THANKSGIVING

Good Morning Everyone

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Please pray for our heroes

Still serving far away

For lives that are stricken

No cure to make them well

For those who've grown too old

To take care of themselves

For the poor in our country

No means to celebrate

And the unforgiving

Spending this day in hate

Please pray for the lonely

For those who've lost their way

Let's start with Thanksgiving

And pray for them ever day

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Lord I am so thankful

I have everything I need

I just wish that everyone

Could have as much as me

And as my Family gathers

To feast, and laugh, and pray

It's a Happy Thanksgiving

But I'm thankful every day

~~*~~
Have a Happy Thanksgiving
And be thankful every day
~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

I am so Thankful for

 YOU 

In my Life !

Praying for You and Yours 

On Thanksgiving Day 

And Always 

I Love You

Forever

Teresa

~~*~~

CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR

There was a family

In the town where I grew up

They lived just down the road

And they did not have much

Every year at Christmas time

Daddy would get two trees

He put one up in our house

And the neighbors down the street

They had three little girls at home

Mama went shopping for

With five kids of her own to tend

What were a couple more

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Our Parents always taught us

You share what you have

You might think your life is grim

But some have it twice as bad

You need to be a Godly person

Love all, that’s why we’re here

Don’t just give at Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year

~~*~~

That little family

Who lived down the road from us

Shared their garden treasures

Always claimed they had enough

All us kids grew up and left

We still visit and send cards

Three young ladies remembered

Who was there when times were hard

One of them became a doctor

She was there when it was time

Took care of Mama, then Daddy

And she didn't charge a dime

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Think of others, not just yourselves

Be a giving soul, help each other out

It all comes back around, and envelopes you

Do it the whole year through

For all you teach your children, make them hear

Christmas only comes but once a year

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Our Parents always taught us

You share what you have

You might think your life is grim

But some have it twice as bad

You need to be a Godly person

Love all, that’s why we’re here

Don’t just give at Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

I WANT TO KNOW YOU

I want to know you

I want to know your truth

The story of your birth

The history of your roots

I want to know you

How you live and breathe

A mystery to them

Please don’t be to me

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Unfold before me

Open up sweet love

Don’t falter speaking

I’m not here to judge

Void of secrecy

Lover step on through

Tell me everything

I want to know you

~~*~~

I want to know you

Hear of your childhood

The things that made you laugh

The hurts that weren't  so good

I want to know you

What is in your stars

All that draws you in

What makes you who you are

I want to know you…

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

You sighed by the roses in the park today

Why was there a smile on your pretty face

You giggled at the little girls playing dolls

Expressions of the woman whom you really are

Don’t hold back emotions from the things you view

It’s how I knew so well

I want to know you

Yeah…

I want to know you

~~*~~

 ~~~*Chorus*~~~

Unfold before me

Open up sweet love

Don’t falter speaking

I’m not here to judge

Void of secrecy

Lover step on through

Tell me everything

I want to know you

~~*~~

Yes, I do

I want to know you

I want to know you

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

ALWAYS AND FOREVER

I will love you endlessly

That's the woman who I am

Don't take my vows too lightly

When I offer you my hand

My faith is everlasting

It deepens as it grows

You say nothing lasts forever

Well, that's not true, you know

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Love and Faith

Friends and Grace

The word of an honest man

Laughter and hope

Promises to cope

A Mother's gentle hand

All of this and more

Whether rich or poor

Keeps binding souls together

Always...

Always and forever

~~*~~

If death parts us, here on earth

Don't believe that you're alone

The spirit of a person

Isn't made of flesh and bones

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

As long as you can think and dream

You will have a part of me

Keep your faith strong until the end

And you will hold me once again

There are memories while you're waiting

Belief is never fading

Eternally together

Always

Always and forever

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Love and Faith

Friends and Grace

The word of an honest man

Laughter and hope

Promises to cope

A Mother's gentle hand

All of this and more

Whether rich or poor

Keeps binding souls together

Always...

Always and forever

~~*~~

Eternally together

Always...

Always and forever

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

WORK OF FICTION

You've come to your conclusion

Now you drag him through the mud

How do you dare, to be so unfair

When deceit runs in your blood

You are so good at lying

I think you've convinced yourself

Some believe, but girl not me

I know you far too well

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Your life’s a work of fiction

A tall tale that you've spun

Some have fallen for the fable

But your story is not done

How will they react

When they know the facts

Roots rotting to the stem

When the flower dies

Before their eyes

How you fooled all of them

Ooh, ooh, ooh…

What to do…

You tell the truth

~~*~~

You can start your story over

On a clear and empty page

Burn the pages that condemn you

End the wars that you have waged

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Your truth may not be pretty

But be honest just the same

Quit slandering old lovers

And trying to shift the blame

The ones behind you love you

Quit playing them for fools

Ooh, ooh, ooh

What to do…

Tell the truth

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Your life’s a work of fiction

A tall tale that you've spun

Some have fallen for the fable

But your story is not done

How will they react

When they know the facts

Roots rotting to the stem

When the flower dies

Before their eyes

How you fooled all of them

Ooh, ooh, ooh…

What to do…

You tell the truth

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson

Wrdspnr@aol.com

Copyright© 2013

WITHIN REACH

I wonder who doesn't dream 

Of happy endings

Who doesn't crave forever  

When they fall in love

Who wouldn't sit and plan  

A brilliant future

See eternity together 

Once their mortal lives are done...

