Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
My parents were visiting me and I told them I was trying to figure out what cover song I would do for December. My Mom told me that her favorite Christmas song is Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. I replied, “ok, that’s the one then.” I arranged a jazzy piano version of this song back in college at USU. It happened to be the only time this one professor seemed to be impressed with me!
Weighed down with sorrow today
I see you struggling in every way
Nights are long and heavy and sad
Few and fewer moments when you’re glad
Brainstorming – This song is about an event in my life, the death of our child. But I also tried to write it in a way that would apply to anyone who has cared for a terminally ill loved one who has passed on. Writing it helped me to process everything that happened and to maintain some hope along with it. It’s a brutal topic and a heavy one, I realize that, but hopefully it will touch some hearts.
I am going to start sharing a little behind the scenes as I write and arrange the music. Here is my 8 step process I go through from beginning to end with an original song.
Lullaby Princess is a sweet little lullaby written for a baby girl, my baby girl. I made it up 13 years ago, shortly after bringing her home from the hospital. It’s a right of passage for every mother to sing
To some, it may sound naive to believe in something that we can’t see or explain, to trust in a redeemer, in a Savior; but I like to think of it as being courageous.
In the days and weeks leading up to Eli’s death, I was, at times, very emotionally distraught. One day, I thought of the song “Peace in Christ” which was the Youth Theme for The Church of Jesus Christ in 2018. I found the sheet music online and printed it. I sat down to play and sing it that day and immediately the tears began to fall.
I tried something new in this video….talking. 🙂 I discuss some of the inspiration behind the song Home to Me and then 3 qualities of a good parent. What do you think? Do you agree with the qualities I chose?
This song is dedicated to the people, places and memories that make us feel at home.
I was searching through some Christmas Music to decide which song I wanted to cover for December when I came across the original version of this song. It’s from the movie “Meet me in St. Louis” sung by Judy Garland. I really enjoy the first lyrics. They have a bit more emotional tension than I feel the later versions have. For instance: