What song writing isn't....

But this hits home... and it's pretty funny.

Share your gift with friends

ok lose any thought you ever have of being gifted... if you have a talented it might have been seeded in you by a higher being, so get over it. Today I was sent a beautiful poem written by a friend of the band, Justin Bodin. It needed work to make it a lyric, but it didn't need alot, and it didn't need to force a ryhme where his words were fine.

Roll with the punches and give it a shot... boy I was happy things flowed quickly. Love must have been in the lines. I'll take credit for the melody, but any word tweaks I did... were really to enhance Justin's words. Enjoy Angels...



Chorus
When the Angels come out
In the moonlight they sing
To the Heaven’s above
And they praise the Lord

When the Angels get together
Around the stars
They dance on the moon
All night long


When you opened the kingdom of heaven to me
For everyone to see
You gave us a new life and happiness
For others to see you.

Chorus

When we walk hand in hand with Angels on earth
All people created by God
We sing with the power of heavens above
For others to see you.

By Justin Bodin

Play with some numbers in your song...

So this year I turn 52 on May 2nd... or 5/2/10. So does that make it a golden oldie birthday?

It's also at stage in life that if I add 20 more years and then die, it will be the same age that my dad died. Since Dustin is also turning 20 this year, it was pretty much a cosmic of play of numbers that brought this next lyric together. Frankly, I can't see myself putting a melody to this. Any songwriter out there, here's an opportunity to for cowriting.

There is a line from a song that I wish I wrote, "I'm too old to die young" at this moment I don't remember who to give credit to for the line. I wove it into the last verse. My take is that if I'm too old to die young, that I'm currently at a stage that It's a shame that he died early. Well isn't that precious.

And all you people out there, don't worry I've got my faith right, I got a smile on my face, and I've lived a good life.... and don't even try to tell me that Five, Fifteen and Fifty would work in the song too ... HA.... 102 now wouldn't that be something.

Back at sixteen
Life was a fog of friends and hormones
Everything obscene
Looking back I was such a moron.

At twenty one
I knew that I was a young stud
Never outdone
Just a pauper with royal blood

I pray
Two, Ten or Twenty Lord?
No wait,
Don’t tell me what’s in store.
Just push
Me in some direction
And hope
I make the right selection.

Then at thirty
A couple more years of being dinks
Life was pretty
Though time moved at the speed of blinks

No fear forty
It was all the Legos money could buy
That and tree forts
I even learned what it was to tythe.

I pray
Two, Ten or Twenty Lord?
No wait,
Don’t tell me what’s in store.
Just push
Me in some direction
And hope
I make the right selection.

Fifty two and
I’m too old to die young they say.
So what’s the plan?
To put a smile on my face everyday.

And with God’s grace
Make a home where love resides
‘Cuz just in case
They end up saying, it’s a shame he died

By Dave Schipper © 2010 Rose Riversongs

Blood and violence can be a good story song.

Let's be honest... I'm not going to tell you how to write a gang song but let's dig deep into the ballad format of the folk tradition. We all knew Bonnie and Clyde were going to get it, and so this thinking slips in occassionally when I get a chance to write. This song came to me while playing the chord progression from "All along the Watchtower" Yes the guitar players will hear the same chords in the "Across" verses; but pacing is such never really to be stolen but more borrowed... hey just ask Bob... he's done the same thing.

Now back to the story and progression. Across the river was the first words that came to me, and I'll always recommend the same discipline that goes into novel... write a story that makes sense with all the writing gadgets they use in 300 pages, but you have just a mere few verses. Foreshadowing is always fun. Finding local landmarks to solidify reality gives the song texture. Tying lyrics together with themes or patterns make the song writing interesting... if it's better who knows but it's definitely gotcha if you read them later after you love them.

Now the inspiration... just my imagination of what it must have been like 100 years ago on the St James River... with guys who don't have any morals, but locals who do.



Across the river to the house of ill repute
Marked the ghostly traveled evil trade route.
They were legends they were men
Their blood would flow from that gambling den.

When the midnight fell across Pace isle
Curses melted this frail woman child.
Laughter and smoke filled the air so vile
Rot in hell you damn pedophile.

Across the river came boat sleek and dark
Filled with men from the local city Clark.
Dressed in black and dressed to kill
In just moments, their wishes were filled.

As the door opened and they walked in
The was no shattering this crowd’s din
Their way was clear to the backdoor
And seconds to settling the score.

Across the river the shots cried out
The law handed to this pathetic lout
The dark angels showed no mercy around
The blood flowed on this evil ground.

When the midnight passed across Pace isle
Solemn embraced this frail woman child
Silence and smoke fill the air so vile.
Rot in hell those damn pedophiles.

Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs

Switching a song Male to Femaie

Once I told someone that Bonnie Raitt's song, "Love me like a man" was written by a great GUY named Chris Smither. They looked perplexed at me, but of course the song was tweaked. I believe his version was "I'll love you like a man" Well one of my favorite artist who came to a our little house concert series is Allison Sattinger. What an angel she is, but she did write one sultry song called "Across the Room"



Now she didn't ask me, but one morning I had this itch to change the perspective, because as my wife will tell you... I'm an Eye man. So I tweaked the words to what I think a guy might say without really changing the meaning too much. I don't lay any claim for copywrite on this... I just changed the voice. Allison said I made her week when I shared it with her.... That's all the payment I ever desired.

