In Real Life by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

In Real Life

Grandma talks about the good old days,
Same stories like a favourite hymn.
Her hands shake, but her eyes still blaze,
Sayin’, “Girl, don’t waste the life you’re in.”
She’d smile through every storm that came,
Find grace in every line and scar.
Now I see my own reflection change,
Don’t quite know who we are.

’Cause in real life, love can fade,
Dreams turn to bills we never paid.
You said forever — I paid the price,
Now I’m learning how to live my life.
In real life, I lost my way,
Thought I’d need you every day.
But Grandma’s voice cuts through the night —
“Make your peace, girl, and live it right.”

You’d roll in late, smelling like smoke,
Laugh it off — I’d play along.
I believed the lies you spoke,
Till I found out I was strong.
Now the TV hums where laughter was,
The dog don’t even lift his head.
And your new girl wears that cheap perfume —
I’ve outgrown what we had instead.

’Cause in real life, hearts get bruised,
Trust gets lost and pride gets used.
You said forever — then thought twice,
Left me drowning in your vice.
In real life, I’ll stand my ground,
Plant my roots in solid ground.
And Grandma whispers soft tonight —
“Make your peace, girl, and live it right.”

Maybe love’s just a passing flame,
Burns so bright, then fades away.
But somewhere in her trembling hands,
She taught me I can find my way.

In real life, I’m letting go,
Found my strength in what I know.
Grandma’s gone, but her truth remains —
You live, you lose, you rise again.
In real life, I see the light —
Make my peace, and live it right.
Yeah

In Real Life performed by Cadence Road

Memories in the Rear View by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

Memories in the Rear View performed by Cadence Road

When the Road Turns Blue by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

When the Road Turns Blue (duet) performed by David Brooke and Josie Roberts

Steady Heart by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

Steady Heart performed by Cadence Road

I Don’t Wanna Lose You by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

I've been walkin' 'round in circles. 
Chasin' memories on the floor. 
Trying not to light a wildfire 
with the truth I can't ignore. 
Every word becomes a landslide. 
Every thought reminds me I'm to blame. So I'm holding back the thunder 
'cause I'm scared to speak your name. 

I keep thinkin' maybe silence says enough on its own. 
But every breath just reminds me how it feels to stand alone. 

I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
So I'm choosin' every word with care. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
When the truth hangs heavy in the air, 
I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you. 

You've been waitin' on an answer, 
but my pride won't let it through. 
Every doubt becomes an anchor 
when I'm reachin' out to you. 
There's a truth I keep avoidin'. 
There's a storm I can't outrun. 
And the closer that I get there feels the further that I come. 
And I don't know if you hear me when I barely make a sound. 
But I'm trying not to lose you every time the walls come down. 

I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
So I'm choosin' every word with care. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
When the truth hangs heavy in the air, 
I don't wanna lose you.
I don't wanna lose you.

I've been breaking in the silence, 
I've been drowning in the fear. 
But I can't watch us fall to pieces, 
while you're standing right here. 
If I lose you in the moment, 
if I lose you in the fight. 
Then I give up every heartbeat, 
just to make it right tonight. 

I need you to hear me now. 
I need you to hear me now. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
We've been down this road before. 
I don't wanna lose you. 
I don't wanna lose you.

I Don't Wanna Lose You performed by David Brooke

Terms and Conditions by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

Terms & Conditions performed by Cadence Road

All In or I’m Out by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

All In or I’m Out performed by Cadence Road


Woke to the glow of machines in the dark,
Intensive care re-mapping my heart.
Five litres lost while I slept through the fight—
Didn’t know death brushed past me that night.

The scar’s healing fast, but beneath the skin,
There’s a long road home I’m learning again.

They say I made it, but I’m changed inside,
From the day I didn’t know I died.
Got a nine-year-old boy I’m here to guide,
Building back trust with every stride.
Yeah, I’m still healing, still terrified—
From the day I didn’t know I died.

Walking more steps but I’m strange in my skin,
Outside looks better than the inside’s been.
He laughs like sunrise, that boy of mine—
I hope his joy outruns my borrowed time.

Nights get quiet, but the doubts get loud,
Questions I can’t say out loud.

They say I made it, but I’m changed inside,
From the day I didn’t know I died.
Got a nine-year-old boy I’m here to guide,
Building back trust with every stride.
Yeah, I’m still healing, still terrified—
From the day I didn’t know I died.

