This is a song I wrote for Kylie, a little advice from dad before she heads out into the world.
I hope you enjoy the memories as much as I had helping to make them.
From the mouth of Zach Bryan, I hope you don’t hate it.
Category: daughters
First and Lasts
As I sat on the tailgate of my daughters truck with her last night, a lot of emotions surfaced. How did this amazing young lady sitting beside me , a senior in high school, get this old, how did I get this old? How did she go from being Super Why, a werewolf, a zombie cowboy and all the others to studying psychology while we are handing out candy ?
How did we go from dressing up and walking the neighborhood trick or treating to sitting on the back of a tailgate handing out candy to other kids that their parents think they have all the time in the world?
They don’t.
You blink and it’s gone. You go from first steps and first words and first trick or treats to probably her last Halloween at home. And soon it’ll be her last Thanksgiving and last Christmas and her last year of school that I get to see her everyday.
First day of kindergarten to first day of Senior Year, first race to last cross country race, first concerts to hopefully not last concerts but I am sure friends will replace me, first game at Wrigley Field to, well we do have one more summer before college and hopefully some summers in between college years, first College Game Day at Ohio Stadium to, well there is a big game coming up in a few weeks so maybe College Game Day will be there and we will have one more.
Her first college acceptance official letter came today. The email came a few days ago. Another email came today accepting her to another school. And I’m sure in the next few days or weeks, or blinks of an eye, she will get accepted to the other three or four she’s applied to. It’s nice to have choices.
But we almost know for sure where she will go. Far enough away to not see her often but close enough where she can still come back home on a weekend, if she wants too.
But more than likely she won’t be coming home to the same house she left, the house she grew up in.
A lot of changes are coming our way. Some good, some not so good. Some happy, some sad.
But like a book, life has its beginnings and its different chapters that somehow all come together to make a wonderful story. And as all stories end, new beginnings begin.
But for now there’s still a few more chapters to read in this book. Then it’ll go up on the shelf of memories and another book will be opened up.
I really have enjoyed being the dad in this book. I am thankful.
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Wish I Was Enough
Here is a song I wrote the words to and was lucky enough to have Mikalyn Hay and her producer Chris Grey do all the hard work for me and turn it into a song. Be sure to check out Mikalyn on Youtube and Spotify and other streaming services for other music by her, she is very talented.
I was told I should use a stage name for this one so I chose Win Thomas, combination of two of my favorite characters in books I like to read, as my artist name.
But it is still me.
I am still in the process of trying to get it “out there” and send it to radio stations and all that.
For those of you with Spotify, here is a link for it as well. It is available on all streaming services across the world as well. Just search up artist name Win Thomas.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/7yXvM0a6D272jCwTQct5tG
If you like it, please feel free to share it.
Let me know what you think. I appreciate you taking the time to listen.
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Break Down The Walls
Break down the walls
Keep your head high in the halls
It’s the finish, not the start
Always run with your heart
Take your time, go slow
He will never be called a ho
Always be honest, never lie
If that boy makes you cry
Don’t answer when he calls
Break down those walls
Life isn’t always easy
Raising a family is a lot of responsibility
Children can bring you joy
Make sure that man isn’t a boy
It takes a village to raise them
Make mistakes but don’t make them again
Setbacks and failures make you strong
Admit the truth when you are wrong
When the city streets get cold
Take a drive out on a backroad
Always be your self
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Sit down with a good book
Learn to cook
Do your own laundry
Life isn’t always easy
When you are losing your mind
Remember to always be kind
Everyone is fighting their own war
I love you but God loves you more
Climb a mountain, swim in the ocean
Rest, but get back in motion
Drive through the fly over states
Life is short, don’t wait
When you need something to believe in
Remember that you are loved and forgiven
Learn how to forgive
It is then you can truly live
There are people who suffer
Don’t make their life tougher
Always reach out with a helping hand
Against the wrongs, take a stand
When you think you’ve given it all
Give a little more and break down the walls
Smile more, worry less
Always do your best
Write poetry, sing out loud
Be humble but be proud
Slow down, take a deep breath
Smell the roses, it’s okay to rest
Watch the sunrise at dawn
Call your parents before their gone
Watch the beauty of a sunset
Give more when you have nothing left
Watch the colors change on the leaves
Always follow your dreams
Go outside on a sunny day
Be like a child and dance in the rain
Put your phone down and look around
There are wonderful things to be found
Don’t be afraid of the quiet
Protect the climate
Plant a tree
Live free
Don’t do drugs
Give more hugs
You don’t have to be a star to shine
Don’t follow, lead the line
Always do what’s right
In the darkness, you can be the light
Fall slowly, love deep
Your promises always keep
Don’t run before you crawl
Fight to get up when you fall
You’ll learn the most when you fail
Keep on running if you’re going through hell
When you lost your way
Keep your faith
Always have hope
I am here I hope you know
Learn to hit a curve-ball
Toss a pigskin in the fall
Don’t give in to peer pressure
Remember that you are a treasure
Be vulnerable, be strong
Problems never last long
Get on your knees and pray
Again, call your parents before it’s too late
Live a life with no regrets
You are loved, never forget
When it’s my time to go, let me go
Promise to keep the memories though
Always laugh, always love
Always hope, always trust
Listen for God’s call
And break down the walls
What Will You Tell Her by Mickey Guyton-
Becoming Me by Matthew West –
Paving The Runway by JJ Heller-
Dear Me by Nichole Nordeman-
Hang In The Girl by Ashley McBride-
Dear Daughter by Halestorm-
Worthy by Indie.Arie-
Broken & Beautiful by Kelly Clarkson-
Girl In The Mirror by Bebe Rexha-
Future Me by Echosmith –
Impossible is Possible by Black Violin –
Homecoming Queen by Kelsea Ballerini-
Stronger by Fearless Soul-
Be The Change You Wisht To See by Fearless Soul-
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She Calls Me Pops
I wrote this one awhile ago, thought I would repost it in case the last one was too dark for you.
