Work Tapes

Someone Who Puts God First (Work Tape)

Big Blue Eyes (Work Tape)

His Ambition (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

Verse 1:
I can still see it now
Your smile lit through the crowd
Me coming undone now
Hearing the sound

Pre-Chorus 1:
Talk in my ear through the band
Wish you’d take my hand
Show me a good time and then

Chorus:
Take me down
Spin me around
Get lost in the sound
Of this beat so loud

I’m hoping
What was unspoken
Is clear to you now
I see your face in every crowd

Verse 2:
I can still hear it now
Your voice in surround
Sound
Me leaving the rustling crowd
Too soon

Pre-Chorus 2:
Smile at me before you take the stage
I’m in my own mental cage
Oh I only wish I could say

Chorus:
Take me down
Spin me around
Get lost in the sound
Of this beat so loud

I’m hoping
What was unspoken
Is clear to you now
I see your face in every crowd

Bridge:
Oh
What am I missing
Your face is a vision
I can’t unsee

I’m reminiscing
That night is fixed in
Permanently

In my mind
Would you be mine
If I said all I need is time

Chorus:
Take me down
Spin me around
Get lost in the sound
Of this beat so loud

I’m hoping
What was unspoken
Is clear to you now
I see your face in every crowd

Your Face In Every Crowd (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

VR 1:
I wish I 
could take a picture
Of every single time 
Our eyes linger

Every inside joke
Every thought provoked
Out of that smile that
Feels like coming home

CH:
If I could take photographs 
With my eyes
I’d capture you 
in the perfect light

If these irises
Could reminisce
I’d take it all
And hold it in
Close
If my eyes could take photos

VR 2:
I wish I
Could keep that vision
Of every precious time
We visit

Every heartfelt look
Being understood
Cause that beautiful mind
read me like a book

CH:
If I could take photographs 
With my eyes
I’d capture you 
in the perfect light

If these irises
Could reminisce
I’d take it all
And hold it in
Close
If my eyes could take photos

BRI:
If I could look back
In a perfect way
On every time
You made my day

I’d take a million pictures
Of you

CH:
If I could take photographs 
With my eyes
I’d capture you 
in the perfect light

If these irises
Could reminisce
I’d take it all
And hold it in
Close
If my eyes could take photos

Photos (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

VR 1:
My hands shake
As he puts on his uniform
My heart aches
Every time he walks out that door

PRE-CH:
And I know
When he took that oath
This was the deal

But that don’t take
Away this pain
Not knowing if he’ll come safe

CH:
I see him put on his badge
Not knowing if he’ll make it back
Into my arms
Although he’s armed
Ain’t no guarantee
He’ll be with me
That by the end of his shift
I’ll hear him say “I love you”
Cause I love a boy in blue

VR 2:
My stomach drops
Every time the phone rings
My heart won’t stop
Till I know I still have my everything

PRE-CH:
And I know
When he took that oath
This is what I signed up for

But that don’t take
Away this pain
Not knowing if he’ll come home safe

CH:
I see him put on his badge
Not knowing if he’ll make it back
Into my arms
Although he’s armed
Ain’t no guarantee
He’ll be with me
That by the end of his shift
I’ll hear him say “I love you”
Cause I love a boy in blue

BRI:
Another breath on cue
Watching the news
On every day
Praying to God I never see your name

CH:
I see him put on his badge
Not knowing if he’ll make it back
Into my arms
Although he’s armed
Ain’t no guarantee
He’ll be with me
That by the end of his shift
I’ll hear him say “I love you”
Cause I love a boy in blue

A Boy In Blue (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

VR 1:
Just like that
You don’t like me back
And thats a fact
I know

You made it clear
What we are here
But still I fear
How I feel

PRE-CH:
Why do I still 
hang on every word
This feeling 
is so damn absurd

I’d do anything for you
Except tell you the truth

CH:
I could confess my love in the pouring rain
But that don’t matter cause you don’t feel the same
That ain’t never gonna change
No, I’ll never see the day
Cause you don’t see me that way

VR 2:
Set the scene
We weren’t meant to be
So I casually
Feel down

Catch my longing stare
Cause how could I not care
When you’re standing there
Next to me

