TO CARRY YOU

David W Litwin, December 2024

Verse 1

I’ve walked through fire, charged through rain,

Carried burdens, known the pain.

Every scar, made me whole,

Now I’m steady, ready to hold.

Chorus

I’m built to carry you,

Through the flood, we'll make it through.

When the road breaks, I’ll hold the line,

When light fades, I’ll help you shine.

Every stone I’ve laid, every trial made through,

Built me up to carry you.

Verse 2

Step by step, we’ll climb that hill,

Through every trial, I’ll be here still.

When the world feels too heavy to fight,

Lean on me, my weight is light.

Chorus

I’m built to carry you,

Through the flood, we'll both stay true.

When the road breaks, I’ll hold the line,

When the light fades, I’ll help you shine.

Every stone I’ve laid, every trial brought through,

Built me up to carry you.

Bridge

The scars and cracks just let love through,

I’m strong enough to carry you.

Chorus

I’m built to carry you,

Through the flood, through the blue.

When the road breaks, I’ll hold the line,

When the light fades, I’ll help you shine.

Every stone I’ve laid, every trial walked through,

Built me up to carry you.

Outro

When you can’t stand, when the storms blow through,

Know I’m built to carry you.

He Called Me "Ma'am"

2024, David W Litwin

Verse 1

Sweats on, ponytail, grabbing some bread,

The day’s worth of trouble still stuck in my head.

Juggling milk and some bagels plain,

Feeling unseen in the express lane

Then the frat-brat at the counter

Without much of a glance, said

“Have a nice day,

ma’am,”

and changed all my plans

Verse 2

I bought heels so high, I could barely stand,

A dress so tight, it should’ve been banned.

Painted my lips in firetruck red,

Turned that parking lot into my red carpet spread.

Chorus

Eyes so fierce, pinned up hair

I owned the aisles, they knew I was there.

Every head turned, I owned the whole damn land,

All because

he called me “ma’am.”

Verse 3

Back at the counter, he couldn’t believe,

That this dolled-up lady was really me.

He stuttered, stammered, asked me out cold,

I just smiled and said, “Honey, I’m too old.”

You’re not man enough yet, to handle all this.

So so long little boy, and blew him a kiss.

Chorus

I don’t need the dress, don’t need the shoes,

But it’s fun to remind the world I still choose.

Confidence is key, I now understand,

It started the day

he called me “ma’am.”

Bridge

Here’s to the queens in their everyday best,

Who slay the world in mommy jeans and a mess.

Remember, you’re fire, be all that you can,

But it’s fun to glow... when they call you “ma’am.”

Chorus

You don’t need the dress, don’t need the shoes,

But it’s fun to remind the world you still choose.

Confidence is key, we now understand,

We own our power,

if they call us “ma’am.”

Her Echo is All That's Left

(written 2024 David W Litwin)

Verse 1

We used to laugh in the kitchen light,

Bare feet dancin’ on those quiet nights.

Her voice sang through these halls,

But silence replaced her siren's call.

I hear her in the wind sometimes,

A whisper caught in a love song rhyme

Chorus

Her echo is all that’s left,

Like a song that lingers on my breath.

Now She’s gone,

The ghost in every song.

Her words, her touch

An empty pillow where she slept

Her echo is all that’s left.

Verse 2

Coffee’s cold where her cup once sat,

Her chair still rocks

I’m okay with that.

The floor now creaks when I’m alone,

Like her shadow calls this place home.

Time moves on, while I fight to find,

Her memory alive

in my mind.

Chorus

Her echo is all that’s left,

Like a song that lingers on my breath.

Now She’s gone,

The ghost in every song.

Her words, her touch

An empty pillow where she slept

Her echo is all that’s left.

Bridge

I could paint this house, burn the past away,

But I’d miss her ghost more than I’d say.

Sometimes the pain is all I’ve got,

‘Cause what’s worse than love that’s forgot?

Chorus

Her echo is all that’s left,

Like a song that lingers on my breath.

Now She’s gone,

The ghost in every song.

Her words, her touch

An empty pillow where she slept

Her echo is all that’s left.

Blood Red Hands (2024, David W Litwin)

Verse 1

EMT, Bobby’s first night out,

Barely knew what life’s about.

That night would change his life.

4 a.m., traffic call,

Glass and chaos covered all.

He walked up to her car that night.

Her blood-red hands couldn’t hide,

The metal that had pierced her side.

He rushed in and said, “You’ll be all right.”

She looked at him with peaceful eyes,

Said, “I’m about to leave this life.

Pre Chorus

Please tell my family that I love them.

