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Songs from HEART OF STATE

by Jillian Hicks

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    CURRENTLY STREAMING ONLY. For the moment, I'm setting the songs to be streaming only and not to be purchased for download. If that changes, you'll see it here. For now, please enjoy streaming the music instead! JH
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1.
Heart of State 02:37
lyrics
HEART OF STATE from "Songs from HEART OF STATE" _____ ENSEMBLE Just look at the state of your heart when you’re near the Heart of State Her spirit is sweet like a fragrance left behind when she’s running late If you watch from hour to hour you’ll see she’s always in a book But she might change from seed to flower if you know just when to look Open, open up the borders of your heart and listen to the streets and the beats of your heart (What are they telling you?) Oh, you know love is more than a feeling Love is our state of being… But how can she begin believing? What’s inside the heart of the Heart of State? What’s inside the heart of the Heart of State? Because love is a thing we can't use a book to learn until it hits us, until it’s our turn Open, open up the borders of your heart and listen to the streets and the beats of your heart (What are they telling you?) Oh, you know love is more than a feeling Love is our state of being… But how can she begin believing? What’s inside the heart of the Heart of State? What’s inside the heart of the Heart of State...? _____ Music and lyrics (c) Jillian Hicks July 2021, New York City
2.
Thorn in My Side 02:03
lyrics
THORN IN MY SIDE from "Songs from HEART OF STATE" _____ BEN Hello, princess… OLIVIA First daughter. BEN Can I offer you a drink of water? OLIVIA You know, I think there’s a faucet somewhere in my wing. BEN Well, if you need help getting there, you can give me a ring… OLIVIA Oh my Lord, have mercy, Every day he thinks it’s fun to do this to me. ENSEMBLE Just ignore… OLIVIA Wish these bushes were taller to hide, ’Cause there’s always a sting when I turn to find a thorn in my side. He likes to think that he owns the grounds No matter where I go, he seems to just be around I've got places to be, I’ve got studies to do, So if he had some respect, he would just get a clue Oh my Lord, have mercy With everything I say, he wants to just disagree. (Just ignore…) It’s not worth sacrificing my pride Yet there’s always a sting when I turn to find a thorn in my side! (Just say no…) He’s not even worth the time. Yet there’s always a sting when I turn, Yeah, there’s always a sting when I turn… Oh, when am I ever gonna learn to pull the thorn in my side? _____ Music and lyrics (c) Jillian Hicks July 2021, New York City
3.
Press On 03:05
lyrics
PRESS ON from "Songs from HEART OF STATE" _____ PRESS SECRETARY Say the words I need to say, Tell the big truths of the day, And do it all as smoothly as I can I’ve got my husband and my kids I’ve got a buzzing hive of bids for my hours, and yet this girl’s still in my thoughts… I guess she doesn’t know her power SECRET SERVICE Inject the coffee in my veins, ’Cause this girl’s such a little pain I’m always guarding her secret halfpipe dreams from all the world to lay bare But does she care that she’s giving me a heart attack whenever she hits air? BOTH Everyone needs a little break from country, mom, and dad, But do they know she is the smartest (she’s gotta be the sneakiest) girl we've ever had? But there’s so much more I’m just not allowed to say That’s the life of a press secretary (That’s the life of security) on another DC day: I press on I press on... No matter what she means to them, I wonder if they understand that despite the things they say she might be, She reminds me of me So I’ll tell her to press on No matter what the people say She’ll have to take it from me ’Cause I’m a master public speaker (Secret-service secret-keeper) She’s gotta keep her head down and press on… Gotta just press on (Press on...) Gotta just press on... _____ Music and lyrics (c) Jillian Hicks July 2021, New York City
4.
In My DC 03:30
lyrics
IN MY DC from "Songs from HEART OF STATE" _____ BEN Can you get over the hedge? OLIVIA I’m managing all right. BEN I’m a little jealous you scaled the trellis. OLIVIA Come on, we don’t have all night. I see you have a motorcycle. I took you for the type. BEN Well, since that part did not surprise you, now let me live up to my hype! OLIVIA Where are we going? I don’t know what comes next... BEN I’ll be your teacher: just relax and open up your text to my DC… Can you see what I see? Look at me and tell me if you felt anything, when I said, “Let me show you my DC.” OLIVIA Feels like I’m thirsty, but I drink from a mirage ’Cause everything you’ve shown me makes just a beautiful montage. BOTH Like my favorite part of the movie, it’s over way too fast. Why does each irreplaceable moment never seem to last… OLIVIA … in my DC. Can you see what I see? Before it’s morning, would you look at me, and tell me if you felt everything when I said, “Let me show you my DC”? BEN Don’t just skate around it, Even the pavement under you will sound it: I know you dream of something more in your DC. OLIVIA They tell me life’s my bowl of cherries, but cherry blossoms fade, And every single beautiful building stands witness to my charade. Now you know me… BEN Now you know me. BOTH So how do I get free when I just feel so trapped in their DC? _____ Music and lyrics (c) Jillian Hicks July 2021, New York City
5.
Plant a Little Something 01:51
lyrics
PLANT A LITTLE SOMETHING from "Songs from HEART OF STATE" _____ WISE GARDENER Plant a little something, See if it will sprout. There’s really no other way for you to find out. TWO GARDENERS Add a little water, Make a little space. Take a little time, Give it a safe place. ALL THREE GARDENERS Then maybe someday, there'll be spring… But if you need help in the waiting, you just give us a ring. BEN But what if the winter never ends? WISE GARDENER Then on the other side… ALL GARDENERS You’ll have your friends. _____ Music and lyrics (c) Jillian Hicks July 2021, New York City
6.
Heart of State Reprise 02:52
lyrics
HEART OF STATE REPRISE from "Songs from HEART OF STATE" _____ OLIVIA Ben…! Just look at this beautiful rose! Is it for me? BEN Do you suppose? OLIVIA Look at me and tell me now if it means anything… BEN Come here – feel the rate of my heart. Just look at the state of my heart: You’re my Heart of State. ENSEMBLE Open, open up the borders of your heart and listen to the streets and the beats of your heart OLIVIA Tell me it’s not too late! ENSEMBLE Oh you know love is more than a feeling, love is our state of being… (Look at his face – you know he’s saved a place for you! It’s not too late.) Open, open your heart to love… Open, open your heart to love… (In your DC!) OLIVIA Boy, you know this is more than a feeling, now it’s my state of being. OLIVIA and BEN How can I keep from hardly believing? ENSEMBLE Open, open your heart to love… (And press on…) Open, open your heart to love… (And press on…) There is a freedom in planting a seed to become love (There is a freedom in letting yourself believe in love) There is a freedom in planting a seed to become love! (There is a freedom in letting yourself believe in love!) Open, open your heart to love Open, open your heart to love... Love’s inside the heart of the Heart of State… (Love’s inside the heart of the Heart of State…) Love’s inside the heart of the Heart of State! (Love’s inside the heart of the Heart of State!) _____ Music and lyrics (c) Jillian Hicks July 2021, New York City

