BURNED IT DOWN
When I came to this place I’d been broken
When I came to this place I’d been scared
When I came to this place I came through I’d say mostly repaired.
When I faced that the heartache was over
When I stepped up from living low down
When I realized things would be better now that she’s hanging around
I took a long last look and burned it down.
So I stand here again starting over
But I sure ain’t no stranger to change
I’ve got a new pair of boots so I guess I’m ahead of the game
How I longed to be part of the story
But I’ve never been part of the crowd
I guess I’ve got an outsider’s heart and I’m fine with that now
I looked at the shrine I built and burned it down.
Who are you standing out there?
Who are you with that critical stare?
Who am I to even care what you do?
What you do…
So I'll sip on my bourbon in darkness
And I'll drink my champagne on the beach
And I'll thank all I have and I'll smile at what’s still out of reach
I'll look at the mess I made, and burn it down
©2017 Ryan Racine BMI
CAROLINE
Caroline what a lovely name, she was standing out amongst the lost and found
I found her photograph of black and white perfection
I heard her story I was so intrigued
They said “Caroline you’re different girl” you understand my heart like no one else
First girl to ever give a damn about you
Last one that’s ever gonna let you down
Caroline where have you gone
This heart of mine waited so long
I miss the way you said it
I miss the way you said it
Roll it over through my mind
Caroline
Caroline was an expert witness, turning peace and love into war and hate
Learning how a man can be so empty and not know how to give and take
Caroline how I wish I could be there, waitin’ on the steps outside your door
I can hear the reggae from your bedroom window
I can taste your lips and they’re oh so sweet
©2002 Ryan Racine BMI
Safe At Home
It’s been a long night, staring in the mirror
And it’s a long ride, to the place where it gets clearer
But it’s alright, you don’t have to get there on your own
They say chances are only for the taking
And mistakes made leave you better for the making
And the worst thing is sitting down before you get to fall
So go, push your luck try to grow
Take the promise we’ve known
‘Til you’re safe at home
And see, what it means to be free
I’ll hold fast what we need
‘Til you’re safe at home
It’s a hard brawl to do the things you need to
and it’s a slow crawl when you chase the thing that feeds you
But if the dice call, you take the opportunity to roll.
I see a bright day with all the clouds behind us
In the right way, not for other folks to find for us
Then you’ll say “I’m glad we finally made our way to home”
©2015 Ryan Racine BMI
Sing Your Name
I wanna sing your name
In praise like some old hymn’s refrain
And let it fly up to the rafters
Where it’ll echo softly after
I wanna sing your name
I wanna sing your name
But I can find no other words
That I can put on either side
To stand worthy of its pride
I wanna sing your name
The way it rings in my ears
The way it tastes on my tongue
The way it haunts my mind when it’s gone
I wanna sing your name
How it burns through my chest
How it shines like summer’s gaze
How it smells sweet on the air until it fades
I wanna sing your name
I wanna sing your name
Like it’s the last word that I’ll say
And they can take me to my death
With that sweetness on my breath
I wanna sing your name
I wanna sing your name
©2010 Ryan Racine BMI
Long Ride
I can see the lights down on the highway
Wishin’ to hell that they were mine
Count the stars and swallow slowly
Take a breath and close my eyes
‘Cause I’ve been thinking ‘bout a lone ride to nowhere
I’ve been longing to get lost in the pine
These traps I’ve set ain’t catching anything but me
And I need some time…need some time
Maybe pack an atlas and a raincoat
Leave our telephones behind
You can trace the blue lines with your fingertip
One down, four up, and say goodbye
There’s a road out there that don’t care about tomorrow
There’s an emptiness ‘round here we’re choking on
Scape and toil, sweat and bleed
While all the things we think we need
Just keep us occupied
©2017 Ryan Racine BMI
porch life
Baby you’re an astronaut, you’ve got stars around you
I don’t know how you get so high
I get upset, but you’ve got so much hope left
Maybe enough for you and I
I was lost but amazingly gracious
For you to sweep away the pain
So take the porch swing, lay back while I sing
Sad bastard songs in the rain
Maybe it’s the red wine lips and cigarettes
That got me on my knees
But I would be it’s nights like this
That keep me feeling free
Baby I’m a moth and you’re the flame I burn in
Smiling while I molest your feet
So split the box top, hear the thunder drop
And watch the storm light up the street
Maybe it’s the red wine lips and cigarettes
That got me on my knees
But I would be it’s nights like this
That keep me feeling free
Squeakin’ chains and swayin’ shadows on the ground
Keepin’ rhythm as you squeeze another round
