Neil Harris

Bad Place To Break Down

(First verse)
It was 92 degrees on that stretch of 65
I'd been running from a fight since early that morning light

Radio off, my hands white knuckled on the wheel, running low on gas trying not to feel

(Second verse)
Then I hit that pothole just south of Bowling Green, tire blew out like the pressure inside of me

I pulled off on the shoulder and slammed the door, dropped to my knees in the dust and swore

(Chorus)
Lord, I can't take much more of this
She said things I can't dismiss
I lost my grip, I lost my ground, and this is a bad place to break down
A thousand miles from making it right, and I'm barely holding on tonight, just me and a busted truck outside of town
Yeah, this is a bad place to break down

(Third verse)
Then an old man in a beat-up van pulled in behind
He stepped out slow and said, son, you doing fine?
I shook my head, wiped the sweat off my brow he said, let's get that spare
I'll show you how

(Bridge)
He turned the wrench like he'd done it all his life
Said 50 years I've been married to my wife. At times I nearly drove away for good but I thank the Lord I never could

(Second chorus)
Cause you can fix a tire, fix a flat, but it's hard to fix the things you don't go back. Pride's a heavy load to haul around, and this is a bad place to break down

You call her up and don't wait long, Sometimes sorry's all it takes to move on
Don't let this shoulder be your battleground
It's a bad place to break down

(Fourth verse)
We tightened that last lug, and
I just stared, at a stranger sent like an answered prayer
He said, son, the road gets rough and steep, but love's worth the miles when you dig in deep

(Fifth verse)
So I turned that key, wiped my face
Thanked that man for grace on grace
I pulled back out and turned around
Cause I was in a bad place to break down

Yeah, I was in a bad place
But I ain't breaking now

Black Labels And White Lies

[Verse 1]
I used to come home to a front porch light
Two kids and a woman who made wrong things right
But I traded our love for smoke-filled nights
And neon signs that stole my sight

[Verse 2]
She begged me to quit, said I’d lose it all
But pride talks loud when the bottle calls
I was chasing freedom, but I didn’t see
That the chains were wrapping ‘round me

[Chorus]
Black Labels and white lies
Drowning out the truth in a stranger’s eyes
Telling myself it’s just one more round
While everything I loved burned down
Now I drink alone with my alibis
Black Labels and white lies

[Verse 3]
I don’t hear laughter in the kitchen now
Just the echo of silence and what I allowed
That old barstool don’t hold me the same
When regret’s the only name I claim

[Chorus]
Black Labels and white lies
Drowning out the truth in a stranger’s eyes
Telling myself it’s just one more round
While everything I loved burned down
Now I drink alone with my alibis
Black Labels and white lies

[Bridge]
There's a picture of her in the drawer by my bed
Next to a letter she never read
I was too drunk to write it right
Too far gone to make things right

[Final Chorus]
Black Labels and white lies
Built a prison behind these bloodshot eyes
I can’t hold my kids, can’t kiss my wife
Just a bottle that ruined my life
Lord, I’m haunted by my own goodbyes
Black Labels and white lies

[Verse 1]
He looked so weak in that hospital bed
Tubes runnin’ where strong hands once bled
I brought the kids, he cracked a smile
Said, “Come sit with me, boy, let’s talk a while”

[Verse 2]
“You’re runnin’ hard, just like I did
Tryin’ to give the world to your wife and kids
But the truth is, son, when your time runs out
All that stuff you’re chasin’ don’t matter none now”

[Chorus]
Dust to dust — that’s what we are
You don’t take the house, the truck, or the car
But your little girl will remember that dance
And your boy will never forget second base
Take ‘em fishin’, call your dad
Forgive someone who made you mad
Give that dollar to the man on the street
He might be an angel you’re meant to meet
And give your heart to the Lord you trust
‘Cause all we leave here on Earth is dust

[Verse 3]
He said, “I missed too much chasin’ pay
I’d give it all for one more day
To hold your grandma’s wrinkled hand
And watch you grow into a better man”

[Bridge]
“There’s a Bible waitin’ by your bed
Don’t just read it when you’re feelin’ dead
Live it loud, and love full speed
That’s the only kind of wealth you need”

[Repeat Chorus]
Dust to dust — that’s where we end
So love your family, call your friends
Your little girl will remember that dance
And your boy will never forget second base
Take ‘em fishin’, call your dad
Let go of what made you mad
Give that dollar to the man on the street
He might say a prayer that sets you free
And give your heart to the Lord you trust
‘Cause all we leave here on Earth is dust

[Outro]
I kissed his hand, I said goodbye
Held back tears I couldn’t hide
And now his voice comes back to me
When I need the man he raised me to be…

All we leave here on Earth is dust

[Verse 1]
We were glowing once, like stars in a haze
Now your voice is a whisper, lost in the waves
Your shadow still lingers in the light of my room
But the scent of your skin fades too soon

[Pre-Chorus]
Tried to hold on, but I can’t feel you now
Your warmth slips away like smoke in a cloud

[Chorus]
So let me fade, let me fall into the night
Like a song we forgot, drifting out of sight
You were the fire, I was the flame
Now I’m just smoke, whispering your name

[Verse 2]
Eyes red from memory, lungs full of ghosts
High on the hurt that I miss the most
I still hear your laugh, like a dream left behind
But it slips through my fingers every time

[Pre-Chorus]
I still reach out when the silence gets loud
But you’re just a thought I can’t live without

[Chorus]
So let me fade, let me fall into the night
Like a page that we burned, no wrong or right
You were the storm, I was the rain
Now I’m just drops, calling your name

[Bridge]
If I close my eyes, will you be there again?
Or am I chasing a ghost with the smoke in my hand?
I breathe you in, but you’re not the same
And I’m still drowning in yesterday’s flame

[Final Chorus]
So let me fade, let me drift, let me go
Into the dark where no one will know
You were the dream I couldn’t save
Now I’m just echoes, waiting to fade

