LAUREN SMITH SONGS
I wrote my first song when I was 15 years old—about the same time I taught myself to play guitar. Those first attempts at songwriting were terrible, but I soon became hooked. I continued to write through my high school and college years and gradually learned the basics of song structure, melody, and lyric writing. I joined a folk group in college, and we recorded several albums featuring many of my compositions. After college, obligations of marriage, family, and business intervened leaving little time for music, but the passion for songwriting always simmered just below the surface. After a hiatus of some fifteen years, I began to write again. Along the way, I had the opportunity to learn from some prominent mentors, including hit songwriters Steve Seskin, Mark Cawley, and Kye Fleming (who is enshrined in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame).
I write mainly in the Americana, Folk, and Country genres because I’ve always loved American roots music. I also have great respect for the emphasis country writers place on lyrics and stories. Some songwriters write songs inspired by their own lives and experiences, but I don’t write much about my own life. Although some of my songs reference personal experiences, I like to write more from the vantage point of an observer. I try to capture life situations that are universal in nature and have the ring of truth, even if the stories are largely fictional. To me, a great song is one that skillfully combines both words and music to create something more than either can alone. That synergistic marriage is what I strive for in all my writing.
Awards and Recognition
American Songwriter Magazine
Billboard Magazine
Dallas Songwriters Association
West Coast Songwriters
Song Demos
Thoughts and Prayers
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
A teenage boy slips his way through a schoolhouse door
Rifle in his hands and murder on his mind
Bullets fly, and casings rattle on the classroom floor
Leaving little broken bodies gone long before their time
And when the smoke clears, and silence fills the air
Only desperate tears remain, and tortured thoughts and prayers
Thoughts and prayers…
Verse:
A man wearing a uniform, a Stetson, and a frown
Steps up to the microphone, Glock strapped to his side
Swearing they did all they could to bring that gunman down
But not before nineteen little children lost their lives
He looks out at the faces crowded on the small town square
And sends out to the grieving the department’s thoughts and prayers
Thoughts and prayers…
Bridge:
And all across the nation, the mourning has begun
One nation under God, one nation under guns
Verse:
The anchor reads a press release from the NRA
Our hearts are with the families and precious children lost
We know their sorrow and the heavy price they paid
But our rights are sacred, and freedom has its cost
There are those who’ll tell you that we don’t seem to care
But be assured you’ll always have our thoughts and prayers
Thoughts and prayers…
Tag:
Is this all that we have to offer? All we have to share?
Hollow condolences and our thoughts and prayers?
Thoughts and prayers…
The War of 1812
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Dusty Drake
1812 Oakwood Road
Same little clapboard house among the trees
The tire swing I made all those years ago
Still sways and spins in the autumn breeze
Every plank and every nail have stories they could tell
Of battles won and lost in the war of 1812
Chorus:
In those walls lines were drawn
In those rooms war was waged
We took no prisoners, gave no ground
Kids caught in the crossfire of our rage
We turned our little piece of heaven into hell
There were no winners in the war of 1812
Verse:
In my truck beside the gravel drive
I’m shaking with heartache and regret
Trying to recall how we let it go so far
That so much sorrow is left
It would all be different if I could turn back time
But in the end only the house survived
Chorus:
In those walls lines were drawn
In those rooms war was waged
We took no prisoners, gave no ground
Kids caught in the crossfire of our rage
We turned our little piece of heaven into hell
There were no winners in the war of 1812
Bridge:
And I can hear the screen door rattle like it did that April day
Filled with little faces watching Daddy drive away
Chorus:
In those walls lines were drawn
In those rooms war was waged
We took no prisoners, gave no ground
Kids caught in the crossfire of our rage
We turned our little piece of heaven into hell
There were no winners in the war of 1812
Tag:
The house on Oakwood Road is just an empty shell
And there were no winners in the war of 1812
Build it Right
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Kris Reilly / Vocal: Jeff Carson
Verse:
I used to watch my Dad in his old workshop at night
Making furniture by hand, taking time to build it right
We’d listen to the Braves, tell jokes between the batters
We’d talk about life and things that really matter
Verse:
I still recall the time sitting on the sawdust bin
And telling him about the love I felt for Jessie Lynn
I said Dad, she means the world to me, I think she’ s the one
Can you tell me how to make love last like you and Mom have done
Chorus:
He said, love is like this table, made from the finest oak
Four legs hold it up— faith, passion, joy and hope
Every joint is solid and every seam is tight
It’ll last a lifetime if you build it right
Verse:
It’ s seven years and countin’ since Jess became my bride
And though we’ve have our ups and downs she’s still by my side
Now sitting down with our kids at the table Daddy made
We give thanks for our blessings and remember what he said
Chorus:
He said, love is like this table, made from the finest oak
Four legs hold it up, faith, passion, joy and hope
Every joint is solid, every seam is tight
It’ll last a lifetime if you build it right
There’s My Stuff
Songwriters: Lauren Smith, Andy Cochrane, and Col Finley / Vocal: Col Finley
Sometime late last night
Me and my girl had a great big fight
Walked down to the 21 Club
Soaked my sorrows in ice cold Bud
Stumbled my way back home about quarter to three
Out there in the moonlight what do I see?
