Verse 1:   There's an age-old adage so true:
"Good health is wasted on the youth."
The young and strong, they've got no sense,
no confidence or experience.

And when you're old, you know it all.
With time on your hands, should be having a ball,
but your doctor visits are 3 times a week
and you have to get eight hours of sleep.

chorus:  Oh, the young are so restless,
with energy and heart,
but I'll take my Peaceful Old Life,
with wisdom to impart.
Peaceful Old Life
Peaceful Old Life

Verse 2:  Youthful looks are pleasing and nice,
but vanity can be a nasty vice.
If their bodies aren't lithe and lean,
they suffer from low self-esteem.

While older folks may not exercise,
they can take pride in their wrinkled eyes,
preferring to have their nose in a book,
'cause nobody really cares how they look.


Verse 3:    As a young one, I was so worried about
how to do it right, so it'd all turn out.
An unfinished sentence, a big question mark,
No contentment or joy in my story arc.

Now I've made all my choices, I've walked down the road.
My struggle's behind me, my story is told.
It's peace and stability all of my days.
I'll ride it out now, the rest of the way.

Peaceful Old Life (demo)

Kina cummin down now, I'm cummin down
kina cummin down, kina cummin down, now
kina cummin down, kina cummin down, now
kina cummin down, kina cummin down

verse 1
My blood is gettin colder,
Lost all vitality.
It's like it left my body
and it's flowing out of me.
My soul is lost and churning,
I took a sudden drop.
Now the room is spinning,
Don't know how to make it stop, 

verse 2
I was so alive and happy
a few hours ago,
I was the life of the party,
How have I sunk so low?
Now I'm thinkin 'bout you,
how you say you set me free,
I came here to forget,
but it's all rushing back to me

verse 3
The clock is ticking slower,
It's so loud in my head,
Can someone make it stop?
I can't get off this bed.
So much for feeling good -
That's swirlin' down the drain.
Wish you were here to hold me.
Wish you could feel my pain!

Kina Cummin Down (Kinda Comin' Down)

verse 1
First I'm speeding forward, then I'm slipping back.
First I'm an underdog, then I attack.
It's not going anything like I thought it would,
But I look around and see it's all good.

Chorus
All's well that ends well
All's well that ends well  
Oh well, what the hell.

Verse 2
I'm rolling with the punches and popping back up.
Squeezing sour lemons, pouring lemonade in my cup.
Putting pressure on the rocks until diamonds form.
I string them up and wear them just to keep my neck warm.

Bridge:
When you've gone off course
When you've lost control
Ride it out and hang on tight
and trust you'll come out whole.

Verse 3
The first pancake it's going right in the trash,
But with a few more flips you've got a tall yummy stack.
To make a hearty omelet you gotta break some eggs.
I'm grinding coffee beans and growing roses in the dregs.


Alls Well That Ends Well (rehearsal demo)

Verse 1:
Last week I was so glad
Nothing could make me sad
My man's coming home, I waited so long
But then I got some news so bad:
My baby done me wrong

Chorus:
The wind's kickin' up
A storm is on the way
Yeah, a wind's kickin' up
It's makin' fences sway
It's gonna take all this bad air
and it's gonna blow it all away.

Verse 2:
It was good times and calm skies
when I gazed into my lover's eyes
I thought in my soul we were mates for life
but now I've gotten wise
and I'll never be his wife
[repeat chorus]

Bridge:
it's a-whippin'
It's a-flappin'
It's a rattlin'
It's a slappin'
Feels like the damn roof will lift right off the top
I hope my life's still in one piece
when this wretched wind stops.

Verse 3:
Some day these heavy clouds will part
The storm will clear and sunshine will start
but for now the gusts are ragin'
This tornado 'll have to do
until I heal my broken heart and start
over with someone new
[repeat chorus]

Wind's Kickin' Up (Fawm Demo)

VERSE 1 
I'm sayin’ goodbye to a Chardonay high.
There's another way, so people say.
The message was clear cut, I just couldn’t hear but, 
I’ll figure out how, ‘cause I hear it now!   

CHORUS: 
I’m wakin’ up, I’m wakin’ up, I’m wakin’ up each day 
and it feels so good to be free!  	
[1st & 3rd ending: go to PostChorus]  
[2nd ending: repeat chorus, go to Rap section]

POST CHORUS:
I found an inner happy, a new choice in my cup.
I'm livin' my best me and livin' it up.
My wasted days and nights are fin’lly over.
Feels so right wakin' up sober, wakin’ up sober

VERSE 2
Well, I used to think I need a friend to drink,
but then I found I didn't need 'em around.
Felt disgust, but had faith and trust,
Still afraid I'd crash into my glass!	
[repeat Chorus]

RAP:
I got no regrets, That’s in the past,
Now how can I be useful?
I'll take this day and then the next.
Each one is new and beautiful.
 
My head is clear, my voice is loud,
On the stage I’m takin' bows.
Got purpose, feelin’ in my prime.
Livin' in the now now.

