These are some of the songs I helped create for the FAWM 5090 in the Summer of 2022.The challenge is to write 50 songs in 90 days.
https://fiftyninety.fawm.org/

This is the long form of the February Album Writing Month - 14 songs in 28 days.
https://fawm.org

Summer 2022 - Songs Created for FAWM 5090

Am I Scared
Nancy Cunningham / JazzAnarchy

Oh, she musta been a mystic
I got her dissertation in my car
Used to tell me where you won't go
That's just who you are

It's been a couple years now
It's still hard to believe
I think of her at bed time
and when I'm raking leaves

I keep crawling through her phone book
Calling her old friends
The Jacksons and the Johnsons 
Then the Ks and Ls, the Ms and Ns

Am I scared, well I'm keeping it at bay
That's always been my way, that's what she would say
Tell me, am I scared?
That's what she would say
It's always been my way
Keeping it at bay
So am I scared?

It isn't like I'm done for
I shower and get dressed
It's not like I'm obsessed
It's not like I'm obsessed

Oh, she musta been a mystic
Her dissertation's in my car
Used to tell me where you won't go, that's just who you are

I keep crawling through her phone book
Calling her old friends
The Jacksons and the Johnsons 
Then the Ks and Ls, the Ms and Ns

Am I scared well I'm keeping it at bay
That's always been my way
That's what she would say
Tell me am I scared
That's what she would say
That's always been my way
Keeping it at bay

Am I scared
Well, I'm keeping it at bay
That's always been my way
That's what she would say

Tell me, am I scared?
That's what she would say
That's always been my way
Keeping it at bay
So am I scared?

Oh, oh, oh

Am I Scared? (performed by JazzAnarchy)

Sounding Out (No Dragons Allowed)

WORKING ALL THE TIME (Cunningham/Jones)
© All Rights Reserved 2022

Drilling offshore, digging in the mine
Handing out a ticket, paying down a fine
Harvesting the heartland, driving my rig
Singing at the Opry or any other gig

I’m working, working, working, working all the time
Working in the morning, working overnight
Pulling double shifts then working on the side
Ever’thing I do, it's all made with pride
I’m working all the time
to keep us working all the time

Rooting out the riffraff, a bouncer at the door
Putting it together on the factory floor
Breaking my back, Fixing what’s broke
I can kid around but work’s no joke

I’m working, working, working, working all the time
Working in the morning, working overnight
Pulling double shifts then working on the side
Ever’thing I do, it's all made with pride
Cause Hon, I’m working all the time
to keep us working all the time

You know the point of work is living,
the point of life is love
In work, in life, in love,
I give you all I’ve got

I’ll pitch nine innings, I'll sell my pint of blood
I’ll fill up a hole, I dug in the mud
I’ll predict the weather, I’ll bury the dead
I’ll box and I’ll build, I’ll deliver the bread
I’ll keep sweating and keep swearing, I’ll keep keeping us fed

I’m working, working, working, working all the time
Working in the morning, working overnight
Pulling double shifts then working on the side
Ever’thing I do, it's all made with pride
while I’m working all the time
Honey, I’m working all the time

And we're working all the time
Yes, we’re working all the time
© Nancy Cunningham 2022

Working All The Time

Workaholic Country Blues
Music - Jeff Walker
Lyrics - Nancy Cunningham and Nadine De Macedo 

I could tell the boss I'm leaving
Pay me out, we'll be even
Takin' fifty-two weeks vacation every year

I could turn in my time card
Might make my making rent hard
'less I bass fish (more) and hunt for deer

But the hard truth is
I wouldn't know just what to do
I got the Workaholic Country Blues
It's true
They' hard to lose
The Workaholic Country Blues
Got the Workaholic Country Blues

I could take this Job and Shove It
But in some way I must love it
I make just enough to cover bread and beer

I could crack my nest egg
Bingo might pay off big
But more likely I'll keep working right on here

'Cause the hard truth is
I wouldn't know just what to do
Without my Workaholic Country Blues
It's true
It's hard to lose
The Workaholic Country Blues
Got the Workaholic Country Blues

Grandma ploughs past sundown
Grandad drudges in town
That's the life they choose
My whole family's got the Country Workaholic Blues

And the hard truth is
We wouldn't know just what to do
Without our Workaholic Country Blues
It's true
It's hard to lose
The Workaholic Country Blues
Got the Workaholic Country Blues

Workaholic Country Blues

This was a lot of fun. Clever, witty lyrics from @nancy-cunningham-2 on an interesting and contemporary subject. What's not to like? In my head, I was leaning into a bit of McCartney's Three Legs, the Beatles' For You Blue and a dash of Simon and Garfunkel. Did I hit the mark? Probably not. 

