Recycled
timothymichaelmusic
5 OCT 2020

V1.
Damned if you don’t or if you do.
What the hell’s a man to do
Just an image that I’m trying to portray?
I’m just looking for the truth
And the driver turns the screw.
Seems like yet another déjà vu day.

Like a performer on a stage
Reciting lines from a page
Watching them admire me from the stands
Fake it til I make it.
It’s my claim if I’ll just stake it.
But wherever it is that I go there I am

Chorus
I’m on a vision quest.
Just sorting through the mess.
Testifying as a witness at my own trial.
Can I even believe the lie?
Looking through the beholders eye.
Nothing new here to see I think I’m just recycled.
Recycled

V2.
Bang your head against the wall.
Yet another curtain call.
Show’s never over when you’re stuck in the encore.
Is it time to lay it down?
Or shall I play another round?
Am I really better off now than before?

Rehearsing lines from a scene
What’s it really even mean?
Trying to be all that I can be.
Am I faking or am I feeling?
What’s the secret I’m not revealing?
Whoever I am I’m still the same old me

Chorus
I’m on a vision quest.
Just sorting through the mess.
Testifying as a witness at my own trial.
Can I even believe the lie?
Looking through the beholders eye.
Nothing new here to see I think I’m just recycled

Bridge
Maybe I’m just adding to the confusion
And this life is merely an illusion

Chorus
I’m on a vision quest.
Just sorting through the mess.
Testifying as a witness at my own trial.
Can I even believe the lie?
Looking through the beholders eye.
Nothing new here to see I think I’m just recycled

I think I’m just recycled

I think I’m just recycled

I’m just recycled


Recycled (2025) (Cover)

The Wave
timothymichaelmusic
01 OCT 2022

V1.
Your song is my beach playlist
Tuned on my heart’s radio
Like raindrops on a tin roof
That fall while thunder rolls

You’re the ebb and flow of life
That brings balance perfectly 
You’re the yin meeting the yang
That strikes a chord inside of me

Chorus
You’re the wave
Your whole life lived as the mighty ocean’s slave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the sound that quiets my rowdy soul

A reminder to be patient
And a memo to be brave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the wave

V2.
Teardrops traveling a lifetime
Landing softly with a scream
And the sound of children laughing
As I wake up from a dream.

You’re the crash right at the climax
When the finish line is reached
Pulled back out with the rip tide
When you finally reach the beach

Chorus
You’re the wave
Your whole life lived as the mighty ocean’s slave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the sound that quiets my rowdy soul

A reminder to be patient
And a memo to be brave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the wave

Bridge
You renew the love reaction
As the last link in the chain
The light shining in the tunnel
And the rainbow after the rain.

Chorus
You’re the wave
Your whole life lived as the mighty ocean’s slave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the sound that quiets my rowdy soul

A reminder to be patient
And a memo to be brave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the wave

Roll tide, roll
You’re the wave







The Wave (2025) (Cover)

This is a song co-written by myself and T. C. Elliott. It is a song about grief and how sometimes all that is needed is for you to get through the day.

Tomorrow Needs You

Shut Up And Listen
TimothyMichaelMusic
04 OCT 2024

V1
The crispness of the morning
Winter’s chill is in the breeze
Water splashing on a shoreline
Wind whistling through pine trees
Answers flowing in the river
… Nature’s a magician
Can you hear the voice of reason?
Shut up and listen.

Chorus
You can’t hear what God is saying
If you’ve already made up your mind
About what you want Him to say
But I think that you might find
The answers to life’s questions
Are often found within
The Holy Spirit is blowing in the wind
Shut up and listen

V2.
A bobber on the water
Sunshine on my skin
Wondering if I’m fishing
Or if he’s fishing for me, man.
Children laughing in the distance
Can’t we all just get along
If we just shut up and listen
To the message in the song

Chorus
You can’t hear what God is saying
If you’ve already made up your mind
About what you want Him to say
But I think that you might find
The answers to life’s questions
Are often found within
The Holy Spirit is blowing in the wind
Shut Up and Listen

Bridge
Let nature fill your mind
And fresh air fill your soul
Be confident that God is in control
Shut up and listen

Chorus
You can’t hear what God is saying
If you’ve already made up your mind
About what you want Him to say
But I think that you might find
The answers to life’s questions
Are often found within
The Holy Spirit is blowing in the wind
Shut Up and Listen

Shut up and listen

Shut Up and listen





Shut Up And Listen (5-2025)

Ten Pesos
TimothyMichaelMusic
04 OCT 2024

V1.
I winked at her and smiled...
She said "you're definitely a 10...
But I'm only talking pesos,
So please, let’s just be friends
I broke out my guitar
and I softly strummed along
Baby if you don't look closely
I can win you with a song

Chorus
I got shot down in Ruidoso
Left behind up in Red River
Lonely Angel Fire nights
Her cold shoulder made me shiver
I had some better days in Taos
Made some strides in Santa Fe
I’ve still got the same ten pesos
And if you ask I’m on my way.