PRE-CH:
Why do I still
Catch every breath
This feeling
Is messing with my head

I’ve tried everything to find
A way to get you off my mind

CH:
I could confess my love in the pouring rain
But that don’t matter cause you don’t feel the same
That ain’t never gonna change
No, I’ll never see the day
Cause you don’t see me that way

BRI:
I say “I’m perfectly fine”
Cause I’m still in your life
We hang out all the time
As friends
But you catch my eye
In the end

CH:
I could confess my love in the pouring rain
But that don’t matter cause you don’t feel the same
That ain’t never gonna change
No, I’ll never see the day
Cause you don’t see me that way

That Way (Work Tape)

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)

Lyrics:

VR 1:
Heard a song say
“I hold onto this pride
Cause it’s all I have these days”

But as I look around
And you’re nowhere to be found
All these friends
And accomplishments
I’ve made
Well I’d say

CH:
When fate took you away
My life came tumbling out of the grave
Everything I sacrificed
To keep you in my life

I came out 
with so much more
All these friendships 
and so many open doors

Since you are no longer in sight
I have so much more than my pride

VR 2:
I heard a song say
“Try to be my old self again
But I’m still trying to find it 
after plaid shirt days”

But as I take in my view
Time was all it took to get over you
All these events
And time well spent
I’d say

CH: 
When fate took us away
My life came tumbling out of the grave
Everything I sacrificed
To keep you in my life

I came out with so much more
All these friendships and 
so many open doors

Since you are no longer in sight
I have so much more than my pride

BRI:
Out of everything 
we’ve been through
My life is so much 
more than you
Cause

CH: 
When fate took us away
My life came tumbling out of the grave
Everything I sacrificed
To keep you in my life

I came out with so much more
All these friendships and 
so many open doors

Since you are no longer in sight
I have so much more than my pride

More Than My Pride (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)

That Truck (Work Tape)

Lyrics:
VR 1:
Seven
Filled with rage
Grandma
Making me feel okay
She always knew
What to say

Fourteen
First dance
Grandpa
Holding my hand
It was the best night
On Mexico time

PRE-CH:
It’s times like these
I wish I could stop that clock
You won’t always be here
And I hate that thought

CH:
Cause out here in Tennessee
It’s easy to miss
All of my family
Back in Texas

And every time I leave
I leave a part of me
Back where you are
And every time I go
It feels like coming home
Back to the start

I’m blessed
I got the best
People that made my heart

VR 2:
Eighteen
Got off-track
Three aunts 
making me laugh
They always could 
cheer me up

Twenty-Two
No wedding in sight
My uncle
Giving me advice
I needed to hear
Everything that night

PRE-CH:
It’s times like these 
I’m grateful for
I just wish
We could have them more

CH:
Cause out here in Tennessee
It’s easy to miss
All of my family
Back in Texas

And every time I leave
I leave a part of me
Back where you are
And every time I go
It feels like coming home
Back to the start

I’m blessed
I got the best
People that made my heart

BRI:
All my older cousins
Showed me the way

And the one that’s younger
I’m so proud of today

CH:
Cause out here in Tennessee
It’s easy to miss
All of my family
Back in Texas

And every time I leave
I leave a part of me
Back where you are
And every time I go
It feels like coming home
Back to the start

I’m blessed
I got the best
People that made my heart

My Heart (Work Tape)

Lyrics:

VR 1:
I put on shades
Just to make
Others feel better
I wipe away
All of my rain
Just so you 
don’t feel my pain
Cause

CH:
I’m sunshine
In your eyes
Too much of a good thing
And you’ll go blind

But when I rain
You complain
And wonder where 
Are the sunny days
But I can’t always be 
The weather you need

VR 2:
I never go cold
Just so they know
I’m here for them

I kill my pride
Take the road that’s high
Just so they 
can stay in my life
Cause

CH:
I’m a blue sky
When I act like
Who you want me to be
But that’s not really me

But when a cloud forms
being there for
Me is a chore
You can’t take it anymore
But I can’t always be 
The weather you need

BRI:
Don’t forget
I’m only human
Even the breeze is too strong sometimes
I need you to know
I’m not made for the snow
And your cold shoulder
Hurt me more than you know

I'm sunshine
In your eyes
You won't miss me till I'm gone
Or just plain moving on

So when I rain
Don't complain
You're not the only one
Missing the sunny days

Put on your shades 
and look in the rearview
How many times 
was I there for you?

