Funny Seeing You Here

[Verse 1]
I got trouble in Amarillo, got exes down in San Antone
They say a cowboy loves his freedom, but he hates to sleep alone
Last night I called up Dallas, but she’s got ocean front dreams now
I guess the cowboy rides away when she figures him out

[Verse 2]
So I’m sittin’ here in Lubbock, just a fool hearted memory
Nursin’ whiskey with my regrets — yeah, they’re all good company
Bartender says I’m trouble, I just wink and tip my brim
Tell him, “Boy, I’m The Fireman — if there’s heat, I’m jumpin’ in”

[Chorus]
‘Cause all my ex’s live in Texas, but my heart’s still on the run
I keep carryin’ your love with me till I find another one
And when she checks yes or no, well, we’ll burn until we part
Then I’ll head back to Amarillo with this unwound cowboy heart

[Verse 3]
Met a girl in Corpus Christi, said she’d tame my ramblin’ ways
But I left her for the rodeo — that blue clear sky turned gray
Now baby’s gotten good at goodbye, she don’t shed no tears for me
Just another name in my rearview and a new song on repeat

[Chorus]
‘Cause all my ex’s live in Texas, but my heart’s still on the run
I keep carryin’ your love with me till I find another one
And when she checks yes or no, well, we’ll burn until we part
Then I’ll head back to Amarillo with this unwound cowboy heart

[Tag]
So if you see me down in Houston, pour a shot and say a prayer
‘Cause this ol’ Strait song’s still playin’ while I’m chasin’ love out there
Yeah, I cross my heart I’ll settle down — but not tonight, sweet darlin’
I’m still that Amarillo trouble — and The Fireman when there’s callin’




Back to Amarillo

[Verse 1]
I don’t smoke weed, and I can’t drown in a drink
Tried runnin’ from the hurt, but it’s quicker than I think
This lasting darkness don’t ever let me be
It’s painted on the walls of every memory

[Verse 2]
I’m fallin’ fast, but movin’ slow
These little white lies in a bottle don’t show
They smile, they judge, they sip their tea
But none of ‘em know what it’s like to be me

[Chorus]
So I smile and wave, hide my insecurity
Wear my broken dreams like worn-out jewelry
No pity, no sympathy, just me and this pen
Writin’ down truths I won’t say again
I don’t smoke weed, and I can’t drown in a drink
God help me… I’m closer to the edge than they think

[Verse 3]
I’ve caused the pain, I’ve burned some bridges too
Every scar I’ve got’s got a name and a truth
But healing don’t come in a pharmacy bag
And shame don’t leave just ‘cause you wave a white flag

[Bridge]
A heart can break quiet, without a sound
And a strong girl can still be spiralin’ down
Don’t need your whispers or your sideways prayers
Just a moment of grace like somebody cares

[Chorus]
So I smile and wave, hide my insecurity
Wear my broken dreams like worn-out jewelry
No pity, no sympathy, just me and this pen
Writin’ down truths I won’t say again
I don’t smoke weed, and I can’t drown in a drink
God help me… I’m closer to the edge than they think

[Outro]
I don’t smoke weed…
And I can’t drown in a drink…
But I’m beggin’ You now… God help me.

June 5, 2025 at 10:40 PM

Closer Than They Think

[Verse 1]
I spent my nights just dreamin’ ‘bout that wild-eyed girl next door
Wrote her name in my old notebook, prayed she’d love me more
I promised her the good life, a white picket paradise
Now I’m sittin’ here at midnight prayin’ for my old life
⸻

[Chorus]
‘Cause when tomorrow comes, and you get what you dreamed of
Turns out her sweet forever love’s a whole lot to clean up
She’s got me doin’ dishes, foldin’ laundry every day
When tomorrow comes, goodbye to my ol’ rowdy ways
⸻

[Verse 2]
I used to ride with my boys all night, fishin’ poles and cheap beer cans
Now it’s Sunday brunch with her momma and holdin’ her toy Yorkie’s hand
She says, “Honey, take the trash out — oh, and fix that squeaky door”
I shoulda known when tomorrow came, I’d be beggin’ for before
⸻

[Chorus]
Yeah when tomorrow comes, and that dream girl’s by your side
Turns out her sweet forever kiss comes with a honey-do list mile wide
She’s got me paintin’ fences, takin’ selfies at ballet
When tomorrow comes, that freedom train pulls away
⸻

[Bridge]
They say be careful what you wish for, boy, you just might get it all
Well I got her and a minivan parked out in my yard
I traded late nights at the tavern for wine spritzers on the couch
When tomorrow comes, you’ll find out what true love’s all about
⸻

[Chorus]
So when tomorrow comes, and she says, “Baby, we need to talk…”
That means new throw pillows and three more rescue dogs
I love her more than whiskey, but I miss my rowdy days
When tomorrow comes, you’ll find me mowin’ lawns for heaven’s sake
⸻