It Ain’t Easy Being Me

[Verse 1]
I’ve been whiskey bent and sideways in Las Vegas
One night I spent a month in Nashville, Tennessee
I’ve seen the red rocks at sundown in Sedona
And held a Jasmine one morning in Miami

[Verse 2]
I’ve played a six-string loud down in Baton Rouge
Woke up in a swamp with one boot and a bruise
Chased a preacher’s daughter through the Texas heat
And I ain’t slowed down since I found my feet

[Chorus]
It ain’t easy bein’ me
I was born to raise a little hell and break free
I’ve loved too fast and burned too bright
I never learned to run from a Saturday night
I ain’t tryin’ to be no one else
I make my bed, then raise some hell
Some folks pray, some folks preach
But it ain’t easy bein’ me

[Verse 3]
I got a scar from a bar fight in Amarillo
A tattoo I don’t recall in New Orleans
I got friends in places I can’t spell
And exes that still haunt my dreams

[Bridge]
Mama said, “Boy, you’re wild as sin”
Daddy just winked and gave me a grin
They knew this road would take its toll
But I’m still here, just a little more old

[Final Chorus]
It ain’t easy bein’ me
I dance with trouble like it’s meant to be
I’ve crashed and burned and still come back
A little more outlaw, a little less Jack
I ain’t got much, but I’m still free
And that’s just fine for a man like me
So don’t judge what you can’t see
‘Cause it damn sure ain’t easy… bein’ me

Verse 1:
She had a four on the floor, a fifth hid under the seat
Me and that old Mustang were ’bout to overheat
I said, “You’re going too fast, whatcha you gonna do?”
She said, “I’m about to love you black and blue”

Chorus:
Miss Nashville Hot, she’s hotter than the chicken
See her on the dance floor, cowboy boots a-kickin’
She’ll make you go crazy, like a moonshine still
Ya mama won’t like her, but your Paw Paw will
Shakin’ that thang, givin’ what she’s got
Lord have mercy, Miss Nashville Hot

Verse 2:
She came from down in Georgia, sprouting faster than the pines
Made her way to Nashville, lookin’ so fine
Man, that girl is trouble with a capital T
Breakin’ more hearts than our football team

Chorus:
Miss Nashville Hot, she’s hotter than the chicken
See her on the dance floor, cowboy boots a-kickin’
She’ll make you go crazy, like a moonshine still
Ya mama won’t like her, but your Paw Paw will
Shakin’ that thang, givin’ what she’s got
Lord have mercy, Miss Nashville Hot

Miss Nashville Hot
Miss Nashville Hot

(Intro – soft ambient build)
I went looking for the sky
But found myself on mountains high
Breathing deep in purple haze
Chasing peace through velvet days

(Verse 1)
Sunlight spills like honey on my face
Gravity forgets its place
Every echo sounds like you
In the wind, in the bloom, in the blue

(Chorus)
I get mountain high
When the world is too low to survive
I leave the noise beneath the clouds
And let the silence shout out loud
I get mountain high
Where I don’t need to ask why
I disappear into the sky
And feel more human when I fly

(Verse 2)
The trail fades, but I still go
My heartbeat syncs with the undertow
There’s freedom in this thinning air
No judgment — only atmosphere

(Chorus 2)
I get mountain high
Where the static cannot climb
I lose myself to find the truth
Somewhere between the stars and you

(Bridge – distorted guitars & vocals)
The summit shakes, the wind confides
I’m not escaping — I’ve arrived
I see it all and close my eyes
One breath away from paradise

(Final Chorus – full build)
I get mountain high
Where the soul learns how to cry
No more questions, no more fight
Just me, the dark, and mountain light

(Outro – whisper returns)
I went looking for the sky…
And found myself on mountains high

Still Fancy

Verse 1
Black Escalade on a gravel road,
It’s been thirty years since I been home.
My daughter’s sittin’ there with college dreams,
Starched white blouse and faded jeans.
She said, “Mama, this place looks small.”
I said, “Baby, it once held it all.”

Chorus
Mama, I made it, and she will too —
Just not the same way I had to.
I own real estate from New York to Georgia,
Built an empire on what you taught me.
You gave me one chance, I didn’t let you down,
Your girl rose up from this broken ground.
I was nice to the men who were nice to me,
Made enough money to set me free —
And Mama, I’m still Fancy.

Verse 2
Pulled by the church, past the cotton field,
Where I learned how hunger feels.
Your name’s carved deep in a marble stone,
First time I’ve come since I left home.
I said, “Mama, I don’t blame you, not one bit.”
“You did what you had to — and I survived it.”

Bridge
Your granddaughter’s headed to the best damn school,
Top of her class, breakin’ every rule.
First doctor this family’s ever seen,
Livin’ out both our dreams.

Final Chorus
Mama, I made it, and she will too —
Just not the same way I had to.
From a red-dress night to a life redeemed,
You were the start of everything.
You gave me one chance, I didn’t let you down,
Now three generations stand their ground.
I was nice to the men who were nice to me,
And Mama, look what you set free —
Yeah, Mama, I’m still Fancy.

Tag
I came home strong, but I came home kind —
Still Fancy… after all this time.

Tennessee

[Verse 1]
We still wake up to bacon fryin’ in the kitchen,
Say a prayer before we eat and count our blessings we’ve been missin’.
Grandmas still make blackberry cobbler like it’s always been
And grandpas teach their grandsons how to be good men.

We still ride them backroads, radio on low,
Hand in hand, watch the lightning bugs glow.
Might not have much, but it’s all we need,
’Cause that’s how we do it in Tennessee.

[Chorus]
We still stop when you’re broke down without a prayer,
We still wave at strangers just to show we care.
We still stand proud for the flag and the free,
We still believe in God and our military.
Yeah, the world might change, but it won’t change me—
’Cause that’s how we do it in Tennessee.

[Verse 2]
We still wait all week for Friday night lights,
Small town dreams under stadium lights.
We still fish, hunt, smoke ribs, drink beer,
And play those old songs we all hold dear.

