- A Lot of Good in There
- Enormously Inconvenient
- Happy for Myself
- Things Kids Figure Out
- It’s Good to Love Somebody
- Person of Character
- I’ll Be Me
- Lemonade Stand
- Place of Character
- What You Do
- High Achiever
- Give Us a Chance
- Greater Than Our Fears
- It Could’ve Been Me
- Everywhere All the Time
- I Don’t Want an Easy Life
- My Dog Brings Out the Best in Me
A Lot of Good In There
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)verse one:
Don’t mean to stare at her,
But her fine character
Is a curiosity.
Her smile is so spectacular,
I give it back to her.
Now she is hangin’ out with me.
She makes things better all over the world.
When we’re together, I learn a lot from this girl
‘Cause she’s…
chorus:
Trustworthy, responsible, generous, and fair.
A lot of good in there.
Respectful, so kind—a citizen extraordinaire.
A lot of good in there.
A lot of good in there.
verse two:
Breaks down a wall of lies.
His courage qualifies
For a medal and a band.
His heart is so incredible,
His busy head is full
Of plans to lend the world a hand.
His crazy rhythm makes everything fun.
When I work with him, we always get the job done
‘Cause he’s…
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
All the day through they do their best.
They pack accurate action—
They’re on the road to satisfaction.
(repeat chorus)
Enormously Inconvenient
words and music by Randy Sharp and Dave Kinnoin
©2013 With Any Luck Music (BMI) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
She’s too tall. He’s too white.
She speaks a language we’ve never spoken.
His beliefs just aren’t right.
Can’t play with her ’cause her body’s broken.
Funny how our minds get filled,
Building all the walls we build.
They are…
chorus:
Enormously inconvenient.
It takes a lot of work to do wrong.
Enormously inconvenient.
We could give it up and get along.
verse two:
He’s too rich. She’s too old.
He can’t be trusted ’cause he’s not from here.
He’s too shy. She’s too bold.
So keep him out. Never let her come here.
We know the walls don’t have to grow,
But we keep building, even though
They are…
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
If a simple smile can wear a wall down,
Maybe one of these days we’ll tear them all down.
(repeat chorus)
Happy for Myself
words and music by David Morgan and Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Honiest Pie Music (ASCAP) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
I found a twenty dollar bill
On the sidewalk by my favorite store.
I put it in my pocket,
Made my way right through the door
To the inside of the windows
I’d gazed through many times,
Where I’d never had the dollars,
Only had the dimes.
Thought about the old days
I’d wandered in this place.
This time it was different:
A smile was on my face.
I was…
chorus:
Happy for myself. Oh, lucky me.
Happy for myself that I should be
The one to have this opportunity.
I thought, “Why me,
Not somebody else?”
Happy for myself.
verse two:
I traveled down the many aisles
And saw the most amazing things,
And it was kinda like a dream
To hold what twenty dollars brings.
So many things I’d never seen
Or ever had the chance to do.
Now suddenly I had the means
To make my fantasies come true.
I thought about the money
I was holding in my hand,
How it opened up the doorway
To a magic land.
And I was…
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Out the window I could see
A kid who looked a lot like me.
verse three:
He had the saddest face of all.
I said, “Hey, man, what’s goin’ on?”
He said he’d lost his twenty bucks.
Just turned around, and it was gone.
He’d been savin’ up all year
To buy a present for his dad,
And that today there was a sale.
He’d lost every cent he had.
I thought of my good fortune
And everything I’d planned.
I took his twenty dollars,
Put it in his hand.
And I was…
(repeat chorus)
Things Kids Figure Out
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2013 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
It’s a tricky world, this world I find.
It hurts my heart, but I don’t mind.
I’ll get ahead or fall behind.
It’s up to me to grow my wings.
I believe if I stay strong,
Even when the road gets hard and long,
The world will hear the happy song
A winner sings.
It’s one of those…
chorus:
Things kids figure out—
A thought or feeling
In a whisper or shout.
Aha, so that’s what it’s all about!
One of those things kids figure out.
verse two:
Every breath I take is filled with hope.
I hold on to the thinnest rope.
Sometimes I have to scratch and grope
To touch the light tomorrow brings.
I have seen a flower peek
Through the rocky walls above the creek.
I search for what those petals seek:
Life’s offerings.
It’s one of those…
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Out in the wilderness
My parents say I’ll face one day,
They’re gonna see a kid like me
Can make a dream reality.
It’s Good to Love Somebody
words and music by Randy Sharp and Dave Kinnoin
©2013 With Any Luck Music (BMI) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
There you stand all by yourself.
You’re gonna be walkin’ any day.
