I’ve been playing the guitar, singing, and writing songs since I was twelve years old. The following is a set of my top 20 songs written thus far, and are from different ages and times in my life. Most have chords to go with them, but I wanted to publish the lyrics as a start. I’m not saying they’re any good, or sound any better when I sing them. I also apologize to anyone who actually knows about songwriting that they’re probably not formatted correctly. But I’ll tell you I’ve loved every second of writing and crafting them. Music is a passion that connects us all on a deep level, and I’ve always dreamed of being part of something greater than myself. I hope you will find something you relate to in my words. If you want to listen to some pretty old (and slightly embarrassing) recordings of a few of them, check out my relic of a MySpace page here.
All songs written by Katrin Deetz.
**************************************************
“925”
[Verse 1]
I am begging to shine
A light from deep inside
It’s been awhile,
But I know it’s still here in me
Dull and dusty, like old china
Resting on the shelf
In an abandoned house
Forever forgotten
[Pre-Chorus]
But I am sterling silver, 925
Polish me up and let me shine
[Chorus]
Shine, shine, shine burning light from the inside
Shine, shine, shine like 925
[Verse 2]
At the pawn shop,
All the others look so nice and shiny
Compared to me, I’m not sitting so pretty
Oh but I’m sterling silver, 925
A pretty good conductor of electricity
If you wanna give it a try
Dust me off, polish me up
Bring me into the light to shine
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
I am begging to shine, shine, shine
Like perfectly polished 925
Sterling silver so bright
Just like a mirror
Sometimes in life
We get a little dull
All we need’s a little bit of
Love to shine again
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Big”
[Verse 1]
She was only eighteen, living a dream
Big dreams, big smile
Big plans, going somewhere
Passport to anywhere she wants to see
It’s time to celebrate living big
[Chorus]
How did fifteen years fly by like the night?
Somewhere along the way I gave up the fight
What ever happened to livin’ big?
[Verse 2]
Started with the rent check,
Became so much more
Just scraping by, forget about living the dream
Want to live big
But I’m just trying to survive
Years are flying by like the cars on Interstate 5
Relentlessly remind me I am running out of time
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Is growing up growing out of your dreams?
I wanna live big, big, big
[Verse 3]
Thirty-three, so it be
All I have is now, it’s all on me to see
What I need to believe
That I did not let fifteen years fly by in the night,
No that’s simply not me
Finally I see, I am already
Living the dream
[Chorus – modified]
I don’t let time fly by like the night
I live my life…big
**************************************************
“Blank Slate”
[Verse 1]
I looked ahead down the road today,
Turned around, smiled at how far I’d made it
When suddenly out of the warmth and grace,
Stared me squarely in the face, a blank slate
[Chorus]
Life’s looking me right in my eyes
I can’t just sit and watch the days pass by
Gotta go out on my own and fill that blank slate
[Verse 2]
Turned back down the old path for just one more day
Acted like the queen of the world, had so much to say
Then daybreak reared its pretty little head,
Time to move on face the music ahead
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
A giant vacant path lies ahead
Demanding my attention like a baby that just won’t go to bed
That glistening blank slate, so blinding
[Verse 3]
Years long ago, memories engraved in time
Like pictographs in desert stone
They’ve all got a story to tell
Now I’ve got a blank slate to fill, new picture to tell new stories
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Breakthrough”
[Verse 1]
Wanna shut the world away, be myself today
Need some faith, even just a taste
I’ve been livin’ in misery, stuck behind this wall,
Wanna tear the fortress down, watch it fall
[Chorus]
Breakdown, breakthrough
Make my way out to something new
Breakthrough, breakthrough
[Verse 2]
I can smell the roses, on the other side
Tease me like a little boy, go run and hide
Wanna the quiet the noise in my head,
Wanna live but I feel dead
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Stone wall, but piece by piece not so strong
[Verse 3]
Eyes run dry like the Mojave sky
Can’t cry no more
I am nothing more than dust,
Time weathers me like rust
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Barely Hanging On By A Thread”
[Verse 1]
Wake in the morning, to the same old story
You’re lying on the couch, I’m getting ready for work again
It’s been a long year, of getting nowhere near ahead
He’s one in ten, out of a job
[Pre-Chorus]
And it feels like we’re hanging on, just a spider web in the wind
Loosely connected, I’m hoping that we make it
[Chorus]
(Cause now) I’m barely hanging on by a thread
Longing for the life we once knew
Barely hanging on by a thread, unraveling
[Verse 2]
I’ve been waiting, but my faith is fading
Away just like the sunset in your eyes
Don’t know whether it’s just the stormy weather
Or is it your fault we’re drowning in the rain?
