A mixtape for the open road — blending country soul with the spirit of rock, indie and folk. These are the songs that move me, the soundtrack I want to share with you.

Nate's picks.

What can I say? I'm a fan of Big Willie Style.

GETTIN' COUNTRY WITH IT

Worn-out shoes, fading skies, full hearts – and you at the end of the road.
“Coming Home” is an emotional road song about late nights, second tries, and the pull of a place – or a person – that feels like home. With imagery of neon towns, falling stars, and blurry eyes on empty highways, it’s a track about finding clarity in return. For everyone who’s ever run far just to get closer.

Ausgetretene Schuhe, offener Himmel, volles Herz – und du am Ziel.
„Coming Home“ ist ein emotionaler Roadtrip-Song über späte Nächte, zweite Chancen und das tiefe Gefühl, unterwegs zu sein – und trotzdem zu wissen, wo man hingehört. Zwischen fallenden Sternen, flimmernden Straßen und leisen Erinnerungen erzählt der Song von der Kraft, heimzukehren. Für alle, die losfahren, um endlich anzukommen.

Coming Home

Secondhand Rose

Every time love goes bad she looks good to me

You Wear It Well

Whispers of the Emerald Isle

You walk through doors that once were closed,
with secrets only silence knows.

[Chorus]
Alone—
you haven’t felt love in years.
Alone
not sure if someone missed you through the tears.
That feeling…
is the one you truly miss.

[Verse 2]
So now, go on, reshape your mind,
trade old beliefs for new design.
You turned your gold into the mud,
a kingdom crumbled into dust.

What once you had, you didn’t buy,
now you know the cost of that old lie.
You see how blind you’ve always been—
in love, in loss, in your own skin.

[Chorus]
Alone—
you haven’t felt love in years.
You don’t want to
be alone—
no memory that someone held you dear.
And that ache…
that’s what you truly fear.

[Bridge – dreamy instrumental / falsetto echoes]
“All that I am, I gave away…”
“The mirror cracked, but still I stay…”
“A wave of love, it pulled me out…”
“She changed me—there’s no doubt.”

[Final Chorus – full band, emotional lift]
You changed yourself and the world turned new,
a wave of love, it carried you.
Out of the cage, the golden haze,
away from guilt, away from blame.

[Outro – repeated, fading]
Yeah… yeah…
That’s the feeling…
That’s the feeling…
you were mi

empty phrases

Just Another Love Song

[Instrumental Intro]

I’m staring out the window,
the landscape blurs like a dream.
Long lines of lights go streaming by,
like frames from a silent scene.

Painted ribbons in the sky,
I caught you once with just one eye,
through the glass of my train car door —
you passed by,
smiling gently,
your hair caught in the breeze.

⸻

[Bridge]

And it feels a little foolish
pretending I don’t see,
pretending I don’t feel you
still turning back in me.

Those strands of hair
caught in the draft,
brushing lips and eyes —
you’re still so beautiful.

⸻

[Verse]

I remember us,
standing at the platform edge,
as time just stood and waited,
the crowd passed like a blur —
but there was only hush,
and the dark,
and your beating heart…

Until I opened my eyes.

⸻

[Refrain]

It was long ago,
and maybe not even real,
just a memory lost in the morning mist,
tucked in the bottom drawer I never open.

⸻

[Bridge – reprise]

And now you walk past my window again…

It feels so strange,
pretending I don’t see,
pretending I don’t feel again,
pretending I don’t glance
toward those half-closed doors
across the aisle.

⸻

[Instrumental Intermezzo]

It was long ago,
and maybe not even real,
just a memory lost in the morning mist,
tucked in the bottom drawer I never open.

⸻

[Outro Verse]

I rush out after you,
catching luck in a butterfly net —
and somehow I know I’ve caught you,
I’ve caught you…

⸻

[Bridge – outro]

Just you and me,
and never alone…

[Instrumental Outro]

rain-in-the-train-(remastered).mp3

Damn Good Mornings (Marvin Shelton-ASCAP)

Verse
Every time I went out with my buds on the town
There was hell to pay at work the next day
So many times before, I’d barely make it through the door
At 5am, saying I’ll never do it again.
 
Pre-CH
Before a cup of joe, I gave out warnings
“Don’t you tell me no damn good mornings”
 
Chorus
Who would have guessed that I’d change
All my friends think I’m acting strange
I’ve traded in drinkin' nonsense
For an all-inclusive romance
I don’t need neon lights
You’re brighter than a Texas sunrise
Girl, with you in my life, they’re all great nights 
And damn good mornings

Verse
I never would’ve thought I could ever be caught
Cuddlin’ tight with the love of my life on a Saturday night
When we’re surfin’ the couch, I don’t wanna go out
Yeah, I got all I need, with you laying on me

Pre-CH
Now I find I'm  always resorting
To hit the sack early for a damn good morning!

