Comin' In Cold

Jesus Wouldn't Do

Broken Branches

Broken Branches (feat. John Anderson & Riley Green)

I've Tried Everything But Therapy

Dancing With Your Ghost

F1 The Album

Bad As I Used To Be

Key: F# Major
Tuning: E-flat Standard (Eb Standard)
Tempo: 72 BPM
                                          

Without Condition

    “I bumped into Jesus the other day...
    Just asked Him how His day was going, you know, all casual-like.
    He'll always stop to talk if you want to.”

    He smiled and said, “I'm good, my friend,” but there was something else...
    Like there was a question He just couldn’t shake.

    So I asked Him, “What’s on your mind, if you don't mind me asking?”
    And that’s when He turned to me and said..."




© 2025 Matthew Kiser. All rights reserved.

Without Condition

Calmer Seas
Key: D Maj
Tuning: E-standard
Tempo: 82 BPM (it does drift up to 84 accidentally then back down but I liked it after I noticed it so I didn't quantize it)

                    Calmer Seas

I can't be sure just where it is I'm headin'
But I've set my course out to cross the sea.
I'll set my feet and ride the ebbing tides,
An' set my sails towards my Destiny.

And if at times it feels I'm sinking,
I'll catch my breath and hold on tight.

The Good Lord made a Ship out of me,
To brave the storms and push to calmer seas.
He'll fill the sails and try to keep me off the rocks,
But it's mine to steer and take it where I like.

I've seen calm seas turn mean and reckless,
Lost my bearings more than once or twice.
Raging storms have washed my decks clean,
In the darkness stars have been my only guide.

And if at times it feels I'm sinking,
I'll catch my breath and hold on tight.

The Good Lord made a Ship out of me,
To Brave the storms and push to calmer seas.
He'll fill the sails and try to keep me off the rocks,
But it's mine to steer and take it where I like.

I'm Lookin' back on ev'ry wave I've taken on,
The storms, the calm, the ports that I have known.
And if this Ship don’t sail again, don’t you cry for me my friend.
I'm in a diff'rent kind of ocean with my sails full of wind.

The Good Lord made a Ship out of me,
To brave the storms and push to calmer seas.
He'll fill the sails and try to keep me off the rocks,
But it's mine to steer and take it where I like.

The Good Lord made a Ship out of me,
And He built you one,
just like He did for me.


Lyrics & Music by Matt Kiser
© 2025 Matt Kiser. All rights reserved.

Calmer Seas

It Is What It Is
by Matthew Kiser

Some chapters of life naturally close while leaving a mark that stays with us. If you’ve ever found yourself looking back with both gratitude and a touch of wonder in a state of quiet peace, maybe this song will resonate.

Key: G Major
Tuning: E Standard
Tempo: 82 BPM

Lyrics:

I was living a life, steady and sure,
'Til a spark lit a fire I couldn’t ignore.
You came out of nowhere, like a dream in the dark,
But the lines got blurry and we put out the spark.

Well, it is what it is, and I've weathered the fall,
Took some time but I’ve let go of it all.
If the winds ever blow and you find your way back,
I’ll be where you left me, just not looking back.
Just a smile for the road, and a mem'ry we made,
I hope you’re out there living the life you craved.

Years went by, and the silence grew loud,
But I shook off the hurt, found peace somehow.
Still, sometimes at night, I hear your voice in my head,
Like you’re calling me though the words never get said.

Well, it is what it is, and I've weathered the fall,
Took some time, but I’ve let go of it all.
If the winds ever blow and you find your way back,
I’ll be where you left me, just not looking back.
Just a smile for the road, and a mem'ry we made,
I hope you’re out there living the life you craved.

If you ever feel the pull, the way that I do,
I’ll be somewhere down the line, waiting like I used to.
Not holding on, just letting it be,
What’s meant to find us, will eventually.

Well, it is what it is...
It is what it is...

And so, it is what it is, and I've weathered the fall,
Took some time out but I’ve let go of it all.
If the winds ever blow and you find your way back,
I’ll be where you left me, just not looking back.
Just a smile for the road, and a mem'ry we made,
I hope you’re out there living the life you craved.

Sometimes I wonder, was it all in my mind?
Did you feel the same or leave me behind?
I’ll never know, but it’s haunting me still.
Were you just a dream? or was it even real?

Well, it is what it is, and I've weathered the fall,
Took some time, but I’ve let go of it all.
If the winds ever blow and you find your way back,
I’ll be where you left me, just not looking back.
Just a smile for the road, and a mem'ry we made,
I hope you’re out there living the life you craved.

Yeah, I hope you're out there living the life you craved...


© 2025 Matthew Kiser. All rights reserved.

It Is What It Is

I wrote this one about that restless feeling when you know change is coming—even if you can’t quite name it yet. Sometimes all you can do is trust the pull and ride it out.

If you’ve ever felt the ground shift under your feet, or caught yourself smiling at the unknown, I hope this one resonates.


Change is Comin'
Key: E Major
Tuning: Standard
Tempo: 105 BPM

Dunno what it is but it's driving my step,
Can't put a face on it- just something in the air.
It's just a feeling, a 'something' un-defined,
I'm stepping out and I'm consciously aware...

