CAROLINA STORY LYRICS

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

I set out from home
A long time ago
Searching and roaming these hills
Naïve like a child
Stepped into the wild
Among the scoffers and wolves

And I know you are with me
Still I forget thee
I’ve come to the end of the road
And I tried and I tried
Held onto my pride
Been doing this all on my own
Won’t you carry me back home?

Well it wasn’t long
Til my money was gone
I’d beg, I’d borrow, I’d steal
What had I become?
Pecking for crumbs
Among the lions and thieves

And I know you are with me
Still I forget thee
I’ve come to the end of the road
And I tried and I tried
Held onto my pride
Been doing this all on my own
Won’t you carry me back home?

I whispered that prayer
And you met me right there

Won’t you carry me back home

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

The morning bird sings his sad song
When the darkness turns to dawn
And though he sounds oh so sweet to me
He’s singing about defeat
As he’s waking me from my sleep

Hey there sunshine
Show your teeth
This winter weakens my wings
Hey there sunshine
Smile on me
It’s dark and I’m starving for spring

The raven returns from the barren fields
Where the harvest has yet to yield
The fallow ground would not take the seed
There’s still plenty of mouths to feed
And yet somehow he continues to sing

Hey there sunshine
Show your teeth
This winter weakens my wings
Hey there sunshine
Smile on me
It’s dark and I’m starving for spring

Hey, hey sunshine
Show your teeth
Hey, hey sunshine
Please
Hey, hey sunshine
Smile on me
It’s dark and I’m starving for spring

Hey there sunshine
Show your teeth
This winter weakens my wings
Hey there sunshine
Smile on me
It’s dark and I’m starving for spring

The morning bird sings it’s sad song
When the darkness turns to dawn

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

My heart it hurts so bad
From all this hopeless wandering
I need to find some peace
And a brand new song to sing

I see all the beauty
But it just ain’t what it seems
And I can’t let it be
Cause you put these dreams in me

Help, help me
Set me on my feet
The way we walk is dark
Help me now to see
Help me please
I got someplace to be
I hate to go but I got these dreams you see

My burden is heavy
I’m weary from this load
We took the road less traveled
But the path is overgrown

We tread without a compass
But I feel it in my bones
Don’t ask me how I know
But this road it leads to home

Help, help me
Set me on my feet
The way we walk is dark
Help me now to see
Help me please
I got someplace to be
I hate to go but I got these dreams you see

We tread without a compass
I feel it in my bones
Don’t ask me how I know

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

We all got something
That we hide
Behind those whiskey smiles
And sad cowboy eyes

We all got problems
The same blood in our veins
When we try to work it out on our own
We go insane

Oh it’s harder now to find
Some kind of piece of mind
But I will have you know you’re not alone

If we could only see past ourselves
Then we could finally see someone else

We all want an empire
That we can call our own
“Hey look at me I built this
But I’m still searching for a home”

By the time you hear this
You already know
That we ain’t perfect
Yeah but we can grow

Oh it’s harder now to see
The forest for the trees
One day we’ll find our way through these woods

If we could only see past ourselves
Then we could finally see someone else

If we could only look inside ourselves
Then we could finally find someone else

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

Everyone needs a war
Something they can turn to
Something to die for in the end

When all is up in arms
And we’re drowning in our own sin
Where will we begin in the end?

But my hope is that we will know love
Rebuild our houses there
No one will even care
What color skin the other’s living in
We’ll clothe our brothers and help each other
In the end

Death it lies in wait
Just over the hillside
Digging its own graves in the end

We’ll watch the buildings burn
Well into the night
We won’t believe our eyes in the end

But my hope is that we will know love
Rebuild our houses there
No one will even care
What color skin the other’s living in
We’ll clothe our brothers and help each other
In the end

But my hope is that we will know love
Rebuild our houses there
No one will even care
What color skin the other’s living in
We’ll lay our weapons down when we hear that trumpet sound
In the end

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

Oh these days creep by
When you’re not by my side
The sun don’t seem to shine
When the rain falls from your eyes

If I could hold you in these arms then all would be just fine

Oh these months roll on
When I am up and gone
How I wish that I could sing
You off into your dreams

If I could hold you in these arms then all would be just fine

Another day is gone
Your growing up
And I’m not getting younger
When everyday is through
Know that I am somewhere
Thinking of you
I just pass the time away
Hoping you will call and say
‘I miss you’

