lemonboy

The nickname "Lemonboy" started as a joke in high school, a reference to my iced water with extra, extra lemons during late-night, post-theatre hangouts. As a kid, I’d always wanted a nickname, but “Adam” doesn’t really lend itself to affectionate shorthand. So, whenever I heard the name Lemonboy—something that felt uniquely mine—I was reminded of the love I’d found in my community. The nickname stood the test of time, lasting long after my high school theatre days. I told myself that, if I ever recorded in an album, I would honor my friends by doing so under the name they had given me.

Ironically, though, this title track wasn’t part of the original album track list. This song emerged during a difficult day in which it felt everything was going wrong, and everything that went wrong felt like the result of some trap I’d mistakenly set for myself. Quickly, the song grew into something much bigger and, through countless revisions, it became the emotional backbone of Lemonboy. It ties together its themes of identity, self-discovery, and compassion. The use of reprises and musical motifs serves both to tie the songs together and also to honor the origins of the name.

"Lemonboy" is a song about giving yourself the grace to be human. It’s about finding light in imperfections, embracing our own growth, and learning to love yourself through the process. Originally planned for the ukulele, Jack Zorando arranged this song for piano while we were and his arrangement transformed the song into something I’m so incredibly proud of.

This track is a reminder that while life isn’t always perfect, it’s in our imperfections that we grow, heal, and find our light.

CREDITS

Music & Lyrics: Adam Greczkowski

Arrangement: Jack Zornado

Engineer: Charlie Pilzer

Vocals: Adam Greczkowski

Piano: Jack Zornado

Producers: Adam Greczkowski, Emily Zornado, Jack Zornando

Lemonboy

He has a demonstrated history

Of falling behind at the worst of times

He’s a complicated mystery

Sleeps all day and all night but he’s tired all of time

Ostensibly, a thoughtful guy

‘Til he glitches and he loses track of time

Then he’s saying nasty things

On a goose chase for his keys

He’s just a lemon of a boy

At a glance he looks alright

But once you look beneath the surface

Something isn’t right

He’s a lemonboy

A lemonboy and I worry that

He’s ruining my life

His attachment style’s anxious at its best

And it borders codependent

Once he’s seen them naked

He’ll worry that you’re mad at him

But he won’t text you back

His brain tends to skip

By all accounts, a selfless guy

But if he ever wins the lottery

Not sure he’ll spend it right

He tends to be impulsive

Not maliciously, it’s compulsive

He’s just a lemon of a boy

At a glance he looks alright

But once you look beneath the surface

Something isn’t right

He’s a lemonboy

A lemonboy and I worry that

He’s ruining my life

I’m ruining my life

This was never part of the plan

I’ve been falling more behind

Since the day life my began

I’m sorry, mom, for all of my thoughts

I guess you got a lemon off the lot

An exemplar of self-doubting

Autopilot, no rerouting

When I try, I think I worsen

And my lungs burn with exertion

Until now, I thought I might get out

But the road turned upside down

I’m just a lemon of a boy

At a glance I looks alright

But once you look beneath the surface

Something isn’t right

I’m a lemonboy

A lemonboy and I worry that

I’m ruining my life

Am I ruining my life?

What do I do?

I just wanna be your morning view

Want to make the world feel bright

Does everyone have these nights?

The ribbons are tied too tight

Conscientiously compensatory

So damn self-condemnatory

Why is it so easy to be kind

To every human not inside my mind?

I’ve never lived a life

This is my first time

Want it to be good

Wanted to be good

So why am I stuck staring at my ceiling

Wondering when I’ll get the feeling that I’m grown?

Hoping all the pieces come together

So the map with all the answers can leave me alone?

I’m spinning, it’s giving

Burdened Catholic school kid

Contrition for living’s

Not paying my tuition

So why should I feel worthless

When we’re all a bit imperfect?

What if lemons give us life

Not the other way around?

‘Cause we’re all flawed and learning lessons

And that’s something that’s allowed?

Then I’m a lemonboy

I’m a lemonboy

And I‘ll keep learning

I’ll keep trying

I won’t stop until I’m dying

I think loving’s part of fighting

for a future worth surviving

Sometimes I feel like hiding

So I’ll rest and spend time writing

While I worry that

I worry that

I’m ruining my life

But I’m not ruining my life

Just a random guy from Putnam

Who’s still growing up at 29

And sometimes desperate to know
Why it’s going so slow

But if there’s one that I aim to make this world before I die

I hope, I hope, I hope

No, I know, I know, I know

Yeah, I hope, I hope, I hope

Because I know, I know, I know

That if there’s one thing that this lemonboy

Can swear to leave behind

It’ll be light

lemonboy

CREDITS

Lemonboy

Bright