Brittany Benko

Professional Subscriber to Songbay
Brittany Benko

Verse 1

Screen door sings when you walk inside
Cicadas keep time with the evening sky
Mama's got a pie on the windowsill
Says, "Honey, eat first, then tell me how you fell."
Neighbors wave like they're kin to you
Even if they don't know your name, it true
Around here a stranger's just a friend
Who hasn't been fed yet, so come on in

Chorus

Pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Verse 2

Grandad's stories rock on slow
Like a porch swing learning how to grow
We say grace before the sun goes low
Thank the Lord for what we don't yet know
Storms may roll and trucks may stall
But someone's coming when you call
We don't ask much, just who you are
And if you take your sugar with or without

Chorus

Pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Bridge

We don't lock doors, we lock in hope
Tie loose ends with a length of rope
Kindness here ain't bought or sold
It's handed down like Sunday clothes

Verse 3

When you leave, you won't leave light
There's leftovers packed for the road tonight
And a blessing folded in your sleeve
Just in case you forget to believe

Final Chorus

So pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Pull Up a Chair

Verse 1

I learned to smile in a cracked-up mirror
Lipstick on a bruise of doubt
Every cheer I borrowed from the daylight
Left a quieter echo in my mouth
But in the hallway of my breathing
There's a room I used to hide
Now I'm learning how to knock there
Instead of passing by

Pre-Chorus

I was taught to fear the corners
Where the floorboards softly creak
But every ghost I called a monster
Was just waiting to be seen

Chorus

I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The midnight thoughts, the silent pleas
The broken notes in my melody
They taught my heart its gravity
I don't need to bleach the night away
To earn the right to greet the day
I'm loving the darkest parts of me
Because that's where the light learned my name

Verse 2

There's a wildfire in my chest
That I used to try to tame
But ashes write a better story
Than a perfectly behaved flame
I've cried in languages with no vowels
Just salt and shaking air
But even tears are just proof
That something still cares

Pre-Chorus

Every scar is just a sentence
From a book I'm brave to read
Every pause between the pages
Is where I learned to breathe

Chorus

I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The midnight thoughts, the silent pleas
The broken notes in my melody
They taught my heart its gravity
I don't need to bleach the night away
To earn the right to greet the day
So, I'm loving the darkest parts of me
Because that's where the light learned my name

Bridge

If I only praised the sunrise
I'd never thank the stars
For teaching me direction
When I couldn't see too far
The night held my trembling hands
Said, "Stay. You're not alone."
And in that quiet bravery
I finally came home

Final Chorus

Now I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The fierce, the frail, the almost free
The echoes wrapped in bravery
The truths I whispered secretly
I don't need to rewrite my scars
They're constellations, not just marks
I'm loving the darkest parts of me
They're not my cage
They're my spark

Where the Light Learns my Name

Snow's falling down on the old town square
Lights in the windows, love in the air
Everyone's rushing, wrapping their dreams
But I found my joy in simpler things

No silver, no gold, no grand design
Just your hand resting close to mine

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the bells to chime in tune
I don't need a thing this time
If I'm spending it with you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
It all feels brand new
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Carols drift slowly down the street
Echoes of laughter, hearts that meet
The tree's half lit, but I don't mind
Your eyes outshine what's left behind

Forget the ribbons, forget the bows
You're the only gift my heart knows

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the bells to chime in tune
I don't need a thing this time
If I'm spending it with you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
It all feels brand new
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Maybe next year we'll hang more lights
Maybe we'll dance through silent nights
But for now, here in your arms I've found
The peace they all sing about

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the snow to fall on cue
All I want this Christmas time
Is the warmth of holding you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
My heart still rings true
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Only Need You for Christmas


Latest Uploads

Verse 1

Screen door sings when you walk inside
Cicadas keep time with the evening sky
Mama's got a pie on the windowsill
Says, "Honey, eat first, then tell me how you fell."
Neighbors wave like they're kin to you
Even if they don't know your name, it true
Around here a stranger's just a friend
Who hasn't been fed yet, so come on in

