UP BEFORE THE BELL
Life threw some punches, from places I didn’t expect
my blind faith didn’t deliver but it’s a chance I’ll accept
So keep my gloves tied on, I’m gonna go the distance
don’t stop me now, I’m not ready for any assistance

(chorus)
Don’t say I’ve got nothing left, I’m only catching my breath
I’m down for now but I’m gonna do well
’cause I’m getting back up before the bell
call me redeemed, I feel like I’m going through hell
’cause I’m getting back up before the bell
yes, I’ll be sticking around for another round, I’m getting back up before the bell
if you need a new story to tell, watch me get up before the bell

My foot work may be off, but I’m still standing tall
my hopes are on the ropes whenever I take a fall
it can build you or break you, yes it’s true
only attitude and adrenaline can pull you through

(repeat chorus)

(bridge idea)- I’ve written the book on dodging a right hook
and dancing in the ring of hard knocks
but life isn’t sweet with an easy defeat, so don’t ever stop the clock

(repeat chorus)

 

THIS ROAD DOESN’T LEAD HOME
See me now, I’ve gone full circle
right back to where I started
but I need to defrost my dreams
on a new path uncharted

I’ve taken numbers and waited
even picked up a new nickname
I’ve carried cliches to parties
only to get stuck in the games

(chorus)
I’ve got to outrun what I’ve become
to see tomorrow on my own
that is where I’m heading and this road doesn’t lead home
if I stay here, I’d still be alone and this road doesn’t lead home
Yes, this road doesn’t lead home

fair weather friends abound
only out for personal gain
while love is used as a lie
when no one takes the blame

This zip code runs shallow
I’m digging out of this hole
what feels right is the calling
I’m hearing down in my soul

(repeat chorus)

(bridge idea)
This road doesn’t lead home, that’s the challenge I need
I’m gonna leave so I can believe in myself again
this town is held together by the threads that lies can weave
before I buy into an empty promise, I’d be better off to leave

(repeat chorus)

(alternate ideas)
Like painting by the numbers, I’m crossing over the lines
a new day is coming, with a horizon that’s only mine
no matter when I get there, I certainly won’t be late
to fill a new blank canvas with my own colors, lines and shapes

Plans come undone, dreams get crushed
but when the truth hits, they hide in a rush
yes, this road doesn’t lead home
but it’s the only direction I can trust

 

HAVE YOU SEEN SARAH
Staring out at the horizon, barefoot on the the sandy beach
some answers seem so close, many others are out of reach
She pondered humanity at its’ worst and at its’ best
imaging a  balance only a hopeful heart could request

(chorus)
Have you seen Sarah, once she was here
have you seen Sarah, she went looking for answers and now it’s been a year
have you seen Sarah, did she ever find what she was looking for
have you seen Sarah, does she know there’s still an open door

In the halls of museums she echoed all the debates
on how much world change one person could create
but the ghosts of lost chances often kept her awake
believing locked in a comfort zone could be a mistake

(repeat chorus)
(bridge idea)
On stacked up boxes of time, she dreamed of the climb
to see a life beyond the daily grind
she said she needed to find a purpose and a plan
and if no one held her back, we’d all understand
(repeat chorus)

(alternate ideas)
It’s been over a year since she stood on beach
pretending to count the waves
saying before she could help others
it was her own life she needed to save

Have you seen Sarah, how long will her journey last
or did she write us off as a reminder of the past
perhaps she is restless, perhaps she is brave
perhaps she is following what her heart craves

 
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE
Where do I go from here
like a coin toss with nothing won or lost
the coin stands on edge
with a side view of my heart on a ledge

Where do I go from here
only to discover the ground we covered
on my path out of the dark
full of empty promises and fake remarks

(chorus)
I gave more but received less, your motives were anyone’s guess
I gave more but received less so I can no longer be all you want of me
so where do I go from here, it should be clear, where do I go from here
I can longer be all you want of me, so where do I go from here

Where do I go from here
knowing just why this love had to die
hindsight is a vision enhanced
to show who really took the chance

(repeat chorus)
(bridge idea)
What happened to us doesn’t define who I am
so like steel tip shoes on a mountain of magnets
I’m slowly climbing to take a stand
at the top there will be a view
of the rest of my life without you
(repeat chorus)

 

POSTCARD FROM THE EDGE OF PARADISE
Behind stained glass windows candles burn without fire
where humor once climbed, innocence has expired

And the taxi waits outside by a frost covered curb
where rumors lay frozen next to reckless nerves

(chorus)
It;s a postcard from the edge of paradise
not quite over the line
a postcard from the edge of paradise
and the weather is fine
so in case you care, I’m almost there on the edge of paradise
I’m almost there, I’m almost there, further along in a night so long
I’m almost there, a few more steps with no regrets, I’m almost there

Boxes of broken dreams sit on half price shelves
in an antique shop run by childhood elves

Blinded by the bright neon the elves put on shades
only to point out that I’m be leading a parade

(repeat chorus)
Unknown friends stay safe guarding their own success
but the tab on the slab says more is really less

The feelings once faked now rest on a dotted line
where the elves sign off on a life defined

(bridge idea)
Below the surface the truth blurs the light
of all that was revealed to be right
and the roaring silence on the roof top
looks down at the elves, waiting for this parade to stop
(repeat chorus)

 
MORE THAN SURVIVE
I’m keeping my eyes on the horizon
not gonna sweat the small stuff
I’m keeping my momentum
even when the road gets rough

I grabbed hold of my bootstraps
I’m pulling myself back up
standing tall with my beliefs
and not relying on luck

(chorus)
More then survive, more then survive
moving out from behind the daily grind, I need to feel alive
I need to do more than just survive
I can see a better day when i close my eyes
I need to do more than just survive

There’s no one else to blame
I’m the source of the change
cutting through the shades of blue
to see the promise that remains

(repeat chorus)
(bridge idea)
Between work and daily chores I kept moving fast not to be bored
then I slowed down and turned around to see what life really has in store

(repeat chorus)
(alternate ideas)
Now my hearts in gear with no apathy or fear
I was born to feel alive and do more than just survive

I’ve has a lot of wishes and a few setbacks
I need to gain ground, not circle back in my tracks
Once I found a shortcut but it took me the long way home
but I still have the inner strength to make it on my own

 

 

IF IT TAKES A LIFETIME
They’re singing songs of love and hope
’cause they’re too young to be jaded
i still try to share the same vision
but the black and white edges are faded
Innocence looks at life that way
so unconcerned and so unafraid
I still carry the weight of wisdom
from all the mistakes I once made

(chorus)
If ti takes a lifetime to feel that young
then I’ll be halfway gone when the day is done
if it takes a lifetime to feel that young
I’ll never question why I can feel both weak and strong every time I try
if it takes a lifetime to feel that young, leave my watch on the desk
if it takes a lifetime to feel that young, give me the time that’s left

They’re sharing a hot cup of coffee
as sweet and naive as they can be
but when life calls and the curtain falls
they might be staring right back at me
for in the school of hard knocks
I graduated as top of my class
for the blind faith held by youth
just let the hard truth fly right past

(repeat chorus)
(bridge idea)
Everyone in the diner stares at them, it must be true love on a first date
but I’ve seen enough truth in my neon reflection, there’s nothing left to debate
they’re holding hands and singing about a world I once knew
until I woke up on impact and my reality broke through
(repeat chorus)

Once I was young like that  too
trusting the world with a free pass
till I found myself standing alone
at the scene of an invisible crash
You may only know love like that once
so put the moment on freeze frame
for outside the world is waiting
and you may never feel the same
(repeat chorus)