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Have you heard the news?
I’m rolling home to you
If I could hold you in these arms then all will be made right

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

My head’s been hanging low for two weeks straight
And every move I make I try to escape
And I can’t look no one in the face
But my feet keep moving still

My hands are cut and bruised by the earth
And I’ve been kicked around my mouth full of dirt
When it feels like all I know is hurt
My feet keep moving still

What is this force that moves me?
Who is this ghost that haunts me?
I don’t know but I know this is real
And my feet keep moving still

This heart of mine is calloused and worn
This supposed love of mine is everything but warm
The flag I fly is torn
And my feet keep moving still

Lord knows where I’ll go from here
But someday I know these wounds will start to heal
I ain’t got no sword or shield
But my feet keep moving still

What is this force that moves me?
Who is this ghost that haunts me?
Along the way I forgot how to feel
I don’t know but I know this is real
But my feet keep moving still

These eastside streets feel like home
But that don’t matter when your hearts full of holes
No one would ever know but I’m alone
And my feet keep moving, yeah my feet keep moving,
Yeah my feet keep moving on

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

53 days ago
We packed our bags and hit the road
Two guitars and hearts upon our sleeves
Like ramblers on the run
We headed west into the sun
Steady hands like hired guns
Headed towards the sea
It’s the traveling life for me

The stories we made in between
Californ and Tennessee
Etched upon our memories like dreams
Home ain’t no place or thing
You find it in the little things
Each other eyes and songs we sing
Keeps you moving on
Oh the traveling road is long

As long as you are by my side
I know that I will find my way
All our days we will roam
Don’t need four walls
To make a home
Cause home is where you are

We rode through the night and into dawn
The windows down the morning sun
Greeted us like we were royalty
Another mile another line
Tired eyes and sleepless nights
God’s weary broken king and queen
Oh the traveling life ain’t free

As long as you are by my side
I know that I will find my way
All our days we will roam
Don’t need four walls
To make a home
Cause home is where you are

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

I see my breath in the cold northern air
It holds my conversation with the man standing there
I clear my throat as I ask for my pass
He says, “There’s no turning back on this one way track.”

I’m on my way
I’m on my way
It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out
It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out

He cries, “All aboard” as I take that step right through the door
The final whistle blows as I take my seat next to the window
Sitting right next to me was a man he said to call him destiny
The wheels start to roll as he turned and said, “Never lose hope”

I’m on my way
I’m on my way
It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out
It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

There’s no one behind my door
I’m the only one inside of my head
But pride’s been livin’ here way too long
I’m a snake when my skin is shed

If all of my thoughts were actions
Oh, what a mess I’d be in
My conceited heart would soon be exposed
As I try to please the crowd once again

Chorus: It’s the unseen sin
It’s the eyes I’ve tried to win
With a smile I mask the selfish heart within
(Repeat)

I always rush to judgment
‘cause that keeps the fingers off of me
We’re too busy throwing stones
That our faults are all the same, don’t you see

My thoughts are worse than my actions
But actions are all that we see
My mind wears its own scarlet letter
It’s just the mind’s not as easy to see

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

The bright city lights
I can see from where I stand
My shoes filled to the brim
With the sand from the beach
Where I pace patiently
Waiting there for you

The mist from the waves
How it flirts with my face
Whispering stories in my ear
How long must I wait
In this petrified state
Waiting for my ship to come in

Chorus: On the shores of Nashville
I’m waiting for you
Please come and send for me soon
(Repeat)

The shells that I’ve gathered
Some broken some scattered
Reminds me of life worn thin
Oh if I had a dime
For every tough time
Boy, I’m cashing in
Oh, how will I know
If I’ve chosen the boat
That’s intended for me
Where the water is deep
I’ll jump in with both feet
Swimming my way to you.

