Album

The story begins at the journey’s end
Another crossroads – a new path to decide
Can’t seem to reach my story’s end
I keep coming back ‘round to start over again
But I swear…

For the last time in my life – I’m starting over
For the last time in this life – you’ll see me starting over

Always seems there’s something that
Holds me back and it’s keeping me down
But I’ll keep pushing rocks up to the sun
‘Cause so much to do here before my time is done

For the last time in my life – I’m starting over
For the last time in this life – you’ll see me starting over – no, not me

Peace is one thing that I never knew in my life
Always just out of reach – like a fragment of light
But I now see the way – to find peace of mind
And I can show you – I finally know how
To kickstart the wow

It’s comin’ round – come on now – here we go again
For the last time in my life – I’m starting over
It’s the last time in this life – that you’ll see me starting over
Over and over and over

© 2022 Jay Middleton Music

Music by Jay Middleton & Vernon Black / Lyrics by Jay Middleton

Jay Middleton: vocals / Carl Wheeler: organ, piano, synths & background vocals / Jude Gold: electric guitar, solos / Vernon Black: electric guitar / James Nash: acoustic guitar / Eric Smith: bass / Dante Roberson: drums / Misa Malone: background vocals / Norbert Stachel : alto, tenor & baritone saxophone / Louis Fasman: trumpet / Chris Butcher: trombone / James Henry: percussion

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I like the way that you move me through the day
I love your smile and everything you say
You took my heart and you tucked it all away
I love you baby now – more and more each day

You took the call from me darling – and I’m never gonna leave you hangin’ on the line
You took the fall with me darling – and I’m never gonna leave you standing by yourself

I like the way that you help me through the day
I love your style and the goofy things you say
You took my heart and you hid it all away
I love you baby now – more and more each day

We both were looking for lovin’ – and darling we sure found it
I’m so glad that we found it – and I’m never gonna leave you hangin’ by yourself

This love has no ending – every day it feels like the beginning
I’m so glad we’ve come and are taking this ride
I can’t wait to see what’s waiting there for us on the other side
Can’t wait to see what’s on the other side~~~~

There’s nothing that compares to this darling
It feels brand new when I wake every morning
I like the way you move me, how you groove me baby
I like the way you rock me through the night

© 2022 Jay Middleton Music

Music by Jay Middleton, Carl Wheeler & Sara Williams / Lyrics by Jay Middleton & Sara Williams

Jay Middleton:  vocals / Carl Wheeler:  piano, synths / Vernon Black:  electric guitar / Jubu Smith:  acoustic guitar / Eric Smith:  bass / Dante Roberson:  drums / Sara Williams: background vocals / Tre Edwards:  background vocals / Pete Grant:  pedal steel guitar / James Henry: percussion

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I still come around here, I’m not sure why
The things you put me through have led this grown man to a cry
I’m always looking ‘round the corner, don’t want to step on any mines
Trying not to set you off, say something that I can’t rewind

You’d think by now I’d know you’ll never change – the loop’s never-ending
It’s always repeating – only myself to blame

Always a test – with lots of stress – you make it so hard 2 love U
Can’t do no right – all day & night – you make it so hard 2 love U
Must be the best – won’t take no less – you make it so hard 2 love U
I can’t take this game no more

When I’m around you, I can’t ever be myself
You’re always trying to change me into a mirror of yourself
Your world takes me over like a ravenous black hole
Your daggers rip right through me, suck the air out of my soul

Nothing’s ever good enough & it’s always about you
It’s always someone else’s fault, but the finger’s pointing back at you
Why do you have to be so ruthless? Why do you have to be so cruel?
Why can’t you see that it’s killing me? Do you think I’m such a fool?

Always a test – can’t get no rest – you make it so hard 2 love U
Wound so tight – ready to fight – you make it so hard 2 love U
Always the judge – won’t ever budge – you make it so hard 2 love U
I can’t play this game no more

Must pass your test – can’t get no rest – you make it so hard 2 love U
Dress for success – you shaggy mess – you make it so hard 2 love U
I’m the pet – and you’re the vet – you make it so hard 2 love U
I can’t take this pain no more

I’m not feeling so fine – got to get you out of my mind
You keep spinning me around, around, around, around and around
I can never take it easy – I can’t let down my guard
‘Cause it really gets exhausting to have to try this hard
Oh, you know it – you must know what you’re doing
But you keep, keep, keep on push, push, push, push, push
Come on now

© 2022 Jay Middleton Music

Music by Jay Middleton, Vernon Black & Carl Wheeler / Lyrics by Jay Middleton

Jay Middleton:  vocals / Carl Wheeler:  organ, piano & synths / Vernon Black:  electric guitar, solos / James Nash:  acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin / Jubu Smith:  electric guitar / Eric Smith:  bass / Dante Roberson:  drums / Misa Malone:  background vocals / Norbert Stachel:  alto, tenor & baritone saxophone / Louis Fasman:  trumpet / Chris Butcher:  trombone / James Henry:  percussion

