Fresh demos here!

Welcome home

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:32:42 -0400

I wrote this one Saturday night when I was thinking about how important it is for outsiders to feel like they’re a part. People shouldn’t require a break-in period to feel that they’ve earned the right to be heard, or involved, or cared about. Befriending somebody is a decision that we can all make in an instant.

If you’re standing in a crowd
But no one knows your name
Come on in, Cause you and me
We're the same

If you're screaming in the silence
My friend, there’s a world of sound
Grab a seat, Come on in
And sit down

If you’re imagining
That love is welcoming
I dream the same
You’re not alone
If you want what’s true- Me too

Welcome home

If you’re a friend, you come in peace
And you’ve been holding in a smile
Come on in and show your face
For a while
Love says, “come inside”
Love’s GOT nothing to sell
Pull off the road
Lay down your load
Set a spell

Human hearts are better together
Worse by far is one than two
Human hearts are better together
And so am I, and so are you

If you’re standing in a crowd
But no one knows your name
Come on in,
Cause you and me
We're the same 
If you're screaming in the silence
My friend, you are not alone
Grab a seat
Come on in
Welcome home

We did a cool production of this song back in... (January?) where different instrumentalists walked on stage throughout the song and began to play. By the end we were a “family”! It was pretty cool.

ps- Justin Golden is singing harmonies on this demo. He’s so good.

Here I Am

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 14:31:36 -0400

I wrote this song for Korrin Perry, a Cincinnati singer who’s putting a demo together. Justin Golden and I produced and mixed it, and we came away feeling like it was Big Fun. Here are the lyrics:

Here I Am
If you would only see
Here I Am, Am
What you’re looking for is me

You’re a tragicomet flying by
Waiting for a shiny thing to catch your eye
I know your name I know your past
Wasting your time on what won’t last, it don’t last…

You would have a heart, a heart to keep
If you weren’t deaf and dumb and half asleep
Well open up your eyes and look around
Wake up, pick up what’s going down

But I see you-- I see who you are
I see you and I won’t be far

The song is written from God’s point of view, looking at distracted people like you and me and going “Um, I know you’re looking hard for something to captivate you. I’m right over here...”

The Ballad of Zacchaeus

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:34:57 -0400

A few months ago, during a period of my life in which I got myself into all sorts of over-obligated trouble, I was asked to write a song that would reinterpret a Bible story for kids. My assignment was the story of Zacchaeus, a swindling taxman who was converted after an evening in Jesus company. His response and life-change were dramatic.

Naturally, when I thought of telling a story of a historical rascal who lived in a desert, was condemned by townsfolk, and whose transformation was public, I thought of the old west. Specifically, I thought of those wonderful old Disney shorts about Pecos Bill. I remember thinking I was watching the history of Texas when I saw those things. Anyhow, they were always colorful and playful, so I was always interested as well as entertained. I decided to try to make this song about Zacchaeus in the same vein.

I would take the time to give you the lyrics, but my goodness it’s a long song. I think the vocal is distinct enough that you’ll hear it all clearly. Anyhow, enjoy!

Oh yeah- I feel I should admit that the chord progression for the verses is directly lifted from a terrific Lyle Lovett song (he, another great Texan of yore) called Give Back My Heart.

Those words you said

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:40:01 -0400

I had the opportunity to write some music that may be used for television- an exciting prospect for me. I’m going to include 5 songs that I pitched to the Honchos.

Here’s the fifth. It’s told from the perspective of somebody who’s had to wrestle with accusatory words that shaped them (basically, that’s all of us). Once you release those words and shrug them off, you can walk in freedom. Until then, you’re bound to the past.

From a distance I can see it in time
Yeah, the lyrics are yours, the accusations are mine
I wonder how much more a hero can take
Before he changes around to the villain you hate

I can’t shake those words you said
I need some laughing gas for my head
Let me put these thoughts to bed
I can’t shake those words you said

You can set a bone but you cannot set a heart
So it’s an uphill climb, this is pain’s bitter art
My mood is not mine to say
There are strings on me, and the memories play

So all that hurt, I’ll let it go
Though all that venom broke me so
And in my soul I’ll sing a song
My heart is weak but love is strong

From a distance, I can see it in time
That story is yours, but redemption is mine

Let a little light in

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:17:46 -0400

I had the opportunity to write some music that may be used for television- an exciting prospect for me. I’m going to include 5 songs that I pitched to the Honchos.

Here’s the fourth. This was written around the theme of communication. We have to talk to each other to be whole, plain and simple. Proverbs says that whoever confessed and renounces sin finds mercy, but whoever hides them will not succeed. That’s just one example. James says we have to confess and pray for each other to get healed. Jesus said that we can’t so concentrate on the failures of those around us that we neglect admitting our own. Anyhow, this song is about communication and its sister, community.

Do you talk to yourself when there’s no one else?
Do you try to make a minute free?
If you try to take a walk but it’s too much of a shock
Baby come on, you can talk to me

When the buzz of the crowd is just a little too loud
So the voices in your head said
When you gotta get away from all the dollar a day
You come on out into the light instead

Let a little light in-
Don’t you understand?
Let a little light in-
This is love’s demand
We all walk out of the shadows hand in hand

If they’re closing all around you
And they’re killing all the sound
If you need a friend to make a spark
I know I am gonna hear you
‘Cause you’ve always got my ear
Don’t you ever be afraid of dark

There are whispers in the shadows
There is poison in the well
There’s an inky blackness out in space
But there is nothing in creation
There’s no fear you can tell
That a simple love cannot erase