SFAC - SONGWRITERS FOR A CAUSE
Lyrics “AND AFTER THE DARKNESS THERE IS LIGHT”
In Support of NATN / SEEDS
Release date December 18^th 2010
Ravenpheat Studio

1.     IN THE CLOSET - Chava Cannon  3:37 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist and harmony; bass - chris frazer

When Daddy came home my brother and I we’d go hide in the closet
Through the vent we could see what no child should see
Momma was as strong as she could be
Daddy was a mean ol’ drunk and he would always find a way to beat her down
I’d close my eyes and pray he’d stop
Lord knows I couldn’t make him though it’s what my brother and I would talk about

(chorus) Four walls in a tiny space
Every night would keep us safe
Away from that evil beast inside of him
Sometimes we would even sleep
Brother at my feet
Behind the coats we’d find a place to hide
In the closet

When he would finally fall asleep we could hear Momma crying
The silence overtook the screams and we both ran to her
A peaceful solace till he’d wake
We made it through another day with our spirits slowly dying inside
She comforted us, said she’s ok,
“I’ll make it up to you one day” though soon we’d find ourselves alone again……In the closet (chorus)

One day the door had opened, my heart skipped a beat
I looked up and saw a policeman, he said, “You kids come with me”
See, Momma had died that day, Daddy was put away
They said they’d try to keep my brother and I together
One thing I knew for sure, we’d never have to ever endure
Another night in the darkness next to hell…..In the closet (chorus)

2.     STILL WAITING - Chris Frazer  3:14 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist, bass, drums, and harmony

You seem to be the only one who can’t see that the problem is his
You believe that patience is a virtue, he doesn’t know what a virtue even is
It’s hard to admit and harder to live with what you know was a mistake
It’s truly a shame that you feel any blame for any part of your heartache

(chorus) He should have seen an empty chair, but there you are still waiting
He should have seen an empty stare, but you’re anticipating
That tomorrow will be the day he’ll start, trying to fix what he’s done to your heart
While from a distance I can’t help but hating that, but there you are still waiting

Maybe it’s not really even waiting, frozen in your tracks more likely
It’s hard to hear that you’re living in fear why you stay makes no sense to me
Till death do you part is a sentence, when a man treats you that way
I have no doubt you can find your way out, God why can’t it happen today (chorus)

3.      CAN'T KICK THE HABIT - Robert Galvan  4:29 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist

I won’t apologize for giving in those lonely nights, I know you needed it too
Maybe we took a step back, call it another relapse, but it’s so easy to do
And you say it’s got to stop, but three days again you call, you want me to spend the night, alright.
We’re running round in circles, we said that this was over, but we can’t say good-bye

(chorus) We took too much of this crazy love and now we’re addicts we can’t kick this habit
No, I try to quit, but I need my fix, cause I’m an addict I can’t kick the habit of lovin’ you
and you’re addicted too.

You keep the ticket stubs from every single cinema that we ever saw
Theyre in an old shoe box with photos and a couple cards

In your closet on the top shelf, it’s a safe spot
And you take my pictures down but you don’t throw them out,
You just hide them away in case we end up back together, but we should both know better
We’ll never give it up this way (chorus)

Maybe one of us will grow strong enough and finally walk away,
But it won’t be today, no no no no no (chorus)

4.     PRAY WITH ME - Penny Menze  3:10 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist
Songwriters:  Bobby Adams and Penny Menze

Are you strong, are you gentle, are you honest, are you kind
Are you ever sentimental, are you man enough to cry
You might be everything a girl could want, but still not pass the test
Oh the most important question I haven’t asked you yet

Pray with me, would you pray with me,
I should let you know above all else the kind of man I need
He’d get down on his knees and pray with me

I’ve had fine cars and I’ve had money and whole wide world to roam
I’ve had houses built right out of dreams but they never felt like home
There was always something missing I can’t live without any more
I’m not asking for perfection, but would you get on the floor, but would you

Pray with me, would you pray with me,
I should let you know above all else the kind of man I need
He’d get down on his knees and pray with me

Because when two have come together in the name of faith and love
And they agree in prayer for anything so it will be done
Now tell me, could you be the one

Pray with me, would you pray with me,
I should let you know above all else the kind of man I need the most
He’d get down on his knees and pray with me

5.      SHE DON'T CARE ANYMORE - Erich Sielaff  3:28 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist; harmonica - john Mahoney

She was sliding down the street and she colud hear the sound of her own footsteps
And as hard as she would listen she could not hear him follow behind
And she was bouncing down the boulevard she heard the sound of her own voice in her head
And she could not hear him speak or the sound of him breathing inside her
And she picked up the tempo and the pace and let herself take leave of his senses

