OLD DEMONS

I had it all
A big job title, a fancy car
And a house on a hill, fit for a star
Best of all
I had the girl

Then old demons
Haunted me again
Too much pressure and too much gin
Did me in

Swore it wouldn’t keep happenin’
But it did
Again, and again
And again, and again

One bottle
And a broken promise
I dropped a hand grenade
And I fell on it
She don’t feel the same
And I’m the cause of it

Old demons
Thought I’d buried them
But they weren’t finished
Teaching me a lesson
Again, and again
And again, and again

One bottle
And a broken promise
I dropped a hand grenade
And I fell on it
She don’t feel the same
And I’m the cause of it

Oh, those old demons
Made me lose my friends
Wrecked all the big plans I had
Again, and again
And again, and again

One bottle
And a broken promise
I dropped a hand grenade
And I fell on it
She don’t feel the same
And I’m the cause of it

I can’t blame her 
I can’t blame strangers
I’m the one who failed her
I don’t deserve her love

2021 ©Rich Bonnin, All rights reserved.

Old Demons

THE EASY WAY

I was born so poor, I didn’t know
You could eat food you didn’t grow
Daddy worked the farm all day
And left each night to escape

First time he tried the easy way
Mama cried so hard that day
I didn’t understand her pain
Till our lives forever changed

He’d show up late to my ballgames
In my last turn at the plate
He’d call the ump the meanest names
Granny said, “That ain’t the man I raised”

First time he tried the easy way
Mama cried so hard that day
I didn’t understand her pain
Till our lives forever changed

Word spread, he was slinging dope
To keep us from going broke
Mama tried to make him stop
But he shot someone and got locked up

First time he tried the easy way
Mama cried so hard that day
I didn’t understand her pain
Till our lives forever changed

The judge gave him 15-to-life
In his painful last goodbyes
He said, son, when you find a wife
Don’t make the same mistakes as I
You’ll find there’s no place to hide
When you make your loved ones cry

First time he tried the easy way
Mama cried so hard that day
I didn’t understand her pain
Till they took my dad away
Till they took my dad away

© 2021 Richard Bonnin and James Nichols. All rights reserved.

The Easy Way

Demo with piano. Full-band production in progress.

BITTER WEEDS

Planted a garden of wisdom 
Where our love could grow
Fertilized it with kisses
Watered it with hugs

Then jealousy entered
Bitter weeds popped up
Our love soon withered
And we broke up

Now, the garden sits empty
Row by row
Instead of flowers smelling sweet
He left me the weeds
But he kept the hoe

Planted a garden of wisdom
Where our love could grow
But there was something missing
Wish I’d have known

You can put your heart into it
But the seeds of love won’t grow
They wash away the minute
The winds of change blow

Now, the garden sits empty
Row by row
Instead of flowers smelling sweet
He left me the weeds
But he kept the hoe

Planted a garden of wisdom
Where our love could grow
Put my soul in it
When I tilled the soil
But commitment wasn’t in him
And the whole thing spoiled

So, the garden sits empty
Row by row, oh no
Instead of flowers smelling sweet
He left me the weeds
But he kept the hoe

2022©Rich Bonnin, All Rights Reserved

Bitter Weeds

EMOTIONAL AUDITS

In my cozy bedroom
With a lingering scent of you
I do an emotional audit
And think about us
A voice inside my head
Is whispering, be cautious
But I silence common sense
My heart’s on fire again

What has me chasing you,
Is it the promise of our future?
Or your beautiful baby blues
That heat me up like the days of June?
Is it your jacked up pickup truck
With romantic rides by the evening moon?
Truth is, none of that’s enough
No, it’s the love I see in you

You seem to read my thoughts
And you know my every move
I was convinced it was because
Your heart wanted to chase me, too
So, when you asked, I said, I do
We had the perfect honeymoon
Time exposed the ugly truth
Your jealousy took hold and grew

In my dark, windowless office
That reeks of sudden sadness
I do an emotional audit
And cry about us
The voice inside my head
Whispers, this is what you get
When you silence common sense
Pain is gonna show up next

What had me chasing you,
Was it the promise of our future?
Or your beautiful baby blues
That heat me up like the days of June?
Was it your jacked up pickup truck
With romantic rides by the evening moon?
Truth is, none of that’s enough
For evil’s hiding deep in you

In a bored attorney’s office
That looks so cold and hopeless
I do an emotional audit
And say, divorce us
The voice inside my head 
Whispers once again
This time, I listen when it says
You’ve taken your first step
On the road to happiness

What had me chasing you,
Was it the promise of our future?
Truth is the man I thought I knew
Now knows what heartache feels like, too

2023©Rich Bonnin, All Rights Reserved

Emotional Audits

HOW WE ACT IN TEXAS

The trouble started in a bar one night
An out-of-town pretty boy caught my girl’s eye
You know, the type who ruins good times
He gave her his number, and I saw her smile
That’s when the cowboy in me went wild

One punch, the dude was out like a light
To my total shock and surprise
My girl cursed me out, and said, goodbye
I swear, to this day, I don’t know why

You see, that’s how we act in Texas
You’re welcome here, if you respect us
If you don’t, you better expect this
We’re gonna kick your ass

I thought of her as the girl of my dreams
‘Till she flirted right in front of me
Some say I was wrong to get so mad
To me, she overreacted
When she hit the exit so fast

You see, that’s how we act in Texas
You’re welcome here, if you respect us
If you don’t, you better expect this
We’re gonna kick your ass

I’ve replayed the scene a thousand times
Over and over again in my mind
Maybe, I’ll do things different next time
But my advice is, you better think twice
Before you mess with a cowboy’s life

You see, that’s how we act in Texas
You’re welcome here, if you respect us
If you don’t, you better expect this
We’re gonna kick your ass

