CALL IT QUITS

by Stan C. Countz

Don’t expect me to be doin’ anything but fine
I won’t be cryin’ and ballin’ or tryin’ to be callin’
Won’t be leavin’ any messages for you of any kind
So don't call or text me even if I cross your mind

I ain’t comin' back; I'm closing that door
Thought I’d be sad, but I'm not anymore
Thought I’d have it bad, be mad or bored
Couldn’t stand to see your face anymore

Thought I’d be goin’ crazy or maybe just climbin’ the wall
Thought losin’ you would hit me as I was cruisin’ the mall
Couldn’t stand to see your picture when you’d make a call
Took your picture out of my phone and off my wall

{CHORUS}
Guess we hit a brick wall so let's just call it quits
It's probably better if we ‘fess up and just admit
We gave it a shot; gave it all we got; I thought you were hot
But if I’m not takin’ your calls it's just ‘cuz it’s all
Too hard to admit; it’s gonna be hard to call it quits
I ain’t pitchin’ a fit, I took my hits
I’m at the end of my wits
It’s gonna be hard to call it quits

I still wake up and try to find my coffee cup
I still shower and shave and rant and rave
And I still can’t ever get quite enough
Tryin’ my best to be tough and brave
I’m tryin’ to behave…but

{CHORUS}

Oh, I ask politely about you whenever I’m in town
I try to get up to speed on everything that’s goin’ down
But the last thing I need's another round with you
Sure I played the game but I don’t wanna play the fool

You know it's all wrong when the feelin’s long gone
And there ain't nothin’ goin’ on anymore
You know that you're through when she don't do to you
The things she used to do before

You wanna be close, but your heart is exposed
You try to kiss her, but your eyes won't close
Then the red light goes off and she knows
You’re at the end of the road

{CHORUS}

{OUTRO}
We gave it all we had and it's sad
But you know it’s over this time
So don’t be tryin’ to leave messages
Don't wanna find out where you been
‘Cuz I ain’t gonna take you back again

BRIDGES INSTEAD OF WALLS

by Stan C. Countz

He slowly walks away
And saves it for another day
He builds up walls and paints them all
The same drab shade of gray

She stuffs it all into a ball
It’s such a cryin’ shame
They both mean well
But who can tell how well
They play the game?

They say the same ol’ thing
In a new and different way
Why should they pay a price
That’s just too high to pay?

It ain’t that easy playing second fiddle
You can’t shake hands with a fist
Don’t wanna cut it down the middle
How did it come down to this?

She’s still expects Prince Charming
To wake her with a kiss
Her charm is quite disarming
She needs a slap on the wrist

She’s got to tear down those walls
And build bridges in their place
Only then can she try to erase
The stain and face the pain

I hate to rain on your parade
Don’t wanna sing the blues
Wish they would have stayed
Together but they never paid their dues

It takes two to tango
Or to dance the fandango
The truth is hard to handle
So say a prayer and light a candle

For two who knew the truth
But chose to just ignore it
So decide if you’re against or for it
Before you raise your voice
Make your case, then make your choice

Building bridges or building fences
Pride always goes before a fall
When will we all come to our senses
And build bridges instead of walls?

ITCHY EARS

by Stan C. Countz

V1
Don’t wanna hear “the truth”
I’ve heard it ‘til I’m blue in the face
Who needs to listen to you?
Who needs your amazing grace?

V2
Got my own good word
Just in case you hadn’t heard
Just add a dash of faith and stir
It’ll go down pretty easy
Of this you can be sure

V3
Anyway, your plan is too intrusive
And just too narrow-minded
My way is much more inclusive
Who wants to be blind-sided?

CHORUS
My eyes are blind and I’m
Gonna keep them closed
My life is just fine as it is
Don’t need to be exposed
I got itchy ears and I only hear
The voice of expedience
Ringing in my ear
Who cares about obedience?
I’m no one’s stool pidgeon
I’m adding my own ingredients
And making my own religion

BRIDGE
I only believe what I’m told
By the latest opinion poll
Though I’ve been bought with a price
By the very blood of Christ
I’ve been sold into sin and bondage again
‘Cuz in my golden rule religion
Whoever has the most gold wins

OUTRO
Mine is a designer faith based on convenience
My blind eyes see only shades of gray
I guess you could say I’m pretty lenient
Who says we need to watch and pray?
I’m Ok, you’re OK and I like it that way

SECRET ADMIRER

by Stan C. Countz
You tried to keep it real no matter how you might feel personally
But it was worse for me; I thought I knew the drill
I thought I knew how you would feel about you and me
So I tried to be content to see you socially
I loved you spiritually and emotionally

You sat in front of me in math
You made me smile and laugh
I liked you as soon as I met you
I knew that I’d never forget you

Don’t know why I let you
Get under my skin
But I did; I let you in
And that was the beginning of the end

But I never had the guts to tell you to your face
How I wish I could have told you
How much I wanted to touch and hold you
To try to make and mold you into someone who
Would love me as much as I loved you

But you never really knew how I felt
‘Til the last hand was dealt and you knelt by my side
You bowed your head out of respect and softly cried
I felt your heart melt instead of swell with pride

When you read the note I left behind
It read “I’ll always love you forever
Or at least until the end of time.”
And you discovered how much
I wanted you to be mine

It must’ve been blind luck or fate
I wanted to ask you for a date
The first time I ever met you
I fell for you, hook, line and sinker
You had me wrapped around your finger

Don’t know why I let you get under my skin
But I could never get up the nerve to let you in
I had hoped you would begin to notice me
I knew instinctively I could never deserve you

I still believe we could’ve made a great team
Now we can only be together in our dreams
We could’ve been great together
But now, it seems, it’s too late

Now all you can do is read this letter
And pray that I’m in a better place
And weep for what will never be
And pray I’ll find His grace and peace

But don’t cry for me ’cuz I’ll love you for all eternity
Or until we see each other again
Can you find a place inside you
Can you think of me as your friend?
Someone who is there to guide you?
Who’ll stick with you ‘til the bitter end?