~~~*Chorus*~~~

It's within reach

It is not impossible 

Go ahead and dream

Turn your back on negativity

Don't change your path with every breach

Paint yourself that picture

It's within reach

~~*~~

I think we all harbor thoughts

That we can't do this

We're so afraid of ruining

A priceless work of art

If we pocket every hope

Nothing will ever grow

Dreams die before 

They get the chance to start

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

It's your picture, It's your art

Open that creative heart

Set that loving spirit free to dream

Make it be...

It's within reach

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

It's within reach

It is not impossible 

Go ahead and dream

Turn your back on negativity

Don't change your path with every breach

Paint yourself that picture...

It's within reach

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

BEHIND THE TEARS

I feel the pavement tremble

Vibrate beneath my feet

There's a warning calling to me

I tense against the streets

Every man's a shadow

Lurking in the dark

Hand on my gun

As the sweat runs

Will I do my part

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Will I save another victim

Will that image haunt me too

Will I kill a perpetrator

As I've been trained to do

Feel a sense of pride in duty

While the violence stabs my heart

My only fear, behind the tears

Is will I do my part

~~*~~

I check the homeless shelters

The kids out on the streets

Is this some premonition

Of a helpless soul in need

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

I enter people's nightmares

With no way of crawling back

Seen so much devastation

No light filters through the cracks

Haunting visions remain with me

No more wishing on the stars

As the torment bleeds, and flows through me

I fight to do my part

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Will I save another victim

Will this image haunt me too

Will I kill a perpetrator

As I've been trained to do

Feel a sense of pride in duty

While the violence stabs my heart

My only fear, behind the tears

Is will I do my part

~~*~~

~~~*Finale*~~~

I have been committed 

To this badge , right from the start

But I ask myself, each trip through hell

Will I do my part

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Copyright© 2013
Wrdspnr@aol.com
~~Richland Police Dept.~~
Thank You for all you do
To keep our City Safe! T*

DON'T BELIEVE ME

Daddy taught me how to fight

You won't get the best of me

This girl is strong in mind and body

And a coward's all I see

There will be no backing down

I'm not going to run and hide

You can't make me cower boy

Or strip me of my pride

~~~*Chorus*~~~

I refuse to suffer

I am not the type

If that's what you seek

Then you don't want me

No, you can't make me cry

Don't believe me?

Give it a try

~~*~~

Can't see how I missed the signs

I'm thankful it's not too late

Didn't know you were some low-down cur

But I will not hesitate

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Mister I won't hesitate

To put a scoundrel in his place

I'm gonna call your Mama

Tell her she didn't raise you right

I know how to fight

Don't believe me?

Give it a try

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

I refuse to suffer

I am not the type

If that's what you seek

Then you don't want me

No, you can't make me cry

Don't believe me?

Give it a try

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright©2013

I HURT YOU

Yes...
I hurt you
Such a hard thing to admit
Oh...
I hurt you
And I'd do it again
~~*~~

I'd hurt you 
Just to save you
keep you away from me
Yes I love you
That's the reason
It's the way it has to be
No I won't talk about it
No we can't be friends
I hurt you to protect you
And I would do it again
~~~*~~~

I'm the one who knows the danger
I'm the one who understands
What lurks inside
The pain I hide
And I just can't take the chance
Yeah...
I hurt you
Such a hard thing to admit
Oh...
I hurt you
And I'd do it again
~~*~~
So...
My answer's no
I won't hurt you
~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

YEAH GOD

Took a walk outside, looked at the sky

And smiled like a fool

So much ugly in the world

And I still see beautiful

Some vagrant yelled, I feel like hell 

Hey you got any change

I said, yes sir, it's not much

But I hope it helps some way

