singer/songwriter

Life in These United Hates

June 22, 2016 — 2 Comments

When writing my Week 24 song for #songaweek2016, I was feeling the weight of hate in our country – the Orlando shooting, Donald Trump rallies, comments sections and Internet memes of all stripes.

Tried to write something coherent, but I think I felt most strongly the wordless singing part. Not my best week, too squeezed for time this time, but I’m committed to doing this every week and posting it here, so here it is. With electric guitar by Nathan Bloom.

This can’t go on forever

this can’t be all we’ve got

this summer afternoon that’s raging

bloody blazing hot

but does that mean that nightmares

are clinging to its heels?

and for the thousandth time the moon

looks sadly down on killing fields?

Aah . . .

 

I wish you hope and courage

and strength and wisdom too

I wish you all the healing balm

that love and peace need to take root

and when your heart attacks you

with fear and dull despair

I wish you hands that hold your own

and voices vowing, I am here.

 

 

Don’t Forget

June 13, 2016 — Leave a comment

Sundays are usually tiny vacation days for me, in which I don’t check email or go on social media. So I didn’t hear the news about the Orlando shooting until I was checking email at breakfast this morning. Tears with my coffee.

The song I wrote for Week 23 of #songaweek2016 was submitted on Saturday, but I offer it here as a little lullaby in the face of the tragic news we are all processing.

Hymn Number 22

June 7, 2016 — 2 Comments

It’s been too long since Nathan sang along on one of my recordings. I won’t easily forget the night he recorded his vocals on this song, while I sat on the couch nearby, snuggled up with the dog and reading H.G. Wells. The process of creating these songs – not just the writing, but the recording and collaborative arranging – is something I simply love, a deeply fulfilling way to spend my time.

This song felt very hymn-like to me, and it’s week 22 of #songaweek2016, thus the title.

Rain falls on the righteous and wicked alike
’cause each of us is righteous and wicked
Sun shines in the daytime moon glows at night
each of us needs light and dark

Hallelujah, Amen

We’re born in a moment we cannot remember
we’re laid to rest in tombs of unknowing
we spring from folded bud through full-bodied summer
then fall asleep in winter’s deep embrace

Hallelujah, Amen

So play for us the songs you hear, paint the colors in your visions
write us the stories you find in the world
With broken brushes, bleeding pens and battered instruments
we’ll build a blaze and gather round for warmth

Hallelujah, Amen

Kind

February 9, 2016 — 5 Comments

It snowed a lot last week here in Loveland. And I came across a photo of my college boyfriend. And I had a very sore throat but I still needed to write a song for the week.

And favorite old quotations from disputed sources make great song bridges.

And I love making music with Nathan Bloom.

Here’s my song for week 5 of Song a Week 2016:

It’s snowing outside like a blanket over everything

And you’re on my mind

We once loved like children headed for a diamond ring

And then we trailed off

Now I’m happy with the path my life has taken

And you’re looking fine

But there were twists and turns where I was mistaken

Some extra miles I wish I had walked

If I had it now to do over I’d be kind

I would treasure your heart, and spend less time prospecting mine

If I had it now to do over, I’d be kind.

Back in junior high things were cut and dry

Everybody just understood

There were kids who always got laughed at

And kids who always looked good

I was never the one leading the charge

But I was fine to just stand around

And watch the uncool kids taking the hits

Keep their position close to the ground

If I had it now to do over I’d be kind

I would treasure their hearts, and spend less time prospecting mine

If I had it now to do over, I’d be kind.

Be kind, for everyone you meet

Is fighting a great battle.

The world outside’s all snowy like an empty page

And I’m ready to write

Your best days are never behind you

Unless you turn your back on your life

And all the people you want to have close to you

Are as close as they’re gonna come

You only need to reach out your hands

and take the hands reaching back for your own

We have each other right here, right now, let’s be kind

I’ll try to treasure your heart, spend less time prospecting mine

While we’re standing here in this moment I’ll be kind.

A Song A Week!

January 19, 2016 — 5 Comments

I am excited to announce that I have joined the Song a Week 2016 challenge. As you might guess, this means I and a number of other songwriters will attempt to write a new song every week. I’ve never tried something like this before, and I know it’s going to be a good exercise in fighting my perfectionist tendencies – a song a week means I’m sure to put out some stuff I’m less than proud of, some that bores me, some I will probably even regret or look back on in embarrassment at some point!

But I think I can count on doing some good work too, since I’ll be exercising those writing muscles regularly!

Here’s to a year of hard work and a batch of 50-some new songs! (I joined a week late so I’m not sure how many weeks that actually boils down to).

And here’s the first song I submitted:

Another one is already written, recorded and in the midst of editing work for this week! Starting strong 🙂

Lastly, here are a couple songs I recorded recently but forgot to post on the blog: