I AM HUMAN

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

INTRO:

I was sick and tired

Of living to be mad

Now I am rewired

To feel good, not bad

I took all the beatings

From myself the “Chosen One”

Then with much undoing

I said, “Enough. I’m done.”

Enough. I’m done.

VERSE 1:

I find now that growing

At times grows painfully

Still now I’m sowing

Love instead of seeds

CHORUS:

Now how can I believe in you

If I do not believe in me

And how can I declare a view

If I have eyes that cannot see

I am human

I am full of err

Love has room to learn

And I am there

VERSE 2:

I give my whole heart

Well as much as I receive

Still I keep a part

For myself it’s fair to me

CHORUS:

Now how can I believe in you

If I do not believe in me

And how can I declare a view

If I have eyes that cannot see

I am human

I am full of err

Love has room to learn

And I am there

BRIDGE:

This life ain’t worth pain and grief

Feel the earth beneath your feet

Love too can heal despair

For love is everywhere

VERSE 3:

I was sick and tired

Of living to be sad

Now I’m rewired

To feel happy, now and glad

CHORUS:

Now how can I believe in you

If I cannot believe in me

And how can I declare a view

If I have eyes that cannot see

I am human

I am full of err

Love has room to learn

And I am there

WOMAN

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2015

VERSE 1:

I am a woman

Who happens to be old

Some say that that makes me an old woman

But why define me in such a mold?

Does it even matter now anyway?

VERSE 2:

I am a mother

Who’s children are all grown

Some say that that makes me yearn for my youth

What if I like to be alone?

No one really knows me anyway

CHORUS:

I know who I am

It took a lifetime to understand

VERSE 3:

 I am a widow

Who’s lover left me and passed along

Some say another man could fill his space

But now I feel that that’s all wrong

Why you gotta say anything anyway?

BRIDGE:

And I like my skin all creased

It shows my life lived as I pleased

Growin’ older has brought me something

When I was younger I didn’t know a damn thing

CHORUS:

I know who I am

It took a lifetime to give a goddamn

VERSE 4:

I am a woman

Who happens to be old

Some say that that makes me an old woman

But why you have to be so cold?

Who the hell asked you anyway?

PEOPLE OF ALL KINDS

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1:

I had a lover I once thought was fine

Till I discovered he was lying all the time

What did I learn

What did I gain

Can’t hate a fool

Can’t blame a shame

VERSE 2:

I had a friend, once thought was true

Till I learned that she talked trash about me too

What did I learn

What did I find

Can’t take back words

Can’t watch unwind

CHORUS:

Sometimes you gotta swallow

A little bit of pride

To get to where you’re going

You’ll meet people of all kinds

VERSE 3:

I had a boss, I thought was fair

Till I saw evidence, when my check was half a share

What did I learn

What did I get

Can’t break what’s broken

Can’t change regret

 CHORUS:

You may have to swallow

A little bit of pride

To get to where you’re going

Sometimes you have to climb

BRIDGE:

Who am I to cast a shadow

Over ones who’ve done me wrong

Who am I to say “I’ll never”

When life is short as it is long

VERSE 4:

I had a teacher thought cared for me

Till he took my money and gave no receipt

What did I learn

What did I take

Can’t throw a straight curve

Can’t catch a break

CHORUS:

I’ve learned I gotta swallow

A little bit of pride

To get to where I’m going

Sometimes running when I’m tied

CHORUS:

Yeah, sometimes you gotta swallow

A little bit of pride

To get to where you’re going

You’ll meet people of all kinds

BEAUTY AIN'T

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1

Beauty ain’t something you get for free

It ain’t something you can go out and buy for cheap

It ain’t easy but quite a novelty

That’s what today’s magazines are tellin’ me

Beauty means forever young not old

It’s something you gotta pay for to keep you gold

It’s not an option to trade till you’re dead and cold

That’s what we need these days – or so I’m told

CHORUS

But I got news for the fashion biz

I got news for women, men and kids

It don’t matter what you do or say

We’re all gonna get old and wrinkled one day

VERSE 2

Now beauty looks like a half-baked teen

It’s got a chip on its shoulder and a lot of green

It’s dumb and dumber and so obscene

That’s Hollywood’s selling the next big thing

But beauty is something really ‘neath the skin

You gotta dig real deep inside to glow within

It ain’t something you take from your next of kin

So tell the models and cameras I said to go and shoot again

CHORUS

Cause I got news for the entertainment biz

I got news for women, men and kids

It don’t matter what you do or say

We’re all gonna get old and fade away

BRIDGE

It don’t matter how much we try

Our souls won’t let our bodies lie

Ain’t nothing wrong with an agin’ gal

Or a slightly overweight grey haired guy

VERSE 3

Cause beauty ain’t showcasing for the mass

It ain’t capturing an honest clear cut glass

It’s a shame they’re missing all the sexy sass

So tell the industry I said to kiss my ass

CHORUS

Yeah I got news for the music biz

I got news for women, men and kids

It don’t matter what you do or what you say

We’re all gonna get old and die some day

LONG RIDE

Words by Tera Johnson; Music by Tera Johnson and BJ Block

© 2002

VERSE 1:

