Lyrics by Tom Adamson

Story behind the song

Genres: Pop

                     STORY BEHIND THE SONG
		The crowd knows all the songs,
		They sing the words from the start.
		And when we get to the heartbreak,
		They always cry at the right part.
		They hear what they want to hear,
		Take what they need and move on-
		But I know the story behind the song.
		And I know what’s really true.
		Every turn, every phrase
                Every note that plays is you.
	
            	Just a 3-minute play,
           	A 3-chord story in verse.
           	The crowd thinks it for them
           	But you and I lived it first.

                       Sometimes they lose a line or two,
                       Sometimes they fall behind the beat.
                       But the guitar solo and the bridge
                       Keep them up on their feet.
                       They start chanting and swaying,
                       Heat rising from the giant throng.
                       But I know the story behind the song
                       And I guess I always knew.
                       Every rhyme, every pause
                       Every note that plays is you.

Son of a Factory Man

Genres: Country

	SON OF A FACTORY MAN
	They say I was born on overtime.	
	Daddy was working the night shift.
	And like my hardworking father
	I’m proud I’m a working stiff.
	     And just like Daddy I proudly stand-
	     The son of a factory man.

	Worked the mills since I was a kid.
	Sweating the aches, my backbone bent.
	I made a life and a family.
	Paid the bills, the food, the rent.
	     And just like Daddy I proudly stand-
	     The son of a factory man.	
		
                     The calluses come and go.
		     Some days are long and slow.
		     Still my life is full, and then some.
		     And there are times, I swear,
		     I hear his voice in the factory air,
		     As the machines roll and hum.	

	Daddy told me, “Son, never measure
	Your life by just the dollar sign.”
	He sipped his beer, then smiled and said,
	“Just take a good look at mine.”
	     And just like Daddy I proudly stand-
	     The son of a factory man.

Push Meets Shove

Genres: Pop

PUSH MEETS SHOVE
She wakes up in the morning
And the sun won’t shine.
Push meets shove,
The world’s up against her spine.
She’s been walking alone
Through miles and miles of sleep.
Some of her dreams
Seem to be a foot deep.
	Sometimes life’s a gift from above.
	Sometimes it’s just more push meets shove.

There’s a rusted-out bus
At the top of the hill.
Rattlesnake around the tire,
Waiting for a kill.
She’s in the back of the bus,
Kissing childhood goodbye.
There’s a tremble in her heart
She just can’t deny.
	Sometimes life’s a gift from above.
	Sometimes it’s just more push meets shove.

She sees a neon river
Where all the slaves dance.
She could break free,
But she’s afraid to take the chance.
Now the blankets are soaked.
She can feel the bloody steam-
Another baby slave born
Into the restless neon dream.
	Sometimes life’s a gift from above.
	Sometimes it’s just more push meets shove.

The Paint's Already Dry

Genres: Pop

THE PAINT’S ALREADY DRY
You say my love’s been good for you,
But you can’t love me back.
Telling me time will heal all aches,
Soon my future won’t be so black.
To all your words of consolation
I haven’t bothered to reply.
Don’t try to paint a pretty picture-
The paint’s already dry.

You say someday I’ll find another
Who will love me in return.
She’ll bring me blue skies every day,
And all the happiness I deserve.
You wrapped it up in a pretty bow
But I’m not going to buy.
Don’t try to paint a pretty picture-
The paint’s already dry.

Thanks for that encouraging speech,
How it hurts you more than me.
I went out on a limb for you
And you chopped down the tree.
This isn’t how I pictured it-
My heart’s quicker than my eye.
Don’t try to paint a pretty picture-
The paint’s already dry.

I CARRY HER WITH ME

Genres: Pop

	     I CARRY HER WITH ME

	She had the moon in her pocket
	And money in her hand.
	She smiled at me as if
        I’d someday understand.
	Only God knows, only God cares
	That I carry her with me in my prayers.

	She was a child of the ocean
	With her whole life ahead.
	I cried out to God
	To take me instead.
	Only God knows, only God cares
	That I carry her with me in my prayers.

			Every night in my dreams,
			She returns 
                        And looks deep in my eyes.
                        Every night in my dreams
			I take her in my arms
			And together we rise.

	The sky was full of spirits.
	My eyes were soaking wet.
	The last I saw of her
	Was her broken silhouette.
	Only God knows, only God cares
	That I carry her with me in my prayers.

I HURT

Genres: Pop, Rock

	                     I HURT

			I hurt in the front.
			I hurt in the back.
			Got so much pain,
			It's hard to keep track.

			My feet hurt so bad.
			I can't touch a shoe.
			And on my bad days,
			My toes turn blue.

				The pain spins me around
				And smiles like a fake friend.
				I try to break free-
				But he just spins me around again.

			I hurt in my side.
			I hurt in my jaw.
			Sometimes I even
			Hurt in my paw.

				The pain spins me around
				And smiles like a fake friend.
				I try to break free-
				But he just spins me around again.

CHILD OF MARIA

Genres: Pop

CHILD OF MARIA

Child of Maria, goodbye, goodbye,
I believe you’ll be back.
Child of Maria, don’t cry, I won’t lie.
The sky’s never been so black.
The day you came along
All the sun could do was shine.
But now the red river is rising,
I know it’s your time.
Child of Maria, goodbye, goodbye,
I believe you’ll be back.


Child of Maria, high noon, so soon
You’ll be flying away.
Child of Maria, so long, for so long
I’ve been thinking about this day.
When I first met you
I found myself smiling.
It was the happiest day of my life,
And I wasn’t even trying.
Child of Maria, high noon, so soon
You’ll be flying away.


Child of Maria, Godspeed, I need
To see you smile once more.
Angel’s daughter, speak my name.
Picture me standing at the door.
Make friends with the world.
It will always bring you a new day.
Someday you will return
With a new song to play.
Child of Maria, Godspeed, I need
To see you smile once more.

TWILIGHT ON MY HANDS

Genres: Pop

TWILIGHT ON MY HANDS

I love you with a fever
That’s never known a pause.
I love you past forever,
Captured by your golden claws.
You tossed my heart in the air-
Who knows where it lands?
And I can hold back the night forever
‘Cos I’ve still got your twilight on my hands.

I reach into the darkness,
Pull out the last shred of light.
I cup it to my heart
To bring you back in sight.
Fate is shoving my soul;
Time will tell if it stands.
And I can hold back the night forever
‘Cos I’ve still got your twilight on my hands.

I love you with my last breath,
As I drown in the pools of time.
If you used me for the passion,
I used you for the rhyme.
I’ll keep reaching for you,
Through the falling sands.
And I can hold back the night forever
‘Cos I’ve still got your twilight on my hands.