Jack Betty

CALLING YOU OUT (by Jack Betty)  

I’m calling you out.  You’re never gonna change  
I’m sick of all the games.  I’m sick of all the pain  
Aint gonna let you take. Another single day  
No-o-o-o-o-o  

I waited far too long.  To get to this point  
I’m better off alone.  Better off without the hate  
Aint gonna let you take.  Another day away  

It’s time to break. Break away  
It’s time to break. Break away 

You keep pressuring me till I can barely breathe  
I desperately need to come up for some air 

 

CAN’T CRY TO ME (by Jack Betty)

Beat! Shoved down onto the ground last night.  He said “you’re dead if you make a sound”
So you prayed someone would bust through that door -far too terrified to open your mouth.
 
You can’t imagine anything any worse.  Your makeup hides the pain.
Cover it with that jacket.  No one will know, but you still can’t hide the shame.  No!
 
You have pushed me down the last time.  When you fall asleep tonight-
I won’t be there, your ego to feed.  I don’t need it.  I won’t take it.  No!
 
That jet engine purr finally puts me to sleep -flying high over Mexico.
I took nothing!  You took everything.  I’m starting over in Santiago.
 
I will not stand here waiting.  I’m so sick of second place and
I don’t care what your future brings as long as I’m not in it.
Do you feel like a man when you beat me till I’m bleeding?
Little boy, find your Mama.  You can’t cray to me no longer!
 
As that sun began to light up the sky
He realized the one he enslaved had escaped!
He’d never find someone half as good as you.
Nothing could contain his rage.
 

DON’T GIVE UP (by Jack Betty) 
Just a single thread that’s how my life’s hanging.   
There’s a choice to make before my heart stops beating. 
All I wanted to be was more like you.  
Now all I want to do; I just can’t say it 
  
Is that Hell ringing or Heaven’s choir singing?  Give me something to believe in.  
  
Someone save me.  I’m hanging off the edge, about to fall in. 
If I scream it louder will I make you prouder? I don’t know which way to go.  
  
Is that Hell ringing or Heaven’s choir singing?  Give me something to believe in. 
Erase me.  Replace me.  It would be so easy.  No one needs me.  
Scream this final prayer.  Is anybody there?  No one cares! 
  
An inch from the edge.  Ready to Jump.  A voice in my head says, “don’t give up”

GET IT RIGHT (by Jack Betty) 
This time I’m gonna get it right.  Practiced a thousand times  
So smooth and perfect (Ooh) -going down in history  
Black boots, leather jacket.  Tonight, pure magic! 
She’s gonna stop….. and put her hands on me  
   
That’s when I’ll break out that melody –  
that makes her want to dump him and marry me  
I’ve got that beat! She’ll feel it in her body  
Oh! Let’s get it started tonight  
   
All I need is half a chance.  Just give me one dance  
And by the end I know you’ll be begging for more  
All the other men in view, trying to get their hands on you  
Ain’t gonna have a chance because we’re gonna own the dance floor  
   
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh. Hands in the air  
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh.  Get over here  
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh.  Tonight it’s me and you  
Tell me what you want me to do  
   
When it all shuts down.  We’re gonna crash out that door  
Like we own the town.  What are we waiting for?  
Everybody’s gonna stare.  They ain’t never seen.  
Anyone like you and me  
   
Got my strut just right.  I can work it all night  
But that ain’t gonna happen, when that beat starts she’s gonna be walking  
Straight to me. Oh Yeah! Grabbing me by the neck  
Pulling me in so close that I don’t even know what’s happening  
   
Tonight I’m gonna get it right
 

I LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME (by Jack Betty) 

Another day races by 
A dozen laughs  -A couple cries 
You don’t know -How fast you grow 
In the blink of eye -It’s time to say goodbye 

I’ll teach you how to sing 
Your Mom will teach you how to dance 
I’ll be sure to make you tough 
She’ll be sure to doll you up 

When you strike out at your baseball game 
When your recital doesn’t go your way 
In the sunshine and the rain 
I love you just the same 

Another decade races by 
A house once full of muddy little footprints 
Now sits clean and cold and dry 
Those lonely piano keys 
That dusty old baseball glove now torn at the seams 
I just can’t throw it away 
I often miss those days 

It hasn’t been an easy road 
We’ve had our share of pain 
Even when you’re grown and gone 
Through the sunshine and the rain 

I love you just the same. I love you just the same
  

MY DISTRACTION 

I lie awake listening to the silence. I turn and see the world is on fire 

When the walls are coming down.  When I’m falling to the ground 

Will you be my distraction?   

The only thing I’m asking you is please don’t go 

I need to get away from it.   

You’re my medication, my escape.  Take me far away, my distraction 

When I just can’t take it.  When I’m not gonna make it. 

About to cross the finish line and collapse an inch away 

When the help ain’t coming.  When I’m on the run and 

Trying to get away from the past, the game, the pain 

I lie awake listening to the silence.   

Be my escape, my distraction

 

NO REGRETS

Life was made to knock you down.  Get yourself up 

Everywhere I go there’s a sea of people giving up 

I can’t say that I blame them when their dreams come to a stop (Get Yourself Up) 

Ooh, do you want to live with no regrets?  

Ooh, next time that you take a hit  

When the daylight’s fading.  When you feel like breaking 

How many times will you pick yourself back up? 

When there’s no tomorrow.  You gotta beg, steal or borrow  

How many times will you pick yourself back up?  

Put your knuckles on the pavement  

Grind overtime for that payment 

A dangerous mind you ain’t nothin to play with   

You treat them nickels like the haters tell em’ save it  

Thought you were hungry.  Get up man, you need this  

We don’t wait, we take, you gotta seize it  

This is your moment, you live it breathe it and dream it 

The rest are right behind you, you lead however you see fit 

This is for the nights when the lights wouldn’t come on 

For every empty fridge every time you had to look on 

I know it hurts.  I know it sucks.  Enough’s enough.  You go to work. Sleep in the truck.   

You’re never stuck 

You’re an immovable force.  You be the spark and let your kids carry the torch 

You stay the course and success will come and find you 

When you make it up the ladder don’t forget the ones behind you 

Nobody said life would be fair.  You’ve gotta fight for what you want  

So many times You heard the lies.  It’s time to finish what you start

SAY IT (by Jack Betty)  
Just one look.  That’s all it took to win.  Are you ready to begin right now?  
Why wait?  The stars will serenade.  Are you ready to escape this town?  

Just say it.  I’ll play it.  Your favorite song.   
It’s ringing.  You’ve got my heart beating. There’s no slowing down.  
   
You already know that it’s time to go.  
   
Take me to that higher place.  Free me from the pain.  
It’s not far.  It’s anywhere you are.  It calls our name.  
Say It. 
 

SECRETS (by Jack Betty) 
How many secrets are you capable of keeping? 
The first words out of your mouth; that’s what you asked me 
If you want to be a part of the circle 
How many secrets are you capable of keeping? 

Take a step back.  I’ll tell you when you’re older 
Come with me.  I’ll show you to the door 
Get into your car.  Drive it like you never 
Been around here.  Things ain’t getting better 
You’ve already seen more than you can handle 
Gonna make yourself scarce, never come around 
Take it to the grave.  Never talk about it 
Livin’ for the pain, ain’t never gonna get it 
This club’s not accepting new members 
The Red Tape won’t be gone by November 
Can’t you see; you don’t belong here 
This club’s not accepting new members 

Let me dumb this down for you 
I’ve got a certain reputation 
I just can’t afford to lose. 
If I encounter complication 
I won’t hesitate to make a mess out of your situation 
Keep it down.  Don’t say a word. 
Tell me if you misunderstand what I’m saying

SPECIAL KIND OF CRAZY (by Jack Betty)

I’ve got the cure for all the …. Madness 
Oooh, you’re a special kind of crazy.  I won’t pretend that I don’t like it 
I can’t tell by the look on your face if you’re about to slap me or give me a kiss but 
Oooh, you’re a special kind of crazy.  I like it 

Happy sad or somewhere in between anybody’s guess.  Are you coming in or going out the door? 
Content or wanting, now you’re overcomplicating, all I need is just a simple yes or no 

Hold on for dear life.  Might not make it through the night 
Slow and steady life never really mattered.  Is everything cool?  Or are you bout’ to shatter 
Oooh, you’re a special kind of crazy.  I like it 

Can’t tell what’s happening in your head.  I don’t care. 
Tonight I caught a wild one.  Dangerous.  What’s next? 
Identity crisis.  Tell me who’s the actor on the screen tonight 
Ain’t no doctor that can cure it 
I ain’t got no pill but I can make you feel right 
Oh I’ve got the cure 

Tell …. Me I can take it 
Go … ahead and break it.  Never liked it anyway 
Get away.  Pull me closer.  Start that fire.  Now it’s over 
Oooh… you’re a special kind of crazy.  I like it

WORKING FOR YOU (by Jack Betty) 

Oh.. Gotta punch that clock -but not one second before nine. No. 
The company ain’t about to pay -a single penny of overtime. No. 
Ooh.. How’s that working for you? Every day’s exactly the same 
Oh.. Gotta punch that clock -but not one second before nine 

Are you gonna -march like an ant to the colony? 
Are you gonna -shut your mouth when you disagree? 
Are you gonna -take that road less travelled on? 
Are you gonna -walk to the beat of a different drum? 

Oh.. use your “inside voice” -cause you’re not allowed to talk like that no 
Remain inside this tiny space.  Play nice and take a deep breath.  Now 
Oh!  Are you talking back to me? Your quota just doubled 
Wipe that grin off your face.  You seem like the type that’s gonna cause trouble 

Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh. Which way are you gonna go? 
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh. Which way are you gonna go? 

Just check your personality at the door -bite your tongue and don’t complain