Last month I posted a lyric video for ‘Face to Face’ to YouTube, which you can check out below. I started writing this song in 2013 and finished I think in 2014. I certainly remember that it was one of those I finished after I had been to a songwriter’s conference I was invited to … More Face to Face – Lyric video and song story
I don’t remember when I stopped believing in Santa Claus. In fact, I don’t remember when I ever believed. I think if I did, the penny had already dropped by the time I was maybe 7 years old and my Grandad came beaming into the room one Yuletide wearing a red dressing gown stuffed with … More The Santa Myth
I recently had fun recording a song which I originally wrote on the day our daughter turned 6 months old. Today, she’s a rampaging 21-month old, but back then, on 21 July 2016, she turned 6 months old, and I wrote a song. I’d always wanted to write a song for her, but probably owed … More New song with lyric video!
I love Tom Wright’s simple, cheerful response to the question about balancing life in the video below (at right about the 1-hour mark): “I get up very early, say my prayers, and do the next three things that have to be done.” Which for Tom Wright happen to include putting right centuries of Pauline scholarship, … More The next three things
It has been a while. But I’ll keep it short. Things are shifting a bit for me. Soon, I hope to be making more time again for worship, songwriting, music in general. I have new songs. I have plans to record a new album. I’d like to launch, probably, a Kickstarter project to fund it. … More A short update, and songwriting
Some friends of mine just did a thing. I was pleased to be one of the Kickstarter backers for Songs for Sundays, a new project from Resound Worship, and it arrived in the post today! Headed up by Joel Payne – who I’ve known since my days as a student in York (he led the worship … More Songs for Sundays – new album from Resound Worship
I’ve just finished Writing Better Lyrics. Let me try that again: I’ve just finished reading the book entitled Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison. This book has already cropped up once or twice on the blog. It was recommended to me (and a room full of other starry-eyed songwriters) by Graham Kendrick – the father of modern worship … More Writing Better Lyrics, by Pat Pattison – book review
I found some words at the bottom of the garden – Slimy, squirmy and more – I took those words, hastily squiggled, And shoved them in a jar. I tried to catch some fish with them – Slippery, silvery and wet – But those tired adjectives didn’t make good bait, Left me angling in regret. … More Wiggly Words
Then leaving Summer’s sandy shores Now beckoned by the breeze We donned our jumpers, hats and boots And entered Autumn’s eaves. Into the whisper, rustle and crunch Adjusting to the cold Watched age and sunsets run like fire And light the world in gold. No bonfire night or fireworks Could near compare to this We … More Autumn’s Eaves (poem)
I have been interested in Christian pacifism for quite some time. Jumped on board when I first heard about it, actually. The idea that Christians should be committed to a non-violent way of life because Jesus was non-violent was, and still is, a no-brainer. I suppose what I mean is that I was already a … More Pacifism…s
