last breath

verse one
if i knew that tomorrow would be
the last day of my life
i would sacrifice anything
just to see you one last time

if i had to choose
between living with you
and the kiss of death
i'd say i love you, i love you, i love you
with my last breath

chorus
i would die for you
if you only ask me to
we both know i would die anyway
if you ever left
crying i love you, i love you, i love you
with my last breath

verse two
i would walk across a fire for you
i would stand out in the pouring rain
i'd do anything i had to do just
to be with you again
if i could only hand you this bleeding heart
from within my chest
i'd say i love you, i love you, i love you
with my last breath

chorus
i would die for you
if you only ask me to
we both know i would die anyway
if you ever left
crying i love you, i love you, i love you
with my last breath

bridge
i can't breathe without you near me
everytime you leave i'm in agony
you're everything i want
you're everything i'll ever need

chorus
i would die for you
if you only ask me to
we both know i would die anyway
if you ever left
crying i love you, i love you, i love you
i love you, i love you i do
i'm dying to love you and love you and love you
with my last breath

new song...

I've been working these lyrics around in my head for a few days, I still need a 2nd verse but here goes so far.

verse
how, did you get yourself into this mess and
why, are you giving in to the darkness and
when, will you give it all a rest, give it a rest

what, ever happened to just keeping your chin up
when did you become the type
to give barely enough
you're giving barely enough
i think you're giving up

chorus
you're slowly going under
and all i can do is sit & wait
i thought you would fight so much harder
and i'm beginning to lose a little faith

bridge
there's only so much
you can blame on your past
why don't you pick yourself up
dust yourself off
and take your life into your own two hands

chorus
cause you're slowly going under
and all i can do is sit & wait
i thought you would fight so much harder
and i'm beginning to lose a little faith
i'm beginning to lose a little faith

today like most days (i miss you)

*I wrote this song for my Annelise.

verse one
well it's always hard to say
good bye on your last day
when you're driving away
from me

and there's never enough time
oh for you and i
cause there's so many other people
you need to see

pre chorus
well a couple of letters
and a couple of calls
i guess that's better
than nothing at all
still i wish,
i wish that you would stay

chorus
cause today, like most days
i miss you
and today, like most days
i try not to
i've been fighting just to make
my way through
but today, like most days
i miss you

verse two
well it hasn't been the same
since you up and moved away
and left me here to stay
all alone

no matter what i do
there's no replacing you
so I keep counting down the days
till you come home

prechorus
well a couple of letters
and a couple of calls
i guess that's better
than nothing at all
still i wish,
i wish that you would stay

chorus
cause today, like most days
i miss you
and today, like most days
i try not to
i've been fighting just to make
my way through
but today, like most days
i miss you

restless

*i wrote this song this weekend with my good friend casadie pederson, out on a pretty farm in myrnam, ab - this song is a perfect description of how i've been feeling these days!! - restless!*

walking down the same old road
and the only thing i know
is where i've been
and where i wanna go

i've been singing the same old lines
wondering if i'm wasting time
running in circles
and going out of my mind

i've been waiting
for something
to happen
for this waiting to end

i'm restless
feeling helpless
i'm ready to run
and i'm ready to fly
i'm holding my breath
and i'm closing my eyes

i'm speechless
with all my weakness
i'm taking a leap of faith
and i'm on my way

i'm leaving it all behind
for a worn out stage
and a spotlight
i've been dragging my feet for too long
and it ends tonight

i've been waiting
for something
for anything
for this waiting to end

i'm restless
feeling helpless
i'm ready to run
and i'm ready to fly
i'm holding my breath
and i'm closing my eyes

i'm speechless
with all my weakness
i'm taking a leap of faith
and i'm on my way

this scar

I've been wanting to write a song about my journey through life with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) for so long. After watching so many beautiful original storytelling songs this weekend at the CCMA week (canadian country music week in Winnipeg, MB) these lyrics starting pouring into my head. It's still in the first draft stages, but here it is.