[Outro]
So if you’re wishin’ for tomorrow, think twice before you pray
‘Cause when tomorrow comes, it might just wreck your yesterday

When Tomorrow Comes

[Verse 1]
You were sittin’ cross-legged in my old gray tee
Talkin’ ‘bout dreams you had that didn’t include me
I lit a smoke, leaned back on the tailgate
Swearin’ I could feel somethin’ slip away

Was it the night by the lake when the stars went dim?
You looked at the sky like it still had him
I asked if you were good, you just nodded slow
Guess that’s when the "yes" started meanin’ "no"

[Chorus]
At what point was that?
When your love cracked and didn’t come back?
Was it the silence, or that second glance
You gave the mirror like I wasn’t your man?
You didn’t cry, you didn’t fight
You just got quiet in the heat of the night
And left me hummin’ in the aftermath—
So tell me, darlin’…
What point was that?

[Verse 2]
I still remember that night you were sick in bed
I held your hair while you shook your head
You said, “I’m fine,” but you weren’t, not really
You just hated me seein’ you feelin’ that needy

I brought you tea, you gave me space
And I started learnin’ how goodbye tastes
Not loud, not fast, no tire tracks
Just a love that left and never looked back

[Chorus]
At what point was that?
When your heart packed up and forgot the map?
Was it when I dreamed too loud for this town
Or when you saw me as somethin’ to drown?
I gave you fire, you gave me ash
And I’m still pickin’ through what we had
Tryin’ to find the crack in the glass—
At what point was that?

[Bridge]
Ain’t askin’ for nothin’, don’t want you back
Just want to know when you started to act
Like the porch light was on but the door was locked
Like the music played but the feeling stopped

[Final Chorus]
Yeah, what point was that?
Was it him, or was it the past?
Was it somethin’ I missed or nothin’ at all?
Just the way good things tend to fall?
You left soft, without a sound
And now I’m stuck in this quiet town
Still rewinding what we used to have…
And askin’ myself—
What point was that?

What Point Was That

[Verse 1]
You say you love the lost, but you don’t answer calls
I knocked, I bled, I told it all
You smiled like you meant it, then backed away slow
Like my story was a burden you didn’t wanna know

I ain’t askin’ for a spotlight or a stage
Just someone who don’t run when the truth ain’t safe
You sing about grace like it’s sweet and clean
But I’ve seen it show up where the dirt still clings

[Chorus]
You preach it ‘til it’s pretty
You post it ‘til it trends
But when a man walks outta Heaven
You don’t call, you just pretend
You talk about revival
But you’re scared to hear me feel
Don’t say you believe in fire
If you won’t preach it ‘til it’s real

[Verse 2]
You got a Bible verse taped to your desk
But won’t meet me eye to eye when I confess
You said you believed in a God who saves
But you ghosted me the moment I misbehaved

I came back burned but breathing air
With stories that don’t fit your Sunday prayers
But I ain’t here to fit your mold
I’m here ‘cause love refused to let me go

[Chorus]
You preach it ‘til it’s pretty
You post it ‘til it trends
But when a man walks outta Heaven
You don’t call, you just pretend
You shout about the miracles
Then ghost the ones who heal
Don’t say you believe in fire
If you won’t preach it ‘til it’s real

[Bridge]
One breath away from never again
You’d think that would change the hearts of men
But maybe truth’s too sharp for your peace
So I’ll carry it loud, while you whisper weak

[Final Chorus]
You preach it ‘til it’s polished
You quote it with a grin
But when the grave lost its grip on me
You ran like I’d sinned
You talk about the Spirit
But you don’t know how it feels
Don’t say you believe in Heaven
If you won’t preach it ‘til it’s real

[Outro]
So don’t preach it
Unless you mean it
Real.

You Preach It ‘Til It’s Pretty

[Verse 1]
I woke up somewhere between Whiskey Bent and broke
Heart like a George song, lungs full of smoke
Tried prayin’ like Dolly, but she don’t pick up
So I poured me a shot in a neon Dixie cup

[Verse 2]
There’s a picture of mama by the old jukebox
She used to say, “Boy, don’t end up like Haggard talks”
But I played The Dance, and I played it again
Then I whispered Jolene like she might walk in

[Chorus]
This life’s just a mixtape of stories and scars
With some Folsom Prison Blues and a couple dive bars
Got a Go Rest High ache and a Friends in Low smile
Tryin’ to fake Strait when I’m broke by a mile
I ain’t no legend, but I’ve lived like the rest
This ain’t my song — it’s built from the best

[Verse 3]
She said I Will Always Love You, then she slammed the door
Left me hummin’ Your Cheatin’ Heart on that kitchen floor
So I hit the highway with a Luke song loud
Feelin’ like Amarillo By Morning right now

