Live recordings - usually iPhone voice memos - of works in progress, usually not long after, or when I'm close but not quite there figuring a thing out...

Work tapes

“Song seedlings and starters, early riffs and drafts, different lyrics and structures and production choices than wherever I landed. 

Had to spend time here to get to there. 

All part of the process.

Song Nursery

A second  new song brewing wondering what it wants to be about

Something in G

Of all the ways she's weird, there's one that floors me - she adores me.

She Adores Me (Piano Version)

First recording of first draft of song that went on to become "The More" (https://on.soundcloud.com/3AUruuPx4bSfK3WH8) thanks to very excellent feedback from the good people of SongTown.

When my son, my girl, my son, tell me, "I've found the one." You can count on me to ask these questions three...

Lyrics:

When I was just a kid of 23
I wonder why my father said to me,
When I said, “Dad, I think I’ve found the one.”
He just said, “Great! Why don’t you go for it, my son?” 

No hesitation, no subtext.
No words of warning about what’s next
For me or for my overflowing heart
About how flames go out and people grow apart.

He must have hoped for me that I would find
Someone as beautiful and brilliant as they’re kind.
A spirit that is absolutely free.
True to herself and also true to me.

PRE-CHORUS
But more than all the ways
You’re as wonderful as you are.
I bet he saw something more. Because there’s so much more.

CHORUS
It’s what you help me see.
It’s who you help me be.
It’s our one plus one that's three - and so much more -
through that door.    	

PRE-CHORUS
When my son, my girl, my son
Tell me they’ve found the one
You can count on me to ask these questions three:

CHORUS
What do they help you see?
Who do they help you be?
Is your one plus one a three - or even more - 
Through that door?

INSTR:	

PRE-CHORUS
Because more than all the ways
They’re as wonderful as they are.
It takes something more. It takes so much more.

CHORUS (x2)
It’s what they help you see.
It’s who they you help you be.
It’s one plus one that's three - or even more -
Through that door. 

It’s what you help me see.
It’s who you help me be.
It’s our one plus one that's three - and even more -
through that door.

These Questions Three (Retired Version)

rough draft that became - "What's the More" https://soundcloud.com/stefanlanfer/whats-the-more

Can't you picture it, one day, the kids, when they say, "I've found the one and what I feel...all I know is this is real."

The More

Lyrics:

VERSE:
I saw your text. It’s not you it’s me -
wondering if we’ll ever see
Where this thing could really go. 
We’ve got something, but I wanna know - 

VERSE:
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see
 - this place where I”m completely me?
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see? 
Won’t you take this leap with me?

CHORUS:
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?
won’t you come by?
Won’t you come by? 
You and I - 
how we could fly!
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?

VERSE:
It’s not your thing, I get it I know. 
You might say, “I told you so.”
But maybe not. It just might be 
All we’re missing - you and me.

CHORUS
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?
won’t you come by?
Won’t you come by? 
You and I - 
how we could fly!
I      love    you,   but…
I      love    you,   but…
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?

CHORDS:

Won’t you come by?

Intro: D

Verse:
D                                              A    
I saw your text. It’s not you it’s me -
Bm                                     F#m    
 wondering if we’ll ever see
G2                                              A2    
Where this thing could really go. 
G2                                             A2  
We’ve got something, but I wanna know - 

Verse:
D                                              A    
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see
Bm                                             F#m   
 - this place where I”m completely me?
G2                                                             A2
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see? 
G2                                             A2
Won’t you take this leap with me?


Chorus:
D             A/C#                     Bm F#m
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                           D   
won’t you come by?
                           F#m   
won’t you come by?
                            G2
Won’t you come by? 
                            F#m
You and I - 
                            G2   A2
how we could fly!
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                             D                          
won’t you come by?

Verse:
D                                              A
It’s not your thing, I get it I know. 
Bm                                   F#m
You might say, “I told you so.”
G2                                              A2
But maybe not. It just might be 
G2                                              A2
All we’re missing - you and me.

Chorus:
D             A/C#                     Bm F#m
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                           D   
won’t you come by?
                           F#m   
won’t you come by?
                            G2
Won’t you come by? 
                            F#m
You and I - 
                            G2   A2
how we could fly!
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                           D                          
won’t you come by?

Won't you come by?

v2 work tape with new lyrics. V1 was a slightly bitter cusp-of-a breakup song. It said, the door is still open, but not very and not for long. A lot more hope in this version. Not a guarantee either, but there's a longing and a lot of possibility...

LYRICS:

VERSE:
I saw your text. It’s not you it’s me -
wondering if we’ll ever see
Where this thing could really go. 
We’ve got something, but I wanna know - 

VERSE:
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see
 - this place where I”m completely me?
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see? 
Won’t you take this leap with me?

CHORUS:
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?
won’t you come by?
Won’t you come by? 
You and I - 
how we could fly!
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?

VERSE:
It’s not your thing, I get it I know. 
You might say, “I told so.”
But maybe not. It just might be 
All we’re missing - you and me.

CHORUS
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?
won’t you come by?
Won’t you come by? 
You and I - 
how we could fly!
I      love    you,   but…
I      love    you,   but…
I      love    you,   but…
won’t you come by?

CHORDS:

Intro: D

Verse:
D                                              A    
I saw your text. It’s not you it’s me -
Bm                                     F#m    
 wondering if we’ll ever see
G2                                              A2    
Where this thing could really go. 
G2                                             A2  
We’ve got something, but I wanna know - 

Verse:
D                                              A    
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see
Bm                                             F#m   
 - this place where I”m completely me?
G2                                                             A2
Won’t you come by, won’t you come and see? 
G2                                             A2
Won’t you take this leap with me?

Chorus:
D             A/C#                     Bm F#m
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                           D   
won’t you come by?
                           F#m   
won’t you come by?
                            G2
Won’t you come by? 
                            F#m
You and I - 
                            G2   A2
how we could fly!
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                             D                          
won’t you come by?

Verse:
D                                              A
It’s not your thing, I get it I know. 
Bm                                   F#m
You might say, “I told so.”
G2                                              A2
But maybe not. It just might be 
G2                                              A2
All we’re missing - you and me.

Chorus:
D             A/C#                     Bm F#m
‘cause if you won’t even try, 
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                           D   
won’t you come by?
                           F#m   
won’t you come by?
                            G2
Won’t you come by? 
                            F#m
You and I - 
                            G2   A2
how we could fly!
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
G2  D/F#   Em7   D   G2/B   A2/C# 
I      love    you,   but…
                           D                          
won’t you come by?


Won't you come by? (v2WT)

Stefan Lanfer writes indie folk singer-songwriter songs with the soul of a storyteller and the heart of a seeker. With a vibe somewhere between Ben Folds and Cat Stevens, his music blends lyrical introspection, spiritual resonance, and quiet power. This song library is for fans who want to feel something and collaborators looking for material ripe with possibilities and ready for their magic. 

SoundCloud is Stefan's songwriting sandbox, with work tapes and rehearsal tapes, multiple versions, works in progress, different drafts tracing the evolutions, and ideas from listeners always welcome to help these songs figure out and become what they want to be before they launch into the wider streaming world. 

Thanks for stopping by. Come back anytime. Bring a friend. 

Backstories collected on The StefStack: https://stefanlanfer.substack.com/ - "a SubStack stuff sack of Stefan stuff"