Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes is a musical project led by artists, Ken Hurley and Adam Snider. Their music is noted for its “matured tone and witty sensibility,” utilizing piano as the primary instrumental support. Critics have compared the sound to classic rock foundations while maintaining a modern, independent feel that focuses on lyrical storytelling with mature, witty, and thought-provoking themes about life, often set to a laid-back, piano-driven sound. Key Works and Albums include: Love and… (2021). The group’s first full-length album, featuring ten tracks including the lead song “I’m Nobody” Described as a “whirlwind night on the town” featuring a disarming vocal tone and everyman mantra. And the single “We All Live a Life,” A bluesy, piano-driven tune reflecting on the absurdity of life. Their second album, The Real Deal (2026) features 13 tracks, including: “The Billionaire’s Song” which explores social and personal themes of the uber wealthy. And, “The Real Deal,” an upbeat, happy song that celebrates a love that is The Real Deal. Other notable tracks include: “Borrowed Imagination,” “Sortin’,” “Walking In The Rain With You,” “Wasn’t Long Ago,” and the jazzy, “Sheep and Goats.” Available on streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and Anghami and Pandora.
LISTEN TO THE REAL DEAL HERE ON YOUR FAVORITE STREAMING SERVICE: kennybuncoandthe12notes.hearnow.com/the-real-deal
ALBUM #2: THE REAL DEAL
Scroll down for the lyrics and listen to FULL ALBUM
- Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes: The Real Deal
- Music and Lyrics by Ken Hurley
- Arrangements by Adam Snider and Ken Hurley
- Produced by Adam Snider at Funny Chamber Studios
- Keyboards and lead vocals by Ken Hurley
- Adam Snider played: Drums, six string electric guitar, 12 string electric guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, congas, cowbell, gong, tambourine, shakers, slide whistle, ukulele, mouth harp, and sang backing vocals
- Brains, Beauty, and Humor commentary by Maybelle Pepper (age two) “That’s a wrap, folks. Good job everybody.”
- Special Thanks to Lucy! (She knows.)
- Cover Artwork by Gemini
- Manufactured in the USA
- Lyrics and more at Kenhurley88.com
- All Lyrics and Music Copyright © 2026 by Ken Hurley
THE REAL DEAL
LISTEN TO FULL ALBUM HERE
SONGS
1. Borrowed Imagination
2. Sortin’
3. Skeptic’s Lament
4. The Real Deal
5. Down By The Wayside
6. Walking In The Rain With You
7. Hey Baby
8. Sheep and Goats
9. Gratitude [Explicit]
10. The Agnoptimist
11. The Billionaire’s Song
12. Brains, Beauty, and Humor
13. Wasn’t Long Ago
LISTEN TO BORROWED IMAGINATION
LYRICS – Borrowed Imagination
Stand on red stones by the riverside
Hands in vest pockets, laughing gulls squawk by
Fog horn blasts a long, long signal
Grey cold day, but it ain’t dismal
Visions of wisdom, a long narration
A swirling delightful aberration
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Looked over my shoulder to see
Looked to my left to breathe
Looked down to my knees to fly
Looked around for friends, good-bye
Her dark wide eyes filled with surprise
She let go as I fell through the sky
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Flew through the cold cold war
Couldn’t tell what was the score
Landed before the gold Abbey door
Looked to the heavens it began to pour
I rang the buzzer to call for some wisdom
There’s no answer, a security system
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Stumbled through a dark back alley
Ain’t no trees, a corner of pee
Tatted waitress smokes
Near the cardboard box, vagrants revoked
Eager plump rats dancing in the dumpster
As the waitress flirts with the boy who loves her
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Oh, borrowed borrowed Imagination
Oh, borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
Borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
It’s just me living a variation on a theme
Skipped among the keys, the white ones, and the black
Through the west, and the cities, the kindness, and the cracks
Got hit by a chair from a corporate committee
On my way to sing for the deaf in the city
Crossed the finish line. 5k to win 5k
Went to the cathedral, scuffed my knees when I prayed
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Saw the cleft lip who could not hear
She wondered aloud if God was near
Learned it don’t matter when love is here
She danced the boogie, we clapped and cheered
Sat at the bar. Pretzels, nuts cold beer
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Swam with Callista through Mauritius and Maldives
Saw the brain plate, beautiful to see
Dove the bluest pelagic archipelago
Kicked around with the tigers, they aint’ mellow
Played and tumbled, we’re laughing bedfellows
It’s just me, living a borrowed imagination
Ohhh, borrowed borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
Borrowed borrowed Imagination
Borrowed borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
It’s just me living a variation on a theme
I once was an old man looking back at my youth
Had all my teeth, but no Bluetooth
The driest Martinis, not even Vermouth
Had a sip in the blue traveling phone booth
Don’t you worry there’s no hurry
Just keep on keeping on
Playing music
with the dancing monkeys and the trumpeting swans
Ohhh, borrowed borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
Borrowed borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
Borrowed borrowed borrowed borrowed Imagination
It’s just me playing music
with the dancing monkeys and the trumpeting swans
SORTIN’
And I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
I say, no no no no no no no no
Give me a break
And I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
I say, no no no no no no no no
Give me a break
I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
You only get to keep
What you don’t take
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin
Sortin’ myself out
Sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Sortin’ myself out
Trying to get it together
To find a way out
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Sortin’ all confused
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Feeling like a fool
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Looking like a tool
They don’t teach this
In any love school
And I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
I say, no no no no no no no no
Give me a break
And I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
I say, no no no no no no no no
Give me a break
I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
You only get to keep
What you don’t take
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Seems like a waste
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Too much head space
I’m sortin’ sortin’ sortin’
Seems like a waste
Wonder when I’ll find
A life that’s love-based
And I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
I say, no no no no no no no no
Give me a break
And I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
I say, no no no no no no no no
Give me a break
I say, no no no no no no no no
There must be a mistake
You only get to keep
What you don’t take
You only get to keep
What you don’t take
You only get to keep
What you don’t take
SKEPTIC’S LAMENT
What do you mean by “hello?”
