Red lipstick on his collar
Boots kicked off by the door
Empty bottle on the counter
Don't remember keeping score
Mmm-hmm, yeah
What they gonna say now?
Mama raised me better
But the devil's in my smile
Whiskey on my breath
Been walking on the wild side
Who's gonna judge me for last night?
Who's gonna tell me I ain't right?
Dancing till the sunrise
Fire in my eyes
Who's gonna judge me, judge me?
Neighbors peeking through the blinds
Small town talk ain't hard to find
But honey, I don't owe you
No apology this time
Yeah, that's right
Keep on talking
Mama raised me better
But the devil's in my smile
Whiskey on my breath
Been walking on the wild side
Who's gonna judge me for last night?
Who's gonna tell me I ain't right?
Dancing till the sunrise
Fire in my eyes
Who's gonna judge me, judge me?
I've been good for far too long
Playing by your perfect song
But tonight I wrote my own
Tonight I own
Every single choice I made
Every rule I bent and broke
Every kiss, every touch
Yeah, I want it all so much
Who's gonna judge me for last night?
Who's gonna tell me I ain't right?
Dancing till the sunrise
Fire in my eyes
Who's gonna judge me, judge me?
Let 'em talk, let 'em stare
I don't care, I don't care
Who's gonna judge me?
Nobody's gonna judge me
Mmm-hmm, yeah

WildFire

i’ve been sweet tea on a summer porch
and wildfire under torch-lit scorch
you say you’re picky, but i don’t mind—
i come in flavors you ain’t yet tried
i’ve been cherry pie with a bite of sass
lemon twist with a touch of class
a little whiskey in a coffee cup
if you want bold, i’ll turn it up
i’ve been soft like sunday rain
and sharp like heels that leave a stain
you say you’re not the settling kind—
but i’ve got ways to change your mind
whatever flavor you like, i can be
from sugar rush to slow-brewed tea
you want spice? i’ve got the heat
you want calm? i’m bittersweet
don’t need labels, don’t need rules
i break hearts and bend the tools
so take a sip, take your time—
whatever flavor you like… i’ll be fine
i’ve been peach jam on a vinyl track
and midnight mint with a smoky back
i don’t chase, but i sure invite
and i don’t beg—but i just might
i’ve been cinnamon in a quiet glance
and bourbon bold in a slow dance
you say you’re hard to satisfy—
but i’ve got layers you can’t deny
whatever flavor you like, i can be
from sugar rush to slow-brewed tea
you want spice? i’ve got the heat
you want calm? i’m bittersweet
don’t need labels, don’t need rules
i break hearts and bend the tools
so take a sip, take your time—
whatever flavor you like… i’ll be fine
i’ve been vanilla when the world felt loud
and wild berry in a quiet crowd
i don’t change for just a glance
but if you’re real, i’ll take the chance
i’ve been every shade of want and wait
and i don’t mind a twist of fate
you say you’re not the falling kind—
but i’ve got rhythm that rewinds
i’m not asking for forever, not tonight
just a taste of what feels right
you don’t have to name it, don’t define
just let your craving cross the line
i’ve been the girl who played it cool
but now i’m breaking every rule
so if you’re curious, if you’re bold—
i’ve got flavors you ain’t told
from honey hush to pepper sting
i’m every note your heart could sing
so don’t pretend you’re just passing through—
you’re here for me… and i’m here for you]
whatever flavor you like, i can be
from sugar rush to slow-brewed tea
you want spice? i’ve got the heat
you want calm? i’m bittersweet
don’t need labels, don’t need rules
i break hearts and bend the tools
so take a sip, take your time—
whatever flavor you like… i’ll be fine
yeah, whatever flavor you like… i’ll be divine
mmm(mmm)mmm 
devine

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Here is a link to the rest of the new tunes in our love quest:  https://soundcloud.com/cookiehot/sets/want-this/s-mFHXc37DmUj?si=7e5f74e3e8934c8c997d99ee6af3ca22&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Whatever Flavor You Like

