(verse)
When I was four years old, Daddy left us alone
Chose another life, found another home

You would not give me up, and, walk away
Cause that’s not in your heart, you made sure I knew that
(pre chorus)
Every day of my life, you were there for me
But now
(chorus)
  You live in a yesterday, where I can’t go
  You ain’t comin’ back, and I miss you so
  I won’t be leavin’ you, until you’re free
  I promise Momma
  You can count, on me
(verse)
You bought my first guitar, with some money you’d saved
From your second job, and you never complained

You worked so hard I know, just so I could play
And now it breaks my heart, that you don’t remember
(pre chorus)
Every day of my life, you were there for me
And now
(chorus)
  You live in a yesterday, where I can’t go
  You ain’t comin’ back, and I miss you so
  I won’t be leavin’ you, until you’re free
  I promise Momma
  You can count, on me
(instrumental verse)

(chorus)
  You live in a yesterday, where I can’t go
  You ain’t comin’ back, and I miss you so
  I won’t be leavin’ you, until you’re free
  I promise Momma
  You can count, on me

©  10/00   J. Michael Tracy   All Rights Reserved


You can count on me (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.