Song #11: All of It

Turn on any pop radio these days and you're likely to hear Bruno Mars crooning about how his girl is "amazing... just the way [she is]."

While it's a great song, what irks me is that he praises only her wonderful qualities and how great he makes her feel. The thing is - once you get past the initial stages of dating, no one is all bubbles and unicorns all the time - even the most beautiful woman on the planet. Once lusty attraction turns into a committed relationship, some of the more... hidden... sides of our character start to rear their heads. This is where love begins to replace lust: when we begin to accept and even love ALL that makes someone who they are, rough edges and all.

I thought it'd be fun to write an honest song that challenged the Bruno Mars track - praising a lover's "shadow side" and loving someone TRULY "just the way they are."

PLAY: 

LYRICS:

I could write a thousand lines

about your hair, about your smile

it's true you are beautiful the way that you are

but we've all got our shadow side:

bad mood and fears and age-worn lines

and just as many times as you make me laugh,

you can be a real pain in the ass

your tears mix with makeup and create a mess

you're out late with friends sending drunken texts

you kick back at home in old baggy sweats

and I just can't get enough of you

and I choose all of it

I'll take all of you

if it weren't for all of it,

you wouldn't be you,

and I wouldn't know what to do

the worst thing I could ever dream

is your compromising anything for me

you were fine before you even knew my name

so don't you dare go change a thing

or settle for less than amazing

and I promise you that I'll do the same

so what if it's been months since you touched a broom

and damn girl if you can't clear a room

I just can't get enough of you

and I choose all of it

I'll take all of you

if it weren't for all of it,

you wouldn't be you,

and I wouldn't know what to do

you sure clean up nice when you go out to dance

but I like you in that tank top and those yoga pants

it's safe to say I'm your biggest fan

and I just can't get enough of you

I choose all of it

I'll take all of you

If it weren't for all of it,

you wouldn't be you,

and I wouldn't know what,

no i wouldn't know what to do

Art and Parenthood

In light of this week's song I was thinking about art that relates to parenthood. I remembered this mixed-media piece I did for my daughter before she was born. I handwrote Diane di Prima's poem "Song for Baby-O, Unborn" on a piece of lined paper, finger painted around it and she's had it on her wall ever since.

What about you?

Do you have any artwork or poems or songs that mean something to you about being a parent or make you think of your childhood?

Song #10: I See You Sitting There

"A child's spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after it; you must stand still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back."

(Arthur Miller)

One Saturday afternoon I was watching my five-year-old daughter playing and realized I had never written a song for her. I grabbed my guitar and a pen and "I See You Sitting There" was written right there on the spot.

NOTE: I'm cheating a bit on my rule of writing one NEW song each week, as I wrote this piece several months ago. When I initially finished this, I shared it with a few of my close friends, but am now finally releasing it publicly since I've been on vacation for the holidays.

PLAY:

 LYRICS:

I see you sitting there

In your painted chair

You've got your dolls out

Fingers in your mouth

I see you sitting there

In your ballet tights,

it's almost time to say goodnight

And when I catch your eyes 

I can see that life's worthwhile

Couldn't be more proud of you

And your precious smile

I never knew I could fall in love

so quickly, so fiercely with someone

You are my favorite blessing from God

I see you dancing there

Twirling around the chairs

It nearly makes me cry

You got your mama's eyes

And your pretty face

Is lighting up the room

I know it's cliche to say it:

But I don't know when you got so big

Makes me want to hold on to just this moment

It too will go with the wind

I never knew I could fall in love

so quickly, so fiercely with someone

You are my favorite blessing from God

Sweetheart when you get older,

I will still remember all these times

I see you lying there

You got your PJs on

One foot hanging out

From that ratty old blanket you drag along

I say a prayer for you

And kiss you on the head

I never knew I could fall in love

so quickly, so fiercely with someone

You are my favorite blessing from God

Song #8: Wild Abandon

"The whole business of love is to drown in the sea."

[Rumi, 13th century Persian mystic & poet]

I'm starting to see how self-consciousness, fear and reservation are all enemies of love. Sometimes we frown upon people who live wide open and want them to "get themselves together" or to "listen to reason" - but passion can't be reasoned with. I know I've had those thoughts - and I'm starting to wonder if perhaps it's jealousy? This song tells the story of a woman who lives and loves to the fullest... refusing to play it safe... no holding back. I think we all want to be a little more like that.

LYRICS:

reason knows the way

yet she is always lost

reason runs away

but she can't get enough

she's drowning in this love

swallowed up by the sea

reason takes a break

she wants to go again

reason shies from pain

she takes it on the chin

she's drowning in this love

swallowed up by the sea

and naturally

she just wants to be

swept beneath, yes

reckless and free with

wild abandon, wild abandon

she is the shade and love is the tree

if she ain't free it's all for nothing

wild abandon, wild abandon

when reason calls out, "no"

she replies, "I must"

reason turns the nose

her passion is a musk

she's drowning in this love

swallowed up by the sea

and naturally

she just wants to be

swept beneath, yes

reckless and free with

wild abandon, wild abandon

she is the shade and love is the tree

if she ain't free it's all for nothing

wild abandon, wild abandon

and secretly

we all want to be

swept beneath, yes

reckless and free with

wild abandon, wild abandon

we are the shade and love is the tree

if we ain't free it's all for nothing

wild abandon, wild abandon

no holding back, no holding back

Song #7: Home to You

The last few songs have been pretty thematically heavy, so this week I wanted to do something a little more light-hearted. Enjoy...