She didn’t care anymore, she just didn’t care anymore

She didn’t care anymore, she didn’t care anymore

There once was a time not so long ago when he had credibility
And she knew that she had flaws and it was not a stretch for him to find them
But when he used to tell her that she was the source of all his misery
Well it stuck to her like glue because the fact is that she knew
She might be bad enough to believe

She was convinced that she was poison and useless and believed all of those things that he said
And she could not escape the fate that she’d set up for herself
The enemy was dancing, kickin’ up his heals and prancing, he was beside himself
Until the truth came roaring in on the power of the wind

And it pushed the lies aside and there was no place left to hide

So when that old accusing voice decides to make its ugly noise and tell her she’s no good
She just puts up a hand because she finally understands

She don’t care anymore, she don’t care anymore, she don’t care anymore
She don’t care anymore, she don’t care anymore, because she knows the truth
She don’t care anymore, she’s found her own voice
She don’t care anymore, she let those lies go
She don’t care anymore, she left the past behind her
She don’t care anymore, she’s walking in the light
She don’t care anymore, not under some umbrella
She don’t care anymore, she don’t care anymore
She don’t care anymore, she don’t care anymore

6.     EMMA - Linda Bilque  3:49 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist; harmonica - rochelle raya; lead guitar and harmony - randy hageman;
harmony - phil shanks; original recording produced by linda bilque and kyle harris

Lester Graves had a hole in his pocket, hole in his belly and his soul
And if he had a heart, well he probably would have hawked it
Lester Graves had his rules

(chorus) and he’d say, Emma, Emma, this will be the last time
Emma, Emma, I promise I will change
Emma, Emma, this will be the last time
But Emma was already gone

Maybe it was drinking made him mean
Always being in between
Feeling small and always taking the fall
Lester Graves lost it all (chorus)

She took a bus down to Barstow in the morning
Walked to the shelter in the rain
Checked herself in and let the healing begin
Because Lester was already gone (chorus X2)

Sweet Emma was already gone

7.     BROKEN GLASS - Kathy Mabry  4:07 
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist; acoustic and slide guitar - tony martinez; harmonica - robby roberson;
bass - jim woodling; drums - steve dueck

I know this feeling fades real fast
And I feel like water seeping out of a broken glass
When you’re trying to fill something empty, empty with a crack a mile wide
No matter how much you drink you don’t get filled up inside

(chorus) So give me a song and a cigarette
Give me a bottle of wine
Give me all your reasons, your regret
For what you did this time
Give me twelve steps, twenty thousand miles, give me a lifetime
To help me forget and put some distance
Between your heart and mine

I know there’s truth to what my friends are telling me
On paper it makes a lot of sense, but right now I can’t read
They say get yourself together, stand up straight, and just move on
Don’t know why they think I got that kind of strength
Baby it’s long gone (chorus)

I know this feeling fades real fast
And I feel like water seeping out of a broken glass

8.     GOODBYE MISSISSIPPI  - Jess Hawk Oakenstar  4:50
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist; drums - gary bruzzese; bass - russ skaggs; acoustic guitar - jeff dayton;
harmonica, national slide guitar - hans olson; original recording produced by - jeff dayton; engineered and mastered - allen moore;
mixed - allen moore and jeff Dayton

The world is confusing, when you’re only little
Your momma and daddy part company
I lived with my momma, I visited daddy
But he did funny things to me

The way that he touched me, it felt kind of wrong
But he said that he loved me, he’d sing me a song
But when I told momma what he had done
She looked frightened, she cried all night long, so

(chorus) It’s goodbye Mississippi, goodbye to Gulfport
Momma and I are running for free
Cause it seems that the strangers who she said would help us
Want to take her away from me

We went to visit a lady downtown
Who smiled, I was so pretty she said
I played with her dolls, I talked of the times
When he’d hurt me at night in my bed

Momma told some people about what had happened
She said they’d make sure it didn’t happen again
But they didn’t believe her or the nice lady
So we’re running tonight, we’re gone
We’re running tonight, we’re gone, and (chorus X2)
They won’t take her away from me

The world is confusing, when you’re only little

9.     STRONGER - Bob Villa  4:56
singer songwriter, words and music, guitarist, bass, drum & shaker

There’s a dirty hungry stumblin’ boy in the darkness of my mind
Searchin’ every bar on Main Street, trying hard not to cry
Looking for his Mama…..through the smoky neon haze
Wonderin’ if she’s coming home…..’cause she’s been gone for days
And when I look more closely I can see…..that boy is me

There are flashlights, guns and badges….. in our dirty one room shack
Someone’s got me by the shoulders….. no use fightin’ back
Lost in blind confusion…..I sit up and look around
Mama’s blood is everywhere…..on the walls and on the ground
And when I look more closely I can see…..there’s blood on me

