
[Verse 1]
Buddy called, said, “Whatcha into?”
I said, “Piddlin’ — messin’ with the A/C, too
Lookin’ at a car I’ll never buy
Wrote a line or two, let the day slide by”

[Verse 2]
Stared out the window, cracked a grin
Filmed a hummin’ bird buzzin’ in the wind
Helped pull a golf cart out the mud
Found a Fireball, gave it a tug

[Chorus]
Ain’t done much, but it’s feelin’ right
Call it killin’ time, I call it life
Ain’t rich, but hell — I’m paid
In slow days, sun rays, and lemonade

[Bridge]
Started a book, forgot the plot
Think it’s ‘bout a girl or maybe not

[Chorus – repeat]
Ain’t done much, but it’s feelin’ right
Call it killin’ time, I call it life
Ain’t rich, but hell — I’m paid
In slow days, sun rays, and lemonade

[Outro – spoken or sung]
Found a Fireball under the seat…
Ate it.
Good day.

Slow Days, Sun Rays, and Lemonade

[Verse 1 – male]

I said I’m done fallin’ for your midnight calls,
Swore I’d let it ring out, leave it on the wall.
But you hit my phone with that “you up?” grin,
And hell, I’m already halfway drivin’ again.
I tell myself this time’s the last—
But girl, you got a way of pullin’ me back.

[Verse 1 – female]

I told my friends I’m stronger than your sweet talk ways,
I’m better than your tailgate “baby please stay.”
But here I am hearin’ your headlights hum,
Standin’ at the door hopin’ you still come.
You say you’re done, but I know that cue—
Boy, I ain’t the only one addicted to you.

⸻

[Pre-Chorus – Together]

We swear we’re finished, but who are we kiddin’?
One little spark and we’re right where we’ve been…

⸻

[Chorus – Both (female leads line 1, male line 2)]

’Cause I go right back to you—
And I go right back to you—
Like a match to a flame, like we ain’t got a clue.
Try to walk away but what’s the use?
Yeah, I go right back to you—
And I go right back to you.
Tell our friends we’re movin’ on,
But that don’t stick, it never do…
’Cause we go right back to you.

⸻

[Verse 2 – male]

Girl, you say you’ve changed but I know that look,
That “come on in” smile always gets me hooked.
I try to be strong, try to shut that door,
But your hands on my chest make me forget what for.

[Verse 2 – female]

You swear you’re tough but you ain’t that cold,
One kiss and your whole damn story gets told.
Everybody sees what we try to hide—
We’re a wildfire we keep tryin’ to fight.

⸻

[Pre-Chorus – Together]

Talk a big game, but our hearts won’t listen,
One little touch and the whole thing glistens…

⸻

[Chorus – Both]

Yeah, I go right back to you—
And I go right back to you—
Like trouble don’t care what trouble will do.
Try to fight it, but that ain’t the truth…
I’m built to fall right back to you—
And I’m built to fall right back to you.
Tell our friends we’re movin’ on,
But that don’t stick, it never do…
’Cause we go right back to you.

⸻

[Bridge – female + male trading lines]

Female: Maybe it’s wrong but it feels so right…
Male: I end up at your door almost every damn night…
Female: If love’s a road, where else would it lead?
Male: Every damn turn keeps pullin’ me…

⸻

[Final Chorus – Both, full power]

Yeah, I go right back to you—
And I go right back to you—
Know it ain’t good but it ain’t somethin’ new.
Try to leave, but hell, we don’t do that, do we?
I go right back to you—
And I go right back to you.
Heart says stop, but it never comes true…
’Cause darlin’, truth is me and you—
We go right back to you.

Tag (Together):
Yeah… right back to you.

Right Back To You

[Verse 1]
You rolled in wearin’ last night’s barlife,
Smellin’ like trouble and a wild-hair sunrise.
Said you were done with fallin’ too fast,
But boy, we both know you don’t mean that.
‘Cause every time you look at me like that—
Yeah, that “come here” hits like a car crash.

[Pre-Chorus]
We swear we’re just friends, then we’re tangled up again,
Sayin’ “this ain’t nothin’,” but it always is…

[Chorus]
Ain’t no way we ain’t
Fallin’ right back in the same old flames.
Ain’t no stoppin’ that spark when it hits that tank.
We try to walk away, yeah, but baby
Ain’t no way we ain’t—
No way we ain’t.
Heart says no, but the hell it can’t…
We keep sayin’ we ain’t a thing—
But ain’t no way we ain’t.