Our ladies are strong—raise kids, break a horse,
Still wear sundresses on Saturday of course.
Country music and Elvis in everything we sing.
We still do it proud in Tennessee.

[Chorus]
We still stop when you’re broke down without a prayer,
We still wait all week for high school football there.
We still help our neighbors when they’re in a pinch,
And we’ll fight beside our brothers inch by inch.
Yeah, the world might spin, but it won’t change me—
’Cause we still do it in Tennessee.

[Bridge]
When the storms roll in, we don’t back down,
We pull together, one small town.
We still sing “Rocky Top” like it’s the first time,
And thank the Lord for this home of mine.

[Final Chorus / Outro]
We still stand proud for the flag and the free,
We still believe in God and our history.
From the Smoky Mountains to the Memphis streets,
We’re the heart of the South, where faith still beats.
The world keeps changin’, but it won’t change me—
’Cause that’s how we do it in Tennessee.

The Man on the Middle Cross

Verse 1
I was nailed to the cross right beside Him,
I didn’t even know His name.
I cursed Him through my anger,
Mocked Him through my pain.
But the sky grew dark in silence, The earth began to shake,
And something in His eyes told me He would send me to this place

Chorus
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.
I had no good deeds to show, no crown, no kingdom won.
But He looked at me with mercy, though my time was almost done.
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.

Verse 2
I whispered, “Lord, remember me, when You come into Your reign.”
And He promised me His paradise,
Washed away my shame.
No priest, no temple,
No ladder I could climb,
Just a sinner saved by mercy
In my last moments of life.

Chorus
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.
I had no robe of righteousness, no songs of saints were sung.
But He opened up the heavens,
Said my life of sin was done.
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.

Bridge (Heaven Scene)
And when the angels asked me,
“Why are you standing here?”
I said, “I don’t have the answers,
But I know my Savior’s near.
I was lost, but He forgave me,
Though my life was almost done,
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.”

Final Chorus
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.
I was guilty, I was broken, but He called me His son.
Now I’ll walk the streets of glory,
Because of the sacrifice he’s done
The Man on the middle cross said I could come.

Outro (Spoken or sung softly)

And He’ll be here soon…

The Man on the middle cross said I could come.

Too Mad To Fix It

[Verse 1]
A D-18 and a one-eyed dog
We're on the porch with a brand new song
But you're not here to hear it
We're both mad you’re gone
The screen door still don't shut just right
The faucet leaks every other night
But I ain't touched a single thing
Since the day you went away

[Chorus]
I ain't angry, just broken
My heart don't work the same
I cuss at God, then beg Him
Just to bring back your name
We had plans for Carolina
For the colors in the fall
Now it's just me and that dog
Starin’ at these bedroom walls

[Verse 2]
That frame you loved is still half-hung
The mower’s rusted in the sun
Your favorite chair still rocks a bit
When I pass by with my regrets
I tried to clean, I tried to pray
But I just sit most every day
Pluckin’ strings and choking back
Every word I wanna say

[Chorus]
I ain't angry, just lonely
And it hurts too much to feel
So I act like I don't miss you
But that's the only thing that’s real
We had plans for Carolina
For a cabin in the pines
Now I'm stuck in this old silence
Losing track of time

[Bridge]
Sometimes me and that old dog
Drive out to where you lay
I bring some daisies and the song
That I never got to play

[Final Chorus]
I ain't angry, just hollow
Since you left me all alone
But I strum this D-18 slow
And I sing to your stone
We had plans for Carolina
Guess God's got you there instead
So I sit beside your grave
And sing the words I never said

[Outro]
A D-18 and a one-eyed dog
Still on the porch with a brand new song
But you’re not here to hear it
We’re both mad you’re gone

Too Pretty For Prison

[Verse 1]
He said all the right things, yeah, he had that charm,
Blue eyes, tattoo, a bible verse on his arm.
I met his mama, we said grace before we ate,
Had Sunday dinner like it might be fate.

Then I saw a text light up his phone,
And my smile turned into stone.

[Pre-Chorus]
I ain’t jealous, but I ain’t dumb,
And if he don’t fix it, I’m the one that’s gone.

[Chorus]
I’m too pretty for prison, so you better straighten your ass up,
I don’t fight for cheaters, I just pack my stuff.
Don’t make me show that crazy side I try to keep hidden,
Boy, I got nails, heels, and a clean record I’m keepin’.
So think real hard before you turn that ignition—
’Cause I’m too pretty for prison.

[Verse 2]
His ex keeps poppin’ up like a bad perfume,
Still hangin’ ‘round, still stalkin’ his room.
He swears he loves me, but I see through the smoke,
One more “hey stranger” and this girl’s gonna blow.

[Pre-Chorus]
I ain’t violent, but I ain’t blind,
Don’t make me lose what’s left of my mind.

[Chorus]
I’m too pretty for prison, so you better straighten your ass up,
Don’t test my peace, boy, don’t push your luck.
Don’t make me show that wild side you think’s just fiction,
’Cause I ain’t wearin’ stripes, and orange ain’t my pigment.
So think twice before you cross that mission—
’Cause I’m too pretty for prison.

[Bridge]
Yeah, I got a temper, but I’ve got grace,
And you don’t wanna see both in the same place.
So tell that girl she can keep her distance,
‘Cause baby, I’m too pretty for prison.

[Final Chorus / Tag]
I’m too pretty for prison, too fine for a fight,
Too good to cry over a fool at night.
Don’t make me call Jesus just to ask forgiveness—
For doin’ somethin’ dumb and lookin’ damn good in it.
Yeah, I’m too sweet for revenge but too proud to play the victim…
And boy, you’d better listen—
’Cause I’m too pretty for prison.