Across the Room written by Allison Sattinger (switched to the Male voice)

I see you lookin, I’m lookin too.
Your eyes are the kind of warmth I could get used to
Like brown earth when the sun sets,
I wonder how you’ld look in my bed.

Some people say cotton feels best; Some people say silk or satin
Makes you think of a woman Makes a body feel blessed.
It’s like the sun in June after winter
I’ve never felt anything quite like ……a feel of a
Woman’s eyes…… from across the room.

This is dangerous territory for me
I swore off love, ’cause makes hard to breathe
But you got that long neck and you got those hands
I’m thinking things about you and I’ve started to plan.

So come on in my lovin arms
I think you could so use to it, You know that we could do
Make it right baby We won’t stop baby
It’ll be heaven I swear Answer to your prayers…Hallelujah..

now you heard the good at the beginning... here's the ugly, but I do like it enough to post it and hope someone like Amos Lee decides to really cover and record it. (got to love the Christmas tree though... HA)

Bluegrass piece

Bluegrass is definitely about happy, and that what was on my mind Friday night while Lori was out with her girlfriends.

I had just listened to Crooked Still do a wonderful rendition of Liza Jane, then listened to a possible bluegrass band for my house concert series. No wonder this one just flowed out and into a video so I wouldn't forget it. Josie is a real person, and she is pregnant due in May. Sure she is cute as pie, but beyond that it's just a fun story. Now to twist tradition and still do what a good song should do which is to progress the storyline. I have her pregnant in the first verse and getting married in the second. Now maybe some might say that tradition rings thru back to the old Shot gun tradition. The Josie I know did it in the normal progression.

Oh the use of Mae is also interesting since this is the second time I added it to the end of a name to make it sound more folky. Ellie Mae was another piece I wrote, but as good writing progressions go... I think this second one is better because it's tighter with words. You be the judge I've posted both in the blog.

Chorus:
Oh Josie, Josie Mae,
Cute as pie, they all say
When you dance and look their way
Oh Josie, Josie Mae,

Oh Josie, sway & swing
Your baby’s due late next spring
When you smile at your gold ring
Oh Josie flap your angel wings

Oh Josie, take your man downtown
You won’t tease your lovin’ clown
When you stand in your weddin’ gown
Oh Josie you should wear a crown.

Oh Josie, put a flower in her hair
You’ll take her to the county fair
When you say your mama’s prayer
Oh Josie she gets tender care.

By Dave Schipper © 2009 Rose Riversongs




The first time I saw you, I thought it was a dream
Dancin all around me, just like a Cajun Queen.
You were in my prayers Lord, protect her everyday
What a little darlin, that little Ellie Mae

Ellie Mae, keep that smile upon your face.
Ellie Mae, dance around the room with grace, Ellie Mae
Your God’s gift from above, I give my hand in love, Ellie Mae

So now some years have passed, that smile’s still on your face.
Still a little angel, full of love and grace.
All my prayers were answered, your with a boy today.
A strong and lovin’ man, for little Ellie Mae.

Ellie Mae, keep that smile upon your face.
Ellie Mae, dance around the room with grace, Ellie Mae
He’s God’s gift from above, give him your hand in love, Ellie Mae.

The next time I see you, a smile still on your face.
Your Sis on the banjo, new Dad upon the bass.
Harmonies a flowin’ and what a joy to say.
Twin girls ‘round the feet of little Ellie Mae.

Ellie Mae, keep that smile upon your face.
Ellie Mae, dance around the room with grace, Ellie Mae
Their God’s gift from above, give them your hand in love, Ellie Mae.

By Dave Schipper © 2004 Rose Riversongs

Duckin' stones, a Protest song

I live my life duckin’ so many stones.
My hands are free, but I feel alone.
Both sides take aim at the weary bill.
Both exclaim there is a poison pill.
I suppose I should stop and listen.
Decipher which is God’s position.
I do expect that answer is neither
Jesus wouldn’t even need a breather.
He’d remind us of the question that stands,
When he needed help, “Did you lend a hand?”

I walk thru life duckin’ so many stones.
My way is clear and I don’t go alone.
I walk with the sons of Abraham,
Yes, Christian, Jew and Muslim
Side by side, homeless, poor and gay
Ducking the stones and words they say
Lest we forget the word cast in stone
Don’t idolize words from a radio throne
But let the words of Jesus help
Go out loving one another as yourself.

Go out and shout
Drop the stones, drop the stones.
But do not doubt, you’ll be
Duckin’ stones, duckin’ stones.

© 2009 Dave Schipper Rose Riversongs


Now this song is more finished but likely needs a third verse.... and it's my weird version of a 60's activist protest song but who am I protesting? The Right who knows their never wrong, the left who most times forgets the real reason. I'm lucky to be blessed with health care but I fret so about those who make the wrong calls because they can't afford to go the the hospital, and I'm disgusted with my health care bills being pumped up by the margins of the insurance & drug companies who are paying to fight any reform. Don't forget I'm a business person with a compassionate heart, I know what they are up to.... and our health bill is seeing the rewards. And if they aren't bad enough.. you know about the bad debt and write off expense in a hospital for all the goodwill medical work they have done for poor people.. HA you don't want public insurance... YOU ARE PAYING for it anyway... they make money and have to pass it on somewhere.

The answer... hey this blog is to be about songwriting, so it's probably Blowin in the Wind... so go and write your own protest song.

Dave