Chorus:
Shirts in the maple tree, records on the lawn
There’s the big sombrero I bought in Mazatlan
In the roses that’s my fishing rod
And my bowling ball
She said she’s had enough
Now she’s finally given up
Lord, I guess she did
‘Cause there’s my stuff
Verse:
Found my way across the front yard
I’m thinking she’s taking it pretty hard
Come on honey, I was a jerk
Open the door ’cause the key don’t work
I don’t like this, it don’t look good
How she decorated the neighborhood
Out here in the moonlight all I can see
Chorus:
Shirts in the maple tree, records on the lawn
There’s the big sombrero I bought in Mazatlan
In the roses that’s my fishing rod
And my bowling ball
She said she’s had enough
Now she’s finally given up
Lord, I guess she did
‘Cause there’s my stuff
I’m Looking for You
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Shannon Whitney
I’ve looked for you in every corner of this town
In office halls and shopping malls, you’re just nowhere to be found
I’ve searched for you in every club and little bar
Still I wonder every day, where on earth you are
Chorus:
I’m looking for you
And I know you’re out there looking for me too
So baby, when you feel like letting go of love
Please don’t give up
‘Cause I’m looking for you
Verse:
Sometimes late at night, all alone in the dark
I listen to the slow steady rhythm of my heart
I know somewhere yours is keeping perfect time
And I know it’s every bit as empty as mine
Chorus:
I’m looking for you
And I know you’re out there looking for me too
So baby, when you feel like letting go of love
Please don’t give up
‘Cause I’m looking for you
Bridge:
It’s a great big world and I have to believe
There’s someone for everyone and you were meant for me
Chorus:
I’m looking for you
And I know you’re out there looking for me too
So baby, when you feel like letting go of love
Please don’t give up
‘Cause I’m looking for you
To Helena and Back Again
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Jason Davis / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Back in Helena, Montana, Cody cries for me
‘Cause I’m headed home to face another lonesome week
His arms reached out to hold me as his mom pulled him inside
One more Sunday evening heartache and another sad goodbye
Verse:
I’ve got eight short days a month to teach him all I can
To throw a curve, bait a hook, and be an honest man
Never thought being a dad would be an uphill fight
But I’ll climb the highest mountain before I’ll miss his life
Chorus:
I’ll go to Helena and back again
To hold my son the way I did back then
Never knew what lonely was until I’d been
To Helena and back again
Verse:
Like these miles of endless prairie I’m empty without him
I was the center of his life, now I’m outside looking in
So next Friday when I pick him up, I’ll cherish every minute
‘Cause I can’t bear the thought of a world without him in it
Chorus:
So I’ll go to Helena and back again
To hold my son the way I did back then
Never knew what lonely was until I’d been
To Helena and back again
Bridge:
If I had just been smarter
Tried a little harder
We might have worked things through
Thought less about myself
Put pride up on a shelf
But now all I can do, is…
Verse:
Go to Helena and back again
To hold my son the way I did back then
Never knew what lonely was until I’d been
To Helena and back again
24 Miles to Mobile
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Bret Bingham / Vocal: Lauren Smith
She said I’ll pray for you, I’ll write you every day
Straightened my new uniform and watched me drive away
Posted to a strange land half a world from home
Wearing holes in her letters, feeling so alone
There were times I thought I’d never make it back
Now I’m winding out this Tahoe laying hard on the gas
Chorus:
It’s twenty-four miles to Mobile
Twelve more exits and she’ll
Wake up to the sound of gravel underneath my wheels
Six more songs on the radio
How fast can this Chevy go?
