Inside The Gray
Out Now On All Streaming Services!
Booking & Contact
651-239-2049
joekelly2021music@gmail.com
joekellymusic.com
@joekellymn
Upcoming Releases:
The Light Between Us
(Debut Album)
Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
BIO
With a genre-blending style that seamlessly intertwines pop, rock, and folk, Joe Kelly's music has been aptly described as "Jason Mraz on a sedative" – a testament to his ability to craft melodies that are both soothing and infectious. Hailing from the heart of Minnesota and armed with an acoustic guitar, soulful vocals, and a loop station, he creates a rich tapestry of sound in his live performances that envelops audiences in a fuller, more immersive experience. While his discography currently includes two independent EPs, fans anticipate his upcoming folk-pop debut album, The Light Between Us, slated for release in summer 2025.
Former Opener For The Stone Arch Isles
Socials:
Venues
Coffman Memorial Union Theater
Stone Arch Bridge Festival
Minnesota State Fair
Bryant Lake Bowl Theater
UMN Battle of the Bands
Aster Cafe
Shamrock’s
Email Newsletter & text
You’ll be notified about shows, new music, videos, highlights, and more
Music
Upcoming SHOWS & EVENTs
Saturday, 11/9/2024 5-8pm @ Lone Oak Grill
(Eagam, MN)
Saturday, 11/23/2024 5-8m @ Lone Oak Grill
(Eagan, MN)
Saturday, 12/21/2024 5-8pm @ Lone Oak Grill
(Eagan, MN)
Friday, 1/17/2024 6-8pm @ The White Squirrel Bar
(St. Paul, MN)
Friday, 5/23/2025 7-10pm @ Shamrock’s Irish Nook
(St. Paul, MN)
Friday, 6/20/2025 7-10pm @ Shamrock’s Irish Nook
(St. Paul, MN)
Saturday, 7/5/2025 @ Parachigo
(Fargo, ND)
Saturday, 7/12/2025 7-9pm @ Tull House
(Renton, WA)
Friday, 7/25/2025 7-10pm @ Shamrock’s Irish Nook
(St. Paul, MN)
Friday, 8/22/2025 7-10pm @ Shamrock’s Irish Nook
(St. Paul, MN)
Events & Venues Previously Played:
Stone Arch Bridge Festival
Minnesota State Fair
UMN Battle of the Bands
Coffman Memorial Union Theater
Opener for the Stone Arch Isles
Aster Cafe
Twin Cities Bar Scene
Follow & Shop
Socials/Streaming
Or Search @JoeKellyMN
On Any Major Social Platform
Lyrics for the Inside The Gray EP
Give it Time
It seems like everybody here is just rushing on through // No one has the time to care about you, oh // Yet they say that patience is a virtue, if only they could show it off too // But remember friend, I’ll say to you… //
Give it time, oh give it time // Don’t you worry ‘bout today, or of tonight // Give it time, oh give it time // If you’re feeling stuck today, you’ll be alright // And sometimes, you may say you’re not good enough // But remember, it’s those who try who turn out tough // Give it time, oh give it time, give it time //
I remember when I first saw you play your song, I wanted to sing along, yeah // And I told you: You were so good. There was no reason for you to feel wrong, yeah // Well even people like you that just keep on moving on and on, have their times when they gotta stop // So maybe we can sit on back and just wait for the time to pass, hoping that the good will last //
Give it time, oh give it time // Don’t you worry ‘bout today, or of tonight // Give it time, oh give it time // If you’re feeling stuck today, you’ll be alright // And sometimes, you may say you’re not good enough // But remember, it’s those who try who turn out tough // Give it time, oh give it time, give it time //
But you gotta go back to the place where love is kind and love will wait // Patiently, while you’re away // But remember every time that you just feel like you can’t keep on going on // Or when your life gets in the way, oh // Balancing, everything, just listen to these words I’ll say //
Give it time, oh give it time // Don’t you worry ‘bout today, or of tonight // Give it time, oh give it time // If you’re feeling stuck today, you’ll be alright // And sometimes, you may say you’re not good enough // But remember, it’s those who try who turn out tough // Give it time, oh give it time, give it time //
Give it time, oh give it time // Give it time, oh give it time // Give it time //
Morning Tea
Your breath smells like morning tea, in the morning breeze // Breathing me into new life // Leaves crushed under sunlight’s gentle hand soak in // And the honey makes the bitter go down smooth //
You hair feels like morning dew, and the green grass too // Soft and sleepy on bare feet // Don’t you disappear when sunlight comes around // Don’t you forget that I’ll make you morning tea //