I feel it rising like a wave beneath the sea,
Whispered promise of something that might be.

Change is coming, I can feel it in the breeze.
Shaking the ground, it smells like Destiny.
The bright unknown, yeah, I’m ready for the ride,
A change just might be good and it's feeling like it's time.

There’s buzzin’ in the air like thunder 'bout to break,
It’s rollin' in steady like ripples on a lake.
Can’t explain it but it’s pulling me ahead,
I’m ready to go, no more excuses in my head.

I feel it rising like a wave beneath the sea,
Whispered promise of things that just might be.

Change is coming, I can feel it in the breeze.
Shaking the ground, it smells like Destiny to me.
The bright unknown, yeah, I’m ready for the ride,
A change is good and it's feeling like it's time.

Familiar stories wrap me where shadows like to hide,
Comfort's just a prison where dreams can be denied.
The end of playing safe. Just take it as it comes.
No turning back now...
Bring it on, yeah!
Bring it on!

Change is coming, I can feel it in the breeze,
Shaking the ground, it smells like Destiny to me.
The bright unknown, yeah I’m ready for the ride.
A change just might be good and it's feeling like it's time.

© 2025 Matthew Kiser. All rights reserved.

Change is Comin'

Title: That Ain’t How It Works
Key: C# Minor
Tuning: E Standard
Tempo: 110 BPM

You say that it's just words like they'll fade into the air...
Like they don’t mend hearts and offer up your prayers.
You keep thinkin' 'bout the things that you don't have, and your bad luck,
So you blame the sky, curse your Fate, and throw your empty cup.

But what you tell yourself?
That’s the loudest you’ll ever pray.

’Cause that ain’t how it works and that ain’t how it goes.
You don’t plant the seed of doubt and expect to get a rose.
You don’t curse the storms that bring the needed rains,
You gotta speak it first 'fore anything can change.
I know you’re angry and you're feeling like your cursed,
But that ain’t how it works.

Your smile’s got a hint of green, like others got some kind of cheat.
You hide your frown, say “Must be nice...”. It’s like admitting to defeat.
It ain’t a game of takin’ or the luck you think you’re due.
It’s knowin’ that you’re worthy of whatever’s right for you.

What you tell yourself?
Well, that’s the loudest you’ll ever pray!

’Cause that's the way it works and that's just how it goes.
You don’t plant the seed of doubt and expect to grow a rose.
You don’t curse the storms that bring the needed rains,
You gotta speak it first 'fore anything can change.
I know you’re angry and you're feeling like your cursed,
But that ain’t how it works.

You can keep on workin' on the things that keep you movin' on,
or you can simply sit and wait for time to slowly wear you down.

’Cause that ain’t how it works and that ain’t how it goes.
You don’t plant the seed of doubt and expect to get a rose.
You don’t curse the storms that bring the needed rains,
You gotta speak it first 'fore anything can change.
I know you’re angry and you're feeling like your cursed,
But that ain’t how it works.

It’s hard to chase the light with shadow always in your view.
You think the time is runnin’ out, but that ain’t really true.
When you quiet down that inner voice that’s keepin' score,
You’ll find the space and purpose you've been lookin’ for.

It's what you TELL yourself,
That’s the loudest you’ll ever pray!
’Cause that's the way it works and that's just how it goes.
You don’t plant the seed of doubt and expect to grow a rose.
You don’t curse the storms that bring the needed rains,
You gotta live it first 'fore anything can change.
I know you’re angry and you're feeling like your cursed,
But that ain’t how it works.



©2025 Matthew Kiser. All rights reserved.

That Ain't How It Works

Musician, music production, songwriting, media. GenX retired-musician (stopped to raise a family) finally getting back to music and putting my ideas, lyrics and insights into song. I've spent the better part of my personal time over the past 18 or so years just jamming to my own tracks or seeing if I could reproduce tracks from bands like Megadeth or Def Leppard in my little home-office with my outdated gear, guitars and basses and some sort of DAW whether it was Cakewalk (VERY EARLY), Cool Pro Edit, Audacity or now, StudioOne. 
     I tend to write a lot of introspective, observational and/or conversational songs with SOME sort of meaning or depth BUT an occasional rage-fit or cynical epithet has also been known to spring once in a while as well.
    I'm interested in collaborating my works or even better, selling and passing them on to more accomplished musicians and artists who could build these out the way they know how. Turn them into something greater and more beautiful/impactful. Everything I post here serves as a demo for the composition I had in my heart or my head but is absolutely ripe for someone else's interpetation as well. 

Producing music using combinations of DAW work -Audacity, StudioOne- AI vocal processing(I am NOT the singer), filtering and editing, Melodyne, EZDrummer/Keys/Mix). 

“If I can’t make you feel something, then I don’t think I have a song. I think that’s the whole point—to make you laugh or cry or SOMETHING. If it doesn’t move you, it’s just words and chords.”         -David Crosby

That Ain't How It Works

Smile So Sweet

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