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

You, You hold my hand
You, You understand
Oh yeah and you…

You, You plant the seed
You, You grow the trees
Oh yeah and you…
You, You know the sands
You, You know the man

You are the song that I love to sing
You are the poem that I’ve been writing
You are the rhythm that I’ve been dancing to

You, You made the skies
You, You turn the tide
Oh yeah and you…
You, You are my love
You, You are enough
You, You are my breath
You, You conquered death

You are the song that I love to sing
Your are the poem I’ve been writing
You are the rhythm that I’ve been dancing to

Written by Emily Olson

I find myself at home again
And the place where you first said
You would never leave my side
No matter where I went

You held my stories in your hand
As we moved to another land
I didn’t know it then
But you knew me better than any man

Cause, history
You remind me
Of who I used to be
So I’ll keep moving forward
Even when a road ain’t plain to see

The places I’ve been to
Every emotion I’ve been through
Change me in ways I never knew
Until I looked back at you

With every passing memory
The life I’ve lived is part of me
And I can walk with no regret
On roads I haven’t traveled yet

Cause history
You remind me
Of who I’ve grown to be
So I’ll keep moving forward
Even when the road ain’t plain to see

This time in my life is through
And I know what I want to do
But time will tell me that’ll be
Until then it’s you and me

Cause history
Reminds me
Of who I wanna be
So I’ll keep moving forward
Even when the road ain’t plain to see
Even right now, when a road ain’t plain to see

Words by Danny Johnson, music by Ben Roberts

Additional lyrics 3rd verse, Ben Roberts
I thank you, Lord, and give You praise
For Jesus Christ, the Son You raised
He gave His life on Calvary
To open eyes, that all may see

His precious love and saving grace
Risen to His rightful place
We will never be apart
Because now You live inside my heart

I thank you, Lord, and bow to pray
Help me God, don’t let me stray
Tests and trials we must endure
To cleanse our souls and make us pure

Danny’s love and smiling face
Risen to his rightful place
Now we will never be apart
Because now he lives inside our hearts.

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

In the Garden, in the night
We were walkin, out of sight
I saw above me, that crimson vice
Could almost taste the sweetness with my eyes
But you told me not to

I was so fragile, I was so young
I was no match for its fork tongue
Temptation’s sting, oh how it stung
Could almost feel the poison in my lungs
And who’s going to stop me

CHORUS
The apple in my hand I took a bite
How can it be so wrong when it feels so right
The apple in my hand with just a bite
It was over

In the Garden, in broad day light
We were hiding, from your eyes
Oh how foolish, could we be
To think that we, could hide among the trees
Dressed in stitched-together leaves

We were naked, just like we came
Then our eyes opened and she’s to blame
We heard your voice there call out our names
Oh my God, We are so ashamed
Won’t you believe me?

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

I wanna start by saying something
That you can hold on to
When the fires are all around you
And the light ain’t shining through

Know I’ll always be there
I’ll love you to the end
And when the wars are all around you
I’ll distract you with a kiss

Oh I’m sorry
For the way I am sometimes
Oh I’m sorry
For the times that I have lied
Oh I’m sorry
For the life I used to lead
Please forgive me
And cheers to loving me

The question isn’t whether
Will we live or will we die
The question is will we stand firm
When the ships being swallowed by the tide

And when it comes to sinking
It’s the captain’s noble right
To go down with his vessel
Oh the sacrifice

Oh I’m sorry
For the way I am sometimes
Oh I’m sorry
For the times that I have lied
Oh I’m sorry
For the life I used to lead
Please forgive me
And cheers to loving me

Cause I don’t want to spend another day without you
I wanna run away into the night
I swear I will never leave your side
And even when the light may turn to darkness
I will always hold your hand
You know I will do the best I can
And all I think about
Is loving you
And all I think about
Is learning to say

I’m sorry
For the way I am sometimes
Oh I’m sorry
For the times that I have lied
Oh I’m sorry
For the life I used to lead
Please forgive me
And cheers to loving me

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

People always talk about
The people on TV
I wanna walk into the woods
Carve my name into a tree
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

I wanna hear the dinner bell
Ring, Ring, Ring
I wanna hear the shoe shiner
Sing, Sing, Sing
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

CHORUS
Take me back to that place
We somehow got lost along the way
Please leave that room come out and play
We’re Earthbound, We’re Earthbound

We wanna get our hands dirty
And dig in the dirt
Push a seed into the ground
Deep within the earth
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Written by Emily Olson, Ben Roberts & Don Chaffer

Hey there Mr. Sir, I'm your neighbor
Down the street on Carr Avenue
I see you in your porch swing everyday
The same old plaid and a cup of coffee
To pass the time away
Like a pyramid that stands
In the drifting desert sands

CHORUS
Hey there Mr. down on Carr Avenue
I want to love you but I barely know you
I've heard it said there are no strangers only friends
Who've yet to meet