Weather (Work Tape)

Co-Written w/ Korie Burton Rott

Lyrics 
V1
He’s got that
Dark hair, deep stare
Icy blue eyes
                
I’ve got a
Lack of air, cause I care
Head in the skies

PRE
I’m wondering why
You can’t stay tonight

CHR
Lord knows 
We’re burning slow
But I’m blinded by the glow

We’re heating up,
Won’t call it love
But who knows what we’d become
     
If I said, no questions
I’d be a liar
So are we gonna, blow out like a candle
or burn like a fire.

V2
He’s got a
Stubborn mind, takes his time
Making me wait
      
I’ve got this
Anxious heart, falling apart
Should I even stay?

PRE
I’m wondering when
This situationship will end

(CHR)
BRI
All this guessing, overstressing
‘Bout when you’ll be mine
Messing with my head, you see
It’s agony, biding my time

(CHR)

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)

Written by Lauren Teel and Korie Burton Rott

Lyrics & Chords:
VR 1: 
I would say you feel like home
But that just ain’t the truth
Cause the memories that made me
I’d rather not live through
Again

I would say you remind me 
Of the first man I loved

But to him, I will never be
And never was enough

CH:
And I’ve been down 
So many roads
Tried to escape 
That broken home

Every man that came before you
Was just a mirror held up to
The first man 
to ever let me down

But you hold the door
Don’t keep score
You give your all
Don’t let me fall

Good intentions
Are all that’s on your mind

And I’ve realized
The best home
I’ve ever known
Is one I had to find

VR 2:
I would say you feel familiar
But that would be a lie
Cause the only thing he taught me
Was how to run and hide

I would say I’ve seen this before
But in reality
This is the first time
I’ve found something to keep

(CH)
(DOWNCH)
(CH)

Home (Work Tape)

Co-Written w/ Claire Kelly

Lyrics & Chords:
Capo 1
VR 1:
D
I’m not one to make a scene
I’ve never been someone
                  G                A
Who’s the life of the party

PRE:
               D                                   A
But that liquor lights a fire like gasoline
               G                      D
Strike a match, pour a glass
                     G                         A
And you’ve got a whole new me
G                                                    A
Depending on the alcohol, you’ll see

CH
         D
Red wine
Makes for a good time
             A
A cold beer
Takes me out of my mind
                    G
A glass of bourbon 
                  A
Stops the hurtin’
                   G
A shot of vodka cuts the sting
             A
Tequila makes a dancing queen

     D
As long as it gets
A 
me out of my head
           G
Thats evidence
         A
That anything will do
                                D
And I'm living-proof

VR 2:
D
I’ve never been much 
for company
Rather be at home on my own
     G                A
If it was up to me.
       G
I’ll always be 
       A
the shy one

PRE:
              D                                       A
But that liquor does something to me
            G                          D
Pour a glass, throw one back
                     G                        A
And you’ve got a whole new me
G                                                    A
Depending on the alcohol, you’ll see

(CH)

BRI:
G
Strangers turn to friends
            A
Don’t know where the night will end
    G
It all just depends
              A
On the glass that's in my hands

(CH)

Livin'-Proof

Livin'-Proof (Work Tape)

Co-Written with Korie Burton Rott

Lyrics:
VR 1:
Lonely 
Wouldn’t have been lonely
If you had just left me
Alone in the first place

I would’ve been ok 
had you never come around 
Would’ve never known your face
Like I know it now

CH:
Why’d you have me fix your lonely, lonely
If you didn’t wanna be my only, only
If you weren’t looking for anything
You  should’ve never tied the string
Pulled me along
Lead me on
Now you’re not the only one 
Who’s lonely

VR 2:
Lonely
Didn’t have to be lonely
If you never convinced me
You’d always be here

I would’ve been fine
Had I never seen those eyes
And mine wouldn’t be full of tears
Like they are now

(CH)

BRI:
When I find my one and only, only
He won’t ever leave me lonely, lonely
He’ll be my everything
He won’t lead me on
Like you did all along

(CH)

Who's Lonely (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)

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