Gonna hold her in my arms and tell her how I feel
Twenty-four miles to Mobile
And she’s mine…
Verse:
She was just a freckled girl the summer I turned ten
Yankees cap, emerald eyes, a crooked little grin
Swore to be friends forever, crossed our hearts and hoped to die
Her memory kept me going as the weeks and months went by
Now there’s a thin line between friendship and love
I finally crossed over and thank God above it’s only
Chorus:
Eighteen miles to Mobile
Nine more exits and she’ll
Wake up to the sound of gravel underneath my wheels
Four more songs on the radio
How fast can this Chevy go?
Gonna hold her in my arms and tell her how I feel
Eighteen miles to Mobile
And she’s mine…
Bridge:
I don’t know if she feels the same
But there’s one thing that I know
I miss that girl more and more
With every mile I go, but it’s just
Chorus:
Twelve more miles to Mobile
Six more exits and she’ll
Wake up to the sound of gravel underneath my wheels
Three more songs on the radio
How fast can this Chevy go?
Gonna hold her in my arms and tell her how I feel
Twelve more miles to Mobile
And she’s mine…
In His Hands
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
One Sunday morning there was smoke above the town
I was ten years old the day our church burned to the ground
Folks prayed among the ashes and some began to cry
But the preacher raised his voice and held his Bible high
Chorus:
It’s just a church, just bricks and wood
We’ve got our faith and God is good
He don’t need walls, a roof or floor
Just our hearts and nothing more
Some things are hard to understand
But there ain’t no doubt we’re in His hands
Verse:
Back in ’09 it rained and didn’t let up for days
The creek broke through the levee and swept the crops away
My wife and I gazed helplessly at the storm clouds overhead
When I asked what we would do she took my hand and said
Chorus:
It’s just a field, just dirt and seeds
The Lord provides all that we need
It’s still our land, I’m still your wife
We’ve got our kids, we’ve got our life
Some things are hard to understand
But there ain’t no doubt we’re in His hands
Bridge:
Last year Ma took sick and the doc just shook his head
I spent the next two weeks sitting with her by her bed
I couldn’t bear to think I’d never see my Mom again
But she said now honey, this is not the end
Chorus:
It’s just life, it moves along
And in a moment it is gone
We are born, live out our days
With luck we find love on the way
Some things are hard to understand
But there ain’t no doubt I’m in His hands
Tag:
We’re all part of a bigger plan
And there ain’t no doubt we’re in His hands
She Ain’t Finished With Me Yet
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
I ain’t a cultured man but my wife insists
She can turn this ordinary frog into a prince
I may not know a flapjack from a crepe suzette
But friends be patient, she ain’t finished with me yet
Verse:
She tells all her friends I’m her diamond in the rough
But she’ll knock off those ragged edges soon enough
And though I love my whiskey and my cigarettes
She’s banned them both, she ain’t finished with me yet
Chorus:
She ain’t finished, she ain’t finished with me yet
Lord, there’s so much work to do
She’ll make me as perfect as I’m ever gonna get
I’m a work in progress, she ain’t finished with me yet
Verse:
Even when I’m dead and gone I doubt she’ll be done
She’ll polish up my memory til I’m second to no one
And carved upon my stone you can surely bet
Will be these final words: “She ain’t finished with me yet”
Chorus:
She ain’t finished, she ain’t finished with me yet
Lord, there’s so much work to do
She’ll make me as perfect as I’m ever gonna get
I’m a work in progress, she ain’t finished with me yet
Hard On My Heart
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
I’m staring at a strand of smoke from the Camel I just lit
Thinking about my life and the two things I can’t quit
I guess there are some things it’s best to never start
You and these cigarettes are hard on my heart
Verse:
I shouldn’t have to sit up wondering where you are tonight
If these damn smokes don’t kill me loving you just might
‘Cause God help me living with you is tearing me apart
