“Looking Towards” - a song about a few things
Over the river and through the woods…
Story Pairing
This tune is an older one and I recently recorded it while over in Ireland. I recorded two there at the hotel I was staying at and they were both older ones. That day it felt like I needed to record a couple old friends who had been with me for a while, and joined me in many a show, so this one and Ghost Ship made the list.
Typically the edges of an old song fade and I don’t remember all the bits that went into the writing of it. This one is a little different as the process has a paper trail in a sense. If you scroll down, I shared a picture of a cat in a tree. It’s the same picture that I shared on July 1st 2018, inviting followers to take a moment with the picture and share what came to mind when they looked at it. The plan was to take a few of the shared observations and create something together.
"Time Moving On"
"Retreat"
"Branches Bare"
These are the three I resonated with the most and they ultimately made it into the song.
The Picture
The picture is a treed cat. It was a summer day and my dogs were barking like crazy in the back yard. (They often bark like crazy, but this was a step up from normal). Turns out they had scared a stray cat up into the Mulberry tree back there. My younger brother was visiting and I convinced him to get up there and help get the cat down while I put the dogs away. I thought I was about to have a new cat, but as soon as it was out of the tree and didn’t see any dogs it went in full flee mode.
The memory of that cat freaking out and running out of the yard, plus the phrases I was gifted is what made this song a reality.
Songwriters
I can’t recommend using a picture as a writing prompt enough. The old saying a picture says a thousands words isn’t too far off. If you take a picture and start writing down all the things you see and feel and then add some imagination to it, you’ll get a page of ideas that can end up being something that will keep you company for years to come. I’ve had a few folks reach out to me and chat songwriting after reading one of these musing, and I just want to extend an invitation out to anyone feeling the pull of writing but maybe needing a buddy to chat through it, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message. Writing is a powerful outlet and a song ends up being a companion that can soak up and help carry a lot of special memories. Enjoy!
Song Structure
*Capo 5
Verse: G / C / D / G / D / G / C / G
Chorus: Em / D / G / Em / D / G / C / G
Bridge: Am / D / C
Voice Memos
No Notebook Page
July 2018
**This is the image that I shared asking for phrases that came to peoples minds when they looked at it. We wrote the song together.
Lyrics
You’ve got that sweat upon your brow
You’ve got that sweat upon your brow
Just keep climbing and you won’t come down
Branches bare since the leaves are on the ground
You’ve got that sweat upon your brow
You’re chasing every light you’ve ever saw
You’re chasing every light you’ve ever saw
In the darkness you always feel too small
Come the morning you will not care at all
You’re chasing every light you’ve ever saw
I know the dogs are barking at your heels
Chase you over rocks and streams and fields
Always felt the need to retreat here
You say that time it moves too slow
You say that time it moves too slow
A pocket full of years has got you feeling old
Faces fade to memory when they’ve got nowhere to go
You say that time it moves too slow
I know the dogs are barking at your heels
Chase you over rocks and streams and fields
Always felt the need to retreat here
I’ll keep you safe, I’ll keep you sound
I’ll keep you safe, I’ll keep you sound
I’ll keep you safe, I’ll keep you sound
You lost the dream that you’re looking towards
You lost the dream that you’re looking towards
Play each note with your back against the door
Falling short of the legends that came before
You lost the dream that you’re looking towards
I know the dogs are barking at your heels
Chase you over rocks and streams and fields
Always felt the need to retreat here
Always felt the need to retreat here
Always felt the need to retreat here