Song For My Mom
Last week I came upon an idea for a song while riding my bike. Not surprising. Ideas often come when I’m in motion. No place to write them down…or speak them into a device. In the shower. Driving, you know the drill. etc…
The first four lines fell from the sky. I sang them over and over in order to etch them into my soul and when I got home I grabbed my guitar. The rest of the song unfolded in 2 days… (I love when that happens), …because I believe…I was inspired. Funny thing is after all that strumming, it felt more at home on the piano.
This is a work-in-progress. Bare with me.
Originally, I was considering 2 similar structures — trying to combine the best of both worlds but you know how that goes. It’s like squishing too many ingredients in a cake and then the cake doesn’t have any distinguishable flavor.
But then, after a good night’s sleep, I came back to it and a third structure revealed itself. And it actually managed to merge the best bits and eliminate the melodies I couldn’t find words for anyway. Stuff happens on it’s own when you’re not trying. And very often…after good night’s sleeps.
I’m still not sure about the Stevie Wonder-ish Em-A turnaround in the bridge (or whatever that section is). I sort of like the whimsy but I want it to be organic as well. What do you think?
There is one line in the song that I’m not sold on but I’m not going to tell you which one it is. Let’s see if it jumps out at you too. Feel free to opine. That said, in the end I’ll probably follow my own instincts. It’s like when you ask a waiter what he recommends and then order what you want anyway. It’s not that you didn’t trust the waiter…it’s just that…well, you know.
That’s it. Short and sweet this week. But music speaks louder than (just) words.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day my friends. Give yourself (if you’re a mom) a big hug and give one to your mother too if she’s close enough to receive it. Sadly mine is not. So I wrote her this song…
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