©℗2024 All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
All Songs by Teresa Jean Storch (BMI) except ‘Open Your Heart’, ‘Feels So Good’, ‘This is the Time’, and ‘Best of Both Worlds’ by Teresa Jean Storch (BMI) and Peter Garrett Lacis (BMI), and ‘We Belong’ by Daniel Anthony Navarro / David Eric Lowen.
Bass and drums recorded at Chimaera Sound Studios (Loveland, CO) by Josh Depperschmidt.
Vocals and acoustic guitars recorded at Cinder Sound Studios (Longmont, CO) and Coupe Studios (Boulder, CO) by Christopher Wright (with assistance by Chad Mathis).
Electric guitars recorded by Peter Lacis at Chez Storch-Lacis.
Mixed and Mastered by Tony Dickinson
Produced by Tony Dickinson and Teresa Storch Band

Teresa Storch – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
Peter Lacis – lead electric guitar, background vocals
Chad E. Mathis – bass guitar, background vocals, piano on ‘It’s Not Okay’
Travis Moberg – drums, background vocals
Tony Dickinson – additional guitars, background vocals, keyboards, arrangements
Eli Bishop – strings on ‘Ballad of St. Francis’, mandolin on ‘Independence Reign’
Kevin Lufkin – Organ and piano on ‘Open Your Heart’
Robbie Benson – Piano on ‘Things Will Get Better’
Christopher Wright – drums on ‘It’s Not Okay’
Jordan Skomal – Trumpet on ‘Things Will Get Better’
Chris Ruiz – Saxophone on ‘Things Will Get Better’

Band Photo by Parker Rice – Painting by Meredith Remz

Lyrics

Things Will Get Better
When I was twelve, I tried to play the saxophone, I thought I’d never stop it squeaking, I’d moan and groan
Then I got inspired to learn, all the skills I honed, Now music is the best thing I’ve ever known

‘Cause things will get better, all that it takes is believing, It’s the first step to seeing it all the way
Things will get better, the more that you bet that things will get better, the better it gets

When you were born, you arrived too soon
Now I saw a tiny baby, but I wasn’t fooled
Inside my heart and mind was a full-grown you
I knew the big, strong man you’d grow into

‘Cause things will get better, all that it takes is believing, It’s the first step to seeing it all the way
Things will get better, the more that you bet that things will get better, the better it gets

From my clear vision comes a new big love
Out of my heart can come everything I’ve dreamed of
If I use my mind I find how much we can rise above

Now we’re coming out of the darkest years yet
Full of sickness and sadness and violence
Looking back through time we see how far we’ve progressed
Humankind will overcome the worst of itself

‘Cause things will get better, all that it takes is believing, It’s the first step to seeing it all the way
Things will get better, all that it takes is believing It’s the first step to seeing it all the way
Things will get better, the more that you bet that things will get better, the better it gets
Things will get better, believing is the first step

Open Your Heart
Everything’s a mess, who knows what could happen next,
But I will be here, I will be free, you cannot touch me
People out there are stoking the flames
I won’t play a part, I won’t play their game, put up my money or write down my name

It’s been said a million times, a million ways, for thousands of years
From the Bible, to the Torah, the Koran they made it clear
The way to truth would never prey upon your fear
Open your heart so you can hear

This is craziness, also a catalyst
It takes a crisis, no options left, to make people see
We walk through a fire, it tempers like steel
Making us stronger, willing to live by our beliefs

It’s been said a million times, a million ways, for thousands of years
From the Bible, to the Torah, the Koran they made it clear
The way to truth would never prey upon your fear
Open your heart so you can hear

There is a spiral that history makes
Progress is made, wealth is obtained, but things always change
Whole countries fall from sheer economic weight
Leaving behind a world to learn from our mistakes

It’s been said a million times, a million ways, for thousands of years
From the Bible, to the Torah, the Koran they made it clear
It’s been said a million times, a million ways, just look in your mirror
From your mother, your brother, your lover made it clear
The way to truth would never prey upon your fear
Open your heart so you can hear,
so you can hear, so you can hear

Feels So Good
I spent years trying to figure it out
If you loved me without a doubt
You’d tell me everything was fine, fine
But something lurked behind your eyes

