I made a map of her piano

I made a map of your piano,
it’s telling me to love you right.
I made a map of your piano,
it’s leading me to you tonight.
I made a map of your piano,
sprung from notes both wrong & right.
I made a map of your piano,
to sing of winter’s summer nights.

Oh & she goes burning through a song that I wrote in my head.
Oh & she goes burning through a song I wrote at the foot of her bed.
Oh & she goes burning again as I break from the weekend chorus of the dead..
An echo rings into my head.. she said, she said she loves..

I made a map of your piano,
it’s telling me you are in tune.
I made a map of your piano,
it’s telling me of jealous moons..
I made a map of your piano,
& foreign planets still collide.
I made a map of your piano,
to bring you here right to my side.

Oh & she goes burning through a song that I wrote in my head.
Oh, an echo's burning like the lover’s lips full of red, as she read her lover.
Oh & she goes burning through a song that I wrote at the foot of her bed,
but tonight will be the 1st night that her song.. is bringing true love to life.

Yeah, we're bringing true love to life.
Yeah, your love brings true love to life.
Yeah, we're breathing true love tonight.
Yeah, cause love breathes truth into lies..

Oh & she goes burning through a song that I wrote in my head.
Oh & she goes burning through a song I wrote at the foot of her bed.
Oh & she goes burning again as I break from the weekend chorus of the dead..
A diamond ring sings to the stars.. she says, she says she loves

I made a map of her piano,
to find her love & sweep this gloom.
to turn the page & read in numbers..
It’s telling me of many rooms…
And it’s here in every 1 of them
that I’m making love tonight.
With a boom that's like a thunder..
Piano sing me to my love.

Oh and she goes burning through a song that I wrote in my head…
Oh and she goes burning through a song that I wrote at the foot of her bed…
Oh and she goes burning like the lips of a lover still stained ruby red..
But tonight, we’ll live out actions of our words.
She said, then she proved she loves...
She said, then she proved she loves....
She said, then she proved she loves....
She said, then she proved she loves me.
She said, she said, then I.........

Equally skilled...

stripped down Jon Foreman song (live). Based off the VERY powerful Micah 7:1-9... we went over this in 8th century prophets this morning & this song just kept playing on repeat in my mind!

The eyes of Wonder (a tribute)

In a recent interview, Stevie Wonder was asked the following question by Larry King (if I may paraphrase): "One musician retired in his 50's and when asked why responded with, 'I have said all I have to say.'" To this Wonder said that as long as their was life, as long as their was conflict unresolved, as long as their was conflict over the unresolved conflicts, as long as their was pain & injustice he would have something to say. This was an intense statement.. yet somehow overshadowed by the tremendous impact of a few of his other poignant statements. I will give a few examples: When Larry King asked him if he always is writing in his mind, he said that he wasn't really always writing but that he did spend much of his time "in his head" and figuring how he wants certain ideas and playing with things (like a kid sort of). He then added this on the tail end (which somehow made him seem like the wisest grown man with a kid's heart & playful attitude that I have ever heard of).... "But, uh, when I feel that I don't have a song.. I just say 'God please give me another song!' & I just get quiet & it happens."  He also said this at one point in the interview when asked how he dealt with being called a genius at such an early age & what he thought about it. 

‎"This here is a gift from God, I am only a vehicle of his use." -- Stevie wonder when asked on how he handled being called a genius at a young age & throughout his life.

What is there that can be said of such wisdom? Is there anything?

My response as a fellow musician & songwriter: The mind sees far more than the eyes ever do. How does a writer write without sight? Easy, he sees with his heart & his emotions & his mind & his smell & his feeling.. and by feeling I mean rea...lly "feeling" the way that many of us seldom do. He feels; he grasp for concepts & ideas & truths the way that few of the human race will. This is because the eye is often the limiting factor of our bodies and souls. We are conditioned to limit our entire lives to what can be seen with the eye. We look, but we don't really see.

Okay, so I guess all of that really isn't easy.. but.. well.. paradox much? lol...


After watching this interview & hearing of Wonder's open attitude to work with virtually anyone musician that has drive & love of the music.. because of his own love of the music.. I did just what Wonder said he does.. I asked God for just another song.. though I have done this before (in different words) I especially thought of some of the themes he accentuates and penned this as a "vehicle of God's".

Enjoy! :-)


Take one ride to the bus stop today to see the people living lives,
or so they say.
I see a basket sitting high upon a shelf, a little boy wants food but there’s
no one there to help.
I’m tired of living in the age of  “yours” & “mine”,
while a child’s imprisoned, forced to the life a crime.
Guess one man’s poison is the recent runaway, & the other man’s prison is the eyes that made him stay.

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it is just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see hell.
Oh I should see hell, come take my “I’s” so I don’t.

I spent one night in a prison cell today,
It seems my nights & days have lost their track that way.
This is no different from the basket on the shelf,
or the boy who needed it when his dad deprived his health.
I’m tired of taking this in the age of passive rights!
True love means action, & it’s come for “yours” & “mine”.
I’m tired of living death with my life upon the shelf…
With the old men singing songs of the times that went so well.

