Thomas B. Heffner

(Verse 1)
I still recall those golden days,
The Florida sun, the ocean haze.
Your laughter echoed in the breeze,
Hand in hand beneath the palm trees.

(Chorus)
Oh Bill, you're still in my heart,
Though time has kept us far apart.
The years have flown, yet I feel you still,
Forever my true love, my sweet Bill.

(Verse 2)
Nights we danced by the candlelight,
Stars above so warm and bright.
Your touch was gentle, your words sincere,
A love so strong, I hold it near.

(Chorus)
Oh Bill, you're still in my heart,
Though time has kept us far apart.
The years have flown, yet I feel you still,
Forever my true love, my sweet Bill.

(Verse 3)
But fate was cruel, it led you away,
We never met again, to my dismay.
The silence lingers, the nights grow cold,
Yet in my soul, our story's told.

(Verse 4)
Now I sit by the shoreline alone,
The waves remind me of love I'd known.
Every sunset whispers your name,
The ache of longing will never wane.

(Chorus)
Oh Bill, you're still in my heart,
Though time has kept us far apart.
The years have flown, yet I feel you still,
Forever my true love, my sweet Bill.

(Bridge)
If dreams could bring me back to you,
I'd walk those sands, where skies were blue.
One more chance, I'd hold you tight,
And never let you fade from sight.

(Final Chorus)
Oh Bill, you're still in my heart,
Though time has kept us far apart.
The years have flown, yet I feel you still,
Forever my true love, my sweet Bill.

(Verse 1)
No matter how hard I try,
Nothing I do seems to be right.
I give my best for everyone,
On my shoulders I carry a ton.
Yet I'm overlooked and forgotten,
Tossed aside, left broken.

(Pre-Chorus 1)
My life is not my own, like a sea,
Driven by the wind, it's tossing me.

(Chorus)
I'm a failure in all I seem to do,
Always depressed and endlessly blue.
Every step I take, I'm pushed back three,
Trying to stand tall but weak in the knees.
It seems I'm sinking in quicksand,
Stuck where I am, a forgotten man.

(Verse 2)
I have many talents to share,
Yet I falter despite my care.
I show my skills to those in need,
But am rejected for another breed.
Passed over each and every time,
Up the ladder of success, I never climb.

(Pre-Chorus 2)
So I go again, trying once more,
Standing alone, with no friends at my door.

(Chorus)

I'm a failure in all I seem to do,
Always depressed and endlessly blue.
Every step I take, I'm pushed back three,
Trying to stand tall but weak in the knees.
It seems I'm sinking in quicksand,
Stuck where I am, a forgotten man.

(Verse 3)
My time has come and gone,
I feel feeble and worn.
I stand in the cold all alone,
Still unsuccessful, unknown.
Nothing I leave to be remembered for,
Sailing off to that distant shore.

(Pre-Chorus 3)
I leave behind regrets and sorrow,
All who knew me will forget tomorrow.

(Chorus)
I was a failure in all I seemed to do,
Always depressed and endlessly blue.
Every step I took, I was pushed back three,
I tried to stand tall but was weak in the knees.
It seems I always found myself in quicksand,
Stuck where I was in life, a forgotten man.

(Bridge - Desperate, Climactic Release)
Why must life keep tearing me apart?, I still survive,
Every failure weighs upon my heart.
Yet in this darkness, I still survive,
Clinging to the last spark alive.

(Final Chorus - Reframed for Impact)
Though I was a failure in all I seemed to do,
Still I fight through the endless blue.
Every step I take, though pushed back three,
I stand again, though weak in the knees.
Even in the quicksand of my plan,
I rise from the depths, no longer just a forgotten man.

(Verse 1)
The darkness is coming,
The enemy is hunting...
A price will need to be paid,
Sacrifices will need to be made.
Prayers have all been prayed,
Decency and God have both been betrayed.
Darkness is all that we see,
Darkness is coming for you and me.

(Chorus)
Darkness is just over the next hill,
It's time for man to pay the bill.
Darkness is what we have created,
With our actions toward those we have hated.
Man's endless greed and evil behavior,
Is not desirable in the eyes of our Savior.
The darkness...there is no escape or anywhere to go,
It is the final battle for mankind's very soul!

(Verse 2)
The darkness is nearly upon us all,
There is nowhere to run and no one to call.
We must face the darkness and nod,
Knowing our salvation only lies with God.
The earth will be scorched and made new,
Those who survive will be among the very few.
God's wrath for man's folly will be complete,
The darkness will then find only defeat.

