The Last Optimist

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The Last Optimist

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from words to Release Sharing my creative p

Songwriting

If you are curious, this page is a glimpse into my world as a songwriter. Every songwriter is different and my influences are heroes to me: Ani DiFranco,  Mark Knopfler, Courtney Barnett, Ian MacKaye, Colin Meloy, Susan Levine, and Robert Thomas. This is about the new songs I've written since my album of dirt and moon came out in mid-January 2025. We are near the end of the journey for the new album 'kind lady clear road' with eight songs captured with the band in Nashville and only the mixing and mastering left to do. These little baby songs are ready. Some want to be all angsty and folky and some are full of rage and want to be emo and punk. A few just want to be pretty. The album is taking shape!

Beginning with the words

For me, songs come words first. I open myself up very early in the morning and if I am lucky the muse is there and the lyrics tumble out. I've learned that I can't take much credit for the writing. Sometimes I am just channeling and try to stay open until the song is all down. When its too much work, I walk away. When the emotion is clear, the words always follow. When the world is in turmoil the muse will not leave me alone until she is heard. I recently reread my lyrics and realized that there is more there that I missed earlier. The universe is a very mysterious place and we don't know much at all. I take comfort from that.

Learning new chords

Every song this winter and spring has come with new chords. I don't know why - they are demanding little songs and I've twisted my fingers in knots to figure out what they need. These are still not quite right but they are getting better and 999 more times through and I may be able to get the fingers to do what is asked.

Learning to sing

I don't think of myself as a great singer. But I do practice every day and I've been working to get better for several years. It is one of the joys of my life and I am continuously humbled as I figure out something new about vocals that I didn't even realize was a thing. Danielle Pinals is my trusted vocal coach and she has patiently helped me discover and rediscover my voice and what it means to sing, to connect, and to relay emotions from heart to air to heart. It is a journey and that's ok. Just sing.

Recording with studio musicians

I wish I had a band - but I am a solo singer these days balancing fatherhood, family, work, and music. I am fortunate to have the most talented studio band imaginable to co-create with down in Nashville. My contribution is the songwriting, the structures, the weird 7-9-11 chords and time signatures, the words, the emotional arc, and the heartstrings that want to be plucked. In studio we all work together and the band members each bring their own magic to the process - and they are truly impressive magicians with absolute mastery of their instruments. I am awed. My Producer, Lowell Reynolds, creates and protects the sacred space for collaboration as he captures the magic on tape. It's euphoric!

So here are the songs - naked and vulnerable

Here are the super rough awkward iphone videos of the new songs in rough form. Still 1,000 run-throughs to go before going into the studio.

Before the storm (garage rough take)

The morning fog lay heavy down the valley by the river

sunrise found the space between horizon and the clouds

who hung heavy with child not knowing if he’s rain or if she’s snow

you cuddled in your blanket eyes wide in the morn


why so quiet is your question and the answers I will hold

for to tell what will be coming is to break what now is pure

so we share the blanket cross our chests as sunlight starts to glow

and greet the day with open eyes the day before the storm


We're not ready for the storm


it’s too warm for December and the air smells of the sea

a seagull lands a hundred miles from where she ought to be

by the spruce tree in the backyard where the mountain starts to rise

the fog still in the hollows the red still in the sky


We're not ready for the storm 

Too afraid to move out of its way


Everything is quiet in the forest above the lake

the nervous birds left early flying north and flying east

the noisy ones are busy putting food down in the holes

the quiet ones are waiting fear building in their souls


We're not ready for the storm

Too afraid to move out of its way

not a plan and frozen with nothing left to say

and tomorrow will decide


How strong the wind how high the tide

and where the lightning strikes this time

Which lakes to grow which roads to cross

Which bridge to wash which roof to throw

and when the longest night is done

awakened as the sun breaks through 

for me for you

what kind of neighbors will we be

serenity has gone to war (garage rough take)

  

You wrap around me like cold hands wrap around

A hot mug of coffee on a gray snowy morn

in the last month of winter the first month of spring

when the ground is all frozen

and the birds the birds start to sing


You wrap around me like fire on a tree

too close to the flame and melting within

the blush of your soft cheek lit up by a flame

then pulled to the cold air and thrown

thrown to the sea


God grant me serenity wisdom and courage

Powder kept dry and enemies held close

because there will be a fight


You wrap around me like armor like war

all steel and leather forged from the mine

scared anxious resolved to the fight

all energy and focus lethal silent 


God grant me serenity wisdom and courage

Powder kept dry and enemies held close

Because there will be a fight

Yes there will be a fight


Then every story that’s ever been told

of good and evil friend and foe

will play out before us with new starring roles


Because there will be a fight 

and we will choose a side

And this time the enemy will come from inside

and everyone will believe that they are in the right


When the dust finally settles on blood dried and cold

on the leaves and the grasses your hands and the snow

we’ll walk home together trembling and old


for serenity has gone to war

underground (garage rough take)

