Day 49 - 8/31/20 - One Way

right left
keep on going now
except, if you won’t own it
better yet, why you don’t slow it
before you, go and go and and blow it

in the morning won’t you wake up
before the dawn get an early start
body screams i know it hurts
but push on now
you know you’re better for it

One way
ticket to Sunday
will you make it
know you
are feeling beat down
you’re breakin
inside
you’re making too many
decisions
outside don’t even recognize
the things you see

give it all
up to the higher love
up in the sky above
if that’s what you believe
put all your energy
into the place of need
give it that loving
in your heart find so deep

What a damn roller coaster. I started writing a different song on the Ukulele because I was cleaning up my computers. But, then I decided “screw it” and jumped onto the computer. I started with the drum kit and beat, then added the piano. Then I realized I was writing a song that was inspired by an Instagram story I saw earlier today. He’s an artist I met at CD Baby’s DIY Musician Conference a couple of years ago. His name is Gospel Lee, he’s a christian hip hop/rap artist and his tagline is, “Quality Hip-Hop Your Mom Would Be Proud” and I love it. He’s an amazing dude. I felt chills watching the video he posted of a performance… in the before times. Even though I have long shaken off my christian (catholic) beliefs, I still got chills watching the power of his performance. So, apparently that came out in today’s song so I just owned it. My voice was feeling scratchy and kind of sounded like another CD Baby artist named Mark Erelli. He’s got a real Bruce Springsteen vibe going, and his voice is very much “Mark Erelli”.

So, this is my “Americana/Christian/Rock” song.

I was totally sick of it up until recording the guitar solo, and then felt re-invigorated up until the 11th take.. and then I was over it again. Then I had to start the vocals and was suuper over it at that point because I had no idea what to write. I decided to do what I always do, and write literally what I’m doing/or thinking about. I was shifting my weight back and forth between my right and left foot, which kind of felt like marching, so I started there. I want to wake up early in the morning and do my workouts and meditations before work, but I continue to have trouble making that happen. Ultimately, the chorus just runs up to the super “God-y” line, touches it, and then backs away as quickly as possible while still directing the listener (me) to pour love into the world. By the end of recording I was in love with the song and so excited to record layer upon layer of vocal harmonies as I began to understand and get the weird and random pacing and phrasing of the chorus down.

Time to complete the nightly songwriting routine by showering off the sweat and grime of a day in an air conditioner-less ~128 sq ft tiny home, while listening to the finished song a million times, by myself, in the orange glow of my “salt lamp” that sits in my sleeping loft.

Thanks for being part of this absurd adventure.