From the recording Pinch Me
Artist's Notes for Shells:
A profile of a lonely woman reluctantly allowing someone else to break the shell she so carefully kept intact around her all her life.
This song features guest guitarist, Neal Phillips, who deserves credit for embellishing my basic chords to express the fragility and beauty of this story.
(c) 2026 Christine Winchester Perry
Co-produced by Thomas Jay and Christine Winchester. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Thomas Jay. See Album Notes for more credits and information.
No AI was used in writing, performing or recording this song.
This song is one-stop and available for licensing. Contact: winchperry@aol.com, 484-686-8521
Lyrics
Shells
I live here alone, no one moves anything
My glasses are where I left them, my clothes where I fling
There’s no confusion about who gets the mail
Or if it’s my turn to put out the garbage pail tonight
Everything is where I left it yesterday
The shells from Sanabel are dusty in their bowl
It’s been quite a while since I lost control
It’s no illusion I drink too much wine
It makes my dinner feel like I dine each night
The kitchen table’s as I left it yesterday
Then one day I had you over my house to play a new role
You asked me about my shells as you took each one from the sandy bowl
Now they’re rearranged and I’m feeling so strange
Now there’s a new part of me that’s starting to burn
Today I lost my keys, forgot to water my fern
It’s an amusement and I’m off my game
Now I’m lost and don’t know myself since you came around
Now I’ll set a place for you here today
La la la la la, la la la la la, la, la la la
Now I’ll set a place for you if that’s ok