songwriting
lyrics for the folk-pop, singer/songwriter genre
With over twelve years experience and 150+ songs completed, I'm in a place now to share the best of my body of work to date. The audios below are rough demos recorded on my phone. I imagine these songs with more production to accompany rather than a simple acoustic feel, but these demos capture the tone and melodies.
A few of my influences include Bon Iver, Daughter, Alec Benjamin, Colbie Caillat, Halsey and Christina Perri.
To contact me regarding any of the featured lyrics below for licensing purposes, regarding representation or to commission a song, I can be reached at: rachelleedom@gmail.com
Song Samples & Lyrics
Black Butterflies
written by Rachel Leedom
Wings flutter around me
The light fades away
Until I'm submerged
In the dark
I loved you more
Than you thought I could
But you didn't know how
To hold a fragile heart
Settle in my fear
As my tears bleed out
Think I'm turned around
So please hear me now
I'm looking for a way out
Out of this room
Out of this sea of fear
I'm drowning in
I can't run any faster
From the monsters in the night
That took flight
The black butterflies
Want to devour me
The black butterflies
Whisper things I can't speak
I can't run any faster
I crave to build walls
So high you can't reach
To build up a shell
That nothing could breach
The moon rising high
But I can't count sheep
There's too much screaming
Going on inside me
Settle in my fear
As my tears bleed out
Think I'm turned around
So please hear me now
I'm looking for a way out
Out of this room
Out of this sea of fear
I'm drowning in
I can't run any faster
From the monsters in the night
That took flight
The black butterflies
Want to devour me
The black butterflies
Whisper things I can't speak
I can't run any faster
Hold it in, hold it in
Don’t lose it now
Keep running, keep running
Don’t slow down
Don’t slow down yet
I'm looking for a way out
Out of this room
Out of this sea of fear
I'm drowning in
I can't run any faster
From the monsters in the night
That took flight
The black butterflies
Want to devour me
The black butterflies
Whisper things I can't speak
I can't run any faster
I can't run any faster
Fractured Reality
written by Rachel Leedom
Shallow breaths, ring
Loud and clear
In this nightmare
I’m frozen here
Wish I could make
It stop, before it grows
Larger than this
Boulder I’m crushed under
Time stops
And just like that
My heartbeat skips
At every crack
This panic
fills up my brain
It’s toxic matter
Eating away
I’m wasted, in this terror
I’m writing, the story myself
And there’s no one to stop it
But me, in my fractured reality
Swollen eyes
Sting deep
And it’s tempting
To run far away
Saviors have scorned
Me so I don’t
Need more mending
From bloody hands like mine
Time stops
And just like that
My heartbeat skips
At every crack
This panic
fills up my brain
It’s toxic matter
Eating away
I’m wasted, in this terror
I’m writing, the story myself
And there’s no one to stop it
But me, in my fractured reality
After You
written by Rachel Leedom
My soul is bruised
Please do not touch
My heart it hurts
Please do not rush
This lingering sadness
I will survive
This loneliness aches
But I’ll be just fine
Spent so long wishing
This wasn’t real
But slowly I’m learning
How to feel
Took drowning in sorrow
To have faith in tomorrow
At some point I realized
All they said came true
I just wish it hadn’t happened
After you
My minds still cloudy
'Bout all the reasons why
My anger’s still right there
Cuz you gave up the fight
Letting you go
Is harder than I thought
But here’s to hoping
That the rain’s about to stop
Spent so long wishing
This wasn’t real
But slowly I’m learning
How to feel
Took drowning in sorrow
To have faith in tomorrow
At some point I realized
All they said came true
I just wish it hadn’t happened
After you
Baby you missed all
The good stuff
Baby you missed all
The best parts
Darling you left
Too soon
Life was just better
With you
But if you hadn’t left
I wouldn’t know it’s true
Spent so long wishing
This wasn’t real
But slowly I’m learning
How to heal
Took drowning in sorrow
To have faith in tomorrow
At some point I realized
Other dreams could come true
I guess it had to happen
After you
After you
