Work Tapes

Lyrics:

VR 1:
I’m
crossing all the lines
Dotting all my “I”s
To get with you
With you

Myrtle Beach
You and me
Twenty-three
Twenty-three

PRE-CH:
It’s a kind of high
You and I
I’d pay any price
To stay with you tonight

CH:
Can I keep your blue eyes
Locked on mine?
Can I keep this banter going
In the middle of the night?
Can I keep
Closing this in between?
I can’t hold back the truth
Can I keep you?

VR 2:
I’m 
Checking all the signs
Making sure its right
Being with you
With you

Middle Tennessee
You and me
Twenty-three
Twenty-three

PRE-CH:
It’s a kind of high
You and I
Babe, I’d pay any price
To stay with you tonight

CH:
Can I keep your blue eyes
Locked on mine?
Can I keep this banter going
In the middle of the night?
Can I keep
Closing this in between?
I can’t hold back the truth
Can I keep you?

BRI:
Your voice on the phone
Feel’s like coming home
Can I keep you?
Can I keep you?

My voice on the line
Says will you be mine
Can I keep you?
Can I keep you?

CH:
Can I keep your blue eyes
Locked on mine?
Can I keep this banter going
In the middle of the night?
Can I keep
Closing this in between?
I can’t hold back the truth
Can I keep you?

Can I Keep You? (Work Tape)

Co-written w/ Adia Fuller

Lyrics:

Verse 1: 
Some of my friends are the life of the party
Some of my friends will leave at 9:30 
Some of my friends will be there in a flash 
Some of my friends forget to text back
Some of my friends can’t hold their liquor
Some of my friends will hold it then get sicker
Some of my friends give too much information 
Some of my friends have stronger reservations

Chorus:
But we all get along
Just like that Kenny Chesney song
And if Bill Withers could see
I lean on them
They lean on me
And when it’s hard to carry on
They lend a hand and help the lost
Cause I don’t know just where I’d be
If some of my friends
Never met me

Verse 2:
Some of my friends like to dance all night
Some of my friends prefer the quiet life
Some of my friends like to sing randomly
Some of my friends won’t be caught dead staying on key
Some of my friends are a shoulder to cry on
[F G] x3
Some of my friends will beat up anyone who does you wrong
Some of my friends will kindly break the news
Some of my friends they won’t sugarcoat the truth

(Chorus)

Bridge:
I can depend
On all of my friends
To be there for me 
In whatever way they can

(Chorus)

Like A Fire (Work Tape)

Co-written w/ Emily O'Neal

Lyrics:
VR 1:
Most people quit 
cause they look how far they 
have to go,
not how far they have come.

And the hills you climb
Look larger than life
When you only 
Look around

I’ve been on that cliff
Looking out at how
Much longer I have to trek
To reach that mountain

PRE:
And you’ve been in this place before
Doubt if you can do this anymore
But you do this every time
Yet  come out the other side

CH:
Look back
At all you’ve done
Take in
all the battles you’ve won
Cause life
Can look better in the rearview
Look at all you’ve overcome
Yeah honey
Look back at all you’ve done

VR 2:
You can’t give up
Cause you’ve come too far to
Give in,
Think of you, in the long run.

The staircase looks big
When you look at it
From the ground

And dreams aren’t for the weak
Stick it out and see
How much ground you cover
After you almost give out
PRE:
Cause you’ve been here a time or two
Underestimating you
If you’d just keep the same pace
Look at the progress you’ve made

CH:
Look back
At all you’ve done
Take in
all the battles you’ve won
Cause life
Can look better in the rearview
Look at all you’ve overcome
Yeah honey
Look back at all you’ve done

BRI:
You’ve got so much ahead
That sometimes I think you forget
Everything you’ve already done
All the times you already won

CH:
Look back
At all you’ve done
Take in
all the battles you’ve won
Cause life
Can look better in the rearview
Look at all you’ve overcome
Yeah honey
Look back at all you’ve done

Look Back

Look Back (Work Tape)