You and these cigarettes are hard on my heart
Bridge:
I swear tonight I’ll break this hold you have on me
I just pray the cure ain’t worse than the disease
Verse:
I tear the cellophane off a brand new pack
I’ve filled up this ashtray and still you ain’t back
I light up and take a pull, it glows amber in the dark
You and these cigarettes are hard on my heart
Tag:
They say bad habits leave a lasting mark
You and these cigarettes are hard on my heart
You and these cigarettes are hard on my heart
That’s What Neighbors Do
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Little lost Angus stuck deep in the mud
Rope wrapped around her we pulled with all our might
Daddy swore, that heifer bawled, but she wouldn’t budge
Then an old John Deere rumbled into sight
Mr. Wills just grinned and freed that cow in record time
Dad asked “what do we owe you Carl”, he said “not a single dime”
Chorus:
That’s what neighbors do
When you need a hand I’m here for you
Like you’d be for me if I was in your shoes
Don’t say a word
That’s what neighbors do
Verse:
Late one summer, sun burning down
Days were long ’cause it was haying time
Mrs. Wills took sick and they rushed her into town
And old Carl just wouldn’t leave her side
But not a single chore went neglected on his farm
And the Wills came home to find their hay stacked in the barn, and Dad said
Chorus:
That’s what neighbors do
When you need a hand we’re here for you
Like you’ve been for us more than a time or two
Don’t say a word
That’s what neighbors do
Bridge:
Kindness don’t cost much and if there’s one thing I’ve learned
It ain’t nothing next to all that we get in return
Chorus:
That’s what neighbors do
When you need a hand neighbors come through
So when you find yourself in the other shoes
Don’t say a word
That’s what neighbors do
What a Man Is Worth
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
A headline caught my eye as I read the morning news
A long obituary at the bottom of page two
About a wealthy man who built a huge estate
But locked himself away behind his walls and iron gate
That got me to thinking ’bout what makes a person rich
The way I’ve got it figured, it comes down to this
Chorus:
It ain’t what you have, it’s what you give
It ain’t how you make your living, it’s how you live
It’s the love you leave behind when you finally leave this earth
That measures what a man…
What a man is worth
Verse:
It’s no sin to be wealthy, it’s no virtue to be poor
But some folks spend their lives always wanting more
It brings to mind a story from the Good Book Jesus told
About a man who had the world but gave up his own soul
Now I ain’t been schooled in preaching or praying
But if I had to guess, I think He was saying
Chorus:
It ain’t what you have, it’s what you give
It ain’t how you make your living, it’s how you live
It’s the love you leave behind when you finally leave this earth
That measures what a man…
What a man is worth
Bridge:
So hold your family close
Appreciate your friends
Give thanks for all you’re given
‘Cause in the end…
Chorus:
It ain’t what you have, it’s what you give
It ain’t how you make your living, it’s how you live
It’s the love you leave behind when you finally leave this earth
That measures what a man…
What a man is worth
Sheep Number One
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Andy Cochrane / Vocal: Andy Cochrane
Verse:
Watching moon shadows on the wall
Listening to the clock ticking down the hall
Days last forever since you’ve gone
Nights just seem to go on and on
I slept like a baby in your arms
But now I don’t even set the alarm
‘Cause I’ll still be lyin’ here…
Chorus:
Wide awake and praying for sleep
Hugging my pillow counting sheep
I get up to 21 or 22, then my mind goes back to you
In the morning I’ll be fine but now there’s nothing to be done
But start again
At sheep number one
Verse:
Today I volunteered for an extra shift
Just to stay busy and try to forget
I ain’t a drinking man but I just might
If I have to spend one more night
Chorus:
Wide awake and praying for sleep
Hugging my pillow counting sheep
I get up to 21 or 22, then my mind goes back to you
In the morning I’ll be fine but now there’s nothing to be done
