the toughest part

Ok, so I'm working on this new song, and it feels done, but there's no bridge.

How important are bridges, really? I know sometimes they're fab, but most of the time they feel contrived- the necessary "C" to augment the "A" and "B".

Is it ok to just not mess with them? Simplistic songwriters want to know...

Detours to the Grave

Sing Like the Angels.mp3

The other day I was working but I happened to have an extra hour between appointments. There was construction on the freeway onramp and the detour took me past a cemetery. Since I had extra time and my guitar in the back seat of my car I decided to pull into the cemetery and try my hand at songwriting beneath the trees and sun… and next to some graves.

The headstone on the grave that I sat by was for a lady who was born in 1934. It also had an inscription that read, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.

I started to wonder what this woman’s life was about and if she got to do all the things that she dreamed of doing as a little girl.

The lyrics feel more Nashville then LA.

Sing Like the Angels
words and music by Eric Shouse

I see her lying there so peacefully
I can hear her words ring out from yesterday
When she was a little girl, they all heard her say

“I want to sing like the angels sing
When they hear me, I hope they forget everything
I want to sing like the angels sing
O Halleluiah! Sing like the angels…”

Days don’t stop, and faces age
She took on children, but never took the stage
She'd hold her babies as they'd close their eyes
As she rocked them they’d hear her sigh, …

“I hope you sing like the angels sing
When they hear you, I hope they forget everything
I hope you sing like the angels sing
O Halleluiah! Sing like the angels…”

Family gathered around, the news was grim
They all held hands and sang a hymn
She opened up her eyes to see them there
And whispered with a smile this simple prayer,

“I’m gonna sing like the angels sing
When they hear me I hope they forget everything
I’m gonna sing like the angels sing
O Halleluiah! Sing like the angels…”

Halleluiah! Sing with the angels

Sing Like the Angels.mp3

-Thanks to Rosemary Ramos (1934-2002)

Jesus and John Lennon

Jesus and John Lennon.mp3

Couple quick things about this song. First, see the post before this for a few short remarks about the actual process of writing it. Second, I see this as an important song for me. Partly for reasons listed in the previous post, and partly because I think it's just a pretty good song (not that I expect everyone to like it). I found myself worrying a little about what listeners might think about this one. Perhaps this song will help me to let go of that feeling a bit and just let the songs come to life and breathe on their own.

Listeners may hear lots of different things and/or draw different meanings from it when they listen to this one. I'll let them sort that out in their own minds as they do. I'm sure you may find a meaning in this song that is completely unrelated to the one(s) I felt as I wrote and performed it. Regardless, I hope you enjoy Jesus and John Lennon. It comes from a good place, I think.

Thanks for taking the time,
J

Jesus and John Lennon
words and music by John Natiw

VERSE 1
Nineteen seventy three
On the way to the high school dance
Someone shouted to me
"All I'm sayin' is give peace a chance"

Saw an old man on a bench
His clothes were all covered in dirt
He smiled at me and looked away
Then he stood up and said "have you heard...

CHORUS 1
I saw Jesus and John Lennon spend the day
Hangin' out and talking 'bout that better way

Can you Imagine..."

VERSE 2
Word came through the telephone
A man killed a man with a gun
In a moment the dreamer was gone
But he wasn't the only one

Sad man on the radio
Said the world has just lost a great light
Closed the shades and then my eyes
And drifted off into the night

CHORUS 2
I saw Jesus and John Lennon take a walk
Through times square, strawberry fields and central park

Can you Imagine...

BRIDGE
Can you imagine, Standing side by side
Imagine, it's high time that we tried
Can you imagine, A brotherhood of man
Imagine, please tell me that you can...

[instrumental verse - harp]

CHORUS 3
I saw Jesus and John Lennon spend the day
Hangin' out and talking 'bout that better way

Can you Imagine...

Jesus and John Lennon.mp3

Who Wrote This? And Who Am I???

This is weird. I've been writing this song the past few days (that's not the weird part) and when I play it (or read the lyrics) it doesn't look/feel like I'm the one who wrote it.

This may take awhile to explain.

I started with a little chord progression on the guitar and started humming some stuff over it for a few days. Then came some passable, but not inspiring, lyrics. Then, last night, I had this "flash" of brilliance (I'll call it) and wrote a pretty good verse (or part of one). I wasn't able to run down what the song was about so I put off writing any chorus thoughts and went up to bed.

As I was laying there in the dark last night, I came up with a few chorus ideas. In the morning when I actually took time to really read what I'd written I was amazed/shocked. It was like it wasn't me. I actually wanted to NOT like it, but I knew it was good.

This is further support, by the way, for my theory that we do not "write" these songs. We "discover" them.

Tonight I kept running it down trying to focus the song in a bit. I even tried to change some things so it seemed more "me" (whatever that means). No dice. This song apparently just wants to piss me off. So now I've got a verse and a chorus for a song that no one who knows me will believe I wrote and I'm not sure I'll ever sing live or record.

Maybe there is a liberal inside me trying to get out.

I need to sleep on this one.
J

A Whole Lotta Love...Songs

I found this site and it is beyond sappy...but there are links to what look like hundreds of classic love songs with chords and lyrics.