[repeat Chorus and PostChorus]

Wakin' Up Sober

First I lost my mind, but that was years ago
Loving family watching over me.
Then my body failed me, brought to light its frailty
and it all got hard and life slowed down
Gave me stuff to dull the pain just to heal and try to stay sane
Wasting all my days with just video games

Then I lost someone, who just couldn't cope
Then I lost another, then I lost all hope.
And then I was alone, safety nets were gone
I just didn't know if I would go on.
Broken 

Some friends knew I hurt, but they only made it worse.
As lost as me, they just couldn't see
Low as mud and high as a kite, I couldn't get it right
Dug myself deeper in a hole so tight.

With my broken back, and my broken mind, 
and my broken friends puttin' me farther behind, 
And my broken heart.

Now I've lost my home, almost everything I own.
I just mumble and cry, angry half the time.
Could I have found some strength I didn't know I had?
Is it all my fault, I let it get so bad?
Nothing I can do now, but gather what is left
and try to start anew now, and try not to regret.

With my broken brain and my broken spine
and my broken home and the memories that still are mine,
and my broken heart

With my broken back and my broken mind, and my broken friends,
am I gonna find that I'm running out? 
or am I running to? Can I live without?
oh, what can I do? What can I do?

Broken

 Production: 11.3.24 for submission for sync brief
song written 1983

Skip in the Dark

Tell Your Story
(c) Christine Winchester 2023  

VERSE 1	When you're small and hiding out in fear
problems loom and no one wants to hear
You ugly cry yourself to sleep at night
and in the morning smile and be polite
 
CHORUS 1	Write it down, Tell a friend, Gotta tell your story
Call it out, Tell the world what you gotta say
 Gotta tell it true, Gotta tell it real, But cha just gotta start
 Gotta come from you tellin' how you feel, Gotta come from heart
 
Chorus 2	Gotta write, Gotta sing, Gotta tell your story
You might never know what good it brings
If you make me see, If you make me hear what ya gotta to say,
You might just heal, you might just feel a little more okay
 
Bridge 1	
You'll find the right words to say. Your voice is your power. 
Your story matters today. 
Then you'll see all the things you were once denied come to you, so clear and justified 

Verse 2	Sing a solo Stand out from the crowd
A monologue you gotta shout out loud
Find the ones who resonate with you
Find your people, they’re looking for you, too 
 
Chorus 3	Gotta write, Gotta sing, Gotta tell your story
You might never know what good it brings
If you make me see, If you make me hear what ya gotta to say
I might just heal, I might just feel a little more okay
 
Chorus 4 	So I write, So I sing just to tell my story
I'm unique, I'm the only me there is
I can't tell yours, you can't tell mine, we live our own days 
We express and we inspire in our own ways
 
Bridge 2
We'll find the right words to say. Our voice is power. 
Our stories matter today!
Then you'll see all the things you were once denied come to you, so clear and justified.

And we care when you share about anything
We are here, We are here, we are listening



Tell Your Story

Tell Me
(c) 1996 Christine Winchester
			   
Verse:  
Oh, sister it would be so easy
To sit by and let some others rule this world.
Hide from the challenges of my real life
And just be a do-nothing, know-nothing girl.
So don’t shelter me from all the action
Shelter’s not the thing I need to grow.
Tell me you admire people with a passion
Who aren’t afraid of telling the world where to go.

Chorus:
Tell me you want a woman with inspiration.
Tell me you want a sister not afraid to take a stand.
Tell me you want a woman with her own imagination.
Tell me and if I don’t hear it, tell me again.

Bridge:
They need to hear us, Hear our choice!
They need to hear us, so raise your voice!

Verse:
Life can seem like an uphill battle,
Confrontations constantly.
I know I have it in me to get through,
But I need you to remind and encourage me.		

Repeat chorus 2x

Tell Me

Freeze
(c) 1991 Christine Winchester (recorded Nov 2024)
Like a rabbit caught in the headlights, I freeze and think I’m safe, but I’m not hidden, I’m just frozen and numb to the pain of the impact.
He says “It’s ok, just hold still and I won’t hurt you. 
Be a good girl, I’ll be finished soon and you won’t feel a thing when I’m through.
There’s cold and frozen lips the touch my skin, I do not want them there. There’s pressure on my hips and something pulling on my hair.
Freeze – there is danger here. 
Freeze – do your best to blend in. Close your eyes, try not to breathe and you won’t get hurt again.
Not like the last time when I fought, when I thought that I would die. When I screamed and no one heard me. Now I see I did not die. So,
Like a rabbit caught in the headlights, I freeze and think I’m safe, but I’m not hidden, I’m just frozen and numb to the pain of the impact.
He says “It’s ok, just hold still and I won’t hurt you. 
Be a good girl, I’ll be finished soon and you won’t feel a thing when I’m through.
There’s cold and frozen lips the touch my skin, I do not want them there. There’s pressure on my hips and something pulling on my hair.
Freeze – there is danger here. 
Freeze – do your best to blend in. Close your eyes, try not to breathe and you won’t get hurt again.
No, No, No, No, No, No
So, Like a rabbit caught in the headlights, I freeze and think I’m safe, but I’m not hidden, I’m just frozen and numb to the pain