[Verse 1]
The old man pulled onto the lot
In a truck he bought new in ’74
Said, “I hate to sell it, son
But I need the money more”

I said, “It ain’t worth much, just bein’ straight
How much are you lookin’ to make?”
He ran his hand down the dented side
And looked me dead in the eye

[Chorus]
He said, “Son, those are whiskey dents and scars
From long nights drinkin’ and fightin’ in bars
That one came from Dallas when I hit a pole
Too drunk to feel it, too young to know
This truck’s seen the worst of who I used to be
But she never once gave up on me
And if you look close, you’ll see my heart
In all these whiskey dents and scars”

[Verse 2]
He said, “I met my wife in Tennessee
She said you gotta choose the whiskey or me
I sobered up and was born again
Spent 40 years with my best friend

We made this truck our second home
Raised two kids, now they’re grown and gone
She’s layin’ in a bed at St. Luke’s
And all I want is one last view…”

[Chorus]
“Of the beach she’s loved since ‘83
She always said it brought her peace
But the meds ain’t cheap and time ain’t long
And the road is callin’ me to be strong
I just need a thousand, that’s all I ask
So she can feel the ocean one more time
I’d trade this truck and all it’s been
If she can see that tide roll in”

[Bridge]
I didn’t speak, just looked away
At that beat-up Ford and a man gone gray
Then I pulled a pen from my coat
Wrote him a check and cleared my throat

[Final Chorus]
I said, “Sir, here’s your thousand dollars
But keep that truck, it’s worth more than all this
It’s held your pain, your love, your life
It’s more than steel and gears and lights
Take her down to see the sea
And tell her thank you — from a man like me
For proving hearts can heal from harm
Just like whiskey dents… and scars”

[Outro]
The old man tipped his faded cap
Whispered, “She’ll sure love that”
He peeled out like a shooting star
In a truck full of whiskey dents and scars.

[Verse 1]
Daddy raised me in the hills of Tennessee
With a Bible, Sunday chicken, and sweet tea.
He said, “Life’ll knock you flat son, if you let it
So here’s some truth, boy, don’t forget it”

[Chorus]
Daddy said:
“You don’t wear orange in Alabama
Leave those young girls alone
Nothing good happens after midnight
And don’t come home stoned
You can root for your team on a Saturday
But don’t cross that line where the law don’t play
You don’t wear orange in Alabama
And son, that ain’t just football to me”

[Verse 2]
I met her in a bar in Birmingham
She wore a little sundress and she grabbed my hand.
I was twenty years dumb, somewhere I shouldn’t be.
I forgot the words Daddy told me.

She said, “Take me home,” and I missed the signs
Now the judge said I’m doin’ twenty-five to life
This jumpsuit ain’t the orange I used to see
It’s a Roll Tide prison cell Hell for me.

[Chorus]
Just like Daddy said:
“You don’t wear orange in Alabama
Leave those young girls alone
Nothing good happens after midnight
And don’t come home stoned
You can fight for your pride, you can bleed for your team
But one bad night can kill a young man’s dream
You don’t wear orange in Alabama
If you ever wanna make it home to me”

[Bridge]
Now I sit behind bars with a number, not a name
In a Roll Tide prison where I brought my shame
I’d trade every College Game Day run
To be free with my daddy and a setting sun

[Final Chorus - stripped and slower]
“You don’t wear orange in Alabama
Leave those young girls alone
Nothing good happens after midnight
And don’t come home stoned
I thought it was just about football pride
Now it’s a warning burned deep in my hide
You don’t wear orange in Alabama
Because you’ll be wearing it the rest of your life.”

He’s A Rescue

[Verse 1]
He didn’t look like much when he loaded my mulch
Sweatin’ in that tight little T-shirt he wore
Hair all wild and his boots untied
Lookin’ like a stray that wandered in the store
And if he had a tail it’d be waggin’ like crazy
When he said he could help with a little fixin’
So I took him home with a smile to myself
You don’t leave a cute stray like that sittin’

[Chorus]
’Cause he’s a rescue
A grown man I polished up and made brand new
Yeah he’s a rescue
Gave him a bath trimmed him up now he listens when I tell him what to do
He was runnin’ wild and livin’ rough
Now he’s loyal sweet and loves to cuddle up
Keeps me warm at night too
Yeah he’s a rescue

[Verse 2]
I got him cleaned up and smellin’ good
Got that boy lookin’ sharp head to toe
Even taught him the magic trick
Of puttin’ dirty clothes where they belong not on the floor
He’s still a little rough still chews stuff up
Still follows me around like a half-lost hound
But he’s learnin’ fast bless his heart
And I can’t give up on him now

[Bridge]
Mama said girl what’d you drag home
I said Mama he found me don’t you see
And if he slipped away I’d put a sign on every tree
Lost one good-lookin’ rescue please bring him home to me
I’d search these hills and search this town
’Cause that boy’s the best stray I’ve ever found

[Final Chorus]
’Cause he’s a rescue
My little stray I polished up and turned brand new
Yeah he’s a rescue
And truth is I had a few things that needed fixin’ too
We were runnin’ wild and livin’ rough
Now we’re better together when the road gets tough
Two hearts patched up and true
Yeah he’s a rescue

[Tag]
And I guess the good Lord knew I needed rescuin’ too

[Verse 1]
I ain’t got a mansion or a white-picket dream,
Just a double-wide life and a worn-out ring.
We’ve raised two kids through the highs and lows,
From leaky roofs to late-night shows.

[Pre-Chorus]
But baby, through the chaos and the doubt,
You know I’m built for ridin’ it out—

[Chorus]
I’ll love you like Waffle House, open all night long,
Through every fight and every storm.
When the snow’s comin’ down and the lights go out,
You can bet my heart’s still burnin’ proud.
Yeah, through thick and thin, there ain’t no doubt—
I’ll love you like Waffle House.

[Verse 2]
We’ve had our share of slammed doors and tears,
But somehow love keeps servin’ here.
Ain’t fine dinin’, but it’s honest and true,
I’ll keep pourin’ love like a waffle for two

[Bridge]
Yeah, 24 / 7 — 365,
I’ll have your back like you have mine
When life gets cold or the dreams run out,
I’ll be that light on the edge of town.