this scar,
tells a story
and it always reminds me
of where i've been

this scar,
runs from the nape of my neck
down to the small of my back
and it's part of who i am

after nine long hours
of blood, sweat and tears,
my mama and my daddy
and a hundred prayers
i'm standing here
i'm standing here, with

this scar
it represents my life
and a good old fashioned fight
with the willingness to survive
this scar
says it's okay to be scared
as long as you're prepared
to learn how strong you are
this scar

this scar
taught me a lesson
that i won't be forgetting
anytime soon
this scar
is turning eight years old
and it seems so long ago
that i was counting down the days to

nine long hours
of blood, sweat and tears,
my family and my friends
and a hundred prayers
i'm standing here
i'm standing here

this scar
represents my life
and a good old fashion fight
with the willingness to survive
this scar
says it's okay to be scared
as long as you're prepared
to learn just how strong you really are
this scar

rough couple of weeks

So I can't quite help but wonder if there is a jinx on me these past couple of weeks. A few weeks ago it all started when I went to the dentist for my yearly check up. I left in tears, after my dentist coldly told me I needed six fillings, a root canal, two crowns, my wisdom teeth extracted, and veneers for my front bottom three teeth (yes I only have three, unlike most people with four). It was going to cost me roughly $5,000!! Do I look like the kind of person who can just drop that kind of cash on their teeth? I don't think so. I don't know why I took it so hard (my period was just around the corner which may have lent my emotions a little push) but I had to go home afterwards because I was SO upset. I cried, cried, CRIED all night. I was housesitting for my folks, and taking care of their dog, and my own. Jered was in Ontario for one of his longest stretches of touring.

I decided that night to get a second opinion the next week. Two days later while having dinner with my girlfriend Erica, my parent's dog Bailey was crying at the bottom of the stairs. I went down to see what was wrong and her back legs were all splayed out behind her at awkward angles. To make a ridiculously long story short, I spent the night at the emergency vet. The emergency vet told me that without an emergency CT scan & back surgery in Calgary that very night I would probably have to put Bailey down by the morning. This is my childhood dog, that has been around for 13 years of my life (over half of my existence) so I prayed and prayed that I wouldn't have to put her down. A call at 1am (I couldn't sleep anyways) told me I could come get her to transfer Bailey to her own vet the next morning @ 7:30am. So over the next few days Bailey was stable in her paralyzed condition and finally I got to bring her home to my folks place Friday after lunch. The next three days consisted of me taking her out every hour to let her pee (she couldn't use her back legs) and giving her meds every couple hours.

So the next week I went to my 2nd opinion dentist, and thankfully they told me I didn't need HALF the work the first dentist recommended. *SIGH OF RELIEF* I was very happy to say the least. After all the stress of that week I got a really bad cough & sore throat. I was panicking trying to get better by the weekend because I had three shows scheduled, opening for Winnipeg Folk Artist Kerri Woelke. These shows had been booked for at least 4 months and I was really looking forward to them.

THEN to my dismay, I got an email Friday morning from the promoter who had booked the series of shows with Kerri, saying she had to cancel last minute because of laryngitis. So I decided to still have the Friday night show at Axis Cafe. I love playing there, and usually bring in a huge crowd. Unfortunately due to the long weekend & Kerri's last minute cancellation there weren't too many people there. We had a blast playing, and my most loyal friends came out to watch, but I couldn't help but feel like I had let Axis down. Since we had such a poor turnout Friday night I decided to just cancel Saturday's show and not waste Axis's time and staff.
Sunday's show ended up being a pretty great success, lots of people came out and we had a REALLY great time playing. Sold a bunch of cds.

After feeling like I was totally over my cough on the weekend, I woke up Tuesday morning with a WICKED sinus cold/infection. I RARELY get sick, but ever since I started working at the hospital I have caught everything that's been going around. I suffered through yesterday at work and I'm feeling much better today. BUT this morning I had my first dental appt of 3, and they did two fillings. Turns out one of those fillings would have served me better as a root canal, but we decided to go ahead with the filling and see how I do. So now I'm on an antibiotic and painkillers. I'm sitting at work with a VERY frozen face, trying to eat and drink and spilling and drooling all over myself.