& our voices swell.
& our voices did swell!!!

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it’s just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see  Satan & his hell.
I want to leave, could you take my “I’s” so I don’t?

This is the difference in Heaven & hell…
This is the difference in basket on the shelf…
One looks too high to see that the bowl is down below..
One looks too low to see that the bowl is high above..
& we do the same, with our love.. with your love.

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it is just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see hell.

I want to leave.
Would you take my eyes?
I want to leave; could you take the thought that made my “eyes”  become the “I’s”?
This is not me, it’s just a shell
to take the stain & protect a soul that should see  Satan & his hell.
I want to leave, could you take my “I’s” so I don’t?

I want to leave, come take my “I’s” so I don’t!

Dance me to the end of time

If I can not be with you, then I should know,

Then I should know.

& If I can not stay with you, the I should go,

I should just go.

You tame me just to push me down,

Say this was wrong, or just tie me down again.

You gave me your love just to take me down,

With the withdrawls I find from a misery

Of being without you tonight.

And I don’t know what I should say to a love like this,

And I don’t know if I can stay with a love like this,

With my life in my hands, I give you my heart again..

To dance me to the end of time or stab me in the back once again.

I f I can not be with you, then you must know

Then you must know.

& if my arms weren’t so safe for you,

Then leave me alone, just leave me alone to myself.

You tamed me somehow just to push me down,

And throw me the collar and steal all the keys to this town.

Withdrawls have come, because I’m a masochist…

Apparently I somehow liked this….

But I don’t know what I can say to a love like this,

And I don’t know if I can stay with a love like this,

With my life in my hands, I give you my heart again..

To dance me to the end of time or stab me in the back once again.

Sail me on the water, but promise me not to drown our love this time.

Sail me on the waters, but promise me not to poison the best of nights.

Sail me on the water, but promise me not to drown our love this time.

Sail me on the waters, but promise me not to poison the best of nights..

when the lights just burst  on me  again…

And I don’t know what I should say to a love like this,

Or a lover’s white fists that tied the knot around my neck again,

Won’t you pick me up stead of hanging me.. ?

I don’t know if I can stay, with a love like this, for a love like this.

If I stand here with heart in my hand…again

Would you dance me to the end of time & spare my heart

Of your dark sins?

Taylor Swift

So since Austin Kyle Renfroe has a song out on itunes called "Taylor Swift" (& it's really good by the way), I decided that I would play my hand at the friendly, family "& now it's my turn" moment. (And no, I totally didn't mean that in the Arkansas kind of way either.. moving on). Basically this was just a really fun & creative songwriting ex. for me. All of the Guitar stuff for it is still in my head at this point since it's 3:36am now lol.

If I had to sum this up I'd say this is a song from a songwriter to a songwriter about love of all kinds & its' potential.. in music.. in life.. in fantasy.. but more than anything it's realization in reality & what that can mean.

This may be the first song I complete & put out over the web for obvious promotional & marketing reasons :P

*****THE LYRICS*****
This is a love song, I hope that you can hear it.
I hope that you adhere to it just like those books with great advise.
This is a heart song, I hope that you can feel it.
I hope you want to steal from it & make the feelings that I'm talking
come to meet you in the real life.

And if my greatest words just fall short of who you are...
Well then the greatest kiss will have to wait & greet you in the dark.. oh

To feel you now, to touch your skin
To understand the shape I'm in..
To love me just for who I am...
To not believe that all love is pretend

To tame the stars & watch them fall over you..
To watch the rain, but not a minute too soon..
Maybe I'll know that I love you then...
Maybe you'll know & still the words will be
so small.. but still like wine

This is a love song, I hope that you can hear it.
I hope that you won't fear it, like a pathetic stalker with a fist of cheap fixed lines.
And if I'm played out to you, then just give me a decent chance..
to bring about a sweet romance
& when the sun comes up I'm betting you'll love me still.

No more, waking the dawn to find an empty pillow with no face.
No more, chasing the curb to find the pavement wants to meet you face to face.
(cause I'd rather kiss you anyway)

To feel you now, to touch your skin
To understand the shape I'm in..
To love me just for who I am...
To not believe that all love is pretend

To tame the stars & watch them fall over you..
To watch the rain, but not a minute too soon..
Maybe I'll know that I love you then...
Maybe you'll know & still the words will be
so small.. but still like wine
so small.. but still like wine..

And I am finding that love is an intoxicating,
it's an exhilarating, it's an unchanging, a belief that I've found..
And when you wake in the morning & always have a first kiss to find,
And you always have another gift beside you
And you always have a another rush in her eyes...


This is a love song, I hope that you can hear it.
I hope that you adhere to it just like those books with great advise.
This is a heart song, I hope that you can feel it.
I hope you want to steal from it & make the feelings that I'm talking
come to meet you in the real life..
make it real oh make it real now..