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
I can’t save you, I can’t make everything alright
Can’t fix it, though I’ve tried
[Verse 3]
I can’t change you, I can’t make you
Want to spread your wings and fly
You’re my best friend,
Nothing less than
The one I want to shoot across the sky
So when it feels like we’re hanging on,
Just like spider webs in the wind
Stay by my side, and I know that we’ll make it
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Dominoes”
[Verse 1]
I try to push it down below
But it’s everywhere I go
Wanna burn it all away, yeah
Send it out to sea
Let me get back to feeling like me
[Chorus]
(Oh) I need another distraction
To numb my reaction
I’m falling down like dominoes again
[Verse 2]
I walk the maze
My head in a haze
Just counting the days that you’ve been gone
It’s not enough, to say you messed up
You’re gonna pay the price for rolling the dice again
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Time is up, I’ve had enough
Can’t fake it anymore
[Verse 3]
Try and stand up on my own two feet
Walk on and show the world I’m fine
Pretend that all my dominoes are lined up neatly
That I’m not suffering inside
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Dream Legs”
[Verse 1]
Dream legs, mushy feet dragging
Clumsily toward the unreachable end
Paralyzing every muscle
Bursting with anticipation
[Pre-Chorus]
Trying to run forward but still I remain
Treading water with my dream legs
[Chorus]
Dream legs, holding me down
It’s time to get a move on but I can’t get out
Stuck in these dream legs, dream legs,
Feels more like a nightmare
[Verse 2]
Frozen solid in my tracks
Feels like I keep sliding back
The light gets further away
Sinking into darkness and decay
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
The siren is blaring, fire’s ablaze
Time to run, here’s your chance to escape
[Verse 3]
If life’s all about how you see things
Maybe my vision just needs adjusting
Maybe I’m not as stuck as I perceive
Maybe these dream legs aren’t my burden to carry
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus 2]
Set free from these
Dream legs, holding me down
Was paralyzed, but look at me now
Running like a horse let out the gate
Running free from those
Dream legs
**************************************************
“Glass Ceiling”
[Verse 1]
Lately I’ve been feeling, oh
Just a little unsatisfied
Tired of waking up to the same old rut,
Living hand to mouth
And I’ve started believing it’s all I’m worth
Waiting for the payback that says I’ve made it
Wouldn’t it be nice if I could have a slice of the pie
So I can do everything I want to do before I die
[Chorus]
Staring up through a glass ceiling
Beneath the party, party, party where I belong
[x2]
[Verse 2]
I watch them all, celebrating their riches
Living like they’re the center of the world
Truth be told, I’ve had it both ways
And the richest one is the kindest one, always
But wouldn’t it be nice if I could have a slice of that pie
So I can do what I need to do before I die
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
The kindest one is the richest one
Happy with no strings attached, so free
[Verse 3]
Feels like treading water,
Every month a struggle
Living on a shoestring budget
Hoping the car doesn’t break down
So wouldn’t it be nice if I could have just
A little slice of that pie
Just another way to do all the things I wanna do before I die
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Homeless”
[Verse 1]
She opens up her eyes,
Suddenly aware of all the lies
She knows it’s time…
Memories fall, like waterfalls
Pouring down the cliffs of yesterday
Pouring down, down, down
[Chorus]
If home is in my heart, I can’t find it here
Jeckyl and Hyde, both screaming in my ear
I am homeless, homeless
[Verse 2]
By myself again,
Left you alone at the corner
Once together, now undone
History runs deep, but now feels so shallow
Just memories in the past, there is no now
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
I don’t know where my home is anymore
But I know it’s no longer with you
[Verse 3]
I hurt you like a lion kills its prey
Sharp claws are those words I say
They strike you down, lightning on the sea
You never saw this side of me
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“How Long?”
