Congratulations to all our November/December 2024 Lyric Contest winners. Read the winning lyrics for first through fourth place, below.
CLICK HERE to enter the 2025 Session One Lyric Contest.
1st Place – “Jack Daniels or King James”
By: Darren Wiedman
I’ve got a bottle on the counter and a Bible on the shelf
One is always open when I need a little help
Every night, I pray, Lord, your will be done
But to tell the gospel truth, there’s no dust on either one
I call my shots by one of two names
Jack Daniels or King James
I’ve got an angel on my shoulder and the devil in a glass
Both will share opinions when neither one was asked
Now, Jack is pretty smooth, but James is always right
Either one could help decide what I might do tonight
Come tomorrow, I’ll praise or blame
Jack Daniels or King James
(bridge)
Timeless truth or 80 proof
Both tend to finish well
It shouldn’t be this hard to choose
Between praising heaven or raising hell
I’m a regular at Hooters and a tenor in the choir
You can tell me I’m a sinner, but at least I’m not a liar
The battle rages on; neither side has won
James is very wise, but Jack’s a lot more fun
This double life is hard to explain
Dipped in holy water but flirtin’ with flames
Somewhere down the road, I’ll need to pick a lane
Jack Daniels or King James
Jack Daniels or King James
(tag – fade out)
Down the road, I’ll pick a lane
Jack Daniels or King James
Then again, I may never change
Jack Daniels or King James
Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:
2nd Place – “Love Lies”
By: Corben Champoux, Meagan Brianne Allen & Jolyn Marie Bistodeau
This car won’t start until I hear that seatbelt click
Your nose grows longer every time you tell a fib
Too much TV and you’ll go blind
Santa’s always watching, so be nice
If you tell the truth, I swear I won’t get mad
That kid just wants to be your friend; that’s why he laughs
Your stick figures on the fridge are works of art
Thunders just God bowling in the dark
Love lies
In the spilt milk on the table
Love lies
When the truths too hard to handle
Tucked in a twin-size bed with a butterfly nightlight
That’s where love lies
Don’t ya dare call the plumber, I can fix it
Those skinny jeans from college still fit perfect
That casserole you burnt still tasted great
Didn’t notice that your hair was turning gray
Love lies
In the supper on the table
Love lies
When the truths too hard to handle
Tucked in a queen size bed, sleeping side by side
That’s where love lies
We’re still pretty young; we’re not too old to drive
Age is just a number, just a state of mind
And heaven ain’t so far away
You can let go now; I promise I’ll be okay
Love lies
At an empty breakfast table
Love lies
When the truths too hard to handle
Buried underneath that live oak, still sleeping side by side
That’s where love lies
That’s where love lies
3rd Place – “Those Broken Things”
By: Katie Rose
(Verse)
Way back when I was just a kid
My granddad took me to the Pull n’ Pick,
Found an old bike there needed fixin’
Had a rusted chain, the brakes were missin’
(Verse)
As we loaded it in the back of his truck
He said, ‘Some folks might call it junk‘
But with a lick of paint and a bolt or two,
You’ll have something just as good as new
(Chorus)
He said, ‘Just because it’s broken,
That don’t mean it ain’t no good
Just because it don’t look,
The way you think it should
Don’t mean it ain’t worth savin’
Cos honey, you might just find,
Sometimes, those broken things
Can breathe a second life
Sometimes, those broken things,
Are the sweetest surprise’
(Verse)
A few years down the road,
I met a boy, and I took him home
Granddad said, ‘Girl, what am I missin’?
That boy ain’t nothing, what are ya thinkin’?’
(Verse)
Yeah, he drives an old hand-me-down
Grew up without his mumma round
This ring was all he could afford
But I’ve never felt more adored
He said, ‘Well, whatcha waiting for?’
(Chorus)
Yeah, just because it’s broken,
That don’t mean it ain’t no good
Just because it don’t look
the way you think it should
Don’t mean it ain’t worth savin’
Cos honey, you might just find
Sometimes, those broken things
Can breathe a second life
Sometimes, those broken things,
Are the sweetest surprise’
(Bridge)
And now I’m busy raising
My own family
I still see the wisdom
In the words, he said to me
Those cracks can show the beauty
That some folks never see
And for all those broken things
That make my life so sweet
I send a prayer to Heaven
To thank my granddaddy
(Chorus)
He taught me just because it’s broken,
That don’t mean it ain’t no good’
Just because it don’t look
the way you think it should
Don’t mean it ain’t worth savin’
cos honey, you might just find,
Sometimes, those broken things
Can breathe a second life
Sometimes, those broken things,
Are the sweetest surprise.
Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:
4th Place – “Like Father, Like Son”
By: David Corey
I’m the unholy seed
Of a fortunate son
A jack of all heartbreaks
And master of none
I did all I could
But the damage is done
A five-and-dime martyr
Like father, Like son
The apple will fall
And the bruises will come
Promises broken
And arguments won
An origin tale
I can never outrun
Nothing to barter
Like father, Like son
Hey Ho! Off we all go!
Prodigal misfits
With pennywise souls
Ho Hey! What can we say?
There’s no rest
Or running away
Now I’m the old bastard
Who answers the call
Anger in silence
And holes in the wall
The kidnapper’s ransom
Is written in blood
A new generation
Like father, Like son
There’s dust on the wall
Where my picture is hung
Something like love
On the tip of his tongue
Betrayal as real
As the air in his lungs
All the same riddles
Like father, Like son
Hey Ho! Off we all go!
Prodigal misfits
With pennywise souls
Ho Hey! What can we say?
There’s no rest
Or running away
The future has ended
The past has begun
To the top of the hill
Then I’m back to square one
I pray for the day
But the day never comes
I’m aging away
Like father, Like son
Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:
Honorable Mentions:
“American Portrait”
By Douglas Romanow, Sam Hatmaker & Benita Hill
“life of the party”
By Cat Flint, Tory Grace & Tyler Bank
“Opening Night”
By Dan Hulse
“One Foot on the Gas (The Other in the Grave)”
By Alex Perkins, Daniel Foshee & Marcus Hooper
“Little Bit of Cowboy”
By Maura Streppa, Gloria Anderson & Daniel Ethridge
“Honky Tonk Hair”
By Mary Zalla, Bill DiLuigi & Taylor Borton
“Two Hands and Six Strings”
By Tim O’Connell
“Always again”
By George Ballard
“The Pedal on the Right”
By Elizabeth Grace
“Lost in the Machine”
By James Leonard
“Living For the Weekend”
By Micah Kosares
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