Conversations

Be Me

Song of Sleep

Since the birth of my first child, I’ve wanted to write a song about being a dad. I think it was an expectation that I unfairly placed on myself as a songwriter. I made a couple of deficient attempts early on but it just felt trite and naive. The sentiment was there but I just didn’t have the miles under my belt yet to really have a grasp on fatherhood.

18 yrs and 5 kids later, I feel like I’m starting to scratch the surface. Inconsolable infants, skinned knees, stomach viruses, bad dreams - that’s the easy stuff. When life starts happening, when they start to breathe in more of the world around them, dipping their toes into new relationships, environments, and experiences - wow. That’s when you start getting some dirt under your nails, or even in your face. But, in a strange way, getting some dirt thrown in your face can open your eyes to how deeply you really love your children.

“All This Time”

What I want for you, my child
Is to know that I have loved you 
All this time
From the brightest of your days
To the darkest of your nights
I’m by your side
I will never leave you

When your dignity is lost
To lesser loves
And the promises that held your heart
Are trampled on and burned 
Warm within the ashes, I will hold you - I will.

When the innocence you thought you knew is gone
And you have your doubts
About this road that we’ve been traveling on
Even in your wandering
I will keep you - I will.

When your joy turns into song 
I will sing with you
Sing with you - I will.
When your tears turn into rivers 
I will cry with you
Cry with you - I will. 

What I want for you, my child
Is to know that I am wild about you now
And I always will be

Chann Carroll Demos

All This Time

All This Time (acoustic demo)

Breakthrough

Ma 3° chanson d'amour pour ma fille ! avec tous mes chaudoudoux, pour toi ma chérie.

Mon amour pour toi

Climbing Mountains, Music and Lyrics by Stephen L. Russell. c. and p. 2013, 2023.

Produced by Brian Morris.
Stephen L.  Russell - Acoustic guitar and vocals.
Brian Morris - Bass

Peter Russell - Recording Engineer

                She used to climb those mountains,
		She was always the first one.
		Running, with her long legs flying;
		Laughing, leaves in her hair.
		Now she’s gone,
		Now she’s gone,
		Climbing mountains.

		I knew her from the beginning;
		She used to tell those stories.
		Driving cars, washing dishes.
		Fairy tales, washing dishes.
		Now she’s gone.
		Now she’s gone.
		Climbing mountains

		She told me everything is breaking.
		“I feel like everything is broken.
		My legs just won’t do what I want them to.
		Still I have no, I have no complaints.
		I have nothing,
		I have nothing,
		To complain about.”

		I don’t believe in Jesus,
		I don’t believe in anything at all.
		What it is is what it is, that’s all.
		That’s all.
		And yet I see her,
		I still see her, 
		Climbing mountains.

		She came here early one summer,
		She left us late in another.
		She was breathing hard,
		Like she’d been climbing mountains.
		Breathing hard, almost there.
		Now she’s gone,
		Now she’s gone,
		Climbing mountains.
		Now she’s gone,
		Fairy tales,
		Climbing mountains.

Conversations

Scared of August