So tomorrow I have the day off and I'm off to the Canadian Country Music Week in Winnipeg. I'm very excited about it and hoping that my luck starts to turn around a bit. I feel like one more negative thing and I'll shatter into pathetic little pieces. *SIGH*

up and down

it has been a weird day.
the day started off with a feeling of accomplishment and elation, because after months of pouring my heart and soul into my personal music project grant application for the alberta foundation for the arts, i was finally finished and handed it in 3 days early of the deadline. i have also been working on a music therapy project grant for the hospital i work for, so i dropped that off also. the afa office is just a few blocks from home so i drove to work bopping to the radio feeling a great sense of hope that maybe i will get a grant, and be able to record a full length album this winter.

then i got to work, and sipped on my chai latte and checked my emails. i was really looking forward to a weekend full of shows. i was supposed to be opening for a winnipeg folk artist named kerri woelke fri, sat AND sun night. maybe it's a little silly but i was feeling good about three consecutive shows because i haven't ever had that. and i was looking forward to meeting a more experienced singer/songwriter and having her listen to my set. anyways one of my emails came from rob, a local concert promoter who had set the series of shows with kerri up. the email said kerri wasn't coming. she has been struggling with vocal health problems and had to cancel. well, isn't that lovely? nothing like last minute notice.

so it's almost time to go home, and get ready for tonight's show but i'm not even sure if i'm still playing. i have been promoting these shows for months, so i'm sure some friends & family of mine are coming but just for a one set show, just me? not that that's a problem, just i HATE being unorganized.

throughout the day i've felt excited and anxious about the cmt songwriting contest, a little lost and confused about what's going to happen with these shows this weekend now that we have no headliner, then i start thinking about next week and the ccma weekend in winnipeg. i'm such a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions!

the weekend will fly by, as will next week and suddenly i'll be in winnipeg. by this time next week i'll be sitting in some songwriter's session. hopefully i'll have control of my up and down emotions by then?

signed, your broken heart

*this is a song i recently wrote with my friend casadie jo pederson
www.myspace.com/casadiejpederson

i'm gonna put pen to paper
sit down and write a letter
that won't be easy to read

it's been two months
and a couple days
since my whole world was changed
when he walked away, from me

with just a single phone call
who knew that he would end it all
and leave me here alone to cry

too many tears, and too much pain
makes me wanna fly away
and just forget he said goodbye

it's time to pick up the pieces
off the hardwood floor
put them back together
even stronger than before
it's not gonna be easy
i know it's gonna be hard
but i'm ready when you are,
signed, your broken heart

i'm gonna forget the heartache
every stupid mistake
he brought along for the ride

no more cheating lies
i'm gonna dry these eyes
and find somebody who can
heal me on the inside

and pick up the pieces
off the hardwood floor
put them back together
even stronger than before
it's not gonna be easy
i know it's gonna be hard
but i'm ready when you are
signed, your broken heart

your truth

you lift me up
you fill my cup
until i overflow

among the crowds
i cry out loud
that i need you so

and it hurts to see
that they don't even
know you

so i'm praying just
to have the strength
to show them your truth

my simple song
my simple heart
my simple faith

will it be enough
to show your love
to show your grace

and it hurts to see
that they don't even
know you

so i'm praying just
to have the strength
to show them your truth

©2008 lisanicolegrace

lay my life down

when the wrong in the world
is weighing on me
and i feel too small to do
anything
i just lay my life down
i lay my life

when the meaningless grind
of the day to day
is all consuming
in every way
i just lay my life down
i lay my life

you alone are all i need
you're the bread of my life
you're the air that i breathe
so i lay my life down at your feet
i lay my life down at your feet

you alone are the only one
who can fill me up
till i'm overcome
so i lay my life down at your feet
i lay my life down

i lay my life down
i lay my life down
i lay my life down
i lay my life down

you alone are all i need
you're the bread of my life
you're the air that i breathe
so i lay my life down at your feet
i lay my life down at your feet

you alone are the only one
who can fill me up
till i'm overcome
so i lay my life down at your feet
i lay my life down