[Verse 2]
You text me “don’t come over,” then you hit send,
Then five minutes later you’re sayin’ “where you been?”
We try to play it cool, but that’s long gone,
We burn too good to ever burn out, son.
Yeah, everyone can see it but us—
We’re lies and a lighter in the same red truck.

[Pre-Chorus]
Tellin’ all our friends we ain’t messin’ up again—
But here we go, lettin’ that fire in…

[Chorus]
Ain’t no way we ain’t
Fallin’ right back in the same old flames.
Ain’t no stoppin’ that spark when it hits that tank.
We try to walk away, yeah, but baby
Ain’t no way we ain’t—
No way we ain’t.
Heart says no, but the hell it can’t…
We keep sayin’ we ain’t a thing—
But ain’t no way we ain’t.

[Bridge]
We could call it quits, but who we kiddin’?
We kiss like that, there ain’t no quittin’.
Every time you touch me, boy, it’s written—
We’re the real damn thing, just too stubborn to admit it.

[Final Chorus]
Ain’t no way we ain’t
Fallin’ right back in the same old flames.
Ain’t no stoppin’ that spark when it hits that tank.
We try to walk away, yeah, but baby
Ain’t no way we ain’t—
No way we ain’t.
Heart says no, but the hell it can’t…
We keep sayin’ we ain’t a thing—
But ain’t no way we ain’t.

Tag:
Yeah, ain’t no way we ain’t.

Ain't No Way We Ain't

[Verse 1]

I’ve been runnin’ from the memories
Like a sinner from the light.
But every road I take
Turns your shadow into night.
I pour a little bourbon
Just to feel a thing again—
Some scars don’t ever close,
They just learn to live within.

[Chorus]

If love was easy,
I’d lay my head down, get some sleep.
If lettin’ go meant freedom,
I’d be somewhere runnin’ deep.
But I’m stuck here with the pieces
Of a dream we never had—
You took the best of me,
Left me half of what I had.

[Verse 2]

There’s a picture in my wallet
That I swore I’d throw away,
But every time I touch it
I remember how I prayed
For a life we never made it to,
For a man I couldn’t stay—
Now I’m fightin’ with the silence
’Cause it knows me by my name.

[Chorus]

If love was easy,
I’d lay my head down, get some sleep.
If lettin’ go meant freedom,
I’d be somewhere runnin’ deep.
But I’m stuck here with the pieces
Of a dream we never had—
You took the best of me,
Left me half of what I had.

[Outro — Short, Soulful]

Yeah, I’m learnin’ how to stand again
With half of what I had.
Half of what I had.

Half Of What I Had

[VERSE 1] 
Back then I was a wildfire— 
Boots on the dash, heart on the wire, 
Would’ve bolted at a sweet hello. 
Didn’t trust a steady hand, 
Didn’t want no long-term plan, 
Wasn’t built for letting somebody close. 

[PRE-CHORUS] 
Funny how time turns a runaway around… 

[Chorus] 
I’d still say yes if you asked me tonight— 
I’d jump in your arms, wouldn’t think twice. 
But if I met you back then, before I knew what love could become— 
Baby, I’d run. 
Crazy how the right one changes you up— 
I’d still say yes, you’re still the one… 
But the old me? 
Yeah… She’da Run.⸻ 

[VERSE 2] 
I was rough around the edges, 
Lightin’ fuses, burnin’ bridges— 
Didn’t know a good thing when it stayed. 
But your patience met my fire, 
Turned my wild streak into something higher— 
Now look at us, look what we made. 

[Pre-Chorus] 
Never thought roots could grow on a girl like me… 

[Chorus] 
I’d still say yes if you asked me tonight— 
I’d jump in your arms, wouldn’t think twice. 
But if I met you back then, before I knew what love could become— 
Baby, I’d run. 
Crazy how the right one changes you up— 
I’d still say yes, you’re still the one… 
But the old me? 
Yeah… She’da Run. 

[Bridge] 
Took a few wrong turns, 
Took a few hard years— 
But I’d walk every mile to end up right here. 

[Final Chorus] 
I’d still say yes if you asked me tonight— 
Hell, I’d marry you twice, wouldn’t think twice. 
But if I met you back then, before the woman I’ve become— 
Honey, I’d run. 
Wild how the right one changes you up… 
I’d still say yes, you’re still the one— 
But the girl I was? 
Yeah… She’da Run.