Ends With You
written by Rachel Leedom
My eyes rove every street
Wondering if we’ll cross paths
And if we do and our eyes meet
Will the moment slip by too fast
My days dragged on in between
The stolen moments I’m gathering
Wishing you were mine for the taking
Shattered hopes at long last rebuilding
And you will find me
Underneath the Aquarian moon
And I will find you
Gliding boldly out of the blue
And you will know me
Even though there’s been years in between
And once we find our way
I’ll fall asleep smiling, because every night
Ends with you
You’re the city shining emerald
At the end of this long winding road
I’ll do my best to avoid the pull
To lie down in poppies, hopelessly dull
You’re the way this should go
If there’s a miracle waiting for me
But I learn my lessons day by day
Forgetting I cannot rush this unfolding
And you will find me
Underneath the Aquarian moon
And I will find you
Gliding boldly out of the blue
And you will know me
Even though there’s been years in between
And once we find our way
I’ll fall asleep smiling, because every night
Ends with you
Could the nightmares end with you
Could the doubtful waiting end with you
Could wistful longing, end melancholy
As all of my fears end with you
And you will find me
Underneath the Aquarian moon
And I will find you
Gliding boldly out of the blue
And you will know me
Even though there’s years in between
And once we find our way
I’ll fall asleep smiling, because every night
Ends with you
Hesitation
written by Rachel Leedom
There’s a life, I see
In my mind’s eye
Slowly stitching
Itself together
There’s a dream, of us
In my heart now
Alive when I sleep
But worse when I’m awake
I want this to happen, so fast
I want this to start, so slow
I don’t know if
I'm ready to let go
But if you can hold on
I promise my hesitation
Won’t last too long
This hesitation
Won’t last too, long
There’s a reason, life
Brought us together
And I should stop guessing
All of the answers
There’s an ease, when
I’m near you
It’s nearly unexplainable
Yet somehow undeniable
I want this to happen, so fast
I want this to start, so slow
I don’t know if
I'm ready to let go
But if you can hold on
I promise my hesitation
Won’t last too long
This hesitation
Won’t last too, long
Please do not worry
If I’m up then I’m down
I need you to trust me
That I won’t run off now
Would it be alright
If I asked the same of you
Could I ask the same of you
I want this to happen, so fast
I need this to start, so slow
I don’t know if
I'm ready to let go
But if you can hold on
I promise my hesitation
Won’t last too long
This hesitation
Won’t last too, long
Battle
written by Rachel Leedom
War leaves scars
On even bravest of hearts
Rain still falls
Even under cloudless skies
Take my mind
I’ll give you it tonight
Waste my time
I'll send you my goodbye
You crippled the land with your
All consuming darkness
I'm not thinking straight and
I'm still, sitting counting days
You're standing on the sidelines
Watching me go down
Watching me lose this battle
Watching me lose this battle
You're standing on the sideline
While I lose this battle
While I lose this battle
Face my fears
As I look you in the eye
Hide my tears
You’d laugh at my demise
Breathe in slow
My lungs have disappeared
One last fight
The end is almost here
You crippled the land with your
All consuming darkness
I'm not thinking straight and
I'm still, sitting counting days
You're standing on the sidelines
Watching me go down
Watching me lose this battle
Watching me lose this battle
You're standing on the sidelines
While I lose this battle
While I lose this battle
Don't stop now
You took it this far
Don't stop now
You took it this far
Don't stop now
Why'd you take it this far
You crippled the land with your
All consuming darkness
I'm not thinking straight and
I'm still, sitting counting days
You're standing on the sidelines
Watching me go down
Watching me lose this battle
Watching me lose this battle
You're standing on the sidelines
But I won't lose this battle
I won't lose this battle
Ghost
written by Rachel Leedom
Last night you told me
You were near
Even though I can’t
See you here
I’m growing tired
Of holding my breath
Counting the hours
'Till we meet again
Will this waiting end
Cause I feel frozen here
