                                WE CRIED
                       J. MICHAEL TRACY    MALE VOCAL/MIDTEMPO

----We celebrated our first year
----On the roof of the car 
Sip’n champaign and--gaze’n up at the stars

----You had somethin’ to tell me
--You had an angel inside
You were so scared but I held you and said
So was I-------so was I
   
   And outside
   I can be strong ya know but
   Inside
   I’m weak as a child---just
   Hold on—I don’t know the question
   But the answer was in your eyes
   And we cried
   We cried

----Then a miracle happened
----And she came into our world
Fuss’n for Momma--a--blue eyed—baby girl

The Doctor--touched my shoulder 
----Said it was best that I knew
The baby’s ok but there was- nothiin’ more 
---That they could do for you

   And outside
   I can be strong ya know but
   Inside
   I’m weak as a child---just
   Hold on—I don’t know the question
   But the answer was in your eyes
   And we cried
   We cried

---You said “Take care of my angel
---And teach her how to be strong”
But as I held you you faded away and whispered 
“ I love you both”—and then you were gone

   And outside
   I can be strong ya know but
   Inside
   I’m weak as a child---just
   Hold on—I don’t know the question
   But the answer was in your eyes
   
   And outside
   I can be strong ya know but
   Inside
   I’m weak as a child---just
   Hold on—I don’t know the question
   But the answer was in your eyes

   And I cried

   I cried
c 9/98

We cried   (s)

----Look at that guy
---In the mirror—lookin’ at me

--It’s a man with no clue
-A man who is lost---in a fantasy

Everyday I tell myself
--That you still care
But every night when I get home
There’s no one there

    I could never tell a good lie
    ---Especially to you
    It’s somethin’ I was never good at
    ---And I can’t do

                                 
   My eyes are wide open but they
   ----Still don’t see
   Cause I could never tell a good lie
   To anyone----anyone but me

----You were my life
--And I was so sure—that you’d never leave

--Everything was ok
-And that it would stay---if I just believed
 
Everyday I’d tell myself
--That you still care
But tonight when I get home
--You won’t be there cause
    
I could never tell a good lie
    ---Especially to you
    It’s somethin’ I was never good at
    ---And I can’t do

                                 
   My eyes are wide open but they
   ----Still don’t see
   Cause I could never tell a good lie
   To anyone----anyone but me
 
   --I don’t know—why I believe—the things I say to me
   You’d think—I’d learn my lesson-------and I would see that

      I could never tell a good lie
    ---Especially to you
    It’s somethin’ I was never good at
    ---And I can’t do

      My eyes are wide open but they
   ----Still don’t see
   
   Cause I could never tell a good lie
   I could never tell a good lie
   I could never tell a good lie
   
   To anyone----anyone but me
   But me

c  5/00

I could never tell a good lie (s)

Sometimes she goes too far
She’ll drive me nuts and she wrecks my car

Still she says jump, I say how high
I hang around but don’t know why

   Someday I might go and get my own life
   But I don’t know
   If I’ll ever find anything better

   So I better go get’er

She says things, she don’t mean
Then she treats me like her love machine

I know she don’t think I would
But should I go ahead and git while the gittin’s good?
   
Someday I might go and get my own life
   But I don’t know
   If I’ll ever find anything better

   So I better go get’er

There’s a line, in the snow that
I must cross before I go
But where it’s at, I don’t know oh yeah yeah

   Someday I might go and get my own life
   But I don’t know
   If I’ll ever find anything better

   So I better go get’er

   Someday I might go and get my own life
   But I don’t know
   If I’ll ever find anything better

   So I better go get’er


c  2/00

I better go get'er   (s)

                ooo yeah
--Ya ain’t here---I ain’t there
--Don’t ya care that
--Baby I’m alone tonight
               unh huh
-Ya say I need--ta get a life
----Ya sound like my ex wife
---And she ain’t right
                
oh no

   ---I know ya might-be-thinkin’
   -----I’m long-long-gone-but

   ----I’m still here
   -And I know, exactly what I’m doin’ after
   ----All these years
   --Think it might occur to ya honey when ya
   --Looked for me
   --That I’d be waitin’ for ya 
  
 -----And it’s all so clear
   -Cause Baby I’m still here
               
oh yeah

-I ain’t one---to complain
--But when ya say-I’m insane
---You don’t know
               
unh huh

-How hard----I try
-----Then another day goes by
---And you don’t show
               
Oh no
   
   ---And I know-yer-thin-kin’
   ---I’m-long-long-gone-but
   
   ----I’m still here
   -And I know exactly what I’m doin’ after
   ----All these years
   --Think it might occur to ya honey when ya
   --Looked for me
   --That I’d be waitin’ for ya 
   
