Christmas Of The Past
Timothymichaelmusic
02 SEP 2025

V1.
A tinsel covered tree
The angel on the tip
A warming fire burning
Hot chocolate to sip
Mom and dad playing Santa Claus
Passing out the gifts
Kids anxiously unwrapping
Each and every Christmas wish

Chorus
Those old Christmas memories
Swirling around my mind
The kind that make me smile
Long lost days we’ve left behind
A simpler place and time
Impressions that still last
Man, we were really blessed
By Christmas of the past

V2. 
Grandma and Grandpa laughing
My brand-new baseball glove
Big family style dinners
Holiday feasts made with love
All my aunts and uncles
Cousins, neighbors and friends
I was never really sure
Where our family tree ends

Chorus
Those old Christmas memories
Swirling around my mind
The kind that make me smile
Long lost days we’ve left behind
A simpler place and time
Impressions that still last
Man, we were really blessed
By Christmas of the past

Bridge
Ghosts of by gone days
The memories remain
This year My Christmas wish is 
A Christmas day like those again

Chorus
Those old Christmas memories
Swirling around my mind
The kind that make me smile
Long lost days we’ve left behind
A simpler place and time
Impressions that still last
Man, we were really blessed
By Christmas of the past

Man, we were really blessed
By Christmas of the past












Christmas Of The Past

In The Grave
timothymichaelmusic
22 JUL 2023

V1.
He took a new job in the city
And gave up small town life
For better opportunities
For his children and his wife
The neighborhood seemed safe enough
Right up until it wasn’t
And when I ask him how it all went down
He don’t want to discuss it

Chorus
Only you control the narrative
On who will cry the tears
Carried by six of your best friends
Or judged by twelve of your peers
Live or die. The choice is yours
Who’s life you gonna save
You’ve either got to end his time
Or he’ll put you in the grave.

V2.
When he heard the glass break
He reached into that drawer
He knew just how to use it
But he never had before.
With eyes locked and hammer cocked
He thought about his family
But all he’ll really ever say
Is “It was him or it was me.”

Chorus
Only you control the narrative
On who will cry the tears
Carried by six of your best friends
Or judged by twelve of your peers
Live or die. The choice is yours
Who’s life you gonna save
You’ve either got to end his time
Or he’ll put you in the grave.


Bridge
In the dead of the night
Under bright moonlight 
A decision had to be made
Shots rang out in the silence
But it ain’t random violence
When a family needs to be saved

Chorus
Only you control the narrative
On who will cry the tears
Carried by six of your best friends
Or judged by twelve of your peers
Live or die. The choice is yours
Who’s life you gonna save
You’ve either got to end his time
Or he’ll put you in the grave

You’ve either got to end his time
Or he’ll put you in the grave

Or he’ll put you in the grave








In the Grave (Remastered) (Remix)

Love My Grand Folks Had
Dusty Moats/ Tim Schlesener
28 JAN 2024

V1.
His bib overalls and a pocket watch
On the tractor for every sunrise
Face and hands like leather
Plowing fields in the summer sunshine
He worked the farm from dawn til dusk
Did the best that he knew how
Every moment he spent loving her
Bringing truth to every vow

Chorus
I wish for a love like my grand folks had
Where a worn out ring don’t mean worn out hands
Through the highs and lows, through the slammin’ doors
The kind of love most don’t believe in anymore
I got to witness true love first hand
I want the kind of love my grand folks had

V2
She had a sundress in every color
But his favorite one was blue
Even though the shade had faded
It still fit her good as new
Her love for him is stronger now
Than the day she became his wife
Even through the imperfections
They’d made a wonderful life

Chorus
I wish for a love like our grand folks had
Where a worn out ring don’t mean worn out hands
Through the highs and lows, through the slamming doors
The kind of love most don’t believe in anymore
I got to witness true love first hand
I want the kind of love my grand folks had

Bridge
In an age where nothing’s thrown away
Where marriage lasts forever
No matter how messed up things got
They got through it together

Chorus
I wish for a love like our grand folks had
Where a worn out ring don’t mean worn out hands
Through the highs and lows, through the slammin’ doors
The kind of love most don’t believe in anymore
I got to witness true love first hand
I want the kind of love my grand folks had

I got to witness true love first hand
I want the kind of love my grand folks had




Love My Grand Folks Had (2025) (Remix)

Ain’t Done
timothymichaelmusic
08 AUG 2022

V1.
The man time forgot
I’m an after thought
When you’re tuning in the dial
Been out of sight
Missing the limelight
Ya ain’t seen me in a while
A blast from the past
Rollin’ in with class
When you see me hit the stage
There ain’t no rules
When you’re this damn cool
It’s time to turn the page

Chorus
I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.
Won’t go down without a fight
So many trips around the sun
But the future’s looking bright
Been a few miles, but I’m all smiles
I’m bringing back the fun
Gonna live life to the fullest
‘Cus I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.

V2.
I may not be your fave
But don’t pour dirt on my grave
Or put me out to pasture yet
I’m the same troubadour
That I was before
But time made you forget
This ain’t no prank
There’s more left in the tank
Got my music back on track
They may have tried to write me off
But I didn’t write them back

Chorus
I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.
Won’t go down without a fight
So many trips around the sun
But the future’s looking bright
Been a few miles, but I’m all smiles
I’m bringing back the fun
Gonna live life to the fullest
‘Cus I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.

Bridge
The cowboy may have rode away
And disappeared into the sunset
I’ve got songs to sing and you can believe
You ain’t seen the last of me yet

Chorus
I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.
Won’t go down without a fight
So many trips around the sun
But the future’s looking bright
Been a few miles, but I’m all smiles
I’m bringing back the fun
Gonna live life to the fullest
‘Cus I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.

Gonna live life to the fullest
‘Cus I ain’t dead and I ain’t done.














Ain't Done (2025-Final) (Remix)

V1.
We had Red Rocks on our bucket list
So we rolled west from East Texas
Rowdy trip with girls gone wild
And trash talking our exes
Bags piled high for wardrobe fits
Our fashion sense is elite
Coolers full of liquor
And a bible under the seat

Chorus
We found our share of trouble
I know that much is certain.
Broken glass and rubble
But you can save the sermon
All our life we’ve been survivors
Carrying regrets and burdens
But our lips are sealed forever
And that bible’s soaked in bourbon

V2.
Cody Jinks put on a show
A rocking religious experience
But the highlights of the night
Quickly turned to something serious
Late after the after party
We headed for our hotel
But the Rocky Mountains gave us
A close-up view of living hell

Chorus
We found our share of trouble
I know that much is certain.
Broken glass and rubble
But you can save the sermon
All our life we’ve been survivors
We fared better than that Suburban
But our lips are sealed forever
And that bible’s soaked in bourbon

Bridge
When the surgeon pulled back the curtain
She raised that Bible soaked in bourbon

Chorus
We found our share of trouble
I know that much is certain.
Broken glass and rubble
But you can save the sermon
We are ALL still survivors
But we said goodbye to that Suburban
And every trip from now on
Includes that bible soaked in bourbon

Soaked in bourbon






Bible Soaked In Bourbon (2025) (Remix)

Missing You
TimothyMichaelMusic
24 MAR 2025

V1.
This ain’t no whiskey song
It ain’t about drinking beer
You won’t find no trucks or tailgates
In this song here
No pickup lines, no neon lights
No happy summer days in June
It’s the kind of song I write
When I’m missing you

Chorus
When I’m missing you
The days and nights seem long
When I’m missing you
Everything right here feels wrong
It makes me question life
And if it’s worth even going through
… When I’m missing you

V2.
You’re on the road again
And I’m home only lonely
I pass the time and watch the clock
But, damn it’s moving slowly
I try to fake it ‘til I make it
This smile is feeling phony
Girl, if you think I don’t miss you
That’s baloney

