Makes Me Crazy

Makes me crazy.

Makes me cry.

Leaves me searching

For a reason why.

You left me without a single word,

Never said goodbye.

Is it any wonder loving you

Makes me crazy.

 

I never thought that this could happen

Even  in my wildest dreams.

Guess it only goes to show

Things aren’t always as they seem.

I was blind to your unhappiness

Cause you kept it all inside

Until the feeling that you used to have

For our love slowly died.

 

And it makes me crazy.

Makes me cry.

Leaves me searching

For a reason why.

You left me without a single word,

Never said goodbye.

Is it any wonder loving you

Makes me crazy.

 

I can only hope that you

Will somehow find a way,

Find forgiveness in your heart

And come back home to me someday.

I can’t even bear the thought

Of living without you.

It makes me crazy.

Can’t you feel it, too?

 

And it makes me crazy….

The Box

It was so lovely,

The wrappings and ribbons,

A gift for no reason

Right out of the blue.

Inside the box,

My greatest possession,

A genuine token of

My love for you.

 

It’s only a ring with one tiny diamond,

The one that my grandmother wore.

I know that she’d want it to rest on your finger

To show the whole world you’re the one I adore.

 

You were so gentle unwrapping your treasure,

So patient in claiming your prize.

You opened the box, holding your breath,

I could see tears welling up in your eyes.

Then in an instant I’m down on one knee

Asking the question you knew.

You answered softly, without hesitation,

“Yes, Darling, I’ll marry you.”

 

A sweet precious memory from so long ago

And the years have been wondrous since then.

To think it all started with one tiny box

Makes me wish we could live it all over again.

 

It was so lovely,

The wrappings and ribbons,

A gift for no reason

Right out of the blue….

 

Pray for Rain

Pray for rain

So no one sees these tears.

Hide the pain that’s been building up

For so many years.

Loose the chains around my heart

As I slowly go insane, as you’re

Leaving me alone to pray for rain.

 

You didn’t even bat an eye

When you broke my heart in two.

You said it was over and

You found somebody new.

I guess that I could argue, but

There’s nothing left to gain.

So I’ll just sit right here and wait

And pray for rain.

 

Someday I’ll get over you.

Someday I’ll move on,

Get used to being all alone and

Realize you’re really gone.

I may even find someone

To help me ease the pain.

Until then I’ll just sit

And pray for rain.

 

Pray for rain

So no one sees these tears.

Hide the pain that’s been building up

For so many years.

Loose the chains around my heart

As I slowly go insane, as you’re

Leaving me alone to pray for rain.

 

Kiss Me Again

I remember it like yesterday,

The first time that you kissed me,

How it filled my simple heart with joy.

So far lost in happiness

Even now I must confess I was

Like a child with his favorite toy.

But you became so much more to me

In a world where we agree.

It’s a game we play where we both win.

I can’t wait for the next time,

The taste of your sweet lips on mine.

Kiss me once and then

Kiss me again.

 

Kiss me in the morning light.

Kiss me when we say goodnight

And a thousand kisses in between.

Tempt me with those lips that thrill.

I can’t seem to get my fill.

Kiss me once and

Kiss me again.

 

The years have slipped away somehow,

Brought us into here and now,

All the roads we’ve travelled hand in hand.

Hasn’t always been such fun

Putting devils on the run,

Keeping up with what our lives demand.

But one constant still remains

Through the trials and pouring rains,

One place where I know we always win.

Your sweet kisses every night

Always seen to make it right, so

Kiss me once and then

Kiss me again.

 

Playing with Fire

It’s a game that we play with each other

Where silence can cover our eyes,

Where truth dwells in shadows, secrets abound,

And reality wears a disguise.

We both perform with no net below us

As we prance across the high wire.

Never a thought about our tragic ending,

We both know we’re playing with fire.

 

Playing with fire…

          The flames growing stronger.

Playing with fire…

          The song never ends.

Filled with desire

          And fueled by a hunger

Til the truth disappears in the wind

While we’re playing with fire.

 

Can’t say just when it all started,

When we began telling these lies.

But it’s left us both broken-hearted

With neither one taking the prize.

But that doesn’t stop us from singing,

Pleading our case to the choir,

But it doesn’t help because we both know

That we’re only playing with fire.