~~~*Chorus*~~~

The forgotten 

Can find you

They are everywhere

No heart is immune unless

You don't really care

Sometimes it overwhelms me

Can't seem to shake it off

I find the way, each time I pray

And I owe it all to God

Yeah, God

~~*~~

Just a little kid, with trembling lips

On some bench all alone

So I introduced myself

Asked if I could walk him home

When he sobbed, I think I'm lost

Cause I can't find my street

I said don't cry , dry your eyes

Buddy you can count on me

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Do your best

Help someone smile

And it will make life more worthwhile

You can't fix

The whole world's plight

But you'll feel better if you try

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

The forgotten 

Can find you

They are everywhere

No heart is immune unless

You don't really care

Sometimes it overwhelms me

Can't seem to shake it off

I find the way, each time I pray

And I owe it all to God

Yeah, God

~~*~~

~~~*Finale*~~~

The forgotten

They're out there

Society is flawed

Go find them

Go help them

In the name of God

Yeah God

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

LIAR BOY

I'm not going to get my hopes up

So that you can let me down

You make it hard to live on faith

With defenses tightly wound

Don't want some seesaw loyalty

It's been down too much with you

You make my life flat miserable

When you never do come through

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Don't promise me

Don't give your word

Force me to call your bluff

Promises

They mean nothing boy

When you don't back them up

~~*~~

I've lost track of how many times

I've begged you to tell the truth

You sneak around behind my back

Like a lying, scheming youth

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Gotta cut you loose

Gotta say goodbye

You are not a man

But a boy who lies

I've loved you enough...

Promises

They don't mean a thing

When you don't back them up

~~*~~

~~~*2nd Chorus*~~~

You promised me

You gave your word

Forced me to call your bluff

Promises...

They mean nothing boy

When you don't back them up

~~*~~

Promises 

Mean nothing boy

When you don't back them up

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

RAISE YOUR SHIELD

Don't secret

Away your beauty

Don't hide behind

A veil of shame

Hold your shield

Like a warrior

Leave their scorn

to ricochet

When reserved

Was common practice

You may have had

Disdain to fear

They are heartless

And judgmental

They're surely not

Worth any tears

~~~*Chorus*~~~

She's disgusting

She's a Freak

She can't act

And she can't sing

Spoiled goods

She's all fake

More than any girl can take

Consider who's condemning

Never yield

Don't you shroud your pretty

Raise your shield

~~*~~

They will try 

To make you ugly

If you hide

They will succeed

Leave mistakes

And keep on walking

Bare the beauty

That we've seen

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Raise your shield to their swords

Let them know they are ignored

Make your peace and free your spirit

Once again

Don't let them win

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

She's disgusting

She's a Freak

She can't act

And she can't sing

Spoiled goods

She's all fake

More than any girl can take

Consider who's condemning

Never yield

Don't you shroud your pretty

Raise your shield

~~*~~

~~~*Finale*~~~

There's not a soul who hasn't stumbled

Crossing life's titanic field

You can't let yourself be beaten

To the hateful raise a shield

Never yield

Raise your shield

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013

STACKED STONES

Too much weight
Stones on my shoulders
The constant burden
Anchors me down

When I don't know
If I can take it
I fold my hands
Kneel on the ground

~~~*Chorus*~~~
It doesn't matter where I'm at
Doesn't matter who can see
When I can't take it
I can't take it
God's the only hope for me
~~*~~

Misery finds
Another harbor
I'm left with
Resounding peace
For none of this
Can cross the barrier
When the Lord's
Protecting me

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~
The sun still rises in the sky
Without your love here in my life
It still hurts and I still cry
But now I have the will to try
It wouldn't be there this I know
Without the comfort of the Lord
So I pray and am released
God removes the stones from me
~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~
It doesn't matter where I'm at
Doesn't matter who can see
When I can't take it
I can't take it
God's the only hope for me
~~*~~

~~~*Finale*~~~
When the stones start stacking up
And you know you've had enough
Bow your head fall to your knees
Fold your hands and send your pleas
Stop hurting like you do
God is always there for you
He's the sunshine's rays of hope
The remover of the stones
The greatest truth...
Here for me...
Here for you
~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright© 2013



SO YOU'RE A HERO

She said don't thank me

I just served my time

Thank the heroes

Those who fought and died

I was safe here

Didn't risk my life

So you don't have to

Thank me for my time

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Were you ready

Would you have gone

If they'd have called you

If you're name was drawn

You enlisted 

Right then you didn't know

If you would fight for us

Or would remain at home

So I thank you

For what you didn't know

You signed up to serve

So you're a hero

~~*~~

You think it's not the same

But you step forth with pride

You know you would have gone

That's what you've got inside

It's something that I know...

