Song Introduction: He Gave Me the Sea

Picking up my mini-series of introductions to songs on Leavin' Home, here are some snapshots of a song called "He Gave Me the Sea".

Two Christmases ago, my whole family met up and rented a house on the Outerbanks of North Carolina for a week. We had 13 people in a big summer house in the dead of winter. Is there a better time to stay at the beach?

My siblings are all married and have families of their own, and during this week there were three kiddos under the age of six running around (really four under the age of six, but the littlest at the time was only a few months old and not quite running yet). When I wasn't being invited to tea parties or playing unique renditions of board games with my nieces, I loved standing in the shadows, so to speak. I loved watching my siblings be parents. My brothers and sisters have always been my heroes, and seeing so many sweet moments between them and their kids was beautiful to watch.

One of the first times we walked down to the beach, I overheard my brother tell my niece that that big ocean was all for her. It didn't matter if she couldn't take it with her, or that she had no idea what to do with it... He simply gave her the sea. She may not remember it, but that moment between my niece and my brother caught my heart. There were a week-full of moments like this that inspired this song.

One Line: "Safe because he’s strong..."
The oldest of the three musketeers was very willing to brave the icy water, but the younger two found the ocean to be a bit daunting. These two were willing to get close to the water if dad was standing there with them, though. As long as he was there--ready to pick them up if the water got too close to their feet, they wanted to get as close as they could. I loved that little bit of adventurous spirit and also where they found their courage--in the knowledge that dad had 'em.
 

-Brittany

Song Introduction: Meet Me in the Wildwood

Quite a while ago, I wrote about “Something to Miss“, going line by line into what each of the phrases mean in that song. I asked if there were any other songs you’d like to know more about, and this was one of them:
“Meet Me in the Wildwood”.

This is a new song that only a few of you have heard which gave me an idea… In the next few weeks, before Leavin’ Home is released, I’m going to introduce a few songs that will be on the album.

So here’s a little bit about “Meet Me in the Wildwood”.

The Characters:
The Sun, the Moon, Sandman, and you.

The Plot:
The Sun and the Moon are meeting to tell each other the stories they’ve watched throughout the day and night respectively. The Sun gets to watch all of the daring adventurers by day and the Moon gets to stay up and watch Sandman sail over towns by night; however, both the Sun and the Moon long to hear about the other half of the day. This is where you come in. They’re inviting you to the wildwood to tell them stories they’ve never heard.

One Line:
“Sandman sails Cerulean across the midnight sky….”
When I was little, one of my favorite books was “Ship of Dreams” by Dean Morrissey. It’s all about a boy who ends up on the deck of the sandman’s ship. From the first time reading that book and studying the beautiful illustrations, that’s how I’ve always imagined the sandman to travel. In this song, that was the image I was picturing–Sandman sailing a ship by the name of Cerulean in the moonlight.

When I wrote this song, I was longing to seize the day. To make the most of simple adventures. To have stories to tell and someone anxious to listen. To put stock in dreams. And this longing is infused into the song. It was SO much fun to record this song that it has changed the sound I’ve looked for since.

Can’t wait for you to hear it soon.

-Brittany

Album 2: Named

I’ve been calling this album “Album 2” since before I started recording over a year ago. Thinking about what to name it, I momentarily considered keeping “Album 2” as the final title, but… that moment passed. After brainstorming, coming up with several options, saying the options out loud in countless pretend conversations, and weeks of thought… I have the name!

The title comes from one of the songs on the album, and in two words it sums up the past two and a half years pretty nicely.

So without any further ado…

Album 2 shall henceforth be called: Leavin’ Home

-Brittany

Album Update

In my last post, I said that if all went smoothly, my second album would be coming out in November.

Well, it’s December, and I’ve got some explainin’ to do.

A few stories short, this album has been long in the making, and I don’t want to rush these final stages. So, I’m going to push the date a bit and make sure that ‘Album 2’ is put together and finished as it should be. I’m heading back to Nashville in a week and a half to fine-tune a couple songs. When I’m in the studio, each song is brand new, and sometimes I get swept away and miss the feel I was going for or a certain note or line and don’t realize it until days or weeks later… So thankfully, I have this chance to polish up a few things and make these songs perfect. There are also many production details that I want to get just right–we’ve worked hard on this record, I want it to be the very best it can be!  So…

‘Album 2’ will be coming out in March!

