John David Peters is a New Mexico award-winning songwriter. His song “Don’t Take Me for a Hero” won “Best Song” at the 2019 New Mexico Music Awards. His songs have been finalists in several other contests as well. David’s songs cover a wide range of emotions and topics from the sadness of losing love and friendship to humor about the weather and social issues. David’s songwriting is primarily folk/Americana, but he mixes in some blues, pop, and country. David considers Paul Simon and Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot as his primary songwriting influences.
David began playing guitar and writing his own songs at the ripe old age of 17. He played guitar and wrote songs on and off during his thirty-one year career as a high school English/reading teacher. After retiring from teaching, he took his music and ventured out into the public arena to perform for the first time.
Currently David runs a local weekly open mic for songwriters and is actively marketing his music in Nashville. johndavidpetersmusic.com
Drivin’ up the coast alone to visit my hometown Where I lost the girl I loved cause I was runnin’ ‘round. She deserved the best from me, and that I couldn’t give. Believed if I could get away, I’d find a better life to live.
For life was too wide open then for me to close a door, A thousand tempting entrances, and exits to explore, I wanted what my eyes could see and what my hands could touch. What a heart could offer me, I didn’t want that much.
(Chorus) So I shifted into gear and drove on down the coast, Memories and wind behind my back. Pockets full of dimes and dreams with not much else to show. Thought I had the answer then. Oh, what little did I know.
Knocked around from place to place, barely gettin’ by, Couldn’t settle down to even give one thing a try, Never got a weary foot through any open door, Found out I had nothin’ to believe in anymore.
For this restless soul time came to changing everything, Gaining bits of wisdom then that only life can bring. Sorrows came and sorrows went like shadows on the moon Happiness would come around but always it would leave too soon.
(Chorus) So I shifted into gear and drove back up the coast, Memories and wind behind my back, Pockets full of dimes and dreams and not much else to show Do I have the answer now? Oh, oh, only time will know. Drivin’ up the coast alone to visit my home town.