Day fades

Night comes on the shoulders of a light wind

Kissing her face

As she leaves this old run down town again

There she goes

Off into the sunset

There she goes

Gonna take the long way home

VERSE 2:

Road to hoe

Life comes in tablespoon fulls

“No need to cry”

She says as she walks out the door this time

There she goes

Off into the sunset

There she goes

Gonna leave this time on her own

CHORUS:

Gonna be a long ride

Gonna be a long ride

Long ride

VERSE 3:

Over the greens through the valleys of her mind

Holding so tight

To the dreams that she’s kept all of her life

There she goes

Off into the sunset

There she goes

She’s gonna take the long way home

CHORUS:

Gonna be a long ride

Gonna be a long ride

There she goes

BRIDGE:

There she goes, there she goes

Gonna move to the city on her own

She takes all that she has

She takes all that she owns

There she goes

CHORUS:

Gonna be a long ride

YOU AND ME

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1:

I can see your smile

Even though you’ve passed along

I can hear your laughter

Even though your voice is gone

I can feel you near me

Though you may just be a song

But I know, I know

VERSE 2:

I can smell your scent

Though something you’d never wear

I can look into your eyes

Even though a picture stares

I can close my eyes now

And rest assure you’re there

Yes I know, I know

CHORUS:

You never left me

You never went away

Your spirits within me

Forever here to stay

I know that someday

Again we’ll meet

But until then

You and me

VERSE 3:

I can see your face

Even when I’m blue

I can hear your words of love

When I’m lost and confused

I can feel your arms

Drawing me close to you

And I know, I know

CHORUS:

I can see your smile

When and if I plant the seed

I can hear your laughter

Right in front of me

I can hold your hand

You’ll never leave

You know there we’ll be

You and me

BRIDGE:

Still there are days

Blue skies fade to black

I want our old ways

Can’t help but want you back

Yet I know it just is

As it’s supposed to be

Life moves along

Like a river to the sea

CHORUS

You’ll always be here

You’ll always follow me

Your spirit calms my fears

When my soul’s in need

I know that someday

Again we’ll be

Together and then

You and me

DOUBLE DOWN

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1:

Long ago

Far away

I fell in love with you

Yet you stayed

Not without

Rain somehow

We still the storm

Double down

CHORUS:

We had a bet that was against us every time

We had a chance like turning water into wine

There was a day we almost left it all behind

VERSE 2:

Long ago

Far away

We lived “the life”

Some would say

Sometimes lost

Sometimes found

We bet our luck

Double down

CHORUS:

We had the world counting our days together or

We had the likelihood of peace during a war

There was a time when we both wondered what it’s for

VERSE 3:

Long ago

Far away

We said I do

I will, I may

Still we’re here

Safe and sound

We made a bet

Double down

DO AS I PLEASE

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1:

Some say a woman oughtta know her place

She better get in line and accept her fate

I ain’t tryin’ to tell you to change how you feel

But you better know what’s right and if it’s not you take the wheel

VERSE2:

Some say a lady keeps her lips real tight

She better know what to open when her man is feelin’ right

I ain’t tryin’ to say that my sex is any better

But I know the grass is greener where the water’s gettin’ wetter

CHORUS:

I swear like sailor

Say what I mean

I’m just another truckin’ wailer

And I do as I please

VERSE 3:

Some say a girl ain’t nothin’ but second-class

She better take 60 cents to every dollar that is passed

I ain’t tryin’ to stir any feelings ‘gainst a man

But I know when something’s wrong I gotta fix it if I can

CHORUS:

I’m just sharing

A little piece of mind

So if you got a problem, grab a number get in line

BRIDGE:

I know nothin’ that I say is gonna change over night

But if you all can hear me open your eyes and follow the light

VERSE 4:

Some say a woman better keep her act together

Better know her man’s her ticket to the promise land or nether

I ain’t tryin’ to push no one to be what their not

But I know a real man loves the feminist he’s got

CHORUS:

I don’t curb my words

Don’t give a cuss

I’m just a mother duckin’ verbs

What I say may cause a fuss

 CHORUS:

I don’t curb my words

Don’t give a cuss

I’m just a mother duckin’ verbs

What I say may cause a fuss

CHORUS:

I swear like a sailor

Say what I mean

I’m just another truckin’ wailer

And I do as I please

HELLO FRIEND

Words Tera Johnson; Music by Tera Johnson & John Bamber

©2016

CHORUS:

Hello friend

I wish I could see you again

It's been a long while

I wonder how have you been

VERSE 1:

I remember when we were laughing

All night till the break of day

I wish I could turn back time

And make tomorrow like yesterday

Well since I lost saw you

'Been trying to do some living

Recently I discovered

Life ain't worth much without a little giving

PRE-CHORUS

Now that we're miles away

I just wanted to say

CHORUS:

Hello friend

I'm so glad to see you again

It's been a long while

Tell me, how have you been?

VERSE 2

I've been meaning to call you

Just to catch up and say hello

Please tell me what's going on

Tell me your highs, tell me all your lows

PRE-CHORUS

Just 'cause we're miles away

I gotta know that you're okay

CHORUS:

Hello friend

I'm so glad to see you again

It's been a long while

Tell me, how have you been?

BRIDGE:

Live doesn't last forever

But we can try

To make the most together

Whenever we can make time

I promise to be there

When you need a friend

You mean the world to me

You don't have to ask

Just count me in

CHORUS:

Hello friend

I'm so glad I could see you again

It's been a long while

Tell me, how have you been?

SEIZE YOUR DAY

Words by Tera Johnson; Music by Tera Johnson & John Bamber

©2016

VERSE 1:

In the morning

Break of day

Like a warning

Come what may

Life is coming

Never stop for man

Love is running

Catch it if you can

CHORUS 1:

Know today

Soon will be yesterday

When you wake

Go and seize your day

VERSE 2:

Take a minute

Breath the air

Live right there in it

Free from your cares

Life is coming

Prepare to stand

Love is running

Raise up your hands

CHORUS 2:

No one way

Is right anyway

Make your stake

Go and seize your day

BRIDGE:

And when it all comes down

You’ll wish for love abound

You’ll beg for time and peace

But circle of life won’t cease

VERSE 3:

In the evening

Sun to set

All seems fleeting

But not just yet

Life is coming

Another day

Love is running

Come what may

CHORUS 3:

Each new day

Is a chance to say

Live for sake

Go and seize your day!

LONELY ROAD

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1:

Sometimes it’s easier to follow

But life sometimes lives not with ease

Really who’s to blame when you wallow

In all the failings, costs and fees

Sometimes you have to learn to lead

In a way that sometimes seems in vain

You know that you can only count on

Yourself when it’s you that feels the pain

CHORUS:

So you sure as hell can know

When there’s no where else to go

VERSE 2:

Sometimes it’s hard to love yourself

In a world that’s less than fair

Deprecation soon takes over

When you follow if you dare

Sometimes you have to walk alone now

Cause it’s the only way to be

Really who can you depend on

Only you if you believe

CHORUS:

That you sure as hell will know

There is no where else to go

With a heavy load

On the lonely road

BRIDGE:

I want to tell you life is easy

I want the world to be kind

I wish that everyone around you

Never would hurt you but you’ll find

CHORUS:

Cause you sure as hell must know

That by now you’ll only go

 With your own load

On a less traveled road

It's a lonely road

HOME

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2016

VERSE 1:

I went away

To find life outside

I wondered then

If at least I tried

To be less alone

Wherever I roamed

I was home

VERSE 2:

The more I looked

The less I found

I knew inside

My heart was bound

To the earth never alone

Wherever I may roam

I am home

BRIDGE:

And in the end

What matters

Are your friends

And your tone

Come home

VERSE 3:

Now I see

What I’d heard before

Family

Is what we all live for

Never really alone

Wherever you roam

You are home

TOMORROW

Words & Music by Tera Johnson

©2015

VERSE 1:

I have found

Nothing in this life is worth

Bringing everybody down

I have seen

Everything around me is

Exactly how it’s supposed to be

And if I go

Tomorrow will you understand

Just how much I love you so?

VERSE 2:

I have heard

Each and every legacy

Doesn’t always mean The Word

I have known

Life is but a dotted line

We sign on temporary loan

And if I leave

Tomorrow will you understand

Just how much you mean to me?

BRIDGE:

And in the morning as I rise

I wait for fate to let me look into your precious eyes

You are all I’ll ever need

And if you ever question this know that love’s infinity

VERSE 3:

I have learned

Lessons in this lifetime

Are challenges our spirits yearn

I have lived

Long enough to know by now

The cost is worth the price to give

And if I die

Tomorrow will you understand

Just how much I loved this life?