When she’d call you on the phone
Your voice would change it’s tone
You’d tell her everything was fine, fine
I heard the truth behind your lies

Now that you’re gone, I know it went on way too long
Oh and I admit you’re the best I had, but still I’m glad,
It feels so good to feel so bad

All those nights I was on my own
I made plans to take you down
I’d say everything was fine, fine
Yet something lurked behind my eyes

Now that you’re gone, I know it went on way too long
Oh and I admit you’re the best I had, but still I’m glad
It feels so good to feel so bad, to feel so bad

All those years I excused your behavior
‘Cause I believed you’d be my savior
Now I can see, it’s always been up to me

Now that you’re gone, I know it went on way too long
Oh and I admit you’re the best I had, but still I’m glad
It feels so good to feel so bad, to feel so bad

Best of Both Worlds
As the day rolls off my shoulders
My heart is calm, steady and strong, from giving with love
Yesterday I panicked, it left me wondering “is this right?”
This is my fight, I write to remind, and tether my mind to

Here with you, I’m living the best of both worlds
The freedom to go or stay here at home
The best of both worlds

I had a life I spent traveling out on my own
It was rare that I heard the sirens call of settling down
Somehow we found each other, how our lives fit together
Two artists at heart, an alchemy starts, when was I not ever

Here with you, living the best of both worlds
The freedom to go or stay here at home
The best of both worlds
Here with you

Some days it feels like a burden
I want to hide, ignoring my life
That’s because I’ve forgotten
All that came before I was

Here with you, living the best of both worlds
The freedom to go and travel alone or stay with our family here at home
Here with you, I’m living the best of both worlds
Where I can go, spend time alone or hang with my best friend
Here with you, the best of both worlds
The best of both worlds, the best of both worlds

This Is the Time
There is a time in each generation, time to take pause, to think and to feel
My soul is asking me to just listen, time to find out, find out what’s real
Voters are standing, standing in lines now, people on street corners holding up signs
My soul is reaching out trying to find the truth from the lies, the truth from the lies.

This is the time for turning around now
This is the time for holding our ground
This is the time, but don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid
This is the time when history’s made

A worried young mother soothing her child, elected officials spewing out lies
The media outlets are towing their lines, assuring us all, yet this is the time

This is the time for turning around now
This is the time for holding our ground
This is the time, but don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid
This is the time when history’s made

What do you want to create?
What are you willing to break?
Burn it to ashes then we will build back after the fire
This is the time

There comes a time to wake from illusion, there comes a time to break from the past
My soul is waiting, it’s bearing witness, this is the time to forge a new path
People are standing up, speaking their minds now, people are changing, changing their lives
People are coming, it’s a rising new tide
They’re being the light, ‘cause this is the time

This is the time time for turning around now
This is the time time for holding our ground now
This is the time, but don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid
This is the time to go towards the light now
This is the time to stand up and fight
This is the time, but don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid
This is the time when history’s made, when history’s made

Would I Burn
Would I burn like Joan of Arc
Believe my words, no spark or fear of fire could make me denounce them?
Could I stand like Dr. King
Believe the vision of my dream, no burning cross or threat of death could take it from me?

What would I burn for? Could I draw the racist wrath?
Could I stand for anything where I’d feel bullets whizzing past?
Would I burn?

Could I sit at Gandhi’s feet,
Sit while surrounded by police, be the change I want to see, simply emanating peace?
Could I have Mandela’s heart, forgive my captors for their part, call them my equals while from their prison I am released?

What would I burn for? Would I die for my beliefs?
Could I be a burning light to point us towards our own release?

Would I give my life, just to do what’s right?
Would I give my life?
Would I burn?

I was born with wealth and skin that absolves me of my sins
gives me freedom to go where others aren’t allowed in
I never had the need to fight or to stand up for my rights
Yet here I am, I demand we stop this spread of fear and lies

That’s what I burn for, I stand for my belief
there are things we all can do to make a world of peace
That’s what I burn for, I’m asking for the proof
we have to have a world today that is based upon the truth

I will give my life, just to do what’s right
I will give my life, oh I will give my life
Would I burn?
Would I burn like Joan of Arc
Believe my words, no spark or fear of fire could make me denounce them?

The Ballad of St. Francis
Would sadness go away, If I dispelled my greed
And gave it all to someone else in need?
Would hatred disappear, If I planted the seed
And gave my love to those who made me bleed?

