Congratulations to all our January/February 2023 Lyric Contest winners. Read the winning lyrics for the first through fourth place, below.

CLICK HERE to enter the March/April Lyric contest.

1st Place – “The Woman in Black”

By Tracy Richardson

Lyrics:

We stood in those long lonely lines

 It seems like a hundred times

 Waiting to pay our respects

 Wond’rin’ which one would be next

 Now we know…

 I’m not ready, you’re too young

 Now the plans we made are comin’ undone

 I’m your steady, you’re my rock

 Now the earth is shakin’ and it won’t stop

 I was the girl in white a few years back

 Now I’m the woman in black

 The hardest thing I’ve ever done

 Was callin’ our daughters and our son

 There ain’t no way to break someone’s heart tenderly

 But you would’ve done it so much better than me

 I’m not ready, you’re too young

 Now the plans we made are comin’ undone

 I’m your steady, you’re my rock

 Now the earth is shakin’ and it won’t stop

 I was the girl in white a few years back

 Now I’m the woman in black

 I still feel you

 But damn I miss you

 I’m not ready, you’re too young

 Now the plans we made are comin’ undone

 I’m your steady, you’re my rock

 Now the earth is shakin’ and it won’t stop

 I was the girl in white a few years back

 Now I’m the woman in black

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Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter today before the deadline:

ENTER THE LYRIC CONTEST

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2nd Place – “Borders & Fences”

By Herbert Wolven 

Lyrics:

There’s trees that line this highway, Fields turning green

Miles and miles of farmland with nothing in between

No matter where I go, you’re always on my mind

Can’t run away by crossing state lines

and those borders and fences

tell me where I’ve been

some hold me out

and some hold you in

a few are broken, some I need to mend

Borders and Fences, tell me where I’ve been

The night sky’s filled with lightning, clouds in shades of grey

I keep having a vision the rain can’t wash away

It was the last time that I kissed you, you became a part of me

Now I remember how love’s supposed to be

and those borders and fences

tell me where I’ve been

some hold me out

and some hold you in

a few are broken, some I need to mend

Borders and Fences, tell me where I’ve been

Every day this highway shows me something new

I’ve crossed the great divide where rivers cut through

and I’m looking for direction to a place I thought I knew

Hoping to find the way back to you

and those borders and fences

tell me where I’ve been

some hold me out

and some hold you in

a few are broken, some I need to mend

Borders and Fences, tell me where I’ve been

and I’m trying to find…. where that fence line ends.

3rd Place – “Love Was A Lie”

by Benjamin Mason

Lyrics:

Raising babies, who’s got time? 

I’ve got my name on a neon sign 

Up on stage in pretty blue light 

I don’t need to grow up tonight 

I had flash and snake skin boots 

Too many gigs to put down roots 

Love was a lie in a motel room 

Love was a lie, ‘til I met you 

My first children were my songs 

They were happy when you came along 

When you left and the house turned cold 

They were all I had to hold 

I had fire and a brush with fame 

Now nobody’s clapping and calling my name 

Love was a lie but I made it sound true 

Love was a lie, ‘til I met you 

Shadows run through this old house 

In golden light that never goes out 

Finger prints on window panes 

From little angels who flew away 

Precious ghosts who stay with me 

That’s the blessing of memory 

Love was a lie I finally saw through 

Love was a lie, ‘til I met you 

Love was a lie I finally saw through

Love was a lie, ‘til I met you 

4th Place – “A Stone’s Throw From The Sun”

By Jim Allen

Lyrics:

She pulls the daylight from the dark

moving mountains with her heart

paints the valleys green and gold

when she weeps the rivers flow

rain and thunder

and I wonder what’s to come

a stone’s throw from the sun

Shadow dancer with the moon

waves her hand

and the deserts bloom

you can tell she’s been around

a million ages in this town

her beauty plundered

and I wonder what’s to come

a stone’s throw ftom the sun

and if you listen she’ll confide

all her secrets deep inside

with a whisper on the breeze

a hurricane she weaves

from a butterfly

Seven oceans in her eyes

gazing as the glaciers slide

one more mother on the run

beneath the shadow of a gun

tonight she’s praying

for the light of day to come

a stone’s throw from the sun

and if you listen she’ll confide

all her secrets deep inside

with a whisper on the breeze

a hurricane she weaves

from a butterfly

and I wonder what’s to come

a stone’s throw from the sun

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Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter today before the deadline:

ENTER THE LYRIC CONTEST

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Honorable Mention:

“Back Door to Heaven”

by Michael Franklin

“A Chunk of Rough Mahogany”

by John Bohannon

“God’s Portrait of the Day“

by Greg Tardie

“Innocence is Gone“

by David Zimmermann

“Bury Me Deep“

by Steve Boom

“I Lost Her When She Found Jesus“

by Ronald Lane

“Chicken Wire Heart“

by Michael McDonald

“Some Other Man’s Land“

by Chris Woods

“Julianna’s Eyes“

by John Rimel

“Love is… Impressive“

by Betti Gefecht

“Chop A Little Wood“

by Rhoderic Land