Co-Written w/ Sofia Lynch

Lyrics & Chords:
VERSE 1:
G
Tough love
D
Is never enough but
G
When I was young
D
I thought it was

PRE-CHORUS
G
I thought that love was,
C
hanging on when everyone, 
G D
and everything is telling you give up.
G
But you made the drive
C
600 miles 
G D
Just so you could see me tonight
CHORUS: 
G 
Yeah your love is 
C D
easy to hold
G 
Set of arms that
C D
Never go cold
Am
Now I’ll never spend
C D
Another night alone
G
Cause your love
D
Is easy to hold
VR 2:
G D G D
I would do my share
When he wasn’t there
It took some time to realize
He never cared

PRE CHORUS:
G
I thought it 
C
was always supposed to hurt
G
And before it gets better
D
It gets worse
G
But you communicate
C
When you know you’ll be late
G D
And never leave me to wait

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE:
Am
Say I’m sorry
G
To the mirror
Mirror
Am
And she tells me
D
Now it’s clearer
Clearer
Am
To us both
D
Now we know

Easy To Hold

Easy To Hold (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

VR 1: 
I held my breath
He thought I was sleeping on my side
Hands to my chest
Silently sobbing all those nights

Cause he came home
Hours before
Grabbed his keys
Then walked right back out the door

PRE:
I didn’t want him to see 
it got to me
But if I could tell me from the past 
one thing

CH:
Let him see you cry
Let the tears fall from your eyes

Let him have it
Let him see
How he hurt you
How he made you bleed

Don’t feel like you have to explain why
You let him see you cry

VR 2: 
I excused myself
He thought I just needed some peace
Sliding down the wall
Quietly bawling to my knees

Cause he sat down
Minutes before
Around all his friends
Without even sparing me a glance

PRE:
I didn’t want him to see 
it got to me
But if I could tell me from the past 
one thing

CH:
Let him see you cry
Let the tears fall from your eyes
Let him have it
Let him see
How he hurt you
How he made you bleed

Don’t feel like you have to explain why
You let him see you cry

BRI:
Every time
He sees you cry
And walks away

Damn girl,
You should’ve known 
not to stay

CH:
Let him see you cry
For the very last time
Before you say goodbye

Let him know
Let him see
How he hurt you
How he made you leave

Don’t feel like you have to explain why
When you say goodbye
And you let him see you cry

Let Him See You Cry (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

VR 1: 
It was love at first sight
For me
It was only for the night
For you it seemed
In the beginning

PRE:
This will either 
end in tears 
or end in fears 
of losing you

CH:
I’m drunk on thinking
We could work, but
If we don’t
This is gonna hurt
And burn like hell
Cause I don’t want no one else
I’m begging
Please don’t leave me haunted
Cause you’re all I’ve ever wanted

VR:
It was tip toeing around it
At the start
Late night meetings and kissing
In the dark
It had me thinking

PRE:
This will either 
end in tears 
or end in fears 
of losing you

CH:
I’m drunk on thinking
We could work, but
If we don’t
This is gonna hurt
And burn like hell
Cause I don’t want no one else
I’m begging
Please don’t leave me haunted
Cause you’re all I’ve ever wanted

BRI:
I saw your dark hair in my dreams
When I was only 18
The man you are 
Has always been with me

PRE:
This will either 
end in tears 
or end in fears 
of losing you

CH:
I’m drunk on thinking
We could work, but
If we don’t
This is gonna hurt
And burn like hell
Cause I don’t want no one else
I’m begging
Please don’t leave me haunted
Cause you’re all I’ve ever wanted

All I’ve Ever Wanted (Full-Band Demo)

Lyrics:


CK

VR 1: 
Got the little ones ready for the day
This mornin’
Did my hair and makeup the same way
There was no warnin’ 
Of all I’d lose
Today

PRE:
He had so much up ahead
But the words he spoke
They’ll never shoot dead
Cause everything he did
Is still alive

CH:
I keep holding on to love
I keep holding on to trust
In the Lord above
Even when times get tough
And I know he’s up there speaking
God I’ll never know the reason
Don’t know how I’ll get through this season
But I know I have an angel
And I know this because
Of all of the hatred
You held onto love