Last but not least, the song needed a solo, so I reached out to Rich Joseph (@user-831068061) to add his awesome, double-stopping magic dust. Thanks man!

LYRICS © Nancy Cunningham

Feed the Algorithm
Give him what he wants
Put your best foot forward
Your profile
Your full fronts
Tell him all your secrets
What makes you grin and grunt
Feed the Algorithm
Give him what he wants

Feed the algorithm
Let him roll your dice
He knows your S.A.T. scores
Your dentist and your size
Your IQ and your credit score
He can name your price
Feed the algorithm
Let him roll your dice

Feed the algorithm
What you got to lose?
He knows what you pay in rent
How often you hit snooze
He can tell you how to live
Where to buy your shoes
Feed the algorithm
What you got to lose?

Feed the algorithm
Let him feed you back
He'll tell you if your rainbow
Needs repainting black
He'll serve you tasty morsels
Like your clicking crack
Feed the algorithm
Let him feed you back
Let him feed you back
Let him feed you back

Feed The Algorithm

OVERTHINKING IN C MINOR 
2025 Cooper Jones
 
There’ve been so many words I wrote
Better left unread
So many words I spoke
Better left unsaid

While I was looking for my exit strategy
To preserve my wellbeing and my sanity

But I had a change of heart
That’s “heart” in air quotes
Decided to delete 
All those messages and notes
 
Put it all down to late night drinking
And maybe me…just overthinking
 
There’ve been so many thoughts I had
Can’t text the feeling
Been so many times so sad
That left me reeling

I thought I wrote you out, shampoo for the soul
But when my eyes started stinging, I realised the toll
 
Put it all down to late night drinking
And maybe me…just overthinking
 
Crush hour traffic, before we broke
Thinking, ‘Dear John, that’s all she wrote’
Composing a chorus, but came unstuck
Have I got the wrong person, right hook
 
Put it all down to late night drinking
And maybe me…just overthinking
 
There’ve been so many words I wrote
Better left unread
So many words I spoke
Better left unsaid
 
Put it all down to late night drinking
And maybe me…just overthinking


Overthinking In C Minor

THIS DEMOLITION BALL 
2025 Cooper Jones
 
The way things are going are beyond belief
The powers that be barely respond, relief
The floods, the droughts and the hurricanes
The submergences and torrential rains
They’ll say, “There’s bigger fish to fry”
Or worse, just outright and deny
If they have kids or care at all
They’d do something now about
Do something ‘bout this demolition ball
(Ahhh) Do something ‘bout this demolition ball (Ahhh)
 
Short-term thinking just will not work
Future generations will go berserk
Blaming all the catastrophes to come
On playing deaf and playin’   dumb
They’ll say, “Let’s deal with here and now”
As if that’s a better plan somehow
But if they have kids or care at all
They’d do something now about
Do something ‘bout this demolition ball
(Ahhh) Do something ‘bout this demolition ball (Ahhh)

They’ll say “We can’t accommodate”
And spread lies that turn into hate
If they have kids or care at all
They’d do something now about
Do something ‘bout this demolition ball
(Ahhh) Do something ‘bout this demolition ball (Ahhh)
 
We were warned many years ago
By experts who were in the know
But their warnings got mainly ignored
And solutions mostly unexplored
Do something ‘bout this demolition ball
(Ahhh) Do something ‘bout this demolition ball (Ahhh)
 
The way things are going are beyond belief
The powers that be barely respond, relief
It may be too late for actions small
Better do something ‘bout this demolition ball

This Demolition Ball

WHEN A BAD DAY BECAME A GOOD NIGHT 
2025 Cooper Jones
All Rights Reserved

The dawn chorus woke me and the day began
As per usual, nothing really went to plan
I had all kinds of hopes for the hours ahead
But then I was disappointed instead
 
Things went downhill from there on in
I despaired at the direction the day had gone in
The post brought only bills and final demands
But no-one here seems to understand

But don’t worry, this is no sad, sorry tale
‘Cos the better angels, they did prevail
Just as the dark was replacing the light
Was when a bad day became a good night
 
I was waiting for some news, but it never came
‘bout my big idea, my only claim to fame
I was promised a decision before close of play
They weren’t impressed by what I had to say
 