(chorus) Mama made her choices…..and they crashed in on me
A lonely, lost, forgotten boy…..with no real family
Crying in the darkness…..’Mama, are you there?
Whisper that you love me…..run your fingers through my hair’
But Momma couldn’t help me any longer…..loneliness was stronger (2^nd time to Bridge)

Well, my Mama finally settle down, with the man I didn’t know
Before too long, they started havin’ children of their own
He worked hard to build a home and raise a family
But I could tell he didn’t think that home included me
Treated like a stranger not a son…..I had to run (chorus)

Now I’m a man myself…..I got three kids of my own
I put the past up on the shelf…..I’ve gotta leave the pain alone
And though I can’t forget the mem’ries…..and I can’t turn back the years
I swore to God I won’t give in…..to bitterness and fears
I won’t let those memories hurt me any longer; they’ll just make me stronger!

Oh, Mama made her choices…..and they crashed in on me
A lonely lost forgotten boy…..with no real family
Crying in the darkness…..’Mama are you there?
Won’t you whisper that you love me…..and run your fingers through my hair’
I won’t let those mem’ries hurt my any longer…..they’ll just make me stronger!
Those mem’ries can’t control me any longer, they’ll just make me stronger!

10.   THE WAY YOU LOOK IN HER EYES - Jon Iger and Craig Griffin  3:50 
songwriters, words and music

Oh….Oh….
Momma took my hand, sat down by my side
Said, son she’s got that look in her eyes
I had that same look some twenty years ago
And if you want love to last, there’s something you should know

It’s the way you look in her eyes that touches her heart
It’s the good she sees in you that makes you shine
Help her hold on to her dreams, as your walking down love’s road
And she’ll love the way you look in her eyes 

Oh…You know a woman sees romance differently
Her eyes are the gateway to her heart
And every tender deed plants a seed that grows
That blossoms like a rose, deep within her soul

It’s the way you look in her eyes that touches her heart
It’s the good she sees in you that makes you shine
Help her hold on to her dreams, as your walking down love’s road
And you’ll love the way you look in her eyes 

C’mon man, treat her right and she will trust in you
In the darkest night, love will come shining through

It’s the way you look in her eyes that touches her heart
It’s the good she sees in you that makes you shine
Help her hold on to her dreams, as your walking down love’s road
And you’ll love the way you look in her eyes 

And she’ll love the way you look in her eyes
And you’ll love the way you look in her eyes
And she’ll love the way you look in her eyes
And you’ll love…..

11.   WHAT'S A MAN TO DO - Craig Griffin, Jon Iger and Don Brown  2:53 
songwriters, words and music; singer - craig griffin

I know I’m not perfect, God knows I try
To make you happy, bide a better life
My life depends upon it
It starts and ends with you
And I ask myself, what’s a man to do

What’s a man to do
When she’s feeling empty
What’s a man to do
When she’s feeling blue
What’s a man to do
When her heart is aching
What’s a man to do
To love a woman like you

You’ve given me the courage
To go on with the fight
You’ve given me good reason
To come home every night
My life depends upon it
It starts and ends with you
And I ask myself, what’s a man to do

What’s a man to do
When he’s feeling empty
What’s a man to do
When he’s feeling blue
What’s a man to do
When his heart is aching
What’s a man to do
Without a woman like you

Why storms and dusty roads are better traveled by two
Baby when I’m blinded, my love sees me through

What’s a man to do
When he’s feeling empty
What’s a man to do
When she’s feeling blue
What’s a man to do
When his heart is aching
What’s a man to do
With a woman like you

My life depends upon it
It starts and ends with you

12.   GOODBYE - Destinee Quinn  3:58 
songwriter, words and music; electric guitar - john mahoney; guitarist - dakota mcgrath; drums - kelly emig

One boy, one girl living in a pressuring world
Just friends, might sound good enough, they needed the next step
Can’t believe that was me, so blind I didn’t see the reality
You put on a face so I couldn’t trace who you were to be, then

(chorus) You put me in a box with your name on the lock
But guess what, I found the key
You don’t control me, you don’t own me anymore
I won’t let you choke me, yeah, I’m slamming the door
You don’t deserve me, you’re not my prince charming
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

You loved me so, but your insecurities were a burden on me
You made me think that I was nothing
Go ahead get mad, make me feel bad, try to get me back
It’s no use, I broke the chains and I’m running, cause (chorus)

This isn’t jealously, just makes me sick to see,
That girl is where I used to be

Cause you put her in a box with your name on the lock
But guess what, she’ll find the key
You don’t control me, you don’t own me anymore
I won’t let you jump me, yeah, I’m slamming that door
You don’t deserve me, you’re not my prince charming

