Songwriting from and for the heart.

I received my first guitar in our elementary school guitar club. Mrs Stevens was our music teacher, and to this day I give credit to her organizing the after school club and organizing the club’s guitar orders. I had an Alverez nylon 6 string in a few weeks and was on my way to learn basic chords in our group lessons. By age 13 I had upgraded my guitar to a little Yamaha and it was on that guitar that I wrote my first song. I was at our family “cabin” in AItkin, MN as it was raining. The song (in the key of A) was a two chord wonder, finger picked and simple and in its simplicity it opened a sense of calling that put me on my path of passion for writing about what was near me.

Soon after that followed with a song about growing up called “Her Majesty” . The song has three verses and told the story of a child who adored her favorite doll as a young child, but eventually had to put down her toy to pick up the responsibilities that her teen years were asking of her.

“Life” was written that same year and probably was a bit ahead of my years in forshadowing what I wanted my life to become.

Here are the lyrics:

I’ve seen life crumble and I’ve seen life grow.

I’ve seen life change a lot and I’ve seen it die before.

I thought I knew life, but i’ve never lived before

I was just pretending in ashow… just pretending in a show.

My goal for life is not to be a famous star.

I don’t need fame to rule me and I can’t pay her cost.

All I can hope for is to find out who I am.

And to one day understand, and one day understand.

Have you ever written a theme about yourself.

That truly showed you from the inside going out.

It isn’t easy friend, it’s harder than you think

To express myself I sing, to express myself I sing.