Reflection

Back in September, someone challenged me to write a song every day for the month of October. Before this, I think at least a month had passed since the last time I even picked up my guitar. But I decided to have a go at it. Most of the time I didn't feel like sitting down to write a song, but I made it a priority and put less pressure on myself to make "the perfect song."
I committed to come up with something for each day. Most of what I was doing was playing around with various sounds and instruments. I gave myself freedom to try some different things. I got into the habit of writing lyrics or ideas down as soon as I thought of them. I think I've lost tons of song ideas in the past simply because I didn't write them down or I was quick to discard them for whatever reason.
So, I'm finding it's better to start out with more and to trim down from there. In writing a paper, you want to gather all the information, all the quotes or examples from various sources. Then you piece it all together into something more polished. My hope is to do the same thing with my music. What I have recorded here on my blog is all of the pieces.
One difficult part of writing a song every day is that you don't always know what to write about. You don't always feel inspired. You don't always feel motivated. But I did feel moved by stories that came through friends and family. Also, I enjoy writing about nature and seasons.
I'm going to take a break now from writing so many songs. My next goal is to make some audio recordings of the songs that I recorded as video. Then, I'm thinking of focusing more on words. I'm thinking of doing a poem every day for a month. I feel I have grown so much this month from this experience. I'm happy to be able to share the experience.

October Sunset

October 30

Lagoon

In Between Places

October 27

Moon

What Our Lives Say

Seeing Sufjan Stevens tonight!

October 24

Shower Shelter

October Stroll

October 21

October 20

Sweet Conundrum

You Would Cry Too

I've been thinking about all the crazies out there lately. There are so many people who honestly believe they are doing good things when in reality they are doing so much harm to those around them and to themselves. This song is about those people, but more specifically about people who abuse animals through neglect and poor conditions. It's just a sad situation for everyone.




Sick in the head, you're a danger to yourself and a few others

You're the only one who could be right in this fantasy you're living

You're protecting your babies, but you're killing them off
If you could see how crazy you are you would cry
You would cry too.

You live in the house that has been abandoned by all other people

The kitties and the doggies, they are starving, but they love you all the same

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Sick in your bed, you're alive, but you look like you're dead

You think you're their savior and the perfect homemaker, but you're not

October 17

Caught My Snot

Christi, the first verse is about you. Thanks for being an instrument of God to me.

Whom Shall I Fear?

It's not that I am fearless. It's that I put my hope in someone much greater than myself.

October Summer

October 13

October 12

Bittersweet

I had a good conversation with a friend tonight about the beauty of all of life brought together into something more complete. Life is bittersweet, with all kinds of ups and downs, with exciting times and with boring times. I am reminding myself tonight that God makes my life beautiful as one whole masterpiece. If my life is a painting, I am somewhere in the middle of being painted. My life can appear confusing or bland or incomplete at times. But I must remember that every stroke of the brush has a bigger purpose (even if I don't feel that way in the midst of it).



Bittersweet ocean, up and down
Jostles and knocks me all around

Bittersweet story, long and dim
Will we wait to find out what shaped him

Bittersweet Monday, but mostly bland
Will you let your heart be stirred by His hand

You take it all and make it new
Throw it all together in a bittersweet stew
It takes some time and coordination
It's all leading up to something with anticipation

Bittersweet sunset in the cold
What a beauty to behold

October 10

This one sounds Halloween-ish.

October 9

Still two days behind, but I'm getting there.

A Snow Dream

Playing catch up now. This is from October 8th.

October 7

I admit this song is terrible, but I do like the ending part because it's fun to create mind pictures along with the sounds. I imagine different footsteps in a small old fashion western town. What types of images does your mind create with the different sounds?

When You Know (or at least when you think you do)

Human Zoo

This is a song about recognizing that I am a part of the madness of humanity. I can say that everyone is just crazy, but I am not merely the spectator I think I am. I am part of the human zoo.

Autumn Is Here

Song # 3

Legacy: A Song For Eisley

You were born in mid September
Was a day way will remember
Peace of God was on our shoulders
Was a day we will remember

We're so sad to let you go

And your legacy will live on

In your memory and the way that we live

We'll be thankful for each day that God gives us

Tiny baby loves her mother
Listens to her lullaby
She's so glad to be her daughter
She's the girl we will remember

Child of God, a living power
Gift that came down from above
Miracle, we recognize you
We gave you all of our love

You were born in mid September
Was a day we will remember
Peace of God was on our shoulders
She's the girl we will remember

First of 31 Songs

Very sloppy, yes, I know. I don't expect to come up with masterpieces in these 31 days, but I hope to have fun trying out different ideas and just challenging myself. And maybe some of these songs will spur on ideas for future more complete songs.