STOP

I stopped, cuz a fire burned down all my dreams

And my heart was about to tear at the seams

I stopped, cuz I wasn’t worth writing about

So why take the stage to amplify all of my doubt

So I stopped, so I stopped

I stopped cuz I ran out of all of my tools

Could barely afford to fill up my car with fuel

I stopped cuz my passion had left me for dead

A home full of silence meant words were just better unsaid

So I stopped, so I stopped, so I stopped

But I won’t stop for You, I won’t stop for You

I won’t stop for You, I won’t stop for You, for You

I stopped cuz I’m told that I can’t really sing

My demons were chanting a lie that grew louder within

(c) 2009 Koo Chung 

COUNTING

You only steal cuz you've been stolen from

But what you've taken from me can't belong to you

Love ain't a thing where you can force its hand

And a gift ain't a gift if the pricetag's still attached

So i'd see what I owe you

I'd see what I owe you

You wouldn't be just counting down the hours

You  wouldn't be just living day by day

You wouldn't be just loving w/ the pieces of a broken heart

If you'd let me be

Fragments of a nightmare on repeat

Pursuing dreams that were not meant for you or me

Settled for silence, when it's my turn to speak

I'm losing sight cuz i'm just too busy trying to see

To see what I owe you

To see what I owe you

I wouldn't be just counting down the hours

I wouldn't be just living day by day

I wouldn't be just loving w/ the pieces of a broken heart

If you'd let me be

Don't wanna be just counting down the hours

Don't wanna be just living day by day

Don't wanna be just loving w/ the pieces of a broken heart

So just let me be

Won't you let me be me

 (c) 2010 Koo Chung

RUN

"Maybe a month or two"

"Oh, I'd give it three"

The highest bid being placed

On my abandoning of dreams

(they’re saying)

Run while you've got a chance

Run while the door's wide open

Run while you're thinking straight

Run straight and free, run straight and free

 Holding out for an empty new

But now I'm starting to see

It's not about a guarantee

But remembering the need

Run while you've got a chance

Run while the door's wide open

Run while you're thinking straight

Run straight to me, run straight to me

Don't you remember

Don't you remember

Don't you remember me

Run while you've got a chance

Run while the door's wide open

Run while you're thinking straight

Run straight to me, run straight to me

(c) 2010 Koo Chung

THERE FOR YOU

We'll upgrade from this house in the suburbs

To a tiny apartment full of love

And if we sell the extra car to make the rent

I'll walk with you from this side of the state to the other end

When your ears are deafened by the words of haters

I'll whisper two truths for every single lie

And if you lose sight of the things that really matter

We'll talk the night away until you see it right

I'll be there for you

When hope is not in sight

I'll be there for you

Even when dreams don't take flight

When it's clear to me your eyes are full of worry

I'll remind you that i love how hard you try

the grass is greener only if we're staring out there

but we'll be fine here if we stand on the same side

I'll be there for you

When we can't put up a fight

I'll be there for you

Even when we're not alright

Oh, lay your weary head on me

No, you don't a owe a single thing, it's you i need

And one day i wish you'd say these things to me

 (c) 2012 Koo Chung

ANY OTHER WAY

It was fall 2008

I made a vow that I would stay

Your father placed your hand in mine

Said I would hold it till the end of time

Yet time had pulled us far apart

And far away from who we are

When winter came I'm sad to say

I'm the one who ran away

I was looking for a way out, on the way in

I was looking for someone to blame (but)

We're both wrong, and we're both right

But that won't even matter when

We're both through, we'll both lose

So i'm not waiting for that day

It's you and me and i can't see it any other way

We're a match in heaven made

But seldom do we feel that way

We sink behind the masquerade

With the weight of every day

We throw our words like jagged knives

Sharpened more with every fight

We cut the thread of man and wife        

But can we sow it up again this time

I’m not looking for a way out, but a way in

I’m not looking for someone to blame, cuz

We’ve damaged our sight, with fight vs flight

When it was me vs you

But I know this time, if we’re on the same side

We will see a way through

(c) 2013 Koo Chung

RUINS AND REMAINS

I believed that I was bold and fearless

But it's easy to deny what's underneath the surface

Ran from pain like I did not deserve it 

I've set fire to it all looking for a new beginning 

I've been staring at the ground at all the pieces

And this beauty burned down is what I'm living

So build it up, build it up brick by brick

Hope is shattered and i've fallen for the trick

That ruins and remains aren't worth keeping

Wasn't hard to build my own glass ceiling

Just believe in what you're told and live within that feeling

Begging time to wait and keep the light on

And I'm pleading in the dark, but it stops for no one

And I've been staring at the ground at all the pieces

And this beauty burned down is where i'm living

So build it up, build it up brick by brick

Hope is shattered and i've fallen for the trick

That ruins and remains aren't worth keeping

So build it up build it up though I am sick

All or nothing is a lie that I'm done with

Though i'm broken there is grace that keeps on giving

And if You're only for the ones who get it right

Then I won't even bother putting up a fight

(c) 2012 Koo Chung

SELAH

I'm nearly deaf

And I am far out at sea

Could barely hear Your voice

Calling to me

No turning back, no caving in

No starting all over again

Selah, Selah

When winter had its chance

And forced me to my knees

It stormed right in again

And stole recovery

No fighting back, no light within

No sense of direction pulling me in

Selah (It's more than I can stand)

Selah (Who do you think i am)

Selah (I just can't understand)

Selah (Who do you think i am)

Selah (I know you'll understand)

Selah (Who do you think I am)

Selah (Go on and take a stand)

Selah (Who do you think I am)

(c) 2010 Koo Chung

LETTERS FOR TOMORROW

Dear Dad

I meant to call you

We will mend every wound

You’ll walk your daughter down the aisle

One day you’ll be a funny grandpa too

Oooh oooh…

Dear Kenny, when you’re in Boston

I’ll be sure to visit you

You taught me commas do come first

But there’s a God who’s always coming through

Oooh oooh…

Dear Dan, come on over

Bring the wife and baby too

Let’s make more music when we can

And you’ll be playing on this album soon

Don’t wait until tomorrow…

But love with all you’ve got

And every word you choose

And when there’s nothing left

Love with everything you do

Dear Darling, I almost lost you

Another strike and we’d be through

I have wasted so much time

Saying everything but I love you

I won’t wait until tomorrow

But I’ll love with all I’ve got

And every word I choose

And when there’s nothing left

I’ll love with everything I do

(c) 2013 Koo Chung

BETTER BE YOU

The dirt in this place has filled my eyes

And I can't see, no I can't see a thing

Perhaps this next step will take me home

Or for all I know, lead me to certain death

Pretty Sunday, wooden pews

Word of God, healing for my soul

Friday night, rusty park bench

Laughter and addictions for my pain

Cause I don't know who's winning this tug of war

But it better be You, it better be You

For heaven's sake, my heart's about to rip in two

So it better be You, it better be You

Sometimes I don't know why You would fight

Take battle scars and waste Your angels on me

Cause when you ask me if I love You

In all I do, at best I say "I don't know"*

Cause I don't know who's winning this tug of war

So let it be You, let it be You

For heaven's sake, my heart's about to rip in two

So let it be You, let it be You

 (c) 2000 Koo Chung