[Chorus]
Yeah this life’s just a mixtape of steel-string pain
With a little He Stopped Lovin’ Her stuck in my brain
Got a little Coal Miner’s Daughter in my past
A little fast love, a long goodbye, nothin’ that lasts
I ain’t original, just worn and confessed
This ain’t my song — it’s built from the best

[Bridge]
Give me Merle for the mornings
Give me Cash when I’m cold
Give me Hank when I’m reckless
And Dolly for my soul

[Final Chorus]
Yeah I’m patched up in stories from someone else’s pen
But if you’ve ever been lonely, then you know where I’ve been
It’s the chords that heal, not the names on the vest
So I’ll sing like it’s mine — though it’s built from the best

[Tag]
So if they ask who wrote it, just smile and nod
Say it came from a jukebox, a prayer, and God

Built from the Best

[Verse 1]
We were together since way back when
Next thing I knew you were gone with him
Last time I saw you, we shared that name
You took off runnin’, my whole world changed

⸻

[Chorus]
Look at me now, got a six-pack grin
Freedom back and my good friends in
This old bar where you walked in
Lookin’ like a ghost of what could’ve been
Funny how your leaving felt like hell back then
I dodged that bullet, thank God, amen

⸻

[Verse 2]
You say you’re lonely, you want me back
But I’m just fine, I’m on my own track
No more slammin’ doors, no sleepless nights
Just a cold beer and my own life

⸻

[Chorus]
Look at me now, got a six-pack grin
Freedom back and my good friends in
This old bar where you walked in
Lookin’ like a ghost of what could’ve been
Funny how your leaving felt like hell back then
I dodged that bullet, thank God, amen

⸻

[Bridge]
Here’s to heartbreaks that set us free
To all the pain that’s good for me
I’d take that hurt all over again
I dodged that bullet, thank God, amen

⸻

[Chorus]
Look at me now, got a six-pack grin
Freedom back and my good friends in
This old bar where you walked in
Lookin’ like a ghost of what could’ve been
Funny how your leaving felt like hell back then
I dodged that bullet, thank God, amen

⸻

[Outro]
Yeah, I dodged that bullet, thank God, amen

Six-Pack Grin

[Verse 1]
Hey, I hope you’re doin’ fine out there,
Wherever you lay your head
I bet you think I’m movin’ on
By the pictures that I’ve fed
Yeah, I laugh when folks are lookin’
But when the moon climbs that sky
I’m sittin’ here askin’ shadows —
If I’m so happy, why do I cry?

[Verse 2]
I still keep that Christmas letter,
I still hear your old dog bark
I still count up all those mornings
Where we tangled in the dark
They all say I’m better off now,
But that don’t make it right
You call this happy, honey?
Then why do I cry at night?

[Chorus]
If you’re wonderin’ how I’m holdin’ up,
Well, I ain’t gonna lie
I pour my truth out in a bottle
When that truth cuts me dry
If you gave me back that moment,
I’d trade it all tonight
You call this happy, darlin’?
Then why do I cry?

[Bridge]
If you ever wonder, baby,
If I ever cross your mind
Just know your ghost still haunts me
When I’m alone at night

[Chorus]
So if you hear I’m doin’ better,
Well, that’s half a truth at best
I might look like I’m free now
But this freedom’s just a mess
If I’m so damn lucky, honey,
Then why’s it feel like goodbye?
You call this happy, darlin’?
Then why do I cry?

If I'm so happy...

[Verse 1]
Was it the night I held you by the lake,
Wrapped in my jacket, tryin’ not to shake?
You said nothin’, just stared at the stars,
But your hand felt heavy in the dark.

Was it the time you cried and I drove all night,
Just to sit on your porch ‘til the morning light?
You smiled, but your eyes looked far away—
Was that the start of slippin’ away?

[Chorus]
At what point did your love break?
Was it slow like ice, or a clean heartache?
Did it fade in silence or snap in a fight,
Was it lost in the day or buried in the night?
I keep searchin’ every memory we made…
At what point… did your love break?

[Verse 2]
Was it that sick night you couldn’t shake,
When I brought you soup and stayed too late?
You thanked me soft, but your lips felt cold—
Did you know right then we were growin’ old?

Was it that road trip back in July,
When we drove ten hours and barely said hi?
Radio on, but the air was thin—
Were you leavin’ me right there and then?

[Chorus]
At what point did your love break?
Was it a small goodbye you never got to say?
Did I miss the signs, too blind to see,
That the end had already started with me?
Now I lie here askin’ every day…
At what point… did your love break?

[Bridge]
Maybe love don’t shatter, it just wears thin
One crack at a time ‘til it caves in

[Final Chorus]
At what point did your love break?
Was it all too much, or just too late?
Did I hold on tighter than you could stand?
Was I fightin’ alone with an empty hand?
Now I’m left with nothin’ but the ache…
Wonderin’ when… your love broke away


At What Point

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
Collabs & contact: jim@reddirtclassics.com

What Point Was That

J.D. Hodge Music-Songwriter

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