[Final Chorus]
I’ll love you like Waffle House, open all night long,
Through raisin’ kids and rightin’ wrongs.
When the sun comes up or the sky falls down,
You’ll still be the one I’m crazy about.
Yeah, through good and bad, north or south—
I’ll love you like Waffle House.

[Tag]
Yeah, through burnt toast mornings and waffles stacked high,
I’ll love you, girl, ’til the day I die.

Lonely Star State Of Mind

Verse 1:

She called me from I-40 and said, “Baby, I’m leavin’.”
Her voice trembled soft, like she hated the reason.
By now she’s halfway back to Amarillo,
Chasin’ somethin’ bigger than my arms could ever hold.
Said she missed those wide-open Texas skies…
And I felt the goodbye in her voice when she sighed.

?

Chorus:

I saw a shootin’ star tonight in Tennessee,
But I didn’t make a wish — no wish could bring her back to me.
She’s headin’ home to Texas, leavin’ me behind,
And every mile she’s drivin’ me more out of my mind.
Yeah, she could trade Tito’s for Jack, but not Texas for me —
Now I’m livin’ in a Lonely Star State of Mind.

?

Verse 2:

I can still smell her perfume, but her boots ain’t by the door,
And this old house ain’t a home like it was before.
I poured myself a drink and tried to give it time…
But whiskey can’t turn back time or a goodbye.

?

Bridge:

Maybe she’s chasin’ what I couldn’t be,
A bigger sky, a wilder dream.
But if I know her like I think I do,
She’ll see that Texas can’t love her like I still do.

?

Final Chorus:

I saw a shootin’ star tonight in Tennessee,
And whispered her name like a prayer she’d hear from me.
She’s gone back to Texas, left this love behind,
And I’m learnin’ how to breathe one lonely night at a time.
Yeah, she could trade Tito’s for Jack, but not Texas for me —
Now I’m stuck in this Lonely Star State of Mind.

?

Tag:

Under this Tennessee sky… with a Lonely Star State of Mind.

Somebody Had To Stay

[Verse 1]
I’ve been mad enough to leave before
Packed my pride and slammed that door
Every time I thought I’d won
I lost more than I was runnin’ from

That night felt just like the rest
Same old words, same old mess
But somethin’ told me slow it down
This ain’t where you walk out now

[Pre-Chorus]
A man can leave and call it strong
Or stay and prove himself wrong

[Chorus]
Somebody had to stay
When it got hard, when it got heavy
Somebody had to stand in the pain
I could’ve walked out, proved I was right
And stayed mad all day
But love don’t work that way
Yeah, somebody had to stay

[Verse 2]
We talked it out till the mornin’ came
Said things we should’ve said before
Turns out time don’t heal a thing
If you’re halfway out the door

I’ve seen what regret becomes
When you choose yourself and run
Funny how the hardest part
Is listening to your heart

[Bridge]

I don’t claim to know it all
Just know what I almost lost
Funny how the older I get
The less I care about the cost

Turns out love ain’t standin’ tall
It’s bendin’ when you think you won’t
Yeah, leavin’s easy when you’re hurt
Stayin’ takes a little work

[Final Chorus]
Somebody had to stay
When it got hard, when it got heavy
Somebody had to stand in the pain
I could’ve walked out, proved I was right
Let anger have its way

A man should fight for love, don’t throw it away
Yeah, somebody had to stay

Ashes

[Verse 1 – Female]
It started with a spark in the dead of night
We danced through flames, swallowed by the light
You said we’d never fall, never fade, never freeze
But we’re choking on the smoke of old memories

[Verse 2 – Female]
You held me close like a loaded prayer
Promised forever with fire in the air
But heat turns cold, and fire forgets
Now all I feel is the weight of regrets

[Chorus – Female]
Ashes, ashes — that’s all that’s left of us
Burned through heaven, now we’re breathing dust
You were the fire, I was the flame
Now we’re just smoke whispering each other’s names

[Verse 3 – Male]
I tried to hold the heat, tried to fan the flame
But love turned silent, then started to blame
I see your face in the smoke-stained glass
But I can’t reach you through the cracks

[Verse 4 – Female]
You kissed like fire, then vanished in snow
Left me frozen in the afterglow
If love was real, then why’d it die?
We lit the fuse and watched it lie

[Chorus – Female]
Ashes, ashes — that’s all that’s left of us
Burned through heaven, now we’re breathing dust
You were the fire, I was the flame
Now we’re just smoke whispering each other’s names

[Bridge – Both, call and response]
Male: Can we rise again from what we destroyed?
Male: Or are we ruins fate can’t avoid?
Female: I’d light the match if you’d strike it too
Male: But the fire’s gone, and so are you

[Final Chorus – Female]
Ashes, ashes — we scattered in the wind
No one won, no way to begin again
You were the fire, I was the flame
Now we’re just names —
Burned into the ashes

Thicker Than Blood

Verse 1

Mama met him after work one Friday night
Work boots on and a crooked smile
I was thirteen, mad at the world back then
Didn’t need another “tryin’-to-be” friend

I slammed doors, said things I can’t take back
He just let ’em echo down the hall like that
Still showed up to every game I played
Even when I rode the bench all day

Taught me how to drive, how to throw, how to shoot
How to shake a hand and tell the truth
I asked him once why he even tried
Lovin’ a kid that wasn’t his

He just said—
“Son, some things are thicker than blood.”
Some things are thicker than blood.

Verse 2

At eighteen, I left to be all I could be
In a world I never thought I’d see
Fear in my chest, sand in my teeth
When he went down callin’ out for me

Every instinct said don’t turn around
But I remembered back through the sound
To that man who never left me behind
Standin’ there steady in my mind

So I grabbed his gear and pulled him up
Through smoke and fire and all that dust
Later he asked why I didn’t run

I told him—
“Brother, some things are thicker than blood.”
Some things are thicker than blood.