We’ll be together when…

I’ll be waiting at the gate.”

Then she looked at him and said,

“Are you certain you’ll see me again?”

Chorus

She passed with a breath,

The brightest smile upon her face.

It was a sight he’d never forget,

And a question he just couldn’t shake.

He found himself staring at his life,

Wishing he’d been like the woman that night—

With eyes of peace,

And blood-red hands.

Verse 2

He thought about the man he’d heard of in Sunday School,

But the world told him, “That’s for fools.

There’s better things to do with your time.”

They said, “You’re stronger; you don’t need that crutch.”

But now none of that mattered much,

‘Cause that woman had something

He’d never found.

Pre Chorus

Then he remembered that Good Old Book,

The one his grandma gave—a second look.

He turned the page and read again,

Of a man with blood-red hands.

Verse 3

His blood-red hands couldn’t hide,

The sword that pierced his side.

But He looked out at the angry crowd,

While they mocked and jeered, hateful and loud.

And said, “Father, forgive them,

For they know not what they do.

Tell this world that I love them,

And I’ll be waiting for them with you.

Final Chorus

He passed with a breath,

The brightest smile upon his face.

It was a sight the world could never forget,

And a love Bobby couldn’t shake.

He found himself staring at his life,

And kneeling down, he prayed that night—

To the man of peace,

Just a Businessman at the bar

Another meeting he’d, traveled far

Not thinking about his wife

A scented napkin in his hand

Said I’m in Room 303

Just remember to knock twice

He ordered one last shot for courage

When a man sat to his right

Raised his glass

And said, “I’m a lucky man tonight.”

You see, my wife just called

We’re having another boy

That’ll make three kids now.

Don’t they fill you with such joy?

It’s hard to be on trips like this

But I do the best I can

I’m blessed to have a family

Are you also a lucky man?

The words stung like serpent venom

He wanted to say, of course!

But the napkin in his hand

Nearly told a different course

The man asked if he had kids

He mumbled “two” with shaking hands

The man leaned in, said "let me tell you friend,

“You’ve got a chance to take a stand.

I’ve had my share of moments,

I could’ve gone astray.

But I’d never trade what I’ve got now

For some fleeting getaway.

It’s not about being perfect,

It’s about being the man you can.

So let me ask you one more time—

Are you a lucky man?”

He thought about his wife and kids

Saw their happy eyes lose spark

Felt their pain that would last for years

For his one night in the dark

He tore up the napkin

Resolute and strong

He turned to thank that man

But he looked over, he was gone

Maybe it was an angel,

He never could really tell

But that night, he walked away

From a choice that could’ve derailed.

He went home to his wife and kids,

Found strength to make a stand.

And every day, he reminds himself—

Yeah, I’m a lucky man.

I'm a lucky man.

Are you a lucky man?

Lyrics:

Verse 1

A petal wrapped in porcelain, with brittle heart and paper skin,

Hidden in a darkened room.

You held me close, I felt so strong, maybe brave all along,

Or so I thought, you made me bright, blooming wild in your light.

Chorus

Roses and rust, what we were turned to dust,

The beauty’s gone to steel and stone,

Crumbled in the lies you sown.

Roses and rust, ashes and stain,

Petals couldn’t

bear the pain.

Verse 2

I left my walls, grew for you, petals on the avenues,

How could our love turn so wrong?

I thought your hands would hold me tight, keep me safe on sleepless nights,

But iron stains when touched by rain

And love can rot the same.

Chorus

Roses and rust, what we were turned to dust,

The beauty’s gone, left cold and rough.

Melting hearts turned to steel and stone,

Fractured by the lies you sown.

Roses and rust, ashes and stain,

Petals couldn’t

bear the pain.

Bridge

I saw you with another rose, fragile laughs in borrowed clothes,

My petals fell, my colors bled, in shades of sorrow, burnt to red,

And what was bold turned brittle fast, love turned relics of the past.

Chorus

Roses and rust, what we were turned to dust,

The beauty’s gone to steel and stone,

Crumbled in the lies you sown.

Roses and rust, ashes and stain,

Petals couldn’t

bear the pain.

Shiny Lyrics:

Verse 1

I’ve seen love fade, watched colors drain,

Happy tones turn from gold to stain.

But you’re like the sunlight breaking through,

Everything’s bright when I’m with you.

Chorus

You make life shiny, full of light,

Polished days and glowing nights.

But promise me you’ll keep us free,

Free from tarnish, don’t deceive.

You make life shiny

just don’t blind me.

Verse 2

I’ve danced in the shimmer, loved in haze,

But things that glisten tend to fade.