Check it out by clicking HERE.

My goal this month IS to write a love song, so why not start by examining a few of the classics?

My favorites tend to be ringed with sadness and hope. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel is perhaps one of my favorites.

Follow Up To 1:29 AM: I've Got News For You

I've Got News For You.mp3

If you were to take this song and "Don't Be Hatin'" in a row, they should cancel each other out and ruin any credibility I have as a serious songwriter.

:)

Here's my serious song. I'm really excited about the end because I created a vocal effect that I have always loved, but rarely been able to pull off because of my limited range. I also like the chorus that came to me last night as a result of "just doing it".


I've Got News For You
words and music by Steven Wesley Guiles

I've got news for you, I've got news for you
I've got words of inspiration, hope and blues for you
I've got news for you, I've got super glue
If you put it all together there's a clue for you

Words are never enough
Too weak or too tough to be helpful but
Right now what can I do
I'm doing the best that I can

I've got news for you, brand new shoes for you
I've got pent up expectations busting through to you
I've got news for you, not empty platitudes
I've got words of pain and worth that might ring true to you

Words are never enough
Too weak or too tough to be helpful but
Right now what can I do
I'm doing the best that I can (2x)

You are sad, I know that
Maybe mad, probably my fault
Your heart's a stone, so far from home
You wail and moan, but would you block me out?
Would you block me out? Block me out, block me out

Words are never enough
Too weak or too tough to be helpful but
Right now what can I do
I'm doing the best that I can (2x)

I've got news for you, I've got news for you
I'm gonna love you even if it means I'm losing you

I've Got News For You.mp3

It's So Embarrassing It Almost Hurts, But...

...I think I might post it.

Post what you might ask?

"We still haven't seen that song you were working on at 1 in the morning?"
"Yeah, Steve, what gives?!"

Well, yesterday I wrote a song, at school, in less than 27 minutes. In fairness I wrote the lyrics in 2nd period under the direction of my students who were demanding a second song. (The first song was "The Chicken Song", now a Mr. Guiles classic that has been anthologized by my students).

The title? Don't Be Hatin'.mp3, my foray into rap/hip hop that is sure to bring me some kind of award. Most Ridiculous Rap Ever Made or Why Most White Guys Aren't Allowed To Rap Unless They're Eminem.

It was my last day with one of my classes (the semester change) and they basically wanted to have a party. So, I decided to redirect that energy into music, which they were all excited to do.

One of my kids is always beating out hip hop beats on his desk, so I had him step up to the mic (a USB mic that I keep in my school bag for just such occasions) and make a beat. The class was totally into it. His first beat, unfortunately, was almost impossible to rap over because the timing was some sort of bizarre jazz thing. We did it again and I pounded it out with him to keep it in time. After we laid the beat I just picked up the mic and attempted to do some of the lyrics kids and I had developed a couple hours earlier.

This song has shoutouts, at least one beat box, and the lyrical sense of a junior higher.

My first try was pretty bad, so I did it once more. The attempt you hear is STILL pretty bad, but I've decided that I'm not afraid to look like a total dork, so here goes.

Don't Be Hatin'.mp3

1:29 A.M.

This song has been flitting around my head for the last couple of days. I decided to chase it down until I wrestled something out of it.

I'll send out an Mp3 sometime in the next day or two.

I'm going to bed.

The Mississippi Saxophone

Recently I've been thinking about getting a harmonica. After the Folk Festival I just HAD to get one. Seemed like many of the performers there had the ability to play one. Plus, being able to play guitar or piano, sing and play a harmonica is the very definition of cool IMHO. So, off to the music shop I went.

Turns out there are lots and lots of options when it comes to getting one of these buggers. After perusing the various harps, I settled on a Hohner Blues Harp (key of G). At the risk of overdoing my "cool", I also picked up a harmonica harness (gotta play my six string too, yo). I have no delusions of becoming an expert player, but I'd like to perform various "solos" over some of my songs when playing by myself. I think it'd add an interesting layer to the music. I love it when a performer breaks out with the harness and lays into their harmonica during a song.

I've come across a few helpful web sites thus far and will be posting them to this site as I have opportunity. In the meantime, I'm off to practice my new toy. Oh, and write a couple songs this month.

Maybe a harmonica will turn up in my next offering here on the site. If it does, just humor me, 'k?

THE OFFICIAL LIST OF HARMONICA LINKS
HarmonicaLessons.com
Hohner USA
Harmonica.com
The Diatonic Harmonica Reference

Fourteen In February?!!

I will be checking this website out(if I have time between writing the songs I need to write).

http://www.fawm.org/

This site's challenge (NOT, I REPEAT NOT THE SONGWRITING APPLES SITE) is to write FOURTEEN SONGS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!!
Maybe, when my kids are a little older, I might try this.

For now, I'm baby-stepping into consistently writing 2-4 songs a month.
But I can still stand in awe of those who write fourteen songs.

Now, repeat after me: "I don't have to measure up to anyone else...I don't have to measure up to anyone else...I only have to do the best I can do..."



Rinse. Repeat. Deep breath. Cleansing breath.
Aaaahhh. I'm ok now AND I'm even happy for the guys that write fourteen songs.