Session One 2025 Lyric Contest Winners

Congratulations to all our Session One 2025 Lyric Contest winners. Read the winning lyrics for first through fourth place, below.

CLICK HERE to enter the 2025 Session Two Lyric Contest.

1st Place – “Letting Go”

By: Brad McKinney, Kelly Walls & Troy Thomas Walls

V
Eight pounds , three ounces, weight of the world in my hands
The doctor said “She’s beautiful, congratulations Dad!
Now it’s time to take her back, when we’re done we’ll let you know”
And It was hard, letting go

Brown curls in a ribbon, tiny Barney backpack
The first of many PB&J’s with an apple in a sack
The teacher took your hand from mine and said “We got this Dad, go home”
And it was hard, letting go

CH:
I hope I let you fly enough to let you fall
Because to hold you and not hold you back was the hardest thing of all
And all a daddy knows
Is holdin’ on
and lettin’ go

V
White dress, chapel bells, and you smilin at me
A good man at the altar, tear rollin’ down his cheek
And I couldn’t be more proud, and he’ll take care of you I know
But it’s hard letting go

REPEAT CHORUS

V
“Just married” on the window, cans hanging by a string
Now I know just what they mean when they tell you don’t blink
Cause I’m this close to watchin my whole world roll down the road
And it’s hard letting go

OUTRO
Yeah, all a daddy knows
Is holdin’ on
and lettin’ go

Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:

2nd Place – “Easier Done Than Said (Version 2)”

By: Matthew Yedlin

(Verse 1)
I would walk on red-hot coals
To prove my love for you is real
But it just ain’t nature’s way
For a man to always say
What he feels.
I know it drives you crazy
When my feelings go unspoken
I know you’d like to fix me
But honey, I ain’t broken
I’m just a man
And…

(Chorus)
I’ll hold your hand in public
I’ll ask for directions when we’re lost
I’ll pop champagne and buy you dinner
No matter what the cost
And when I fumble with the words
Both in and out of bed
It doesn’t mean I love you less
It’s just easier done than said

(Verse 2)
You so deserve to feel loved
And Babe, I’m doin’ all I can
But I’m a male born and bred
Always leading with my head
I can’t pretend.
So, when edges of my heart seem rough
I swear I’ll keep on tryin’
And when my walls go up
I promise I will climb ‘em
And as you help me grow
Just know…

(Chorus)
I’ll hold your hand in public
I’ll ask for directions when we’re lost
I’ll pop champagne and buy you dinner
No matter what the cost
And when I fumble with the words
Both in and out of bed
It doesn’t mean I love you less
It’s just easier done than said

(Bridge)
Tender words, they don’t come easy
But I know I got it in me
Just need a little time
To learn some TLC
I’ve been afraid to share my heart
But now I’m moving past the fear
Soon I’ll pull out all the stops
And say the words you need to hear

And when romantic flames ignite
I’ll know I finally got it right
Satiating all your needs
Not just with words, but also deeds
So always know…

(Chorus)
I’ll hold your hand in public
I’ll ask for directions when we’re lost
I’ll pop champagne and buy you dinner
No matter what the cost
And when I fumble with the words
Both in and out of bed
It doesn’t mean I love you less
It’s just easier done than said

I love you, Babe

3rd Place – “Hanging This Hangover on You”

By: Paul Sharpe

“Hangin This Hangover On You”
This time it’s really over
You packed your truck and said we’re through
Now I’m back at this bar
Tippin em’ back, not much else I can do
You broke this cowboy’s heart
But the blame is on you

Girl, you took your love ‘n
But I got a bartender keep em’ coming
You slammed the door and said goodbye
But I got this whiskey keep ‘n me warm tonight
Gonna tell the whole bar what you put me through
I win, you lose
Cause I’ll be hangin this, hangin this hangover on you

I can’t believe you left with no warning
Now I wake up in this bed all alone every morning
So what you threw away that ring
After a few more shots of Jack, girl I won’t feel a thing

Cause, you took your love ‘n
But I got a bartender keep em’ coming
You slammed the door and said goodbye
But I got this whiskey keep ‘n me warm tonight
Gonna tell the whole bar what you put me through
I win, you lose
Cause I’ll be hangin this, hangin this hangover on you

Yeah, money don’t matter, I’ll be spending every dime
Hell, it might take all night but this whiskey gonna get me right

Cause, you took your love ‘n
But I got a bartender keep em’ coming
You slammed the door and said goodbye
But I got this whiskey keep ‘n me warm tonight
Gonna tell the whole bar what you put me through
I win, you lose
Yeah, I’ll be hangin this, hangin this hangover on you
Hangin this hangover on you

Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:

4th Place – “Barroom Preacher”

By: Tim O’Connell

He came into the tavern and placed his Bible on the bar.
And I heard somebody ask him, “Hey, do you know where you are?”
He looked around and stood his ground and said, “Indeed I do.
I used to be a drinking man like you.

“But now I
thump this Bible, and I
preach at revivals, and I
spread the Word from town to town.
Once the
good Lord gets you, son, He
won’t forget you.
He’ll be right there with you any time you’re down.
Now, it might
be surprising I’m e-
vangelizing in this rundown little Godforsaken bar.
But if you’re
saving sinners, then it
only figures that you’ve got to go to where the sinners are.””

He said, “A traveling preacher is all I’ll ever be,
but it was good enough for Jesus, and it’s good enough for me.
I don’t need a megachurch with a hundred-person choir.
A few lost souls is all that I require.

(Chorus) “That’s why I
Thump this Bible, and I . . .

When I heard that barroom preacher, I was on a three-day drunk,
praying for deliverance from the depths to which I’d sunk.
His words were like a burning beacon showing me the way.
My life was changed forever on that day.

(Chorus) So now I
Thump this Bible, and I . . .”

Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:

Honorable Mentions:

“Bitter Left Unsaid”
By BJ Robinson

“I STILL SEE HOME”
By Debra Kim Wolf

“Loved You More”
By Randi Driscoll

“Midnight Romeo”
By Ryan Orr

“My Country People”
By Mary Zalla, Mason Douglas, Parker Francis

“October Always Leaves”
By Daniella Bozur

“Rather Be Lonely”
By Madeline Hutchinson

“Seasons”
By Arianna Pappas, Joseph Wandass IV, Julia Morey

“SHE DRIVES”
By Mark Elson, Chris Clifford

“The Devil In The Bottle”
By Terry Hallock

“Virginia Anymore”
By Carl Rubino