 

Playing with fire…

          The flames growing stronger.

Playing with fire…

          The song never ends.

Filled with desire

          And fueled by a hunger

Til the truth disappears in the wind

While we’re playing with fire.

 

Run Away

After all this time together

I believe that we’re worth fighting for,

But you can’t stay to talk it out.

You just shut down and walk right out the door.

I tried so hard to make you see

The million-and-one reasons you should stay,

But your ears won’t listen to the truth,

You just take your foolish pride and run away.

 

You can run but you can’t hide

Because you know down deep inside

The simple truth that you and I are one.

We can’t change our destiny

Even though we don’t agree and

I say things that put you on the run.

 

I know you didn’t mean it when

You said you couldn’t take it anymore.

You’ll be back to work it out

Just like we did a hundred times before.

But every time feels different

And every time I just hope and pray

That it won’t be the last time

The next time that you up and run away.

 

You know I couldn’t help it

When I told you it was over,

It’s just a chess piece in this game we play.

But you’ve been gone so long this time

I can’t help but wonder

If this time is forever and a day,

And this time is the last time

That you run away.

 

Telling Lies

Never want to hurt the feelings of

The one for whom you really care.

Secrets become commonplace,

Filling spaces everywhere.

But secrets are a prelude to

A life of compromise

Where truth succumbs to a whole new world

Of telling lies.

 

Telling lies to spare your feelings,

Telling lies to hide my shame,

Trying hard to find excuses

‘Cause I just can’t stand to share the blame.

I don’t want to be the villain

Or look guilty in your eyes,

But there’s no excuse that makes it right

When we start telling lies.

 

You were always true to me,

Never had a wandering eye.

You deserve much better

Than some made-up wayward alibi.

Only now, as you walk away,

I finally realize

That I have to pay the price for telling lies.

 

Pass the Biscuits, Please

I remember growing up,

Sundays after church was done,

Chicken dinner on the table,

Momma with her apron on.

Offered up, a silent prayer,

As we passed around the black-eyed peas,

Silence broken when someone said,

“Pass the biscuits, Please.”

 

Daddy cursed the coffee stain

On his favorite shirt.

All the boys can’t wait to go

Play some baseball in the dirt.

But Mom insisted we take our time

Before everybody leaves. She said,

“Let’s enjoy a little conversation,

So, pass the biscuits please.”

 

Preacher says that “to be a family

Is such a precious thing,

The kind of gift that will lift you up

And make your spirit sing.”

I thank the Lord for the things I’ve got

Each night on bended knees,

And Momma’s sweet love in these four words,

“Pass the biscuits, Please.”

 

Beautiful Girl

Beautiful girl,

You make my spirit rise.

You’re my whole world.

Can’t you see it in my eyes?

There’s an aura hanging over you

That lets me know your love is true,

Tells me this is how it’s meant to be,

That you always will be beautiful to me.

 

You captured my heart,

Nothing left to hide.

I saw from the start

The beauty deep inside.

Like the innocence of a child,

Ever-present in your smile,

And time may fade what my poor eyes may see,

But you always will be beautiful to me.

 

Beautiful girl,

Nothing left to say.

My love for you

Growing stronger every day.

And I try to show you how I feel,

But my simple words just can’t reveal,

And a lifetime isn’t near enough to see

How you always will be beautiful to me.

 

Can’t Stay Away

Can’t stay away,

Though people tell me you’ll just break my heart.

I come back anyway.

I feel so lost alone when we’re apart.

I can’t feel.

I can’t sleep.

You are constant on my mind.

So I wait patiently

Looking for some special sign.

Just as long as there’s hope

Deep down in my heart

I just can’t stay away.

 

I thought forevermore was just a game

Played by simple fools with nothing left to lose,

But now nothing seems to be the same.

My world has changed so much since I met you.

 

What’s come over me?

I used to be so cavalier when it came to love,

Play the field and never fear about breaking up.

Then we met

And I fell,

And it never was the same.

I get weak,

Can’t resist

At the mention of your name,

And I know it’s no use,

I come back because

I just can’t stay away.

 

Color Me Gone

Life is filled with colors of bright red and green.

You were the brightest that I’d ever seen.

But colors have faded since you did me wrong,

So, you can just color me gone.

