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SW​:​S Retreat - May 2015

by SongwritingWith:Soldiers

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

    All purchases are tax-deductible donations to SongwritingWith:Soldiers.
    Our retreats pair professional songwriters with veterans and active-duty service members to write songs about their experiences of combat and returning home. Brent, Angelica, Kayla, Noah, Nolan, and Ashton Alford; Kevin Pitts, Michelle Pitts, and Emma Harris; and Roger, Kelly, Cheyenne, and Travis Strade participated in the May 2015 retreat.

    These songs are their stories and are recorded on site at retreats. They capture a song just hours after being written, like the song taking its first breath.
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1.
Good Kind Of Crazy 02:40
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GOOD KIND OF CRAZY Kevin and Michelle Pitts / Emma Harris / Ashley Cleveland Down a dusty lane sometime in June We head for a range with a sack of balloons It’s the Pitts Family Shoot-Off on Father’s Day We’re the good kind of crazy, we know how to play Nock the arrow, fit the string Emma talks trash, Tristan sings Zooey starts crying ‘cause life is good Since Kevin showed up like Robin Hood We’re the good kind of crazy, we’ve got bragging rights We know how to laugh, we know how to fight Eleven on a scale of one to ten And we know there’s only one way to say P-E-C-A-N We take care of each other through the ups and downs Making a smile out of a frown We’re Heinz 57, we’re a perfect fit We get down and dirty in the thick of it Strong and steady like a beating heart Michelle keeps us all from coming apart Her love makes a man drive all night And gives him the reason to change his life We’re the good kind of crazy, we’ve got bragging rights We know how to laugh, we know how to fight Eleven on a scale of one to ten And we know there’s only one way to say P-E-C-A-N
2.
Strade 02:20
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STRADE Roger, Kelly, Cheyenne, and Travis Strade / Greg Trooper Strade That’s what they call us The memories we’ve made Keep us safe from the dark We’ve never strayed From those we know love us And we’re not afraid To be who we are Home Anywhere we’re together Doesn’t matter the place The time or the weather The road Is so long and demanding But it’s never kept us From making it home Pain We’ve suffered through it Love Wins out every time For some It’s hard to uncover With a family like ours It’s easy to find Strade That’s what they call us
3.
I Knew 03:05
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I KNEW Roger, Kelly, and Cheyenne Strade / Ashley Cleveland / James House Twenty years ago back in Buffalo In a high school French class I knew Parlez-vous français? You were such a flirt that way You didn’t have a clue But I knew I knew you were the one for me And I would never let you leave I had to kiss you soon I knew And when I was so lonely Morale kept me company Patched me up and patched me through I knew I knew you were the one for me And I would never let you leave I had to kiss you soon I knew Boxes full of letters said everything and nothing Promised in the future we’d be starting something Kept me holding on to all that was true I knew you were the one for me And I would never let you leave I had to kiss you soon I knew
4.
Old Time Religion 04:39
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OLD TIME RELIGION Kevin and Michelle Pitts / Darden Smith It’s that old time religion That old time religion It’s the power and the vision It’s not a choice it’s a decision And the old time religion Is what we need Cause that old time religion Sets us free My grandfather I called him Pops He was a man of the land Taught me how to hunt and how to fish How to shake a hand You don’t get respect if you don’t give it Don’t talk love you got to live it It was him who showed me how to be a man That’s what I call… It’s that old time religion That old time religion It’s the power and the vision It’s not a choice it’s a decision And the old time religion Is what we need Cause that old time religion Sets us free A holy man in the mountains Of Afghanistan gave me beads I wrapped them round my wrist, wore them every day He believed so I believed The bullets started flying and it should have been my time But I walked out safe and if that ain’t a sign That old man and his faith were watching over me That’s what I call… It’s that old time religion That old time religion It’s the power and the vision It’s not a choice it’s a decision And the old time religion Is what we need Cause that old time religion Sets us free A woman says a prayer she has a dream Tries to figure out what it means And she calls a man from twenty years ago It was funny, right from the start It’s like we’d never been apart Maybe this thing called love Is just an… It’s that old time religion That old time religion It’s the power and the vision It’s not a choice it’s a decision And the old time religion Is what we need Cause that old time religion Sets us free
