Instincts by Michael Cohen Songbook from Pergola Italy

“instincts” was originally written for my first attempt at a musical- a biography of the 19th century feminist, spiritualist, and presidential candidate victoria woodhull. when my collaborator and i found out that there had already been such a musical, a notorious flop, we abandoned the project. i used an updated version of the song in my first completed musical “moon fever”, which liz and i recently recorded.

liz sumner- vocal
michael cohen- music, lyrics, arrangement

wondering where my instincts will lead me

seems my best friends won’t heed me
they think i am just a girl who acts
before she even thinks
i'll get by as long as i follow my instincts

wandering, sure my instincts will guide me
heeding voices inside me
though their words are sometimes
puzzling as the riddle of the sphinx
i'll get by as long as i follow my instincts

i ask you why
why should i scheme and strategize?
when all that scheming only leads to liesor some compromise i’ll despise
i am waiting ‘till my instincts speak to me
‘till some wisdom flows through me
all the others need advice from lawyers
counselors and shrinks
i'll get by as long as i follow my instincts

it seems sometimes
that i’m the only one who’ll try
to spread her downy wings to reach the sky
still they all deny i can fly

i’ll be going where my instincts will take me
cause they’ll never forsake me
i’m the kind of girl who stares down danger
and never even blinks
i’ll get by as long as i follow my instincts
long as i follow my instincts
long as i follow my instincts