©2008 lisanicolegrace

prairie bell

*i've had this song churning around in my mind for a while now, and finally finished it last week and then put chords to it last night with jered (husband) and brent (brother). it was inspired by my friend ryan's niece, who's name is prairie bell. when i heard her name i thought to myself, that is me! i am a prairie bell! a city girl on the outside (i admit i'm a bit high maintenance when it comes to make up & hair) but a prairie girl on the inside (i love the prairies, the countryside, country music, etc). soon after i started writing this song... which i hope will be the title of my full length album that will be in the works in the winter/spring of 2008/09.

prairie bell

in my daddy's backyard
there's a sky stretching out
just as far as i can see
with my arms open wide
and my head thrown back
i know i'm right where i want to be
and when i'm flying home
from wherever i've been
there's a view below i know so well
it's a patchwork of snowy farm
and windy highway that's home
to this prairie bell

when i'm home
there's no place i'd rather be
and when i'm gone
you know i take a little piece with me
and it doesn't take long
for this sentimental soul to tell
about the patchwork of snowy farm
and windy highway that's home
to this prairie bell

in this city girls' heart
there's a little soft spot
for a field blowing in the breeze
like a river of gold
growing up from the ground
when it's starting to surround me
and when i'm driving home
from wherever i've been
there's a road i only know so well
among the patchwork of snowy farm
and windy highway that's home
to this prairie bell

when i'm home
there's no place i'd rather be
and when i'm gone
you know i take a little piece with me
and it doesn't take long
for this sentimental soul to tell
about the patchwork of snowy farm
and windy highway that's home
to this prairie bell

some say home is where the heart is
you'll find, no greater truth than this

in my daddy's backyard
there's a sky stretching out
just as far as i can see
with my arms open wide
and my head thrown back
i know i'm right where i want to be
and when i'm flying home
from wherever i've been
there's a view below i know so well
it's a patchwork of snowy farm
and windy highway that's home
to this prairie bell

it's a patchwork of snowy farm
and windy highway that's home
to this prairie bell

©2008 lisa nicole grace

ep release

This last month or so has been insane, hence the reason my blog has been somewhat neglected. A few months ago I decided that I wanted to do something with all the experimental recording Jered and I have been messing around with in our basement studio. I was booked for a show at Axis Cafe for July 18th, so I decided to make that show my deadline for an EP ("extended play" sort of a mini album). My usual musicians Jered and Ryan are on tour this summer with Shane Yellowbird (a canadian country artist) and were/are out of town that day... so I rounded up some new musicians and started rehearsing. Now that show is 23 days away and I'm just finishing up recording (probably officially finished next week). I found an incredible mixing/recording engineer named Randor @ a local studio called Turnkey Studios (friendly plug - http://www.turnkeyaudio.com) who is going to clean it all up and get it ready for my release. So hopefully by this time next week I'll have that all turned over to Randor and then can take a little breath. But not for long because I want to make some cute t-shirts and magnets to also sell at the release. I also still have a few rehearsals left before the show.
This great singer/songwriter from Red Deer Bryan Torwalt (another friendly plug - www.myspace.com/bryantorwalt) will be opening up for me.