5.
Throw A Rock 01:58
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THROW A ROCK Noah, Nolan, and Ashton Alford / Greg Trooper Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock in the water Throw a rock Skip a stone Skip a stone Skip a stone Skip a stone Skip a stone cross the water Throw a rock How far Will it go How far No one knows How far can you throw A rock a rock a rock here we go Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock not at your brother Throw a rock Throw it straight, make it curve So fast, it’s just a blur How high can you throw A rock a rock a rock let it go Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock Throw a rock in the water Throw a rock
6.
Slow It All Down 03:29
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SLOW IT ALL DOWN Emma Harris / Darden Smith Slow it all down Life’s moving too fast Let’s find a way To make these moments last Cause time is an arrow You can’t turn around Before it flies past Let’s slow it all down Let’s sing the songs Let’s say the words We’ve left unspoken We’ve left unheard The funny thing is We think life is long But the truth is You just blink and it’s gone Slow it all down Life’s moving too fast Let’s find a way To make these moments last Cause time is an arrow You can’t turn around So before it flies past Let’s slow it all down Make these moments last Let’s slow it all down
7.
God's In Control 03:38
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GOD’S IN CONTROL James House / Brent Alford / Darden Smith Ain’t no sense in getting scared Worry about what is and isn’t fair I can’t think about saving my soul Cause God’s in control I wasn’t asked I volunteered I’m a good luck charm that’s why I’m here You may not believe me but you've been told God’s in control People say How can you put faith In something you can’t see Samson and the Philistines I believe what I believe You may not but I just know God’s in control I took a bullet in my chest and I came right back I’m the man to be behind when we’re under attack When you got faith like mine you don’t have to be bold God’s in control People say How can you put faith In something you can’t see Well I can tell you what I’ve seen It just plays like a movie in my dreams You may not but I just know God’s in control So I’m a warrior it’s what I do And I’m going away cause the job ain’t through So hold on to the fact that I’m coming back home ‘Cause God’s in control Hold onto the fact Daddy’s coming back home
8.
The Big Lie 02:15
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THE BIG LIE Brent and Angelica Alford / James House / Greg Trooper We met each other on a sunny day life was perfect in every way I had a perfect job perfect life everybody said you’d make a perfect wife Everybody said I’d be better for you go ahead you have nothing to lose Your kids will mind and never talk back All go to college never move back We’ll never argue never complain No one’s ever wrong or ever to blame Your mother will love me like I was one of her own This is home now son and you belong That’s the big lie The truth we gonna stand by Pie in the sky Living the lie We’re all paid up at the country club too many zeros on my paystub Got another raise just for being cool we just put in a second swimming pool The garage is packed with too many cars we’re hanging out with movie stars We got it together in every way we make the right choices every day Everyone jealous of our love all our friends are just sick of us They want our advice they ask us please how do you do it with such grace and ease We tell a big lie That’s the truth we’re standing by Between you and I it’s pie in the sky Living the lie
9.
No One But Us 02:38
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NO ONE BUT US Roger, Kelly, Cheyenne, and Travis Strade / Greg Trooper When things are good They’re really good When things are bad We turn to humor We don’t look back Back at Iraq Full steam ahead Into the future When we’re fighting It’s still with love We leave the past And rise above No one but us No one but us No one but us We’re not tidy No not at all We’re a little flighty (You can knock us down) But we still stand tall (We’ll never fall) We’re not punctual But we put the fun Fun in dysfunctional These kids grew up on Tim Burton movies Yes we are good At being weird We rhyme okay Spell even better Our songwriting It should be feared When we’re fighting It’s still with love We leave the past And rise above No one but us No one but us No one but us Are we outrageous Depends who you ask We’re not contagious ‘cept when we laugh We’re not punctual But we put the fun Fun in dysfunctional In the darkness We see the sun What don’t kill us It better run When we’re fighting It’s still with love We leave the past And rise above No one but us No one but us No one but us Not highfalutin Not us at all You can knock us down We’ll never fall We’re not punctual But we put the fun Fun in dysfunctional
10.
Far Away 03:40