But start again
At sheep number one
Bridge:
Broken hearts take time to heal
I know it in my head
But that don’t change the way I feel
Lying in this empty bed
Chorus:
Wide awake and praying for sleep
Hugging my pillow counting sheep
I get up to 21 or 22, then my mind goes back to you
In the morning I’ll be fine but now there’s nothing to be done
But start again
At sheep number one
Making Up for Lost Time
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
If I hold you a little too tight
Whisper your name in the middle of the night
Or send you roses it’s just that I’ve
Been waiting for you all my life
And now I’m making up for lost time
Verse:
And every now and again
I might stop you in the hall and then
Linger just a little too long when we kiss
But no one has ever loved me like this
And now I’m making up for lost time
Bridge:
I was never lucky in love
Though heaven knows I tried
If I’d found you long ago
I might take this all in stride but
Verse:
As it is I hold and treasure
Every moment we’re together
When I cling to every joy and sorrow
And love you like there’s no tomorrow
I’m just making up for lost time
I Ain’t Dead Yet
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
I’m chillin’ in a bass boat with a cooler of ice cold beer
Fishin’ line bobbin’ on the water, iPod in my ears
Shoulda clocked in an hour ago but I ain’t working today
The fish are biting right now so tomorrow there’ll be hell to pay
The boss man knows what he can kiss
‘Cause I ain’t wasting’ a day like this
Chorus:
It’s my crazy life and I love it
I try to make the most of it
A few years is all we get
Life is short but I ain’t dead yet
Verse:
Last call Sunday night, time for one more round
They’re turning off the neon lights, we’re gonna shut the place down
Been up for two days straight but I’m still going strong
I’ll catch up on sleep when I’m dead and gone
I get a little rowdy with my friends
Burn the candle at both ends
Chorus:
It’s my crazy life and I love it
I try to make the most of it
A few years is all we get
Life is short but I ain’t dead yet
Bridge:
There’s so much life to live before I’m dust
I might burn out but I’ll be damned if I’ll rust
Chorus:
It’s my crazy life and I love it
I try to make the most of it
A few years is all we get
Life is short but I ain’t dead yet
Boots
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
These old boots are tattered and worn
The soles are thin and the leather’s torn
They’re scuffed and stained and frayed clean through
But these boots brought me back to you
Verse:
These boots once carried me away
To the shores of Carolina and the streets of West LA
Down countless roads and byways but in the end
These old boots brought me home again
Bridge:
They took me far away to bloody foreign sands
And somewhere over there I lost touch with who I am
But I know now I’m only whole when we’re together
And searching for myself was just a waste of leather
Verse:
Now these boots stand by the bed right next to me
And I swear that’s where they’re always gonna be
To remind me if I feel that urge to move along
I’m already right where I belong
Verse:
These old boots are tattered and worn
The soles are thin and the leather’s torn
They’re scuffed and stained and frayed clean through
But these boots brought me home to you
A Little of This, a Little of That
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Kris Reilly / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
Maybe it’s the way your head fits my shoulder
Maybe it’s the scent of your hair
How you smile at me across a crowded room
As if I’m the only one there
When you ask me why I love you and I seem a little undone
Honey I hope you’ll forgive me if the answer doesn’t roll off my tongue
Chorus:
It’s a little of this, a little of that
It’s a little bit hard to say
There’s no single reason
As a matter of fact
It’s the little things
Make me love you this way
Verse:
There’s something about the sound of your laughter
The way your hand feels in mine
How old movies bring you to tears
Though you’ve seen them hundreds of times
Every day I’m with you reminds me how lucky I am
It’s more than love, it’s all the above, is that so hard to understand?