It's going to be a very exciting show! And I will FINALLY feel like I've accomplished SOMETHING by having a recording that I can use to apply for grants to make a full length recording soon. I have a little two - three year plan that's been cultivating inside my head over the last few weeks, here it is:

• Summer 2008 : Finish EP and use it to apply for fall 2008 Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Canada Council and Rawlco Radio grants.
• Winter 2008/2009 : Receive grant (relyin on the power of positive thought) and start recording.
• Spring/Summer of 2009: Full length Album Release show somewhere in Edmonton (perhaps Myer Horowitz Theatre?? Again positive thoughts)
• Summer/Fall of 2009: Apply for touring grant.
• Winter 2010 GO ON TOUR. Of course I'm just planning this all on my own, so I'd probably just travel to where my family has been scattered across Canada and get them to help me with promoting a show. Cafes, restaurants, halls, churches, wherever will take me. I'd like for it to be at LEAST 3 months (which means I'll have to grow some balls & quit my job or take a temporary leave)
• And when I've finally accomplished these things, I'll come home... start working again, and start trying to make a baby (or two: twins).

So there it is! I thought by maybe physically writing/typing it down somewhere that it would encourage me to get this stuff accomplished. I'm excited for what's in store.

cheers!

transparent

you’re not always what you seem
with that insincere smile there on your lips
you’re always so quick to blame
and you’re never too easily convinced
you say that you’re not the stubborn one
you just don’t like to change your mind
you say that you’re not the lonely one
you just always end up left behind

i can see right through this masquerade
and i don’t believe a word you say
you think you’ve got everybody fooled
but the joke’s on you
i can see right through your lying eyes
right down to the fear that sits inside
it’s just so useless to pretend
because you’re so transparent

you won’t admit that you’re wrong
but there’s a look of defeat there on your face
you say you’re just too far gone
and you’ve never been one to keep the faith
but baby you are the stubborn one
what will it take to change your mind?
before you end up the only one
left all alone with your foolish pride

i can see right through this masquerade
and i don’t believe a word you say
you think you’ve got everybody fooled
but the joke’s on you
i can see right through your lying eyes
right down to the fear that sits inside
it’s just so useless to pretend
because you’re so transparent

i can see through
i can see through
i can see through
i can see through
you

i can see right through this masquerade
and i don’t believe a word you say
you think you’ve got everybody fooled
but the joke’s on you
i can see right through your lying eyes
right down to the fear that sits inside
it’s just so useless to pretend

i can see right through this masquerade
and i don't believe a word you say
you think you've got everybody fooled
but the joke's on you
i can see right through your lying eyes
right down to the fear that sits inside
it's just so useless to pretend

because you're so transparent
because you’re so transparent

© 2008 lisa nicoe grace

ladies, cali & potted plants.

Since the last time I wrote in my blog, I have been to a women's conference in Surrey, B.C. with my mum, sister, niece, aunt and two cousins. It was a whirlwind of a weekend but I learned some good stuff from one of the speakers in particular, Charlotte (can't remember her last name - to be updated later). One of her "sermons" was called "Putting your first things first".
Since Jered is gone so much, I definitely tend to overbook myself, I think in order to keep myself busy as not to miss him terribly. I know at times I do feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends with school (online part time event management courses), work (full time), singing, songwriting & performing on the side, worship @ church, and then extra curricular events like scrapbooking, photography, movies, dinners with girlfriends. So I've made a vow to myself (and a few friends to keep me accountable) to learn how to say no (nicely ofcourse) and stop overbooking myself. My priorites are to be (in NO particular order) - Jered, church, my music (specifically my EP that needs to be recorded & ready to roll on July 18th) family, Otis and my lovely girlfriends. I've decided to take the summer off and finish my last course for my event management certificate in the fall. I'm not going to plan ANYTHING on Sundays (keep them open for church, hanging out with church folk, and family dinners). And I'm going to try to keep at least 3 nights a week free, especially this June so I can record, and put together cds for my EP release.

After the women's conference and various revelations, I went to spend five days in California with my dear Uncle Hugh/Godfather. After the engine of my plane exploded, I was delayed 6.5 hrs at the Vancouver airport. I had been running non stop for weeks, so sitting, napping & reading in the airport wasn't actually that bad. When I finally arrived in Cali, I spent the entire week sitting by the pool reading (read three HUGE fabulous novels) shopping, eating out, and overall just relaxing. Every morning I would get up and go outside for a swim straight out of bed, then pick a grapefruit for my breakfast. I got some great conversation from my uncle and some great cuddles from his dog Maggs. I flew home Friday night, and went to a wedding Saturday (for which we were late & missed the ceremony). Jered had a free weekend for once in his life, so we threw together our new tent & sleeping bag, brought along our baby dog Otis, and some snacks. It ended up piss pouring rain, and our air mattress was riddled with holes, so we slept on the damp ground of our tent, but had great tent canoodling and cuddles regardless. :)

This weekend I had the whole Saturday off, so Jer & I went to the downtown farmer's market where we brought Otis for the first time. He was pretty overwhelmed and hyper, but didn't bark at all, and only jumped up on people who allowed him to. Afterwards we went to Canadian Tire where Jered humoured me while I shopped for plants. I went home & spent a few hours potting plants, and hanging baskets. Then I had a cold shower & had a great afternoon nap.

Now the week has begun and I've found myself with a completely booked week, every night. I guess my "First things first" starts June 1st, and then I am definitely slowing down and focusing on my music. :)

genie

If I had a genie, and three wishes... right now they would be:

1. That I could spend a few months straight JUST recording my music.
2. That I could have unlimited access to musicians who knew my songs inside & out.
3. WORLD PEACE... (is it selfish that this is #3 on my list?)

*sigh*

rosemary

it's much harder to be patient
and i'm trying to be kind
when i've got this sense of envy
taking up my piece of mind

but i know that truth is stronger
than the things i say or do
and it perserveres much longer
than what i've waited for you

rosemary
are you out there, somewhere
waiting for me
maybe i'm a bit scared
so please take it easy on me
rosemary

i've been looking for a reason
she's the reason that i'm asking
i've been floundering forever here
just searching for my passion

but i know my faith is stronger
than the things i say or do
and it perserveres much longer
than what i've waited for you

rosemary
are you out there, somewhere
waiting for me
maybe i'm a bit scared
so please, take it easy on me
rosemary

i've been waiting too long to let go
i don't want to be left all alone
i don't mean to compare, but i do
i've been waiting for someone like you

rosemary
are you out there, somewhere
waiting for me
maybe i'm a bit scared
so please take it easy on me
oh please just take it easy on me
so please take it easy on me

rosemary

©2008 lisa nicole grace

the junos & turning 25...

Well I woke up Saturday morning and wasn't too surprised to see a winter wonderland out my window. When I was younger, I was absolutely obsessed with snow, winter, and of course Christmas. Winter was my FAVORITE season. I'd wait for the forcast to predict snow, and I'd sit in my backyard with my toboggan, in my snowsuit just waiting for those first few flakes to fall.
I remember being about five years old, and praying that as a gift God would make it snow on my birthday every year. Every year since (20 for those counting) it has snowed. So, as I said, I wasn't too surprised.
I was a bit worried though that Jered & I wouldn't be able to get to Calgary that night, but the highway was in fine shape and we got to Calgary around 8pm. Jered booked us this great hotel right downtown. A beautiful suite with a king sized bed, and a nice little kitchen/lounge area. On the 33rd floor! My lucky numbers! There was a balcony, but standing out there looking down was so scary! I always want to jump.
We went to a great party on Saturday night hosted by Gibson (which Jered is endorsed by) Very VIP with swag bags, free drinks & free food. There was an all star jam going on all night with great musicians such as Todd Kerns, Default, Johnny Reid, Corb Lund, Lindsay Ell, and the boys from Tupelo Honey (went to school with them). We didn't get home until 3:30am! Needless to say we slept in pretty late Sunday morning, and spent the day shopping, going for lunch at a great little restaurant/cafe by Au Clair (sp?) market. We got lost about a dozen times, but eventually made it to the Juno Awards. Every single performance was such a HUGE production and everyone sounded amazing, and I'm happy to report there was no lip syncing (as far as I could tell!!) Russell Peters was hilarious, and I was SO thrilled to get to see Feist and Jann Arden.