Verse 3

Met her in a diner off Highway 9
She laughed like she’d lived a harder life than mine
Had a teenage girl with her mama’s eyes
Took a while to trust just another guy

One night her mama said, “Ain’t it strange
Y’all act so much the same.”
Years rolled by like they always do
Till I was helpin’ pick out a wedding dress and shoes

Now I’m walkin’ her down that aisle in white
Tryin’ to see through tears I can’t quite hide
She whispers, “Why’d you love me like your own?”

I leaned in and told her—
“Darlin’, some things are thicker than blood.”
Some things are thicker than blood.


Bridge

It ain’t about the name you carry
Or the branches on a family tree
It’s about who stands beside you
When they don’t have to be

It’s a choice you make
It’s a hand you hold
It’s showin’ up
And never lettin’ go.


Outro

Now I hear his voice in everything I do
In every promise kept, every love I choose
Turns out he gave me more than a name ever could…

Yeah—
Some things are thicker than blood.
Some things are thicker than blood.

MAKE ME HATE YOU
[Verse 1]
You still call me baby when you're half past gone
Still show up like you ain't done me wrong
Got that I miss you on your breath at two
And I still let you in like I always do
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't slam doors, you don't say goodbye
You just fade out and leave me wondering why
[Chorus]
If you're gonna leave me
Don't leave me like you do
Don't kiss me like forever
Then disappear at two
If you're gonna break me
Make it easy to lose you
If you're gonna leave me
Baby make me hate you
[Verse 2]
You don't give me nothing I can hold against
No smoking gun, no evidence
Just enough love to keep me hanging on
Just enough gone to prove you're gone
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't burn bridges, you don't cross that line
You just keep one foot in and one foot outside
[Chorus]
If you're gonna leave me
Don't leave me like you do
Don't kiss me like forever
Then disappear at two
If you're gonna break me
Make it easy to lose you
If you're gonna leave me
Baby make me hate you
[Bridge]
I'd be over you by now if you'd just be the bad guy
Give me something I can use to say goodbye
Yeah I'd finally let you go, wouldn't need a reason why
If you'd just stop making it so hard
[Final Chorus]
If you're gonna leave me
Don't leave me like you do
Don't kiss me like forever
Then disappear at two
If you're gonna break me
Make it easy to lose you
If you're gonna leave me
Baby make me hate you
Baby make me hate you

Margarita And A Poolchair

Verse 1

Boss man calling, yeah he don’t let up
Bills on the table, staring me down
Same old stress in the same old town

I need to find a little relief
With a server asking, “anything you need?”

Pre-Chorus

I said, “yeah… matter of fact…”

Chorus

I need a margarita and a pool chair
And I don’t care where
Long as it ain’t around here
Salt on the rim, lime in the air
Bikinis walking by without a care
Boom-boom music playing everywhere
Sun going down, hands in the air
Right now that sounds like heaven to me
All I need is a margarita and a pool chair

Verse 2

Sign says don’t feed the iguanas
But my buddy Iguana Bob’s a goner
Stealing chips and salsa off my tray
Living life like he don’t owe a thing

He can’t read, but he don’t need to
He’s got it figured out better than I do


Pre-Chorus

Ain’t worried ‘bout tomorrow at all
Just waiting on last call


Chorus

I need a margarita and a pool chair
And I don’t care where
Long as it ain’t around here
Salt on the rim, lime in the air
Bikinis walking by without a care
With boom-boom music playing somewhere
Sun going down, hands in the air
Right now that sounds like heaven to me
All I need is a margarita and a pool chair


Bridge

Don’t be calling or texting
Asking how long I’ll stay
There’s only one thing I’ll say…


Final Chorus

I need a margarita and a pool chair
And I don’t care where
Long as it ain’t around here
Excuse me Miss, bring me one more
Make it two for me and Iguana Bob
Boom-boom music, salty air
Yeah I could stay forever right here
Right now that sounds like heaven to me
All I need is a margarita and a pool chair

Everyone Knew It But Me

[Verse 1]
Clocked in late, felt that stare
Break room went quiet when I walked in there
Couple guys smirkin’ by the coffee machine
Like they knew somethin’ I ain’t seen
Boss man asked if I’m doin’ alright
Said it in a way that didn’t feel right
I laughed it off, said man I’m good
Like a fool standin’ where I stood
[Pre-Chorus]
Little things I brushed off
Now they’re hittin’ all at once
[Chorus]
Yeah, everyone knew it but me
Every whisper runnin’ through these streets
From the gas station to them Friday night bleachers
They all knew what you were doin’ to me
Yeah, even my own damn family
Lookin’ at me like how can he not see
Whole town knew it, just didn’t tell me
Yeah, everyone knew it but me
[Verse 2]
The cashier couldn’t look me in the eye
Sunday mornin’ felt different in that pew this time
Mama almost said it, then she bit her tongue
Daddy just shook his head like he knew all along
Heard your name when I walked in a room
Whole place went quiet way too soon
Now I’m piecin’ together what I thought we were
Wish I didn’t know what I know for sure
[Pre-Chorus]
All them signs I let go
Now they’re all I see
[Chorus]
Yeah, everyone knew it but me
Every whisper runnin’ through these streets
From the gas station to them Friday night bleachers
They all knew what you were doin’ to me
Yeah, even my own damn family
Lookin’ at me like how can he not see
Whole town knew it, just didn’t tell me
Yeah, everyone knew it but me
[Bridge]
How many nights was out with friends just lies
How many times did I let it slide
Was your mama really sick or just an alibi
How long was I the last to realize
Every I love you runnin’ through my head
Turnin’ into words you never meant
[Final Chorus]
Yeah, everyone knew it but me
Guess I was the last one you let believe
You were halfway gone, I was all in deep
Holdin’ on to somethin’ that you didn’t keep
Yeah, even my own damn family
Couldn’t find the words to tell me
Whole town knew it, just didn’t tell me
Yeah, everyone knew it
But me

I’ve Never Wrote A Love Song

Verse 1

I can write a Friday night
Cold beer buzz and neon lights
A backroad turning into dawn
And moving on when love goes wrong