Yeah...She'da Run

VERSE 1

Back then I was wildfire,
Heart first, burnin’ up too fast.
You were trouble in a T-shirt grin,
The kind I never knew how to make last.
We would've crashed and burned,
Two storms in the same small town—
But life held us off a while
’Til the right time finally came around.

PRE-CHORUS

Crazy how timing
Turns a close call into the real thing…

CHORUS

I’d still say yes if you asked me today—
No doubt, no fear, I’d take your last name.
But if I met you back then,
Before I learned how to love like this…
Baby, we never would've begun.
Yeah, I'd still choose you now—
But back then?
I’d run.

VERSE 2

Back then we were stubborn,
Talkin’ loud, thinkin’ we knew love.
You were reckless with a steady heart,
And I was too young to trust either one.
We would've torn apart,
Two fires burnin’ out of control—
But grace gave us a second chance
Once we both learned to grow.

PRE-CHORUS

Wild how the wrong time
Could’ve cost me my whole lifetime…

CHORUS

I’d still say yes if you asked me today—
Right here, right now, I’d take your last name.
But if I met you back then,
Before I knew what a real love is…
Baby, we never would've begun.
Yeah, I'd still choose you now—
But back then?
I’d run.

BRIDGE

Thank God we didn’t meet too early—
We’d have blown apart before the start.
Took some years and broken roads
For me to grow into your heart.

FINAL CHORUS

I’d still say yes if you asked me today—
Hell, I’d marry you twice if life worked that way.
But if I met you back then,
Before I learned how to love like this…
Baby, we never would've begun.
Yeah, I'd still choose you now—
But back then?
I’d run.
(soft)
Thank God we didn’t meet back then…
(soaring)
’Cause now?
You’re the one.

I'd Run

[Verse 1 —]

I walk in like a warning, yeah the room gets tight,
Gold chain swingin’ like a fistfight light.
Got smoke in my shadow, got fire in my shoes,
I don’t follow any rules—baby, I refuse.
They talk big mouths, I talk big moves,
You can step up, but you still gon’ lose.
I’m the spark in the wire, the match in the rain,
Hit the beat one time—boom—here comes the flame.

[Pre-Chorus —]

Turn it up ‘til the speakers bleed,
I’m the chaos that you crave, not the calm you need.
Yeah, the world gets loud when I say my name—
I don’t break under pressure, I ignite the game.

[Chorus —]

I got a riot in my veins and a storm in my chest,
If you look at me sideways, I’ll put doubts to rest.
Yeah, I rise, yeah, I swing, yeah, I cut through the noise—
This ain’t luck, this is war, this is choice over choice.
Got the grit, got the glow, got the burn in my bones—
I don’t need your permission just to claim my throne.
Light it up, light it up, watch me break these chains—
I’m the queen of the crash with a riot in my veins.

[Verse 2 —]

I’m the fallout siren when the beat gets dropped,
Never learned how to quit, only learned how to shock.
Got that “try me” look, yeah, that gasoline smile,
If you step in my path, better sprint a mile.
I don’t whisper my wins—I scream ‘em out loud,
Got the sweat of the underground, love of the crowd.
I’m the spark of a riot on a midnight street,
When the bass hits hard, that’s the drum of my heartbeat.

[Bridge]

I’m not calm—
I’m the noise before the breakdown.
I’m not small—
I’m the queen that shakes the whole town.
If you want peace—
Baby, you came to the wrong sound.
I was born loud.
Yeah… I was born loud.

[Chorus — Final]

I got a riot in my veins and a storm in my chest,
If you look at me sideways, I’ll put doubts to rest.
Yeah, I rise, yeah, I swing, yeah, I cut through the noise—
This ain’t luck, this is war, this is choice over choice.
Got the grit, got the glow, got the burn in my bones—
I don’t need your permission just to claim my throne.
Light it up, light it up, watch me break these chains—
I’m the queen of the crash with a riot in my veins.

Riot In My Veins

[Verse 1]
Daddy kept his anger in an ashtray
Right beside the Bible on the stand.
Told me real men never come undone—
So I learned to hide it with my hands.
And I grew up thinkin’ silence
Was safer than the truth I felt.

[Chorus]
It’s in the things I don’t say
Where the hurt still stays.
All the ghosts in my past
I keep tryin’ to outrun anyway.
I’m learnin’ slow how to let love stay—
But my life’s been shaped
By the things I don’t say.

[Verse 2]
I’ve lost good women tryin’
To keep the flood behind my ribs.
Told ’em they deserved the sun,
But I never gave more than I could give.
And every mile I run from sorrow
Just brings it closer every day.