i’ve seen your horse out by the gate
high-strung legs and silver gait
but i’m not askin’ for a tour—
just wonderin’ what you’re ridin’ for
you tip your hat like you know the game
boots all dusted, lips all flame
you lean on fences, talk real slow
but i’ve seen sparks where stallions go
your saddle’s worn, your rope’s well tied
but i’m not here for just the ride
i’m watchin’ how you hold the reins
and how you move through heat and rain
i’ve seen your horse, now show me pride
just wonderin’ how fine you ride
is it smooth, is it wild, is it true?
do you gallop when the night turns blue?
i’m not askin’ for a cowboy show—
just want to feel how far you’ll go
so saddle up, don’t try to hide—
i’ve seen your horse… now how fine you ride?
you talk like trails don’t scare your soul
like you’ve chased fire and paid the toll
but i’ve been burned by boys who brag
and never made it past the flag
so don’t just strut, don’t just grin
i want to know what’s deep within
can you ride through storm and sweat?
or do you flinch when hearts get wet?
i’ve seen your horse, now show me pride
just wonderin’ how fine you ride
is it smooth, is it wild, is it true?
do you gallop when the night turns blue?
i’m not askin’ for a cowboy show—
just want to feel how far you’ll go
so saddle up, don’t try to hide—
i’ve seen your horse… now how fine you ride?
i’ve got my boots, i’ve got my sway
i don’t chase boys who drift away
but if you’re bold and built to last
then maybe we can ride real fast
i don’t need roses, don’t need lines
just want to see if you’ve got spine
so if you’re game, then take the lead
but know i match in pace and need
i’ve danced with cowboys, kissed the breeze
but none could ride with heart and ease
they buckled quick, they lost their grip
when love got wild and hips let slip
but you… you’ve got that steady hand
the kind that knows where hearts can land
so if you’re real, and if you dare—
i’ll meet you there, with wind in hair
no rodeo, no showman pride—
just two souls seeing how they ride
i’ve seen your horse, now show me pride
just wonderin’ how fine you ride
is it smooth, is it wild, is it true?
do you gallop when the night turns blue?
i’m not askin’ for a cowboy show—
just want to feel how far you’ll go
so saddle up, don’t try to hide—
i’ve seen your horse… now how fine you ride?

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Here is a link to the rest of the new tunes in our love quest:  https://soundcloud.com/cookiehot/sets/want-this/s-mFHXc37DmUj?si=7e5f74e3e8934c8c997d99ee6af3ca22&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

How Fine You Ride

long haul girl with a short dress swing
moonlight buzz, got everything
i’m not waitin’ on some saint
just lookin’ for a man to fill in the blank
i got a porch with lights that glow
cash in the bank and heels to show
i’ve played it nice, played it tough
but sugar, now i’ve had enough
i’m done with boys who ghost and flake
done with games and sweet mistakes
i’m red-lip ready, nails on point
you bring the heart, i’ll bring the joint
fill in the blank, baby, make it real
ride up slow with your hands on steel
i’m not shy, and i’m not tame—
this gal’s fire with a last name
i’ve got the house, the wine, the bank
i just need you to fill in the blank
i’ve seen the stallions strut and brag
boots all talk, love in a bag
but i want more than midnight fun
someone who shows up when it’s done
got room for roots, got time to sway
if you’ve got depth, then come and play
i’m not here for half-pint dreams
i want wild love with.... tambourines....
fill in the blank, baby, hit the mark
show me heat in a country spark
don’t need perfect, don’t need fame—
just bring real and call my name
i’ve got the house, the wine, the bank
i just need you to fill in the blank
bring your truth, not a borrowed line
i'll take sweet talk but love fancy wine
if you show up like you mean to stay
you might just make me feel that way
i keep it loud, but i keep it real
a little dirty, let's see how we feel
so don’t be late, don’t overthink—
this gal’s ready to clink and wink
i’ve loved the fast, danced with slow
shared my light with radio glow
but none’ve matched this wine-stained mood—
the way i crave and cook and brood
i got velvet sheets, i got dreams to chase
but i need a man who loves the pace
one who knows when not to speak
and knows what moves will make me weak
so if you hear this song, just know it’s true—
come on back stage I'm ..waiting.. on.. you ..on.. you
fill in the blank, don’t be shy
come on over, don’t ask why
i’ve been the flame, the dance, the bank—
now
yeah, i got it all… just missin’ you, fill in the blank (blank) fill in the blank
all i need... is you.. to ...fill in the blank....

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Here is a link to the rest of the new tunes in our love quest:  https://soundcloud.com/cookiehot/sets/want-this/s-mFHXc37DmUj?si=7e5f74e3e8934c8c997d99ee6af3ca22&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Fill In The Blank