VR 2: 
And almost everyone in his life
Is mourning
The way he talked and lived it out
Without conforming
Only the good
Die young

PRE:
He had so much up ahead
But the words he spoke
They’ll never shoot dead
Cause everything he did
Is still alive

CH:
I keep holding on to love
I keep holding on to trust
In the Lord above
Even when times get tough
And I know he’s up there speaking
God I’ll never know the reason
Don’t know how I’ll get through this season
But I know I have an angel
And I know this because
Of all of the hatred
You held onto love

BRI: 
I may never get over you
You stood for freedom
And the truth

So
I keep holding on to love
I keep holding on to trust
In the Lord above
Even when times get tough
And I know he’s up there speaking
God I’ll never know the reason
Don’t know how I’ll get through this season
But I know I have an angel
And I know this because
Of all of the hatred
You held onto love

Held Onto Love (Full-Band Demo)

Lyrics:

I went back to church today
It had been a while
Even though Jesus
Has been with me through every trial
And

He lived a perfect life,
Just to be crucified
And rose again
I was saved, baptized, just so I
Could turn around 
And ignore Him

Heaven help me
When did I
Get so comfortable
Living my life
That I’ve forgotten
Who’s been watching
Over me all this time
Lord, if I ever get that confident
Remind me just who you sent
To save me from my sins
When my faith is running thin

I cracked open the good book
Dust on the page
Can’t remember the last time I looked
Should be every day
Cause

He lived a perfect life,
Just to be crucified
And rose again
I was saved, baptized, just so I
Could turn around 
And ignore Him

Heaven help me
When did I
Get so comfortable
Living my life
That I’ve forgotten
Who’s been watching
Over me all this time
Lord, if I ever get that confident
Remind me just who you sent
To save me from my sins
When my faith is running thin

That was a Turning Point
The other day
Watched a man get shot down
For his faith
And speaking the truth
About how

He lived a perfect life,
Just to be crucified
And rose again
I was saved, baptized, just so I
Could turn around 
And ignore Him

Heaven help me
When did I
Get so comfortable
Living my life
That I’ve forgotten
Who’s been watching
Over me all this time
Lord, if I ever get that confident
Remind me just who you sent
To save me from my sins
When my faith is running thin

When My Faith Is Running Thin (Full-Band Demo)

Lyrics:

It’s funny how you loved my
Insecurities
Up until we would fight
Then you threw them
At me
I could never have done what you did
But I guess that’s where the truth of it is

You don’t get to call me a liar
When all your reactions to how I felt
Ended in fire
You don’t get to say
That my mind has reframed
I was there
Don’t you dare
Try to say we played the same game
I never would’ve treated you that way
When your worst meets my worst
It’s clear to see
Who comes in first
When it comes to cruelty
When anger comes to play
We are not the same

Ain’t it crazy how I can
Now tell
The truth about
How you really felt
About me
I could never have done what you did
But I guess that’s where the truth of it is

You don’t get to call me a liar
When all your reactions to how I felt
Ended in fire
You don’t get to say
That my mind has reframed
I was there
Don’t you dare
Try to say we played the same game
I never would’ve treated you that way
When your worst meets my worst
It’s clear to see
Who comes in first
When it comes to cruelty
When anger comes to play
We are not the same

Ain’t it crazy how razer thin
The line between love and hate is
I guess I know where you stood
The sad part is I loved you 
Like you never could

I could never have done what you did
But I guess that’s where the truth of it is
You don’t get to call me a liar
When all your reactions to how I felt
Ended in fire
You don’t get to say
That my mind has reframed
I was there
Don’t you dare
Try to say we played the same game
I never would’ve treated you that way
When your worst meets my worst
It’s clear to see
Who comes in first
When it comes to cruelty
When anger comes to play
We are not the same

I could never have done what you did
But I guess that’s where the truth of it is

We Are Not The Same

Co-written w/ Alayna Carroll

Lyrics:

You wear your baseball cap
Backwards at the gym
Practically live at work
Don’t do things on a whim
And I can’t get enough of it