Chorus
Who would have guessed that I’d change
All my friends think I’m acting strange
I’ve traded in drinkin' nonsense
For an all-inclusive romance
I don’t need neon lights
You’re brighter than a Texas sunrise
Girl, with you in my life, they’re all great nights 
And damn good mornings

Instrumental

Chorus
I’m so happy that I’ve changed
Now it doesn’t even seem strange
I’ve traded in drinkin' nonsense
For an all-inclusive romance
I don’t need neon lights
You’re brighter than a Texas sunrise
Girl, with you in my life, they’re all great nights 
And damn good mornings
damn good mornings

Damn Good Mornings

More Than I Knew

Keeper of your heart

Suicidal Thoughts

He sat there stirrin’ his whiskey slow,
Lines on his face told stories untold.
Said, “Son, I see you starin’ at that phone,
Let me tell you ‘bout the nights I spent alone.”
Had a woman who loved me, but I let her down,
Chased the money, never stayed around.
By the time I saw what I had to lose,
She was gone, and I had nothin’ to choose.
If I could turn back time, I’d hold her close,
Tell my boy I love him, never let him go.
I’d pick up the phone, call my old man,
Tell my mama I miss her while I still can.
Don’t wait ‘til you’re lookin’ back,
Live each day like it’s your last.
I had a son, Lord, he had my name,
But I was too busy to show him the way.
Now he’s grown, got kids of his own,
But he don’t call, and I know why, son.
Lost my friends one by one,
Guess a man’s gotta give just to keep someone.
Had a family, had a life, had it all in my hands,
But I let it slip like grains of sand.
If I could turn back time, I’d hold her close,
Tell my boy I love him, never let him go.
I’d pick up the phone, call my old man,
Tell my mama I miss her while I still can.
Don’t wait ‘til you’re lookin’ back,
Live each day like it’s your last.
He looked at me with a faraway stare,
Said, “Son, don’t wait ‘til the world don’t care.
Love ‘em now, don’t let pride win,
‘Cause time don’t give second chances, my friend.”
If I could turn back time, I’d hold her close,
Tell my boy I love him, never let him go.
I’d pick up the phone, call my old man,
Tell my mama I miss her while I still can.
Don’t wait ‘til you’re lookin’ back,
Live each day like it’s your last.


If I Could Turn Back Time

I Got The Girl
    Words and Music: Anne-Marie Fraser, Gary Clute


[Instrumental intro]

[Verse]
He’s got a souped up Chevy with a custom trim
and a flamethrower barbie on his deck
He’s got the newest upgrades on his phone and his ‘Mac
(even the ones you haven’t heard 'bout yet)
Yeah he’s got every kind of bolt-on, go-faster stripes
And the latest tech – but what the heck!
I Got The Girl.

[Chorus]
She’s my girl now and she’s not afraid to show it
My girl now and we want the world to know it
And my feet don’t touch and my mind’s in a whirl
Cos, yeah – I Got The Girl.

[Verse]
He spends every other evening down at the gym
doin’ a mind-numbing number of repeats
Got one eye on the mirror cos it’s all about him
He thinks he’s got potential to compete
He sure looks good in Lycra working up a sweat
He's got the pecs – but what the heck
 I Got The Girl.

[Chorus]
She’s my girl now and she’s not afraid to show it
My girl now and we want the world to know it
And my feet don’t touch and my mind’s in a whirl
Cos, yeah – I got the Girl!

[Bridge]
Well, we all grew up together in the same small town
And we watched him as he played the girls and fooled around
And now he’s come to realize that he’s the clown
Do we laugh about it – well, you bet!

[Verse]
He’s going back to college to improve his grades
Wants a magnum cum laude by next Fall
Thinks he looks pretty cool in his aviator shades
Says he’s gonna be a pilot after all
Channeling Tom Cruise (you ain’t seen nothing yet)
And I wear specs – but what the heck!
I Got The Girl.

[Outro Chorus]
She’s my girl now and she’s not afraid to show it
My girl now and we want the world to know it
And my feet don’t touch and my mind’s in a whirl
Cos, yeah – I Got The Girl.
Woo-hoo! I got the Girl!
[Outro Instrumental]

I Got The Girl

This song is about moving on, 
Left my job of 20 years.

Puppet on a string

I Want Crazy

Wherever Youre Going- Derek Ryan

Nate Caldwell found his voice in Chattanooga, Tennessee – a city like no other, where three states meet (Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina) and the Rocky Mountains touch Signal and Lookout Mountain. Just a short drive from Nashville, this crossroads of South and Appalachia shaped his raw and honest sound. Blending Southern country with the restless spirit of the open road, Nate writes songs of love, loss, and redemption — stories carried on the highway wind.

Originally from Las Vegas, NM, Marvin Shelton is a songwriter based out of Tijeras, New Mexico. With influences ranging from George Strait to Bon Jovi, Marvin combines melodies and storytelling into an experience for the listener, allowing them to be elsewhere if only for a short while.

Damn Good Mornings

Marvin Shelton

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