START ALL OVER 
                                                          Mike Upchurch 4-23-05

 I’M SO SORE, CAN’T FEEL MYSELF YOU DON’T HAVE TO SLAP ME

 SO FAR BEHIND MYSELF-              LIFE’S ABOUT TO LAP ME

 I’M SO POOR I FEAR MYSELF-     BANKER MAN MIGHT CAP ME

 USED-UP AND OLD ENOUGH-  MAYBE THEY’LL JUST SCRAP ME
 BRIDGE-

                   I’M TOO OLD FOR PLAYIN’ THOSE GAMES.

                   TOO OLD FOR MORE OF THE SAME.

                   NOT OUT FOR FORTUNE OR FAME,

                   JUST PRIDE IN HAVIN’ MY NAME.

PRE-CHORUS

                           HELP ME FIND A WAY   (TO)

                           MAKE IT THROUGH TODAY (AND)

                  NOT JUST RUN AWAY  (BUT)

                  MAYBE I CAN STAY   (AND)

 CHORUS-              START ALL OVER        START AGAIN

                                 START ALL OVER        TO MY CHAGRIN

                                 START ALL OVER         NO HAS BEEN

                                 START ALL OVER          (BE) GENUINE

       SOLO ---then

LORD, I FEEL MYSELF-                     NEVER FEELIN’ HAPPY

 SO LOW I FEAR MYSELF-          ALWAYS FEELIN’ CRAPPY

LUCK’S BEEN LOST ON MY LIFE-  NEVER HAS BEGAT ME

I’M SO SLOWED BY WEAR AND TEAR- I DON’T FEEL so SNAPPY

TO  BRIDGE/PRECHORUS/CHORUS

                         OL’ ROCKER- By Mike Upchurch (circa 1983)

 A FIDDLE PLAYIN’ FRIEND THAT I ONCE KNEW

HE SAID, “I GOT SOMETHIN’ TO SAY TO YOU:

DO YOU WANT TO PLAY THAT ROCK AND ROLL

WHEN YOU’RE SETTLED DOWN AN’ YER GETTING’ OLD?”

WHAT HE SAID,    IT SORTA     STUCK WITH ME

WOULD I ROCK AND ROLL     WHEN I WAS SIXTY-THREE?

WELL, LET ME TELL YA,          IT SURE FEELS FINE

SO I’LL PROBABLY ROCK        UNTIL I’M EIGHTY-NINE!

     CHORUS:

                         YA, I’LL ROCK           AS LONG AS I CAN

                          GUESS I’LL ROCK    UNTIL I’M AN OLD MAN

                          I’M A BACK BEAT    GUITAR GROOVIN’ FAN

                         GUESS I’LL BE           AN OLD ROCKER

WE’LL BE ROCKIN’ IN A RESTLESS HOME

BANG BASS ON A BED MADE OF CHROME

USE A BED PAN FOR A SNARE

CLICKIN’ LOWER TEETH BLUES FROM A WHEELCHAIR

(CHORUS)

A HOUSE DIVIDED

BY MIKE UPCHURCH 10-25-11

A DADDY AND TWO  SONS,         LIVIN’ OFF THE LAND

 DIDN’T HAVE MUCH,                   AND THEY DIDN’T LIVE GRAND.

 ONLY ONE MULE                           TO PULL THE PLOW,

 THEY HAD NO MOMMA,             AND THEY HAD NO COW.

 THEN ONE DAY                              THE DADDY DID DIE.

 AND THOSE TWO BROTHERS    SAT DOWN AND CRIED.      X2

DADDY’S WILL,                             IT DIVIDED THEIR LAND.

EACH GOT HALF                          TO DO WHAT HE CAN.

ONE GOT THE MULE,                  THE OTHER THAT PLOW.

BUT WHAT ONE WANTED         THE OTHER WOULDN’T ALLOW.

COULDN’T USE THE MULE       WITHOUT THE PLOW,

SO THE LAND WENT FALLOW WITH A FURROWED  BROW.  X2

THOSE TWO BROTHERS             IN THE SAME HOME,

BOTH TOGETHER,                        YET SO ALL ALONE.

THEY COULDN’T AGREE           OR COMPROMISE.

THOUGHT IT WOULDN’T BE PRUDENT,  IT WOULDN’T BE WISE. 

SO THEY STAYED THERE         ALL THEIR YEARS,

PLAYING OFF                                ONE ANOTHER’S FEARS.  X2

LINCOLN SAID IT BEST              IN ALL THIS LAND:

“A HOUSE DIVIDED-                    IT CAN NOT STAND.”