Chorus:
It’s a little of this, a little of that
It’s a little bit hard to say
There’s no single reason
As a matter of fact
It’s the little things
Make me love you this way
I Surrender
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
It’s close to ninety and it ain’t even noon
But you’d never know from the chill inside this room
I see the storm clouds building in your eyes
I know you’re angry, I just don’t know why
It won’t be long now before the shoutin’ starts
But I ain’t gonna fight you, I don’t have the heart
Chorus:
I surrender
Baby I give up
I surrender
I’ve finally had enough
I can’t live my life in a constant state of war
And I sure as hell can’t make you happy any more
So I surrender
Baby I surrender
Verse:
There was a time when you were my whole world
And you were proud to call yourself my girl
We were so in love with each other way back then
But somehow we got lost and never found our way again
Now there’s nothing left but anger and abuse
The best we seem to manage is a cold, awkward truce
Chorus:
So I surrender
Baby I give up
I surrender
I’ve finally had enough
I can’t live my life in a constant state of war
And I sure as hell can’t make you happy any more
So I surrender
Baby I surrender
Bridge:
You can go ahead and claim the victory
‘Cause if there’s a winner here, it sure as hell ain’t me
Chorus:
I surrender
Baby I give up
I surrender
I’ve finally had enough
I can’t live my life in a constant state of war
And I sure as hell can’t make you happy any more
So I surrender
Baby I surrender
Rock Bottom Blues
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Two weeks and countin’ since the rent was due
Got six cents in my pocket, ten bucks in my shoe
Pennies in my pocket, tenspot in my shoe
Landlord’s knocking’ at the door, Lord what will I do
Verse:
Ain’t got no water, ain’t got no heat
No matter what I try, can’t get back on my feet
Hard as I try, can’t get back on my feet
If my luck don’t change I’ll be sleeping in the street
Verse:
Got myself some work sweepin’ warehouse floors
Boss man he told me, don’t need you here no more
Boss man says don’t come ’round here no more
Put a pink slip in my hand and showed me to the door
Bridge:
Dear God in heaven
Won’t you help me please
I got nowhere to turn
I’m down on my knees
Verse:
Somewhere down the line I got my poor self stuck
In a long, long stretch of rotten luck
For some time now, been down on my luck
But now I’ve hit rock bottom, can’t go no way but up
Tag:
Once you hit rock bottom, ain’t no way to go no way but up
No Sign of Spring
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Gonna be another cold one, I feel it in my bones
I stoke the coals to soothe the weather’s sting
Pull my coat around me, my back against the cold
It’s been a long, long, winter
And still no sign of spring
Verse:
Well this must be a record chill for the 28th of June
Sun burns through the window but I can’t feel a thing
The mercury’s still dropping here inside this room
It’s been a long, long, winter
But still no sign of spring
Bridge:
Got extra blankets on the bed and every heater on
But I have not been warm, baby since you’ve gone
Verse:
I thought love was a fire that no one could put out
Now all I have are memories and this wedding ring
And I wonder if I’ll ever feel that warmth again
It’s been a long, long, winter
And still no sign of spring
A long, long, winter…
Sundays are Sacred
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Sunday morning paper, bacon sizzling on the stove
Watching you make coffee in your favorite flannel robe
Stealing a kiss as you hand me my cup
Losing myself in the warmth of your touch
Chorus:
Sundays are sacred
A special day for two
Sundays are sacred
Precious time for me and you
Monday is far away
And Saturday has faded
But Sundays
Sundays are sacred
Verse:
Maybe later after church we’ll drop in on your folks
Sip sweet tea on the porch, laugh at your Dad’s jokes
And in the evening go for ice cream in town
Walk along the river, watch the sun go down
Chorus:
Sundays are sacred
A special day for two
Sundays are sacred
Precious time for me and you
Monday is far away
And Saturday has faded
But Sundays
Sundays are sacred
Bridge:
My arm around your shoulder, your hair against my cheek
I can’t think of any better way to start a brand new week
Chorus:
Sundays are sacred
A special day for two
Sundays are sacred
Precious time for me and you
Monday is far away
And Saturday has faded
But Sundays
Sundays are sacred
Out the Window
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Jason Davis / Vocal: Lauren Smith
He found the bottle she tossed in to the weeds
As she sped through the curves out on highway 70
He still smells the beer, the gasoline and smoke
Still sees her Chevy wrapped around that oak
Verse:
He walked that stretch for days, kicking through the grass
Looking for an answer in that lost piece of glass
He thumbs the lipstick on the rim and starts to cry
‘Cause he can’t seem to find any way to say goodbye
Chorus:
He’s a hollow man
Just as empty as that bottle in his hand