(Chorus)
Darkness is just over the next hill,
It's time for man to pay the bill.
Darkness is what we have created,
With our actions toward those we have hated.
Man's endless greed and evil behavior,
Is not desirable in the eyes of our Savior.
The darkness...there is no escape or anywhere to go,
It is the final battle for mankind's very soul!

(Verse 3)
So hear my words, and get right with the Lord,
Or you will find yourself facing down a fiery sword.
The darkness will cover the world like a girth,
Leaving only death and a scorched earth.
Man will reap the evil he has allowed,
Man has turned the earth into a death shroud.
It is not something we can put off to later,
Your very survival depends on turning to man's Creator.

(Chorus)
Darkness is just over the next hill,
It's time for man to pay the bill.
Darkness is what we have created,
With our actions toward those we have hated.
Man's endless greed and evil behavior,
Is not desirable in the eyes of our Savior.
The darkness...there is no escape or anywhere to go,
It is the final battle for mankind's very soul!

(Outro)
The darkness...it is coming, are you ready?
I have no fear...for my love and faith in God will remain steady.
I will face the darkness with the Lord at my side,
Knowing that when the darkness comes...there is nowhere to hide!

(Verse 1)
We blended together like an old-fashioned love song
You were the music and I was the words all along
But these days the harmony's slipping away
And whatever I do, it just comes out the wrong way

(Pew-Chorus)
We could do no wrong, our love was warm and nice
Now the years have turned us into fire and ice...

(Chorus)
Fire and Ice - that's what we've become
Fire and Ice - your heart's grown cold, my anger burns like the sun
Fire and Ice - canceling each other out
Fire and Ice - stuck in the same worn-out route

(Verse 2)
We once could talk about anything at all
Shared our dreams, our fears, the big and the small
Our life was a fairytale from long ago
Now I'm not your king, and you're not my queen anymore

(Pre-Chorus)
So here we are just tossing the dice
Gambling away our love like fire and ice...

(Chorus)
Fire and Ice - that's what we've become
Fire and Ice - your heart's grown cold, my anger burns like the sun
Fire and Ice - canceling each other out
Fire and Ice - stuck in the same worn-out route

(Verse 3)
Now we sail away on a storm-tossed sea
Drifting apart to the places we'll be
No looking back at the land we once knew
Empty hearts, but we're finally breaking through

(Bridge)
No more battles, no more blame
No more playing the same old game
Let the fire fade, let the ice melt down
We're better apart than we were bound

(Final Chorus)
Fire and Ice - a storm we've left behind
Fire and Ice - two different hearts, two different kinds
Fire and Ice - no longer tearing us apart
Fire and Ice - now we can make a brand-new start

(Post-Chorus / Outro)
Fire and ice is a thing of the past
Living our separate lives, happy at last

(Verse 1)
Out where the sun bleeds fire on the sand,
A whisper rides across the land.
No name, no past, just boots and dust,
And eyes that glow with burning trust.
They say he hears the helpless cry,
And answers swift fore hope can die.

(Pre-Chorus 1)
His horse as dark as midnight coal,
With breath like wind from hell's own soul...

(Chorus)
He is the Shadow Rider, cloaked in fate and flame,
No law can bind him, no man knows his name.
When evil rises, he'll come again,
Through storm or blood or driving rain.
He rides for justice, swift and sure-
The Shadow Rider rides once more.

(Verse 2)
He rode through dunes where no man dared,
Past bones of dreams the sun had bared.
A village gasped its final plea,
A beast had come-a mockery.
Two-legged, fanged, with fire eyes,
It laughed at death and fed on cries.

(Pre-Chorus 2)
But in the heat, a figure came,
With brimstone eyes and voice aflame...

(Chorus)
He is the Shadow Rider, cloaked in fate and flame,
No law and bind him, no man knows his name.
When evil rises, he'll come again,
Through storm or blood or driving rain.
He rides for justice, swift and sure-
The Shadow Rider rides once more.

(Verse 3)
Steel rang out in cobbled square,
The demon roared, the folks did stare.
A blade of dusk, a whip of light,
Clashed with claws that tore the night.
With every strike and breathless pace,
Blood and sweat lit every face.

(Pre-Chorus 3)
The beast was strong, the fight was dire,
But in his eyes burned purging fire...

