I wrote a song for you. Like to hear it? Here it goes:
Something Saturday: Another crazy music thingy
12
Monthly Archives: May 2009
Thank You
A few days ago, I spent some time thinking about the wonderful relationships that I’ve formed just by having a blog, and by the amazing friends that I’m able to keep up with by reading their online “diaries” of blogging…
And I am thankful.
I’m thankful that a man that lives 3,000 miles away from me is producing my new album, with killer musicians and an amazing vision for my songs. And I’m thankful that a friend who is a professional designer is churning up some amazing cover art for this very project, using pictures that another blog friend, an amazing photographer, spent time working on to get just right.
All of these men are a part of my destiny because of the blogging world. I’ve met every one of them through blogging.
I’m thankful that you will take the time out of your busy and over-committed day just to listen and give thoughtful feedback to my latest songwriting endeavor. And, when I need it, you cheer me on. You leave a comment. You send an email. You stop me in the hallway at work and school. This community has shaped me as an artist and an individual.
So I just wanted to say thank you.
A thousand thank yous.
The song.
Y’all asked for it – the one I submitted to the competition. #35 out of this year’s 100 goal… Special thanks to Sandra Cofield, Cindy Beall, Tam Hodge, & Drew Thompson.
Here it is:
Forty More Falls – copyright Mandy Thompson, ASCAP, 2009
They got married in September of nineteen sixty-nine.
They were too young to remember much of life before that time,
but they dreamed and they planned and they lived
and they loved that fall.
And looking back on forty years of love behind them now
they can’t believe all these years of keeping every vow.
He looks at her still beautiful – still his young bride -
and he smiles as he says… He smiles as he says…
(He’ll take)
40 more falls
40 more years
40 more with laughter
40 more with tears
40 more dreams
40 more highs
40 more of all the lows
40 more falls
There were days filled with nothing but empty bank accounts.
They never thought they’d make it when they lost their first child.
And they’ve both buried parents, but they still feel like kids
with so much life to live.
Laughing at their daughter playin’ soccer – she won’t stop wavin’ at the stands.
If he hadn’t lost that job, they wouldn’t have that second chance.
And just like she promised she’s still by his side,
and she cries when she says… she cries when she says…
(She’ll take)
From fall to fall the leaves change their colors,
But their love will stay the same when they hold on to each other.
(They’ll take)
If I don’t, I won’t.
When I took up the challenge to write 100 songs this year, I didn’t know where all this would take me…
And I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve already grown.
I recently finished a song that (I think) has potential. I’m not saying it will ever be a hit; I’m simply saying it’s a good song. I’ve been working on this one since February, and I knew it was special when I first started it. Please understand, the songwriting process is like finding a shiny coin on the sidewalk. You notice it, pick it up, & then decide what to do with it. I truly feel like I wander into song ideas. And then I have to figure out what to do with them.
This time, I’ve decided to let this song explore some possibilities. Yesterday I entered it in a pretty well known songwriting contest. My heart pounded when I decided to do this.
But it’s not about winning. I don’t care if I win. I just care about being a songwriter who stewards the songs she has. And I’m taking baby steps this year to do that… Writing. Reading. Learning. Listening. Writing some more.
And taking care of the good songs that I pick up along the way.
This is what gets me excited. This is what makes my heart pound.
Please don’t get the wrong idea here. I am highly uncomfortable with self promotion (so much so that I even hesitated to even write this post), and feel presumptuous submitting a song. But, if this is who I want to be, then I need to start acting like I am. Right?
So, if I don’t submit this song, then I won’t.
And I don’t want to “won’t.”
I want to say that I did.
I do.
photo courtesy of Corey Hines
This weekend, Drew and I attended a beautiful wedding. He was one of the officiants (ministers) and I sang in the wedding.
Drew had the unspeakable privilege of writing their vows:
(from the groom, to the bride) I promise, before God and our family and friends, to love you as your husband, to be faithful to you always, to put our marriage before every other earthly relationship, to do what it takes to keep Christ at the center of our marriage, and to encourage you to love and follow him always.
(from the bride, to the groom) I promise, before God and our family and friends, to respect you as your wife, to be faithful to you always, to put our marriage before every other earthly relationship, to do what it takes to keep Christ at the center of our marriage, and to encourage you to love and follow him always.
Tears came to my eyes as I listened to my husband’s words signifying the beauty, grace, and holiness of marriage. I’m so glad I married him. Every time we attend a wedding, my heart makes those promises all over again.