She calls me Pops
And I call her Dots
I say I love you lots
She just smiles and walks away
One of those games she likes to play
But I know she loves me, even if she doesn’t say
We were close through the early years
Over football we bonded through the cheers
When we lost, we even shared a few tears
Two peas in a pod, we were thick as thieves
At night I would be on my knees
Praying to God don’t let her change, please
But now she says this is what teenagers do, we rebel
I say, ” But you are not a teenager, you are only twelve.”
Then she does an uugggh or some kind of tribal yell
But I know this time is only temporary
Because I’ve been through it before, her sisters and me
So I let it go and wait for the time when she will see
That good old pops was smarter than she thinks
And not everything I do really stinks
Because it will be over before she blinks
Then one day on her wedding day
I will be the one who gives my dots away
We’ll be on the dance floor when the music starts to play
She’ll look at me and say “hello pops”
And I’ll smile at her and say “hello dots”
Maybe, just maybe, she will say I love you lots
Short Are The Years by Jason Crabb-
Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman-
Fast by Luke Bryan –
My Last Breath by Black Stone Cherry-
Female by Keith Urban –
Woman, Amen by Dierks Bentley –
Gracie by Ben Folds-
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Daughters
I have four daughters and two grand-daughters. I have tried to get the words together about women and self-esteem and about being loved and accepted by God but I can’t seem to get out what I want to say. I did remember reading something a long time ago on Facebook and I couldn’t recall where I saw it. I looked on Boundless and Proverbs 31 but nothing. I searched and searched and just when I was about to give up, my wife had a Facebook memory come up two days ago and guess what was on it? The thing I was looking for that she had shared so now I know what the site is and where to look. Yes, it is amazing how God works. Just when I was about to give up my search, there it was. Anyway, it is called the Loop and I think every woman should read their posts just to know who they are in God.
Here it is:
You are Beautiful
My daughter, you are the one I made. You are the one I crafted. You are the one I adorn with garlands, with beauty I see, with beauty that sweeps Me off my feet.
I love you.
I love you.
And there is not guilt and cost and expectation in it. I love you because I do. You can’t alter it. You can’t change Me. You are what I have made, and I love what I have made.
Look up now, not down. I mean this:
I love you.
Like this.
How you are.
Right now.
There is nothing to chase down, my love. There is nothing to earn or improve or repair. I create. I heal what I have made. Let me lean in, place my hand upon your heart.
I was there when you believed, for the first time, you weren’t beautiful. I was there, the second time, and the next time, too. I want you to know, I was there.
I was there when my daughter, whom I crafted, whom I adore, whom I formed and designed and shape ever still, believed she was less than what she should be. Less perfect, less valued, less worthy than. . . Less than whom? Less than what, my daughter?
You are beautiful because I made you. You are exquisite because I shaped you. You are worthy because I say so. I chose you. I chose to make you.
You.
And daughter, I don’t make mistakes.
My love, hold my hand. See how I extend it to you, and I love to be with you.
My beautiful one.
My daughter.
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14).
You Are Made To Shine by The Sonflowerez –
Dove Real Beauty Sketches –
My Dear by Matty Mullins –
Daughter Of The King by Tricia Brock –
Who I Am by Blanca –
His Daughter by Molly Kate Kestner –
Flawless by MercyMe –
More Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz –
Dear Daughter by Halestorm –
Furious Love by Veridia –
So Beautiful by Superchick –
Aim Higher by The Browns –
My God, My Music, My Life 