V2
Everywhere she went I followed
Across miles of white ski slopes
And I chased that pretty girl
All over New Mexico
She may have started as my opener
But we’ve moved on to duets
My comeback game is strong
I’ve got 10 pesos left to bet.

Chorus
I got shot down in Ruidoso
Left behind up in Red River
Lonely Angel Fire nights
Her cold shoulder made me shiver
I had some better days in Taos
Made some strides in Santa Fe
I’ve still got the same ten pesos
And if you ask I’m on my way

Bridge
I know I’ll never be living large
On my 10 peso cover charge


Chorus
I got shot down in Ruidoso
Left behind up in Red River
Lonely Angel Fire nights
Her cold shoulder made me shiver
I had some better days in Taos
Made some strides in Santa Fe
I’ve still got the same ten pesos
And if you ask I’m on my way

I’ve still got the same ten pesos
And if you ask I’m on my way



Ten Pesos (5-2025) (Cover)

Just Here For A Tan
Timothy Michael Music
05 OCT 2022

V1.
Booked a place on the southern coast
Set the GPS to arrive
Daydreaming while I’m driving
About the place I feel most alive.
When she started asking questions
About all we were gonna do
Gave her a wink and said I think
All I need is the sun and you.

Chorus
I’m just here for a tan
Find me on a chair in the sand
Mix ‘em strong
Be here all day long so 
Pop a top on a can.
Bring a hat, take me a nap
Waves crashing I’m a happy man
If you’re looking for me
I’m on the beach
Yeah, I’m just here for a tan

V2.
She googled all the top ten things
For a tourist without a clue
I said just trust me baby
Beachin’s all we need to do.
We didn’t go deep sea fishing
We didn’t rent no jet ski’s
It was cool to see that she’s just like me
She wants sand, surf and sea

Chorus
I’m just here for a tan
Find me on a chair in the sand
Mix ‘em strong
Be here all day long so 
Pop a top on a can.
Bring a hat, take me a nap
Waves crashing I’m a happy man
If you’re looking for me
I’m on the beach
Yeah, I’m just here for a tan

Bridge
Our skin got so much darker
And our hair turned three shades lighter
Lived our days like castaways
And beach days became all nighters

Chorus
I’m just here for a tan
Find me on a chair in the sand
Mix ‘em strong
Be here all day long so 
Pop a top on a can.
Bring a hat, take me a nap
Waves crashing I’m a happy man
If you’re looking for me
I’m on the beach
Yeah, I’m just here for a tan







Just Here For A Tan (2025) (Cover)

What If (Revised)
timothymichaelmusic
19 MAY 2022
Lyrics – Tim Schlesener BMI 01126229678

V1.
The evil and the righteous 
Are all caught in the same lie
Because the truth is even stranger
And no one questions why
And some will walk in the darkness
While others live in light
And each day’s a constant battle
And there’s no silence in the night.

Chorus
What if this is heaven?
Or maybe this is hell?
And the paths cross one another
Because the world already fell.
And time is only told by counting
Every single grain of sand
What if the Holy Spirit is the wind
And God is all the land

V2.
Our paths are interwoven
Like a quilt covering the shame
Everyone is pointing fingers
But no one takes the blame
Smoke and mirrors hide the truth
Will we ever really know?
The condition of the heart
Determines the route that each man goes.

Chorus
What if this is heaven?
Or maybe this is hell?
And the paths cross one another
Because the world already fell.
And time is only told by counting
Every single grain of sand
What if the Holy Spirit is the wind
And God is all the land

Bridge
When lies become the truth
And the truth becomes believed
It’s part of the grand illusion
Because we all have been deceived

Chorus
What if this is heaven?
Or maybe this is hell?
And the paths cross one another
Because the world already fell.
And time is only told by counting
Every single grain of sand
What if the Holy Spirit is the wind
And God is all the land




What If (2025) (Cover5)

“Knockout”
timothymichaelmusic
07 OCT 2025

v1
Round one’s on me. Buy her a drink
I grab two from the blender.
Hoping she’d like to mix up a few rounds
‘Cos she looks like a prime contender.
I’m coming out of the blues at the bar
Saw her there alone with no one to warn her
Slid past the rookies on the undercard
To the hottie over in the red corner.

