New Way to Live
by Hugh Springer, Jr.
© 2008 People of Praise, Inc.
Working notes:
This may never be a song that’s actually sung in a meeting context. But, that’s ok. Maybe it’s just a tune used as a background track in a presentation or slide show. Regardless, there are elements about the repeated chorus that could be sung.
Since the POP music leaders conference in early march, I wanted to write a tune with a jazz-esc groove. I stumbled upon a few chords and a finger picking style that fit with what I was looking for. Then figured out a way to have a repetitious chorus so that others could sing to it – if desired. I recorded a backtrack vocal to capture this idea, and I really liked how cleanly is sounded with two voices (of the same range) singing the same melodic line. It just seemed to add to the groove. The lyrics are not necessarily done. There's always room to add to more, but here's a few sections that could be tweaked/improved.
The first time it was recorded I said "house" and I meant to say "home".Other lyrical ideas I'm interested in capturing are:
- teachers educate
- men’s group do home repairs
- families raise children & children grow in respect and honor for both parents & adults
- husbands & wives sacrifice in love though strengths & challenges
Inspiration:
I've wanted to figure out a way to sing about the Lifeline "Our life is a new way to in every way", especially since I didn't necessarily get it or understand why this was new. But, I later realized it a new way of thinking. Its different and new to most we might talk with or share our life. And similarily, it doesn't hurt to re-think about how we're living. It is purposeful? Supporting our life in a way or facet of what where about? Be it in a division, an area, action, a big branch, a small branch, with young age members, mid-aged, or older members.
I was talking with someone at the recent POP Music Leaders Conference. He started playing this cool jazz chord progression. And I made a goal of mine to write a jazz-esc genre type song. Now, it may be a little limiting, as it might only fit for certain gathering types, but I'm not going to let that stop from flowing with the inspiration. Now every song has to be written for the intent of being sung at an overall meeting.
I spoke someone else at the Music Leaders Conference, and she mentioned that it would be great have a song that talked about the unique situation that we have in POP, where young and old can be very close, relate to each other comfortably. So, that played some inpiration into the lyric choice...but its (the lyrics) don't quite seem done yet.
Submitted by hugh springer jr on Sun, 2008-01-05 9:00.