I really want to know
What do you mean by “hello?”
I really want to know
If heaven is high then hell is low
What do you mean by “hello”?
Pout and doubt
Never shout
Look down the snout
About to bottom out
I really want to know
If heaven is high then hell is low
What do you mean by “hello”?
What do you mean by “hello”?
Filled with torment
Shape is tattered and bent
Malcontent. Up here with dissent
This is the Skeptics Lament
I just want to know
What do you mean by “hello”?
What do you mean by “hello”?
What do you mean by “hello?”
I really want to know.
What do you mean by “hello?”
I really want to know
If heaven is high then hell is low.
What do you mean by “hello”?
Sometimes I wonder what to do
What’s the source of my absurd little blues
Still trying to learn how to vent
This is the Skeptic’s Lament
I just want to know
What do you mean by “hello?”
THE REAL DEAL
How we show what we feel
How we feel what we show
Is why we are here
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
Your lips are filled with honey bliss
Your touch is gentle as your kiss
How you do this
I don’t know
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
Kitchen dancing
Nuzzled whispers too
A wooed romancing
When we kissed we knew
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
How we show what we feel
How we feel what we show
Is why we are here
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
A safe place
The worst case
Vulnerabilities too
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
Bird in hand
Baby grand
Take a stand
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real
We’ve got the real deal
DOWN BY THE WAYSIDE
Down by the wayside
Lives a tribe
Of forgotten people
Trying to survive
Looking for a way
To be dignified
Hoping to find
Just a little pride
Down by the wayside
Down by the wayside
Down by the wayside
The cultures collide
People pass by
With their closed eyes
Never ask why
Never ask why
Down by the wayside
Far from the countryside
Lives a tribe
Of forgotten people
Trying to survive
Down by the wayside
Lives the suicide
Down by the wayside
Find the crucified
Down by the wayside
Down by the wayside
Down by the wayside
WALKING IN THE RAIN WITH YOU
Walking in the rain with you
I gave you my umbrella
and now you have two
I said, what about me
We stopped to by an umbrella
And now you have three
SHEEP AND GOATS
Young man was feeling good
He’s on the mountain top
Gazing with a smile
Looking over the flock
He calls the Lord, “Father”
And sometimes, “Pop”
Nothing’s going to shake him
His swagger won’t stop
Points his finger and shouts
As he sucks his lollipop
Look at you, I can tell you have no faith like me
You probably don’t know about the mustard seed
You’re different I can tell, it’s plain to see
Go away. Get out. You’re not part of god’s family
If you listen you can hear it with an open heart
There’s something about the spirit says it’s a good place to start
We’re all one big family. We each play a part
It’s a feast for everyone. It’s not a la cart
If you listen you can hear it with an open heart
There’s something about the spirit says it’s a good place to start
We’re all one big family. We each play a part
It’s a call to everyone and it’s time to impart
Old lady in the valley heard his shouts and knew
Easy to love the ones who love you too
What about the ones who make you blue?
Atheist, Judas, and Buddhists too
Jews, the Hindus and the ACLU?
What about the others with a different view?
Old lady whispered to the man, “Please wait.
How do you love the enemy of your simple state?
The time to love is now, before it’s too late
Could it be the answer is to rest your faith in fate?
Love, the pure action, will not infuriate.”