(Chorus)
He is the Shadow Rider, cloaked in fate and flame,
No law can bind him, no man knows his name.
When evil rises, he'll come again,
Through storm or blood or driving rain.
He rides for justice, swift and sure-
The Shadow Rider rides once more.

(Verse 4)
The monster fell with thunder's cry,
Its blackened soul a fading sigh.
No cheers, no shouts, just silent awe,
At what one ghostly man had wrought.
He cleaned his blade, he bowed his head,
And spoke no word for all the dead.

(Pre-Chorus 4)
The people wept, their hearts unchained,
As he turned back into the flames...

(Chorus)
He is the Shadow Rider, cloaked in fate and flame,
No law can bind him, no man knows his name.
When evil rises, he'll come again,
Through storm or blood or driving rain.
He rides for justice, swift and sure-
The Shadow Rider rides once more.

(Verse 5)
He vanished with the dying light,
Into the jaws of falling night.
No map could find the trail he took,
No tale could match his hardened look.
But children speak with hushed delight,
Of hooves that echo in the night.

(Pre-Chorus 5)
And when the sun burns red with pain,
They swear they'll see his shape again...

(Chorus)
He is the Shadow Rider, cloaked in fate and flame,
No law can bind him, no man knows his name.
When evil rises, he'll come again,
Through storm or blood or driving rain.
He rides for justice, swift and sure-
The Shadow Rider rides once more.

(Verse 1)
In the corner stands a shadow tall
His footsteps echo through the hall
Creaking floors that never sleep
Cassandra prays but does not weep

(Pre-Chorus)
His whispers chill her fragile spine
Each word a rope
A ghostly twine

(Chorus)
Old man ghost won't let her be
He lives in walls
In the Oakwood tree
Cassandra cries
Her voice runs thin
But he just laughs
"You'll let me in"

(Verse 2)
A photograph on the mantle shakes
The fire dies
The mirror breaks
His face appears in glass so clear
Cassandra screams
But no one hears

(Pre-Chorus)
She hides beneath the quilted sheet
His shadow dances at her feet

(Chorus)
Old man ghost won't let her be
He lives in walls
In the Oakwood tree
Cassandra pleads
Her heart in shards
But he just grins
"I hold the cards"

(Verse 3)
She hears in pacing up the stairs
Cold breath curling in the air
The hallway lights flicker dim
Each one dying
Just like him

(Pre-Chorus)
She grips the locket on her chest
But ghosts don't stop
They never rest

(Chorus)
Old man ghost won't let her be
He lives in walls
In the Oakwood tree
Cassandra begs
Her thoughts unspun
But he just croons
"You can't outrun"

(Verse 4)
The mirrors line the narrow halls
Each one dark as twilight falls
His face in every glassy pane
Smiling wide
And full of pain

(Pre-Chorus)
She smashes one but two appear
His laughter fills
Her every ear

(Chorus)
Old man ghost won't let her be
He lives in walls
In the Oakwood tree
Cassandra shakes
Her will worn thin
But he just sneers
"You'll let me in"

(Verse 5)
He watches from the shadow's bend
A twisted echo
Never ends
Behind her eyes, he plants his seed
A silent voice
A growing need

(Pre-Chorus)
She feels him crawl inside her mind
His soul entwined
A curse designed

(Chorus)
Old man ghost won't let her be
He lives in walls
In the Oakwood tree
Cassandra's gone
She fades within
And now he laughs
I've always been"

(Verse 1)
From the dark of space to the sunlit skies,
They ride the stars where danger lies.
With plasma blades and laser fire,
They chase the truth through void and mire.

(Pre-Chorus 1)
Lost worlds whisper, secrets call,
They stand as heroes, one and all!

(Chorus)
The Star Questers! Bold hearts and blazing light,
Fighting for justice in the endless night!
Through deep space they soar, across the stars they ride,
Together they stand, side by side-
The Star Questers! They rise and never fall,
Answering destiny's call!

(Verse 2)
Frontier systems tremble, threats arise,
From raider hordes to neon station skies.
Mutants, pirates, and ancient tech,
They dive in headfirst-never check.

(Pre-Chorus 2)
From war-torn moons to broken halls,
They heed the pleas when duty calls!

(Chorus)
The Star Questers! Bold hearts and blazing light,
Fighting for justice in the endless night!
Through deep space they soar, across the stars they ride,
Together they stand, side by side-
The Star Questers! They rise and never fall,
Answering destiny's cosmic call!