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

13.    KING OF PROMISES - Kevin Glenn  5:35 
singer songwriter, words and music; background vocals - m. david lancette, jodi light and kevin glenn; singer songwriter, words and music;
background vocals - m. david lancette, jodi light and kevin glenn; bass - mike king; guitar - john defaria; keyboard - jim whitaker;
original recording produced by m. david lancette; engineered by - "B" rehm gordes, arranged by: m. david lancette, jim whitaker and kevin glenn

Did you tell your mother, did you go home
Did you call your brother, he loves you so
Did you call the police, their position is better than mine
To finally put an end to it all

Did you tell your father, this wasn’t the first time
Have the neighbors seen, or do they pull the blinds
What can I do, to make this madness end
I told you once as a lover, I tell you now as a friend

(chorus) He’s the king of promises, he’s the prince of lies
He’s a misconception in disguise
He’s an unanswered question on your weakness he relies
Yet, he’s still the one in your eyes

Not so long ago, you ran away
From me, security and the love we made
You said you loved me and I believed you
You say you love him, who’s the fool (chorus)

Run away, run away, I can’t believe you’d throw your life away
This way, no no no no no.

You keep coming for more, he apologizes like before
You both know that what’s in store is nothing

I’ve heard it all before, so often still
I hope and pray that you can break his will
A bruise a bump, a black eye, a broken arm
Will heal in time, but what about your heart (chorus)

In your eyes….ummm

14.   SILENT JOURNEY - Jeff Carter and Lynn Rathbun  4:42 
songwriter - jeff carter; vocals and keyboard - lynn rathbun; guitar, bass, drums and harmony - chirs frazer; cymbals - john mahoney

She’s walking down the road on a Friday afternoon
She’s headed toward the east, toward the rising of the moon
It is getting late
It is almost night
She knows she must keep on
Until she sees the light
Until she sees the light
Until she sees the light

She’s walking down the road; there is no other choice
She’s headed toward a place where she can find her voice
Until then she is mute
But she must have her say
She knows she must keep on
Until the dawning of the day
Until the dawning of the day
Until the dawning of the day

Imagine if you had no voice
At the dawning of the day
Imagine if you had  no voice
Because someone could take it away

Imagine if you had no voice
At the dawning of the day
Imagine if you had  no voice
Because someone could take it away

She’s walking down the road on an early Saturday
She’s headed toward the east, toward the dawning of the day
It is getting late; it is almost noon
She knows she must keep on
Until the rising of the moon
Until the rising of the moon
Until the rising of the moon

Until the rising of the moon
Until the dawning of the day
Until she sees the light

15.   JJUST BAD FOR ME - Eric Laubach  3:52
singer songwriter, words and music, keyboard; orchestra - john mahoney

I’m leaving you a letter in the mailbox
And by the time you read it, I’ll be gone
I wonder what took me so long to realize
The problem wasn’t only with me

Your trophy looks and smile once made me happy
It was easy to forgive when love was new
You never left a mark where I could see it
But the scars on my heart have not yet healed

(chorus) It shouldn’t hurt to be in love and it takes two to shatter a dream
I hope you find your way to a better life
Because you’re not bad, just bad for me

I remember the arguments when growing up
The nights when I awoke to angry screams
I swore I’d find a better life than that one
How could I know it would be like that for me

Someday I’ll find love again more cautiously
I’ll look for a dragon behind loves fire
I’ll look beneath the surface for a caring heart
For someone who really wants me to be me (chorus)

Because you’re not bad, just bad for me

16.   BEHIND THE WHEEL - Alesa Gallian and Sam Gaddis  4:13
singer songwriters, words and music; guitar - sam gaddis; fiddle - tim sadow; drums and bass - john mahoney;
keyboard - eric laubach

Headlights in my eyes, oh they’re blinding me
I’m headed down the road to somewhere baby
Where my heart will live free
Loving you was a one way street
Now I know there’s more to life than making you complete

(chorus) Behind this driving wheel I used to be someone who once believed
Now I’m just someone who knows when it’s time to leave

I used to think that you could do no wrong, baby
In spite of my pain and my bruises, I still believe this is where I belong
And now the wind in my face is helping me say good-bye
Cause now I know it takes more to be a man than making your woman cry (chorus)

Now I’ve taken all that I can
And I can see now you got no clue
What it takes to be my man

With your angry hands, oh you took it out on me
Like I was the cause of your problems, baby
You blamed it all on me
And yesterday your mama called
She said she understands because
What you somehow failed to see
Is that your father is that same angry man (chorus)

Behind this driving wheel I used to be someone who once believed
Now I’m just someone who knows it’s come time to leave