-----And it’s all so clear
   -Cause Baby I’m still here

 Oh yeah

   -----And if yer thinkin’
   -----I’m long-long-gone well

   ----I’m still here
   -Now I know exactly what I’m doin’ after
   ----All these years
   --Think it might occur to ya honey when ya
   --Looked for me
   --That I’d be waitin’ for ya 
  
   -----Ya know it’s all so clear
   -Cause Baby I’m still here
        
Oh yeah
  
I’m still here

Unh huh 

Right here                                           


c  2/01

Im still here   (s)

I took a picture of you
My baby sister in your arms
At the Bradford County Fair----- oh yeah

You flashed a country smile
In your cut-off blue jeans
A pony tail was in your hair

   We were just 17 and thought the world was ours for takin’
   That you’d be mine forever
   But somethin’ changed
   And my heart was breakin’

I have a picture of you
And that is all that I have left
Cause you married him today
   
   We were just 17 and thought the world was ours for takin’
   That you’d be mine forever
   But somethin’ changed
   And my heart was breakin’

   You never know how
   Cruel life can be
   When we grow in two directions
   And only one can see

I took a picture of you
My baby sister in your arms
At the Bradford County Fair--  oh yeah


c  9/99

A picture of you   (s)

When we were young I knew I had to say
Somethin’, so I laid it on the line
Met you by the school on New Year’s night
Took you by the hand, and asked if you’d be mine

    Things weren’t so complicated then
    Thought our love would stay, as strong as it began
    But times have changed
    Life’s run it’s course
    It never crossed my mind
    What’d happen if I was not yours

I thought that every day would start like this
A gentle kiss, your warm and tender touch
Now I don’t know where I should go from here
I’m lost and all alone, I’m missing you so much

    Things weren’t so complicated then
    Thought our love would stay, as strong as it began
    But times have changed
    Life’s run it’s course
    It never crossed my mind
    What’d happen if I was not yours

    Things weren’t so complicated then
    Thought our love would stay, as strong as it began
    But times have changed
    Life’s run it’s course
    It never crossed my mind
    What’d happen if I was not yours


c  5/00

If I was not yours (s)

---Don’t know what this feelin’ that’s come over me is
---But it’s opened up my eyes
--All these years I’ve lived in darkness-
---Believin’ lies

-----So now I’ve given up what I believed in
---And there’s nothin’ left to say
---Can’t see how I’m worth anything-
To anyone this way

   Preacher said when I was just a little boy
   --“God is lookin’ out for thee”
   He might be lookin’ out for someone-I know 
   But it’s not me

--What I was and what I am and what I hoped to be I
---Don’t think he’ll ever know
---Gave him everything I had to give but now it’s time to go
   
  Preacher said when I was just a little boy
   --“God is lookin’ out for thee”
   He might be lookin’ out for someone-I know 
   But it’s not me
   It’s not me

   Preacher told us that the time-would-come
   ------When everyone would know
   -------Of places that we’d love to be 
   -------But where we really go

   ----Somethin’ told me way-back-then, when he said
   --“ God is lookin’ out for thee”
   He might be lookin’ out for someone-I know
   But it’s not me

   It’s not me

   It’s not me


c  8/00

Its not me (s)

Well I don’t know what you’ve been told
But you and me girl---could never get old
Some guys just ain’t-worth a damn
---Let me show you---that I am

Baby let’s go
----Cause don’t ya know 

   That I can make ya dance
   Make you wanna sing
   Show ya how ta laugh
   ---At everything
  
   If you’ll take the chance
   ---I’m worth the try
   I’ll be your reason to fly

----In your heart--you know I’m right
--------So Baby come with me to-night
---Cause what I say—is what I’ll do
---And every time—I’ll make it feel brand new  

Baby let’s go
----Cause don’t ya know 

   That I can make ya dance
   Make you wanna sing
   Show ya how ta laugh
   ---At everything
  
   If you’ll take the chance
   ---I’m worth the try
   I’ll be your reason to fly
 
     You’ve been locked inside your blue cocoon
     Think I’ve found the key it’s none---too---soon 

   And I can make ya dance
   Make you wanna sing
   Show ya how ta laugh
   ---At everything

   If you’ll take the chance
   ---I’m worth the try
   I’ll be your reason
   I’ll be your reason
   --I’ll be your reason---to fly
   