Oh, the dreams that will awaken
When that little step is taken.
I can almost hear your daddy say…
chorus:
It’s good to love somebody.
This old world is better when you do.
It’s good to love somebody.
Oh, my, my, my somebody is you.
verse two:
Daddy stands on foreign soil.
He holds a big gun in his hand.
Leavin’ you’s not an easy thing.
He fights to help our freedom ring.
He truly hopes someday you’ll understand…
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
A soldier finally falls asleep,
Filled with promises to keep,
Missing home and family so much,
So much.
verse three:
Here we stand on a grassy hill.
We hear that lonesome bugle play.
Daddy can’t be here now,
But he wrote a few lines down,
We are proud to sing ’em out today.
He said…
(repeat chorus)
tag:
Oh, my, my, my somebody is you.
Person of Character
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
You’ve seen her with her big flashlight,
Helpin’ you find your dog
In the middle of the night.
You’ve seen him—that friend who stays
And helps you with your homework When it’s one of those days.
Oh, when the chips are down,
Oh, who rolls into town?
chorus:
A person of character.
I know you’ve seen him.
I know you’ve seen her.
They make things better
Than the way they were.
A person, person of character.
verse two:
You know him—he will always see
The very best in you—
What you’re aiming to be.
You know her—she will always choose
To tell the whole truth
When there’s so much to lose.
Oh, no matter what life deals,
Oh, each action reveals…
chorus two:
A person of character.
I know you’ve seen him.
I know you’ve seen her.
They make things better
Than the way they were.
bridge:
When nobody’s lookin’,
They’re at their best:
A good attitude and a noble quest.
When pushed to the limit,
They ace the test.
verse three:
Someone so brave and true
Is there in the mirror
Lookin’ back at you.
For always and evermore,
Livin’ an honest life
Is what your heart beats for.
Oh, stand up tall and proud.
Oh, sing it out loud:
(repeat chorus)
third chorus:
A person of character.
I know you’ve been him.
I know you’ve been her.
They make things better
Than the way they were.
A person—I want to be…
last chorus:
A person of character.
I know you’ve seen him.
I know you’ve seen her.
They make things better
Than the way they were.
A person, a person of character.
I’ll Be Me
words and music by Randy Sharp and Dave Kinnoin
©2013 With Any Luck Music (BMI) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
I sat on Grandma’s lap
Like I would always do
When somethin’ new was bothering me.
I told her someone laughed at me
‘Cause my beliefs will never be
The ones they hold.
Her sweet eyes rolled.
verse two:
She said when she was young,
She had a grandma, too.
“I was just like you,” she said with a wink.
“We never did quite figure out
What this old world was all about,
But there’s one thing we used to sing.”
chorus:
I’ll be me ’cause that’s who I wanna be,
No matter what some others might wanna see.
I smile and think,”No thanks, I’ll be me.”
verse three:
My grandma’s eyes got sad.
She said, “I’m sorry, dear,
No answers here,
But this I will say:
I think you’ll learn to get along
If you can trust this little song
And let it start to fill your heart.”
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
The years flew by in a finger snap.
My grandchild looks up from my lap.
verse four:
So now the time has come to let my wisdom flow.
I hardly know just what I might add.
So, I’ll do as my grandma did
And teach this wide-eyed little kid
What helped me grow
So long ago.
(repeat chorus)
Lemonade Stand
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
It is easy: Take some lemons,
Slice ’em and squeeze out a cup of juice,
Add a cup of sugar and five cups of water,
Add ice, stir it up.
verse two:
Not so easy: Take some bad stuff—
Something I don’t like that makes me sad—
Add a friend who listens and says they’re sorry.
Add hugs to soothe the ache.
Pretty soon, it’s time to take…
chorus:
My lemonade stand: I’ll sweeten the sour.
My lemonade stand: In this uncertain hour,
I won’t give up. I’ll let hope take my hand,
As I take my lemonade stand.
verse three:
Dad’s not workin’. He’s been lookin’
For a new job that I hope he gets.
Goes out every mornin’ and greets the sunrise.
He’s strong, very brave.
verse four:
I have lemons. I have sugar.
Plenty of water and paper cups.
Made a quirky sign: QUICK QUENCH FOR A QUARTER.
I smile at passersby, whistle a tune. It’s worth a try.
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Dad comes home, and he has some leads.
Goes to the kitchen, sees those lemon seeds,
And he hugs me, and I hug him.
last chorus:
Our lemonade stand: We’ll sweeten the sour.
Our lemonade stand: In this uncertain hour,
We won’t give up. We’ll let hope take our hand,
As we take our lemonade stand.