It’s a shame we never became friends
We never came together
While I was alive and well
But my love for you will last forever
Beyond the grave and hell

So be brave ‘cuz who can really tell?
Maybe one day we’ll be together again
Maybe we’ll be more than just friends
When one door closes another opens

Didn’t want to sound like a clown or two-bit liar
I thought I found a way to encourage and inspire
But I’m afraid all I did was take the easy way out
If I’d been brave I’dve faced my fears and doubts

And not tried to run away from them
Instead I should’ve used my head
Or so said the mystery letter writer
And it was signed in red
Yours truly, Your secret admirer

SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

by Stan C. Countz

Father my ears can’t keep from hearing
Their cries of misery and pain
Seems we got what we were fearing
My vision keeps reappearing
The day is nearing
When the Son of Man shall reign

They’re like sheep without a shepherd
But we can’t just sleep forever
I never thought I’d ever see the day
We’d have to take down all the crosses
And we’d have to count all our losses
They want to take our faith away

Father my eyes can’t stop from crying
For this lost and dying world
I can’t seem to keep from trying
So keep my lips from lying
Guess it’s just no use denying
Your love of every boy, man and girl

Father my heart can’t help from feeling
We need to seek your kingdom first
We could reduce our theft and stealing
With less talk and a lot more kneeling
The angels are dancin’ on the ceiling
When we are walkin’ in the word

Don’t want us talkin’ to strangers
Who knows what dangers lay in wait
Don't want no "Lone Rangers"
Can’t sing “Away in a Manger”
Can't ask if they're gay or straight
They won’t even let our players pray.

Write to Life

In spite of how it may appear
Human babies are worth saving
So please oblige me and forgive
My ranting and my raving

We abort our babies
Yet baby our pets
Vaccinate for rabies
Sacrifice our “vets”

Girls’ve gone wild
This world’s gone crazy
Like Garfield the cat
We’re fat and lazy

We cry and bewail the fate
Of baby seals and whales
Yet we think it’s just great
Roe versus Wade prevails

It’s ain’t easy for me to understand
If you ask me, it’s a load of fecies
It’s easy to see where we really stand
By how we treat our own species

We need to get off our rockers and take a stand
Partial birth abortions should’ve been banned
Abortion doctors are makin’ a hundred grand
While wishful adopters have to go to Thailand

We’ve become quite adept at thinking
We can get away with almost anything
We cut and snip without even blinking
We’re on a ship that’s quickly sinking

We say we respect
Solomon and Socrates
Yet docs have forgotten
The oath of Hippocrates

Starve our hearts and minds
And enlarge our bodies
We'll be absolutely fine
If we do lots of pilates

I wonder why, the babies had to die
Before they ever had the chance to live
Can we forgive ourselves for what we did?
I often wonder what could’ve been

I think of what should’ve been
The future these kids could’ve had
It’s America’s most heinous sin
It breaks me up and makes me sad

Yet we don’t get upset, mad or riled
Isn’t a baby meant to complete us?
We’ve no regrets, it’s not yet a child
Yet the latin word for “baby” is “fetus”

We’ve been bewitched and beguiled
But one day a child may greet us
And ask us “why did I have to die
Before I had the chance to live?”

Can we ever forgive ourselves for what we did?
One day they may ask us why they were denied
Their basic right to live and what will we say
One day a child will lead us
but who will believe us?

All our alibis and little white lies won’t hold water
As we face the sons and daughters we’ve slaughtered
Our excuses leak like a sieve; the truth is, it's not OK

“Why did I have to die before I had the chance to live?”
It’s insanity that their humanity is in question and has been denied
We’re goin' the wrong direction for the sake of our vanity and pride

Cuz girls’ve gone wild and the world’s gone crazy
It'd be a different situation if guys would
Slip a wedding ring on her finger
Before they slip it to their lady

Instead they're makin' babies and misbehavin'
They're barely shavin', don't wanna be a hater
Maybe they shouldn't even date her
they should be savin' it for later

Hope you're gettin' what I'm sayin'
If it's attention that you're cravin'
You could be smilin' and wavin'
I know it's a sticky situation

Here’s the crux of the issue
It’s what you’re not seeing
It’s not just fetal tissue
It’s a little human being

So make a note and don’t forget to vote
We have a right to fight for the right to life
We’re all in the same boat, but that’s not all she wrote
‘Cuz the truth cuts like a knife

I can hear the children cryin’
From just outside the gates of Hades
To a crowd of gentlemen and ladies
Tryin’ to find some place shady

Will we be enemies or best friends
Will it be too late to make amends?
Will we be given the keys to heaven
Or the keys to a new Mercedes?

Who knows when life begins or ends?
So don’t forget to tell your friends
They can see the world through a different lens
They can be forgiven and truly cleansed…

If they’ll just trust Him
To forgive them of their sins
And cleanse them from all
Unrighteousness

Here’s the jist of it
We just need to quit
Sacrificing innocence
For expediency

We don’t need to sue for indecency
We don’t need to use more leniency
We need to tune in to a new frequency
And pursue honesty and decency

What has He done for you recently?
If you honestly can’t think of anything
Then thank Him for setting you free
And for taking you as you were
And allowing you to be the person
You were placed in the womb to be

Thank you for granting me
This opportunity
To do some ranting and raving
Because our future is at stake
And our babies are worth saving