And your friends say
“He’s a good guy”
He’s just busy all the time
Takes weeks for a text
Back sometimes

Shot your shot, I ain’t bulletproof
It took one look to fall for you
And other guys don’t get me like you do
They can, talk the talk I ain’t falling for
Another bland boy, I want more
Not the same girl I was before
To tell you the truth
I can’t say “no” to you

I wear that leather skirt
That makes you stare at me
Basically all my curves
Makes it easy to tease
And you can’t get enough of me

And all my friends say
“Girl, you’re down bad”
He’s the best I’ve ever had
It’s the fact you’re not mine
That drives me mad

Shot your shot, I ain’t bulletproof
It took one look to fall for you
And other guys don’t get me like you do
They can, talk the talk I ain’t falling for
Another bland boy, I want more
Not the same girl I was before
To tell you the truth
I can’t say “no” to you

Call me in the middle of the night
Say this feeling you can’t fight
Anymore

Shot your shot, I ain’t bulletproof
It took one look to fall for you
And other guys don’t get me like you do
They can, talk the talk I ain’t falling for
Another bland boy, I want more
Not the same girl I was before
To tell you the truth
I can’t say “no” to you

I can’t say “no” to you
I can’t say “no” to you

No To You (Full-Band Demo)

Lyrics:

I can make a whole room
Burst out laughin’
And I can turn them heads
Without even tryin’
But then another guy
Enters my life
And lets me all the way down
And every instance
I put down defense
I regret it somehow

If you’re gonna take the light
Out of my eyes
If you’re gonna make sure
My heart can’t tell my worth
Don’t bother calling
Leave me be
Cause you know damn well
You don’t deserve me

I’m damn good in the kitchen
That I’ve been told
And my curves make it so
That your bed never goes cold
But then another guy
Doesn’t treat me right
And lets me all the way down
And every instance
I let another one in
I regret it somehow

If you’re gonna take the light
Out of my eyes
If you’re gonna make sure
My heart can’t tell my worth
Don’t bother calling
Leave me be
Cause you know damn well
You don’t deserve me

Maybe one day I’ll find a man
Who will love the woman I am
I was made to be a wife
But all these boys just want one night.

If you’re gonna take the light
Out of my eyes
If you’re gonna make sure
My heart can’t tell my worth
Don’t bother calling
Leave me be
Cause you know damn well
You don’t deserve me

You Don’t Deserve Me

Lyrics:

God’s work
Is like a tapestry
The best side
We can’t yet see

He holds the needle
And we have faith
So we the people
Will worship His Name

God almighty father
You are all I need
In the darkness
In the desert
I’ll still sing your praise
When I’m at my weakest
In my toughest seasons
You grow me in ways
That only you can
Cause its all a part of your plan
Cause this world’s tapestry
Is in your hands

God sees
The suffering
Caused by free will
But he gave us things
And said “Know that I am God”
And “be still”

He holds the needle
And we have faith
So we the people
Will worship His Name

God almighty father
You are all I need
In the darkness
In the desert
I’ll still sing your praise
When I’m at my weakest
In my toughest seasons
You grow me in ways
That only you can
Cause its all a part of your plan
Cause this world’s tapestry
Is in your hands

He holds the needle
And we have faith
So we the people
Will worship His Name

God almighty father
You are all I need
In the darkness
In the desert
I’ll still sing your praise

God almighty father
You are all I need
In the darkness
In the desert
I’ll still sing your praise
When I’m at my weakest
In my toughest seasons
You grow me in ways
That only you can
Cause its all a part of your plan
Cause this world’s tapestry
Is in your hands

God’s Tapestry (Full-Band Demo)

Co-written w/ John Mollenhauer

Lyrics:

VR 1:
Before the boy calls
Do you buy new clothes?
Make up scenarios
For how it should go?
When you look in the mirror
Is the person you see
Who you are
Or who he wants you to be?