Our lemonade stand.
Place of Character
words and music by Oliver Kinnoin and Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Oliver Kinnoin Music (ASCAP) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
Here I am at Mt. Rushmore—four presidents
Carved in stone, always there when we need ’em.
Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln—
What were they thinkin’? We sure love freedom!
chorus:
Place of character—
Somewhere to go to feel the spirit.
Place of character—
My heart will know when I am near it.
verse two:
Here I am at Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge.
Hear the birds singin’ sweetly together.
Marshes, estuaries, unspoiled beauty.
It’s our duty to protect them forever.
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Anywhere can be a spot like this.
I know it’s up to me to be the change I want to see.
verse three:
Here I am at my school sports field—Sylvia and Tony,
Hans and Chris—playin’ fair, faces grinnin’.
Dao-ming, Shinya, Lea, Peyton—
Cooperatin’—everybody’s winnin’.
(repeat chorus)
What You Do
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2013 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
Could’ve been the first A in the family.
Red-circled 88 could’ve been a B.
With extra credit, it was an A because
You get to add two points, but the trouble was…
verse two:
Teacher scored the test wrong. It was an 83.
Even those extra points couldn’t raise that B.
A head is hangin’; the truth is clear.
There’s a hungry heart at a crossroads here.
chorus:
What you do,
What you do when nobody’s lookin’
Says a lot about you.
Tell me who,
Who still believes you gotta be true?
What you do when nobody’s lookin’
Says a lot about you.
verse three:
Kind of cool to realize, couple hours from now,
Dad could yell, “Way to go!” Mom could whisper, “Wow!”
When you’re a winner on a lucky break,
It can feel so good, you ignore the ache.
verse four:
Oh, you studied so hard, really did your best.
Now everyone’s linin’ up ’cause you gotta sign your test.
A hand is shakin’. It’s time to choose
What you’re gonna gain, what you’re willin’ to lose.
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
You never really know for sure
How much your honor can endure
Until you find the strength you lack
And swear that there’s no turning back.
(repeat chorus)
High Achiever
words and music by Christian Hoff and Dave Kinnoin
©2013 Logos Music (BMI) and Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
Someone wants to fight her
‘Cause her lie came back to bite her
And it’s kinda late to make amends.
Yeah, she knows she did it. Aw, but how can she admit it
Right there in front of all her friends?
She stands up in the spotlight to face those angry eyes.
She takes a breath. She’s scared to death.
She says, “I apologize.”
She’s a…
chorus:
High achiever bustin’ through doors that once were shut.
Big believer in doin’ what’s right no matter what.
It’s a beautiful sound
When a heartbeat turns this world around.
High achiever ’cause she never gives up.
verse two:
Someone’s in the water,
Someone’s precious little daughter,
And a wave is risin’ over her head.
That is when our hero, whose aquatic skills are zero,
Is frozen in a moment of dread.
There’s no one else to save her;
He knows it must be him.
He throws her a float. She rides it like a boat.
He scoops her up as she comes crashin’ in.
He’s a…
(repeat chorus—’Cause he at end)
bridge:
Sometimes I think, sometimes I think, about who I really am.
What am I made of? What am I afraid of?
Will I give it my best when I’m put to the test?
(repeat chorus—’Cause I at end)
Give Us a Chance
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2013 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
intro:
We’ve all come back
To meet you face to face.
What we did here last week
Was truly a disgrace.
We brought our plans and tools
And some supplies
To show you how sincerely
We apologize.
verse one:
Here is a wall we can paint.
Here is a bike we can fix.
We can be a lot of help,
And we’re not up to our old tricks.
We messed up. We did wrong.
We might be standin’
Where we don’t belong.
Yeah, we’re busted ,
Hard to be trusted,
But, hey, listen to our song.
chorus:
Give us a chance to do some good.
Earn our way back
To your neighborhood.
We’ll make it right again
And leave you smilin’ when
You give us a chance.
verse two:
Here is a wound we can heal.
Here is a choice we can make:
We can rise above the past
If you can see beyond our mistake.
We went wild, you got burned.
We’ll understand it
If your backs stay turned.
What we’re hopin’
Is you will be open
To our proving to you
What we’ve learned.
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
It’s important today
To do more
Than just say we’re sorry.
For us to feel okay,
There’s a debt we must pay.
(repeat chorus)
outro chorus:
Give us a chance to do some good.
Earn our way back
To your neighborhood.
We’ll make it right again.
(We’re hopin’ you will
Open up your hearts.)
We’ll make it right.
Just give us a chance.
Greater Than Our Fears
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2013 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
I used to be afraid to meet
Someone who looks like you.