Then to cap it all, my doctor called to say
I needed to make an appointment right away
I thought to hell with this, I’m going out tonight
See if I can put things right
 
So, don’t worry, this is no sad, sorry tale
‘Cos the better angels, they did prevail
Just as you emerged from the half-light
Was when a bad day became a good night
 
Yeah, don’t worry, this is no sad, sorry tale
‘Cos the better angels, they did prevail
For as you came into my full sight
Was when a bad day became a good night

When A Bad Day Became A Good Night

GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE 
2025 Cooper Jones
 
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
 
There’s an ocean of possibilities
Why not take a deep, deep dive
There’s an end to all hostilities
A great day to be alive
 
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
 
There’s a hope throughout humanity
Now each of us can thrive
There’s an end to all insanity
A great day to be alive
 
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
 
There’s a message spreading far and away
In the shared language of love
Singing, “We shall overcome someday”
Words that still inspire
 
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
 
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive
It’s a great day to be
A great day to be
It’s a great day to be…alive

Great Day To Be Alive

I WISH YOU WERE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY 
2025 Cooper Jones
 
Like wet on water
My pleas have no effect
To keep exchanges shorter
You distract and you deflect
 
Gaslight me gently
To question my own mind
When there are plenty
Of times you were unkind
 
CHORUS
Of all the wishes
That I have every day
I wish you were, I wish you were
The one that got away
 
It’s not me, it’s still you
Not the other way around
You just can’t undo
All the times you’ve let me down
 
G.O.A.T
The greatest of all time
You named our love
But the words no longer rhyme
 
CHORUS
Of all the wishes
That I have every day
I wish you were, I wish you were
The one that got away
 
“Careful what you wish for”
I heard so many say
Oh, how I wish that you were
The one that got away
 
CHORUS
Of all the constant wishes
That I have every day
I wish you were, I wish you were
The one that got away

This would have hurt less 
if it mattered more
We had chemistry 
But with no formula

Should’ve cancelled us
While I had the chance
Patiently in a rush
Now you’re in the past

I Wish You Were The One That Got Away

VERSE, CHORUS, VICTORY
2025 Cooper Jones

You were all loud hooks and harmony
I was stuck in sad refrain
We crashed like clashing melodies
Then danced back into frame
There were moments out of rhythm
But we never missed the beat 
Even broken records
Find a way to sound complete

CHORUS
Verse, chorus, victory,
We’ve written every line
From the fights in minor key
To the love that still rewinds
We’re not perfect, we’re a playlist
Full of key changes and scars
But verse, chorus, victory
That’s exactly who we are

We’ve faded out and faded in
Lost tempo once or twice
Skipped a beat in every season
But made it sound nice
They said we wouldn’t make it
Just a flash in one-hit skies
But we wrote past the cliché
And we’re still harmonised

CHORUS
Verse, chorus, victory,
We’ve written every line
From the fights in minor key
To the love that still rewinds
We’re not perfect, we’re a playlist
Full of key changes and scars
But verse, chorus, victory,
That’s exactly who we are

Through midnight oil and coffee stains
We chased the perfect rhyme
With every scratch-out, every try
We found a little time
No spotlight needed, no applause
Just two souls side by side
Writing our own anthem,
In the soundtrack of our lives

BRIDGE
We’ve patched up broken bridges
With gaffer tape and grit
Two pens, one worn-out notebook
And dreams that we won’t quit

CHORUS
Verse, chorus, victory
We’ve written every line
From the fights in minor key
To the love that still rewinds
We’re not perfect, we’re a playlist
Full of key changes and scars
But verse, chorus, victory
That’s exactly who we are


Verse Chorus Victory

WE’RE STILL MAKING IT UP AS WE GO ALONG 
2025 Cooper/Jones

We’re still making it up as we go along
Every tune and lyric to every song
Getting it right more than we get it wrong
We’re still making it up as we go along
 
Verse, chorus, solo, bridge and rhyme
Ridiculous to the sublime
In complicated or simple time
Verse, chorus, solo, bridge and rhyme

On love or loss or laugh out loud
So many subject matters ploughed
I think we can be very proud
On love or loss or laugh out loud
 
We’re still making it up as we go along
Every tune and lyric to every song
Getting it right more than we get it wrong
We’re still making it up as we go along
 
The song after this one could be it
You never know, a great big hit
Either way, we’ll never quit
The song after this one could be it
 
We’re still making it up as we go along
Every tune and lyric to every song
Getting it right more than we get it wrong
We’re still making it up as we go along
 