WITHOUT THE CROPS               TO PAY THEIR BILLS

THE BROTHERS FELL HUNGRY; THEY BOTH FELL ILL.

BOTH BROTHERS DIED,            THOUGHT THE OTHER WAS WRONG,

LIKE POLITICIANS                     WHO CAN’T GET ALONG.  X3

   Waitin' On You To Grow Old

1.) I DON’T KNOW YOU-      YOU DON’T KNOW ME

     HOW WE GOT HERE-      I JUST CAN’T SEE

     I TRY TO KNOW YOU-     GET A GOOD START

     YOU WON’T LET ME-      INTO YOUR HEART

   CHORUS:

YOU WON’T CATCH ME      WAITIN’ ON YOU 
YOU WON'T CATCH ME      WAITIN' ON YOU
YOU WON'T CATCH ME      WAITIN' ON YOU     

TO GROW OLD-                        TO GROW OLD.

2.) YOU DON’T KNOW ME-  I DON’T KNOW YOU

      SUPERFICIAL-                   WHAT WE GONNA DO?

      LOTS ARE LIKE YOU-     IT’S EASY TO SEE.

      I AIN’T LIKE THAT-         IT JUST ISN’T ME.

  CHORUS- then

   BRIDGE:

I’VE BEEN DOWN                 THIS ROAD BEFORE

TRIED TO COME IN AND YOU-  SHUT THE DOOR

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN      FOR STANDIN’ OUTSIDE

I’M NOT TAKIN’ YOU          ALONG FOR THE RIDE!

3.) I’VE GOT QUESTIONS -  I GOT TO ASK:

      WHY YOU WEAR-             THAT DECEIVING MASK?

      WHO YOU FOOLIN’?      YOU AIN’T FOOLIN’ ME

      THE REAL YOU-                WHAT I WANNA SEE.

    CHORUS

4.) LIVE A BIG LIE-                  FOR LONG ENOUGH

      YOU BELIEVE IT                 REALITY’S TOUGH!

      SOME WILL HURT YOU-  THE STORIES THEY TELL

      CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WELL-THE REST ROT IN HELL!

    CHORUS-CHORUS-END

CUT ME LOOSE

BY MIKE UPCHURCH 5-16-11

YOU CAN SEE ME-                      BY MY SELF

YOU CAN PUT ME-                     ON A SHELF

IF I’M NOT WITH YOU              I’M WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

YOU CAN CUT ME-                     WITH A KNIFE

YOU CAN END IT-                       OR BE BY MY SIDE

THAT’S THE HAND YOU PLAY -THE CARDS YOU WERE DELT.

CHORUS:

CUT ME LOOSE AND PASS THE WINE

YOU KNOW ME, BABY, AND I’LL BE FINE.

CUT ME LOOSE AND DON’T BE KIND

LOTS OF GRAPES GROWIN’ ON THE VINE.

BRIDGE:

                   IT ONLY HURTS FOR A LITTLE WHILE

                   SNAP THAT BANDAGE IF IT MAKES ME SMILE!

                   DO IT QUICK, NOW, AND DON’T BE VILE

                   CUT ME LOO- OOO- OOSE,     CUT ME LOOSE!

SOLO- CHORUS/BRIDGE

COME ON, BABY-                 GIMME A GRIN!

IT AIN’T THIS EASY-          WITH MOST OTHER MEN.

I CAN TAKE IT                       I’M NOT MADE OUT OF GLASS.

COME ON, HONEY-              MAKE UP YOUR MIND

CUT ME QUICK-                    DON’T JUST GIMME A SIGN

DO WHAT YOU GOT TO,     BUT DO IT WITH CLASS.

CHORUS/BRIDGE- END.  

     EVERYONE IS WEIRD -by Mike Upchurch 2/25/05

     EVERYONE IS WEIRD

     INCLUDING ALL YOU HERE

     SURE, SOME ARE MORE DEAR

     AND A LOT ARE MORE GEARED

     BUT EVERYONE IS WEIRD

     THAT’S THE WAY IT APPEARS

     THAT’S EVERYONE-   EXCEPTING YOU AND ME!

     EVERYONE IS WEIRD

     DEPENDING HOW THEY’RE REARED

     SOME JUST DON’T GET STEERED

     SOME FROM THE PATH HAVE VEERED

     BUT EVERYONE IS WEIRD

     HEIRARCHY WITH ONE TIER

    THAT’S EVERYONE EXCEPTING YOU AND ME!

