Tag Archives: songwriter

If I don’t, I won’t.

Posted on by
30

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.

32: Day is Done

Posted on by
40

About a month ago, I was overloaded with work and life, and wrote most of this song in my head on a work-filled Friday. I just found the time to finish it, and it may be one of my favorites so far.

(One thing I’d like to change, is the double usage of “you” – I’ve got two “yous” in this song, which is such a no-no, unless the “you” in the third verse can be the moon as well. But, in my head, that “you” is the listener. Anyway, it’s close enough for now. I’ve already moved on to song #32.)

I thought it’d make your Monday a little brighter.

Lyrics:

Day is done.
Gonna rest my head & watch the sun set.
Gonna leave all my cares to rest
When this day is done.

Day is done.
No more worries. No more race to run.
Just to live and laugh and love someone
when this day is done.

OH MOON WON’T YOU SHINE DOWN ON ME.
OH MOON KEEP ON SMILING FOR ME.

Before tomorrow’s begun
Gonna kick back and have a little fun.
If you see me, you know the night has come
and this long day is done.

24: So Far From Home

Posted on by
31

So. I’ve got some dummy verses (which I’m working on re-writing) and a chorus. But that’s it. The song stops short.

Wanna write a bridge with me?
Bridges usually either summarize the point of the song… Or, they take us somewhere else – adding a surprising twist to the main point.
With that in mind, this bridge can really be whatever. Depends on what you think this song is about. I have no personal interest in where this is headed – it’s just words and tones that I think fit together.
So we can go wherever you want to take this thing.
Give me some great words, tones, feelings, thoughts, lyrics…

And let’s see what we can do with this one:

These places – they don’t look the same -
they don’t smell the same – they don’t feel the same.
These faces – they don’t look the same -
they don’t smile the same – they don’t speak the same.
Is this where I lay my head?

I’m so far from home…

These city streets – they don’t wind the same -
they don’t drive the same – they don’t look the same.
Is this where I find myself?

I’m so far from home…

Music Monday, continued…

Posted on by
12

(I always heard that collaboration made the best songs. This is so incredibly beneficial for me. I know I might be the only one having fun, but humor me. This could be the blogosong of the year. Well, if that even existed…)

Yesterday I asked for ideas to expand the thought “Let’s don’t and say we did.”

The ideas were rolling in, and fantabulous… Well, except for that one about blending smoothies without the lid on top. :shock:

Anyway, one idea was so particularly amazing that people started voting for it. And, well, I had to agree, it was pretty darn good. Sarah said:

let’s don’t fight, but say we did, just so we can make up again. -)

Yep. I think that’ll do it. I think that’s where we can go with this one.

BUT (there’s always a but)

We need a few scenarios, to vary the concept. Maybe telling a story. Maybe by telling their story. And the line “let’s don’t and say we did” has to apply to the scenarios.

Here’s a possibility to kick things off: they meet when both have places to be, but the connection is instant and they wanna spend the day together, “Let’s don’t (go to our places) and say we did.”

Ok. Your turn… Make it good!