So you're a hero

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Don't you take a backseat

Don't you hang your head

You represent your Brothers

Those who've died

And those who've bled

Don't tell me that you wouldn't

Have been there with them too

If it's what our Country needed

It's what you set out to do

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Were you ready

Would you have gone

If they'd have called you

If you're name was drawn

You enlisted 

Right then you didn't know

If you would fight for us

Or would remain at home

So I thank you

For what you didn't know

You signed up to serve

So you're a hero

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright©  2013

Definitions of a Hero
_____________
advocate
ally
backer
challenger
champ
conqueror
defender
endorser
exponent
expounder
guardian
hero
heroine
medalist
nonpareil
paladin
partisan
patron
proponent
protector
supporter
sympathizer
upholder
vanquisher
victor
vindicator
warrior
winner

FEAR IS ON THE MOVE

Fear is on the move

Stealing close

I try to fill the cracks with hope

Stronghold against the lows

I have been weak

Wandered lost

I've allowed it to breach the walls

Reveled in the holocaust

~~~*Chorus*~~~

I'm trembling with the terror

Know what invasion means

When the fires of purgatory

Start heating up the scene

Fighting that much harder

If I don't win I lose

The Devil's come to barter

Fear is on the move

~~*~~

Fear is on the move

Desire knocks

I scream behind the barricade

As it's foundation rocks

Hunger shades the dread

Blinds the hope

I dredge up every fault of past

Justify what I hate most

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

Bracing  barricades

Realizing greed

The right amount of fear

Is what a victim needs

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

I'm trembling with the terror

Know what invasion means

When the fires of purgatory

Start heating up the scene

Fighting that much harder

If I don't win I lose

The Devil's come to barter

Fear is on the move

~~*~~

I will not surrender

Refuse to be subdued

Avoiding the temptress

Fear is on the move

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright © 2013

SHARE THE WEALTH

I called my Brother for twenty bucks

He said sorry buddy, but you're out of luck

Our little Brother got ninety this afternoon

He said you'll have to wait till the Wife gets home

But she went shopping and it might be gone

Come next week I just might be calling you

I said no you won't ,we're in the same boat

Little Brother owes me eighty from his last loan

And my Wife's shopping with yours, they took our car

I said I want a beer, the trucks out of gas

He said  you stay put,  I'll come get ya man

Just give me a minute to find a credit card

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Oh, Family money

Without it we'd all drown

We share the wealth here

There's not enough to go around

Swapping it behind the backs

of a Father and our Mother

Oh, but they'll soon know

If we get a hold

Of our little Brother

~~*~~

Little Brother doesn't have a wife

Daddy gave him a truck, and it sure is nice

Guess he doesn't know we call each other up

Well we found the jerk playing cards uptown

Was screaming like a baby as we drug him out

Grabbed his wallet, he had eight hundred bucks

Should've known better 

Than to mess with the two of us

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Oh, Family money

Without it we'd all drown

We share the wealth here

Now there's enough to go around

Swapping it behind the backs

of a Father and our Mother

Oh, but they'll soon know

Cause we got a hold

Of our little Brother

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright © 2013

MILESTONE

Keep creating milestones

While you live the here and now

You've gone beyond the destination

For the life that you've planned out

Everyone's a dreamer

But most don't have the drive

It takes a solid heart, right from the start

To bring those dreams to life

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Yeah...

Deterring a tornado

Shoving back a hurricane

Running over quicksand

There is no easy way

Set it up, do it, let's go

Make a milestone

~~*~~

You've become a mentor

For the dreamers who believe

What they desire is attainable

If they strive hard to succeed

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

We marvel at phenomenon

Hey, where did that come from

It's no different for a dreamer

Who respects all you have done

Play the fiddles , bang the drums

Blow on those trombones

Lets hear it for the factor

Creating milestones

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Yeah...

Deterring a tornado

Shoving back a hurricane

Running over quicksand

There is no easy way

Set it up, do it, let's go

Make a milestone

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright © 2013

WHERE'S MY SNOW

Everything's so out of hand

I can't cover it all up

There is no one to help me

No I don't know who to trust

Now there are stares and whispers

Pointing fingers, no disguise

If the novelty would fade away

I might just be alright

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Where's my snow

My blanket of clean

Pretending life is beautiful 

Hiding it all underneath

At least I could handle this

Quietly on my own

Yeah...all alone

Where's my snow

~~*~~

No, I can't blame another

Not for this unsightly view

And I didn't fix a thing

By condemning you

Oh...

What did I do...

I started out with my self doubt

Little pieces of debris

Enough to cause some stirring

Just the temping of a breeze

~~~*Lyrical Bridge*~~~

It turned into a mass of rubble

Love inflicted, heart in trouble

Leaving me a rebel all exposed

The worlds focus on the waste

A reflection, shift of hate

The mess is growing 

As the harsh winds blow

 Where's my snow

~~*~~

~~~*Chorus*~~~

Where's my snow

My blanket of clean

Pretending life is beautiful 

Hiding it all underneath

At least I could handle this

Quietly on my own

Yeah...all alone

Where's my snow

~~*~~

Teresa Lynn Johnson
Wrdspnr@aol.com
Copyright © 2013