Be set free to sing or hum along

There is nothing quite like the feeling of a newly written tune. It is a gift. Every time I get to experience it, I am deeply grateful. This one started out on the guitar, but I really enjoyed finishing it on the piano. This is basically a work-tape recording. But worth sharing, I think.

Feel free to hum or play along. I am playing this one in C. Enjoy.

An update for the curious: Directly below is my original piano work tape recording. As is often the case, I donned my editor/refiner hat. The lyrics below are edited some as I often have to discover how I might actually play and sing the song. Below the piano version, I share the guitar/harmonica rendition. You could call it the “traveling troubadour” version. I love pianos, but they do not travel well.

Piano

Guitar/Harmonica

Trouble Come

In the morning I must go, never to come back.

I’ve loved your love for a season.

But in my youth, I crossed a man and he’s ever on my track,

and if the harm came to you I’d be grieving.

---

“I will not let you go.” My love she spoke to me,  

“I will not have your love for just a season”

You underestimate me, my love. Trouble I’ve known some.

Let trouble come.  Let the man give me reason.

---

She said, “My daddy was a bad outlaw, many a man feared his gun,

And I his only child, and he raised me strong as any son.

I can ride long and fast, load and shoot good as any man.

Let trouble come.  Trouble won’t find me fearing none.

---

So we made up our minds to stay. And God gave us three lovely daughters

And my love said, “Let’s raise them fierce as any sons,

And should trouble come some night we’ll put up one hell of a fight.

God help the man with any mind to harm us.

---

Now after a score of quiet years, joy, laughter, and tears

The crack of fiery shells upset my slumber.

Before I could rouse my gun the skirmish was all done.

The man had finally come and he’d fallen like thunder.

---

Now as the morning light did break, I did rise to survey

Many were the men who’d come and fallen.

For three daughters I could account, but my love was nowhere about

And I knew that dark angel had come calling.

---

I had told her, “In the morning I must go, never to come back

I’ve loved your love for a season.

But in my youth, I crossed a man, and he’s ever on my track

and if the harm came to you I’d be grieving”

---

“I will not let you go.” My love she said to me,  

“I will not hold your love for just a season”

You underestimate me, my love. Trouble I’ve known some.

Let the man come.  Let the man give me reason.

copyright scot phegley

Was I to tell the truth, for a time I was afraid that I had forever lost this love of music and songs that is such a very central and deep part of me. I can recall days that I would pick up my guitar to play, and I could hardly recall how to hold my favorite plectrum.

This scoffer’s voice was in my head and kept repeating, “The world doesn’t need another song.”

I do not recall how long I was in that place, longer than I wanted to be, no doubt.

My heart would not have it for one day from the depths returned the verbal volley, “The world doesn’t need another song, but I do.”

And then I unwrapped this song as a child unwraps a greatly anticipated birthday gift.

Enjoy, and be set free to hum, sing, or play along. We are playing it here in G.

Together You and I

Why do we sing songs?
Why do we tell stories?
Why do we rise early to catch the dawning of the light?
Why do we track stars?
This universe is dancing.
What if we could dance
Together, you and I?

I see a child born to plenty
And another who is hungry.
My soul cries for reasons why,
For a useful tale that I can tell.
I would travel 1000 miles To uncover one real love story.
Brother do you know the way I feel?
Sister tell me I am not alone.

Chorus

Now I am one born to plenty.
Tell me brother have you known the cold and hunger?
Let’s share this table for a while, Help me to see and understand.
Brother, let’s travel a thousand miles
Planting seeds of hope and mercy.
Sister, will you come too,
Let’s spread love like water upon the land.

Chorus

Teach it to your children.
Teach it to your old ones.
Teach it near and far
Till we shine brighter than the stars.

Chorus

© scot phegley

Not so long into this summer, I was given the most glorious picture of how we were meant to live. I was granted this experience which held such beautiful instruction and exhortation for my heart. All that I am given is not for me. How many times will I have to encounter this deep truth before I give myself over to live in it? My hope and prayer is that I would begin to reflect and tell this truth with my actions. Even if my powers and abilities to do so are ever so small.

If you are one who is close to me. Hold me accountable. Say to me, “Take action. Cease hoarding! Share with those with whom you can!”

I am going to switch topics on you a little bit. Just yesterday evening a group of friends, some new and some old, and I were discussing the story of Hosea. I love the story of Hosea. This wild and scandalous tale of how Hosea, the prophet of Israel, takes for a wife the ever-wandering, unfaithful Gomer. It is quite a story. I will not do it justice to retell it. Find some time. Pour something you enjoy sipping. Read it.

As providence would have it, I happened upon an old and simple recording of a song that I wrote after spending some time reading and considering this old story. In that spirit of sharing…