I can fake my way through heartbreak lines
Make whiskey sound like peace of mind
But when it comes to what you are
Girl, I wouldn’t know where to start

Pre-Chorus

I told her—

Chorus

I’ve never wrote a love song
I don’t even know where to start
Never had someone I’d die for
Or trust with all my heart

Thought maybe love was something
Other people found
Yeah I’ve heard forever all my life
But I never believed it
Until now
Till now

Verse 2

Now your name’s in every melody
Every little thing reminds me
You got me thinking crazy things
Like front porch lights and wedding rings

And all my friends say they can tell
I ain’t been acting like myself
Guess falling feels a little strange
When one kiss changes everything

Pre-Chorus

And tonight I finally told you—

Chorus

I’ve never wrote a love song
I don’t even know where to start
Never had someone I’d die for
Or trust with all my heart

Thought maybe love was something
Other people found
Yeah I’ve heard forever all my life
But I never believed it
Until now
Till now

Bridge

Maybe every almost goodbye
Every wrong turn in my life
Every lonely closing time
Was just leading me to you tonight

Final Chorus

I’ve never wrote a love song
But baby now I finally can
You turned a heart that never settled
Into a forever kind of man

Ain’t gotta keep searching
Ain’t gotta keep praying now
Yeah I’ve heard forever all my life
And for the first time
I believe it

Yeah I never wrote a love song
Until now

13 Folds

[Verse 1]
There’s a picture on the mantle
In a frame of faded gold
Boy in camouflage smiling
Barely twenty years old
Mama keeps his room untouched
Like he just stepped out the door
Boots still sitting by the hallway
Like they’ve been there since the war

[Pre-Chorus]
The preacher spoke of honor
And the price some heroes pay
But no one in that church could find
The right words to say

[Chorus]
It’s thirteen folds
Red, white, and blue
Folded slow by steady hands
For the ones he left behind to hold onto
Two point three pounds
But tonight it feels like stone
When they place it in his mother’s arms
And she realizes he ain’t coming home
Yeah freedom’s never free
When it’s wrapped in thirteen folds

[Verse 2]
He kissed his little girl goodbye
At the screen door in the rain
Said “Daddy’s gotta go for now
But I’ll be home again”
He hugged his momma one last time

Told his brother “take care of Dad”
Never thought a folded flag
Would be all they’d have left of him
[Pre-Chorus]
A young wife holds her baby close
Trying hard not to break
While the choir sings Amazing Grace
And every heart in the room just aches
[Chorus]
It’s thirteen folds
And a silence loud as thunder
A young wife holding all that’s left
Of the man she thought would grow old beside her
Red, white, and blue
Pressed against her shaking hands
While a little boy salutes a hero
Too young to understand
And somewhere between “Amen” and “Taps”
A family lost their world
Wrapped inside thirteen folds

[Bridge]
No trumpet ever sounded sadder
Than Taps beneath that sky
And somewhere in the distance
Another mother cries
He was somebody’s little boy
Somebody’s best friend
A grandson, a husband, a father
Gone before his life should end

[Final Chorus]
It’s thirteen folds
A nation’s debt unpaid
Every crease another reason
Why we bow our heads today

Two point three pounds
But heavier than this world
In the hands of the brokenhearted
Missing someone they still love, still need, still hurt
Yeah we remember the fallen souls
And the families left to hold
All the weight of freedom
Inside thirteen folds

WILDFLOWERS DON'T CARE WHERE THEY BLOOM

Verse 1

She said, “He left and took our forever”
And I don’t know where to go
Grandma smiled and pointed out
The kitchen window at the road

There were purple flowers growing
Through a crack beside the drive
She said, “Baby, look a little closer
There’s a lesson in their life”

Pre-Chorus

She said, “God puts beauty in some places
Most folks never stop to see”

Chorus

Wildflowers don’t choose where they grow
Sidewalk cracks and old fence rows

They welcome every drop of rain
And hold their heads up just the same

They don’t worry what the roses think
Or if they’re growing wild and free
They just turn their face toward the sun
And become what they’re meant to be

God gives them strength to fight for room

Yeah, wildflowers don’t care where they bloom

Verse 2

She said, “I know your heart is hurting
And I know it feels unfair
But some of life’s most beautiful things
Grow where nobody prepares”

“Those flowers by that old fence row
Didn’t ask where they’d belong
They just took the hand they were dealt
And found a way to carry on”

Chorus

Wildflowers don’t choose where they grow
Sidewalk cracks and old fence rows

They welcome every drop of rain
And hold their heads up just the same

They don’t worry what the roses think
Or if they’re growing wild and free
They just turn their face toward the sun
And become what they’re meant to be

God gives them strength to fight for room

Yeah, wildflowers don’t care where they bloom

Bridge

The storms don’t break the wildflowers
The rain just helps them reach the sky
And the strongest roots are often grown
In the hardest parts of life”

Final Chorus

Wildflowers don’t choose where they grow
Sidewalk cracks and old fence rows

They welcome every drop of rain
And hold their heads up just the same

They don’t worry what the roses think
Or if they’re growing wild and free
They just turn their face toward the sun
And become what they’re meant to be

God gives them strength to fight for room

Yeah, wildflowers don’t care where they bloom

Outro

So don’t be afraid of broken places
Or roads you didn’t choose
’Cause sometimes God grows wildflowers
In the hardest ground to break through

And they still bloom
Yeah, they still bloom

Worth The Wait

Verse 1

Counting down to Christmas Day
Seven years old, couldn’t hardly wait
Mama said, “Son, have a little faith”
Started snowing hard at that big parade

Felt like forever ’til Santa came

Pre-Chorus

Funny how time moves slow
When you’re wishing it away

Chorus

But it was worth the wait
Every countdown, every leap of faith
First kiss on a beach at sixteen
To a white dress walking down the aisle to me
Life don’t move at the speed we pray
But love shows up right on time
Looking back now, I can say
Yeah, it was worth the wait


Verse 2

Hospital room, nervous as can be
Tears fell when they handed him to me
Tiny hand wrapped around my thumb
That’s the night I became someone

Years rolled by in a blink of days

Pre-Chorus

Work boots, ball games, bills to pay
Dreams we chased along the way


Chorus

And it was worth the wait
Every long shift, every sacrifice made
Birthday parties to retirement day
Grandkids running ‘round the yard at play
Life don’t move at the speed we pray
But grace don’t ever run late
Every blessing heaven made
Yeah, it was worth the wait


Bridge

Now she’s holding my hand in a quiet room
Says, “Don’t you cry — I’ll see you soon
All those nights we knelt and prayed
I’m going home — it’s worth the wait.”