Maybe “me again” ain’t who I’ll be—
Maybe I’m learning a braver version of me.

They say I made it, but I’m here to stay—
Stronger in a quiet, different way.
Got a boy I hope life lets me guide,
A few more years walking by his side.
I’ll keep healing with every sunrise—
From the day I didn’t know I died.


From the Day I Didn't Know I Died performed by David Brooke

Woke to the glow of machines in the dark,
Intensive care re-mapping my heart.
Five litres lost while I slept through the fight—
Didn’t know death brushed past me that night.

The scar’s healing fast, but beneath the skin,
There’s a long road home I’m learning again.

They say I made it, but I’m changed inside,
From the day I didn’t know I died.
Got a nine-year-old boy I’m here to guide,
Building back trust with every stride.
Yeah, I’m still healing, still terrified—
From the day I didn’t know I died.

Walking more steps but I’m strange in my skin,
Outside looks better than the inside’s been.
He laughs like sunrise, that boy of mine—
I hope his joy outruns my borrowed time.

Nights get quiet, but the doubts get loud,
Questions I can’t say out loud.

They say I made it, but I’m changed inside,
From the day I didn’t know I died.
Got a nine-year-old boy I’m here to guide,
Building back trust with every stride.
Yeah, I’m still healing, still terrified—
From the day I didn’t know I died.

Maybe “me again” ain’t who I’ll be—
Maybe I’m learning a braver version of me.

They say I made it, but I’m here to stay—
Stronger in a quiet, different way.
Got a boy I hope life lets me guide,
A few more years walking by his side.
I’ll keep healing with every sunrise—
From the day I didn’t know I died.

From the Day I Didn’t Know I Died performed by Ryan Arthur

When the Road Turns Blue [rock version) performed by David Brooke

Ashes on the Wedding Dress by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

The lace still smells of summer rain,
Your vows still carved in my maiden name. 
You swore forever under that oak, 
Now the roots remember what you broke.

There's ashes on the wedding dress, where the fire kissed the lies you left. 
I won't beg, I won't confess, 
Love don't die, it just learns revenge. 
The church bells quiet, the moon won't rest,
And there's ashes on the wedding dress. 

Your footprints danced on another's floor, I heard the truth through a slamming door. Every tear that hit this ground,
Bloomed into flames that circle around.

There's ashes on the wedding dress, Where the fire kissed the lies you left. 
I won't beg, I won't confess,
Love don't die, it just learns revenge. 
The church bells quiet, the moon won't rest,
And there's ashes on the wedding dress.

Maybe mercy's what I owe,
But there's a seed that just won't grow. You taught me faith, then you taught me sin,
And I can't tell where one begins. 

There's ashes on the wedding dress,
And the smoke still wears her scent. 
I won't cry, I won't regret,
Love don't fade, it just resurrects. 
The past is buried, the truth's confessed, Under ashes on the wedding dress. 

And I walk away in white and grey.

Ashes on the Wedding Dress performed by Cadence Road

UK songwriter. Featured songs have been produced thanks to the talent of Cadence Road, Ryan Arthur, Donna Hazelton, Esther O'Connor, Tim O'Connor, Graeme Duffin, Sandy Jones, John Harley Weston, Kim Copeland, Erin Caldwell, Rachel Williams, Tim Buppert, Pete Dymond, Marcie Summers, Stuart Brayson, Buddy Hyatt, Jim Hyatt, Brian Fullen, Glen Duncan, Bob Britt, Wayne Killius, James Mitchell, Doug Grieves, and Ray Curtis. 

All music and lyrics © Tony Gibbs unless shown otherwise. 

2025 onwards: use of Artificial Intelligence -
Lyrics and creative direction: Tony Gibbs.

All creative work is developed through a human-led process where AI acts as a drafting partner, not a replacement. My role is to provide the emotional truth, lived experience and artistic direction. AI is used only to accelerate exploration, not to author the final point of view.

Some songs have been developed using an AI-assisted creative workflow. Every idea, story and emotional direction originates from my lived experience and/or my own imagination. AI helped me shape structure, phrasing and flow — the final voice, choices and meaning are entirely mine.

All intellectual property for the final lyrics remains with the human author.

From the Day I Didn't Know I Died performed by David Brooke

Tony Gibbs

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