The slow and intentional pace is fabulous. You voice fits the picking very well. Lovely lyrics.

Ahh, this is poignant and heartbreaking and beautiful all in one fell swoop. You articulate grief in a way I am yet unable to, Niki, thank you.

Hooked from that first line - gorgeous and gripping and sad but still hopeful and resolved.

A really sad one with a hint of hope peeking throuygh at the end.

Very grateful for an opportunity to take in this one, without need for explanation or participation. Just letting it into my heart.

the writing that connects us to nature is really amazing in this!  it's a power technique how the nature images also carry a metaphoric potential connecting to human emotions/experiences.  Very nicely done!

My heart is breaking listening to this song. One of the most emotionally touching songs I've listened to in a long time.

That first vocal note on the Am of the chorus is pure magic!

I love the way you soften your delivery of certain lines. Matches the guitar variation. Beautiful song.

I can't tell you how special I find your music, Niki - it opens up space inside my heart, and fills it with peace and tenderness.

SONG A WEEK 2022 (some of these chords are wrong-soz)

WEEK ONE- 09/01/22

PROMPT: SOMETHING NEW 
C.                                                                             F
LIKE STEPPING OUT BEYOND THE STARS AND PLANETS
AND SWIMMING UNDER WAVES AGAINST THE FLOW
ANOTHER WORLD AWAKENS IN MY BEING 
F                                                            G
ONE I THOUGHT I’D NEVER NEED TO KNOW 

LIKE LIVING IN A MIND’S WELL OF CONFUSION 
CAVERNOUS IT’S ANXIOUS DEPTHS BELOW 
THIS PATH THAT LEADS AWAY FROM ALL I’VE TAKEN 
ONE I THOUGHT I’D NEVER NEED TO KNOW 

  
F                                Am
AND IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE 
F                         G
THIS IS REAL TO ME
Dm.                                                             G
SOMETHING NEW I NEVER COULD CONCEIVE 
DM
SOMETHING NEW
G                            C
LIVING WITHOUT YOU 

Bb                                                                            Eb
LIKE FALLING FROM THE PEAKS OF HIGHEST MOUNTAINS 
THE ROCK ON WHICH I BUILT MY HOUSE MY HOME 
TO FIX MY EYES ON ALL THAT IS TOMORROW 
Cm                                                                          F
NOW FILLED WITH DAYS I NEVER KNEW I’D KNOW 

Bb                                                                Eb
AND YET THE ECHOES OF AN ANCIENT SINGING 
RISE ABOVE THE RUBBLE AND THE WOE
CALLING STILL THE WEARY DESPERATE TRAVELER 
ON AND ON TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO

SOMETHING NEW WEEK 1 22

When i was 18, 19
And you were 19, 20
I lost count along the edges of the falling leaves
You were coming quickly
And it was going easy
Time passing was the last thing we needed

Love, it got along x2
Falling leaves in the setting sun
Love it got along

When I was 19, 20
And you were 20, 21
We had no idea what was coming
We had no idea what was going on
It was getting old
You were something new
I was looking for something to hold, thought I could hold maybe on to you 

Love, it got along x2
We’ve been holding on so barely, and barely holding on
But love it got along love it got along.

So I wasn’t what you wanted
Better as I was, or what I’ll become
Why does everyone hate me now
I’m 20, 21

Something New - Song a Week 2022, Week 1

Standing In The Doorway (#543, 220115)

I never did enjoy vacation
Too much free time freaks me out
Some people seem to strike a balance
I never could quite figure how

The rope I need to climb a mountain
Is plenty long to hang myself
And there's somethin' 'bout just standin'
In the doorway between heaven and hell

Standing in the doorway with one foot either side
Could go either way it's gettin' hard to see the line
Tryin' to see the future but it's still to soon to tell
Standin' in the doorway in between heaven and hell

When it's midnight at the crossroads
There's one train headed south
Another's racin' off the iron
One last chance to turn around

Where the point of no return is
Probably anybody's guess
I keep watchin' from the doorway
But I haven't seen it yet

Week 03 - Standing In The Doorway (220115)

Life is crazy? Feels like the world is ending? Can't handle anymore?
Chill out my friend and do the Matcha Latte Cha Cha. 
Life gets better when you're in it. 

*****

Matcha Latte Cha Cha

El trabajo nunca se acaba
siempre mil pendientes hay para mañana
en la guerra de lo importante y lo urgente
se nos olvida vivir el presente

Al mal tiempo con buena cara
es mejor que actuar como si no pasara
con cada error algo nuevo aprendemos
otra manera de cómo no hacerlo

Un paso para atrás
no es volver a empezar
dos pasos para atrás no es fracaso
más bien un cha cha chá

Do the Matcha Latte Cha Cha
la vida para contarla hay que vivirla
Matcha Latte Cha Cha
mi vida es mejor si tú estás

El pasado ya no regresa
el futuro guarda más de una sorpresa
no hay más que lo que tenemos en frente
en el presente vivir plenamente

Un paso para atrás
no es volver a empezar
dos pasos para atrás no es fracaso
mas bien un cha cha chá

Do the Matcha Latte Cha Cha
la vida para contarla hay que vivirla
Matcha Latte Cha Cha
mi vida es mejor si tú estás

Matcha Latte Cha Cha

Another collaboration with Mark Anderson where I sent him the tune, and he then wrote the lyrics to fit the tune.