Final Chorus

Yeah it was worth the wait
Every high and low, every twist of fate
From that first snow to amazing grace
Wouldn’t trade a single day
Life don’t move at the speed we pray
But Heaven’s right on time
If forever’s just beyond these gates
It was worth the wait

Tag

Yeah, it was worth the wait
Yeah, it was worth the wait

Through Hell And Half Of Texas

[Verse 1]
RocketBusters tapping on an old dance floor
She broke every neck when she walked through the door
Tito’s and a jalapeño shot in her hand
She walked past the stage…and stopped the band
Long black hair and a Resistol hat
Curves so dangerous there oughta be a warning attached
Breaking more hearts than our football team
And Lord, that’s saying something where football’s king

[Pre-Chorus]
She laughed and said, “Boy, don’t waste your time…”
I grinned and said…

[Chorus]
I’d go through Hell and half of Texas
From Amarillo down to San Antone
Wherever those new RocketBusters roam
Girl, you’re hotter than Del Rio in July
It’ll probably kill me, but a good way to die
I’d swim the Rio Grand and fight all the exes
I’d chase that girl through Hell and half of Texas

[Verse 2]
She spun round the floor, then disappeared
I found her running the table for Lone Star Beer
I said, “How ‘bout we get out of here.”
She grabbed my hand and stole a kiss
And said, “Cowboy, you can’t keep up with this.”

[Chorus]
I’d go through Hell and half of Texas
From Amarillo down to San Antone
Wherever those new RocketBusters roam
Girl, you’re hotter than Del Rio in July
It’ll probably kill me, but a good way to die
I’d swim the Rio Grande and fight all the exes
I’d chase that girl through Hell and half of Texas

[Bridge]
Swim the Rio, cross the plains
Dance through tornados, sunshine, and rain
From La Grange to the Stockyard lights
This ain’t my first rodeo
Girl, you can’t buck me off this ride

[Chorus]
I’d go through Hell and half of Texas
From Amarillo down to San Antone
Anywhere those new Rocket Busters roam
Girl, you’re hotter than Del Rio in July
It’ll probably kill me, but a good way to die
I’d swim the Rio Grand and fight all the exes
I’d chase that girl through Hell and half of Texas
Yeah, I’d go through Hell and half of Texas

The Art He Left On Me

Verse 1
He could've taught the Devil how to lie
Then convinced him it was all his idea
He could light up any room with that smile
I don't blame me for loving him like I did

Verse 2
Everything was perfect at the start
Then he punched a hole or two through the wall
A bruise here and there, his voice got louder
Somehow he made it seem my fault
Chorus
He never signed the canvas...
He always thought I'd stay...
He only held the brush...
Until I took it away.
Bruises fade, but some scars you'll never see...
They're the art he left on me.

Verse 3
That Halloween party mask
Covered stitches above my eye
Mama said it looked so pretty...
Until I showed her why
She held me while I cried
Said, "Baby, you can stay."
That's the first night I believed
There might be another way
Bridge
The cops and mama came when I packed up my things
The hardest part was thinking I couldn't leave
Now I look in the mirror, I love what I see
The only person that could save me was me

Final Chorus
He never signed the canvas...
He always thought I'd stay...
He only held the brush...
Until I took it away.
Now I paint with colors brighter every day
Brushstrokes of the life I was meant to lead
Some scars will always live inside...
They're the art he left on me.

Everything Left Turned Right

[Verse 1]
My woman packed her bags and left on Monday night
Tuesday my old blue tick chased a rabbit out of sight
Wednesday morning my boss said, “Son, don’t come back in”
Thursday the bank took my truck — that’s when my luck kicked in

[Pre-Chorus]
Most folks would call that a real bad week
But by Friday morning it occurred to me…

[Chorus]
Everything left, but it turned out right
Ain’t nobody keeping me up all night
No boss calling, no payments due
No woman telling me what I oughta do
Got a porch, a chair and a cold Coors Light
And nowhere I gotta be tonight
Yeah, I lost damn near everything in sight
Funny how everything left turned right

[Verse 2]
Woke up Friday morning ’bout a quarter after ten
Nobody there to ask me where the hell I’d been
Made some coffee, hit the porch in my underwear
For a man who lost it all, I didn’t have a care

[Pre-Chorus]
I looked around at all that nothing I had
And started thinking maybe losing ain’t so bad

[Chorus]
Everything left, but it turned out right
Ain’t nobody keeping me up all night
No boss calling, no payments due
No woman telling me what I oughta do
Got a porch, a chair and a cold Coors Light
And nowhere I gotta be tonight
Yeah, I lost damn near everything in sight
Funny how everything left turned right

[Bridge]
If bad luck was money, I’d be a millionaire
The richest broke man sitting in a lawn chair
When you lose everything, there ain’t much left to lose
So I kicked off my boots and cracked another brew

[Guitar/Fiddle Break]

[Final Chorus]
Everything left, but it turned out right
I was finally getting used to my brand-new life
No boss calling, no payments due
Nobody telling me what I oughta do
Then headlights came rolling up my drive
I knew that little red car on sight
She yelled, “Baby, I’m back — can we make this right?”
I said…

[Stop]
“Well, hell… there goes my good luck tonight.”

[Outro]
The dog came home Sunday…
Bank can keep the Chevrolet…
Boss called Monday morning…
I let that sucker ring all day.

Everything left turned right.