[Verse 1]
I’m trying to shed my skin
I want to break out of this prison I’m in
Winter wind’s howling, leaves flying past
High tide’s rising, water’s coming fast
[Chorus]
How long?
‘Til I set myself free
Open my eyes, see the signs around me
It’s time to say goodbye, time to say goodbye
[Verse 2]
You sure like to tell me, how I’m almost good enough
If I just change who I am, then maybe you’ll give me your love
But now I see, your shadow’s come to light
Everyday’s just the same, it’s not worth the fight
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
My eyes are open wide, and there’s no reason now
It’s time for this bluebird to fly away, fly away
[Verse 3]
But I wake in the morning, to another cloudy day
To the silence between us, things we need to say
Held down in the blue water crashing overhead
Hold my breath and count to ten, somebody give me some air
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“I Can, So I Do”
[Verse 1]
The sound of my voice
Never sounds good enough for me
Always straining for something more
Never seem to stay on key
But there’s a true love
I simply need to, I must
Even if I’m the only ears
Listening with rose-colored headphones
[Chorus]
But I can, so I do
Because I want to, need to, love to, have to,
I can, so I do
[Verse 2]
I push too hard
For your uh-huh
Trying to find where I stand among the crowd
Do I fit in here? With the real housewives of Anytown?
I find myself alone all the time,
Just me myself and I
Because I’d rather sing the truth
Even if it only falls upon my own ears
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
With every single day that passes
Time’s running out for the things that we love
Like spring wildflowers, bursting with life
Then fading away
Though I may sing off key, though I may try too hard
As long as I’m here
I’ll be doing what I love to do
Because I absolutely need to
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Only You”
[Verse 1]
Only you can decide how you live your life
You gotta let your fears go, know it’ll be alright
You’ve got friends and laughter, it’s the good life you’re after
Just remember along the way…
[Chorus]
Only you can choose
To spread your wings and fly
Only you can choose
How to live your life
Only you, only you
[Verse 2]
May you learn it’s okay to be imperfect
Though you may struggle it’s all part of it
It’s never too late, to start over again
You can change your mind when things don’t go to plan
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
You’ve got everything you need
To do as you please
All the power’s deep inside you
[Verse 3]
The easy road is a thief in disguise
Robbing you from becoming wise
Take a stand for yourself, don’t wait for someone else
Your power lies inside you
[Chorus]
You’ve got everything you need
To do whatever you please
**************************************************
“Rising Above”
[Verse 1]
My eyes are wide open, I finally realize
What it’s all about, Finally got it right
Feels like I’m making up for lost time
Thinking back on all the days I wasted, long gone
[Chorus]
Now I’m rising above you,
Taking back my time
Rising above your disguise
[Verse 2]
I was drowning, sinking deeper and deeper
I was hanging onto, my only friend
Now I’m no longer down, no longer your keeper
Feeling freer and freer, now you’re not around
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Look at me now, Standing on solid ground, solid ground, solid ground
[Verse 3]
Now I’m seeing clearer and clearer, Living back in the real world
Feeling so good now that you’re not around, yeah
Better and better, beyond measure
Flying higher than ever, you’re not pulling me down
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
I gave you years of my life, How quickly it passes by
Sneaking up on me like a cat stalking his prey
Little by little, my power just faded away
The light in my eyes dimmed to a smoky haze
So far away from myself, so consumed by you
[Chorus]
I’m in no hurry, taking my sweet time
**************************************************
“Roll the Dice”
[Verse 1]
I rolled the dice, I didn’t think twice
Before I threw all my chips in
I took my pain and sent it through my veins
Rushing like a driving train
[Chorus]
It’s a long, long way, back home
To the love I had known
[Verse 2]
Stood in the rain, I just couldn’t explain
Everything I’s feeling inside
Crawled in my skin, committed a sin
Just looking for a place to hide
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Looked in the mirror, tried to see a bit clearer
The fire burnin’ from my eyes
Down on my knees, heart’s aching to breathe
Drowning in a sea of lies
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Sick and Tired”
[Verse 1]
Driftin’ along, got no place to be
My bank account’s steady losing steam
Gotta piece of paper, says I’m good enough
To get that dollar, but I ain’t seen a dime