about

I made demos for a fake soundtrack for a fake rom-com because it should really exist! These original songs were inspired by a brand new "president's daughter" story concept by New Yorker writer Rachel Syme, who in turn was originally inspired by actor-singer Olivia Rodrigo's visit to the White House on July 14, 2021. (Thanks for the fun inspiration, Rachel...!)

I also kind of ended up writing these songs for teenage me, who did indeed "feel everything." (My love to that girl: you're going to be all right.)
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Here's Rachel Syme's full plot concept from social media:

you cannot deny that olivia going to the white house looks like a promo poster for a 2004 rom com called Heart of State about the first daughter who (whoops!) falls for a hunk who works in the rose garden during his summers off from college and they are star-crossed

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at first, they hate each other! she's studying to get into georgetown! he rides a motorcycle! she's a priss! he's a rebel! but then, one night, as it turns out, he learns that she is a rebel too. climbing down a trellis? changing into a miniskirt? she does it all.

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he's like "let me show you MY dc" and they have a wild night of dancing and going to all night restaurants and then she's like let me show you MY dc and you think she's going to take him to a fancy thing on the hill but really she takes him to...a skate park

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as it turns out...she can shred.

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his passion is cultivating his own rose varietal late nights in the greenhouse. one day, he WILL name his own rose. he wants to name it The Big Ben (his name is Ben). but the end of the film, after some estrangement, he finally creates the perfect pink rose...

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and at its unveiling (in this world new roses get some horticultural fanfare) he names it after her secret service code name.

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also, as some have suggested here, her secret service detail is definitely a character actor with broad physical comedy chops who WILL steal scenes

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he is advised by a cadre of kindly older gardeners who have been at the WH for four presidents; there's a wise one, a goofy one, an irascible one who comes around

//

anyways call me hollywood i guess

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Rachel Syme's viral Twitter thread and complete plot concept:
twitter.com/rachsyme/status/1415380309797969921

Cover album art inspired by @ouvindonana film poster concept:
twitter.com/ouvindonana/status/1415399080012955651/photo/1

Original photo of Olivia Rodrigo visiting the White House:
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images (July 14, 2021)

credits

released July 31, 2021

All music and lyrics by Jill Hicks, (c) 2021-2023.

Demos written and recorded in my Manhattan apartment
between July 15 and July 31, 2021.

All instruments, household objects, and vocals by Jill Hicks.

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all rights reserved

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Jillian Hicks New York, New York

Exploratory home demos for musical theater and other songwriting projects. Multi-disciplinary artist and musician from Minnesota studying how storytelling affects medical care in New York City.

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