Chorus
When I’m missing you
The days and nights seem long
When I’m missing you
Everything right here feels wrong
It makes me question life
And if it’s worth even going through
… When I’m missing you

Bridge
Just one week without you
Should be an easy thing that’s true
If I didn’t know better
But, dammit I do

Chorus
When I’m missing you
The days and nights seem long
When I’m missing you
Everything right here feels wrong
It makes me question life
And if it’s worth even going through
… When I’m missing you

When I’m missing you

When I’m missing you



Missing You (2025) (Cover)

If The Beer Could Talk
timothymichaelmusic
16 SEP 2025

V1.
This day’s been moving slow
But it’s finally five
And the fact that it’s Friday’s
Bringing me back to life
It’s been calling my name
Since about 9 o’clock
And here’s what it’d say
If the beer could talk

Chorus
Tell me about your day,
How you doing friend?
It’s a long way to the bottom
But I’m here to the end.
If you can keep up with me
I’ll make you the cock of the walk
That’s what it’d say…
…If the beer could talk

V2.
The bottle looked at me
And I looked at the can
One said to the other
He’s one hell of a dancer man.
Have you ever seen him fight?
That’s when I knew I was in trouble
That fist hit me I dropped to one knee
And I started seeing double

Chorus
It’s one hell of a day
Hang in there mi amigo
The night’s still pretty young
But we’ll share more of what we know
If you can keep up with us
We’ll make you the cock of the walk
That’s what it’d say…
…If the beers could talk

Bridge
You’d better chug one more
Before this story’s done
Call the bar-keep over
And order another one

It’s you and me buddy
So stick to the plan
I’m bringing plenty of friends
In cold aluminum cans

Chorus
It’s been a hell of a day,
You killed it my friend.
It’s a long way to the bottom
But we’re here at the end
You kept up with me
But you’d better go sleep it off
That’s what it’d say…
…If the beer could talk

That’s what it’d say…
…If the beer could talk





If The Beer Could Talk (2025-re-write) (Cover)

Broken Boy
Melissa Coston/ Tim Schlesener
11 DEC 2024

V1.
I’m still broken
By all you’ve stolen
There was really only one thing I could do

You confused me
Bullied and abused me
I ran like hell to get away from you

You knew all the things to say
To break me down most every day
But now you can’t control me any longer

You can’t hurt me anymore
I picked myself up off the floor
And time away has made me so much stronger.

Chorus
I wonder how you can live
Without any hopes and dreams
The only shot you ever took
Was sabotaging me

Man, if all you ever think about 
Is stealing all my joy
You ain’t no man at all
You’re just a broken boy

V2.
Guess they were true
Red flags waving over you
Hurt people just keep right on hurting others

I ain’t some kind of toy
You can break to fill the void
I’ve still got so many scars that I can’t cover

Chorus
I wonder how you can live
Without any hopes and dreams
The only shot you ever took
Was sabotaging me

Man, if all you ever think about 
Is stealing all my joy
You ain’t no man at all
You’re just a broken boy

Bridge
Good things come to those who wait
And dreams really do come true
… And I’m already a better man than you

Chorus
I wonder how you can live
Without any hopes and dreams
The only shot you ever took
Was sabotaging me

Man, if all you ever think about 
Is stealing all my joy
You ain’t no man at all
You’re just a broken boy

You ain’t no man at all
You’re just a broken boy





Broken Boy (2025) (Remix) (Cover)

Painting A Picture
timothymichaelmusic
22 FEB 2024

V1.
Pink sunrise over waving waters
We’re walking hand in hand
Following the foamy shoreline
Colorful seashells in the sand
The blue sea shines like diamonds
Reflecting in your eyes
The silent breeze brings a comfort
That I rarely recognize

Chorus
Painting a picture of perfection
The grand illusion in my dreams
The moments that I wish for
Coming true here scene by scene
All the colors of the rainbow
Blending together in a mixture
Of everything I hoped for
Painting a picture. 