Let the water bathe your bones // And light them up // Flicker fire from the wood burning inside // The fire that keeps me warm //
If I care for you will you take care of me? // I’ll give you drink as long as you give me the fire // Hold me close don’t ever let this moment go // For each breath you take is gonna fly me higher //
Let the morning wait for you // There’s nothing you have to do // You complain that you don’t have enough time // So don’t leave this moment behind //
But you tell me that you’re gonna have to go // And leave me here to stay // No more nights to have your heartbeat next to mine // What will I do from now on, without your fire //
Your breath smells like morning tea, in the morning breeze // Breathing me into new life // Though you have to leave this world with me behind // Your fire will always shine //
If I care for you will you take care of me? // I’ll give you drink as long as you give me the fire // Hold me close don’t ever let this moment go // For each breath you take is gonna fly me higher //
Oh, am I the only one who feels like a kid, oh yeah // Well the dreams that I dream are harder than they seem to achieve // All the college kids are thinking of their majors to the real world // As I try to write another song, yet what went wrong is that it’s too long // For me to sit and study and keep on // I’m always walking fast to get to class, but everybody’s always walking faster // Tunes in their ears from an iPod playing, never tryna glance the other person’s way // Tryna keep their business just to themselves //
If you ain’t gonna be professional, well you’re gonna disappear // But all I wanna do is play my songs for the world to hear //
Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin //
Is it what I want, is it what I need, I’m sitting in my dorm room reading these // Books that I got for quite a fee, but at the same time I’m not really sure // If the words on the page are reaching me //
All I read are novels, never read the papers, maybe what’s real is just too gray for // Me to say anything of value. What’s the breaking news today? // Reporters say, they don’t know which way or just how long the facts will stay //
If you speak the truth they’ll shout you down, call it what you want it don’t matter now // Everyone’s offended, everyone’s ignited, don’t engage just dive into // The flames of everyone’s political rage //
I try to stay cool, but there’s no rule that // All that you do’s gotta be for living // Gotta make time to just relax, take off my shoes and lie in bed // cause fuck it all, I just wanna sleep but, adults don’t have time for that //
If you ain’t gonna be professional, well you’re gonna disappear // But all I wanna do is play my songs for the world to hear //
Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin //
When I walk into the room // Everybody looks up // I can’t slide by or just fit in //
Yet no one stops to speak to me // So I do the same // I keep my eyes down to the ground //
Down to the ground, down to the ground, down to the - // Down to the ground down to the ground Down to the ground, down to the ground, down to the - // Down to the ground //
I see leaves on the ground // I wanna make a pile // And just jump in // And disappear // To a new place // Where I am not // Timid anymore //
If you ain’t gonna be professional, well you’re gonna disappear // But all I wanna do is play my songs for the world to hear, ohh //
Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin //
Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Just keep on, and keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Won’t you keep on, just keep on, and keep on, and keep on dreamin // Ohh //
Keep On Dreamin
Inside The Gray
I see clouds falling to the ground // Sometimes I wish they could surround // My body and take me away // To find a love inside the gray //
I know you // You want to…? // I know this - // You feel it too //
I want you // I need you // I want you // I feel you // Hmm…
They say the color’s returned here // Like the crimson in your dress dear // Our sandy eyes start to fall through // Our hands into our dress shoes //
I know you // You want to…? // I know this - // You feel it too //
I want you // I need you // I want you // I feel you // Hmm…
I know you // You want to…? // I know this - // You feel it too //
I want you // I need you // I want you // I feel you //
Every time I wanna see the sky I see your eyes //
I want you // I need you // I want you // I feel you //