After the show Jered and I drove to Airdrie, went out for a late dinner and then stayed at a cheap hotel for the night. I got up this morning and drove home while Jered had a radio interview with a Medicine Hat station (where he's from). He got picked up and driven to Medicine Hat... He's opening up there for Paul Brandt tonight and everyone in Medicine Hat is moreso going to the show to see him than Paul Brandt! What a little celebrity!

Anyways I am totally exhausted, and can't wait to crawl into bed tonight to recuperate. Turning twenty five was definitely an adventure!

website & the junos...

Well I am SUPER excited because yesterday I won tickets to the Junos for this Sunday in Calgary. It was a contest put on by the Bounce 91.7fm, which I don't even remember entering! Jered took Saturday night off to take me out for dinner, now we're going to drive down to calgary that night and then get all dolled up and go out to the Juno awards Sunday night.

I am laughing at my "turning twenty-five" post from the other day. I was having quite the pity party for one. Since then I went to Red Deer and got to see Jered (my husband) open up for Paul Brandt, my girlfriend Laura is taking me to Corb Lund tonight, and then Saturday is my birthday and we're going to the Junos! What a week. Did I mention I won a guitar with the Junos tickets? Funny how "I'm not planning anything special for my birthday this year" has turned into the most special plans of all.

Last and CERTAINLY not least, my website - www.lisanicolegrace.com is OFFICIALLY up and running. How exciting! An amazing graphic designer named Danielle Hardy - www.thinkgraphicdesigns - designed & created the whole thing. So if you're ever looking for someone to do that type of thing for you, she's your girl. So make sure you check my site and Danielle's site out! My cousin Tyler has been amazing in planning the whole website with me, and pushing me to get a website in the first place. He's my "manager"! LOL Also, my girlfriend Ashley Armstrong did some amazing photos (that are already on this page) and her website is www.kinetic-studios.com

Happy 25th Birthday to me!!!

twenty-five

i'm turning twenty five years old next week.

usually i'm really good about birthdays, getting older, etc. but this year i'm a little leary about the big 2-5. aren't i supposed to have accomplished a lot of what i want to accomplish by this age? i feel like i'm just getting started! i'm going to make a point to use this 25th year of my life to do things that i've always dreamed of doing, but never done. i'm finally going to finish a cd. i'm going to travel to a place i've never been, and maybe even try to go on a little tour. maybe only 3 or 4 dates, but not just shows in edmonton. i'm going to embrace twenty-five and make it a good year. yeah, okay i feel better now. :)

just like you

you picked me up from school today
you're always waiting when i come in late
that's just like you

you're always there when i need your help
you know me better than i know myself
that's just like you

my mother, how i love her
and everything she's done for me
you know her faith has set me free
my mother, is stronger
than i ever did believe
i hope she seems the same in me

you pick me up when i've fallen down
set my feet on solid ground
that's just like you

taught me all my lessons in life
showing me my wrong from right
that's just like you

my father, like no other
and everything he's done for me
you know his faith has set me free
my father, is stronger
than i ever did believe
i hope he sees the same in me

now that i'm all grown
and out here on my own
everything i've known
is everything you are
no matter where i go
i'm never far from home
with you here in my heart

my mother, how i love her
and everything she's done for me
you know her faith has set me free
my mother, is stronger
than i ever did believe, than i ever did believe

my father, like no other
and everything he's done for me
you know his faith has set me free
my father, is stronger
than i ever did believe
i hope he sees the same in me, in me

