Day #12- "This Broken Land"

Hey guys!


Wrote a song late last night but didn't get around to blogging about it till this morning. I've been wanting to write a song about how I feel about America, but somehow the songs always end up being about something else entirely. This one is much the same. America is a complex thing to me. It makes me proud, indifferent, and frustrated all at the same time.


This song sort of ended up being about how much I loathe talking heads (not the band), and people who prey on others' insecurities to advance a destructive agenda. Read between the lines, I guess.


"This Broken Land"


Through the valley

Past the lonely hills

From the ocean

To the Catskills

Yeah i love this broken land

And i love it’s broken men

From the soldier

To the pacifist

People religious

And atheist

Yeah i love each and every heart

It’s their pride that drives them apart

Oh please be

Silent for once in your lives

This hate 

Only undermines 

Every nation

Even Americans

Every Muslim

And Christian

How can you claim war in the name of God?

Truth dare not be made your pretense

Lay your weapons down and weep for the death

We’re all complicit in

Day #11- Is This Love?

Hey guys! Back with a new song I wrote tonight.

I decided to take a break yesterday. My brain and spirit needed some time to recharge.

Today's song is about dealing with an unhealthy love. Something we've all had to experience.

"Is This Love?"

The small of your back
And your tiny hands
Just one glance starts me over
I can't stand it, I can't change it

I know I'm the fool
For hoping for you
You're the prize, in everyone's eyes
And the apple in mine

Is this love?
I don't think so
Cause love aint a broken heart
If you hurt me just one more time
I'll swear you off like the drug that you are
I catch my rush from a falling star

Like a moth to a flame
I am drawn to the pain
If the hurt in my chest is all I've got left of you
I'll take one more hit of the same

Burning out
It's burning out
We're burning out
You are burning me out

Day 11- "You've Set My Heart Free"

You make my spirit sing
I feel it calling out for me
I'm addicted to your truth
And your correction
Hear my voice and my affection
You are my direction
My feast forevermore.

I run to your commands
Like water to a dying man
The ways of sin have failed
To bring the joy I crave

You've set my heart free
And freedom is found
In pouring my life freely out
Make me less, make you more
Let your glory be my reward

I pray I don't remove
The smallest letter of your truth
It's by your grace I even know your name
I own a foolish heart
I hate the light and crave the dark
Lord, let your spirit change
The space I never let you claim

Day #10- "Unraveled"

(Before I get started, I know I haven't been the best about posting every single demo on noisetrade. I promise I'll get around this week to making sure all the songs are posted. I also think I'll just leave all the songs up on noisetrade till I hit my 40 song limit!)

I have a total obsession with nostalgia.

Maybe it's the whole only-child thing, but I spend an inordinate amount of time in my head, specifically in my memories. Most of the time, it's a bunch of "what if" scenarios that leave me wondering what could have been, had A, B, or C happened differently.

This song is about going to that place, but then ultimately finding that the mistakes we've made along the way, the missteps, have in fact made us who we are. And we wouldn't be as strong without them.

"Unraveled"

There are so many different lives I live inside my head
So many chances never taken, so many books I never read
I can count on my two hands, all the women I've made plans for
As they all fall through, I'm left wishing you had been my story

And so I'll dream of other "me"s that take the path less traveled
And memories they fade to hope of a life less unraveled than mine

The things we call mistakes, are the moments that will make us who we are
The hearts we think will break, are the hearts that time will take and make stronger
And if I don't see the world, if I don't meet a girl, or strike gold
How could I complain? Life is what you make of all the moments, when your heart feels cold

Bitter is the heart that never lets go
Holding on to ghosts
Strong and free is the heart that learns to make the most

Day #9- "A Hundred Million Reasons"

I need to start writing these earlier in the day.

Today I got home from work at around 12:30. For some reason, I feel most creative at night. But I also tend to feel sleepiest at night. Surprise. Thus the paradox. Tonight's was written in the twilight right before sleep in around 20 minutes. I've found the more I get in the habit of writing, the less hyper-critical I am with myself and my work- especially my lyrics. Since I know every day will lead to some form of expression, it takes the pressure off of me to make every song perfect. 

I need to find ways to spark my creativity in daylight methinks though.

"A Hundred Million Reasons" (totally used a Jon Foreman lyric in this one. see if you can find it)

There's seven billion heartbeats on the earth tonight
Seven billion mouths to feed, seven billion lives

I am not the man to save the world
I am not the one to heal it's hurts
This heart of mine gets surrounded by weeds on all sides
Distracted by myself
I could never form a plan
I can't help you
But I know the one who can

A hundred million reasons we can't ever change
Greedy politicians and fools behind the reigns

I've come to expect manmade solutions
Will always lead to dissolution
Your heroes always let you down
Distracted by ourselves
We could never lend a hand
We can't help it
But I know the one who can

Day #8- "The Cup of Your Hand"

Sometimes there are things about a loved one that we find hard to love.

We could be talking about a boyfriend, wife, brother, parent, or even God. There are some aspects of people that we find difficult to stomach- difficult to love or even believe.

This song is about choosing to love all of someone. Not just the parts that we find lovable or easy to agree with. Every single difficult, confusing, and irritating part.

"The Cup of Your Hand"

I love every single part of you
The things that make me nervous
And the arms that keep me true

I love the things you say that I dont get
But explain to me forever
So the lies I will forget

Even though I'm a fool
I'm a fool for you

You're a mystery to me
It only makes me love you more
For if I knew every part of you
There'd be nothing to explore
Your heart is an ocean
And I'm a desperate man
Desperate for a drink
From the cup of your hand

I could go on for days and days
Of the things your love does to me
For the ways you keep me sane

But mostly I'll always thirst for more
Oh I pray I never wander
That you'll keep an open door

Day #7- "Pieces of Me"

Today is all about travel.

The whole concept of a "road trip" has been all over my mind, heart, and life lately. It seems like all my friends are wanting to get away and travel, and I have found road trips to be one of the most therapeutic and fun ways to clear your head. The destination isn't even important- the most important thing is just to be the type of person who GOES.

This song is about finding your adventure not just in destinations and experiences, but in people, the most rewarding adventures.

(I'm writing this song in my Texas dialect. I know it's not grammatically correct. Chalk it up to poetic license.)

"Pieces of Me"

I've got to see so many places I always dreamed of
I crossed a lot of cities off my bucket list
But better than the memories
Are the people I shared them with

Ramblin' gives you some perspective
The things you took for granted are the things you miss the most
Rather than see one more city limit
I think I'd rather see an honest smile, or feel an honest touch

I leave pieces of me
In every single place I travel
Ever person I meet
Is another story to unravel
Every heart is
A work of art and I can't
Get enough of the colors I see
Yeah I love people, and people love me

But this don't mean I wanna settle
The world is a pull too strong for the restless heart
But while I'm out there looking for adventure
I know the wildest one is deep inside your heart