Chorus

Pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Verse 2

Grandad's stories rock on slow
Like a porch swing learning how to grow
We say grace before the sun goes low
Thank the Lord for what we don't yet know
Storms may roll and trucks may stall
But someone's coming when you call
We don't ask much, just who you are
And if you take your sugar with or without

Chorus

Pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Bridge

We don't lock doors, we lock in hope
Tie loose ends with a length of rope
Kindness here ain't bought or sold
It's handed down like Sunday clothes

Verse 3

When you leave, you won't leave light
There's leftovers packed for the road tonight
And a blessing folded in your sleeve
Just in case you forget to believe

Final Chorus

So pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Pull Up a Chair

Verse 1

I learned to smile in a cracked-up mirror
Lipstick on a bruise of doubt
Every cheer I borrowed from the daylight
Left a quieter echo in my mouth
But in the hallway of my breathing
There's a room I used to hide
Now I'm learning how to knock there
Instead of passing by

Pre-Chorus

I was taught to fear the corners
Where the floorboards softly creak
But every ghost I called a monster
Was just waiting to be seen

Chorus

I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The midnight thoughts, the silent pleas
The broken notes in my melody
They taught my heart its gravity
I don't need to bleach the night away
To earn the right to greet the day
I'm loving the darkest parts of me
Because that's where the light learned my name

Verse 2

There's a wildfire in my chest
That I used to try to tame
But ashes write a better story
Than a perfectly behaved flame
I've cried in languages with no vowels
Just salt and shaking air
But even tears are just proof
That something still cares

Pre-Chorus

Every scar is just a sentence
From a book I'm brave to read
Every pause between the pages
Is where I learned to breathe

Chorus

I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The midnight thoughts, the silent pleas
The broken notes in my melody
They taught my heart its gravity
I don't need to bleach the night away
To earn the right to greet the day
So, I'm loving the darkest parts of me
Because that's where the light learned my name

Bridge

If I only praised the sunrise
I'd never thank the stars
For teaching me direction
When I couldn't see too far
The night held my trembling hands
Said, "Stay. You're not alone."
And in that quiet bravery
I finally came home

Final Chorus

Now I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The fierce, the frail, the almost free
The echoes wrapped in bravery
The truths I whispered secretly
I don't need to rewrite my scars
They're constellations, not just marks
I'm loving the darkest parts of me
They're not my cage
They're my spark

Where the Light Learns my Name

Snow's falling down on the old town square
Lights in the windows, love in the air
Everyone's rushing, wrapping their dreams
But I found my joy in simpler things

No silver, no gold, no grand design
Just your hand resting close to mine

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the bells to chime in tune
I don't need a thing this time
If I'm spending it with you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
It all feels brand new
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Carols drift slowly down the street
Echoes of laughter, hearts that meet
The tree's half lit, but I don't mind
Your eyes outshine what's left behind

Forget the ribbons, forget the bows
You're the only gift my heart knows

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the bells to chime in tune
I don't need a thing this time
If I'm spending it with you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
It all feels brand new
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Maybe next year we'll hang more lights
Maybe we'll dance through silent nights
But for now, here in your arms I've found
The peace they all sing about

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the snow to fall on cue
All I want this Christmas time
Is the warmth of holding you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
My heart still rings true
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Only Need You for Christmas

I see the cracks in all my pieces
Trying to hold what's falling through
I chase the light but lose my reason
When the world says I'm not enough for you
Every mirror tells a story
Of a heart that's torn in two
But your mercy whispers softly,
"I was broken once for you"

I just want to feel enough
In this world that's come undone
I've been reaching, I've been bleeding
But you're the healing one
When I'm empty, you are full
When I'm weak, you pull me through
Oh, Lord, I'll rest in knowing
I'm enough for you

