By Jessi Hamilton and Cliff Franklin - 2008

I had dreams once, but then I woke up
Reality hit me - I should have spoke up
What's mine is their's now, they took it away
I'm back where I started and here I'll stay

Trust too much, you're sure to get burned
Hear what I say now - it's a lesson hard learned

CHORUS: I'm here now, an artist reborn
I reach again for the rose having been pricked by the thorn
I'm stronger and here now to stay
The world knocked me down, but my dreams still remain

Some people helped me, but more people lied
Most just ignored me while I sat and cried
Some tried to reach out but were pushed away
I could have fought back, but I was afraid

But it's my life, it's my dreams - it's their hopes and schemes
I was used as the pawn instead of the queen

CHORUS

I've found what I need now, I've started again
I'm here to stay, I've left all of them . . .

By Jessi Hamilton - 2008

Little girl, will you ever let the world in?
Lonely child, crying without a friend
Why are you so bitter? You never made yourself known
You say your thoughts to God alone
Little girl, will you ever let the world in?

Little boy, did innocence end too soon?
A father's hand betrayed the trust in you
Why are you so bitter? You say you brought it on yourself
You speak your mind with thoughts of no one else
Little boy, did innocence end too soon?

PRECHORUS: And we say the choices they made have led them to where they are now
But when does the world step in and raise up the child that's fallen down?
There's so much we can do - it's right there before our eyes
But our arms remain by our sides

CHORUS: In this land of illusion, so much conclusion when we first open our eyes
They dream of tomorrow, but only sorrow is what's realized

PRECHORUS

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton - 2000

Looking through my window, I see a stranger staring in
With eyes full of sorrow and a mask of guilt and sin
She says, "Look all around you at this world which you are in
You can't make it better . . . you are just one person"

Who's that stranger that I see, haunting me and killing me?
Why is she making me afraid to be alive?

"Listen," says the stranger, "I know I'm right
If you hide in your own shadow, everything will turn out right"

Who's that stranger that I see, haunting me and killing me?
Why is she making me afraid to be alive?

Looking through my window, a stranger I see
And then facing the mirror, I find the stranger's me . . .

By Jessi Hamilton - 2002

Since I was a child, I've been taught to please
I've always wanted for people to love me
Now I've given so much I can't find my way
I need someone to look at me and say . . .

CHORUS: Feed the fire, never let it die, let it burn
Feed the fire - that's the only way to keep others warm

I've always been scared of causing pain
Fears of hurting others fall on me like rain
Sanity fades, I slowly slip away
And I need a friend to look at me and say

CHORUS

My life's been all give and no take
For the happiness of others I put my own joy at stake
I can't keep living my life this way
And I need to lay down and hear myself say

CHORUS

Feed the fire, never let it die, let it burn
Feed the fire, that's the only way to keep yourself warm

By Jessi Hamilton - 2008

We were friends since high school, best friends later on
You lived at our house and we took care of your dog
Everything was great - fun and carefree
Until you stole my credit card and took it on a shopping spree

Hello Victoria, do you know my Secret?
Oh, this blouse is adorable - I have to have it!
Shopping's so tiring . . . what's up Java Jive!?!
Got to fill up the car and finish this drive

A week and a half and four hundred later
We notice our account's a little bit leaner
You walk through the door and what do I see
But new designer sunglasses staring at me

Everything was great for you - living rent-free
Until you stole my credit card and took it on a shopping spree

We went to the bank to recoup the loss
But coudn't get far without calling the cops
Maybe I'm too nice or just too naive not to send you to jail
For your little shopping spree

When you finally came clean, we kicked you out
For you just can't be trusted with your shiny new belt
Never saw our money - still drives me up the wall
But, who knows, maybe I'll make it back with this little song

La da da da, la da da da, la da da da da da da da, la da da da

By Jessi Hamilton and Margaret Woollen - 2007

Sweet Bella's in the desert starin' at the sky
Baby in her middle, twinkle in her eye
Stardust in her pocket, freedom in her tune
Waitin' for a comet headin' to the moon

CHORUS: Mama's in the moonglow, Daddy's in the sun
Baby's little starlight winks at everyone

Brave Jackson is the father, floatin' out in space
Wonderin', "Why bother buyin' us a place?
We can have tomorrow cradled by the sky
Never knowin' sorrow, never askin' why?

Why is there no Heaven?
I see it all around
Songbirds circlin' over - never touchin' ground"

CHORUS

Bella makes sweet music from sadness shared today
And the baby in her belly thinks, "Mama knows the way"
Brave Jackson trusts her wisdom 'cause she's wise beyond her years
And the comet that she's catchin' sings like angels as it nears

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton and Frank Farmer - 2002

I see you waving in the air, rushing toward me with a stare
That blazes in my brain
But I'm not the one those eyes embrace - you're just another nameless face
Running for the train

The brush of clothes against my skin, your pressing flesh the sweetest sin
My mind cries out for more
But the jostling riders leave no doubt - you're just a stranger going out
The elevator door

CHORUS: Like winds through the streets of the city they blow
These multitudes buffeting me as they go
A stream of humanity unsensing flow
You're one in a million whom I'll never know

Your gentle words seem meant to be a message reassuring me
That I am not alone
But when you've made your purchase choice, there's just a cold and distant voice
Hanging up the phone

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton - 2008

Close your eyes - go ahead, don't ask why
Can you see a world full of clear blue skies?
And golden fields, horses running free at will
That's the place where we are fulfilled

CHORUS: And I've, I've been trying
To stay warm out on the sea
But the highway's open and it's calling
Out to me

I've been scared, I've lacked the courage to go somewhere
That is unknown to my favorite song
The winds have changed, and now I must go their way
Take their lead, see where it carries me

CHORUS

BRIDGE - Fly

Close your eyes - go ahead, don't ask why
Can you see a world full of clear blue skies?

