Story Behind The Song

I was driving down the highway listening to a Lucinda Williams CD and was reflecting on her amazing skills as a songwriter and communicator. While continuing to drive down the road I proceeded to record the words and melody on my phone. The song as you hear it here was recorded later that night in a friends studio.

Song Description

Connie and I were sitting in a Minneapolis Hotel bar with my son Todd and soon to be daughter-in-law Amanda. I looked up and to my amazement there was Lucinda Williams and her husband Tom sitting at a table across the room. I remember nothing of what we were talking about prior but as you can imagine the topic of our conversation changed at that moment. After several drinks and my wife's constant urging I finally consumed enough courage to approach Lucinda. Connie and I politely disrupted Lucinda and Tom's conversation and I proceeded to tell her how much I appreciated her music as it inspires my own songwriting. She thanked me and the four of shared a few minutes of pleasant conversation. They were both incredibly gracious. I'm forever grateful for the single piece of advice she offered that night. She said "write for yourself" I took that to mean write for yourself and nobody else. If others like it all the better but if the song doesn't move you as the writer then it certainly won't move anyone else. In the end even that doesn't matter as long as its honest and artful expression. People may never know my music and that's okay as long as the music I make is mine! Songwriting is something I feel compelled to do. Is it a curse or blessing? I really don't know. Maybe its a little of both. Songs like people over time can change. Lucinda the song once merely a tribute to an incredible talent is now a song of enduring gratitude.