roll in the hay? that’s so yesterday
i’m not your flirtin’ fadeaway
boots look fine, and your pickup’s clean—
but i’m playin’ long, not playin’ mean
you leaned in close with a wink and grin
asked if i’d wanna jump right in
your cologne’s loud, your talk’s real slick
but love’s not made in a party trick
you got a lot to learn, oh baby
i’m not a maybe, i’m a lady
sweet tea doesn’t spill that fast
and hearts like mine were built to last
so if you're here for just a turn—
go ahead and crash and burn
'cause honey, you got a lot to learn
oh baby, oh baby… a lot to learn
i like slow dances under stars
not backseat heat in borrowed cars
you flash that smile like it's a game
but i don’t play without a name
you text at two, then disappear
thinkin’ charm will pull me near
but i’m not fooled by midnight calls—
i’m the kind who builds, not falls
you got a lot to learn, oh baby
i’m not a maybe, i’m a lady
sweet tea doesn’t spill that fast
and hearts like mine were built to last
so if you're here for just a turn—
go ahead and crash and burn
'cause honey, you got a lot to learn
oh baby, oh baby… a lot to learn
so change your tune or change your track
real love shows up, don’t hold back
if depth’s your style and truth’s your turn—
then baby… i might make you earn
roses fade, and hay gets dry
but real things bloom when stars align
so don’t come knockin’ with just your charm—
bring some grace and open arms
you got a lot to learn, oh baby
i’m not a maybe, i’m a lady
this heart don’t settle for a game
it wants the fire without the flame
so if you're here for just a turn—
go ahead and crash and burn
'cause honey, you got a lot to learn
oh baby, oh baby… a lot to learn
oh baby, oh baby… a lot to learn
oh baby,  a lot... to... learn....
oh baby, 

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Here is a link to the rest of the new tunes in our love quest:  https://soundcloud.com/cookiehot/sets/want-this/s-mFHXc37DmUj?si=7e5f74e3e8934c8c997d99ee6af3ca22&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Lot To Learn

We were living in 1969
(believe) in that time (believe)
Bell-bottom hearts and transistor dreams
We lit our lives on gasoline
She wore peace signs on her sleeve
I wore my father’s disbelief
We danced through static on the dial
Found our truth in every mile
Didn’t need no map or plan
Just a borrowed van and a rock ‘n’ roll band
She said “love ain’t just a word”
I said “freedom’s in the unheard”
We kissed beneath a protest sign
And made a vow to cross the line
We weren’t chasing fame or gold
Just a story we could hold
Every night was vinyl spun
Every morning, hope of fun
Even if the world had moved in time
We had fire, we had grace
We had nowhere, but we had space
Living in 1969
With a jukebox soul and a rebel spine
We weren’t right, we weren’t clean
But we were louder than the machine
(believe) 
She wore flowers in her hair
I wore scars from getting there
We made love like it was war
And prayed for peace we couldn’t score
The radio played truths and lies
But we still sang with open eyes
Every chord was something real
Every lyric, how we’d feel
We saw the moon land on a screen
But felt the stars in in-between
We lost some friends to darker days
But kept their names in every phrase
We weren’t born to just survive
We were built to feel alive
And though the years have blurred the line
I still bleed in 1969 (believe)
We were living in 1969
Even if the world had moved in time
We had fire, we had grace
We had nowhere, but we had space
Living in 1969
With a jukebox soul and a rebel spine
We weren’t right, we weren’t clean
But we were louder than the machine
She said “love ain’t just a word”
And I still believe her... believe... (believe)... believe

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder
Link to more of our Singer/songwriter style hits you can cover into fame because of your take!

https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/best-new-folk-americana?si=04e0155163644977b37cf8c0a04f3c53&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Living in 1969

Played my songs in smoky bars 

Chased the rhythm chased the stars 

Made a living off a worn-out tune 

And danced beneath a harvest moon 

loved too hard I lost too fast 

But every heartbreak came to pass 

I held some hands I let some go 

But I always sang what I could show 

My friends were fire wild & true 

We burned through nights we never knew 

Laughed in kitchens cried in cars 

Told the truth in faded scars 

We built a life on borrowed time 

But every chord still feels like mine 

They’re older now or gone ahead 

But I still hear the things they said 

And if this is my dying wish 

Let it be a song,not a list 

Let it be a porch light glow 

A melody the children know 

Let it be a love that stays 

In quiet hearts and louder days 

If this is all then let it be 

A life that sang back honestly 

My family held me through the storm 

Kept me fed and kept me warm 

wasn’t perfect Lord knows that 

But I showed upn and I tipped my hat 

watched my babies learn to dream 

& prayed they’d find what love can mean 

I gave them music gave them grace 

& tried to leave a kinder place 

I don’t need gold I don’t need fame 

Just someone whispering my name 

When the last note fades away 

Let them know I tried to stay 

& if this is my dying wish 

Let it be a song, not a list 

Let it be a porch light glow 

A melody the children know 

Let it be a love that stays 

In quiet hearts & louder days 

If this is all, then let it be 

A life that sang back honestly 

A life that sang back honestly 

Link to best of our country hits that you can cover to get to the top... https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/country-hits-you-might-need?si=307edea8be674dc3bedee9345a814080&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

