Unlike most of my songs (which start with words), this one started with the guitar part, and then the words came later, though they've been swimming around in one form or another for a while now.
Cricket song, starry night, velvet air
Headlights gleam, windows down
Just an after-dinner drive to buy some ice cream
at the Mobil on the edge of town
You crane your neck to catch a satellite’s tail
I pray for time to slow
I could probably count how many drives like this we have left
Before you go
When you were buckled up in back
I’d strain to make out every word you said
Now you’re riding shotgun up here next to me
I try to listen with my heart instead
You nod along to the sounds of the sweet summer night
Like you were listening to the radio
I could probably count how many drives like this we have left
Before you go
Right now our world’s this dark, this drive
This road, this ride, the bullfrogs’ hum
Eyes straight ahead I let your words shade in my picture
Of who you’ve become
I know you’re ready
But how can I get ready
It’s harder than you know
On these sweet summer nights buying ice cream
Before you go
These sweet summer nights
Before you go
@analogj Feb 2022
Erin, if you have a few moments to spare, I'd love to get your sense as to whether the lyrics and vocal I incorporated into Mind Rolling work. Do they enhance the song? Do they well reflect the music?
Thanks!
@analogj Feb 2022
As usual, your playing is gorgeous.
As usual, your songwriting is on another level. Your sense of off-beat phrasing and lyrical visuals, and I know I sound like a broken record, make it sound like your speaking with me.
I like your distinction between listening with your head and listening with your heart.
This is really lovely.
@leslie333 Feb 2022
Absolutely gorgeous! I really want my sister to hear this one - all her kids are on their own now, but wow she could relate. Yes, poignant definitely the key word. But as usual such lovely images from just a few words.
@bethkille Feb 2022
Oh how lovely! As a mother of a kiddo who is growing up so quickly, this totally pulls on my heartstrings. Lovely guitar work and beautiful voice.
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022
This is so lovely! Wonderful lyrics, which I always look for. And your music and delivery are just right for this. It's really heart-wrenching, as it should be. Thanks for this gift.
@mikedebenham Feb 2022
Beautiful guitar. Perfect match between lyrics and music too, with those stretches of alternating two-note melody trying to eke out the moment as long as possible. Lovely.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
Oh Erin, my heart just melted a bit. This is so poignant, and I'm not sure it is shameless sentimentality. I think anyone who's a parent would 100% relate to this feeling (mine are still a little way off, but I can see it coming down the road). You put it so beautifully in the very specific, well-observed images, and then it also comes through in the lovely guitar playing and your vocal performance. Wow. Great song.
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Lovely and poignant lyrics, and beautiful delivery, as always. Masterful.
@woolford Feb 2022
Gosh. This song says so much so delicately. My youngest son's birthday is today, and I spent quite some time in tears yesterday thinking about the passage of time and the relationship dynamics continuing to change. This song brings it on, full force. I love it when songs do that. Top marks.
@liz561 Feb 2022
The guitar is so beautiful on it's own-like a lullaby! Took me right back to when my kids were going away to school. So evocative.
@mikegtz Feb 2022
Very nice subject for a song, Erin and a beautiful melody. Building the song around ice cream is particularly nice!
@richaaaay Feb 2022
This is all too relatable. Such sweet summer nights...Oh to have those moments back. This struck a chord with me. So did your wonderful guitar playing and sublime (to steal an appropriate description from below) vocals. Your story telling skills are enviable. Bravo.
@anthonykapfer666 Feb 2022
this is great. nice guitar intro. love the vocals
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
Gorgeous! A guitar part worth writing a song to (I find that a much harder direction). I love the deliberate pace that so nicely fits the prayer for the pace to slow. You paint this picture so beautifully in mundane visuals. And I love "I try to listen to with my heart instead" and "I let your words shade my picture" -- those are effective because they live in between the details. (I also found to "this" section (dark, drive, road, ride) especially compelling.)
@ericlord Feb 2022
This is beautiful guitar. Dreamy and nostalgic.
My daughters are 7 and 8 and this is really hard to listen to haha I'm going to drop the phone and go spend quality time with them now.
@paulharrison Feb 2022
Fabulous, Erin! As a parent and grandparent, your imagery brings back many wonderful feelings for me. Your beautiful guitar playing really sets up (and later compliments) the lyrics and your vocals (pacing and quality) are superb. This is one of my favorites for the month!
@erbaer Feb 2022
This is lovely. A wonderful picture that hints at all that isn't said. The love and the connection is all there. The guitar is great. This is one of the bittersweet moments of parenting. You have captured is well.
@tukayandryan Feb 2022
Your phrasing is just sublime. Beautiful picking pattern and execution. I will never tire of hearing your voice. Your lyrics are always so considered. Just gorgeous.
@sheslin Feb 2022
I can see why that beautiful guitar part inspired this song. Oh I soooo feel this song - my kids are in their early 20's so I know this journey well. I just love the feel of the song - in the sweet spot between a little bit melancholy but also sweetly reminiscent and embracing the journey to come. Your vocals are gorgeous and the melody carries your well crafted lyrics perfectly. Simply beautiful!