[Chorus]
It’s in the things I don’t say
Where the hurt still stays.
All the ghosts in my past
I keep tryin’ to outrun anyway.
I’m learnin’ slow how to let love stay—
But my life’s been shaped
By the things I don’t say.

[Bridge]
One day I’ll speak it clean—
The hurt, the hope, what’s in between.

[Final Chorus]
It’s in the things I don’t say
Where I bend, where I break.
But I’m learnin’ slow
How to give, how to take.
If love still wants me at the end of the day—
Maybe I’ll change
These things I don’t say.

The Things I Dont Say

[Verse 1]
Got a picture of my daddy,
Worn soft around the sides.
He taught me how to stand my ground,
Not how to quiet my mind.
There’s a lighter from my wild years,
Still half-full of gasoline—
Some memories spark too easy,
Some don’t ever come out clean.

[Pre-Chorus]
I don’t talk about it much—
But it’s the weight behind my touch…

[Chorus]
These are the things I carry—
The ones that made me, broke me, saved me.
Every mile on this heart’s old tread
Comes from folks who tried to change me.
I ain’t proud of every story,
But they’re the truth that lives inside me…
Yeah, love me right and you’ll still find
The things I carry.

[Verse 2]
There’s a little bit of anger
I keep buried in my chest.
Shows up when I’m worn down—
Reminds me what’s still left.
Got a prayer I stole from Mama,
Got a fear I learned alone…
Funny how the same two hands
Build a life or throw a stone.

[Pre-Chorus]
Still learnin’ how to choose
What to keep and what to lose…

[Chorus]
These are the things I carry—
The ones that shaped me, pushed me, dared me.
If I hold on hard or love too long,
It’s ’cause someone tried to spare me.
I ain’t proud of every story,
But they ride along beside me…
Yeah, walk with me and you’ll still feel
The things I carry.

[Bridge]
One day I’ll lay ’em down—
Find a little peace somehow.
But ’til that day, just understand…
I’m doin’ the best I can.

[Final Chorus]
These are the things I carry—
Not excuses, just what made me.
If you stay, I’ll share the load
Of all the ghosts that chase me daily.
I ain’t proud of every chapter,
But if you want the whole story…
Come close and I’ll let you hold
The things I carry.


The Things I Carry

[Verse 1]

I messed up more chances than I care to count,
Lost a few jobs, took the wrong way out.
Burned some bridges I should’ve tried to save,
Learned some lessons late in the day.
But somehow you stayed through every low,
Loved me in the ways I didn’t know.

[Pre-Chorus]

And every time the world goes sideways,
You’re the calm in all my mistakes…

[Chorus]

I may not get a lot right,
But I get you right.
Through the wrong turns, right hooks,
Dark nights, lost fights—
You’re the reason I still try.
Yeah, I’ve screwed up damn near everything in sight…
But loving you?
That’s the one thing
I get right.

[Verse 2]

Mama always prayed I’d find solid ground,
Daddy said real love can turn a man around.
Didn’t think I’d live up to either one,
Till you showed me what I could become.
You’re the truth behind the man I’ve made,
The best part of every change I’ve made.

[Pre-Chorus]

And even when my past comes hauntin’,
You’re the steady voice that keeps me wantin’…

[Chorus]

I may not get a lot right,
But I get you right.
Through the wrong turns, right hooks,
Dark nights, lost fights—
You’re the reason I still try.
Yeah, I’ve screwed up damn near everything in sight…
But loving you?
That’s the one thing
I get right.

[Bridge]

If the good Lord’s keepin’ score tonight,
You’re the mercy in my life…

[Final Chorus]

No, I may not get a lot right,
But I get you right.
Every mile, every scar,
Every cracked-up part—
You’re the proof I’m still alive.
Yeah, I’ve been wrong more times than I’d like…
But loving you?
That’s the one thing
I get right.

The One Thing I Get Right

I’m JD Hodge — Oklahoma-born, red dirt-raised, and songwriting for over 30 years.

In 2024, I flatlined on an operating table. Cardiac arrest. Everything changed.

When I came back, the words came with me — like they’d been waiting their turn. Since then, the songs haven’t stopped. I write what’s real: struggle, hope, grit, and grace — stories meant to be felt.

You’ll hear pieces of my past, my people, and the kind of heartland truth you can’t fake. These songs aren’t just mine — they’re for anyone who’s fought through silence and still found a voice.

Retired • Lyricist • Country • Americana • Acoustic Soul
Oklahoma, USA

Half Of What I Had

J.D. Hodge Music-Songwriter