[Chorus]
Hard times fallin’ on us
Standin’ in line, waitin’ for a piece of the pie
(But) the line keep’s on growin’, well
We’re just growin’ sick and tired (x2)
[Verse 2]
Everybody’s strugglin’, tryin’ to get by
One paycheck away from the poverty line
If it’s all relative, no we’re not poor
But to make it here, we need something more
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
They’ve got a trillion dollars, throw it at their wars
Show each other who’s really in control
Once was a dream to have so much more
But now it’s all a memory
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Song for AG”
[Verse 1]
Born under a bad son
Out of the pain he was the one to succeed
He was my lover, he was my friend
But now he’s reached the end
A confused and rebellious boy,
But he somehow made his way
But all the anguish led him to decay
[Chorus]
Fly away, somewhere you won’t be in pain
Fly away, somewhere you won’t drown in vain
Oh Adam, you know you’re cynicism kept you strong
[Verse 2]
Through all you masked to the world
I loved you even when you were cold
Cause deep inside you were warm
And that’s how I remember you
The boy at the football game
That I kissed behind the bleachers
You wouldn’t let me have white candy
On Halloween cause you knew it would hurt me
You really cared enough to stop me
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“South of Mission”
[Verse 1]
Like a headwind on your downhill
Where we live south of Mission
On the lower Westside
Where the homes are old
But neighborhood’s filled with pride
South of Mission
Cracks in our sidewalks
Boys hangin’ out in front of the liquor store
[Chorus]
We are South of Mission, where we call home
South of Mission, we’ve got heart and soul to give
South of Mission, that’s where we live
[Verse 2]
Head North up the highway
Not too far until the fancy cars
Land of castles, separated by just one mile
But it feels like you’ve gone to Mars
North of Mission, oh
The land of opportunity
North of Mission,
Where I’d kind of like to be
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Living so closely
To the world of the mighty high
Sometimes makes me feel like
I’m South of all those people up there
But South of Mission’s where
We’re down to Earth
Living each day for all its worth
South of Mission’s where our heart beats with love
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Summertime Chime”
[Verse 1]
Sittin’ in the shade, sun is creepin’ closer
Just another inch and I’ll have to move over
It’s hot as jalapenos on your tongue,
Hot as jalapenos in the sun
Wind! Chimes! Blowin’ in the wind
Chimes don’t rhyme with my musical rhyme
Wind! Chimes! Blowin’ in the wind
Chimes out of time with my musical design
[Chorus]
Summertime, summertime chimes (x2)
[Verse 2]
I’m kickin’ up my feet, not going anywhere
Spend the day just doing what I care
The birds in the trees all agree with me
Singing along in perfect harmony
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Wind! Chimes! Blowin’ in the wind
Chimes don’t rhyme with my musical rhyme
Wind! Chimes! Blowin’ in the wind
Chimes out of time with my musical design
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Thirteen”
[Verse 1]
Only thirteen, baby of three girls
Look into the mirror, see my dark eyes
Sinking into a velvet sea of escape
Makes it all feel better, til it fades away
[Chorus]
A skinny little girl looks in the mirror
Only thirteen, my perfect world is gone
[Verse 2]
Look into my eyes, I’m crying out inside
Save myself the pain, go for a magic carpet ride
I don’t feel a thing, floating high above
Until the morning crashes down
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
It’s not okay, I’ve lost myself in the storm
Need a lifeline
Somebody to save me from myself
[Verse 3]
Can I go back to the days, when I was just a little child
When the world was right, everything all right
But people die, mothers and even fathers cry
Our family’s broken, I’m holdin on to thin air
[Chorus]
**************************************************
“Yes You Are”
[Verse 1]
Sometimes she gets tired, tired of being tired
Working at a dead-end job
Dreaming of a life,
She has visions in her mind
Living in a big house, traveling the world
She wants to be a rockstar, rocking hard
Rock, rock, rock star
[Chorus]
Yes you are, yes you are,
A real rockstar [x2]
[Verse 2]
Trying to make every dollar last
Stretch it out to connect the dots
Just think positive, Mama always said
But it’s hard to do when you’re living on a thread
She wants to be a rockstar, every night she’s rocking hard
Lost in a happy world, playing that guitar
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
She’s looking for an answer, looking for a savior
Doesn’t she know it’s all within her
Honey it’s time to rock and roll
[Chorus]
**************************************************
Flow and Grace 