PRE:
Love doesn’t always 
Come right when you call
Sometimes you’ll wait
And it wont come at all

CH:
I’ve got a long, long history
Of diving too deep
Before they even miss me
I make all my plans
And build them up tall
Cause I always fall
Before the boy calls

VR 2:
Before the boy calls
Do you stare at your phone?
Wishin and hoping
He’d throw you a bone
When it hits midnight
And it still hasn’t rung yet
Do you think tomorrow
Tomorrow I bet

PRE:
Love doesn’t always 
Come right when you call
Sometimes you’ll wait
And it wont come at all

CH:
I’ve got a long, long history
Of diving too deep
Before they even miss me
I make all my plans
And build them up tall
Cause I always fall
Before the boy calls

BRI:
Sometimes you’ll find 
When you’re feeling rejected
Love might surprise you
When you least expect it.
But

CH:
I’ve got a long, long history
Of diving too deep
Before they even miss me
I make all my plans
And build them up tall
Cause I always fall
Before the boy calls

Before The Boy Calls (Full-Band Demo)

Co-written w/ MK Strother

Lyrics:

They caught that 6am
One way bus to Texas
Little shoes on little feet
A mom at her wits end
A brown-eyed dark haired girl
Just shy of seventeen
Golden cross around her neck
And a wood one on her keychain
It would’ve been so easy
To look the other way
But that brown haired girl
Asked if she needed a break

PRE:
Took that baby in her hands
Played pattycake and bakers man
A moment small but big enough
To leave a little grace and love

CH:
When you
Leave a little Jesus
Wherever you go
It mends the broken pieces
Of someone you don’t know
Cause when you
Leave a little smile
It softens the heart for a while
We all
Need a little Jesus
To remind us
There’s still good in this world

VR 2:
His daddy slammed the door
On his way in
Then all of a sudden
His folks were fighting again
He held his little brother 
Right there in his lap
As he read him the Bible
A greater torch was passed

PRE:
He could’ve locked himself 
In his room with no one else
A gesture small but big enough
To show his brother real love

CH:
When you
Leave a little Jesus
Wherever you go
It mends the broken pieces
Of someone you don’t know
Cause when you
Leave a little smile
It softens the heart for a while
We all
Need a little Jesus
To remind us
There’s still good in this world

BRI:
No matter where we go
There’s only one way home
And

CH:
When you
Leave a little Jesus
Wherever you go
It mends the broken pieces
Of someone you don’t know
Cause when you
Leave a little smile
It softens the heart for a while
We all
Need a little Jesus
To remind us
There’s still good in this world

Leave A Little Jesus (Full-Band Demo)

Lyrics:

I just got out of that 2-way truck loan
He got me into
Deleted all those texts off of my phone
And now I’m sitting back
With a .40 on my lap
Praying to guard my heart

So before you call me baby
And promise me everything
Don’t you go and start

If you don’t go to church
Bye
If you don’t see my worth
Bye
If you can’t deal 
With how I feel
Bye Bye Bye
If you don’t have friends
No
If you only see me in bed
No
If you don’t have the time to play the long game
No
Until I find a guy
That’s my type
I’ll be happy saying “No” and “Bye”

I just found myself again
Thank God I saw the light
Cause Heaven knows the way it goes
When you revolve around a guy
And now I’m sitting pretty
And my girls are all with me
Saying to guard my heart

If you don’t go to church
Bye
If you don’t see my worth
Bye
If you can’t deal 
With how I feel
Bye Bye Bye
If you don’t have friends
No
If you only see me in bed
No
If you don’t have the time to play the long game
No
Until I find a guy
That’s my type
I’ll be happy saying “No” and “Bye”

If you don’t go to church
Bye
If you don’t see my worth
Bye
If you can’t deal 
With how I feel
Bye Bye Bye
If you don’t have friends
No
If you only see me in bed
No
If you don’t have the time to play the long game
No
Until I find a guy
That’s my type
I’ll be happy saying “No” and “Bye

“No” and “Bye” (Full-Band Demo)

Country songwriter & musician from Dallas, Texas, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. MTSU Commercial Songwriting alum.

Can I Keep You? (Work Tape)

Lauren Teel

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