Grant Bentley Music

Lyrics to “Tracks of Tomorrow”

On a day that’s cloudy

Momma looks down proudly

At the guitar in my hands.

Object of desire,

Filling me up with a fire.

And she’s the one who understands.

CHORUS:

The TRACKS OF TOMORROW

I am making up today.

I beg and I borrow

When I don’t have much to say.

The straight and the narrow

Can it be the only way?

The TRACKS OF TOMORROW

Are the ones I love to play. (hey-hey)

Then I search to find the words

To a song no one has heard

Before or even ever again.

When I play those strings

It brings up magic things

And I can share ‘em with my friends.

REPEAT CHORUS (except replace “making up” with “putting down”)

BRIDGE

Too sick to care

Coming ill-prepared 

All my life is on a dare.

It’s happenstance.  Still worth a chance.  See what’s waitin’ out there.

Never gained a habit.

Envy those who have it.

Seems like the only way to start.

So much left to learn.

Motivate and feel the burn.

I just listen with my heart.

REPEAT CHORUS (except replace “making up” with “laying down”

Lyrics to “Challenge”

In the quiet of the evening as the sun begins to fade.

My father would sit - it was carefully lit to show me his trade.

In front of him a chessboard with its pieces black and white.

He looked up defiant, like some kind of giant, then caught me in his sights.

CHORUS:

I CHALLENGE you, he said, to a game of wit and skill.

We’ll see who comes out on top and who must finally yield.

On this wooden field of battle where strategy reigns supreme.

Ain’t no different than the game of life. 

Trust me you’ll see, you’ll see.

He taught me to anticipate; how to step through every move.

And look for opportunity when hard to see, and never play the fool.

Keep a watch out on your flank and know who has your back.

As the hours did pass I was learning real fast so went on the attack.

Repeat CHORUS (except replace “he said” with “I said”, drop “where” in the third line, and replace “of life” with “I’m in” and replace the last line with “Trust me I see…that”)

BRIDGE:

Pawn takes pawn and no one seems to care.

The queen comes out and everyone’s aware

Of the way she can move and my aim better be true tonight.

Well, my father has gone and left me here to grind.

I’d like to say I plan, ahead from where I stand, but I deal with what I find.

This life can be a mess; a jungle of regrets.

But any time I’m down I just bring my tribe around.   

Hey, it’s time to place your bets.

I CHALLENGE you, my friends, to a game of wit and skill.

We’ll see who comes out on top and who will finally yield.

On this field where we struggle, love and kindness reign supreme.

Ain’t no different than the game I played, when my father challenged me.   

You’ll see – you will see - yeah, we’ll see.

Lyrics to “Incognito”

Time’s a thief, look what it steals.

Age is a number, not how it feels.

Eventually, you realize

It’s best to stay in your disguise.

            CHORUS:

Stay INCOGNITO

Don’t you tell a soul.

Play INCOGNITO

That’s the way we roll. 

That’s the way we roll. 

That’s the way we roll.

A little more broke it would seem.

I stopped holdin’ off livin’ my dream.

Flyin’ ‘round to see the sights.

Wearin’ a mask on all the flights.

            Repeat CHORUS (replace second line with “Don’t you tell a livin’ soul, no”)

BRIDGE:

I’ll gladly show you this heart on my sleeve.

‘Cuz that’s the way we share together.

With With an avatars, I’ll be somewhat relieved.

‘Cuz my face stays undercover (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

I’m a bit rusty, don’t you see?

Can’t put my hands where they’re supposed to be.

Even so, I’m still singin’ true.

Face to face in front of you.

Repeat CHORUS (replace second line with “It’s really me, if you didn’t know”)

That’s the way we roll

            It’s probably outta my control

            But that’s the way, that’s the way we roll.

            INCOGNITO

            That’s the way so let’s go

            INCOGNITO

            That’s the way, the way we roll

            INCOGNITO

            Let’s go, so let’s go

            INCOGNITO (woah)

            That’s the way we roll…

Lyrics to “Seeing Signs”

3-piece suit and a patterned tie.

Carry a briefcase - nothin’ inside.

Fourteen calls I make a day.

Runnin’ out of things to say.

CHORUS

SEEING SIGNS along the road.

“Do Not Pass” and let it go.

Treat ‘em all like family ‘cuz, in actuality, we’re all

Heading home.

Heading home.

Every meeting that I take –

Another chance for me to ache.

So far out of my comfort zone.

A salesman with a microphone.

ALTERNATE CHORUS

SEEING SIGNS along the way.

How will I ever make it pay?

Treat ‘em all like family ‘cuz, in actuality, we’re all

Heading home.

Heading home.

“Gas Food Lodging Just Ahead”, it said.

Such an oasis in the dark, better park, better park.

From the boardroom to the stage.

Another sign, another age.

Must be part of someone’s plan.

I’m still sellin’ who I am.

CHORUS

SEEING SIGNS along the road.

“Do Not Pass” and let it go.

Treat ‘em all like family ‘cuz, in actuality, we’re all

Heading home.

Heading home, heading home, 

Heading home, heading home,

SEEING SIGNS.

Lyrics to “Embrace Me”

Never saw this comin’,

Growin’ old was somebody else. 

Now I hear it in the words I sing, 

I no longer buy what I’m tryin’ to sell.

Pre-Chorus:

I’m a sucker for the truth.