Left with memories and the years they’ll never know
‘Cause she threw everything out the window
Verse:
He put that bottle to his chest and held it close
Like he held her as a baby sixteen years ago
One foolish night took all her young life could have been
Now he’d give anything just to hold her once again
Chorus:
Now he’s a hollow man
Just as empty as that bottle in his hand
Left with memories and the years they’ll never know
‘Cause she threw everything out the window
Tag:
He found the bottle she tossed in to the weeds
As she sped through the curves out on highway 70
You Sure Made a Liar Out of Me
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
I always said I’m not like other men
No woman could ever fence me in
A wild stallion has got to be free
You sure made a liar out of me
Verse:
My friends were sure I’d fall for someone yet
And I’d always take that certain bet
Didn’t need no one as far as I could see
You sure made a liar out of me
Bridge:
Some lie about their age
Their weight or their wealth
But the worst lies of all
Are those we tell ourselves
Verse:
You took me into your loving hands
And against all odds made me a better man
Than I ever thought I could be
You sure made a liar out of me
You sure made a liar out of me
Hard to Say
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Wrinkled shirt, hair pinned up
Sleepy smile and a coffee cup
She’s so beautiful when she wakes up
She takes his breath away
He wants to find the words to tell her
But it’s hard to say
Verse:
Punching in, moving stock
A busy morning on the loading dock
She’s on his mind and his eye’s on the clock
She gets him through the day
He hopes she knows how much he loves her
‘Cause it’s hard to say
Bridge:
But she can’t know his mind
She can’t hear his heart
And he can’t see his silence
Is tearing them apart
Verse:
Empty house, empty bed
Too many things left unsaid
Still in shock from the note he read
She just couldn’t stay
He wonders if she’s coming back
It’s hard to say
Baby I Miss You Tonight
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
We’re here in the dark, Jack Daniels and me
In this moonlit room filled with memories
Silent reminders of the best years of my life
Baby I miss you
Baby I miss you tonight
Verse:
The dog-eared book that made you cry
That turquoise ring that caught your eye
A birthday card you never got to write
Baby I miss you
Baby I miss you tonight
Bridge:
We said our vows through tears and laughter
In front of friends and family
Looking for our happy ever after
Not knowing how short it would be
Verse:
A satin scarf that covered your head
The shallow hollow on your side of the bed
Where you held my hand as you finally gave up the fight
Baby I miss you
Baby I miss you tonight
Tag:
I’ll always love you
And baby I miss you tonight
Give and Take
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Erica Molz / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
When we said our wedding vows back in ’08
I knew there’d be some give and take
You gotta put love first
Sometimes you gotta bend a little
Share everything right down the middle
So we split up the work
Chorus:
I did the giving, she did the taking
She spent every dime I was making
Living high on the hog while I brought home the bacon
I did the giving, she did the taking
Verse:
When she ran up the credit cards it didn’t take long
For her to lawyer up and be long gone
Like a bat outta heck
She took the house, she took the truck
She took my dog and what really sucks
Is I still send her checks
Chorus:
I did the giving, she did the taking
She spent every dime I was making
Living high on the hog while I brought home the bacon
I did the giving, she did the taking
Bridge:
I’d give my right arm to go back to when we met
But she’d just use it to pick my pockets and take what little I have left
Chorus:
I did the giving, she did the taking
She spent every dime I was making
Living high on the hog while I brought home the bacon
I did the giving, she did the taking
Tag:
We said for better or worse
I got the second one she took the first
Yeah, I did the giving she did the taking
Someone Must Be Praying for Me
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Most days I seek redemption at the bottom of a glass
And there’s a fifth of Johnny Walker right here to set me free
But somehow tonight I found the strength to pass
It’s like somebody’s praying for me
Verse:
Lost my house and job, hurt the ones I loved
Turned my back on God, friends and family
So I hope someone’s putting in a good word up above
I hope someone’s praying for me
Bridge:
If someone cared enough to ask the Lord for help
I might finally find a way to forgive myself
Verse:
Ain’t nothing short of Heaven could keep me from that drink
‘Cause it’s the only way I can ever find relief
From the demons dwelling in my soul so I think
Maybe someone’s praying for me
I sure hope someone’s praying for me
The Other Side
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Kris Reilly / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Remember our first dance, dressed in our Sunday best?
