it's tearing me up to leave you this way
but nothing can change my mind
i gotta pull myself away
i've wasted enough of precious time

i don't wanna wake up any morning
to your long list of things
that always take up any reason for breathing again
i had to keep hoping that you'd grow out of your long history

and maybe just notice why the good things always leave

packing it up and i'll call it a day 
and no one can change my mind
just can't stand to live this way
it's hard to compete when pains your vice

i don't wanna wake up any morning
to your long list of things
that always take up any reason for breathing again
and i had to keep hoping that you'd crawl out of your long misery
and maybe just notice why the good things always leave

------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Long List Of Things

who's got your back when your faults shake

who is your safety net when your lines break

who saves us all when you're/we're scared or
who's gonna take the fall 
if things go south
or that north wind chills me
through

------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Midwest

so you're out tonight
but your friends are all home
gonna win this one
on your own

yea you know you're something special when they want it so bad
show'em something different like nothing they've had
so you wait for the hole
take the control
night
through

pull

so you're out tonight
and you're glad your not home
gonna win this one
on your own

yea you know their something special when you want'em so bad
show'em something different like nothing they've had
so you wait for the hole
take the control
night
through

pull

------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Pull

there's a long lonely road
that reminds me of you
with a hat on a cross
marks the reckless of youth

now you've gone far away
far enough never heard
and your seeing it all
like a new type of birth

then that bright sunny day
headed down to the park
when we take that first hit
and the lightning storm starts

now you've gone far away
don't hang out with the crew
we were seeing it all
the tumbles and falls 
through the gravel you flew

wish you could see what you did
no you can't see
scars are hid

crumpled bridge no return
all the streetlights gone dark
and you sift through it all
blackened memories
thoughts

now you've gone far away
coming up to the end
its so hard to move on
with anger this strong
feels like a kick in the head

wish you could see what you did
no you can't see scars are hid

wish you could see what you did
no you can't see
------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Arboretum

cut your hair
act like a gentleman
then take 'em out

dress to impress
bow to the big man
then take him out

i just wanna be freed from this horror
it's not a question to me 

i don't see the need for a sermon
from the liars, pedos and freaks

i just wanna be clear to you honey
it's rigged and impossible dream

i don't wanna     
go out like this baby

it's falling sinking and coming apart at the seams

speak well
act like a middle man
then take 'em out

hole up
act on an action plan
then take 'em out

------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Take'em Out

over at the underpass we'll meet
drowning out our plans with noise from street
hidden from the planes
it's just a normal morning

gotta keep your secret so secure
not safe to think things anymore
tattooed on these hands
final wishes and demands

cause anyone can break down
from laws and god, lost love and not living
world round you know
but i'm feeling
heartache can bring us together
and we won't stand alone

i struggle with the truths to tell my kids
wonder when its all appropriate 
when i was their age
would I dive into dark water

wonder if you trust the crossing guard 
to keep you safe from speeding cars
what if she's on the take
and flips that sign too late

cause anyone can break down
from laws and god
lost love and not living
world round you know
but i'm feeling
some day a dam(n) will/we'll start giving 
and we won't float alone

i struggle with the truths to tell my kids
wonder when its all appropriate 
when i was their age
would I dive into black water?

----------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Wishes And Demands

remembering old days and it's rattling me
yea man i can't believe half of things i've heard or i've seen
writing the reasons
smudging black pen
try to impress myself
but i just pretend to pretend

i'm still you

i'm running for cover because you're rabid again
try to protect myself but there's just no way to defend
right handed reasons
exploding again
try to invent myself
but i just pretend to pretend

i'm still you

remembering old days and it's rattling me
try to distract myself with the shit you see on tv
rewriting the reasons
smudging black pen
try to impress myself
but i just pretend to pretend

i'm still you

----------------------------------------
written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Ambidextrous

well i can't sleep cause i miss the ocean
miss my little house out on the bay
yeah it'd be nice if i lived closer
sure'd like to be there again someday

well i miss winter up in the mountains
driving fast through deserts on cold days
nothing beats the taste of a little freedom
feel all your cares just melt away

yea

i keep this place in my mind for when
the days are built to break

so i've settled here out on the prairie
have a quiet space i can work away
not a thing that i think i'd choose different
not a snowy peak or a deep blue wave

yea

i made a place of my own for when
the days are built to break

----------------------------------------
music by: Todd Johnson & Hank Rischar
lyrics by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

©2015 Todd Johnson. all rights reserved.

Built To Break

clues are adding up yea 
and i just don't know
if all the things that i grew up with
are real at all

i gotta stop to think
figure it out
before you flip the script
turn it around
and rush the stage
with all your fine actors 
under nam de plumes

clues are adding up yea 
and i just don't know
if all the things that you told me
are true at all

i gotta stop to think
figure it out
before you flip the script
turn it around
rush the stage
with all your bad actors 
under nam de plumes

clues are adding up yea

clues are adding up yea 
and i just don't know
if all the things that you've shown me
are here at all

i gotta stop to think
figure it out
before you flip the switch
black it all out
and flood the stage
with all your dead actors 
under nam de plumes

------------------------------------

written by: Todd Johnson 
produced by: Todd Johnson 
recorded/mixed/mastered : Todd Johnson 
recorded at: Dick Jack Ed // Perry, Kansas

Performed by: 
Todd Johnson - Lead Vox/Gtr/Keys
Kevin Powell - Backup Vox/Keytar 
Chris Wagner: Bass
Brett Henry: Drums

Crisis Actor

first time that i saw you
holding on, holding on
i wished forever true

but the last time that i held you
holding on, holding on
i knew forever's through

like tracing over
a masterpiece
knowing under
is a tragedy

Tracing Over

Todd Johnson is the former front man for the Lawrence, Kansas based rock band Trucker. (truckerrocks.com)

The release of the Build marks his first solo record. It was created with the help of other former Trucker members and newcomer Brian Langham on drums.