 

Color me gone.

Deep hues all faded to gray,

Falling like shadows at the end of the day.

Lost in the words of a sad country song,

A canvas of color me gone.

 

Sunrise was colored with twelve shades of red,

A pallet of passion that danced through my head.

I don’t know if you meant to string me along,

But now you can color me gone.

 

Color me gone.

Deep hues all faded to gray,

Falling like shadows at the end of the day.

Lost in the words of a sad country song,

A canvas of color me gone.

 

There may be someone who’ll fall for your lies,

Who won’t see the green in your jealous eyes.

But I’ll be much better off here on my own,

So you can just color me gone.

 

Color me gone.

Deep hues all faded to gray,

Falling like shadows at the end of the day.

Lost in the words of a sad country song,

A canvas of color me gone.

 

Breaking Away

Trapped in a cycle of heartache and tears,

Cautioned by voices that no one else hears,

Tempted to leave, but longing to stay.

Am I better off breaking away?

 

Breaking away from the sorrow,

Into the light,

A brand new direction to make it all right.

Finding the freedom to face a new day.

It all starts with breaking away.

 

Most folks don’t notice the rut that they’re in.

They travel in circles, no chance to win.

They never consider the price that they pay

For the freedom of breaking away.

 

Breaking away from the sorrow,

Into the light,

A brand new direction to make it all right.

Finding the freedom to face a new day.

It all starts with breaking away.

 

I hope you’ll be happy, know you’ll be fine

When I’m not around to play on your mind.

But I have to shake all these dark shades of gray.

That’s why I’m breaking away.

 

Breaking away from the sorrow,

Into the light,

A brand new direction to make it all right.

Finding the freedom to face a new day.

It all starts with breaking away.

 

Maybe You’re Right

You say there’s a reason,

A simple change of season,

For everything that happens in our lives.

No such thing as simple chance,

It’s all determined in advance

And we can see the truth if hope survives.

 

But I find it hard to understand

That we’re just playing out our hand,

And there’s no way for us to win the fight.

So, I just keep it in my head,

The million things you might have said.

You may be wrong, but then, maybe you’re right.

 

You know I’ve been a player,

A yes-man and naysayer,

Witnessed every kindness known to man.

Known the hurt of leaving,

Felt the pain of grieving.

Hard to think that it’s all in His plan.

 

But you keep saying you believe

That everything is pre-conceived,

The story written down in black and white.

You believe it’s all foretold, but

I keep longing for control.

You may be wrong, but then, maybe you’re right.

 

If there are choices to be made,

You know I’ll face them unafraid.

I won’t hesitate to stand and fight.

Those words that echo in my ear

Will help to chase away the fear,

Knowing that you may be wrong,

But then,

Maybe you’re right.

 

Don’t Wait Up

Don’t wait up. I’ll be home late.

I’m going out tonight.

Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine.

I’m going where the lights are bright.

Dancing, singing off the wall,

Hanging out until last call,

Laughing til it hurts, so, don’t wait up.

 

I’ve been working these poor bones

Til past the setting sun.

Can’t deny I’m overdue to go out for a little fun.

I’d ask you to come along

But you’d think it’s corrupt, so

I’ll say goodnight and tell you, “Don’t wait up.”

It’s just a little honky-tonk

Where friends all gather round

To laugh and have a drink or three

Where no one tries to put you down.

I’ll be drinking kindness from

A never-empty cup until

They turn the lights out, so don’t wait up.

 

Don’t wait up. I’ll be home late.

I’m going out tonight.

Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine.

I’m going where the lights are bright.

Dancing, singing off the wall,

Hanging out until last call,

Laughing til it hurts, so, don’t wait up.

The Portrait

There was a portrait

Used to hang right here,

A prominent place on the wall,

Of an old man

          His face weathered with years,

                    His dark eyes saying it all.

I remember the way

          His eyes seemed to follow

                    As I solemnly walked past his gaze.

It was like he was there

          To watch over me

                    And protect me the rest of my days.

 

This old house is coming down.

They say it’s not safe.

I guess that it’s probably true.

There’s no one around,

No one left to remember

When it was all shiny and new.

But a house is just walls,

A roof and a floor

Where you can come in from the cold.

It’s the people who live inside her portrait

Who are worth more than silver and gold.