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In my heart there’s a little room of stone
Holds the anger & the rage, all the pride that leads to pain
I keep it under lock & key, but it gets out much too easily
It’s hard to hold it back, it likes to leap out & attack

Confront for survival, I have to have my say
Need a pathway to revival, need to find a better way

It’s in the words that she whispers
Sometimes I’m frightened by the way they make me feel
I let the fire breathe – gave no retreat – I’m too extreme
I had to win the battle each time

In the battle zone, I fought with all I got
I leaned in much too close, and I always came in hot
In my mind there were no limits, the fight, I felt I had to win
A victory at great cost, a lifetime love I almost lost

But you still stand beside me to remind me who I am
I feel the full power of your love, and now I understand

It’s in the words that she whispers
They echo through dark canyons across my mind
You tried to make me see – sense the urgency – stop the prophecy
Can’t sweep away the ashes this time

Oh, I never was clear how important you are to me – I never was clear

It’s in the words that she whispers
Hear her singing softly through the light in her eyes
It’s in the air we breathe, the shared dreams & philosophies
That bind us to each other through all time

It’s in the words that she whispers
And I see them now in all the warnings and the signs
When I let the fire burn – with no concern – there’s no return
Painful reminders past their time

It’s in the words that she whispers
If I listen closely their echoes sparkle through my art
You let the dreamer dream – the poet scheme
You lifted me above the fires that rage in my heart

© 2022 Jay Middleton Music

Music by Jay Middleton & Vernon Black / Lyrics by Jay Middleton

Jay Middleton:  vocals, whistle / Carl Wheeler: organ, piano / Jude Gold:  electric guitar / Vernon Black:  electric guitar / Jubu Smith:  acoustic guitar / James Nash:  mandolin / Eric Smith: bass / Dante Roberson:  drums / James Henry:  percussion

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Lie awake for hours – feeling not quite clear
I said – I will move forward tonight
Grab ahold of something – to get me through the night
I said – I will move forward tonight

Will I wake to find, that heaven holds the chaos of light?
Will the ever-changing particles collide to move us forward tonight?
Let’s move this forward tonight

Lie awake for hours – feeling not quite clear
I said – I will move forward tonight
In our darkest hours – consumed by doubt and fear
We scream – please move us forward tonight

Will we wake to find, that heaven holds the chaos of light?
Will the ever-changing particles collide to move us forward tonight?
Let’s move this forward tonight

In a world where chaos and confusion rule the times
I never really know just who I am
But if I take the time to climb, to strive, to find my way to the light
Then the ever-changing particles will collide to move me forward tonight

Lie awake for hours – feeling not quite clear
I said – I will move forward tonight
Grab ahold of something, anything to get me through the fear
I said – I will move forward tonight
I will move forward tonight

© 2022 Jay Middleton Music

Music & Lyrics by Jay Middleton

Jay Middleton:  vocals / Carl Wheeler:  piano & timpani / Jubu Smith:  electric & acoustic guitar / Vernon Black:  electric guitar / James Nash: acoustic guitar / Emery Barter:  electric guitar / Eric Smith:  bass / James Henry:  percussion

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You can’t get a little – until you give a lot
You ache just a little – for the things you aint got
If we give just a little – we might get a lot
And if we love just a little – we can heal the worlds heart

If they gave you everything you wanted
Would that be everything you need?

To get just a little – I had to give a lot
Always stuck in the middle – could never reach the top
Thought it took just a little – but found it took a lot
Life can seem such a riddle – just gotta start the hard parts

If they gave you everything you wanted
Answered every time you called
Would you be getting any stronger?
If they picked you up each time you fall?

I’m done wasting time in the dark corners of my mind
Looking back, I can finally see what meant the most never came easy to me

With hopeful eyes for the future – and a love for what I’ve got

You can’t get a little – until you give a lot
If you give just a little – you might get a lot
If we love just a little – we can heal the worlds heart

© 2022 Jay Middleton Music

Music by Jay Middleton, Carl Wheeler & Vernon Black / Lyrics by Jay Middleton, Elizabeth Edwards & Rick Barretta

Jay Middleton:  vocals / Carl Wheeler:  organ, piano & background vocals / Jubu Smith:  acoustic guitar, solo / Vernon Black:  electric guitar / James Nash:  electric guitar, mandolin / Eric Smith:  bass / Dante Roberson:  drums / Pete Grant:  pedal steel guitar / James Henry:  percussion / Love Church Gospel Choir:  background vocals (Nona Brown, Kalila Rafa, Ashling Cole, Brenda Roy, Jacoree Prothro & Cynthia Harvey Patton)

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