I’m so tired of this pain, no one understands my need, my need for change

If I walk the pilgrim’s path, could I become a saint
And give myself completely to restraint?
Could I see my faults, as a chance for love
Would it make me wise, make me humble enough?

I’m so tired of this pain, no one understands my need, my need for change

If I loved the world enough, could I see the Face of God?
Could I see the Face of God?
Could I see the Face of God?

Time To Go
I want to write with no reason in mind
Just sit with my books while the church bells chime
Enjoy this old back porch one last time

Last days of summer, 2008
Time for decisions, I’ll set my own fate
Withering leaves, no time for debate

I know I know I know I need to go
I know I know I know it’s time
It’s time to go

I found a love that fills up this room
Nights of music always end too soon
With the friends who understand there are things I must do

I do believe you can’t go home again, no
‘Cause everything is different at the end
But I don’t mind, I just want to hold your hand
And say ‘hey, hey it’s gonna be okay
Hey, hey you’ll be okay’

I know I know I know I need to go
I know I know I know it’s time
It’s time to go

There is a place I know I’ll end up
It will be filled with a new kind of love
Telling me there is nothing to be scared of
Nothing to be scared of
There’s nothing to be scared of

We Belong
Many times I’ve tried to tell you, many times I’ve cried alone
Always I’m surprised how well you cut my feelings to the bone
Don’t want to leave you really, I’ve invested too much time
To give you up that easy, to the doubts that complicate your mind

We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words we’re both falling under
Whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better
We belong, we belong, we belong together

Maybe it’s a sign of weakness when I don’t know what to say
Maybe I just wouldn’t know what to do with my strength anyway?
Have we become a habit? Do we distort the facts?
Now there’s no looking forward, no there’s no turning back

We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words, we’re both falling under
Whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better
We belong, we belong, we belong together

Close your eyes and try to sleep now, close your eyes and try to dream
Clear your mind and do your best to try and wipe the palette clean
We can’t begin to know it, how much we really care
I hear your voice inside me, I see your face everywhere

We belong to the light we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words, we’re both falling under
Whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better
We belong, we belong, we belong together

It’s Not Okay
I hear you think “it’s just what people say”
I hear you meant nothing by it
I heard you claim it’s just how you were raised
Still I say, it’s not okay.

I’ll ignore it to keep you at bay
I won’t react to keep my job
I laugh along just hoping you’ll go away
Still I say, it’s not okay
Yesterday it was an off-color comment
Today it’s an unwanted touch
And I must say that I feel like an object from the way that you’re staring
Do you see me as such?

I’m not a land to be conquered
Not some goal to achieve
I am not here just for your pleasure
Not something to use and to leave

I deserve your respect
I deserve my equal rights
And for it to never be an issue
And to not fear walking home at night
Yesterday it was an off-color comment
Now today it’s an unwanted touch
And I must say that I feel like an object from the way that you’re staring
Do you see me as such?

Still I say, it’s never okay
Still I say, it’s never okay
Still I say, it’s never okay
Still I say, it’s not okay

Independence Reign
This is a strange, strange place
That looming red rock wall looks about set sail on a desert ocean floor
It’s the surface of the moon
While the sky opens up into another world

Out here everything gets faded in the sun, or faded by your love

You see, I drove back
A thousand extra miles for two blissful days
Is this just a passing phase?
Is my rate of return worth risking everything I’ve gained?

Out here everything gets faded in the sun
It’s been a long, long time
I decided to let my independence reign
I decided to let my independence reign

This is a solitary life
Still I wonder if we might share the ride
Well, you’ve got dreams to find, and I’m out here living mine
I miss security sometimes

But I feel more secure just knowing you’re out there
When it’s been a long time
I decided to let my independence reign
I decided to let my independence reign
Let it reign

I feel my fortress crumble at my feet
Does that mean I am losing me?

I want three things, to be clear, brave and true
To say ‘Yes’ when I mean it, and ‘No’ if I need to
But out here in the desert I don’t know what to do

Out here everything gets faded in the sun
Everything gets faded in the sun
Everything is faded

I decided to let my independence reign
I decided to let my independence reign
I decided to let my independence reign
Let it reign