One moment of quiet one drop of peace

Bricks laid down side by side stacked up high stacked up high

to silence the sounds you blocked out the sun

and what a lovely cage you have built


One hand in the air and one hand on the book


One minute of quiet one twinkling of peace

snow outside as far as the eye stacked up high stacked up high

put distance between the hate and the rage

and wrote yourself a sentence of exile


One hand  on the book one hand in the air

Tailor tinker soldier spy kind lady clear road take care


One flash of quiet one trice of peace

Soldiers and guns as far as the eye stacked up high stacked up high

to bring down justice with mortars and mines

and weighed your soul down heavy


Look for the helpers she said

look for the ones who have always been there

a notch on a fencepost a mailbox a sign

an ally a wingman quiet and kind

Abolition she said set up the railroad again

For when they go low we go high

and sometimes we have to go

sometimes we have to go

underground

Hurricane (garage rough take)

If I follow through the fog

Words gone hollow light gone soft

I am lost here you are not

A hand a tear a whisper you near

Held like a memory held like a fear


Following leading chasing fleeing

Drop like a rock falling screaming

Tumbling lost flailing reeling

Trying to fly in a hurricane

Screaming your name in the wind and the rain


If I follow through the fog

Waves grown louder light gone dark

I am lost here you are not

You are close just a feeling a touch then you’re gone 

Seed of light on the horizon cracks open the dawn


This is my time this is my space

These are the things I do  to keep my feet in place

This is my time this is my space

These are the things I do  to keep my feet in place


Jump from the rock and ride on the edge

Of the storm that has ravaged our hearts and our heads


wings beating clouds ceding

Drop like a rock locked in and speeding

then turn to the sky I now am leading

I’ll get my wings in a hurricane

I’ll learn to fly in the wind and rain

I’ll earn my wings in a hurricane

I’ll learn to fly in the wind and rain

Blindfold (garage rough take)

   When will I see you again

Bright spot in a gray sky on a gray day

Didn’t think I’d find a friend

Not here not now not here


Then your arm brushes mine You cover up my eyes

Take me by the hand Pull me outside

Lead me up the hill quiet words gentle steps

I think I can breathe again think I can breathe


Your words catch flight on the breeze

Scent and a hint that you’re near

Heart beating faster eyes filled with laughter

The only one that matters to me


Then your arm brushes mine You cover up my eyes

Take me by the hand Pull me outside

Lead me up the hill quiet words gentle steps

I think I can breathe again I think I can breathe


I dream of you now

Your eyes lit by the moon

A halo around 

A kiss in the night will make it alright


Today on the path by the reeds

red winged blackbirds came north they’re singing again

as the ice melt falls from the trees

a chandelier of water and light

six hour tide (garage rough take)

  

Lilac is your color always been that way

the kind you see when you close your eyes

I know you when you’re near lit like a firefly

a drop of comfort in the dark on a sleepless night


10 more years and a baby’s cry 

Rise and fall on a six hour tide

A chill in the bones and a long winter’s night  

When we gonna go 

When we gonna go 

To the other side


grey pickup cuts the snow up on 89

Two lights to follow on a stormy night

You got her home safe it’s gonna be all right

a field of green clover in a clear blue sky


10 more years and a baby’s cry 

Rise and fall on a six hour tide

A chill in the bones and a long winter’s night  

When we gonna go 

When we gonna go 

To the other side


and on some quiet evening

after decades fall aside

spin your ring around your finger

and look back on good time


10 more years and a baby’s cry 

Rise and fall on a six hour tide

A chill in the bones and a long winter’s night  

When we gonna go 

When we gonna go 

To the other side

tracks in the moonlight (garage rough take)

  Come out of your shell you quiet one 

Come see what the light has to say

There’s more out here that you don’t want to miss

There are poems and notes and paints


She asked you to dance on the grass

Underneath a blanket of stars

To music she’ll share if you ask

A song never heard by anyone


It starts quiet and slow like the ocean at night

Lights at the edges the first tinges of morning

And if you are lucky

if you are lucky

she’ll sing you the rest


Come out of your room you somber one

Bring all your awkward and shy

The unspoken words that you hide so well

The notes and the colors so bright


She asked you to dance on the grass

Underneath a blanket of stars

To music she’ll share if you ask

A song never heard by anyone


It starts quiet and slow like the ocean at night

Lights at the edges the first tinges of morning

The next part is sad about a house in Georgia

A misunderstanding and blood in the dirt

But hold on and sway the music keeps coming

Her head tucked in close and tears on your shirt

And if you are lucky

if you are lucky

she’ll sing you the rest


She asked you to dance on the grass

Underneath a blanket of stars

To music she’ll share if you ask

A song never heard by anyone


It starts quiet and slow like the ocean at night

Lights at the edges the first tinges of morning

The last part it grows like leaves in the springtime

They fill in the space between ground and the sky

With perfume and clouds of seeds and longing

Her chin lifts your eyes meet

the dew on her bare feet

and if you are lucky

tracks in the moonlight

tracks in the moonlight

are all that is left

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