In a "Songwriting for the Pros" mini course offered by Songtown.com, I along with 100 others, was commissioned to interview an up-and-coming singer/songwriter, and write a "hook" for his/her new song. It was a contest and the winning songwriter would continue on to co-write the rest of the song with this artist. The young female artist whom we interviewed seemed to be a bit of an old soul. She wanted someone to bring her out of her shell, make her feel young and alive, and to live in the moment rather than always thinking of the future. In my mind I mused, "Hey kid, act your age!" which inspired my song entry. Although my "hook" was ultimately not the winning selection in the contest, I decided to develop the song to completion. It was fun to live inside someone else's mind for a while and long for a more adventurous life!

This song is a part of my 2023 compilation called, “Quilted: a colorful patchwork of original songs and the stories that stitched them”. The subject of this song, being about friendship folds nicely into my “Friendship Quilt” hope chest.*

I brought this song without a bridge or second, third verses to Quinn Music Studio and my producer and I set to the creative task of tracking. As the arrangement started to take shape, the rest of the song's story teased it's way out. May you always act a little beneath your age and remain young at heart. 

LYRICS: Act My Age
Intro:
Old soul, young heart 
Old soul, young heart

Verse 1:
I’m just an old soul seeking a young heart beating
Won’t you tell me how to act my age?
I’m so wise beyond my years, release me, dear
from a sage cage, from the cage of a sage

Interlude:
Old soul, young heart
Old soul, young heart

Verse 2:
In the depths of my learning, theres a childlike yearning
Can you tell me how to - act my age
I’m so stuck- in my head, so interior-fed
Can you gauge, the lonely heart of a sage

and tell me how to

Chorus:
Act my age
Pull me out on the dance floor
(how to act my age)
Push me on a swing
(how to act my age)
Take a ride on a carousel 
I'd do anything to feel 
Spring

Bridge:
Spring time of my life
No more striving for answers before their time
You show me the way
to hold the questions in tension and feel the day

you keep it light
you keep it light
you keep it light
you keep it light

Interlude:
Instrumental

Verse 3:
You with the life unexamined, intellectual famine
Do they tell you how to - act your age
Get a job, get a life, settle down, find a wife
Turn the page, turn the proverbial page

Is that the way to

chorus:
Act your age
How to act your age
Do you act your age now?
You'd do anything to feel
Spring

Bridge 2:
The sun on my face
The beauty thats all surrounding
You melt away my Winter to Spring

Chorus:
Spring time of my life
No more striving for answers before their time
You show me the way
to hold question in tension and feel the day

Spring time of my life 
no more striving for answers before their time
You show me the way
to hold a question in tension....

*What is a "Friendship" Quilt?
https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htmThe quilts the homesteaders brought with them were a comfort to these women who traded their home, family and friends in the East, for the uncertainty of traveling through vast prairies in the West. A quilt that held special value to the pioneer women was the Friendship Quilt.

Often it was done is secret, and then given to the woman as a going away gift. It usually was a group effort, with each block being sewn by a friend or relative with their name embroidered in the center.

Putting a Friendship quilt on the bed, gave a woman a sense of connection with her former way of life. It kept alive the memory of family and friends, providing comfort and company during the difficult days of homesteading.

One woman homesteader said, "When I get lonely, I read the names on my quilt. "It was like putting her arms around someone and giving them a hug.

Act My Age

WE CAN DO HARD THINGS:
I like to read a blog called, "The Daily Stoic". The author, Ryan Holliday's words are inspired by Marcus Aurelius and for me, fill in the lessons I have learned from a religious upbringing with some more worldly, practical advice: how to deal with difficult people, how to pep up the drops in my own motivation, how to stay honest, how to forgive. One day, the line "We can do hard things" popped out at me from Mr. Holliday's blog page, and as I went to a golf clinic later that day to learn how to get out of the bunker, I started to sing the line to the hacking of balls in the sand. By days end, a song about perseverance with enough of a groove to change my weary attitude about hard work, was born. 

This song is a part of my 2023 compilation called, “Quilted: a colorful patchwork of original songs and the stories that stitched them”. The subject of this song, stocked with a message as strong as home, folds nicely into my “Log Cabin Quilt” hope chest. *

I took the song to Jon Quinn at Quinn Music who worked quietly on the arrangement behind the scenes. When he sent me such a fresh, funky take on the song, at first I wasn't so sure. But then I "did a hard thing"...I trusted him. I got over myself...and together we developed this gem of a song into a finished sound recording. With this tune l will never again accomplish hard things without a spring in my step, a chop in my golf swing, and a melody fit for an ear worm. Go work hard. You got this. 

LYRICS: We Can Do Hard Things
Verse 1:
Life is hard, but it's a gift
and it seems the whole world is complaining
and fighting
while the orange blossoms bloom

Verse 2:
Now I don't wanna think
that I got everything 
figured out
I just wanna find what joy I can
and spread it around

Chorus:
(don't you know) We can do hard things
We're strong and we're brave, we can handle much more than we think
Some we win, some we lose
Some door's gonna close while another swings open for you
for you

Verse 3:
So what are these hard things?
Can you name one for me?
Like say you wanna go out there and climb that tall tree
And what if somebody sees you fall
they might laugh at you and call you a fake
but the truth is nobody's really watching
so that's a chance you can take

Chorus:
We can do hard things
We're strong and we're brave we can handle much more than we think
So stop your thinking now
and move along, move along
and take a breath
between the hard things
You got this
Yeah baby you got this, steady now

*What is a "Log Cabin" Quilt?
https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htm
The Log Cabin block is one of the most well-known and popular of all patchwork patterns. To pioneers traveling West, it symbolized home, warmth, love and security. The center square of the block was done in red to represent the hearth, the focal point of life in a cabin or home.