To fall in love
(Mark I. Anderson)

Listen to these words
Let them fall upon your soul
Like you’ve never heard before
Like you’ll never let them go
Tonight, let the fire burn us
Tonight, let two hearts learn 
This is how it feels / oh, to fall in love

Hold me close and whisper
The things that love will say
I’ll hold you close to kiss you
At the closing of each day
Tonight, is all we need
Tonight, you can believe
This is how it feels / oh, to fall in love

(Bridge)
The mystery of the ages – hidden in our kiss
Time reveals her secrets – when I’m holding you like this

Listen to our passion
Hear the rhythmic beat
Two hearts pounding faster than
Even time could keep
Tonight, we’ll just let go
Tonight, we’ll let it show us
This is how it feels / oh, to fall in love

This is how it feels / oh, to fall in love

To Fall In Love (demo)

WEEK 3 23/01/22
just a sketch idea-found this week challenging. 
PROMPT : STANDING IN THE DOORWAY

Matchless 
Like a precious jewel a treasure in a field-
Matchless
Hidden 'neath the soil of toil and broken faded dreams
Hidden 'neath the soil 
Matchless

Cashless
Songs of deep lament
Our empty spirits yield- Cashless
Ridden full of earth and dirt and broken cistern seas
Ridden full of earth 
Cashless

Catch us
In the sandstone halls
The fade then cut to grey- catch us
Standing in the doorway segue to my life unseen
Standing in the door
Catch us

Standing Week 3

Cover of "When I'm Gone" by Phil Ochs
Originally released in April 1966
Original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB-BBVQLnxI

Photo credit: Boston Herald article, "Phil Ochs: 'Gone' but not forgotten
https://www.bostonherald.com/2011/03/11/phil-ochs-gone-not-forgotten/

I was introduced to this song by John McCutcheon in July 2021 and again in January 2022. Within an hour of hearing it a second time, I took a listen to Phil's version (linked above), and then set to learn a very basic picking cover. Here's my first attempt.

When I'm Gone (Phil Ochs Cover)

Listen, I know, I said that i’d come back
I’d sleep on your porch - the planes sleep on the tarmac
Distance don’t matter when love’s strong enough
I used to think
I used to think that it was

Falling asleep to the sound of the protest
My city’s always done it better
Tell me our love's true because
I used to think
I used to think that it was

So you’re out in Boston
I’m saying that I’ll buy a ticket tomorrow too often
You’re saying that tomorrow’s too late
I’m torn between going and making mistakes

Listen, I know, this ain’t coming easy
I know you know I’m making this hard  
Time doesn’t matter when love’s strong enough
I used to think
I used to think that it was

Used To Think That It Was - song a Week 2022, Week 5

Week 5
 Prompt: Used to think it was

1.
I was waiting at the bus stop
Just got off a train
Caught the morning ferry ride
Left home at 5am
Sat beside a friend of mine
I hadn’t seen in ages
The swell was high and silver skies
Put us through our paces

CH
Used to think it was sunshine
Used to think it was  joy
But it s ending in sorrow and storm clouds
Tho I had yearned for much more


2.
Deep beneath the harbour
Held with our dreams
Breaking creaking cracking boards
Lonely stony seas
Should we speak of lovers lost
Long for their returning
Could we dive into the night
Oh how are hearts were burning 

Used to think it was sunshine
Used to think it was  joy
But it s ending in sorrow and storm clouds
Tho I had yearned for much more

Silver Skies week 5

Copyright Erin Wolf 2022

Week 6 Prompt: No Windows

i hear the birds calling from
the sycamore tree
no windows to bar them
totally free
they are softly singing
paying no mind to me
from the finch to the duck
and even the chickadee

as i wander in the wood
the sun shines bright
a glorious day after
a long cold night
i hear a light rustle of
more wings taking flight
all these trees full of wonders
and pure delight

i sing this little tune
to join in the song
wishing i could be as free
all the day long
and just for a moment
i feel i belong
as though all is well
and nothing could go wrong

i've come now to the shore
the water is so still
hear the cries of the loons
soft, but yet so trill
if i could capture this moment
take it home with me
for when things get crazy
to take a breath of peace

i sing this little tune
to join in the song
wishing i could be as free
all the day long
and just for a moment
i feel i belong
as though all is well
and nothing could go wrong

A Walk In The Woods

Prompt NO WINDOW

1
No sunshine no rain
No window no pane
No nothings gonna hold me back

2
No justice no rule
No sorrow no fool
No nothing's gonna hold me back

no nothing
no nothing

3
No riches no fame
No fortune no gain
No nothing s gonna hold me back

4
No slander no shame
No mourning no grave
No nothing s gonna hold me back

no nothing
no nothing

5
No promise no clue
No treasure  no jewel
No nothing s gonna hold me back

6
No story no rhyme
No language no sign
No nothing s gonna hold me back

no nothing
no nothing
no nothing
no nothing

7
No worries no plans
No products no brands
No nothing s gonna hold me back

8.
No mercy no hate
No longing no stain
No nothing s gonna hold me back

no nothing
no nothing
no nothing
no nothing
no nothing
no nothing

SOMETHING NEW WEEK 1 22

niki s

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