If you listen you can hear it with an open heart
There’s something about the spirit says it’s a good place to start
We’re all one big family. We each play a part
It’s a feast for everyone. It’s not a la cart
If you listen you can hear it with an open heart
There’s something about the spirit says it’s a good place to start
We’re all one big family. We each play a part
It’s a call to everyone and it’s time to impart
Young man on the mountain tripped and stumbled down
He flipped and he flopped all the way into town
It was in his humility where he finally did drown
He reconsidered what it was to wear a thorny crown
When the revelation came it was mighty profound
What he thought he knew just didn’t float
He didn’t know the difference between the sheep and the goats
He stood and trembled with a lump in his throat
Told the Lady in the valley it was Love he would promote
If you listen you can hear it with an open heart
There’s something about the spirit says it’s a good place to start
We’re all one big family. We each play a part
It’s a feast for everyone. It’s not a la cart
If you listen you can hear it with an open heart
There’s something about the spirit says it’s a good place to start
We’re all one big family. We each play a part
It’s a call to everyone and it’s time to impart
GRATITUDE
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
And, if I can’t get it then
Fu-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhk you
I walk around town
I don’t want to frown
I’d rather be the clown
Don’t want to breakdown
All I want is some gratitude
And, if I can’t get it then
Fu-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhk you
I don’t want anything that’s rude
I just want a happy mood
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
And, if I can’t get it then
Fu-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhk you
I don’t need no fancy food
No crying in solitude
Just want some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
And, if I can’t get it then
Fu-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhk you
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
All I want is some gratitude
And, if I can’t get it then
Fu-uh-uh-uh-uh-uhk you
THE AGNOPTIMIST
Piano solo. No lyrics.
An Agnoptimist is one who can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God; but, is hoping for the best.
THE BILLIONAIRE’S SONG
We’re just too busy to stop and lend a hand
We may get involved in something we don’t understand
We walk the other way
Not hearing what you say
We think you’re wrong and feel we’re right
We’re glad you do what we say
We got giblets in our gravy
Our hair is Sasooned and wavy
Montego Bay Maid does our slaving
Upstairs and down in all our houses
A well-stocked bar with drinks of eight ounces
We got stock in IBM
A condo in Magdalen
A solid gold fountain pen once used by Sen Yat Sen
An original Picasso hangs on our hall wall
The original Rembrandt we keep in the vault
And lots o CDs we count them happily
This is the billionaire’s song
We don’t care if we’re wrong
We’re zero zero zero zero one percent strong
We can buy the competition
We can buy the politicians
We can buy your religion
We don’t need your permission
So don’t be forlorn
We know you’ll play along
We hope you’ll play along
We want you to play along
Just start singing our song
We got lots o money
We really are well-to-do
Our Swiss Bank has a scenic mountain view
We got money in horses
Money in oil
Money in real estate
So much we can’t tabulate
Money in gold
Our billfold is hard to hold
We know we’re growing old
But it’s a great way we’re told
When no taxes no taxes no taxes no taxes no taxes
Have been withhold
BRAINS, BEAUTY, AND HUMOR
I remember the first time
I looked into your eyes
Gave me a shiver
A goosebumpy surprise
My tingle began to mingle
Up and down my spine
My gaze became a twinkle
Baby, you’re so divine
Brains, beauty, and humor
Wrapped up in you
No tabloid rumor
You cure my lovesick blues
One day at the bodega
You gave me your sweet sweet smile
You’re my alpha and omega
I think I’ll stick around for awhile
Sparks began to fly
Chemistry was true
Ain’t nothing to deny
I hope we can pursue
Brains, beauty, and humor
Wrapped up in you
No tabloid rumor
You cure my lovesick blues
Well, that’s my lovesick story
Sargento Cheesy I know
The day we began to play
We found a new plateau
Brains, beauty, and humor
Wrapped up in you
Brains, beauty, and humor
What are we to do?
Brains, beauty, and humor
Baby I love you
WASN’T LONG AGO
Wasn’t long ago
I was on my own
Searching
For my way home
Ain’t no shame to say
Sometimes I lose my way
Then I remember
The sun rises new each day
When I was down
You held me gently as I fell
And then your love
Lifted me toward the sun
Then I saw the light
Helped me fight with my all might
To stand tall
And learn from each fall
I’m wondering too
Is this really true
An illusion or you
But I know, I want to take a chance
And learn a new dance
Eyes with an angels view
Wondering can I love you?
Searching
Is this something true?
Time to take a chance
Trust our first glance
Closer
Lets learn a new dance
I’m wondering too
Is this really true
An illusion or you
But I know, I want to take a chance
And learn a new dance
Listen to “Hey Baby”
LYRICS
Hey, Baby
Saw you the other night
You looked like an Angel
About to take flight
Glass of red in one hand
The other a bottle of white
Dangling from your Southern lips
A fat boy rolled tight
Hey, baby
Saw you the other night
You looked like an Angel
In the twilight of you life
You lived the good life
Loved everyone in sight
Looking for your shiny knight
Now you’re an Angel
About to take flight
In the twilight of your life
Hey, Baby
Saw you the other night
Your smile was tired
Twinkle in your eye was slight
Something about you
Just wasn’t quite right
Hey, Baby
You looked like an Angel
In the twilight of your life
Doc shoppin’
Veins poppin’
Your stock’s droppin’
Hey, baby
You looked like an angel
About to take flight
In the twilight of your life
Hey, baby Hey, Baby Hey, baby
Time is what we pay to live
Time is what we pay to live
Hey Baby
Time is what we pay to live
Time is what we pay to live
Time is what we pay to live
Full album release on January 8, 2026
Thanks for listening!