(Verse 3)
They brave the black where few dare roam,
Charting stars and calling it home.
Unmapped realms and alien signs,
They cross the edge of space and time.

(Pre-Chorus 3)
Explorers bold with hearts aflame,
They carve the stars and make their name!

(Chorus)
The Star Questers! Bold hearts and blazing light,
Fighting for justice in the endless night!
Through deep space they soar, across the stars they ride,
Together they stand, side by side-
The Star Questers! They rise and never fall,
Answering destiny's cosmic call!

(Verse 4)
For coin or cause, they take the fight,
Protect the weak, defend the right.
Their contracts span both law and void-
With every job, their fame enjoyed.

(Pre-Chorus 4)
Mercs with honor, sharp and wise,
Their legend grows beyond the skies!

(Chorus)
The Star Questers! Bold hearts and blazing light,
Fighting for justice in the endless night!
Through deep space they soar, across the stars they ride,
Together they stand, side by side-
Answering destiny's cosmic call!

(Verse 5)
When tyrants rise or warlords scheme,
They shatter chains, they free the dream.
No world too lost, no fate too dire,
They bring the storm, they spark the fire.

(Pre-Chorus 5)
Against the dark, they won't delay-
They fight for those who've lost their way!

(Chorus)
The Star Questers! Bold hearts and blazing light,
Fighting for justice in the endless night!
Through deep space they soar, across the stars they ride,
Together they stand, side by side-
Answering destiny's cosmic call!

(Bridge) (slower instrumental or vocal build)
Echoes of the stars...
Call them from afar...
Bound by fate, by fire, by steel-
They fight for all that's true and real...

(Final Chorus)
The Star Questers! The fearless and the free,
Guardians of hope and mystery!
When the void grows cold and the shadows spread,
They shine like stars where others fled!
The Star Questers! The legend has begun-
A fire in the stars...that won't be undone!

(Verse 1)
In a chair by the window, with tea and a smile,
She's watched generations grow all the while.
With stories and laughter, she tenderly shares,
And each word she speaks shows how deeply she cares.

(Pre-Chorus)
Through the years may weigh heavy and time may not wait,
Her heart never falters, her love doesn't fade.

(Chorus)
Oh Debbie, our beacon, our rose in the rain,, your soul shinning With Teddy Bears watching and love that remains.
Your spirit still dances, your soul shining bright-
You're our gentle defender, our warmest of light.

(Verse 2)
She raised up a family with hands soft but strong,
Her kindness a melody, her patience a song.
Now Abbey, her angel, brings joy to her days,
With laughter and hugs in the sweetest of ways.

(Pre-Chorus)
The world feels much warmer wherever you go,
You've given us roots, and you've helped us to grow.

(Chorus)
Oh Debbie, our beacon, our rose in the rain,
With Teddy Bears watching and love that remains.
Your spirit still dances, your soul shining bright-
You're our gentle defender, our warmest of light.

(Verse 3)
Each bear on the shelf is a gift from above,
A token of years filled with memory and love.
Your dear Larry now watches from Heaven's embrace,
Still guarding your heart with an angel's grace.

(Pre-Chorus)
Though he's gone from this world, he's never too far,
You feel him at night in the light of a star.

(Chorus)
Oh Debbie, our beacon, our rose in the rain,
With Teddy Bears watching and love that remains.
Your spirit still dances, your soul shining bright-
You're our gentle defender, our warmest of light.

(Verse 4)
Your smile lifts the shadows, your strength gives us hope,
In life's darkest trials, you help us all cope.
You've taught us to fight, but to soften the blow,
With grace in your heart and a God-given glow.

(Pre-Chorus)
No illness can dim what the soul lets us see-
You're still standing tall, where we all long to be.

(Chorus)
Oh Debbie, our beacon, our rose in the rain,
With Teddy Bears watching and love that remains.
Your spirit still dances, your soul shining bright-
You're our gentle defender, our warmest of light.

(Verse 5)
So here's to a lady of beauty and grace,
With fire in her soul and joy on her face.
We honor you, Debbie, in each passing year-
You're treasured, you're cherished, you're always held dear.

(Final Pre-Chorus)
When we speak of true love, we speak of your name-
In the book of our hearts, you're carved into flame.

(Final Chorus (with orchestral swell))
Oh Debbie, our beacon, our rose in the rain,
With Teddy Bears watching and love that remains.
Your spirit still dances, your soul shining bright-
You're our gentle defender...
Our warmest of light.