If you are curious, this page is a glimpse into my world as I work a song over and over 1,000 times. These are all new drafts since my album of dirt and moon came out in mid-January 2025. I'm heading back in to the studio in early June and trying to bring up these little baby songs to be ready. Some want to be all angsty and folky and some are full of rage and want to be emo and punk. The album is taking shape!
Every songwriter is different. 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 full 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.
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.
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 are 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 are 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 are 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…
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, and the first month of spring
when the ground is all frozen, and the birds, and 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,
to the sea
God grant me serenity, wisdom and courage
Powder kept dry, and enemies held close
Cuz there will be a fight
You wrap around me, like armor like war
all steel and leather, forged from the mine
scared and anxious, but resolved to the fight
all energy and focus, silent and lethal
God grant me serenity, wisdom and courage
Powder kept dry, and enemies held close
Cuz 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
Cuz 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
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
~to 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 the 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…
and sometimes we have to go…
underground
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’re close just a feeling a touch 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 branch and ride on the edge
Of the storm that has ravaged our hearts and our heads
Following leading chasing fleeing
Drop like a rock falling screaming
Tumbling lost flailing reeling
I’ll get my wings in a hurricane
I’ll learn to fly in the wind and the rain
I’ll get my wings in a hurricane
I’ll learn to fly in the wind and the rain
I’ll get my wings in a hurricane
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 music 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 wet feet
Tracks in the moonlight – tracks in the moonlight
are all that is left
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 I 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
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
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