To feel you now, to touch your skin
To understand the shape I'm in..
To love me just for who I am...
To not believe that all love is pretend

To tame the stars & watch them fall over you..
To watch the rain, but not a minute too soon..
Maybe I'll know that I love you then...
Maybe you'll know & still the words will seem
so small, just like the perfect date with sweet red wine
just like the lottery odds, so small..
just like the fate of the Saab, so small...
like chances that Elvis died.

Are we in Paris yet?
Are we in Paris yet?
Are we in Paris?

I open my eyes, look in the mirror & I'm seeing you...
put in a verse of mine

Easier than breathing (not to say you're easy) :P

 I want to teach to you about learning..
This is a lesson of laws about learning..
This is a lesson of laws about learning the right way to spell:
“You & me”

I took my best guest and put the R before the vowel sound..
I took my next guest and made a simple funny sound..
at least if I can't get it right then I can make you laugh..

But seriously.. I just want to breathe...

And she said.. that's just what it is..
Because the best way to spell a truer love than all the others
is “It's easy as breathing”

And when you put your foot to the rubber..
You will find that you can't run from her..
cause the biggest of your fears start to drown beside the years that you want to love her.

And that's it... because it's easy as breathing..
Oh that's it... you make love as easy as breathing.

I want to teach you the words to my version
of the incessant, automatic better version.. of this..
oh yeah & if you take the time to listen I would say:
“You know that it's you.”

I want to take the time to memorize your number
even when I have predict-a-text & auto-dial..
because the meaning of the season that I find myself believing in
is calling for style (not auto-tune)

and it's leading me into your eyes, can I stay for awhile?
But seriously.. I still need to breathe...

And she said.. that's just what it is..
Because the best way to spell a truer love than all the others
is “It's easy as breathing”

And when you put your foot to the rubber..
You will find that you can't run from her..
and then the biggest of your fears will start to drown beside the years that you're wanting to love her.

And that's it...
Oh that's it...

And we can joke about salvation history,
And we can talk about this crowded, tangled, web we weave..
but amidst the crowded room, I will always meet your eyes when I open that door.

And we can talk about semantics & the words we see,
or we can live them like we mean that they're not make believe..
and when we live them like we mean them in our living room...
then we will surely be free...
or we could think just a little farther.. outside.. of our box...
because love does..

I want to teach you a lesson about learning..
This is a lesson of laws about learning..
This is a lesson of laws about learning the right way to spell:
“You & me”

I took my best guest and put the R before the vowel sound..
I took my next guest and said a simple funny noun..
at least if I can't get it right then I can always make you laugh..s

But seriously.. just laugh once for me...
But seriously.. laughing & breathe!

And she said..
Love is not a number or a spelling
but it's easy as breathing..

And I said..
Love is not a number or a slumber
case it's easier than breathing..

And when you're around..
I can't depend on my lungs to even make a sound
because I'm dreaming of a feeling where I'm kissing you and leaving all the “oxygen-kind”.
And I'll take you in for the rest of time.
And I'll breathe you in for the rest of time.
And I'll take you in cause loving you is easier than breathing,
but that's not to say.. that you are easy.. no!

Your loss

So I realize this is a LOT ironic. I started this song yesterday and wrote some more on it today after the Taylor Swift special.. um.. I could finish it now.. but I feel like I want some of tomorrow's event to soak in and maybe have some kind of lasting effect on the overall shape of the song. Right now it's about a bad relationship, bruises and being left & just deciding that in life we have the option to wallow or to move on and make the most of our future by learning from the past and all of the coupled blessings & injustices that are somehow thrown our way. WE can learn & achieve amidst and through both of these seemingly opposite things. Success & failure aren't really all that different... The wise person realizes that success can't truly be measured until the end of a story.. defeat is only assumed when you allow yourself to believe that you are stopping your history & future to dwell on current or past events. Keep moving. Learn from things and make the next step better. I'm like a child learning to crawl and talk and walk in love.. so are you. Step forward and fall.. but get back up and do it better the next time!

Somehow I know that there's going to be more than that message to intertwine in this song.. tomorrow I deal with a funeral and then working almost 8 hours in Jackson during crazy Friday madness... I will birth art out of the situation though.. I really will. And if for some reason I was to be horribly injured tomorrow or die even.. someone else will see this and they will be inspired to live with urgency and to love with passion and to voice it in word & action. This means that no matter what happens tomorrow.. today was a success.. but the story is still unwritten.. so we can't call it success yet.. now can we?

***Preliminary lyrics.. (unfinished)***
Break the dawn & tell your story,
I could tell that you were lonely in the hands of time.
Fight the book that's on your shelf
& feed the fish that live inside your soul to calm the seeds of time.

These rhymes can only go so far
it seems that love's made like a Gar
to catch & slip away...(any day now)

The book that sits upon my shelf is writing me into a selfish
prayer to pray in vain...

This is a metaphor of how a double door can let you in and spit you out with a bitter taste.
This is a metaphor of how a rubber soul can run your heart to the ground & laugh in your face.
And if it seems that I'm a little bit selfish, I've earned the right to fight without a bruised fist
It's you that did this,.. it's you that did this to me..
Your loss is my victory.