I was surprised to hear your song—
I started singing, too.
We were both a bit amazed
Our voices fit so well.
Halfway through the second verse,
The walls of worry fell.
chorus:
We’re greater than our fears,
Stronger than our doubt,
Braver than we think
When our hearts reach out.
Happy people shout
As we dry our tears,
“We’re stronger than our doubt,
Greater than our fears.”
verse two:
I read our story to my class.
I wish you could have come.
I know that was not possible,
Given where you’re from.
What I get from school sometimes
Is difficult to tell.
I want you to know for sure
I learned your lesson well.
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Sometimes we have to stretch
One more inch or two
To see what’s most beautiful.verse three:
I’m gonna learn the song you wrote
And sang that day to me.
I’m gonna sing it for my town
And the world community.
I really hope we all will hear
The power we possess
To build the bridges that will lead
To a place of peacefulness.
(repeat chorus)
It Could’ve Been Me
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
I read about a girl who helped a homeless man.
At first she was afraid, but then she made a plan.
Her mom and dad and her brother helped her out.
They said that’s what a family is all about.
They got the job done.
The world is better than it would’ve been.
It got me thinkin’…
chorus:
It could’ve been me. It could’ve been me.
It could’ve been me who needed help that day,
Or me whose kind heart led the way.
It could’ve been me. It could’ve been me.
verse two:
I saw a powerful documentary
About a lonely boy who struggled endlessly,
Until a teacher discovered what was wrong,
And they worked and they worked, and before too long,
They got the job done.
The world is better than it would’ve been.
It got me thinkin’…
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Every day could go either way:
Will I need or lend a hand?
I’ll embrace every loving opportunity.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
chorus three:
It could’ve been me.
It could’ve been me.
It could’ve been me who needed help that day,
Or me whose kind heart led the way.
chorus four:
It could’ve been me. It could’ve been me.
I’ll always be ready to receive or give
The help that we all need to live.
It could’ve been me. It could’ve been me.
Everywhere All the Time
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2013 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
chorus:
Everywhere all the time,
My honor will always be mine.
Just watch me walk that line.
We’ll see what I can be
Everywhere all the time.
verse one:
Wherever I go, whatever I do,
I have a song that always rings true.
Whatever life may bring,
I live the words I sing.
No excuses, no exceptions,
Just my best in everything.
(repeat chorus)
verse two:
On top of the world or down in the pits,
I have a song that just never quits.
The road gets steep and long.
My will is fierce and strong.
No excuses, no exceptions,
Just a louder, clearer song.
(repeat chorus)
bridge:
Easy to talk,
Hard to walk that way.
It’s just fine to think and hope and feel and believe,
But it’s what I do that will say who I am.
(repeat chorus)
I Don’t Want an Easy Life
words and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2012 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
chorus:
I don’t want an easy life.
I’m proud to be a person of action.
I give it all I’ve got so I have my shot
At sweet satisfaction.
When everything seems hopeless,
And I feel strangled by the strife,
I push harder still with an iron will
‘Cause I don’t want an easy life.
verse one:
Give me a problem to solve.
Give me a mountain to climb.
Give me another heart that needs me,
And I make the time.
When I fall down hard and have to limp,
I stay the course ’cause I’m no wimp.
I find a way to reach the finish line.
‘Cause…
(repeat chorus)
verse two:
Give me a deadline to meet.
Give me a song I must write.
Give me a hammock full of hardship—
I stay up all night.
There’s no bumpy road I won’t embrace,
No chilling challenge I won’t face.
I take a breath and smile and hold on tight.
bridge:
Sometimes I kick back, go slack, rejuvenate.
I’ve always had a knack to attack,
Just in case something can’t wait.
(repeat chorus twice)
My Dog Brings Out the Best in Me
wwords and music by Dave Kinnoin
©2011 Song Wizard Music (ASCAP)
verse one:
I lose patience, act the fool.
Someone’s sweet nose keeps its cool.
I take a new look, and I see
My dog brings out the best in me.
verse two:
When I’m tempted to do wrong,
Someone’s big eyes keep me strong.
We must be proud of what I’ll be.
My dog brings out the best in me.
bridge:
There are roads that could be taken,
But I’m feelin’ beat.
Four paws mark the trail.
One wag of that tail,
And I’m back on my feet.
verse three:
We get achy in the joints,
And this old life disappoints.
We keep on hangin’ happily.
My dog brings out the best in me.
(repeat bridge)
verse four:
When we’re nappin’ side by side,
And we’re driftin’ deep and wide,
We’re goin’ somewhere wild and free.
From now till we’re a memory,
My dog brings out the best in me.