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton and Cliff Franklin - 2008

I came home today, you said you were leaving again
Then you tell me 'bout your really hot new friend
Said you'd never cheat on me, but if you did
She would be the one you'd want

CHORUS: Pack your bags, get out the door
Leave me the hell alone
You're someone else's problem now
Here's hoping she's home

After all the things I've done and said and all that we've been through
What the hell would make you think I can't move on from you?
I'm strong enough to leave you now standin' all alone
Tired of everything left unsaid and affection left unshown

CHORUS

No, no, get gone go now
No, no, get gone go
No, no, get gone go now
No, no, get gone go

You broke my heart too many times, kept pushing me away
So now I'm closing the door behind you hope you've got somewhere to stay

CHORUS

No, no, get gone go now
No, no, get gone go
No, no, get gone go now
No, no, get gone go

By Jessi Hamilton - 2006

I woke up alone in my bed again
Sunlight poured through the window pane
The summer's heat touched my hands and feet
But not my soul

The robins and the bluebirds
They have a song to sing
But when I search for the words to say
They're out of reach

CHORUS: What's the meaning of life?
Is this real? If I scream will you listen?
I need you here . . .

Make believe only works so long
Before you start to fade
Lost within myself I try to face
Another day

CHORUS

Dear God, if you hear me please answer as I sing this prayer
Give me a sign to keep breathing and believing in life

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton - 2005

It's rainy out today, but you've swept the clouds away
Oh the sun's shining bright here in my life
Because you're here by my side

Summer, Spring and Fall - they mean nothing at all
Because Winter is bliss when I feel your kiss
It's a presence I'd miss

CHORUS: Love has opened its wings
It's flown to me and all I need is you
Now you've opened my heart's door
And I pray you'll stay forever more
I love you, I love you
'Cause the answer to my heart's desires
Has flown in on the wings of love

BRIDGE (Instrumental)

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton - 2007

You told me you were leaving, needed time to get away
A little time to breathe and a little time to think
The world's been hard, it's brought you down - cast shadows on your wall
And I wish that I could give you wings and never let you fall

CHORUS: I'd give you peace, I'd give you joy
I'd give you strength when hope is nowhere in sight
The night is long, the journey cold, but keep holding on
You'll rise above

So many times I've seen that smile upon your loving face
How can a soul so beautiful be free in such a place?
Because the world's been hard, it's brought you down - cast shadows on your wall
And I wish that I could give you wings and never let you fall

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton, Chris Stevens and Bruce Pilato - 2004

When we’re lying together, marooned in our secret world
Nothing else could matter, nothing in the world
Life is everything it should be

PRECHORUS: Then the morning comes with its piercing light
And it draws us back from the safety of this night

CHORUS: And could you lay your head on my shoulder, listen to me
Here and now, it’s all that we need
I know you’ll someday take flight
So let’s cherish every moment when we kiss goodnight

And while the world is spinning deep within our night
Let’s forget tomorrow and make the present right
Let’s make life everything it should be

PRECHORUS

CHORUS

BRIDGE: I don’t care what they say, they never knew us anyway
Don’t want to stay, no more, no more, no more
I don’t care where we go, they’ll never see our love
They’ll never know, they’ll never know

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton - 2004

Did I say goodbye? Did I say I love you?
These questions haunt my mind still today
You were always there when times were hard, when I was lonely
You were a blessing in my life

PRECHORUS: When you left, part of me died inside
Life stole you away from me, but you’ll still live in my memory

CHORUS: I’ll cry for you, I’ll cry for me
I’ll cry for what we had together, I’ll cry for what will never be
I’ll cry, I’ll cry

Can you hear me cry? Do you know I miss you?
These questions swirl inside, inside my mind
I could talk to you, you always listened
These tears will always burn in my heart

PRECHORUS

CHORUS

BRIDGE: When you left, part of me died inside
Life stole you away from me, but you’ll still live in my memory
The world keeps on turning, emptiness was left when you were taken away
The world keep on turning, the memories we shared carry me through the day

CHORUS

By Jessi Hamilton, Chris Stevens and Johnny Orr - 2004

Rain falls from your eyes tonight
Haze drifts through your mind
Light fades from sight
The sun won’t shine

PRECHORUS: And you say you will survive
Though your heart is dying inside

CHORUS: I can see the rain coming down underneath your eyes
I can see the change from a girl into a butterfly
I can see my face and the world in a different light
I believe that hope is a way into a whole new life

Leaves fall as they scatter at your feet
Storm clouds rush to meet
Thunder echoes in your mind
From the lightning you are blind

PRECHORUS

CHORUS

BRIDGE: When the sky turns gray, you fall to your knees to pray
When your hope fades away, let the light lead the way

CHORUS