What’s the sense in longing for
Another round, just to drown
If either way you’ll end up
A ghost by my side
I’d rather skip the heartache this time
If either way you’ll end up
Torn from my life
I’d rather you stay a ghost for tonight
Hands intertwined
But I can’t feel your skin
My mind’s playing tricks
On my foolish hopes again
I’ve been here before
Wishing you were real
You’d walk through the door
To remind me how to feel
Will this waiting end
Cause I feel frozen here
What’s the sense in longing for
Another round, just to drown
If either way you’ll end up
A ghost by my side
I’d rather skip the heartache this time
If either way you’ll end up
Torn from my life
I’d rather you stay a ghost for tonight
Ooh x4
Will this waiting end
Cause I feel frozen here
What’s the sense in longing for
Another round, just to drown
If either way you’ll end up
A ghost by my side
I’d rather skip the heartache this time
If either way you’ll end up
Torn from my life
I’d rather you stay a ghost for tonight
If either way you’ll end up
A ghost in my life
I’d rather skip the heartache, this time
Erased
written by Rachel Leedom
It was harder then
But I can see it now
All those forgotten
Dreams I’d buried down
Time wears you thin
When you hold it up
High above the reasons
You always kept on leaving
Now I’m feelin’ my blood flow
Restarting my heart and
Igniting the beating that
I hadn’t realized had stopped
You’ve woven my pieces
Somehow back into place
And this delirious smile
Won’t soon be erased
So forgive me if I’ve forgotten
What I was trying to say
You have a nasty habit of
Of erasing all my well worn pain, away
You showed up when
I was saving space
For a cataclysmic
Moment I’m dying to taste
Mysteries abound the
States you have traveled
Staring through faces
You knew would grow muddled
Now I’m feelin’ my blood flow
Restarting my heart and
Igniting the beating that
I hadn’t realized had stopped
You’ve woven my pieces
Somehow back into place
And this delirious smile
Won’t soon be erased
So forgive me if I’ve forgotten
What I was trying to say
You have a nasty habit of
Of erasing all my well worn pain, away
I’d say this could be
Something worth remembering
But I’ll keep holding my cards close
I’d say how I’m feeling
But I need you to say it first
Cuz now I’m feelin’ my blood flow
Restarting my heart and
Igniting the beating that
I hadn’t realized had stopped
You’ve woven my pieces
Somehow back into place
And this delirious smile
Won’t soon be erased
So forgive me if I’ve forgotten
What I was trying to say
You have a nasty habit of
Of erasing all my well worn pain, away
This memory now deeply engraved
Won’t soon be erased
Dark Times
written by Rachel Leedom
The sun warms my skin
But does nothing for my heart
The wind lifts the leaves
But won't help me lift my feet
Waves crash and echo loud
But his tears drown them out
The daylight let's me see
But now I'm blinded by the dark
Demons have silenced me
Desperate to make me weak
They pulled me in too deep
Now darkness is all I see
These are dark times we're living in
Dark waters we're trying to swim
There are scars upon the landscape
Of our disappearing love
These are dark days were living in
Dark clouds are closing in
Now there's bruises left
On every flawless memory
Dark times came and tore us apart
That look in his eyes
Should have made me scared
The cracking of his voice
Should have softened mine
His arms hold me close
But I’ve never felt more alone
Pleas stumbled from his mouth
But fade away in that unholy place
Demons have silenced me
Desperate to make me weak
They pulled me in too deep
Now darkness is all I see
These are dark times were living in
Dark waters we're trying to swim
There are scars upon the landscape
Of our disappearing love
These are dark days were living in
Dark clouds are closing in
Now there's bruises left
On every flawless memory
Dark times came and tore us apart
I can hear him begging for the sun
Told me it's what he wanted all along
I can hear him begging for the sun
But now that time is dead and gone
These are dark times were living in
Dark waters we're trying to swim
There are scars upon the landscape
Of our disappearing love
These are dark days were living in
Dark clouds are closing in
Now there's bruises left
