Story Behind The Song

This song began when I got a call from my mother. She told me that the daughter of old friends of my parents had killed herself by jumping off a canyon in Sante Fe. She did it because she needed medication to keep herself sane, but the drugs that worked were destroying her liver. She choose to die sane, rather than live not herself. Although I had only met the woman a couple of times in my life, and the last time over a decade ago, the story stuck in my mind. I understood her reasons, but it seemed so senseless. Several months latermy family and I were making our first trip to Sante Fe to visit a friend, who had a place close to where she died. Sante Fe was enchanting, the colors , the other worldness. She was much in my mind. I went to the canyon, and there I had an experience that as a song writer I've never had. Suddenly this whole song just came out, melody, lyrics, the feel, everything. I don't mean to sound too dramatic or wacky about it, but I felt like she was talking to through me. As I said, I barely knew the woman, but everytime I sing this song I say a little prayer that she found her peace.

Lyrics

You know when everything
Feels alright
There's no black clouds
No darkness, just light
I've travelled everywhere
From Nepal to Maine
I can't find that feeling
So tired of fighting

Yeah I think I'm gonna stay
In Sante Fe
Oh the sky is great
There's so much space
I could die in Sante Fe
Yeah I'm finally going to breath
In Sante Fe
Healing spirits, sun on my face
Oh it's beautiful in Sante Fe

I hope you can see
It's nobody's fault
You tried to protect me
From myself
I've got my philosophy
Look at all my degrees
I guess I haven't learned anything
This world has taught me

Yeah I think I'm gonna stay
In Sante Fe
Oh the sky is great
There's so much space
I could die in Sante Fe
Yeah I'm finally going to breath
In Sante Fe
Healing spirits, sun on my face
Oh it's beautiful in Santa Fe