All my striving turns to silence
When I see what you have done
You called the lost, you loved the broken
You said, "Child, you are my son"
I don't have to earn your favor
Your grace already proved it's true
Every scar on your hands tells me
I was always enough for you

I just want to feel enough
In this world that's come undone
I've been reaching, I've been bleeding
But you're the healing one
When I'm empty, you are full
When I'm weak, you pull me through
Oh Lord, I'll rest in knowing
I'm enough for you

You don't see my failures
You see the cross
You don't count what I've lost
You count the cost
You call me worthy
You call me new
Jesus, I am enough in you

Now I know I'm enough
Because your love has overcome
You're my reason, you're my freedom
You're the risen son
When I'm empty, you are full
When I fall, you make me new
Oh, Lord, forever knowing
I'm enough for you

In this broken world
You make me whole
And I'm enough for you

Enough for You

The lights are hung, the world is glowing
But my heart's still barely showing
Every carol feels a little too slow
Every breath of wind feels like your hello

The cocoa's warm, but my hands are cold
An empty chair, a story untold
The fire burns, but it doesn't feel right
It's just me and the quiet tonight

It's snow without you, falling soft and blue
Every flake reminds me what I'm missing with you
The trees still sparkle, but it's just for show
Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas alone

The clock strikes twelve, the world's asleep
I count the stars I couldn't keep
Stockings hang like ghosts on the wall
Flashbacks of memories
That is all

I tell myself you're somewhere warm
While I weather this quiet storm
Your memory hums like a faded song
And I still can't help but to sing along

It's snow without you, falling soft and blue
Every flake reminds me of what I'm missing with you
The trees still sparkle, but it's just for show
Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas alone

Maybe next year you'll come back home
And this house won't feel like stone
Then I'll light one candle's glow
For the love I lost in the falling snow

it's snow without you
Quiet, cold, and true
Another year I'm learning to make do
The lights are shining, but the feeling's gone
Christmas don't feel like Christmas
Without you, I'm alone

Snow Without You

I packed my dreams in a midnight car
Left the key and my heart in a mason jar
Mom said, "Call when you land on your feet"
But I'm still learning what that means
I've been chasing light through the city haze
Lost a little faith but I found my grace
Every wrong turn's a lesson learned
Every bruise a badge I've earned

I don't need saving
I'm not breaking
Just rearranging who I'm becoming

Now I'm on my own, feels like freedom
Dancing with the unknown, I don't need him
Writing my name in the sky
No one to tell me how high to fly
It's a little scary, I'll admit
But every heartbeat's got me in it
I'm finally home
On my own

I make mistakes, but I make them loud
Learn to stand tall when I face the crowd
Used to cry when the nights got long
Now I just turn it into a song
Got a playlist for my growing pains
Got the courage running through my veins
Every "no" taught me how to fight
Every tear turned into light

And I'm not lonely
I'm just slowly
Building the woman I always wanted to be

Now I'm on my own, it feels like freedom
Dancing with the unknown, I don't need him
Writing my name in the sky
No one to tell me how high to fly
It's a little scary, I'll admit
But every heartbeat's got me in it
I'm finally home
On my own

I used to measure love by who stayed
Now I measure it how I'm brave
Every sunrise feels brand new
I finally know what I can do

Now I'm on my own, feels like freedom
Wild heart, wide open---I believe in
Every stumble, every climb
I'm the rhythm and the rhyme
it's a little scary, I'll admit
But this life's mine, every minute
I'm finally home
On my own

On My Own

My Uploads

Verse 1

Screen door sings when you walk inside
Cicadas keep time with the evening sky
Mama's got a pie on the windowsill
Says, "Honey, eat first, then tell me how you fell."
Neighbors wave like they're kin to you
Even if they don't know your name, it true
Around here a stranger's just a friend
Who hasn't been fed yet, so come on in

