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Demos & work tapes

Music

Seven original songs written in Nashville, with lyrics. Press play on any track.

01Lighthouse

Demo · 4:12

Written by Brett Gillan, Matt Houston · © 2018

Winner, John Lennon International Songwriting Competition 2018 (gospel/inspirational category) · Finalist, USA Songwriting Competition 2019

Lyrics for Lighthouse

Verse 1

This world’s got a way of bein’ so cruel
Breakin’ you down and leavin’ you bruised

Pre-chorus

Oh but you hide your pain with a smile on your face, it’s true
So nobody can see the hurt that you’re goin’ through

Chorus

I’ll be your light house
Baby I’ll shine down
Through the wind and the waves
When you can’t find your way
Oh then just find me

There’s no need to be scared
I’ll always be there
When you’re torn apart
And lost in the dark
Like a ship at sea

I’ll be your light house

Verse 2

When hard times come like they always do
You’re always the anchor to hold those around you

Pre-chorus

Oh but you build your walls to keep everyone out, it’s true
So if you get off course there’s no one there to guide you

(Chorus)

Bridge

When the sky and tears are fallin’
Just fall in my arms

(Chorus)

02Nothing Between Us

Demo · 3:29

Written by Brett Gillan, Matt Houston, Jessie Smith · © 2018

Finalist, USA Songwriting Competition 2019

Lyrics for Nothing Between Us

Verse 1

I hear the rumors goin’ round this sleepy town tonight
They say when you look at me they can see the fire
We tell ’em that there’s nothin’ between us, yeah we just deny it
And we can keep it up cause baby we ain’t lyin’

Chorus

There’s nothin’ between us
Once we close that door
Clothes stripped off on the bedroom floor
Lights turned down low
Candlelight shadow

There’s nothin’ between us
Not even room to breathe
Body heat risin’ under the sheets
Kissin’ on your shoulder
I couldn’t pull you closer
There’s nothin’ between us

Verse 2

Every time we’re out we’re lookin’ round the room
We act like we don’t care like we’re unaware of the truth
We tell ‘em that there’s nothin’ between us but, baby who are we foolin’
We keep playin’ games but we both know what we’re doin’

(Chorus)

Bridge

Baby you know this town
And if they find out word’ll get around
And this good thing we found
They’ll burn it right down to the ground
So they don’t need to know right now

(Chorus)

03How Can I Not

Demo · 2:48

Written by Brett Gillan, Madeline McDonald, Robbie Artress · © 2018

Lyrics for How Can I Not

Verse 1

First love, he did everything right from what I could see
Til I walked in, saw them in the bed sheets I was only eighteen

Pre-chorus

I thought he was the one, I thought I was in love but I was just naive
I lost who I was then, I won’t be that girl again I was so trusting

Chorus

How can I not build up all these walls
And wonder if you’ll do the same thing to me
Love me just to use me

How can I not question if you’ll stay
Or just give up and keep me second guessin‘
I think I learned my lesson
How can I not

Verse 2

I wish I didn’t have to say this, I know you’re not him
It’s not your fault I put you in the same box but that’s the way it is

Pre-chorus

I’m tryin’ to fight it every single day
But the truth is it’s useless cause I still feel the pain

(Chorus)

Bridge

If you really want this – I gotta be cautious
If you really want this – I gotta be cautious
If you really want this – I gotta be cautious
I’ve got to be cautious

(Chorus)

04Still Holding On To You

Demo · 2:59

Written by Brett Gillan, Kayliann Lowe, Doug Lowe · © 2017

Lyrics for Still Holding On To You

Verse 1

I try to kiss her long enough to fool my mind
I try to love her strong enough to make it feel like

Pre-chorus

The way it used to
Oh the way it used to

Chorus

It’s not the same no matter what I say or do
I can lie all day but every night I face the truth
She don’t know that when she’s holdin’ me
I’m still holdin’ on to you

Verse 2

I tell my friends you’re nothin’ but a faded memory
I tell myself that I’ve moved on where lonely can’t find me

Pre-chorus

So I pull her closer
Yeah I pull her closer

(Chorus)

Bridge

To you and all the pain that hasn’t left since the day you left

(Chorus)

05Up For Anything

Suno Demo · 2:42

Written by Brett Gillan, Dan Couch, Chris Cavanaugh · © 2018

Lyrics for Up For Anything

Verse 1

We could take a long ride down an old dirt road
Out where the wild things grow
And park by a quite creek
That’d be alright with me

But then again there’s a bar on Main Street
Playin’ 80’s rock and country
Or we could find somewhere in-between
Where the gravel and the asphalt meet

Chorus

I’m up – up – I’m up for anything
It really don’t matter at all it’s your call pretty little thing
Climb up – up – and we can get on down this road
Wherever we go whatever we do
I’m up for anything with you – anything with you

Verse 2

So are you thinkin’ candlelight, wine and sushi
Drive out to a drive-in movie
Sit there underneath the stars
Keep you warm in my arms

Or maybe we go shoot some guns
Take these tires, spin some mud
Yeah baby, tell me
What’s it gonna be

(Chorus)

Bridge

Yeah, as long as I got
That fire in your eyes
Burnin’ in mine
Til the moon meets the sun rise

Chorus

Chorus
Wherever we go whatever we do
I’m up for anything with you
Whatever you wanna do, girl
I’m up for anything with you

06Wild Card

Suno Demo · 2:46

Written by Brett Gillan, Eric Burgett, Clayton Severson · © 2018

Lyrics for Wild Card

Verse 1

You can sit at the table
To prove you’re willing and able
Ante up, place your bet on Lady Luck in the red dress
But the only problem is

Chorus

She’s a wild card
Knows every rule to break
And her wild heart
Oh it just keeps raising the stakes

Throw her in the mix
Get drunk on her kiss
You think you know just how to play
But she’s a wild card
And she’s changin’ the game

Verse 2

Once my life was a gamble
And love burnt out like a candle
I was cold could never win
Would have to fold with my chips in
Til my hand lit up with her in it

(Chorus)

Chorus

Throw her in the mix
Get drunk on her kiss
You think you know just how to play
But she’s a wild card and her wild heart is changin’ the game

07Got It Goin’ On

Demo · 2:55

Written by Brett Gillan, Rob Blackledge · © 2017

Lyrics for Got It Goin’ On

Verse 1

She’s burnin’ through the room like a short lit fuse
A black powder keg that’s about to go boom
Frayed daisy dukes, cowboys boots
Make a redneck boy wonder what he gonna do

More than a 10 she’s country dime
The needle in the hay you never thought you’d find
Hotter than a bonfire blazing on a summer night

Chorus

She’s the reason that we’re
Out here drinkin’ thinkin’
Maybe one of us has a chance
Gonna take a shot maybe ask her to dance

Lord, she’s makin’ me go
Oh so crazy
She’s a six shooter with the hammer back
She got it goin’ on – got it goin’ on like that

Verse 2

She’s a pedal all the way done cut the breaks
I’m fresh out the cage and ready to rage
A line ’em up, throw ’em back, party machine
She don’t know it yet but she’s leavin’ with me – ha

(Chorus)

Bridge

She’s got it goin’ on like a country song
DJ gonna play it for ya all night long
We can tip a cup from dusk til dawn
Gonna get it on cause she’s got it goin’ on

Dressed down in that tore up tee
She looks so fine when she’s lookin’ at me
Like a Marlboro Red makes it hard to breathe
But it ain’t hard to see

(Chorus)