We make a scene so they can talk all over town (about it)
Maybe it’s the red wine lips and cigarettes
That got me on my knees
But I would be it’s nights like this
That keep me feeling free
Squeakin’ chains and swayin’ shadows on the ground
Keepin’ rhythm as you squeeze another round
Make a scene so they can talk all over town about nights like this
©2017 Ryan Racine BMI
KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON
Found my mind today, chasing white lines down this interstate
Lost it some years back, tryin’ to be something that’s strange to me
But I’m on this road and it might lead me back to you
I’ve been out here wild, washed up and bent towards living in misery
Afraid of steppin’ off, afraid of love, afraid of everything
But I’m on this road and it might lead me back to you
It’s a long way home, ain’t got time to kill
With ground to gain if I can find the will
Crossing memories, dreaming miles uphill
Thinking you’re not gone to keep me hangin’ on
I’ve been searching low, for what it was it doesn’t matter now
Too many suns gone down on wasted time when I could’ve had it all
But I’m on this road and it might lead me back to you
It’s a long way home, ain’t got time to kill
With ground to gain if I can find the will
Crossing memories, dreaming miles uphill
Thinking you’re not gone to keep me hangin’ on
Crossing memories, dreaming miles uphill
Thinking you’re not gone to keep me hangin’ on and on
Runnin’ circles ‘round regrets I ever let you go, but I’m on this road
©2015 Ryan Racine BMI
small
This old house on this old street
It was here before me It’ll be here when I leave
And it won’t laugh and it won’t grieve
This old house on this old street
That little room up the stairs
It’s heard the love, it’s heard the prayers
And when I’m gone, it won’t care
That little room on up the stairs
I know every creaky board and stubborn window
Every trouble fuse and crack in every wall
But I don’t know how it came to feel so lonesome
But it’s age can make me feel so god damn small
Thought I was part of something bigger but there’s nothing at all
This old roof and these old floors
Won’t leave a trace of me or those that came before
When they take my bones on out the door
Between this old roof and these old floors
©2016 Ryan Racine BMI
WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES
Where the problem lies between you and me
Is that it’s just too good to walk away easily
Cautious judgment tries, and trepidations fly
But I’ve never felt so high, that’s where the problem lies
Where the trouble is, is I’m not used to this
Or the warm embrace of so called happiness
And losing space and time all wrapped inside a kiss
Returning innocence, that’s where the trouble is
I was nothing without you by my side
But nothing was all that I ever hoped to find
Where the fear resides is in the thoughtful mind
Where suspicion clouds being satisfied
And in the hollow walls where broken hearts remind
Of every other time, that’s where the fear resides
Returning innocence, that’s where the trouble is
But I’ve never felt so high, that’s where the problem lies
©2015 Ryan Racine BMI
THIN LINE
I see ashes and fire
I've smoked it down to the wire
Pushin’ a blistering tire just trying to make it home
I've got to make it so hard
Bury my head in the yard
I've got an outsider’s heart but it’s my own
I'm not an outlaw and I'm not a saint
I keep myself up with all the things that I ain't
Sometimes it's love and sometimes it's hate
Don't you know it's a thin line
I’ve built this room on my own
Lonesome but never alone
Surrounded by folks but I could never tell
Inside my head for so long
Chasin myself through a song
I've been doing it wrong but I do it so well
I haven't won much but I hate to lose
I keep myself propped up on rhythm and blues
It's a life that you trip In or one that you choose
Yeah you know it's a thin line
You empty your heart, it seems that they only take
You’re searchin’ for Eden and you wind up the snake
There's so much you can bend before you're ready to break
Don't ya know it's a thin line
It's gas cans and matches in the trunk of the car
It's livin’ a clean life or reachin for stars
It's having a few and then you take it too far
Yeah ya know it's a thin line
©2017 Ryan Racine BMI
THE TOAST
I know you owe me nothing
And nothing’s what I owe you
Let’s just sit here together and talk like we do
I see you’re feeling weary
Come let me buy a round
I know it seems like the whole world is crumbling down
As the snow gathers soft on the window
And another year comes to an end
Let’s raise up a sparkling crescendo
To what’s ‘round the bend
Maybe the next one’s better
Maybe it’s just a curse
We’re all in this together for better or worse
As the snow gathers soft on the window
And the past makes its way to the grave
Let’s raise up a sparkling crescendo
To much better days
Pick out some golden moments
Pull up a vacant chair
And know in your heart I’m here and ain’t going nowhere
©2017 Ryan Racine BMI