Travis,

I really like the verse melody. I think at this point, lyric tweaks will come as needed, and that you should focus on getting the melody better established with the chorus and a bridge if needed--but get the chorus first. Many times a song is fine without a bridge, and a bridge will come more naturally (musically) once you are comfortable with both the bridge & chorus melody. Some songs can get away with choruses having like or almost alike verse melodies--it sounds like that's what is starting to happen here with the early stages. I think you need to experiment with establishing a chorus melody that digresses from the verse melody because (your verse melody is strong--a good thing). You therefore need IMO to have more contrast else the chorus won't have the lift or identity needed. I'll listen a few more times tomorrow, it's late here, just to see if I feel something musically that may work--and have you and Paddy do the same.

Great starting point, nice melody for sure!

(Just came back a few minutes later--I'd launch the chorus after the resolving verse D chord with: C/////G/////D/////. I'm feeling a combination of Gordon Lightfoot meets Lynard Skynard here).............

steady-eddie.