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FAR AWAY Brent and Angelica Alford / James House Nobody understands us but you and I No way in the world they can Just knowing you’re there makes everything alright It’s just the way you hold my hand Far away so far away Wish you could stay You’re so far away We talked on the phone overnight for at least a month Met on a cold Christmas Eve You had hot chocolate we walked in the cold Had coffee with cream Far way you’re so far way I wish you could stay You’re so far away Married on a fall October day Marry me by train became our song Seemed like the whole world disapproved Only you and I know we’re strong Far way you’re so far away I wish you could stay You’re so far away Through the long winter nights Through the wrongs and rights
 Through the moments of flight we’ve stayed true I can’t imagine being with anyone else My heart belongs to you Even when you’re far away
11.
Cats and Caffeine 02:37
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CATS AND CAFFEINE Kevin Pitts / Greg Trooper Here come those furry things again Who gave them the notion I’m their friend I wanna sleep just a little more These damned ole cats are at the door They want me up right now at 5 am How on earth did you get me in this mess Feeding all these yowling fuzzy pests Before we even get caffeine Got to cater to these darned felines While you wait for your coffee in our comfy bed You rescued one You rescued three Now my life revolves around Cats and caffeine You’ll rescue more I do believe But most of all baby You rescued me I grew up with goats cows and hogs And my favorite pet was Floppy the dog Now that’s a critter I can understand Does whatever a man demands Not like these cats out crying in the hall Now babe it’s been more than seven years And my love for you will never disappear You knew I hated cats right from the start But now even they done stole my heart Now that’s got to be true love Michelle my dear
12.
Roller Coaster 02:53
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ROLLER COASTER Brent Alford / James House / Darden Smith Life spins you upside down High as a kite then back on the ground Out of control you look like a clown On this roller coaster When life don’t go according to plan It’s a little easier to understand Baby when you hold my hand On a roller coaster We're on a roller coaster ride Hold on tight and let go of your pride Put your hands in the air we got the lord on our side On the roller coaster ride Sometimes it’s scary, sometimes it’s a thrill Road blocks and time clocks test your will It’s stress on my mind but that how it feels On this roller coaster We're on a roller coaster ride Hold on tight and let go of your pride Put your hands in the air we got the lord on our side On the roller coaster ride But it’s all right Gotta go through the dark to get to the light Let’s stay by each other’s side We're on a roller coaster ride Hold on tight and let go of your pride Put your hands in the air we got the lord on our side On the roller coaster ride
13.
Brother and Sister - Maybe Friends 03:28
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BROTHER AND SISTER – MAYBE FRIENDS Kelly, Travis, and Cheyenne Strade / Ashley Cleveland She likes to color but she’s not good at sports Her mom is technically very short but now nobody better mock her ‘Cause she’s gonna be an animal doctor Sometimes they think alike and say the same thing He makes people laugh, she loves to sing And they don’t fight as much as way back when Brother and sister and maybe friends He’s a gamer but he can’t talk on the phone When he comes around she don’t feel alone He’s got better timing than dear old dad But if nobody’s listening that makes him mad Sometimes they think alike and say the same thing He makes people laugh, she loves to sing And they don’t fight as much as way back when Brother and sister and maybe friends They definitely don’t agree on everything But they still trade candy on Halloween And though they were born four years apart They each own a piece of the other one’s heart Sometimes they think alike and say the same thing He makes people laugh, she loves to sing And they don’t fight as much as way back when Brother and sister and maybe friends
14.
All About The Fun 01:43
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ALL ABOUT THE FUN Darden Smith & Group She’s all about the fun She’s all about the fun When the day is done She’s all about the fun She came from Tallahassee Cute and kind of sassy She don’t leave out anyone She’s all about the fun When things get rough She says that’s enough Turn the music on Cause she’s all about the fun Dancing shake that booty With her very own cutie He’s her #1 And they’re all about the fun

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released July 23, 2015

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SongwritingWith:Soldiers Nashville, Tennessee

SongwritingWith:Soldiers is a non-profit 501c (3) organization.

Our Mission: We transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to expand creativity, connections, and strengths.

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