Each emotion and every thought
And all those aspirations sought
Drive the muse and inspiration
Towards more musical creation
 
We’re still making it up as we go along
Every tune and lyric to every song
Getting it right more than we get it wrong
We’re still making it up as we go along


We're Still Making It Up As We Go Along

400 Ways To Say It 
2025 Cooper Jones 

I’ve got 400 ways to say it 
Just as many ways to show it 
I will keep on making more
To make sure that you know it 
And with every passing year
When we find we’re still here
I’ll remind you of
All my love, for you

I’ll write you poetry 
And you’ll know it’s from me
‘Cause within each line
I’ll describe only things
Known to you and I

Like how beautiful you are
When you’re on your phone
Lying on the sofa
Smiling at the screen 
How emotional you are
When you watch the news
And there’s nothing you can do
To help everyone

I’ve got 400 ways to say it 
Just as many ways to show it 
I will keep on making more
To make sure that you know it 
And with every passing year
When we find we’re still here
I’ll remind you of
All my love, for you

I’ll play melodies for you
With words you’ll know are true
And there’ll be some little clues
As to why I cherish you
 
Like how wonderful you are
At always keeping calm
Saying the right thing
And saving the day
How generous you are
With your time and your patience
If only there were more
Good people like you

You, You 
You bring out the magic
Of life spent with you in it
In every special moment 
and every joyful minute

I’ve got 400 ways to say it 
Just as many ways to show it 
I will keep on making more
To make sure that you know it 
And with every passing year
When we find we’re still here
I’ll remind you of
All my love, for you

400 Ways To Say It

GAVE YOU AWAY (Cooper/Jones) 

(C) All Rights Reserved 2025 

 

We can talk for hours  

As we often do 

But words never reveal  

What I mean to you  

 

I try to hint a little  

Won’t you take the bait 

But if you even notice  

You’re too polite to say  

 

Then I catch you looking at me 

In a secret lingered gaze 

And in a glimpse, I see  

Love softening your face   

 

Your eyes just gave you away 

I saw what they wanted to say  

And the smile you barely suppress  

Tells me what you long to confess 

Something in me lifts  

As my mind begins to shift  

I feel lighter than before 

You showed up at my door 

 

Then I catch you looking at me 

In a secret lingered gaze 

And in a glimpse, I see  

Love softening your face   

  

Your eyes just gave you away 

I saw what they wanted to say  

And the smile you barely suppress  

Tells me what you long to confess  

 

Yes, your eyes just gave you away  

Do you know how much they betrayed 

In a glance you showed me your hand  

I find you got two hearts planned  

  

I got to peek inside the windows  

Of your sweet alluring soul  

Molten brown and showing  

What I want to know  

 

Your eyes just gave you away 

I saw what they wanted to say  

And the smile you barely suppress  

Tells me what you long to confess  

 

Yes, your eyes just they gave you away  

Do you know how much they betrayed 

In a glance you showed me your hand  

I find you’ve got two hearts planned 

 

Then I catch you looking at me 

In a secret lingered gaze 

And in a glimpse, I see  

Love softening your face…   

 

Gave You Away

A COULD'VE BEEN (THAT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE)
2025 Cooper Jones


I look back with affection
At that sweet connection
That never went much further than a kiss
But hearts remained unbroken
Harsh words remained unspoken
Because you chose to end it just like this...

A could've been that was never meant to be
A would've been if it had been up to me
A should've been, how good it could've been
And would've been if only you'd been free

I'll still wonder forever
If we had got together
How things might have turned out for the best
But credit where it's due
You stayed loyal and true
And so, we never put it to the test...

A could've been that was never meant to be
A would've been if it had been up to me
A should've been, how good it could've been
And would've been if only you'd been free

Sorry, if it's too much
That I got back in touch
It just so happened I was passing through
And after all these years
I've dried away my tears
And just wanted to reconnect with you...

A could've been that was never meant to be
A would've been if it had been up to me
A should've been, how good it could've been
And would've been if only you'd been free


A Could've Been

I write songs with people and on my own.  I love the way a song can light a match and illuminate a story or a feeling or a character. I'm especially drawn to Americana and Country.

I spend every February writing at fawm.org (February Album Writing Month). It's a great place to hang out if you've ever wanted to sing, play, write, compose, listen, or discuss music. You can find me there as nancycunning.

 I've gotten to write with friends in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington Wisconsin, as well as Canada, France, England, Finland, Germany, and Peru.

Working All The Time

David-Gwyn Jones

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