I have one more song to write from the list of comissions I started back in June of 2017. When I first offered this kickstarter reward I believe I said your song would be ready by October of 2017….and fourteen short months after that FIRST deadline, this Sunday is my last deadline. And now I know.
So far we’ve got:
Iowa Wedding Song- based on the true story of a family brawl at a wedding and the subsequent banning of said family from a small town in Iowa forever.
That’s What Love Does- a love song about how love just makes things happen in a lovely, gentle, astonishing type of way
Still the Birds- a song about friendship rooted in music and Texas
My darling dear- An Irish-sounding love song about two lovers separated but to be united again in the future
How Beautiful the Tall Oak Tree- about steadiness and love and dreaming all at the same time
The Story of Us- College friends staying friends forever
You let the LIght in- How a friend can remind us of God’s love and assurance even when we can’t see it ourselves
Don’t Give up- about the dreams we have feeling far off, but that we don’t give up (also, the really big hill between the Hochschule and the S-Bahn stop in Oberursel and how it’s no fun to walk up at the end of the day)
Textbook- the twists and turns of life can bring us from reaching for the stars to changing diapers and raising babies
The house across the street- how we can help each other even in the midst fighting off our own darkness
So is my love for you- (Just completed yesterday) Love song in a minor key for a folk trio I know
***The Untitled Last One***- About my family and yet to be written.????????
The last song is dedicated to my mom, dad and brothers. It’s the hardest one to write. In desperation I’ve even gone to setting the timer and free writing. Heck, I got up early this morning to do morning pages (which actually yielded some stuff so that’s good) and starting forging a path through the confusion. Morning pages. Also, some friends and I are reading and working The Artist’s Way so, full disclosure, I’m supposed to be doing morning pages every day. OK, so day 1 of Morning Pages: DONE.
Now just write the song. Just write it. Just write a bad one, then another one, then don’t worry about it, write something else and then you’ll get it. You’ll get it if you stop thinking about it and start writing stuff down. Stop worrying about the outcome and start the journey.
Oh that sounds good. Stop worrying about the outcome and start the journey. Well, OK.
It’s hard not looking right and left and in front and behind you. It’s hard to remember your goals are different than other peoples goals. It’s good to remember that our purpose in life is ours and unique to us. The work we’ve been given will almost never match up to the work given our neighbors. As it should be. My goals these days are finishing these songs, hosting a house concert, and singing them online. No new record just yet, no crowdfunding, no slick new music video. Just me in my basement doing my thing.
Perhaps you are in your basement doing your own thing. I celebrate it. Keep it up. In the words of that Swedish pop band with that early 90s hit, “Listen to your heart.”
And finally, here at the Home Office, these 12 lucky souls got in at a bargain BASEMENT price (see what I did there?). I’ll start taking new comissions in January if you’re interested starting at $500.
Coming up: Stay tuned for my next blog which is probably gonna be about Cory Branan or Darrell Scott or both.