Still, here you are, so radiant,

I want to trust, but hesitant.

Chorus

You make life shiny, full of light,

Polished days and glowing nights.

But promise me your love will be,

Free from tarnish, don’t deceive.

You make life shiny

just don’t blind me.

Verse 3

You’ve said this time, it’s meant to last,

Won’t burst into pieces like fragile glass.

If I give you all I’ve held inside,

I let it out there’s no place to hide.

Chorus

You make life shiny, full of light,

Polished days and glowing nights.

But promise me you’ll us be,

Free from tarnish, don’t deceive.

You make life shiny

just don’t blind me.

Just don’t blind me.

Story of a wild young woman who changes as life causes remolding, and the one that couldn't embrace the new woman she was forced to become.

Lyrics:

[verse 1]

Carefree and untamed

I first caught your eye

The wild child who just wanted to fly

You did all you could to pin me down

And as love swept in, I came around

Time heals wounds, but changes our stories

As life and family brought on new worries

[chorus]

We started off strong

Little tied us down

I loved that life too

Til’ I had to come around

I took on alone

Life’s responsibilities

And found you loved what used to be

More than me

[verse 2]

As you climbed the ladder

I took care of the rest

The bills, the house, the kids, I tried to do my best

I had to change from the girl I’d been

To mother they needed, what you hadn’t seen

You needed to know me, as I started to change

Embrace this new woman, who felt trapped in a cage

[chorus]

We started off strong

Little tied us down

I loved that life too

Til’ I had to come around

I took on alone

Life’s responsibilities

And found you loved what used to be

More than me

[verse 3]

The kids grew up quick

But you weren’t around

I took them to recitals, while you ran around town

I needed a partner who understood the new me

Who sometimes wanted to fly, wanted to be free

Time heals wounds, but shifts our direction

While the woman I became still longed for affection

[guitar solo]

[bridge]

You still want something that you helped disappear

So I hope that this letter makes everything clear

[chorus]

We started off strong

Little tied us down

I loved that life too

Til’ I had to come around

I took on alone

Life’s responsibilities

And found you loved what used to be

More than me

This song was based on a conversation I had with a friend as I was leaving California to move to Nashville. When she asked if I was al packed up, I said, "yep, and it looks like my entire life fits in nine boxes!" To which she exclaimed, "that's a country song!" So here it is.

NINE BOXES

I had the looks, I had the smile

and the game down cold

Could turn a head

didn't know how to fold.

Thought I was the king of the nighttime scene,

But I couldn’t see how I had tarnished my queen,

She said,

"You're may see yourself runnin' this town,

But you're blinded to the one you've been letting down.

Chorus 1:

Now I'm standin' in the driveway, starin' at my sins

Packed up memories in a few plastic bins.

Turns out it ain’t much, all my style, kicks, and watches,

'Cause in the end

My life fits in nine boxes.

Verse 2:

While the words came easy

I played the fool

Thought I could bend hearts

like I bent the rules

But love ain’t built on hollow charm or shallow pride

It’s in the moments you share standin' by her side

Now she’s gone, and I’m just left with this

Lost and alone, stuck with nine little bits.

Chorus 2:

Now I'm standin' in the driveway, starin' at my sins

Packed up memories in a few plastic bins.

Turns out it ain’t much, all my style, kicks, and watches,

'Cause in the end

My life fits in nine boxes.

(Yeah!)

Bridge:

I had the world at my feet, but her heart in my hands

Now its slipped away, like the shifting sand

Funny how it takes losin’ it all to see

The only thing worth keepin’ was her love for me!

Chorus 3

Now I'm standin' in the driveway, starin' at my sins

Packed up memories in a few plastic bins.

I'd trade it all, all my style, kicks, and watches,

When in the end

Your life fits in nine boxes.

Lyrics:

I DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOU NOW

Girl, we've shared so much

I know your dreams

And it's breaking my heart apart

To know they don't include me

I fought to play the hero

I Gave it my best try

Though your life's not mine to save

But in this final moment

Whispering goodbye

Emotions flood me like a wave

(chorus)

But I don't want to hold you now

Cause I won't let you go

I'd lie to myself

Say I'll get through some how

But I'm not that strong

So don't take it wrong

If I don't want to hold you now

Your smile could light my soul

Now memories must do

Still I can't bear the thought

Of someone else holding you

Caught between clinging to my heart

And a love worth letting go

So don't mistake my silence

For a man not pulled apart

Cause my heart is screaming no

Chorus

(bridge)

And I know your flame will burn brighter

When it’s free to breathe

But it’s taking all I am

Just to let you let you leave