Freeze

FAWM 2025 song #4 2/21/25  Schirmish prompt: Use another song as a jumping off place to write a new song, so that the reference song is unrecognizable. (sample used from Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman)

I'm wrung out, I'm strung out
Believe I'll be leavin'
The new me will feel so well
When I'm free of this old hell          

Got one foot out the door
Soon I'll put out one more
I'll get through all these crises
And then you won't recognize me 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAP:
Even if you're here, looking right at me
You won't even know the person that you see
Cuz I'll be so different after I go
With the same name, but a face you won't know

So don't come around seeking me out
You'll be searching in vain, there's no doubt
I'll be over your head and under your nose
With a brighter smile and lighter on my toes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm wrung out, I'm strung out
Believe I'll be leavin'
I'll get through all of these crises
Then you won't recognize me

You Won't Recognize Me (demo)

CHORUS 
I'm having a good hair day
Yeah it's feeling like my birthday
12:11 on the clock
It's my favorite time to rock
I'm just try'n get some airplay

Verse 1
If you look for rain in every cloud 
and if you only see misfortune 
in a shower or a thunderstorm, 
you'll miss some of the joy in the best life has to offer,
I encourage you to play in the rain.
REPEAT CHORUS

Verse 2
If you keep your talents bottled up 
and never share them with the world, 
you are depriving the community 
of connection and art and inspiration you can give 
and that's why I share this with you!
REPEAT CHORUS

Good Hair Day

Lyrics
Verse 1
We'll be fighting for our rights Til Justice Comes,
And we'll wave our banners high Til Justice Comes.
We'll keep marching in the street, and we won't accept defeat.
We'll be drumming to one beat Til Justice Comes.
Justice Comes, Justice Comes!
We'll be fighting for our rights Til Justice Comes.

Verse 2
We'll be fighting for our rights Now Raise Your Voice,
And we'll wave our banners high Now Raise Your Voice.
We'll keep marching in the street, and we won't accept defeat.
We'll be drumming to one beat Now Raise Your Voice.
Raise Your Voice, Raise Your Voice!
We'll be fighting for our rights Now Raise Your Voice.

Verse 3
We'll be fighting for our rights So All Can Vote,
And we'll wave our banners high So All Can Vote.
We'll keep marching in the street, and we won't accept defeat.
We'll be drumming to one beat So All Can Vote.
All Can Vote, All Can Vote!
We'll be fighting for our rights So All Can Vote.

Verse 4
We'll be fighting for our rights And Peace will Come,
And we'll wave our banners high And Peace will Come.
We'll keep marching in the street, and we won't accept defeat.
We'll be drumming to one beat And Peace will Come.
Peace will Come, Peace will Come!
We'll be fighting for our rights And Peace will Come.

Verse 5
We'll be fighting for our rights 'Cause Love Prevails,
And we'll wave our banners high 'Cause Love Prevails.
We'll keep marching in the street, and we won't accept defeat.
We'll be drumming to one beat 'Cause Love Prevails.
Love Prevails, Love Prevails!
We'll be fighting for our rights 'Cause Love Prevails.

'Til Justice Comes

LYRICS, by Christine Winchetester (c) 2025

Verse 1:
She came into our lives a decade ago
After searching for her for two years or so
We put out the word and we checked everyday
Then a shelter sent her profile: Come meet Daisy May

Before she arrived, I never had this role.
I had a hamster as a kid, and two fish in a bowl
We did it for our daughter, but it ended up
We all came to love that adorable pup

Chorus:
And it's "Fill up my bowl, please" and "Daddy, play fetch!"
She gave us such purpose, I know we've been blessed
As I look back on precious mem'ries, I recall
My days with Mayzie were the best days of all

Verse 2:
I cherish every walk we took on my street
She helped me to talk to strangers I'd meet
She could push my patience to frustration some days
But her cute face looking up melted anger away

Every time she coughed or stumbled, I felt it
We aged together, and together we dealt with it
Even at 15, she'd leap and run
Teaching me: never forget to have fun.		

[Repeat Chorus above]

Bridge:
So many hours she'd lie by my side
Her dark eyes spoke without words
The way she followed me upstairs and down
Said she loved me, and she knew I heard

[Repeat Chorus above]

Tag (last 2 lines of chorus):
As we look back on precious mem'ries, we recall
Our days with Mayzie were the best days of all


My Days with Mayzie

Written during FAWM 2025. full song. with Cello and bkg vocals final as of 7/13/25

At This Point (In My Life)

Christine Winchester is a singer/songwriter who lives in the Philadelphia, PA area with her husband and music partner, David C. Perry. Together they have performed live together for years as Winchester/Perry. Please visit her Playlist page for collections of her most recent self-produced music. Christine is a fan of indie rock and modern pop music and strives to weave those production styles into her folky, story-telling lyrics. Her background in musical theater can't help but sneak out here and there, too. Her powerful vocal sound is reminiscent of singers of the past such as Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, and Karen Carpenter, as well more modern voices such as Amy Mann, Alanis Morrisette, and Brandi Carlile.

Christine Winchester

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