Story Behind The Song

One afternoon when my 7 year old daughter came home from school, she was asked to write a poem about spring. She was stuck on getting started, so I told her to just start writing things down about spring. They could be words or ideas. Anything. And I figured I would show her by example, so I took out my own piece of paper and began, too. As I coaxed her to just let her thoughts flow, mine began to flow, so much so that I wrote this poem in that one sitting. I just disappeared into the words. Also at the time, my husband was recovering from cancer treatment and so I was exhausted and looking for renewal and recovery, similar to what spring holds in wait for us. One could say it was a bit of a pep talk to myself. But once I looked it over, the natural rhythm begged for music. I normally compose the music first, so it was a nice change of pace to set music to the poem. I seeked out one of my favorate collaborators and he and I wrote the music on a rainy afternoon. The motivic writing really highlights the words and lets them hang in the air. The interlude brings a little levity to the subject matter. It is always a wonderful song to perform. It reminds me of the strength of the human spirit and that we can overcome so much with patience, healing and work. And I love performing it for audiences because inevitibly someone approaches me and says how that song has helped them in some way. Ultimately, it cycles back to my relationship to my daughter and family and is a reminder of how much I love them, how much I enjoy sitting at the counter with my daughter showing her how words and music can flow free if you just relax and let the pen go. And that creativity is a practice that you learn, love and nuture.

Song Description

The Deep Within is a song about spring, renewal and the strength of the human spirit. Its meant to remind us that the heart can get over anything with time for healing and the will to learn and move on. I used spring as the analogy, but it references the power of self, too. It's motivic melody helps highlight the lyrcs and vice versa. And the interlude is there for a release from the intensity.

Lyrics

Tulips edge the cornerstone
Grass is growing green again
Sweater on my shoulders sit
Unfurling leaves on trees amidst
The spring showers will fall

Birds sing random haikus
Often heard across the lawn
Dandelions laugh at order
Promising a sea of gold
I don't mind at all

No, the heart revives, it always does
The eyes will have their turtledove
It's written in our porous skin
The sleeve that holds the deep within

Sundays I don't go to church
One day trees will tell their tale
Apples fall to the seeker
Hand and mouth and fruit to cheek
As natural as the day

None the wiser for the taking
Nature holds us in suspense
Ages spent in solitary
Yield the human melancholy
Is this all there is....

No, the heart revives, it always does
The eyes will have their turtledove
It's written in our porous skin
The sleeve that holds the deep within