Boys holding up the east wall, girls lined up on the west
Somehow I found the courage to cross that great divide
And make my way to you on the other side
Verse:
The warmth of your smile melted all my fears
And ever since that night we’ve been dancing through the years
You taught my heart a thousand steps I never would have tried
And led me far from loneliness to the other side
Bridge:
I hope you know just how much you mean to me
Now and forever, for all eternity…
Verse:
Well I’ll come back tomorrow, it’s starting to rain
I’ll leave these flowers on the stone right here by your name
And when my time has come to cross that great divide
Save the first dance for me on the other side
Tag:
Save the first dance for me on the other side
A Little Girl Like Me
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Shannon Smith
Verse:
Dear Lord, I saw a story last night on the news
About a baby who’d been beaten and abused
Her eyes were filled with tears, her face was black and blue
She was just a little girl like me
Verse:
There are holes up in the ozone, acid in the rain
Kids out on the corner selling crack cocaine
Homeless people sleeping in the doorways down on Main
Some of them are little girls like me
Chorus:
I’m not big, I’m not strong
But I was thinking maybe
You could find a way to use
These two small hands you gave me
Verse:
If a single candle can chase away the dark
And if a raging fire begins with just a spark
Maybe you can change the world with the love in just one heart
Lord could you use a little girl like me?
Chorus:
I’m not big, I’m not strong
But I was thinking maybe
You could find a way to use
These two small hands you gave me
Lord could you use a little girl like me?
This Sacred Land
Songwriter: Lauren Smith / Vocal: Lauren Smith
Verse:
I’m hard at work each day when the rooster crows at dawn
Scratching out a living on this hundred acre farm
Generations lived and died right here where I stand
Family roots run long and deep beneath this sacred land
Verse:
My family built this house and barn in 1844
They survived fire and flood and the bullet scars of war
Symbols of a legacy most folks can’t understand
The only life we’ve ever known here on this sacred land
Bridge:
And it’s killing me to think these fields of snowy cotton
Could one day be paved over and in time long forgotten
Verse:
Year by year the bankers take a little more
And my children wonder what they’re working so hard for
It’s like this fertile soil is slipping through our hands
Till nothin’s left but memories of this sacred land
Wishing On a Star
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Kris Reilly / Vocal: Lauren Smith
In the corner of the sky a little star burned bright
Through the leaves of the old elm tree into my room at night
It held the answers to my dreams when I was nine or ten
Wish I had something to believe in now the way I did back then
Chorus:
If love were as easy as wishing on a star
Maybe I could wish you back into my arms
And send my love to you no matter where you are
If love were as easy as wishing on a star
Verse:
In the corner of my mind the memories remain
Our first kiss, and last goodbye, all the joy and all the pain
And I’d like for you to know my love still burns bright
But you’re as distant as that star in the corner of the night
Chorus:
If love were as easy as wishing on a star
Maybe I could wish you back into my arms
And send my love to you no matter where you are
If love were as easy as wishing on a star
If only love were as easy as wishing on a star
Best of Both Worlds
Songwriters: Lauren Smith and Kris Reilly / Vocal: Lauren Smith
She pours herself a second cup
Making lunches as the kids wake up
She gives them kisses and Frosted Flakes
And puts them on the yellow bus a eight
Verse:
Off to the office, her daily routine
Telephones and computer screens
And from time to time she drifts away
To soccer games and junior ballet
Chorus:
She’s walking a narrow line
Keeping her balance a day at a time
Taking care of business and two little girls
She’s trying to make the best of both worlds
Verse:
The night is still, kids asleep
She counts her blessings and soaks her feet
And though tomorrow will be much the same
She wouldn’t have it any other way
Chorus:
She’s walking a narrow line
Keeping her balance a day at a time
Taking care of business and two little girls
She’s trying to make the best of both worlds
She’s trying to make the best of both worlds