Read below to learn more how our esteemed panel of judges picked the winners for the Session Four 2025 Lyric Contest.
Meet the Judges HERE.
1st Place – “Whiskey Is My Witness”
By: Robert Tuzzo
Z Berg: While rather far out of my personal wheelhouse, this is pithy, memorable, and quite funny. This sounds like it could be a hit!
Jake Gosling: I’m drawn to how the song turns alcohol into a metaphor for truth and emotional confession—raw, relatable, and unfiltered. The clever wordplay makes heartbreak feel both poetic and painfully real.
Jon Shave: The lyrics have a rhythm to them that feel like a song already. The song takes a fresh angle on a familiar and relatable situation, with some excellent wordplay.
Sean Douglas: There are no shortage of Whiskey wordplay country songs but I enjoyed this angle because I hadn’t seen it before. The bar/courtroom analogy was cool and original.
Read Lyrics HERE.
2nd Place – “Trailers and Quarters”
By: Debby Dever, Phil Aiello & Dave Rohe
Toby Gad: Good story telling.
Rodney Clawson: Reminds of a retro country – like Patty Loveless from back in the day. There’s a lot of single wides where I grew up – I can relate.
Miles Zuinga: I really liked this verse:
Windows rolled down, yeah she’s just a hot mess
Ponytail, sweat down the back of her neck
Feelin’ stuck
Had enough
Wonderin’ why life’s gotta be so tough
Very vivid imagery
Keith Hetrick: THE LAST VERSE TWIST. What makes “Trailers and Quarters” hit so hard is that every verse adds another layer of detail that reinforces the weight she’s carrying — emotionally, financially, generationally. The hook almost becomes a mantra; it’s a condition she’s trapped in, and by the end, that jukebox coin is both heartbreaking and hopeful. A beautifully, heartbreaking & cinematic story.
Trannie Anderson: Good lyric that writes to the hook and stays consistent! The strong imagery and story made me feel like I was in the middle of it all with her. I was a little thrown off by the last verse while I was picturing her in the trailer folding clothes by a sleeping baby but then the jukebox image takes me somewhere else. Maybe the writer wanted me to picture her in a laundromat that has a jukebox in the corner. It might be good to tweak one of those first couple lines to make sure the listener pictures a laundromat more clearly so that verse is extra effective. Good job!
Read Lyrics HERE.
Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:
3rd Place – “Take it to the Grave“
By: David Taub
Toby Gad: I felt something, good story, inspirational
Sam Ellis: Packed full of great lines that write themselves into the hook really well. Powerful, positive lyric that really illustrates redemption and perseverance.
Trannie Anderson: This writer is really gifted. The hook is crafted well and has a lot of effective punch. There are some really clever lines, unique imagery, and beautifully honest storyline weaved in that kept me interested from beginning to end. Really really like this one. One of the strongest lyrics I’ve read while judging these contests. Great job!
Read Lyrics HERE.
4th Place – “Birthday Cake For Breakfast”
By: Nancy Johnson
Sara Evans: This one immediately grabbed me. It’s such a clever and heartfelt take on grief. It’s honest, raw, but also full of personality. I love songs that can make you smile and ache at the same time, and this one does that beautifully.
Miles Zuinga: I loved this verse:
A guy from work has asked me out
At least a time or two
It’s not that I don’t like him
It’s just that he’s not you
Read Lyrics HERE.
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