November/December 2024 Lyric Contest Winners

Congratulations to all our November/December 2024 Lyric Contest winners. Read the winning lyrics for first through fourth place, below.

1st Place – “Jack Daniels or King James”

By: Darren Wiedman

I’ve got a bottle on the counter and a Bible on the shelf

One is always open when I need a little help

Every night, I pray, Lord, your will be done

But to tell the gospel truth, there’s no dust on either one

I call my shots by one of two names

Jack Daniels or King James

I’ve got an angel on my shoulder and the devil in a glass

Both will share opinions when neither one was asked

Now, Jack is pretty smooth, but James is always right

Either one could help decide what I might do tonight

Come tomorrow, I’ll praise or blame

Jack Daniels or King James

(bridge)

Timeless truth or 80 proof

Both tend to finish well

It shouldn’t be this hard to choose

Between praising heaven or raising hell

I’m a regular at Hooters and a tenor in the choir

You can tell me I’m a sinner, but at least I’m not a liar

The battle rages on; neither side has won

James is very wise, but Jack’s a lot more fun

This double life is hard to explain

Dipped in holy water but flirtin’ with flames

Somewhere down the road, I’ll need to pick a lane

Jack Daniels or King James

Jack Daniels or King James

(tag – fade out)

Down the road, I’ll pick a lane

Jack Daniels or King James

Then again, I may never change

Jack Daniels or King James

Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:

2nd Place – “Love Lies”

By: Corben Champoux, Meagan Brianne Allen & Jolyn Marie Bistodeau

This car won’t start until I hear that seatbelt click

Your nose grows longer every time you tell a fib

Too much TV and you’ll go blind

Santa’s always watching, so be nice

If you tell the truth, I swear I won’t get mad

That kid just wants to be your friend; that’s why he laughs

Your stick figures on the fridge are works of art

Thunders just God bowling in the dark

Love lies

In the spilt milk on the table

Love lies

When the truths too hard to handle

Tucked in a twin-size bed with a butterfly nightlight

That’s where love lies

Don’t ya dare call the plumber, I can fix it

Those skinny jeans from college still fit perfect

That casserole you burnt still tasted great

Didn’t notice that your hair was turning gray

Love lies

In the supper on the table

Love lies

When the truths too hard to handle

Tucked in a queen size bed, sleeping side by side

That’s where love lies

We’re still pretty young; we’re not too old to drive

Age is just a number, just a state of mind

And heaven ain’t so far away

You can let go now; I promise I’ll be okay

Love lies

At an empty breakfast table

Love lies

When the truths too hard to handle

Buried underneath that live oak, still sleeping side by side

That’s where love lies

That’s where love lies

3rd Place – “Those Broken Things”

By: Katie Rose

(Verse)

Way back when I was just a kid

My granddad took me to the Pull n’ Pick,

Found an old bike there needed fixin’

Had a rusted chain, the brakes were missin’

(Verse)

As we loaded it in the back of his truck

He said, ‘Some folks might call it junk‘

But with a lick of paint and a bolt or two,

You’ll have something just as good as new

(Chorus)

He said, ‘Just because it’s broken,

That don’t mean it ain’t no good

Just because it don’t look,

The way you think it should

Don’t mean it ain’t worth savin’

Cos honey, you might just find,

Sometimes, those broken things

Can breathe a second life

Sometimes, those broken things,

Are the sweetest surprise’

(Verse)

A few years down the road,

I met a boy, and I took him home

Granddad said, ‘Girl, what am I missin’?

That boy ain’t nothing, what are ya thinkin’?’

(Verse)

Yeah, he drives an old hand-me-down

Grew up without his mumma round

This ring was all he could afford

But I’ve never felt more adored

He said, ‘Well, whatcha waiting for?’

(Chorus)

Yeah, just because it’s broken,

That don’t mean it ain’t no good

Just because it don’t look

the way you think it should

Don’t mean it ain’t worth savin’

Cos honey, you might just find

Sometimes, those broken things

Can breathe a second life

Sometimes, those broken things,

Are the sweetest surprise’

(Bridge)

And now I’m busy raising

My own family

I still see the wisdom

In the words, he said to me

Those cracks can show the beauty

That some folks never see

And for all those broken things

That make my life so sweet

I send a prayer to Heaven

To thank my granddaddy

(Chorus)

He taught me just because it’s broken,

That don’t mean it ain’t no good’

Just because it don’t look

the way you think it should

Don’t mean it ain’t worth savin’

cos honey, you might just find,

Sometimes, those broken things

Can breathe a second life

Sometimes, those broken things,

Are the sweetest surprise.

Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:

4th Place – “Like Father, Like Son”

By: David Corey

I’m the unholy seed

Of a fortunate son

A jack of all heartbreaks

And master of none

I did all I could

But the damage is done

A five-and-dime martyr

Like father, Like son

The apple will fall

And the bruises will come

Promises broken

And arguments won

An origin tale

I can never outrun

Nothing to barter

Like father, Like son

Hey Ho! Off we all go!

Prodigal misfits

With pennywise souls

Ho Hey! What can we say?

There’s no rest

Or running away

Now I’m the old bastard

Who answers the call

Anger in silence

And holes in the wall

The kidnapper’s ransom

Is written in blood

A new generation

Like father, Like son

There’s dust on the wall

Where my picture is hung

Something like love

On the tip of his tongue

Betrayal as real

As the air in his lungs

All the same riddles

Like father, Like son

Hey Ho! Off we all go!

Prodigal misfits

With pennywise souls

Ho Hey! What can we say?

There’s no rest

Or running away

The future has ended

The past has begun

To the top of the hill

Then I’m back to square one

I pray for the day

But the day never comes

I’m aging away

Like father, Like son

Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:

Honorable Mentions:

“American Portrait”

By Douglas Romanow, Sam Hatmaker & Benita Hill

“life of the party”

By Cat Flint, Tory Grace & Tyler Bank

“Opening Night”

By Dan Hulse

“One Foot on the Gas (The Other in the Grave)”

By Alex Perkins, Daniel Foshee & Marcus Hooper

“Little Bit of Cowboy”

By Maura Streppa, Gloria Anderson & Daniel Ethridge

“Honky Tonk Hair”

By Mary Zalla, Bill DiLuigi & Taylor Borton

“Two Hands and Six Strings”

By Tim O’Connell

“Always again”

By George Ballard

“The Pedal on the Right”

By Elizabeth Grace

“Lost in the Machine”

By James Leonard

“Living For the Weekend”

By Micah Kosares