Chorus

Pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Verse 2

Grandad's stories rock on slow
Like a porch swing learning how to grow
We say grace before the sun goes low
Thank the Lord for what we don't yet know
Storms may roll and trucks may stall
But someone's coming when you call
We don't ask much, just who you are
And if you take your sugar with or without

Chorus

Pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Bridge

We don't lock doors, we lock in hope
Tie loose ends with a length of rope
Kindness here ain't bought or sold
It's handed down like Sunday clothes

Verse 3

When you leave, you won't leave light
There's leftovers packed for the road tonight
And a blessing folded in your sleeve
Just in case you forget to believe

Final Chorus

So pull up a chair, set your worries down
There's always room in this little town
We pass the peace like a mason jar
Full of yes ma'ams and how y'all are
If your heart's been running thin
We'll stitch it up with a handshake grin
It ain't fancy, but it's honest art
That southern hospitality, straight from the heart

Pull Up a Chair

Verse 1

I learned to smile in a cracked-up mirror
Lipstick on a bruise of doubt
Every cheer I borrowed from the daylight
Left a quieter echo in my mouth
But in the hallway of my breathing
There's a room I used to hide
Now I'm learning how to knock there
Instead of passing by

Pre-Chorus

I was taught to fear the corners
Where the floorboards softly creak
But every ghost I called a monster
Was just waiting to be seen

Chorus

I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The midnight thoughts, the silent pleas
The broken notes in my melody
They taught my heart its gravity
I don't need to bleach the night away
To earn the right to greet the day
I'm loving the darkest parts of me
Because that's where the light learned my name

Verse 2

There's a wildfire in my chest
That I used to try to tame
But ashes write a better story
Than a perfectly behaved flame
I've cried in languages with no vowels
Just salt and shaking air
But even tears are just proof
That something still cares

Pre-Chorus

Every scar is just a sentence
From a book I'm brave to read
Every pause between the pages
Is where I learned to breathe

Chorus

I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The midnight thoughts, the silent pleas
The broken notes in my melody
They taught my heart its gravity
I don't need to bleach the night away
To earn the right to greet the day
So, I'm loving the darkest parts of me
Because that's where the light learned my name

Bridge

If I only praised the sunrise
I'd never thank the stars
For teaching me direction
When I couldn't see too far
The night held my trembling hands
Said, "Stay. You're not alone."
And in that quiet bravery
I finally came home

Final Chorus

Now I'm loving the darkest parts of me
The fierce, the frail, the almost free
The echoes wrapped in bravery
The truths I whispered secretly
I don't need to rewrite my scars
They're constellations, not just marks
I'm loving the darkest parts of me
They're not my cage
They're my spark

Where the Light Learns my Name

Snow's falling down on the old town square
Lights in the windows, love in the air
Everyone's rushing, wrapping their dreams
But I found my joy in simpler things

No silver, no gold, no grand design
Just your hand resting close to mine

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the bells to chime in tune
I don't need a thing this time
If I'm spending it with you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
It all feels brand new
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Carols drift slowly down the street
Echoes of laughter, hearts that meet
The tree's half lit, but I don't mind
Your eyes outshine what's left behind

Forget the ribbons, forget the bows
You're the only gift my heart knows

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the bells to chime in tune
I don't need a thing this time
If I'm spending it with you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
It all feels brand new
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Maybe next year we'll hang more lights
Maybe we'll dance through silent nights
But for now, here in your arms I've found
The peace they all sing about

I don't need the stars to shine
Or the snow to fall on cue
All I want this Christmas time
Is the warmth of holding you
The fire can fade, the lights can dim
My heart still rings true
I don't need the world this Christmas
I only need you

Only Need You for Christmas

I see the cracks in all my pieces
Trying to hold what's falling through
I chase the light but lose my reason
When the world says I'm not enough for you
Every mirror tells a story
Of a heart that's torn in two
But your mercy whispers softly,
"I was broken once for you"