On every flawless memory
Dark times came and tore us apart
Dark days, they came and I am to blame
For blocking out all your sun
Dark times, they came, now I am to blame
For causing you all this pain
Before You Came Around
written by Rachel Leedom and Courtney Larson
Before I fall asleep I wonder if I'll see you again
Cause this is a nasty habit we have formed
Before I fall asleep I hope you will not
be there with me
Cause I feel you closing in deep in my bones
Long weeks pass without a word
And I'm left, holding the line
Waiting for the tide to turn
While we tell ourselves it's fine
Before you came around
When innocence was gold
Before you came around
Before I cried when I got home
We lost that spark between us
When you left me in the cold
Before you came around
This type of pain I'd never known
Before you came around
Before you came around, woah
Before we meet again I wonder if
you'll look my way
While unsaid words gnaw at my brain
Before we meet again I'll steel my
heart against you
While you do your best to wipe the slate
Long weeks passed without a word
And I'm left, holding the line
Waiting for the tide to turn
While we tell ourselves it's fine
Before you came around
When innocence was gold
Before you came around
Before I cried when I got home
We lost the spark between us
When you left me in the cold
Before you came around
This type of pain I'd never known
Before you came around
Before you came around, woah
I wish I knew what comes after you
I wish I knew what comes after you
I wish oh I wish I knew
I wish oh I wish I knew
Before you came around
When innocence was gold
Before you came around
Before I cried when I got home
We lost the spark between us
When you left me in the cold
Before you came around
This type of pain I'd never known
Before you came around
Before you came around
On The Run
written by Rachel Leedom
You can't see how it was
Before it broke
You only see destruction
After the storm
How sad that must be
How bitter that must taste
For you not to see all the wonder
Still in front of your face
But I guess that's it now
I suppose were done
You threw your whole heart out
When you chose to run
So I guess that's it now
Cause you chose to run
How does it feel now
Out on the run
Out on the run
You don’t understand
What it feels like
To cast away your fear
And continue the fight
How terrifying that must be
How angry you do sound
For you to feel you’ve lost all control
Of the dreams you could see
But I guess that's it now
I suppose were done
You threw your whole heart out
When you chose to run
So I guess that's it now
Cause you chose to run
How does it feel now
Out on the run
Out on the run
Flashbacks surround me
And you'll haunt every dream
Your face I can't erase
But finally you're fading far, far away
Far away
So I guess that’s it now
Is our story done
You threw all our hope out
When you chose to run
I guess that's it now
Cause you chose to run
How does it feel now
Out on the run
Out on the run
Dream
written by Rachel Leedom
I'll meet you where
The clouds touch the trees
In the negative space
That doesn't exist
I'll find you in the stars
Hidden by the sun
Somewhere out beyond
A place we can't be
I know it's dreaming
Even though I'm not asleep
Colors faded at the edge
Of a broken memory
Did this ever happen
Cause lately I can't tell
As I'm tying the ropes
Between the fragments
Of what I believe
Was more than a dream
Weren't you more than
a dream
I'll meet you by the sea
In the stretch in-between
The land and infinity
Maybe you'll be there
I'll pray each night
For another chance
To find your light
Before I accept defeat
I know it's dreaming
Even though I'm not asleep
Colors faded at the edge
Of a broken memory
Did this ever happen
Cause lately I can't tell
As I'm tying the ropes
Between the fragments
Of what I believe
Was more than a dream
Weren't you more than
a dream
One last time
Can I see those eyes
That made me feel
Like I'd be alright
Now the image is blurry
Can I have one last time
I know it’s dreaming
Even though I'm not asleep
Colors faded at the edge
Of a broken memory
Did this ever happen
Cause lately I can't tell
As I'm tying the ropes
Between the fragments
Of what I believe
Was more than a dream
Weren't you more than
a dream