness, incompetence, racism, prejudice, and dishonesty.

Wanita has been the centre of a turbulent life, which undoubtedly is what makes her personality and music so raw and real. Wanita experiences the world with an autistic lens, and like the rest of us in Australia, Wanita has been working to see her dreams come true at any expense - scraping pennies together, but still giving everything but the shirt off of her back to those in need.

Wanita isn’t just a country music star, but someone who genuinely cares about people, whether they live in of Tamworth or on the streets of Nashville. Though so down-to-earth, Wanita is far from every day, pushing with every ounce of her human being to live the life she has dreamed of as a world renowned star of Honky Tonk and country music, in the same way her idol Loretta Lynn has been since the 1960s.

Be sure to show your support for the magnificent red-hair, red-lipped, real and raw woman we know as WANITA.

‘I’m Wanita’ is scheduled for release mid-July 2021.

credits

released July 14, 2021

All songs written by Wanita Bahtiyar, except for Rhinestone in the Rough by Allan Caswell and Marian Caswell, Everyone Else’s Too by Scott Blackley, Heartache Song by Allan Caswell and Jen Mizem.

Acoustic guitar: Larry Beaird
Bass: Eli Beaird
Drums: Steve Brewster
Electric guitar: Derek Wells
Keys: Steve Nathan
Pedal steel: Russ Pahl
Fiddle: Tammy Rogers King and Gleny Rae
Harmonica: Jim Hoke
Background vocalists: Russell Terrell and Tania Hancheroff

Engineers: Jim DeBlanc, Kevin Sokolnicki, Rob Lane and David Buchanan
Producer: Billy Yates
Recorded at Beaird Studios, Nashville, October 2018

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Cheersquad Records & Tapes Melbourne, Australia

Wally “Meanie” Kempton took the plunge in 2018 and launched his record label Cheersquad Records & Tapes. Since then he has released new material from acts such as The Meanies, The Hard-Ons, Chris Wilson, Phil Jamieson, Seasick Steve, Wanita, Minibikes, The Rinehearts, Immigrant Union and T. Wilds, along with limited edition vinyl of older material from Snout, Even and The Glory Box and more. ... more

contact / help

Contact Cheersquad Records & Tapes

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like I'm Wanita, you may also like: