Really like this. Wish I could paint like this. 

Fascinating and deep lyrics, thought provoking.  Beautiful guitar tones, as always.  And I like how the vocal is so light, yet there's a sprinkle of emotional heaviness underneath, really helped me process the lyrics.

I'm such a sucker for your songs. Like seriously, I already loved this just when you were singing about a credit card but then that last verse came around and now I'm like *heart eyes*

This is quite a lovely gift you've given us, friend. Gentle, approachable, and generous. Not unlike yourself. ;)

Sounds from Sunday evening

"This Is Not A Song" (191208, #308)

This is not a song no it's a credit card
Plastic with a hologram and a watermark
Good to fill the tank or empty out a shopping cart
The perfect silent partner to finish anything you start

This is not a song it's a new pair of shoes
Laces in a bow lily white and baby blue
Waiting in their little box patiently for you
Ready to walk anywhere do anything you wanna' do

This is not a song no it's a pack of smokes
Light one up and take a drag feel it in your throat
Toss 'em with a matchbook or a lighter in the pocket of your coat
You got a secret weapon now hit the road and go for broke

This is not a song it's an IOU
Not green or gold just a pledge from me to you
Still workin' out what it's worth if you want the truth
May not buy you anything but it sure wants to

Week 50 - This Is Not A Song (191208)

Guess who's back after almost a month of nearly giving up on school every single day?
Yep, that's me.
Apparently I wrote a song using the theme for the week, so you better make a wish right now :)

Artwork: @ nyctophiliacmb

Lyrics: 

You don't know but I'm tired,
I've been up all night reading between the lines
so leave your message after the tone.
It's the way we're wired,
I can feel what you hide going down through my spine
before you even pick up the phone.

This time I'm wasting on you won't do any good.
But you'll fall apart at the dawn
(cause I know that you'll miss me when I'm gone).

I'm attached, I'm attached, I'm attached
to every word you speak, flow through me like a creek.
(miss me when I'm gone)
And pretty much, pretty much, pretty much
I've done the same to you, I'm stuck to you like glue.
So I know that you'll miss me when I'm gone.

Wish that I could see it lighter
but it takes over me when I pull of your strings
(cause I can't watch you go).
So I made myself a fighter,
and I fight against the sight of your eyes when I breathe
tho I'd be damned if I let it go.

This time we're wasting on us cause we love to make a fuss,
but you don't know how to lose
(cause I know that you'll miss me when I'm gone)

I'm attached, I'm attached, I'm attached
to every word you speak, flow through me like a creek.
(miss me when I'm gone)
And pretty much, pretty much, pretty much
I've done the same to you, I'm stuck to you like glue.
So I know that you'll miss me when I'm gone.

And the touch of our hands is more than I can stand.
You hold me like quicksand.

(Oh, oh)
I can feel the thunderstorm vibing on the floor.
(Oh, oh)
You switch off the lights when you knock on the door.
This time I wasted on you, oh how I wish I'd knew better.
This time I know I'm screwed, I'm stuck to you like glue.

Glue

That one time I saw James' front door and I went nuts because it's beautiful so I wrote a song about it.

Artwork: picture taken by Jacob (@ generalhux on Twitter). Design by @ nyctophiliacmb 

Lyrics:

I found a little piece of you in Chester Avenue.
I think it got stranded the day I left and you felt blue.
It looks like a picture you took when May turned into June,
now it lies on your doorstep hoping I'll come through.

It feels like a little smile you didn't wanna make
cause I was being funny and you knew it was a mistake.
You thought I was cold like a stone but even stones can break
if you look at them too long, more than they can take.

I found what belonged to us walking down the street,
right when the sun started to rise and you said "come here with me
cause I don't know what I would do if I ever have to be free"
So I promised I'll stay here until it all disappears.

But I ran away, like a scared deer on the road.
It got too loud, it got too strong for the void I was living on.
Tell me it's all my fault, cause I won't let you fall.
This is my aftermath, you don't belong inside these fallen walls.

Hearts can fade, stones can break,
You don't have to be afraid.
Words can bend but they can't break,
You don't have to be afraid.

I found a little piece of you in Chester Avenue.
I said I'll be right here, like I always would.
Even if it's from afar, even if it's from the woods.
I'll just think of your name, hoping you'll come through.

Chester Avenue

Olé

I can't be arsed

I initially wrote this song with a 40 minute limit within at a songwriting workshop with singer-songwriter Laura Veirs. I used her prompt cards which gave some clear parameters to write with, and then went from there. It allowed me to stop judging my writing as I was writing and made for much more interesting lyrics for me.

Deanna Davis - Barbara Jean (original)

Copyright 2020
All Rights Reserved

Many thanks to Kent Aitken (@kent-aitken-386794022) for the "Bubblegum & Butterflies" inspiration for this song! I'm guessing he had no clue this would actually amount to anything. Ope. Check out his music, y’all!

do do do 
do do do do 
do do do 
do do do do
dooooooooo
do do doooo

do you feel the weight of the world
when you stop 
just for a moment

do you know that you are not alone
there are pretty much more of us
a stone throw away

'cuz we know life ain't
bubblegum and butterflies
but hell, that would be nice

gotta keep pressing on
gotta keep marching along
to the brighter day ahead

do do do 
do do do do 
do do do 
do do do do
dooooooooo
do do doooo

hey there, friend
won't you come and take my hand
and together we'll find our way

and along the road we'll ease
the load so we don't 
have to bear it alone

we know that life ain't
bubblegum and butterflies
but hell, that would be nice

gotta keep pressing on
gotta keep marching along
to the brighter day ahead

oh we know life ain't
bubblegum and butterflies
but hell, that would be nice

gotta keep pressing on
gotta keep marching along
to that brighter day ahead

Bubblegum & Butterflies (Pretty Much)

Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr (slightly altered)

G-d ,Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
(G-d grant me the) courage to change the things I can
and wisdom to know the difference.

Serenity Prayer- Music by Abbie Lynn SAW2020 wk23

Nashville songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Godin Guitars Official Artist and Founder of www.songaweek.org.

His catalog of 350+ titles includes collaborations with hit writers Mark Narmore, Pete & Pat Luboff, NSAI Regional Coordinator Dan Rivers, and many others internationally from England to Australia.

Redding's music has landed cuts by numerous recording artists including Dan Whitehouse, Emma Gale, and David Easterling.

Week 50 - This Is Not A Song (191208)

James Tristan Redding

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