In the Meantime

I just wanted to share some songs I wrote this past week. It's a far cry from the "one-a-day" I want to get up to, but two songs in a week ain't bad.

The first one is called Natural History. I always debate whether or not I should share what a song is about because people connect to a certain phrase or thought in the song and, to them, the song is about that. So I hate to come along and be like, "well, it's actually about this" because I think that any song can mean anything to anyone. I'm very post-modern in that aspect of my art. So I'll just share what the song means to me and what my thoughts were when I wrote it.

Ever since I lost my job and have decided to pursue music full-time, I feel like my safety net's been taken away. I feel like I've followed God's calling and his voice for so long and it's finally led me to the edge of a grand canyon and now he's saying "go on ahead." I'm afraid to go forward, but I certainly can't stand still.

Natural History
Eyes like frames
never capturing in full
the arrangement of shapes;
the lines on a page,
the rise and decline
of a landscape.

Oh, to see the edge...
to hear the "go on ahead"
It's more than I
can bare to bystand.

Courting fate
and the stories that she tells
of the broken and the great...
they're the same.
They're both the same.

Oh, my heart is fed
with every prophet who's said
"the end is nigh"
So my next kiss is goodbye.

Oh, to see the edge...
to blindly go where I'm led
and break like rain
to find my way.

The second song is one that I wrote a few days ago. It started with booking a rehearsal with the band and not really having anything we needed to go over. Even if we don't have much to practice though, it's important to meet regularly so we stay sharp, familiar with each other, and keep the band in the forefront of our thoughts. At least that's how it is for me. So instead of bringing any new material to the table, I thought we could write some new stuff as a group. Co-writing is a process I enjoy, though it's rare for me to find someone I can write freely with. We've never written anything as a band, so I wanted to start with some random ideas I have recorded on my little digital recorder. We listened to a few that stuck out, tried some things and eventually ended up with this song (sans lyrics and melody - I added those later).

When we first started out, I told everyone I wanted to go for a more modern, bass-driven, atmospheric guitars, indie sound. Richard (our bass player) said we shouldn't go that route since that's what everyone else is doing. We should "stick with the funk" (ala "Leave it to Me") because that's something not many others are doing right now. While I agree that the atmospheric indie sound is a bit overdone by every band out there, I like it! And it doesn't hurt to do something that's popular...at least then maybe more than 2 people (both girlfriends) will come to our shows.

Anyway, I really like this song because it's kind of a fusion between what I wanted to do and what Richard thought was a better idea. It's called Shine on Me and I like to think it could be used as both a song for Almost Eliot and possibly as a worship song (though there are probably too many words for that...) It's almost certain to undergo some lyrical reworking. But here's the song in it's unrefined state:

Shine on Me
The night is a song
and tonight I'm watching the prelude
color the horizon a new shade of gold
as the day flickers and fades.

You shook me awakefrom asleep.
You lit me a fire and taught me to burn.
The ground cannot keep me.
My skin can't hold me in.

Sh-sh-sh-shine on me
like the daylight.
You're bringing the sunrise with every word.
You sing with a smile
and the song in my heart must sing
sh-sh-sh-shine on me.

I'm cut to the quick to the core.
Your beauty is blinding
and yet I can see a new shade of gold
in the heat, the heat of your love, love, love.

Sh-sh-sh-shine on me
like the daylight.
You're bringing the sunrise with every word
f-f-f-frozen in time,
in the moment.
I'm caught like a photo beginning to show
you sh-sh-sh-shine on me.

(Instrumental bridge...music theory people, check out this sweet chord progression:
B F# A
B F# A
B D A B)

Sh-sh-sh-shine on me.
You're the daylight.
You're bringing the sunrise with every word
And there is nothing I need
like I need you.
You bring out the beauty deep in me.
So won't you shine on me?
Shine, shine, shine.
Shine on.

There you go. Two new songs and part of the story behind them. I hope you enjoyed this little reveal. Check back soon because plans are in the works to link sounds with these words so you can actually hear the songs. All I need are some X-mas lights. You'll see.