   I’ll be your reason to fly 


c  6/03

Your reason to fly (s)

I remember one day, I gave my heart away
I prayed that you would stay, and we’d be one

But someone came along, he took my only one
That’s when I lost control, and came undone

   You know I never lied, when you were by my side
   When you broke my heart I cried 
   As I watched you go

   True love or piece of mind, don’t think I’ll ever find
   Cause when I thought that you were mine
   You took my soul

Ya know it makes no sense, so I’ve put up this fence
To be safe, in present tense, I can live alone

So you will live your lie, and make this true love die
Thought we were meant to fly, but you, just, let me go
   
   You know I never lied, when you were by my side
   When you broke my heart I cried 
   As I watched you go

   True love or piece of mind, don’t think I’ll ever find
   Cause when I thought that you were mine
   You took my soul


   True love or piece of mind, don’t think I’ll ever find
   Cause when I thought that you were mine
   You took my soul


   I Remember one day, I gave my heart away
   And I prayed that you would stay


c  11/99

You took my soul  (s)

Our vows you planned to break
Your prayers you know are fake
Somethin’ I can’t take, it’s over

You deceived me with your lies
You had such good alibis 
I was crucified, it’s over

  It’s over
  Yeahhhhhh, it’s over

Meant nothin’ much to you
But I tried to see us through
Girl it still takes two, it’s over

You’re a cross that I can’t bare
And a pain I just won’t share
Now I just don’t care, it’s over

  I hear freedom ring’n
  And the birds are singin’ 
  So I’m takin’ wing, it’s over
  Yeahhhhhh it’s over

But ya know I’ve learned a lot
And I love this life I’ve got
Took your best damn shot, it’s over

So go on and live your lie
When it leaves you high and dry
Baby I won’t cry, it’s over

  I hear freedom ring’n
  And the birds are singin’ 
  So I’m takin’ wing, it’s over
  Yeahhhhhh it’s over

  Ooohhhhh it’s over
  Yeahhhhh it’s over


c  7/99

It's Over  (s)

My name is John Michael Tracy I write songs, jmtsongs.com , love photography, hunting, fishing and all of the outdoors. I was born on Jan. 11, 1957 in Elmira, NY.  I’m the oldest of six children, and my family lived, for most of my youth, in Athens, PA., which is right across the border from Upstate New York.   
	My parents had me take piano lessons when I was a kid, and when I was a teenager, I taught myself to play guitar.  Some friends and I had a country band, and we played local spots for a while.
	In my early twenties, I bought a 4-track recorder and enjoyed playing and recording songs that I liked from the Eagles, Jim Croce, Lobo, David Gates and Bread, Dan Fogelberg, etc.  I sent the recordings to my Grandfather, who had a band when he was young and performed all over upstate Pennsylvania and New York.  One day he asked me why I didn’t write my own songs.  The thought had never occurred to me, but once I’d considered it, it sounded like a great idea, and I told him that I bet I could do it.  
	After the first hundred songs or so, I called a few record companies to let them know that there was a new talent ready to take over the songwriting world, and they suggested I join NSAI first to help me hone my craft.  So I did.  In the mean time, I was sending quite a few of my songs to Washington to be copyrighted.
	A Publisher/Writer named Donn Hecht (most famous for co-writing Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight”) had someone working for him in Washington that noticed the number of songs I was copywriting.  Donn contacted me and asked me to send him some material. I did. He became my publisher, mentor and friend until his death in October 2002. He taught me more about songwriting and the business than anyone I’ve ever met.
	In the Spring of 2000, I wrote a song called “The South’ll Rise Again” and sent it to the nationally syndicated “The John Boy and Billy Big Show” as a gift, never imagining they’d ever do anything with it.  They were impressed enough to play it on the air, and it has been on their “Best Of” shows ever since.
	After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, I wrote a song called “Give’m Hell U.S.A.”  and  sent it to President George Bush and some of his staff.  Both President Bush and his Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, responded with really nice thank you notes. 
	I’m also a member of the local and National GTO clubs, own a 1970 Judge, and have written several “hot rod” songs that get regular play at many car shows and cruise-ins.
           My wife Kathy and I lived and worked in Nashville for a year and met many wonderful artists and songwriters who inspired and encouraged me.
	As the successful songwriter, friend and mentor, Jerry Vandiver says, “We write, because we have to”. The music needs to come out so we do what we love, and let it flow.

We cried (s)

J. Michael Tracy