Week 34 #songaweek2020. Maybe the only completely instrumental track I've ever recorded! Photo is my lovely daughter this summer at a lake in northern Minnesota. If you listen really closely you might hear my rowdy backyard squirrels who "enhanced" the lead guitar track.

Solitude

Glasgow Songwriting Festival with lots of good tutors and inspiration.
This was written after an afternoon with Boo Hewerdine

Every Road

"This One Night Stand Could Stand Just One More Night" (#386-#389, 200817-200828)

 * co-written with Melvin Purvis * 

Buckled up my jeans slipped my timepiece on
Headed downtown to the honky tonk
Goin' where I know I can find a dance and a drink

As I pulled up in the truck I thought I spied
Pretty little cutie with those Monroe eyes
Said a quick prayer she was there lookin' for the same thing

I held the door open and she walked right in
Knowin' how tonight could end

Never mind the same old pick up lines
Just one question your place or mine
I don't even care if we close the blinds
This one night stand could stand just one more night

I went what do you say we grab a cold one for the road
She said you got game but this ain't my first rodeo
Yeah she saw me comin' from my watch down to my boots

Like an old time cowgirl she headed me off at the pass
Every time I opened my mouth she shut me down fast
Kinda' started thinkin' that I bit off more than I could chew

Sittin' there wonderin' how the night would end
When she grabbed me by the hand

Never mind the same old pick up lines
Just one question your place or mine
I don't even care if we close the blinds
This one night stand could stand just one more night

When we wake up tomorrow we can flip a coin
But we both know where this thing is goin'

Week 35a - This One Night Stand Could Stand Just One More Night (200828)

My heart just sank at the news today
Nothing to do
What can anybody say about it all?
At this the latest blow to fall
I sigh at the waste at the pointlessness
Shake my head, and I'm cursing as I turn a weary eye
To the earth and to sky

What sense to make except to be grateful for the gifts you gave?

Thank you for your service to your people
Cause you were a king - you were a king
In the vision of a world with all men equal
You showed the dream, you showed the dream
You showed a courage and a strength, and dignity though,
Too soon to go, too soon to go
The unfinished work of superheroes*
Must be our own, becomes our own

Surprised to learn how you knew of it
Long before your triumph, that this thing was inside you
That your days were numbered too
Love and respect the choice you made
To take the wave and ride it,
Dance along, crack a smile,
Live it all before you die

What sense to make except to be grateful for the gifts life gave?

Thank you for your service to all people
You were a king - you were a king
Vision of a world with all men equal
You showed the dream, you showed the dream
You showed a courage and a strength, and dignity though,
Too soon to go, too soon to go
I guess the unfinished work of superheroes*
Becomes our own, must be our own

* Credit where credit's due, I just wanting to acknowledge that this line comes from (indeed, is a reference to), Ben Harper's "the unfinished work of our heroes must be our own", from "How Many Miles Must We March". When I heard his line, I assumed it was an existing quote or a saying, but it looks like Ben Harper is just deep.

You Were A King

"IMAOKFUR" (#390, 200901)

RUOK
IMOK

FUROK
NIMOK

U84NUD
8S242C

L41N14L
SMT2CDN

RSNF4S2B
IMAOKFUR

Week 36b - IMAOKFUR (#390, 200901)

"I’m Ready Now" (#392, 200905)

 * Co-written with Paul McDonnell *

I'm looking for a place to put these chances I won't take
There's no more space the closet's full door's about to break
Gotta' clear some room by throwin' out these broken things
Collectin' dust from dawn to dusk beneath this old box spring

Like the halo that I used to wear, and my broken magic wand
There’s the shoes I never walked a mile in, should have tried those on

Well I’m ready now I’m singin’ it out loud
I'm breakin' free of what I can see I'm better off without
Yeah these nights are long but this ain't about what's right or wrong
It's just about me throwin' out my doubts and I think I'm ready now

My rosy tinted glasses they've been down there for awhile
Next to all the hours I spent wishin' like a child
A clover with 3 leaves it never seemed to grow a fourth
The pedestal that leveled all my lovers to the floor

The first stone that I couldn't cast, the tears that didn't help
Fallin' on the pages full of words I told myself

Well I’m ready now I’m screamin’ it out loud
I'm breakin' free of what I can see I'm better off without
Yeah these nights are long but this ain't about what's right or wrong
It's just about me throwin' out my doubts and I think I'm ready now

Pictures from the past like a movie in my mind
I can change my story when I leave them all behind