The name, Log Cabin, comes from the narrow strips of fabric, or logs arranged around the center square. Each fabric strip or log was added to the pattern in much the same way logs were stacked to build a cabin; and because the straight lines and small pieces of the pattern could utilize almost any fabric scrap available, it often became the final step in the recycling of fabric.

Many Log Cabin patterns were worked in two color schemes, lights and darks, divided diagonally in the middle. This represented the sun's east to west movement in the sky. As the sun rose, its light shown on the cabin, creating the light side of the block. As the sun traveled west, part of the cabin was left in the shadow, creating the dark side of the block. This is often called the Sunshine and Shadow pattern.

We Can Do Hard Things

PUT ON CHRIST:
What's in YOUR closet? I was given a writing prompt that said, "Write a song about an article of clothing, thinking: 'Raspberry Beret' by Prince, or 'These Boots Were Made for Walking', by Nancy Sinatra". I looked into my closet and saw golf clothes...nothing at all song-worthy...but then remembered a Bible passage about "putting on Christ”, as if you are being clothed in Him.  After a quick search online, I found the passage in Galatians 3:27, then sat down to write this simple song, "Put On Christ". I hope it helps you with your wardrobe choices. :)

I love to sing this song with any age, but especially children. Put out a box of dress-up clothes, hats, gloves and watch them pretend to put on the goodness of God. It is a great way to start the day. 

This song is a part of my 2023 compilation called, “Quilted: a colorful patchwork of original songs and the stories that stitched them”. The subject of this song folds nicely into my “God’s Eye Quilt” hope chest. *

The playful reggae arrangement of this song was created by Werner Alsanger at Wernaldo Productions in Lakeland Florida. I recorded my own vocals in a small home studio that I call, "ReisUpStudio". The pandemic provided an unwanted but ultimately helpful opportunity to force the skills of home recording and DAW production upon me. Thankfully, the joyful nature of the song kept my spirit buoyed throughout the tedious, and ongoing learning curve. 

I hope your own spirits are uplifted too when you listen to, “Put On Christ”. If you’d like to play a little “dress up” along with it, please be my guest.  

LYRICS: Put On Christ
Verse 1:
When you wake up in the morning, put on Christ
with love as your clothing, love as your garment
greet the world 
just a little changed, a little new
See how love covers you

Verse 2:
When you set your dreams into motion, put on Christ
with love as your talent, love as your fortune
greet the world
make a little change, make something new
and see how love covers you

Bridge:
These old clothes of anger, toss em out
garments of fear, toss em out
you've got a brand new look to wear, and you wear it well
to hear what needs hearing
to see the unseen 
because of who, covers you

Verse 3:
And when you have all the power, put on Christ
with love as your vision, lead the people
to a better world
you can be the change, you can make things new
in a place where love covers you
a place where love covers you

What is a "God's Eye" Quilt?
https://www.nps.gov/home/planyourvisit/quilt-discovery-experience.htm
America was founded on the principle of religious freedom, so quilts that reminded the homesteaders of their devotion to God were especially meaningful. The trip to new land was filled with danger and daily challenges which tested even the strongest men and women. It was a rare person who did not lose a family member, often a child, along the trail.
The practice of using quilts as burial shrouds was fairly common among westward travelers. Wood was often scarce for coffins, so families used what was available and appropriate. Wrapping a loved one in a quilt was a way of not only preparing the body for burial, but of giving reassurance to the living that the decreased person was still linked to his or her family. A quilt that carried a Biblical name was a source of comfort, and with their enduring faith, kept the family going.
Other popular quilt patterns were Jacob's Ladder, Cross and Crown, Bethlehem Star, Crown of Thorns, David and Goli-ath, Eastern Star and Star of Eden.

Quilted

Put On Christ

My Dad was part of "the greatest generation". He was happy because he served. He served his country, served his family, served his church, because this is how they rolled back then. I was inspired to know him and blessed to be raised by him. I wrote this song after my last visit with him. As I walked toward the door to leave, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it hard. I felt as if he was asking permission to leave, and honestly, I couldn't quite handle the question. So I wrote about it. It was an honor to sing “I Served You Well” at his memorial service reception, resulting in one of my few standing ovations, and probably the most special. 
Thank you to Wernaldo Productions, Quinn Music, and Sterling Skye sound for the roles you played in bringing this recording to fruition. This one "took a village", as it should, for such a special man. 
Since this song harkens back to home and hearth, I am folding it into my "Log Cabin Quilt" hope chest, as part of my “Quilted” series. Stay cozy!

I Served You Well

"All For My Delight" started out as a song celebrating the beauty of creation. It was a song about gratitude from the start. I left the song unfinished for several years until my neighbor, Delight, celebrated her 94th birthday, and invited me to sing at her party. I wondered if I could get this song finished for her in time for the party, and at 1:00 am the morning of, the song woke me up and demanded that I do. This is a story of two neighbors, mother, then daughter, who embodied positivity, self-sufficiency, and friendliness. I am grateful to these neighbors who greeted me and my family, nearly every day, if only from the bay window seat at times. 
Thank you to Sterling Skye Sound for organizing my home studio, teaching me how to make a DEMO recording, and mixing this song for me while I took copious notes. I am so excited to learn these skills and free up my creative process.
Since this song celebrates home and hearth, I am folding it into my "Log Cabin Quilt" hope chest, as part of my "Quilted" series. Stay cozy!

All For My Delight_DEMO

For more songs, stories and links to my newsletter, please visit my website at www.ReisUpStudio.com. Thank you!

New tracks tagged #ReisUpRelease