Love Reigns Here

July 8, 2016

4 songs in 4 weeks! This is something I have never done before.

I have signed up for the Songwriter’s Association of Canada (S.A.C.)’s 4×4 Songwriting and Blogging Challenge. Each Sunday a songwriting mentor challenges us with a new parameter for writing a song. Then we have a week to write, record and blog about it. This is my first installment of the challenge! Murray Daigle was this week’s mentor and issued the following challenge:

1. Write a song using no more than 2 chords
OR
2. Write a song that has a single repeating riff (1-bar in length)

My song is called Love Reigns Here. I have had the title of this song in my notebook of song ideas for a couple months. I knew I wanted to write a song about welcoming a wounded heart into a community of love and watching that person flourish and thrive. This was my chance! I decided to take a pretty easy harmonic route of just C and G.

It’s been a busy week – we just got home from a week of camping in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Jered’s family cabin) at the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday. Then I had my first job interview in years for a position with the Canadian Culinary Federation (www.edmontonCHEFs.ca) not to mention it was my little Wren’s first birthday! Then I had two rehearsals for a gig that I had tonight at Cafe Blackbird – and we are catering a wedding for 100 on Saturday! So I was a bit concerned how I was going to find the time with two little monkeys running around at my feet amidst the busy days to sit down and really focus on writing.

Three things: 1) I got the job!!! I start next week. I’m super excited. 2) I found the time! I feel like I really took the challenge to heart, wrote a simple, hooky/catchy and heartfelt song and 3) I had an amazing gig tonight at Cafe Blackbird where we actually played this song LIVE, less than 24 hours after writing it. I had the entire audience singing along in the bridge and it was such a fun time.

I’m feeling excited and inspired and I’m really looking forward to the next 3 challenges.

You can listen here: Love Reigns Here

Lyrics:
Chords: C & G

Verse one
I can see you on the outskirts
Hesitantly looking at me (oh)
I can see that you’ve been hurt
I can see that you’re worried

Somebody lied & said you’re worthless
I can say I disagree (oh)
Nobody wants you to be perfect
Open up your heart and see that

Chorus
Love Reigns Here

Verse two
Watching you walk a little taller
I can see a light in your eyes (oh)
Your doubts are slowly getting smaller
I think you’ve come to realize that

Chorus
Love Reigns Here

Bridge
Forgive & forget, forget & forgive (oh) x 3
Forgive & forget, forget & let live

Chorus
Love Reigns Here