     SOLO

     EVERYONE IS WEIRD

     SOME ARE VERY NEAR

     SOME ARE FULL OF FEAR

     SOME JUST LOOK AND LEAR

     SOME STARE INTO THEIR BEER

     BUT EVERYONE IS WEIRD

     THAT’S EVERYONE EXCEPTING YOU AND ME-

     AND SOMETIMES I WONDER ABOUT YOU!!

HARD TIMES

BY MIKE UPCHURCH c. 2-25-09

THE DAY WAS DOWN TO DARK-THIRTY,

I DECIDED TO TAKE ME A STROLL.

HEADED FOR THE KORNER KUBBOARD,

GET A COKE AND A HONEY BUN ROLL.

ROUNDED THE CORNER OF THIRD AND MAIN,

AND I COULDN’T BELIEVE MY EYES:

THE KUBBOARD WAS BARE, NO LIGHTS ANYWHERE,

NO HONEY BUN ROLLS,  AN’ MOON PIES.

      TAG:      IN HARD TIMES-  HARD TIMES-  DOWN IN HARD TIMES

THE FOR SALE SIGN ON THE WINDOW

SAID “FORECLOSURE” IN ARIAL BOLD.

JOBS ARE RARE, YA BETTER BEWARE,

OR BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD!

      Repeat  TAG             

      CHORUS:  YOU CAN’T GET OUT IN HARD TIMES,

                           NO NIGHTS OUT ON THE TOWN.

                           STAY HOME, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

                           WHEN HARD TIMES GET YOU DOWN.

            GET YA DOWN- BRING YA DOWN- AND KEEP YOU DOWN

TIMES ARE TIGHT AS A PARKIN’ SPACE,

CARS PARKED OVER BOTH LINES.

YOU MIGHT GET IN WITH A CURSE AND A GRIN,

 BUT YA CAN’T GET OUT IN HARD TIMES!

      Repeat TAG

HAWAII-  OUT OF THE QUESTION.

CAR REPAIR AND GRAND-AY LATTES.

THAT DOOR - IT JUST WON’T OPEN,

 MY SOUL’S- FOR SALE ON eBAY.

      Repeat TAG- then CHORUS

CARS PARKED TIGHT AGAINST YOU,

YOUR DOORS WON’T OPEN BUT SO.

 TIMES KEEP US HOME ON THE INSIDE,

HARD TIMES KEEP US FEEIN’ SO LOW

      Repeat TAG- then CHORUS, END.

HOLD ON TIGHT

12-05-08 MIKE UPCHURCH

YOU’VE CHANGED- LIKE THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

YOU’VE CHANGED- YOUR LOVE DEEP INSIDE

YOU’VE CHANGED- AND I JUST DON’T KNOW WHY

YOU’VE CHANGED- AND IT’S KILLIN’ ME TONIGHT

                  CHORUS

             DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU- OR CONFUSE YOU

             CAN’T SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT

             DON’T WANNA BLAME YOU- OR EXPLAIN YOU

             JUST WANNA HOLD ON TIGHT

I SEE- HOW YOU SOMETIMES LOOK AWAY

I SEE- HOW YOU CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY

I SEE- THAT YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO STAY

I SEE- THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

              CHORUS

               SOLO/BREAK

I KNOW- WHAT YOUR LOVE, IT MEANS TO ME

I KNOW- IT COULD LIVE E-TER-NAL-LY

I KNOW-  DEEP INSIDE YOU HOLD THE KEY

I KNOW-  SO GUESS I’LL JUST LET IT BE

               CHORUS

               CHORUS

END

JUST ANOTHER DAY      MIKE UPCHURCH  10-5-04

There's nothing that compares.

NOTHING’S QUITE THE SAME

UP, DOWN, EVERYWHERE,   

EVERYONE’S JUST PLAYIN’ A GAME

THERE’S SOMETHING I CAN SWEAR

SOMETHING THAT I BLAME

IN, OUT, UP AND DOWN

EVERYWHERE I CAN SEE THE PAIN                         

 CHORUS:

            LIVIN’ WITH NO REASON

            LIVIN’ WITH NO RHYME

            DYIN’ WITH NO PURPOSE IN MIND

            DRIFTIN’ THROUGH THE SEASONS

            JUST STANDIN’ IN LINES

            IF THEY DON’T LOOK THEY’LL NEVER FIND

ANOTHER WAY

JUST ANOTHER DAY

UP TOWN, DOWN AROUND

EVERYONE’S JUST LOOKIN’ FOR THEIR PAY

FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE

FIND SOMETHING YOU CAN PLAY

LOUD, SOFT, YOU BE THE BOSS

FIND SOMETHIN’ SWEET THAT MAKES YOU STAY

NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY

FIND ANOTHER WAY

NEAR, FAR, DON’T GO FOR PAR

WHATEVER WILL IS WHAT YOU MAY

YOU CAN'T DELAY

GO MAKE SOME HAY

RICH, POOR, OPEN THAT DOOR

THE STATUS QUO HAS GOT TO STRAY!

