Fallen Star

Do you ever dream out loud
And try to find a place in time where no one is allowed

And when the people stop and stare
Do you turn around acknowledge them or act like no one’s there

Cause you are not who they think you are
They will never know your heart
And you are not what they say you are
You’re so much brighter than a fallen star

As the party’s winding down
We take the corner booth and spin our truths about this burnout

And on that lonely bus ride home
You speak loud enough for all of us to know you’re not alone

Chorus

If I take the time to find
The person that is deep within those fragile frozen eyes

And if that person looks like me
Would I lead me out to safety or would I turn the other cheek

Cause you are not who they think you are
They will never know your heart
And you are not what they say you are
You’re so much brighter than a fallen star
And you’re perfect just the way you are

VERSE
C, G, Am, C, F, C, Dm, G

CHORUS
F, C, G, C F, C, G
F, C, G, Am, F, G

TURN
Bb G

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Sunshine

When you’re down in the dumps
You need a pick me up
Reach down inside your pocket to pull out
A better change of luck

When you carry a crutch
Broken, sick and dumbstruck
Look out the window at the new day dawning
And climb out of your rut

I can feel the sunshine
Falling down on my
I’m standing in the limelight
With a crowd at my feet

With the pressure to win
Living like a whirlwind
You make a mountain of a mole hill and you
Go and climb it again

They’ll single you out
While you’re down for the count
You’ll drive a demolition derby
If that’s what it’s gonna take

I’ve never flown this high before
I’ve never burned so bright
I see my shadow on the floor
While I’m reaching toward the light

A, D x 3 G, D
A, G, D, G
E, D, E, G, E, D, G, D
B, E x 3 A, E

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Dreaming

So here we stand
Perched on a feather
And you hold my hand
As i climb another mile

On the tip of my tongue
I promise forever
But the words go unsung
As i sink into denial

Is this real or am I dreaming
Are we here or am I dreaming

On the back of the plane
We plot out our future
With a map to the stars
And a promise to receive

So I follow your lead
But the vapor trail’s fading
And we march toward the sun
To a place we’ve already been

CAPO 2
VERSE Am C
CHORUS G Dm F

TRUE KEY
VERSE Gm Bb
CHORUS F Cm Eb

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You’re The One

If I stop for long enough to evaluate my life

The balance of my priorities and the importance of what’s right

The trivial falls through the cracks to expose the gleaming truth
And I rearrange my convictions toward the remaining ounce of proof

That’s when the flood gates open wide
And I finally get past my own pride
Long enough to say you are the one

The one, You’re the one
The one, You’re the one
I was a fool for way too long
And I admit that I was wrong
Long enough to say you are the one

My distractions will all fall aside to reveal a fragile core
A veil of lies blurred by starry eyes fixed upon a rocky shore

The weight of superficial schemes and the pursuit/pace of modern life
Are hidden in the shadows by the most obvious shining light

That’s when my focus becomes clear
And everything else disappears
To suddenly reveal you are the one

RIFF

VERSE
C Em Am D7

PRE
C G Am (G) D/F#m F G C

CHORUS
G G7 C C G G7 C C7
F E7 Am D7 F G

BRIDGE
C Bb Am Ab x 3 G F Em Dm

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Into Emptiness

Blindsided, betrayed, and hung out to dry
Unwilling, unable, to compromise
You can’t move on if you lay down and die
Forgiven, forgotten, and brushed aside

Halfhearted, heartbroken, washed out to sea
Drowning in self doubt, and false misery
You can’t escape that which was destined to be
Accepting, rejected emotionally

So I fall down, fall down, into emptiness
So I fall down, fall down, into emptiness

Unstable, barreling out of control
Potential and prospect out the window
You can’t undo what’s already been done
Regretful, remorseful slow sinking sun

CAPO 7
G, D/B, C

TRUE KEY
D, D/F#, G

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

My Sweet Dove

Carve out some time to try and catch up with me
It’s been a while and I’m sure that you’ve got stories

Me, well I’m doing alright guess I can’t complain
Every once in a while I wonder how you’ve been

Mirror image eyes
Reflect the  flaws inside

You better run along
You better run along
You better run along
My sweet dove

The hands of time can slowly chip away
The ancient wall of guilt that blocks your way
Still I know that I’ll never be the same
but I’d never trade the past for who I became

It’s getting later now
The sun is going down

You better run along
You better run along
You better run along
My sweet dove

So hard to watch your true love slowly change
Stranger still is when you feel you need to do the same

It’s getting later now
The sun is going down

Chords: G, G/B, C, D

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Without You

Among the finer things in life, I count you as
An ornament of character
Beyond the blue apache sky, thoughts divide
A silence suitable for one

Without You    Without You
I am without myself
Without You    Without You
I am without myself

A voice that echoes through my past, lullabies
Reminds me of our darkest hour
The cascade coupled with regret and loneliness
A shadow cast upon the void

