Behind the music

I just wanted to share the stories behind some of the songs I’ve written. 

• Some Girls – I was watching a Steve Earl concert on TV. He had finished a song and was changing harmonicas. He said to the crowd, “Same girl, different harmonica.” the crowd laughed and he replied, “It’s true that some girls are just better for songs than others.”. I couldn’t get that out of my mind – so I ran with it. It’s a serious, not so serious, song. 
• God Gave Me You – My wife always thinks I am writing about other women (see song above) so I wrote this one (another one) for her. 
• Where the Buffalo Roamed – I have no idea where this came from. I think it was because I had been watching some western documentaries…who knows. 
• The Rains Never Came – I was down at the Devils River, which had been at a record low this year (2022) and we needed some rain – bad. I would watch the clouds build, and the neighbors were all hoping for rain. It triggered a thought about the dust bowl era and well…then a song.

• The not famous Songwriter’s Lament – Just thinking about my song writing. I know they’re not polished, fancy, anywhere near famous, or making any money, but there’s so much more to it than those things. “There’s always someone willing to listen…if only for a time”….

   

• Nothing Real – A weird idea I had after thinking about how folks act now days on social media, in thematic industry, and in general. 
• Wearing a hole in my soul – getting older and still doing what I want – when I can. Best way for me to sum that one up.
• Almost back to you – The hook came from Jace being in the hospital and me texting her several times a day, as I ran down to the cafeteria or wherever, “I’m almost back to you”. The song however took on it’s own meaning to me. It is more along the lines of getting back to one’s true self, back to God, back to your wife….several little meanings in there….to me.
• Momma’s Boy – I originally wanted to write this as a ‘Call me a momma’s boy and I’ll kick your butt..’ type song. I had some good ideas on the way home in the truck, but when I got home they were gone. So I sat down and started fooling with the guitar. I ended up with a story about me, and yes, I am a momma’s boy. It was just a list of small things in my life that momma’s always seem to be there for. It makes my mom cry sometimes – so that makes me happy knowing it touches someone.

• Song about you – Ha! Yeah I was in a conversation at work when someone started talking about how bad a guy they new took it when his wife left him. I thought, yeah most of the time that is a thing that can hurt. I thought about all the songs out there along that line. Then I found myself singing this on the way home. It is my romantic side coming out I think.
  • Soldier – I was watching TV, with it muted, and working on some stuff on the computer…this is normal for me. I looked up just in time to catch the tail end of a commercial of some sort. It showed a Marine present a flag to a small boy, like they do in a military funeral service. I could not help but think that boy, being as young as he was, will only remember his dad as a picture and a folded flag. Thoughts went racing through my mind as to how he would be raised and if he too would serve his country and people like the parent I assume he lost. I am still somewhat not satisfied with the song, because there was so much more I wanted to say, but I try to write songs…not books.
• Those who’ll wait – This was the first song I wrote for my wife Jace. This song was another one born while driving home from work. I, like a lot of folks in West Texas, have a hour and a half commute. I wanted to record that feeling of how it made me feel to come home to her everyday, and how if I was late getting home, made it even better. Word to the wise though – don’t just do this for fun if the wife has a chore lined out for you. LOL

• Archer’s Ridge – I wrote this with my brother, Jack. I had just returned from a family vacation and while I was there went up to my great grandparents old farm. I took the corner stone from what was left of the house and brought it back to Texas with me. Just as a reminder to me of what my family was founded on. It was a moving experience to walk the old farm, see the old “road wagon” and the old church. I told Jack that I wanted to capture some of that in a song. I told him I heard a bluegrass sound while I was there and had a melody in my head. He thought I was a bit crazy I think, but liked the idea of the song. It is written in memory of my Great Grandpa “Little Zed” and Great Grandma Rosa Bell.

• Everything about us – I wrote this one with my good friend Doug Eberman. I went over to his house to do some writing and told him I had one almost finished. I played it for him and he naturally came up with the “Trailer park beauty queen bringing me a beer” line which allowed us to complete the song. I like to tell everyone it is about my ex-wife, but that is not entirely true…but pretty close. LOL

• The End – My wife, Jace, actually helped pen this one. She really did not know what it was about at the time I don’t think. I won’t go into details here about everything – but yes, it’s base is about my ex-wife and me and moving on. My way of displaying it musically anyway. So it is truth mixed with a little imagination. LOL

• A little rain – This one here is about a girl I dated and a friend of mine out at work. I would have to give credit to my friend David for giving me the story behind “Johnny” that is mentioned in the song. Again I was just trying to catch a couple of stories of people who had weathered one of life’s “hurricanes” and persevered.

• The one who loves you – This was a Valentine gift to my wife. It was a heartfelt, but cheap way of saying I love you. She acted as if she liked it – hope she did. I got her some jewelry too, just to make sure I was on the good side.

• Reckless & Young – This was written with my song writing buds, Nick Edwards and Doug Eberman. I had this idea and a little of the song ready when we got together for a song writing session. These two picked it up and helped hash it out in a few minutes. Just about how we were when we were younger and how our kids are going to try some of the same things. Never ending cycle.

• She’s got what’s right – I wrote this back in ’94 after a night at the Cactus Moon in Odessa. A friend I was having drinks with was going through a nasty divorce, in walks a very attractive lady and he said –“She’s got what’s right for what’s wrong”. I thought it would make for a good song.

• What’s that look all about – Everyone who has ever been around a woman long enough knows they have telepathic powers – or they think they do – what they don’t know is, we men, are sometimes no smart enough to pick up on them. This song was an early one of mine and it is me trying to convey that.

• In Me – One of my Christian songs that was basically a prayer, as most of them turn out to be. My Christian songs show a completely different style – more contemporary or popish to me. A prayer to some how show Christ’s love through my life.

• Through the noise – This one was a worship song for me. It was during a very busy time in life with a lot of things going at once. It was my way of worshiping, putting all that behind me, if only for a few minutes, and saying I hear You Lord, You are holy.

• I will believe – This song was co-written with my good friend Nick. I came out to visit him and his family after my neice was tragically killed in a car accident. Their were some family and friends that were having a very hard time coping with our loss. It was a plea to them to have faith and know that God would work this all out for good if we just believe.

• Battle – Just a repeat of scripture in a way for me. I was trying to convey that with faith and following Christ the battle we fight everyday is really already won. We just need faith. Seem the theme here? If not it is – Faith!

• Change me – This one started off as a ballad believe it or not. My good friend Stephen Forrest came over and we were playing some funky, bluesy stuff. He plays bass, and plays it very well. I said man, I would love to write a Christian song with this sort of groove. He said “ let’s do it”. I pulled out some songs I had be writing and he picked this one….wow I would have never dreamed it. It is basically a prayer asking the Lord to change my life. It was always a blast to play live – seemed to groove better. We never could record it and catch the right tone, feel, and groove.

• You alone – A self assessment of where I was at the time – and that I did not want to go back to leaning on myself instead of having faith in God. Psalms 4:8 makes you realize you are His. Malichi 3:17 is one that stuck out to me about this as well. More like a song to myself really, but I figured maybe someone else out there might be where I was – so I shared.

• You don’t know me – Well, this one was a long time in the writing stage. Years ago, when I was a Texas Police Officer, one of my fellow officer and close friends started trying to write this. I came across it in an old notebook and took it over to Stephen’s house. I told him what the idea was behind it and Stephen told me he had been trying to write a song lately. Something he was new at doing. We sat down and tried to write a “obnoxious, in your face” song that told people who judged us – we were going to keep doing what we felt God wanted us to do. Chad Taylor, Stephen Forrest, and myself wrote this song.

• Fall – This song has a really funny story behind it. I was out in Phoenix and had been listening to some of Mark Driscoll’s sermons – and was once again re-evaluating my beliefs of what God was wanting me to do. I found myself doing a lazy man’s prayer. That is lying on my back in bed praying halfheartedly. I was a little convicted because I was asking God to let me die to myself and do His will – no matter what others thought. I ended up getting my lazy butt out of bed and down on the floor. Next thing I know is I am almost singing a prayer. I had my small Pro Tools unit with me, so I hooked it up in the motel rooms bathroom so to try and not wake the neighbors. I cut the guitar track, and then found myself on my knees, head under the bathroom counter, with a towel over my head singing the lyrics. Just a dummy track so I would not forget what I had. Looking back, I was in my underwear, with my head stuck under a sink, and a towel over my head, singing. Thank you Jesus for not letting room service walk in. The song is a prayer to do just what I mentioned – die to our selves, come off our self righteous thrones, and bow at the feet of God’s. It talks about how we make up excuses for our selves to try and ignore Him.

I’ll get the rest up here one day – promise!