Monday, July 29, 2013

Come Back As Me: New Richie Sambora song

Just as Bon Jovi takes a six-week touring break, Richie Sambora unleashes a previously-unreleased track on the world called Come Back As Me, via his fashion partner-in-crime Nikki Lund:

Listen to COME BACK AS ME - by Richie Sambora

Here are the lyrics that I could make out... Corrections welcome:

What do you want me to say?
I'll tell you anything you wanna know
You wanna know about disappointment
Baby, I haven't watched that show
I been up, I been down
You seen me crawl with my face on the ground
All this pain, this pride
I carry around like a knife in my side

In spite of it all, for all that you see
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me
Rewind and press play, I'll burn up the screen
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me

Hey, what do you want me to say?
I gave you everything I could give
But everything just wasn't enough
So I just let live and let live
I got lost, I got found
Break my heart but it don't make a sound
Hard times, bad luck
I've had my share but it's turnin' around
Grateful for the burden even before it felt good
So here's my revelation, won't be misunderstood

In spite of it all, I'm comic relief
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me
Rewind and press play, I'll burn up the screen
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me

(Turn it up, baby)

Grateful for the burden, even before it felt good
So here's my revelation, I won't be misunderstood

In spite of it all, for all that you see
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me
Not Elvis or God
Not Frankie, not Dean
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me
In spite of it all, for all that you see
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me
Not Elvis or God
Not Frankie, not Dean
If I died tomorrow, I'd come back as me


I think the song is an outtake from the Aftermath of the Lowdown sessions. It was written before all this drama surrounding Bon Jovi and Richie's departure from the tour began. But given the timing of its release, the reference to Jon's idol Frank Sinatra, and tweets like this...



...it's a little hard not to read it as a dig at Jon.

What do you think of the track (and everything else)?

7 comments:

  1. I haven't *listened* to it but I do like the lyrics as written. I think it would have fit into the Aftermath songs--a man stating what he's been through, a man finding his way and stating who he is. Except for this current drama going on, I don't think it can be interpreted as a dig at Jon. Maybe the timing is odd but the tour is finished for the next several weeks. When would have been a good time to release it? Certainly not while the tour is happening.

    I particularly love the 'Not Elvis or God, Not Frankie, not Dean' line. I've always wondered why Jon first had a "thing" for Elvis and then the last several years for Frank Sinatra. Just be yourself, find your center and stay there (IMO neither Elvis or Frank are worth emulating or holding in particularly high esteem--and they are long dead and a few generations removed).

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  2. It's a weak song but he's trying things artistically that Bon Jovi hasn't done since writing It's My Life (the first time) and I appreciate that. All things staying the same (the sound and arrangement), had Jon and Richie worked out a few kinks in the lyrics and massaged the melody a little, it could have been a real breath of fresh air and pretty good song.

    I miss the days when Bon Jovi would demo a song and rework it until it was perfect. Jon and Richie are stronger together than they are apart. Richie seems that he really wants to produce great, creative music and Jon seems like he really wants to keep touring... seems like a perfect combination to me. I wish they'd work their issues out and produce a great album together.

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  3. Poor effort from mr Sambora. I don't get it why his great voice should be filtrated like this. Good he did not put in the amazing Aftermath album. It's a lot weaker than the other songs. And people criticise John for not having rock enough sound, I wonder if what is exactly rock in this.

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  4. I totally agree with Bounce442. It needs to be worked out and massaged. The music does not sound apropos for these lyrics. I definitely wish they could work all this out and move forward. It seems to be getting to a point of no return and is it possible that perhaps Bon Jovi is being redefined because of this. I mean Phil X is doing an amazing job on the tour. Certainly he is not Richie but it seems that Richie isn't the same "Richie Sambora" we as fans have come to love either. Kudos for him for trying his own thing. I hope he starts to feel fulfilled and can be happy. Pam

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  5. I think I agree with the last three entries.l have not listened to it and probably won't. I feel that I don't want to be a part of Richie's mind games against Jon. And what's with this Nikki Lund chick,a what does she have to do with his musi?.Is she trying to be Yoko Ono? Stay with your HSN stuff!!!!!!!! And, really HSH? I have bought some great jewelry there but don't expect my ex-favorite guitarst to be there. Hopefully they will work this out, but want the old Richie back. but maybe we never knew the "real " Richie.

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  6. I really like the song! I hope there will be more solo stuff from Richie as I'm all tired of the so called new songs from Bon Jovi. Since HAND, I didn't like their albums ver much. It's all about Stadium Rock now, and the "nanana's and "hey hey" and "are you with me there" are really getting old. Richie tries to do something new, along with David and his musical stuff, which was the highlights of Bon Jovi members the last few years.
    I hope Richie continues his work. He's not the only guitarist who managed to make good music on his own. Maybe he should have a chat with Slash ;)

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  7. I really like the new song and a course aftermath of the lowdown has became my #1 cd to listen to right now. Richie really hit the nail on the head with this one, if Jon does not get the message , Richie wants to come back to bon jovi. He has a serous problem? I hope for everybody in the band, they can work things out
    . Franky and Dean we love both of u.

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Thanks for giving me your time.