Without You    Without You
I am without myself
Without You    Without You
I am without myself

Solo

A shadow of my former self
A blank and broken empty shell
The waters rise above and I cannot forget the love
Reminded by the break of a new day

Chorus

Chords        D, B, G, Em

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Make The Best Of It

The way you like to try new things
The way you sway your hips when you sing
The way you wake me up in morning
The way you’re always cold during a movie

The way you love the great outdoors
The way you want to drive an old car
The way your laugh can change my mood
The way we fit like a spoon in a spoon

The way you sing me sound to sleep
The way you don’t have to watch what you eat
The way you wake up early to read
The way you help me achieve my dreams

I thought I forgot How much I miss you
I thought I forgot How much I miss you

The way you decorate our creaky old house
The way you feel if you haven’t worked out
The way you hate a life of routine
The way you secretly like a routine

The way you fall asleep when I drive
The way you know how to never burn rice
The way you look when you just wake up
The way you need my encouragement

The way you read much faster than me
The way you jump from hobby to hobby
The way you love my family
The way you saved yourself just for me

I thought I forgot How much I miss you
I thought I forgot How much I miss you

Verse C, Am, F, G
Am, Am/F#, F, Em
Dm, Dm/B, Am, Am/F#

Chorus F Fm Em E7

Now I’m singing songs that I never wanted too
The world keeps spinning
But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do

It’s hard to fall asleep when you’re not next to me
I never wanted this but it’s what I’ve been given

So I’ll make the best of it
I’ll make the best of it
And I’ll make the best of it

C, Am, Dm, Bb, G
C, Am, Dm, Bb, G

F, Fm, C, Am,
F, Fm, C, Am,
F, Fm, C, Am/B, Am, E, F, G,

C, E, F, G

Dear Self

Dear self, I’ve met someone new
And I wanted to be the first, to deliver the news

This sort of thing is never easy to say
So please I beg you don’t take it the wrong way
Dear self, I think that we’ll be better off as friends
Dear self, it’s not you it’s all me
I wasn’t trying to find someone else, they found me

Its a surprise that just came out of the blue
This doesn’t mean that our relationship’s through
Dear self, I think that we’ll be better off as friends
We’ve always been,
And I hope that doesn’t have to change
From time to time, let’s still check in,
So we can catch up on things
Dear self, I said I’ve met someone new
And I’m trying to be upfront, and just tell you the truth

This is in no way a personal attack
I really wanna keep our friendship in tact

Verse: C, Em, F, G
Pre: C, G, F, D7
Chorus: C, Em, F, G (Fm instead of G into bridge)
Bridge: C, G, F, C (walk) Am, D, Dm, (G, F, Em, Dm x2)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Lake Tawakoni

At the end of my rope
Without an ounce of hope
I can see my life pass before my eyes
And teeter at the tipping point

A corps of engineers
Would fail to dam my tears
Because you can’t restrain a recessive gene
Or rain delay advancing years

Lake Tawakoni
Is always there for me
Lake Tawakoni

A telephoto lense
Over my darkest sins
Could help disguise unforgiving eyes
And send me down the road again

Chicken noodle soup
And muddy cowboy boots
Are simple things that remind me
I’m always anchored to my roots

Chorus
Solo

If I fall off track
You’ve always got my back
You’ll guide me down the path

Don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me float away
Don’t let me float away from me

Chorus

Verse        C G Am E F        C G Am G F G
Chorus        Am G F
Bridge        C G Am E F G

Some might swear by first impressions
While others claim love at first site
Not really sure what this falls under
I only know that I’ve got to try

To get to know this stranger better
And understand what goes on inside

Why can’t I stop thinking about her
Why can’t I stop thinking about her

No matter what this all amounts to
She needs to know she’s a sparkling light
An inspiration and a breath of fresh air
A shining star and perfect summer night

I’m well aware that we’ve only just met
But she’s someone that I can’t forget

Why can’t I stop thinking about her
Why can’t I stop thinking about her

I only hope I can give back in return
A fraction of the spark she’s given me

Verse C, Em, Dm, F
Pre chorus D, Em, F, G
Chorus C, Em, Dm, G

When you get run down
Fed up and all worn out
When you’re spread too thin
Get up and try again

When you’re out of steam
And given up on your dreams
When you reached the end
Jump up and dive back in

Cause everything’s gonna be alright
It’s gonna all work out tonight
When you’re life’s is a living curse and it couldn’t get no worse
I’ll be here to tell you it’s just fine
Everything’s gonna be alright

When you’re down and out 
Broke down and all stressed out
When all your hope is gone
It doesn’t mean that you’re done

When this life gets tough
And you’ve run out of luck
Just when you’ve given in
You’ll see the tides changing

Cause everything’s gonna be alright
It’s gonna all work out tonight
When you crumble under stress and your life’s a total mess
I’ll be here to tell you it’s just fine
Everything’s gonna be alright

