music

Oh I don’t have to tell you how wonderfully exciting and scary a new relationship can be. All I can say is that I hope for you, just as it is for me; Always “a chance you would like to take”. May you cast all your fear aside and love with all your heart and soul!

From overpopulation to global warming, hunger to abuse, greed, over- industrialization, devastation of third world countries, narrow minds to kids with guns…….Whatever the issue, the question is always the same; what do we do about it? I write! I will keep writing until I cannot write anymore. It may seem small, and I wish I could do more sometimes; however, I am grateful that I am doing something. My heart can rejoice in that.

This was such a fun song to write. I hope I captured some of the humor that I see in the way we tend to become blinded by the prospect of new love. We forget our friends, neglect our work, and all too often, instead of ending yet another relationship, we even allow ourselves to be treated less than desirable. Hopefully we are all able to look back and laugh at it all one day.

I had to grow up quick, and spent most of my childhood being an adult, without all the required qualifications. I have been viewed by friends and family as strong and together; the one they came to depend on for all the right answers. When I didn’t have answers, they became disappointed, acted shocked or confused. This song was my way of giving me permission to fall to pieces, to feel, to cry, make mistakes and to navigate through my life without being smothered by the impossible expectations of others, or myself. I am grateful for my strength, and for every bit of the path that has led me here. I am also grateful to my friends and family not only for listening, but for really hearing what I was saying. Thank you.

To be completely honest I just made this song up! It is the most fun I have ever had sitting by myself with my guitar! My jaw was sore the next morning from smiling so much! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it!

I would love to be able to say that this was written from a true life experience; however, nobody that I have ever been with has ever wanted me back! Perhaps I was hoping that one day someone would realize what they had lost and come running back to me and I would be prepared with this song. No chance. Still waiting! I guess the joke is on me. :0)

I had been in Nashville 9 years, negotiated contracts with several record labels and publishers, and concluded that there seems to be a common denominator amongst them all. The word business seems to take precedence over the word music in the “music business”. Although the business has its place, I believe that too much business can take the heart right out of a magnificent song. I am only here for the music! I love what I do. May you find what it is you love, and do it with all your heart. Remember, without the business, we would still be artists, without the artists; there would be no business of music!

I had never shed so many tears in the process of writing a song before “The Old Me”. I used to think that if you love someone you do all you can to make things work. I now fully understand that if you really love someone, and they have bigger dreams than you, you let them go and wish them all the love and happiness in the world. One of the hardest, yet most beautiful things I have ever done in my life.

Sometimes it feels good to write about something that you see happening all around you, but have not experienced yourself! This would be one of those songs for me. Thanks Ashley, for sharing your real life experience for the sake of honest lyrical content. We have left out names to protect the guilty. Caution: Please be advised that the behavior depicted in this song has been proven to cause STD’s and unwanted pregnancy, and is not encouraged by the writers.

We make so many promises, and we mean well when we say “I’ll stay forever”. One thing we all too often don’t consider is that the world and everything in it is constantly changing. Even our understanding of love itself will be different from one minute to the next. “I will never need you; and I will never know you”. Therefore, you are free to experience your life as it pleases you, and you are free to grow and change on your journey. There is no greater love one can give than freedom.