Chorus
The hunter has become the prey.
When she hit me she left no doubt.
She playfully bit me on the ear
To let me know she controls this bout
She chased me round this squared circle
It’s a trap and I can’t get out.
She’s the queen of the ring. Undisputed champ
But technically…. She’s a knockout
She’s a knockout

V2
Jab and move, bob and weave
The dance is part of the thrill.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
And I’m moving in for the kill.
Size her up as I hold her close
Got her up against the ropes.
She’s about to hit me with what I don’t know
Girl’s just playing rope a dope.

Chorus
The hunter has become the prey.
When she hit me she left no doubt.
She playfully bit me on the ear
To let me know she controls this bout
She chased me around this squared circle
It’s a trap and I can’t get out.
She’s the queen of the ring. Undisputed champ
But technically…. She’s a knockout!
She’s a knockout

Bridge
I thought I was gonna be the love taker
Right up until she hit me with that hay maker

Chorus
The hunter has become the prey.
When she hit me she left no doubt.
She playfully bit me on the ear
To let me know she controls this bout
She chased me around this squared circle
It’s a trap and I can’t get out.
She’s the queen of the ring. Undisputed champ
But technically…. She’s a knockout!

She’s a knockout



KnockOut (2025) (Cover)

Lesson
Timothy Michael Music
07 OCT 2025

V1.
If life’s a game of inches
I feel like I’m a mile away
From catching those dreams I’m chasing
And the prayers I pray
I might be a longshot bet
But I’m gonna find a way
My lotto numbers ain’t hit yet
But I know there will come a day

Chorus
Another no,
Another door slammed in my face
But I know
It’s a marathon not a race
I’ll break the curse
With a big ol’ blessing
Sometimes W ends up for the worst
But the L is always the lesson

V2.
I’d rather have crumbs with bums
Than eat steaks with snakes
Keep reaching for the real ones
And throwing back the fakes
Something in my soul
Keeps me reaching for the gold
When the timing’s right
The Good Lord will take control

Chorus
Another no,
Another door slammed in my face
But I know
It’s a marathon not a race
I’ll break the curse
With a big ol’ blessing
Sometimes W end up for the worst
But the L is always the lesson


Bridge
The No’s will turn to yes
And the maybe’s will disappear
‘Cos faith over fear
Is gonna make one hell of a year

Chorus
Another no,
Another door slammed in my face
But I know
It’s a marathon not a race
I’ll break the curse
With a big ol’ blessing
Sometimes W’s end up for the worst
But the L is always the lesson

Sometimes W’s end up for the worst
But the L is always the lesson










Lesson (2025) (Cover)

“Make the Memory”
Timothymichaelmusic
06 FEB 2020

v1.
My daughter called me up last week
Asking for advice.
I told her when you’re making memories 
Don’t worry about the price.
You only get so many shots,
So remember all the ways
The times you made your days count
And stopped just counting days.

Chorus:
Live your life.
Make the memory.
Take the trip
Tomorrow’s not a guarantee
If you’re lucky 
you might get a century
To make those moments
That fill your treasury
You can be the hero of your own story
Make the Memory.

V2.
I’m older now, so there are days 
I look back with regret.
Pulled some wagers from the table
When I should’ve placed the bet
It’s the things I didn’t do that
Leave my memory bank in debt.
So I’ll pass that wisdom on
Trying to change that mindset

Chorus:
Live your Life.
Make the memory.
Take the trip.
Tomorrow’s not guaranteed.
If you’re lucky
You might get a century
To make those moments
That fill your treasury
You can be the hero of your own story
Make the Memory

Bridge
She bought a house and got married
Now there’s a baby on the way
She’s chasing all her dreams
And making memories every day

Chorus:
Live your Life.
Make the memory.
Take the trip.
Tomorrow’s not guaranteed.
If you’re lucky
You might get a century
To make those moments
That fill your treasury
You can be the hero of your own story
Make the Memory

Be the hero of your own story
Make the Memory







Make The Memory (2025) (Cover)

Lyricist looking to connect with artists in the country genre that are searching for great songs to record. Also open to co-writes. Regularly pitching music to Nashville publishers and song pluggers. Primarily country genre. Mid 50s, married. 6 kids and 10 grandkids in a beautifully blended family. Enjoys golf, working out, nature/lakes, and listening to live music every chance I get!

What If (2025) (Cover5)

Timothy Michael Music - SONGWRITER