This is from our riff assignment, I'm imagining the riff with guitar or strings, but I'm a singing it for now. This is a quick sketch -- still figuring out the chords and how to play it on the piano. The lyrics are from a poem I wrote when I was dating Leland and driving back and forth from Nevada to see him.

Desert Sky

What is it about the desert sky?

those silent clouds that drift by

across my field of view



Casting cool dark fingers

over bright, warm summer sands

Turning flowers into daydreams

and mountains into holy lands



What is it about the desert sky

that makes me think of you?

and of your kisses warm and tender

lingering on my skin

A cool change in the weather



Desert Sky Sketch

This is a song I would like to work on arranging with the group. The lyrics are a poem by Abraham Lincoln. The song moves between 3/4 and 4/4 time, and between a major and minor resolution in the verse. I think the changes in timing help the song pick up speed, and distinguish between A and B sections, and I think the major/minor changes help convey the feeling of the lyrics. 

My Childhood Home I See Again -- Abraham Lincoln 1844
My childhood's home I see again, And sadden with the view; 

And still, as memory crowds my brain, There's pleasure in it too.

O Memory! thou midway world 'Twixt earth and paradise,

Where things decayed and loved ones lost In dreamy shadows rise.

And, freed from all that's earthly vile, Seem hallowed, pure, and bright,

Like scenes in some enchanted isle All bathed in liquid light.


As dusky mountains please the eye When twilight chases day; 

As bugle-tones that, passing by, In distance die away;
As leaving some grand waterfall, We, lingering, list its roar-- 

So memory will hallow all We've known, but know no more.

Near twenty years have passed away Since here I bid farewell 
To woods and fields, and scenes of play, And playmates loved so well.
Where many were, but few remain Of old familiar things; 
But seeing them, to mind again The lost and absent brings.

The friends I left that parting day, How changed, as time has sped! 
Young childhood grown, strong manhood gray, And half of all are dead.
I hear the loved survivors tell How nought from death could save, 
Till every sound appears a knell, And every spot a grave.
I range the fields with pensive tread, And pace the hollow rooms, 
And feel (companion of the dead) I'm living in the tombs.
O Memory! thou midway world 'Twixt earth and paradise,
Where things decayed and loved ones lost In dreamy shadows rise.


My Childhood Home I See Again -- Abraham Lincoln

I wrote this for a performance a couple of years ago to try to include as many Mojave desert native plants as possible. It is lengthy because of this, and doesn't have a solo here or much dynamic. This is a one-take with me on guitar and tambourine. Lyrics and chords are below:

Mojave in Spring

G C G C 	2x 	(picking, fast but light)

(1) G		C		      G		C
Joshua tree in bloom attracts the butterflies
G			         C		  		    G		C
I’m sweeping with a desert broom the ashes from last winter’s fires
Am			   C			Am		        C  Em  Am     (pause)
Chewing on a sprig of Mormon tea -- There is no other place I’d rather be

CHORUS :  	C		G		      	          C			  G
Mojave in spring, Mojave in summer, Makes me want to sing like the wild wind’s lover
	       C			G 	      	        C  (pause)	G C G C
Mojave in spring, Mojave in summer, where the desert bluebells ring

(2) G		 C		      	    G	        C    G		C		    G		C 
Indigo bush in June clothes the hills in royal hues, 	Creosote perfume drives away my city blues. 
Am (strum)    Em			 Am		                 C  Em  Am Fmaj7 (pause)
We’ll lie in a meadow green and lush -- And I’ll paint your portrait with an Indian paintbrush

CHORUS :    C			G		      	       C			          G
Mojave in spring, Mojave in summer, Makes me want to sing like the wild wind’s lover
	  	     C					G 	      	   C  (pause)        G C G C (strum)
I’ll meet you in spring, and we’ll stay through the summer, where the desert bluebells ring
	
(3) G				 C			G		C
Cutting through the heat of noon is an August thundershower
	G			     C			      G		C
And soon we’ll see the yellow blooms of rabbit brush and paper flower
	Am			         C				Am		          C    Em    Am
We’ll watch the colors change as the sun goes down -- and we’ll count as the lightning hits the ground

CHORUS :    C			G		      	       C			          G
Mojave in spring, Mojave in summer, Makes me want to sing like the wild wind’s lover
	  	     C					G 	      	        C  (pause)    G C G C
I’ll meet you in spring, and we’ll stay through the summer, where the desert bluebells ring

(4) G		         C		      	           G		   C
Purple sage on the trail marks the way so we won’t get lost
G			   C		                      G		        C
Catclaw tree’s got my tail , we’ll stop and watch a tarantula wasp
         Am (strum)          Em			 Am		                  C  Em  Am Fmaj7
We’ll lie in a meadow green and lush -- And I’ll paint your portrait with an Indian paintbrush

CHORUS :    C			G		      	       C			          G
Mojave in spring, Mojave in summer, Makes me want to sing like the wild wind’s lover
	  	     C					G 	      	   C  		 Fmaj7
I’ll meet you in spring, and we’ll stay through the summer, where the desert bluebells ring

CHORUS :    C			G		      	       C			          G
Mojave in spring, Mojave in summer, Makes me want to sing like the wild wind’s lover
	  	     	C			G 	      	          C  (pause)         G C G C
We’ll forget all our cares, for as long as we stay there, where the desert bluebells ring
G C G C G


Mojave In Spring

Treading the Hourglass
Jeremy Stowell and Kim Garrison

Intro:
A     Amaj7	Dmaj7	    E
F#m    A        D              D

	    A				Amaj7	      		      Dmaj7		E
Running sand 	through my palms		There isn’t blood	thick enough
        F#m		A	E      D
For this kind of	beautiful assault.
	       A			Amaj7	      		            Dmaj7			      E
Treading hours	in the glass			Like a painting	 dripping down
    	       F#m		A      E          D
the colors running	from being freshly done.


		  F#m	      A		   E
And I want to bend the stars into the shape of you.
		  F#m	      A		   E
And I want to bend the stars into the shape of you.		
       A      Amaj7     Dmaj7	 E      F#m     A       D      D
Tonight.

	        A				Amaj7	      		      Dmaj7		       E
Branching out	As switchblades cut		Don’t turn it down	let’s turn it up
            F#m	                     A	              E           D
This connection	 let’s see where it will go.
	    A			Amaj7	      		            Dmaj7		                       E
Holding tight		We explore			Digging in		and wanting more, ‘til
    	  F#m		                            A      E          D
like a breath,		There’s nothing left to be adored.

		  F#m	      A		   E
And I want to bend the stars into the shape of you.
		  F#m	      A		   E
And I want to bend the stars into the shape of you.	
		  F#m	      A		   E
And I want to bend the stars into the shape of you.		
       A      Amaj7     Dmaj7	 E      F#m     A       D      D     (2x)
Tonight.   (instrumental)

Repeat 2nd chorus
Ending:
      F#m    A     D		     F#m    A    D  	    F#m  (retard)   E6     D
Tonight……			Tonight……		 Tonight……


Treading the Hourglass (Solo piano and voice version)

Treading the Hourglass (group version)

Produced and recorded by Peter Sprague. 

Roam Free, Oh Beautiful Soul

Intro:	C	Am	Dm7	G (2x)

C	Am	  Dm7	      C
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	Am	  F7		Dm7	       GM7
May your body return to and nourish the earth.
C	Am	  Dm7	      C
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	Am		       C        GM7		C
May the presence of your spirit lighten our souls.


C	Am	  Dm7	      C
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	     Am	        F7		   Dm7	     G(7)
May your spirit be blessed with tranquility.
Am	  C	F7	       Dm7
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	C		    GM7	 	      C
Return home and know wholeness and peace.


C	Am	  Dm7	      C
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	Am	  F7		Dm7	       G(7)
Over running arroyos and cottonwood trees.*
C	Am	  Dm7	      C
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	Am		       C        G		C
I’ll remember your smile on the cool evening breeze.


Am 	          C        	    F7	  G
Roam Free, Roam Free, Roam Free.
Am 	         F7        	    Dm7	   GM7
Roam Free, Roam Free, Roam Free.


C	Am	  Dm7	      C
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	     Am	        F7		   Dm7	     GM7
May your spirit be blessed with tranquility.
Am	  C	F7	       Dm7
Roam Free, Oh beautiful soul
	C		    G	 	      C  	Dm7
Return home and know wholeness and peace.
	C		    G	 	      C  	Dm7
Return home and know wholeness and peace.
	C		    G	GM7	       C  	
Return home and know whole-ness and peace.

Words and music by Kim Garrison Means. Copyright 2011
Personal use of this song, including performance at funerals, is welcomed.
For commercial use please contact the author at unitedcatalysts@hotmail.com

*This line may be personalized. 



Roam Free O Beautiful Soul

With Rachel Hillberg and Stephanie Carrie and Davy Alcala on Guitar.

Wedding Toast
(Intro: stay on C)
C
May you both expect to give more than the other,
	      F
And your life be filled with blessings in return
	     Dm
May you use your many talents to build a life together,
	  C
And be always there to listen and learn.
	       A
May you build each other up, through every joy and sorrow,
         Dm			   F
And all of life’s rollercoaster turns
		C		   F	        G		        C
And may you live and grow together for many years to come.

(Rachel) May you learn to defer to your husband.
(Steph) May you learn to defer to the cat.
(Rachel) May your lovely hips be wide with many children.
(Steph) May you learn not to say she is fat.
(Rachel) Carin remember to tell him that you love him,
(Steph) Gilad remember to take out the trash,
(Both) And may you live and grow together for many years to come.

(Rachel) May you always appreciate his smile.
(Steph) May you always appreciate her songs.
(Rachel) May you both compromise, and sometimes apologize
(Steph) But Gilad, we’ll just assume that you are wrong.
(Rachel) May you both look smashing in your Hanukkah sweaters
(Steph) And have us all over before too long,
(Both) And may you live and grow together for many years to come.

(Kim) May you challenge each other, (Steph) and not be challenging,
(Rachel) And then all of your years will be swell,
(All) And from all of your friends and devoted family,
We raise a toast and wish your marriage well. (Raise glasses)
And we could go on and on, heap more blessings upon you
But we think this all sums up very well:
May you live and grow together for many years to come.
(Everybody!)
May you live and grow together for many years to come.
(Again!)
May you live and grow together for many years to come.
(One more time!)
May you live and grow together for many years to come.
(One more time one more time!)
May you live and grow together for many years to come.
(Ten more times!)
May you live and grow together for many years to come.
(Last Time for Real) 
(downstrum on together, many, out on come.)
May you live and grow together for many years to come.


Wedding Toast for Carin and Gilad (May You Live and Grow Together)

For collage by songwriting club members only! 

Campfire Song chorus fragment

For collage use by songwriting club members only.

Rabbit Moon Chorus Fragment sketch

For collage use by songwriting group members only.