Tonight the sun is shining so bright
You once were lost
But now you’ve found a song to sing

Verse        A E F#m x 3 G E
Chorus    D A D F#m     D A Bm E     G D
Bridge        Bm F#m E A        Bm F#m E A E
Outro        A E F#m G E x 2
A E F#m G D        A E F#m G E A

Keep Hanging On

Is there a star up in heaven
That you wish upon
To grant grace & forgiveness
From the mess that you’ve become

Are you are ever scared at night

And it’s hard to hold your head up high
When you know you’re wrong but it feels so right
And you want to stop but you can’t say no
And you want to jump but you can’t let go

Have you looked into a mirror
Overwhelmed and ashamed
Stared at your reflection
And prayed for drastic change

Are you are ever down and out

Chorus

I’m looking you in the eye    I’m begging you not to cry
Keep hanging on    Keep hanging on

Solo

Chorus

Verse            C  G
Pre            Dm  B-note  Am  Fm
Chorus        C  Am  F  Am  G
Bridge            F  Em    F  G        C G
Solo            F  Em    x3 F G

Moment Too Late

I wasn’t looking for a second chance
I wasn’t interested in new romance
It just happened to me, yeah
It stumbled into me, yeah

Some people wish that they could turn back time
But I’m not the type that even bothers to try
Would it change anything, yeah
What would the outcome bring, yeah

And now I can’t believe
It happened this way
You were a moment to late, a moment too late
This isn’t easy to say
And so hard to explain
You were a moment to late, a moment too late
And I can’t believe it happened this way
You were a moment too late
I’d gotten comfortable with being alone
I had no problem spending time on my own
It just came naturally, yeah
Was not a problem for me, yeah

A life can change in the blink of an eye
The storm might come before you make it inside
You gotta roll with the tide, yeah
You might not understand why, yeah

Intro/Outro        G, D, C, F#/D

Verse            G, C, G, C,   Am, D, A, F#/D

Chorus        C, Cm, G, E
              Am, Cm, G, E
             C, Am, C, F

Heart Of The Matter

This is not the work of my own hands
This is not an accident all has happened just as planned
There is more to this picture than I can see
And the pieces of the puzzle snap into place perfectly

Cause I’ve been focused on the heart of the matter
Trying to filter out all the useless chatter
The heart of the matter
To lead the way and guide me through this trail

What was mine has now been offered up to you
What was once a barrier has now been fully broken through

I have sacrificed my selfish dreams and plans
Because the only prayer I have is to be molded my your hands

Chorus

Your plans become my plans
Your dreams become my dreams
Because your heart has become my heart
And it’ll lead the way and guide me through

Chorus

Verse        E, A, E/G#m, A, C#m, A, F#m, A
E, A, E/G#m, A, C#m, A, F#m, B

Chorus    A, E/G#m, A, F#m, E/G#m
A, E/G#m, F#m, E/G#m, A, B

Bridge        A, E, A, E, C#m, B, A, E/G#m, F#m, E/G#m, A, B

Turnaround    E, C#m, B

The Only One

Counting down the days to escape oh dear
Tell me is it you I fear or me
If I stumble catch me when I fall I pray
If only I could find a way to say

I’m sorry I was wrong
I never meant to harm you dear
The evidence is crystal clear
I was guilty and I was wrong

The moves you made The dues we paid
You’re breaking my mind
Can’t believe you went away
Now that I’m here to stay

The plans we made The word you gave
You’re living a lie
Never been so far away
I can’t believe you went away and left the only one

Deep inside myself I find the will to write
An apology of truth and lies untold
Once across the border I attain my place
Unable to recall from grace I stall

Take me as I am
I’ve done the best I can to be
The person that I want to be
But I can’t escape my past

Time is a rolling stone
And it takes you where you want to go
Or so I’m told
Later down the road you’ll begin to know
That you’re only chasing empty goals
It’s never who you know

Turnaround        G Am C

Verse            G Am Cm     G Am Cm     G

Pre Chorus        F C G        F C Em A/C# C D

Chorus        G D/F#m Em Bm C G A/C# D/F#m
G D/F#m Em Bm C G A/C#m D

Bridge            Em D C G Am F
Em D C G Am D

Co-written with Jerry James

Long farewell
In the Bible belt
Haunting moan
Of the dial tone

Moving on down the line
Climbing up to bluer skies
The darkest valley can not last
This moment too shall pass

Lady bug
Slow side hug
A familiar sound
In a lonesome town

Ringing church bells on the hill
Porch swing hung with rusty nails
Fireflies were not meant to last
This moment too shall pass

Hold me close
Don’t let me go
Every so and so
I can’t be alone

Guitar with capo on 5th fret.
Verse        G
Chorus        Am D G Em x3 Am Am/F#m G/C G

True Key
Verse        C
Chorus        Dm G C Am x3 Dm Dm/Bm C/F C

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.