 

And I think of that portrait

          Where it hangs today

                    Of my guardian angel with wings.

And it fills me with hope

          And joy beyond measure until

          My heart fairly sings

With the peace of mind that portrait brings.

 

Wishful Thinking

Turmoil in the Middle-East,

Vain attempts to tame the beast,

Looks like this could go on for a while.

Violence running in the streets

Makes you cautious when you meet a stranger;

Puts you in denial.

When I think of how it used to be

The feelings all come back to me

To comfort me just like a long-lost friend,

But that restful feeling starts to sink

And I guess it’s wishful thinking

But I wish that we could be that way again.

 

Oh, Lord, take me by the hand. You know

There’s not much I demand.

All I want is a little peace of mind.

And no, I ain’t been drinking,

Just a little wishful thinking

And a prayer to leave my troubles all behind.

 

I think about the innocents trapped behind coincidence,

Victims of the times in which they live.

And those who have more than they need,

Who cheat and hide behind their greed

When they’re the ones who have so much to give.

Why, dear Lord, won’t they relent,

Bend a little and repent,

Give up some of their ill-gotten gain.

I guess it’s just a fantasy

How these thoughts seem to come to me

And flood my mind like some torrential rain.

 

Oh, Lord, take me by the hand. You know

There’s not much I demand.

All I want is a little peace of mind.

And no, I ain’t been drinking,

Just a little wishful thinking

And a prayer to leave my troubles all behind.

Going Back to Oz

I thought that all those little people

Really did exist; the ones who cared

To help along the way. .

And I thought I had some close friends to

Stick by through thick and thin.

Now I’m left with just one thing to say.

 

I’m going back to Oz,

If only in my mind;

A simple place where my poor heart

Won’t get left behind. I’ll take

That winding road to happiness

Where I can freely roam

To where the answer waits

To find my way back home.

 

If only I had half a brain

Or a heart made out of tin,

I’d maybe find the courage

To face the world again.

If I can find the magic

That lies deep inside of me,
Then maybe I can make my dreams

Become reality.

 

So, I’m going back to Oz,

If only in my mind;

A simple place where my poor heart

Won’t get left behind. I’ll take

That winding road to happiness

Where I can freely roam

To where the answer waits

To find my way back home.

 

A Fool Like Me

A fool like me is always hanging ‘round.

A fool like me

Is used to scraping his heart off the ground.

I spend my life

Just waiting for your tender company,

But you would never think to love a fool like me.

 

I tried so hard to fit in with your friends,

To play their game

Of broken hearts where no one ever wins.

But they just laughed

And set me up in their sad company.

Their world had no room for

A simple fool like me.

 

A fool like me is always hanging ‘round.

A fool like me

Is used to scraping his heart off the ground.

I spend my life

Just waiting for your tender company,

But you would never think to love a fool like me.

 

I can’t give up.

The stakes are way too high.

You fill my soul

With feelings that my poor heart can’t deny.

I’ll take my chances

You’ll come around and someday you will see

That you can finally learn to love

A fool like me.

 

A fool like me is always hanging ‘round.

A fool like me

Is used to scraping his heart off the ground.

I spend my life

Just waiting for your tender company,

And hoping someday you can love a fool like me.

 

Lessons

I don’t know why I listened to

That voice inside my head.

It kept telling me to take a chance on you.

It’s a lesson that I learned too late

To help avoid the pain

And winding up a broken-hearted fool.

 

There are lessons to be learned,

Bridges to be burned,

Keys to turn to open every door.

But something in my mind, leaving logic far behind,

Always keeps me coming back for more.

 

You said it was over,

You’d found somebody new,

Like you did a dozen times before.

But when it didn’t work out,

And that one ended, too,

You came running back to me and asked for more.

 

There are lessons to be learned,

Bridges to be burned,

Keys to turn to open every door.

But something in my mind, leaving logic far behind,

Always keeps me coming back for more.

 

There must be some limit to

What one poor heart can take and somehow pick itself up off the ground.

Someday I may find it and

You shouldn’t be surprised.

You’ll look for me and I won’t be around.

 

There are lessons to be learned,

Bridges to be burned,

Keys to turn to open every door.

But something in my mind, leaving logic far behind,

Always keeps me coming back for more.