Excuse me Mr. Sir, can I bother you
I see in your eyes that you’re losing the fight
And there’s nothing that you can do
Like soldiers on a battlefield in WWII
Like man's transgressions and the Great Depression
And the way they sing the blues
Is there something I can do?
To ease the pain you’re going through now

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

I see my breath
In the cold northern air
It holds my conversation
With the man standing there

I clear my throat
As I ask for my pass
He says there’s no turning back
On this one way track

I’m on my way
I’m on my way

It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out
It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out

He cries all aboard
As I take that step right through the door
The final whistle blows
As I take my seat next to the window

Sitting right next to me
Was a man he said to call him Destiny
The wheels start to roll
As he turns and says never lose hope

I’m on my way
I’m on my way

It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out
It’s a long way south
I hope the stars stay out

Written by Emily Olson, Ben Roberts, Don Chaffer & Greg LaFollette

Planes overhead
So close I could reach
The engines and wings
That give them the breath that moves them

It’s been a rough week
It’s been rainin for three days
And oh, the worry it sneaks
Down the hall into our room

Days like today
I wanna fly away
The sky is still gray
But I just wanna say
The sun may not shine
But at least there’s no rain

I hear
Planes overhead
Oh how they lull me to sleep
While we lie in our bed
They’re flyin at 500 feet

We’re gonna be alright
We’re gonna be just fine

Days like today
I wanna fly away
The sky is still gray
But I just wanna say
The sun may not shine
But at least there’s no rain

Our love will grow
O At least there’s no rain

Written by Emily Olson and Ben Roberts

Another day goes by and I don’t know what I’ve done
Another tick of the clock and yet times still young
Stuck in this circle for way too long
When the light tries to find me the curtains are still drawn
Everyday feels the same
Everyday feels the same

Dragged along like a song
That's been stuck in my head
Here I lie like a book left unread
When the sun rises
And I get out of bed
I don’t think I’d notice if the moon rose instead
Cause when I’m awake
Oh I must be sleepwalking

Another day goes by and I don’t know what I’ve said
Someone please tell me my name so I know I’m not dead
Settling like dust when the wind has gone
I'm sick, tired, and hungry here waiting for dawn
Everyday feels the same

Chorus
Wake up from this slumber, live your life baby, you’re not getting younger so live like your crazy, don’t let it pass by but let your past change you, you’re the only one who can sing…sing your song baby

Dragged along like a song
That's been stuck in my head
Here I lie like a book left unread
When the sun rises
And I get out of bed
I don’t think I’d notice if the moon rose instead
When will I awake
And stop this sleepwalking

Written by Emily and Ben Roberts

This ain’t the world I was born into
Stone by stone I’ve built
These walls that surround me
This old place, these forgotten days
The driveway has disappeared amidst the forest

So long I’ve been sitting and waiting
For some sort of transportation
To carry me far from this hell I’ve been calling home

There’s a bird that sings outside my window
They’re all boarded up except for one
That I’m saving for myself
You and me, all we ever do
Is run around in circles until we are dizzy

So long I’ve been sitting and waiting
For some sort of transportation
To carry me far from this hell I’ve been calling home
I’ve got a start a fire, inside of this cold dark room
I’ve got a thaw this heart of mine, cause winter is comin soon

Written by Emily and Ben Roberts

What you see
Wasn’t always as it seems
It started here
From the mouth of the smallest of springs

It wound its way through
The rock and dirt it knew

She calls it home
But home’s always moving along
Go with the flow
Cause the waters are oh so strong

Many miles between
Fed the lover’s dream

What was lost was finally free
When the river met the sea

The waters
Are closing in now and its harder now to breathe
Keep moving
Though your drowning now you will make it out to sea
Eventually

The ocean blue
So mighty yet so alone
Waiting patiently
For her to make it home

A million years had passed
They finally met at last

What was lost was finally free
When the river met the sea

The waters
Are closing in now and its harder now to breathe
Keep moving
Though your drowning now you will make it out to sea
Eventually

Written by Emily and Ben Roberts

You will find me
Inside your bones
Hollow where I’ve made my home
Holding you up when you’re all alone
Holding you up when you’re alone

You will find me
Inside your heart
When you finally fall apart
Running through your veins from the very start
Running through your veins from the start

I feel you’re haunting me

You will find me
Inside your soul
When the darkness takes its toll
Everything that’s broken will be made whole
Soon you will be made whole

I feel you’re haunting me