V2.
Skin kissed too hard by sunlight
But the reds will turn to brown
Our bodies filled with chill bumps
As the sun is setting down
We become part of the music 
In an all-night sing-along
And the laughter in the bar rooms
Just becomes part of the song.

Chorus
Painting a picture of perfection
The grand illusion in my dreams
The moments that I wish for
Coming true here scene by scene
All the colors of the rainbow
Blending together in a mixture
Of everything I hoped for
Painting a picture. 

Bridge
We didn’t make it back to the room
Never even thought to stop and eat
We met the next sunrise on the shoreline
Just hoping we could get a repeat.

Chorus
Painting a picture of perfection
The grand illusion in my dreams
The moments that I wish for
Coming true here scene by scene
All the colors of the rainbow
Blending together in a mixture
Of everything I hoped for
Painting a picture. Painting a picture

Painting a picture.





Painting A Picture (2025)

Meet You In The Middle
timothymichaelmusic
22 AUG 2024

V1
We all love this great country
So we’ve got to end the hate
It ain’t red and blue, it’s me and you
That will determine our fate
Let’s put away the talking points
And start a real conversation
Forget the political rhetoric
And come together as a nation

Chorus
Here are our fears…. Ease them
There’s opportunities… Seize them
Here are our problems… what can we do
We’ve all got dreams… help them come true
It’s gonna take us all
To solve this complicated riddle
If you want to make America great again
I’ll meet you in the middle

V2.
So let’s sit down at the table
And combine to make a plan
Because divided we are gonna fall
But United we will stand
Stop the finger pointing
Quit playing the blame game
Let’s put our heads together
And do something to make a change

Chorus
Here are our fears…. Ease them
There’s opportunities… Seize them
Here are our problems… what can we do
We’ve all got dreams… help them come true
It’s gonna take us all
To solve this complicated riddle
If you want to make America great again
I’ll meet you in the middle

Bridge
We’ve gotta use some common sense
For an agenda that’s inclusive
And find some common middle ground
That always seems elusive

Chorus
Here are our fears…. Ease them
There’s opportunities… Seize them
Here are our problems… what can we do
We’ve all got dreams… help them come true
It’s gonna take us all
To solve this complicated riddle
If you want to make America great again
I’ll meet you in the middle

It’s gonna take us all
To solve this complicated riddle
If you want to make America great again
I’ll meet you in the middle

I’ll meet you in the middle

Meet You In The Middle (2025)

Won’t Be Chasing You
Melissa Coston/Tim Schlesener
19 SEP 2025

V1
I remember when I told Daddy
I was moving to Tennessee
He said one in a million make it girl
And it probably wasn’t me
I hung my head, my heart sank in my chest
But I kept rolling down I 40 West 
Bending strings and singing tunes
Still believing dreams come true

Chorus
Chase what you love and go through hell
Those no’s will turn to yes
You gotta have faith and trust the process
And push on past the rest
Down the road those dreams will all come true
You gotta keep chasing dreams 
‘Cos they won’t be chasing you

V2.
I remember the day I told momma
That I was coming home
I walked through the kitchen
She sat down to listen
To Alexa play my song
Her eyes grew big. Her smile so bright
She said baby girl 
It’s just a matter of time

Chorus
Chase what you love and go through hell
Those no’s will turn to yes
You gotta have faith and trust the process
And push on past the rest
Down the road those dreams will all come true
You gotta keep chasing dreams
‘Cos they won’t be chasing you

Bridge
This 10 year town ain’t made for the weak
What’s kept me strong is you supporting me

Chorus
Chase what you love and go through hell
Those no’s will turn to yes
You gotta have faith and trust the process
And push on past the rest
Down the road those dreams will all come true
You gotta keep chasing dreams
‘Cos they won’t be chasing you




Won't Be Chasing You

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!

Won't Be Chasing You

Timothy Michael Music - SONGWRITER