All Rights Reserved Edwin H. Balder
Thanks so much to Del and the Team
See Our Music Videos Here> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-509h42heKT05D8egf2U9w

Dying Wish  by Songwriter Edwin H. Balder

I’ve been gone, but I ain’t blind. And tonight, we’re gonna talk
I’ve been putting things together
Like a puzzle made of weather
Every time I leave, you change your face
That funny smile, that lipstick trace
I ask you straight, you dodge the line
Like truth’s a thing you hide in wine
You pass it on like I never asked
But baby, I see through the mask
Seems like the die is cast
And the fuse is lit
So pull up a chair
We’re done with it
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Front row, no retreating
I ain’t mad, I’m just awake
And I’ve had all I can take
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Truth or lies, no more cheating
You can talk, or you can run
But the reckoning’s begun
I found the notes, I smelled the change
The perfume’s off, the bed feels strange
You say you’re tired, you say you’re cold
But your stories don’t hold
I gave you love, I gave you time
But you gave him what was mine
Now I’m not here to beg or plead
Just to cut where you still bleed
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Front row, no retreating
I ain’t mad, I’m just awake
And I’ve had all I can take
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Truth or lies, no more cheating
You can talk, or you can run
But the reckoning’s begun
I remember when your eyes were mine
When love was loud and not a sign
But now I see what I ignored
And I won’t be your backdoor
So say the words, or say goodbye
But don’t you dare pretend to cry
I’m not the fool I used to be
And tonight, I set me free
[12 string acoustic solo]
[Final Chorus — Bigger, louder]
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Front row, no retreating
I ain’t mad, I’m just awake
And I’ve had all I can take
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Truth or lies, no more cheating
You can talk, or you can run
But the reckoning’s begun
I ain’t mad, I’m just awake
And I’ve had all I can take
It’s a come to Jesus meeting
Truth or lies, no more cheating

Link to best of our country hits that you can cover to get to the top... https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/country-hits-you-might-need?si=307edea8be674dc3bedee9345a814080&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

All Rights Reserved Edwin H. Balder
Thanks so much to Del and the Team
See Our Music Videos Here> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-509h42heKT05D8egf2U9w

Come to Jesus Meeting by songwriter Edwin H. Balder

(Oh, oh, oh)
Morning light across the field
(La, la, la)
What did all that hard work yield?
He knew the season by the sky
By the way the wind would sigh
By the feel of dirt between his hands 
Like it whispered old commands 
He didn't speak of pain or fear
Just said, "The beans go in this year" (in this year)
And with a quiet, steady grace
He gave the field one last embrace
Can you see what we've become?
From the seeds of what you'd done
Fed the world, fed the soul
Left the rows in perfect roll
They're growing well, Dad, can you see?
The love you planted lives in me
(Oh, they're growing well)
He taught me how to read the land
Not with books, but with his hand 
How to listen when the earth is dry (earth is dry)
And how to trust the morning sky
He didn't chase a fortune's flame
Just cared for roots and gave them name 
And every meal that passed our plate
Was proof of work and quiet faith
Can you see what we've become?
From the seeds of what you'd done
Fed the world, fed the soul
Left the rows in perfect roll
They're growing well, Dad, can you see?
The love you planted lives in me
(Oh, they're growing well)
(La, la, la, la)
I walk these rows at break of day
(Oh, oh, oh)
Feel his footsteps fade away
(La, la, la)
Now my boy runs through these fields
Learning what the harvest yields 
Small hands dirty, eyes so wide 
Standing proud right by my side
I teach him how to plant and tend
How this work will never end (never end)
The same gentle, patient way
Dad showed me every single day
Three generations in this dirt, three generations giving worth
To every acre, every row, watching how the good seeds grow
From his father's father's hand, passed down through this sacred land
Not about the money made, it's about the promise stayed
When the world gets loud and fast, these roots are built to last
Teaching patience, teaching pride, with the earth as our guide
Every season brings its test, but we give our very best
'Cause the land remembers all, every rise and every fall
Can you see what we've become?
From the seeds of what you'd done
Fed the world, fed the soul
Left the rows in perfect roll
They're growing well, Dad, can you see?
The love you planted lives in me
(They're growing well, they're growing strong)
The love you planted carries on
(Oh, oh, oh)
Morning light across the field
(La, la, la)
This is what your life revealed
(Growing well, growing well)
The love you planted lives in me
(It lives in me)
For all the world to see

Link to best of our country hits that you can cover to get to the top... https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/country-hits-you-might-need?si=307edea8be674dc3bedee9345a814080&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