Week 36a - I’m Ready Now (200905)

"Give My Best" (#393, 200906)

Some lovers find you like a penny
Others leave you with a scar
Make a mark before they shut the door
A tattoo on your heart

Some lovers hold you like a midnight
Close their eyes and drink you in
Others lift you up and watch you float away
Like a feather in the wind

Give my best to New York City
She's always on my mind
The way she kissed my winter cheeks
Her breathe in the summertime

Autumn rain doesn't look the same
Outside my new address
I'm moving on but never really gone
Give my best

Some lovers break you like a mirror
Little pieces everywhere
Until the next one tapes you back together
To show how much they care

Give my best to New York City
She's always on my mind
The way she kissed my winter cheeks
Her breathe in the summertime

Autumn rain doesn't the look the same
Outside my new address
I'm moving on but never really gone
Give my best

She misses me I know it she's just too sad to show it
If you see her take a moment and give my best

Week 37b - Give My Best (200906)

Copyright 2020 
All Rights Reserved

*inspired by some acapella tracks from Rhiannon Giddens, sea shanties, and the idea that opposites attract*

Lyrics & Vocals: Erin Wolf

i am midnight, you are dawn
i am rain, you are sun
i bring chaos, you bring calm
i am the flame, you are the balm
i am the flame, you are the balm

i am land, you are sea
you are where i want to be
hand in hand and side by side
together we'll face the changing tide
together we'll face the changing tide

once there was doubt, now is trust
measured patience, there is no rush
will we leave, or will we stay
i give my best to you today
i give my best to you today

The Flame And Balm

A new idea!  Incomplete, needs work, but I’m excited about this idea.  This is about climate change and how it will (or to be more accurate, how it already is) prompting migration of people.  It’s inspired by this New York Times Magazine article: How Climate Migration Will Reshape America.  https://nl.nytimes.com/f/a/P6rcx8h4Ww8L6-7D-QqMJg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhQyJSP4QZAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjAvMDkvMTUvbWFnYXppbmUvY2xpbWF0ZS1jcmlzaXMtbWlncmF0aW9uLWFtZXJpY2EuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjAwOTE1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyMTk5Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9MTMyMDM3Mjk1JnNlY3Rpb25faW5kZXg9MSZzZWN0aW9uX25hbWU9YmlnX3N0b3J5JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MzgwOTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWRiNTZmMmM2NWIwMzQ0M2RhZTAzOTczMGVhYTQ4NjAzVwNueXRCCgBDUp1gXxpHHKFSFmFic3RyYWN0X3dhdGVyQG1hYy5jb21YBAAAAAA~

I like this melody, but it sounds very familiar, too familiar.  If you happen to recognize it, let me know.

Follow

Now let’s be honest
Who wants to leave all they know?
The blood and sweat and tears
Dollars spent helping loved ones grow

But let’s be honest
Where do you think you will go?
The floods and storms and fire
Creep up to the doorstep you own

If there’s one thing I’ve learned
Don’t wait for your voice to be heard

Follow

Move where the crops grow
Move where the river flows
Look out the window
Gotta go where the coins go

Follow

Follow where the land will grow

Follow - 9:18:20, 6.51 PM

The words of the poet Robert Frost made into a song at the Shetland Songwriting Festival

The Aim Was Song

Before man came to blow it right
     The wind once blew itself untaught,
And did its loudest day and night
     In any rough place where it caught.
 
Man came to tell it what was wrong:
     It hadn’t found the place to blow;
It blew too hard—the aim was song.
     And listen—how it ought to go!
 
He took a little in his mouth,
     And held it long enough for north
To be converted into south,
     And then by measure blew it forth.
 
By measure. It was word and note,
     The wind the wind had meant to be—
A little through the lips and throat.
     The aim was song—the wind could see.

The Aim Was Song

key C

based on a poem by RUMI and a visit to Van Gogh Live September 24 2020

In this earth 
In this earth  
We shall not plant any seeds 
Sow compassion 
And Rows of love 
In this perfect precious field 
We shall not plant any seeds 
Sow compassion 
And Rows of love 

Love for all  
Is the art of life
Love will save us all
thru these tears we till
the soil we will reap in joy

in this earth

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

His catalog of 500+ titles includes collaborations with hit writers Mark Narmore, Elliott Park, Steve Dean, and Pete & Pat Luboff, among 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 36b - IMAOKFUR (#390, 200901)

James Tristan Redding