I just want to feel enough
In this world that's come undone
I've been reaching, I've been bleeding
But you're the healing one
When I'm empty, you are full
When I'm weak, you pull me through
Oh, Lord, I'll rest in knowing
I'm enough for you

All my striving turns to silence
When I see what you have done
You called the lost, you loved the broken
You said, "Child, you are my son"
I don't have to earn your favor
Your grace already proved it's true
Every scar on your hands tells me
I was always enough for you

I just want to feel enough
In this world that's come undone
I've been reaching, I've been bleeding
But you're the healing one
When I'm empty, you are full
When I'm weak, you pull me through
Oh Lord, I'll rest in knowing
I'm enough for you

You don't see my failures
You see the cross
You don't count what I've lost
You count the cost
You call me worthy
You call me new
Jesus, I am enough in you

Now I know I'm enough
Because your love has overcome
You're my reason, you're my freedom
You're the risen son
When I'm empty, you are full
When I fall, you make me new
Oh, Lord, forever knowing
I'm enough for you

In this broken world
You make me whole
And I'm enough for you

Enough for You

The lights are hung, the world is glowing
But my heart's still barely showing
Every carol feels a little too slow
Every breath of wind feels like your hello

The cocoa's warm, but my hands are cold
An empty chair, a story untold
The fire burns, but it doesn't feel right
It's just me and the quiet tonight

It's snow without you, falling soft and blue
Every flake reminds me what I'm missing with you
The trees still sparkle, but it's just for show
Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas alone

The clock strikes twelve, the world's asleep
I count the stars I couldn't keep
Stockings hang like ghosts on the wall
Flashbacks of memories
That is all

I tell myself you're somewhere warm
While I weather this quiet storm
Your memory hums like a faded song
And I still can't help but to sing along

It's snow without you, falling soft and blue
Every flake reminds me of what I'm missing with you
The trees still sparkle, but it's just for show
Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas alone

Maybe next year you'll come back home
And this house won't feel like stone
Then I'll light one candle's glow
For the love I lost in the falling snow

it's snow without you
Quiet, cold, and true
Another year I'm learning to make do
The lights are shining, but the feeling's gone
Christmas don't feel like Christmas
Without you, I'm alone

Snow Without You

I packed my dreams in a midnight car
Left the key and my heart in a mason jar
Mom said, "Call when you land on your feet"
But I'm still learning what that means
I've been chasing light through the city haze
Lost a little faith but I found my grace
Every wrong turn's a lesson learned
Every bruise a badge I've earned

I don't need saving
I'm not breaking
Just rearranging who I'm becoming

Now I'm on my own, feels like freedom
Dancing with the unknown, I don't need him
Writing my name in the sky
No one to tell me how high to fly
It's a little scary, I'll admit
But every heartbeat's got me in it
I'm finally home
On my own

I make mistakes, but I make them loud
Learn to stand tall when I face the crowd
Used to cry when the nights got long
Now I just turn it into a song
Got a playlist for my growing pains
Got the courage running through my veins
Every "no" taught me how to fight
Every tear turned into light

And I'm not lonely
I'm just slowly
Building the woman I always wanted to be

Now I'm on my own, it feels like freedom
Dancing with the unknown, I don't need him
Writing my name in the sky
No one to tell me how high to fly
It's a little scary, I'll admit
But every heartbeat's got me in it
I'm finally home
On my own

I used to measure love by who stayed
Now I measure it how I'm brave
Every sunrise feels brand new
I finally know what I can do

Now I'm on my own, feels like freedom
Wild heart, wide open---I believe in
Every stumble, every climb
I'm the rhythm and the rhyme
it's a little scary, I'll admit
But this life's mine, every minute
I'm finally home
On my own

On My Own


About Me

Bio

I am a self-published poet who loves to write song lyrics. I'm also a special needs mother and preschool teacher.

CV/History

User has yet to complete this section.

Contact

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