       CHORUS       END

ROW ME AWAY

By Mike Upchurch 7-11-09

(Upon completing Jimmy Buffett’s A Pirate Looks at Fifty)

     Silently slip in the harbor.       Drop anchor and tie it all down.

     I’ve said my good-byes    -       Now I watch the moon rise.

     Lights sprinkled over the town.

     I listen to my heart beat.          Distant music begins to play.

     Drums drive the beat   -           I swear I hear feet

     Happy for the end of the day.

         BRIDGE:   We travel alone on life’s little trip.

                              What we need is com-pan-ion-ship.

        CHORUS:   Know who you are at the end of the day.

                               Row me afar-   Row me away.

                               So who you are makes me want to stay.

                               Row me afar-   Row me away.

     Down to the dinghy I climb.        Row to the music I hear.

     I can’t stay away-                         Out on that bay,

     When I can be part of that cheer.

     Trade breezes don’t cool you-      In a place that’s ,oh, this hot!

     The women are sweet -                 Boat drinks are a treat.

     A good time, and I’ve had a lot.

                  BRIDGE/ CHORUS

     Music right for the moment.        Joy washed through me that night.

     That vibe filled me up -                 To the rim of my cup,

     As I saw her-   in candlelight.

     She said she too was lonely.          Took me to her humble home.

     The love that we made -                I hope it won’t fade,

     And I’ll never feel alone.

                   BRIDGE/ CHORUS

  Lovin' Again- by Mike Upchurch (circa 1982) 

Forgivin' Father - I've been had it looks again. 

I banked ten years in a relationship -Oh, what a sin!

I count my blessings and weep.

I count my children she'll keep

Me from seein' again-

                                      Chorus

      Again and again and again and again and again and again. 

Tavern keeper, give me one and one for my friend. 

I'll drink to her health, though she isn't here,  

I can still pretend 

The cost of love isn't cheap, 

But the loss of love just may keep 

Me from lovin' again. 

(repeat chorus)

Heart full of anger can keep you from trustin,'

My friend.

Keep you from livin' and keep you from lovin' 

Again and again and again and again. 

Lady Luck will you please send me 

A lovely lady whose heart won't depend on me 

Lovin' again.

(repeat chorus)                                                                                        

To Be Done

by Mike Upchurch 10-04

                          Chorus

                     Life's a tale to be spun,

                     Dreamin' dreams on the run,

                     People places and fun.

                     There's much work to be done- to be done, ya-

                                       to be done, to be done.

I don't want to work all day

I just wanna go out and play.

Life's too short for workin' so hard.

Lay around and play me some cards!

But Momma say...

(repeat chorus)

Lay around, swattin' at flies.

Makin' up jokes and tellin' lies.

Don't wanna work, the sun is too hot!

There go the "Haves"- I'm a "Have Not!"

So Momma say...

(repeat chorus)

Look here, Momma, I got me a job!

Won't hear me whine and you won't hear me sob.

Work the daytime- playin' at night.

Too much playin' just don't feel right!

And Momma say...

(repeat chorus)

Trouble (Just Finds Its Own Way)

by Mike Upchurch (9-12-04)

I've seen rich and I've seen poor,

I've seen love walk out that door.

It don't take a brain to see

How trouble comes to you and me.

        Chorus

    We don't have to hunt it!

    If a baseball, we would bunt it (- a football, we would punt it)

    We love, we laugh, we bicker,

    But nothing seems to trick 'er,

    And Trouble just finds its own way.

You know we get along just fine

Ninty-nine percent of the time.

That one percent that we do fight

Is hurtin' everything so right.

(repeat chorus)

Hurts me so to see you sad;

Makes me wonder if I'm mad-    (means "insane")

Why'd I say what's on my mind,

If sayin' it was so unkind?

(repeat chorus)

Like a coin that has two sides,

Love rushed in - out with the tides.

Trouble came, as trouble will.

Took you away; I'm troubled still.

(repeat chorus)