All Rights Reserved Edwin H. Balder
Thanks so much to Del and the Team and the Rap of Uncle John
See Our Music Videos Here> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-509h42heKT05D8egf2U9w

Growing Well by Songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Did an interview , asked if my music was my quest found 🎼To which I said I was a Mountain Man till I could not, and that view from the sky I have almost touched is my life wonder🗻
Started out where the Hudson runs
Mt. Marcy kissed the morning sun
Adirondack winds in my chest
Whispered, “Son, you’re heading west”
Through Vermont’s green and granite grace
To New Hampshire’s rugged face
Mt. Washington stood proud and tall
Like a lighthouse for us all
Over her majesty, I ride
Peaks and prayers on every side
From the Smokies to the Tetons’ rise
I see the truth in mountain eyes
She don’t speak, but she still sings
In rivers, rocks, and eagle wings
Every summit, every sky
Is a hymn to days gone by
Down in Carolina’s Blue Ridge line
I found a peace that felt like mine
Clingmans Dome in smoky mist
A place where heaven might exist
Ozarks rolled like gentle waves
Old songs echo through the caves
Mt. Magazine, Arkansas pride
Held my silence deep inside
Over her majesty, I ride
Peaks and prayers on every side
From the Rockies to the desert dry
I see the truth in mountain eyes
She don’t speak, but she still sings
In rivers, rocks, and eagle wings
Every summit, every sky
Is a hymn to days gone by
Pikes Peak called me through the haze
Colorado gold in twilight blaze
Saw the Tetons cut the blue
Like a promise breaking through
Then Rainier rose in northern light
A crown of snow, a soul in flight
I bowed my head, I tipped my brim
And thanked the land for raising him
It ain’t easy, no, it ain’t kind
The path’ll break your peace of mind
Loose rock, cold sweat, aching knees
Every step a silent plea
You’ll curse the wind, you’ll doubt the trail
You’ll feel too small, too weak to scale
But grit don’t bloom in easy soil
It grows in pain, it grows in toil
You climb with ghosts, you climb with grace
You climb to find your rightful place
And when you reach that final crest
You’ll know you gave your very best
The view ain’t just the sky and stone
It’s every fight you faced alone
It’s every tear you didn’t show
It’s proof you rose when life said “no”
Over her majesty, I stand
Dust and dreams in calloused hands
From Marcy’s dawn to Rainier’s gleam
I’ve walked the edges of a dream
She don’t speak, but she still sings
In rivers, rocks, and eagle wings
Every summit, every sky

Link to best of our country hits that you can cover to get to the top... https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/country-hits-you-might-need?si=307edea8be674dc3bedee9345a814080&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

All Rights Reserved Edwin H. Balder
Thanks so much to Del and the Team
See Our Music Videos Here> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-509h42heKT05D8egf2U9w

Was A Mountain Man by songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Meet Hot Cookie, the wonder that’s redefining cool with a fresh blend of reflective lyrics and acoustic-driven power. Our sound is the heartbeat of today's music scene, capturing the essence of raw emotion and musical artistry. With every track, we aim to elevate your listening experience, offering melodies that resonate and lyrics that linger. Get ready to be swept away by Hot Cookie, where every note is a testament to our passion and every song a journey!....Social Contact: https://x.com/HotCookieMusic

In the shadows of Apache Junction, at the foot of the majestic Superstition Mountains, sits a weathered hacienda. This desert oasis is home to an enigmatic figure, a songwriter whose journey reads like a long, dusty road of honky-tonk bars and college cafeterias. He wasn't chasing fame or glitter; instead, he chose the soul-crushing beauty of music for music's sake.

Years spent hunched over sticky barroom tables and scribbling lyrics on napkins earned him a reputation—not in the spotlight but in the back rooms where deals are made. He wrote melodies that found their way into the hearts of stars who had lost their own muse. He sold his creations for cash, with no recognition, but the whisper of his songs carried the weight of his soul.

Finally, he bought this piece of desert paradise—a stable income from his timeless songs allowed him to live comfortably, if anonymously. Here in this hacienda, with his family beside him and the mountains as his backdrop, he found the peace to write hits under his own name. He chuckled at the irony that now, without chasing fame, he could create music that brought him joy.

In the end, it was never about the spotlight. It was about the journey, the stories, and the songs that wrote themselves through his life. As the sun set behind the Superstitions, casting long shadows over the hacienda, he strummed his guitar and sang—content, unknown, and unburdened by the world's gaze.


Copyright 2019 Edwin H. Balder

I may be dead when fame comes but my real glory was always JULIE & The Kids. Thank you for such love

New tracks tagged #dustyboots