Not about to mourn my youth (glad it happened).

Chorus: 

Embrace me, as I am today, 

I’ve filled up on my past.

All my memories are so packed away, 

From the first down to the last.

But the time goes by (oh, watch it fly), so fast.

A young man waves as he’s drivin’ by.

His truck adorned with decals and pride. 

Vanity plates announce his life out of doors. 

Vitality takes a ride.

Repeat Pre-chorus and Chorus

Bridge: 

So, take a moment to reflect.

Is wisdom what you expected it to be?

The air is clean - trees are leafin’ out.

It’s turnin’ Spring I can tell.

My daughter plans to pick me up.

I hope my surgery goes well.

Repeat Chorus

So fast, time goes by, bye-bye…

Lyrics to “Empty Room”

So when I think of our love that has lasted all this time

I’m ashamed of the space that’s remained you can’t find.

It’s behind lock and key just one room in our home,

But it’s there where I retreat and it’s there I am alone.

Chorus:

The sound of my footsteps I fear

Echoes whenever I’m here.

Welcome to… my EMPTY ROOM.

You never knew I have tried to fill it up with what I can:

Borrowed threads of innocence on the legs of a younger man.

And when I dance for awhile the motion carries me away

To a place I do not know - to a trick I cannot play.

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

You deserve the best of everything I do.

I can’t have this scary void sneakin’ up on you.

It’s in that room I drink ‘em down to the point of no return.

Tipsy ways, missin’ days expecting no one to get burned.

And on the wall hangs a mirror that never shows its truth to me.

Just a passing glance at who I always thought I would be.

Alternate Chorus:

The sound of our footsteps recede.

Now that you know we can leave,

None too soon, my EMPTY ROOM;

None too soon, this EMPTY ROOM.

Lyrics to “Blend In”

I picked my little girl up from school. 

“How was your day?” “Daddy I’m such a fool”. 

“The girls I like won’t talk to me, they call my clothes insanity, 

All they say is “Hey, better BLEND IN”.

I listened and decided there and then. 

“How ‘bout we get some ice cream ‘round the bend. 

I know a place where scoopers sing, you can ask for anything – 

and they will try to blend it right in.”

So we hopped right up to the glass. 

My daughter wasn’t sure how to ask. 

We were there to have some fun, but she didn’t want to come off dumb, 

so she turned to me for advice. So here I come.

CHORUS

BLEND IN sprinkles, a few choice nuts, bring fireworks if you must. 

Stir in syrup, a chunk of cheese, don’t forget the pixie dust. 

Cuz this world will offer everythin’ as long as it’s vanillin. 

So if you want some taste, leave nothin’ there to waste. 

Find a way to use it and BLEND IN.

As we walked back to the car.

I asked her what she thought so far? 

Half the store was on her shirt, her waffle cone was in the dirt, 

but her smile was a mile long, and she sang this song.

REPEAT CHORUS

Find a way to use it, sometimes you don’t get to choose it; 

Find a way to use it and BLEND IN

Lyrics to “Aisle 23”

I must stay away from people when they group.

Another human being just going through these hoops.

The grocery store is on my list

It’s where I have to go

Bananas, water bottles, companionship

And one more spot I’ve come to know.

Chorus:

A short return to normalcy

Reading greeting cards starin’ back at me.

A place as bright ‘n cheery as I have ever seen.

All of my relations, neatly organized, in AISLE 23, AISLE 23.

I might even smile behind my two-ply mask.

Parties are forbidden; how long can all this last?

Daughter-in-law, a nephew, 

A friend I made at work.

For sympathy, a thank you, or when I’ve been a jerk.

Romantic-funny birthday, sappy to absurd.

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:

I have been that card waitin’ for someone to care.

Sometimes it’s hard knowin’ that I can’t be there.

Maybe you agree, we’re not fallin’ through the cracks

Still seein’ what were missin’, there among the racks.

Repeat Chorus 

That’s where I’ll be - in AISLE 23.

So much left to read - on AISLE 23.

Lyrics to “In A Flash”

We’ve had a great day here by the sea.

Toes in the sand and the parkin’ is free.

Wrapped in a towel we’re watchin’ the sun sink slowly.

CHORUS

Flash! Did you see the light?

Shine emerald green before our eyes?

Life still can be a surprise.

So, if you wanna play tonight (yeah-yeah)

IN A FLASH I am by your side.

I never thought I would see it for real.

So many times, there’s nothin’ to feel.

But here in your arms with a kiss my fate’s been sealed - what a deal.

CHORUS

Flash! I have seen the light

Shine emerald green within your eyes.

Love has a way to surprise.

So, if you wanna give it a try (yeah-yeah)

IN A FLASH I’ll be by your side.

BRIDGE

I’ll be by your side ‘til we realize the best is yet to come.

And though the night is dark we have lit a spark that brightens up the sun

And what we could become.

Now every day is the chance to love you

By thinkin’ of us in whatever I do.

I’m gonna learn fast, the past has slipped from view - it’s all new.

CHORUS

Flash! I have seen the light

Shine emerald green within your eyes.

Love still can be a surprise.

So, if you wanna give it a try (yeah-yeah)

IN A FLASH I’ll be by your side.

I’ll be by your side,

I’ll be by your side IN A FLASH, IN A FLASH.

By your side (IN A FLASH), by your side.