I’m sorry for the wait and the changing deadlines, but know that I’m very anxious to get these new songs to you!

-Brittany

Album 2

I’m heading to Nashville next month to finish recording Album 2!
(I can’t wait to tell you the REAL name of this album!)

Right now, I’m getting the final songs written, selected, polished, and demo-ed.
I can’t wait to get back in the studio. I wish I could take you all with me so you could experience a recording day–they’re my favorite days!

When I get home, everything will be sent off to production, and I’ll probably be bouncing off the walls until everything is complete and ready to go!

I don’t have a release date set, but if all goes smoothly, my second album will be coming out this November!

I cannot wait to share these new songs with you!
I started recording this album last November, and it is nearly impossible to have recorded songs and NOT share them!

More on Album 2 coming soon!

-Brittany

Line by Line: Something to Miss

“Something to Miss” is a song of mine that includes quite a few personal references, and I’d like to share some of them with you!

“There’s always something to miss…”
Everyone has their own list of people, times, and places they miss, and this song is part of my list.

“Like a three-week trip to the East Coast, Niagara Falls and ferry boats…”
When I was little, my family went on a big road-trip that lasted three weeks. We started from our house in Illinois, we saw Niagara Falls, we rode on a ferry boat, we saw the numbingly cold Atlantic Ocean, we went to a Red Sox game, we hiked, we listened to “The Lord of the Rings“ on cassette tapes, we went to one of my family’s favorite places in Minnesota, we went fishing, we packed picnics… What I remember most is simply being with my family for three weeks, and loving it.

“I heard the news through the grapevine yesterday, the brightest smile that I’ve ever seen was lost and gone away…”
One of my classmates at Taylor University passed away. We weren’t close friends, but he was the kind of person who could make you feel like you were. He treated everyone like a friend. He had a fantastic laugh, and he did have one of the best smiles I’ve ever seen… The kind of smile that lights up a whole room.

“An open door to local strays…”
Growing up, one of my best friends lived next door. Many of my favorite childhood memories include her. Her parents had a beautiful backyard, perfect for all of the make-believe games we loved. Her mom loved her flowers and the wildlife that lived back there: chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons… And of course, the neighborhood kids that so often showed up.

“I close my eyes and just pretend I know your face…”
I never had the chance to meet two of my grandparents… I’ve always wished I could have known them.

“Take him with wherever I go, Country Roads and Aspenglow…”
John Denver has always been one of my favorite singer/songwriters, and I miss him. The wonderful thing about music is that you can take it with you. It gets stuck in your head, you put it on your iPod, or you pull out that old album… You can keep the music you love alive.

“Camping out in the back, we’re Slapjack kings…”
Years ago, two of my cousins and I pitched a tent in their backyard, and we stayed up almost all night. We told jokes and scary stories; we tried to prank each other; and we played Slapjack for hours and hours.

“Down a block through the cornfields, just to watch a church-bell ring…”
This also has to do with my cousins and a tradition I’m not certain I’m even allowed to talk about… Cousin pacts, and all.

“It’s Christmas Eve, we need a tree…”
One Christmas Eve, we didn’t have a tree, and it didn’t look like we were going to get one. So a couple of my brothers and sisters and I took matters into our own hands. It was last minute; but we got a tree, brought it home, pulled out all the decorations, and we surprised my parents with a Christmas tree.

“A Dreamer day at the racetrack, just my dad and me…”
My dad took me to the Arlington Racetrack one time. I loved everything about it, but the thing we both remember best about the day is the chocolate ice cream. It was a hot day, and between every couple of races we got a couple cups of the best chocolate ice cream I’ve ever had. I’m not sure if it was the best ice cream because it was the best ice cream or if it was the best ice cream because it was at the racetrack with my dad… Probably the latter. That was a fun day.

“Like a baseball game beneath the lights, Pony League and fireflies…”
I went to a lot of baseball games growing up. I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch most of them. When my brothers played in high school, I started watching the games and being a better fan; but when they were in little league, I was usually running around with the other younger siblings of baseball players. The best games were always the night games under the lights. All of us little kids were running around later than we were usually allowed, and it happened to be the perfect time for catching lightning bugs.

I hope you enjoyed these glimpses behind-the-scenes!
What song should I do next? Is there a song of mine that you would like to know more about?

-Brittany