PLAY:

LYRICS:

good morning sweetheart,

I hope you slept well

had to leave for work early,

didn't want you to worry,

but there is something that I wanted to tell you

because it's true:

that my favorite part of leaving every day is coming back home to you 

I may be out there

on the other side of town

working hard in my office

with profits and losses

but all I'll be able to do is spend my time

thinking through

what I'm gonna do to you tonight when I return home to you

and just like this morning light

filters in through the blinds

and rests on your hips and closed eyes

I'm gonna be on you, when the day is through

so all day just keep that in mind

I die a little every day

to leave you there sleeping

it's just the world needs me

but before i go let me say:

you're way friggin' cute...

and this too: 

I just can't wait to see your smiling face when I get back home to you

see you tonight, lovely

hope this made you smile

and as you go through the day

know that not far away

some crazy fool thinks the world, the world of you,

yes, it's true

and that his favorite part of leaving every day is coming back home to you

it makes life worth livin' in the knowing I get to come back home to you

Song #6: The Attic

"Anything worthwhile takes effort."

One of the easiest traps to fall into in life is that slow disintegration into drifting. You know what I mean: it's that place of cruise-control, of reacting instead of acting, of going through the motions. Unless we consciously intend to live and love "on purpose", gravity tends to pulls us into that old sinkhole time and again.

Sometimes we're fortunate enough to get a wake-up call - whether that comes from some sort of internal a-ha moment or perhaps more commonly from an unexpected outside event. In "The Attic", the narrator has just such an experience after stumbling across a box of momentos that had been tucked away.

Musically, this song is a bit unorthodox and experimental. It doesn't follow a normal song format, nor does it really have a hook or even a real chorus. Maybe we could best describe it as "a short story set to music."

PLAY:

LYRICS:

brown banged up boxes,

all taped and stacked up

pull one to the ground

and blow off the dust

let's see what I can find...

well, here's that old album

with pictures of us

and scraps of old letters

professing our love

the remnants of a life

I can see what we had

but look how I've been

I guess I just didn't feel prepared for this

It's all passing me by

it's said, life is what happens while we make our plans

remember when we said we'd always hold hands?

(but) the urgent trumped the day, and exhaustion, the night

my God, I have been entrusted with so very much

it's lovely and good but I didn't keep up

somewhere we got lost and failed to try

I can see what we had

but I know what I've been

I guess I just didn't feel prepared for this

somewhere I got lost and failed to try

----

well no more, no more

from here on I put my best foot forward

I don't want to take you for granted

well no more, no more

it's time that my own heart I restore

I don't want to take you for granted, again

tonight when I see you I'm gonna ask you to dance

and show you I still have the time for romance

I'm still amazed and you should know it

so I restack the box and climb back down the stairs

and find myself grateful for all that we've shared

you have my heart and it's past time I show it

Song #5: I Want Love

"The natural man has only two primal passions, to get and beget."

[William Osler]

PLAY:

LYRICS:

if I could be honest

if I could tell the truth

I am getting bothered

by the thought of you

just don't you forget

that I am a man

and I have needs too

I need love, love, love

give me love, love, love

I want love, love, love

from you

so reach out and touch me

or I will make a move

I am right here, hungry

I have an ache to soothe

there just aren't words

to say how much I burn

but I'd be glad to show you

I need love, love, love

give me love, love, love

I want love, love, love

from you

I am haunted by the scent

of the back of your neck

why are you so damn far away?

I feel like reaching out to you

and pouring me out

could you come over and stay?

why don't you come and stay?

'cause I need you now...

I need love, love, love

give me love, love, love

I want love, love, love

from you

Song #3: Behind the Scenes

Intimacy is nakedness. Letting someone in to see our true, unpolished selves takes trust and transparency. It's a beautiful thing indeed when in that vulnerability we find ourselves accepted, flaws and all.

"Behind the Scenes" was inspired by a conversation I had with a good friend. The first stanza is based on an analogy he mentioned in passing. I was inspired, took it from there and ran with it.

Make sure you let it play through the bridge [2:45]: that's where things really pick up!

PLAY:

LYRICS:

there is a stage and there is a curtain

outside's the show, but hey don't you know:

that behind the scenes things ain't what they seem

the cards are all shown, the tricks are exposed

we do our dance, we put the act on

out under bright lights, out on the stage

but all that's the show, there's something secret

behind the scenes, come back with me

when the lights go down 

and the walls come down

and there is an ending to all the pretending

I'll let you in

come see my sin

where all is uncovered is where the true lovers live

let's take it off, take off the makeup

take off our clothes, 'til all is exposed

I'll show you mine, if you show me yours

back behind the scenes, where it's just you and me

when the lights go down  

and the walls come down 

and there is an ending to all the pretending 

I'll let you in 

come see my sin 

where all is uncovered is where the true lovers live

a place of refuge where naught is forbidden

where trust is drunk freely and nothing is hidden

where you can be you without bullshit pretension

where baggage is welcome and girl did I mention

that behind the curtain there's no condescension

we'll reveal more than a stripper convention

and no matter what you still get my attention

I guess that's what love's all about 

when the lights go down  

and the walls come down 

there is an ending to all the pretending 

I'll let you in 

come see my sin 

where all is uncovered is where the true lovers live