Here’s something else to know ‘bout real cowboys
Before things slide from bad to worse
We just might shoot first…
And ask questions last

2023©Rich Bonnin, All Rights Reserved

How We Act In Texas

In the Beginning

I didn’t understand the first time I heard
In the beginning was the Word
I was so obsessed over a girl
I lost focus on the Lord, put it all on her
I had important lessons to learn

Like Earthly things aren’t made to last
Life has a way of changing so fast
Sunk in the abyss, I misplaced my faith
Made wrong decisions and selfish mistakes
Had the devil in me, couldn’t chase him away

I didn’t understand the first time I heard
In the beginning was the Word
I became a drunk, hanging out in bars
Acted like a punk, waging petty wars
I had important lessons to learn

Like when times get tough, there’s a higher power
Here for us every minute, every hour
I felt His love and His healing touch
I realized, I’m not alone in this world
Got Jesus in me, and I’m humbled

I didn’t understand the first time I heard
In the beginning was the Word
Now, I’m born again, and through His spirit
I’m filled with hope, and life’s worth living
‘Cause I have important lessons to learn

In The Beginning

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?
 
M: I want to wake up in your arms
F: Go beyond where my boundaries are
M: Taste the sweetness of your lips
F: I’ll dismiss all my limits
 
Duet: With you, I know my comfort zone
Is just the start of where we’ll go
With you, I’m willing to explore
How far is too far?
Ohhhhhhh, oh
Babe, I wonder
How far is too far?
 
F: Show me things I long to know
M: Take me where I can’t go alone
F: With you, yes, is my favorite word
M: Girl, you’ve opened up my world
 
F: There’s excitement in the dreams we have
M: I can be myself and discover that
F: I come alive when I seek the edge
M: Can’t wait to feel what’s coming next
 
Duet: With you, I know my comfort zone
Is just the start of where we’ll go
With you, I’m willing to explore
How far is too far?
Ohhhhhhh, oh
Babe, I wonder
How far is too far?
 
M: What we have is empowered love
Where control can be mine or yours
F: Desires beyond my wildest dare
Are satisfied when trust is there
 
Duet: With you, I know my comfort zone
Is just the start of where we’ll go
With you, I’m willing to explore
How far is too far?
Ohhhhhhh, oh
Babe, I wonder
How far is too far?
 
M: With you, I’ll crash through love’s door
F: Where passion lives, and so much more
Duet: Give my whole self, body and soul
To join your heart with my own
 
M: Let’s break down every wall
Find heaven that lasts all night long
F: Push buttons, with no fear at all
Duet: This love can’t go too far
Ohhhhhhh, oh
True love is where you are

Richard Bonnin (BMI)
©2023

How Far Is Too Far?

A tribute song to honor the memory and legacy of renowned artist Robert Hurst.

ART LIVES ON

(Spoken) 
Time cannot erode
What resides in your soul

In sunshine and rainbows
On hillsides and meadows
In the echoes of emotions
Like a perfect song 
Art lives on

In the young and old 
In galleries and in homes
Blessing us, as we go
In the light and shadows
Art lives on

A great painter I know
Left this world too soon
But he’s not really gone at all
I can see his dreams
In fields and in streams
His spirit’s all around me
Seems his panoramic canvas 
Graces every wall 

In his humble heart of gold
With bold talent, so well-known
He had drive and passion 
Though friends and family mattered most
In minds and vibrant color palettes
Art lives on

A great painter I know
Left this world too soon
But he’s not really gone at all
I can see his dreams
In fields and in streams
His spirit’s all around me
Seems his panoramic canvas 
Graces every wall 

A “Damn Fine Artist” he was
He gave everyone so much
But how we long for more
More images, more colors
More wisdom and discussions
More chances to tell him he’s loved

A great painter I know
Left this world too soon
But he’s not really gone at all
I can see his dreams
In fields and in streams
His spirit’s all around me
Seems his panoramic canvas 
Graces every wall 

(Spoken) 
Time cannot erode
What resides in your soul
Rest easy, Robert Hurst
You’ll always be remembered and loved

Art Lives On

"Get the Hell Out!" is a fierce, unapologetic anthem for anyone who’s had enough of lies, control and second chances. Written by Rich Bonnin, this powerhouse track tells the story of a woman reclaiming her strength, drawing a line and kicking toxicity to the curb — with zero regrets. Fueled by raw emotion and a defiant groove, it’s the breakup song that doesn’t beg... it commands.

Whether you’ve lived it, witnessed it, or need the courage to walk away — this song is your firestarter.

Turn it up. Sing it loud. And if they don’t respect you?
Tell 'em to GET THE HELL OUT!

GET THE HELL OUT!

SHE'S GONE

Rich Bonnin is a diverse and award-winning songwriter, and a member of BMI. His work has received the Finalist Award in the 2019 USA Songwriting Competition and Semi-Finalist Award in the 2019 Song of the Year Song & Lyrics competition for "The Monster," Honorable Mention recognition in the American Songwriter Magazine July/August Lyric Contest for "Leave the Weed to Willie," Semi-Finalist awards in the 2018 Music City SongStar Spring Songwriting Contest for "Paradise" and "Two Years Sober," the Directors' Award in the 2017 Nashville International Song & Lyric Contest for best Christmas song ("It's You Darling"), a Finalist Award ("Out of Tune") and a Nominee Award ("Three Words") for best lyrics in the 2017 Hollywood Songwriting Contest, an Honorable Mention Award in the Country Music category of the 2017 International SongDoor Songwriting competition ("You Ain't Left Me Yet"), the 2015 Hollywood Songwriting Award for best hip-hop song ("Black Widow") and a Finalist Award in the 2014 American Songwriting Awards competition for best lyrics ("Complicated").

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