©2008 lisa nicole grace

heavy heart

i'm in a quiet room
with a heavy heart
i just want to be alone

i've been looking for the light
but it's so dark
navigating on my own

but i've been sitting here wondering
all night
what exactly am i doing
with my life
do i even see i'm headed towards a fading light
do i even care

i'm in a crowded room
with an empty embrace, i
might as well be alone
looking for a smile
on a stranger's face
just dying to belong

but i've been sitting here wondering
all night
what the hell i am doing
with my life
do i even see i'm headed towards a fading light
do i even care

i am just trying to find
my own piece of mind

i'm in a quiet room,
with a heavy heart, but
i know i'm not alone
looking for the light
when i see a spark
that's been burning all along

i've been sitting here wondering
all night
what would i do without you
in my life
now i can see, you're pushing me
to shine so bright
if id only dare

i am just trying to find
my own piece of mind

©2008 lisa nicole grace

do it anyway

i'm got a lump in my throat
and a thorn in my side
i'm tired of waiting for what i want
but it's all about time
and am i really ready
for all that's ahead of me
yeah it's a little bit scary
but i think it's supposed to be

i've got my heart it my hands
gonna let all these walls down
i know i'm taking a chance
no more fooling around
and i think that i'm ready
for all that's coming my way
but it's not gonna be easy
letting go of yesterday

but i'm going to do it anyway
and i know i'm gonna be ok
so why would i turn and run away
only wasting another day
i'm going to do it anyway

© 2008 lisa nicole grace

on my knees

whisper to me tonight,
and tell me am i gonna be alright
just let loose of this sorrow that sits inside

sing me a lullaby,
so i can have sweet dreams tonight
help me remember it's not always
so black or white

but your love gives me
the strength i need
to breath again
and begin to believe
nothing is as hard as it seems
down on my knees

remove this doubt that plagues my mind
so i can separate wrong from right
grant me a peace that transcends all
this foolish pride

but your love gives me
the strength i need
to breath again
and begin to believe
nothing is as hard as it seems
down on my knees

and it's not that hard
to put you in charge
i'm a fool to be
too blind to see
how faithful you are

but your love gives me
the strength i need
to breath again
and begin to believe
nothing is as hard as it seems
down on my knees

©2008 lisa nicole grace

in your hands

i'm sitting here wondering
what is this feeling,
deep inside of my chest

there's no way of knowing
exactly where i'm going,
but that hasn't stopped me yet

maybe i'm feeling content
this isn't where it all ends
i've got so many other plans

it's all in your hands
it makes perfect sense
just to give it on up
but everytime i try
it seems that i
just keep getting stuck

your plans are better plans
it's in your hands

i'm sitting here waiting
quietly anticipating
where is this all going to go
big hopes, and bigger dreams
ready for anything
but i bet you already know

it's all in your hands
it makes perfect sense
just to give it on up
but everytime i try
it seems that i
just keep getting stuck

your plans are better plans
it's in your hands

© 2008 lisa nicole grace

once - oscar winners!

I am so proud of complete strangers - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova. I'm inspired by their music, and ernestly thrilled for their success. I ended up seeing "once" on a date night with my husband Jered. I just randomly picked it off the shelf not knowing what it was about (I'm a huge fan of "under the radar" movies like this one - which is not under the radar anymore that's for sure!). Seeing them play, seeing their sheer unexpected joy at the oscars, I was just really touched. Congratulations to them! And Marketa's speech about hope for the indie artist really hit home. I have hope!

in the works - i've since called this song "too easy"

she doesn't want to hold them back
all of the feelings that she has
she wants to give them all away

she doesn't play too hard to get
she's always taken for granted
she just wants to be happy

she's making it way too easy
giving herself away for free
treating her heart so carelessly
i want her to slow down
take a good long look around
i don't think she's listening

it was a few short years ago
these pretty girls i used to know
were holding tight to their roots
but they grew up and they moved on
trying so hard just to belong
i think they lost sight of the truth

they'remaking it way too easy
giving themselves away for free
treating their hearts so carelessly
i want them to slow down
take a good long look around
i don't think they're listening

and i know sometimes it's hard
and sometimes it hurts
it's easier to just give in
then to stand up for what you're worth
i want you to stand up for what you're worth

your'e making it way too easy
giving yourself away for free
treating your heart so carelessly
i want you to slow down,
take a good long look around
and considering listening, to me.

©2008 lisa nicole grace