When I was in Oregon, we took a quick lunch break at a sandwich shoppe that served the best ham and cheese sandwiches with sprouts and cheese and tomatoes and… mmm… I’m hungry.
So, coming back from the bathroom I overheard two older ladies talking… One said “well, it’s better than nothing at all.”
When I sat back down at the table, I grabbed a loose receipt out of my purse and immediately penned the phrase while Tam was trying to tell me something. Trying. Then had to explain to Tam & Brent what I’d just heard.
Tell me what you think.
Think Indigo Girls. Think Joan Baez. Think that, in an effort to write 100 this year, the song is better than… well… nothing at all:
I was fallin asleep to the sound of southern rain on my window pane.
I was hopin’ to dream of things that never change – or rearrange.
I like steady. // I like predictable.
I like things they way they’ve always been – when they’ve been better than nothing at all.In my dream I lived a life I knew would never face the new.
It prattled on & on in humdrum turns of hapless avenues,
My world was empty, // void of any sign of life.
It tasted dull and listless. But tasted better than nothing at all.When waking up to colors and to perfect shades of day
I saw the truth of life, that it will never stay the same.
This is freedom // this purpose, divine
To see the world in color – It looks better than nothing at all.It’s not the every day – that life will be this way.
It’s not the every day – we see ten shades of gray.
But to be living to be breathing to be singing every song.
This life we live in color, is better. Better than nothing at all.
(This life flies by in color – it’s better. Better than nothing at all.)
I love it even more now that it’s been put to music. I especially like:
It’s not the every day – we see ten shades of gray.
But to be living to be breathing to be singing every song.
This life we live in color, is better. Better than nothing at all.
Something about those lines hit me harder and wraps up the rest of the song.
i knew you werent listening to me that day!
you know i love it!
M: I wrote that verse, then realized the rhythm of the first two lines didn’t match the first lines of the other verses, but I didn’t wanna lose the message, so I thought: screw it, write a different melody altogether. I guess it worked! Thanks girl…
Can’t listen till I’m at home, but after reading the words…
I was hopin’ to dream of things that never change – or rearrange.
I like steady. // I like predictable.
I like things the way they’ve always been – when they’ve been better than nothing at all.
Those words speak.
I liked the third verse the best, especially:
“I saw the truth of life, that it will never stay the same.
This is freedom // this purpose, divine”
You are filling up your song book and it will be hard to pick favorites for your CD, whenever you decide to put it together.
Mandy… I love it.. You have wonderful range of styles to your music.
Can’t wait to her the finished product from the recording sessions with Brent.
It reminds me of early Jewel’s music
Big thanks y’all!
your creativity never ceases to astound me. can you bottle some and send it my way?
Mandy…I still love these words…but I love hearing you sing more than you did on this one. One of the early posters is right, though – you have an amazing range of styles!
I love – LOVE – the lyrics. The music-singing style didn’t work for me. Sorry…
I think this one has lots of potential. The thing that I’ve been noticing with all of these, and it may be because they are rough drafts and you don’t have the melodies nailed down yet, is that the melodies seem to be a little off from the chords that you’re playing. I’m not sure if it’s a pitch thing or what.
and with this one, you’ve got some talk/singing and that’s cool, it just needs to be somewhat in sync with the notes in the chords for it to work. Think Johnny Cash.
Does that make sense?