Many of my earlier songs were ways to deal with dating woes so when I got married, I had stopped writing those type of songs.
In the blur of my children’s infant and toddler stages, I didn’t finish any songs, but not because there wasn’t a lack of topics to explore. I turned my energy into blogging about my challenges instead, beginning in 2009 with “Sunny With a Chance of Showers.” Writing has always been therapeutic for me, so that blog helped me deal with parenthood – and helped keep my out-of-state mother-in-law posted with what was going on in our lives.
Once the songwriting spark reignited, it gave me another outlet for any challenges I was facing. At this particular time, we were experiencing some financial challenges and, with working full-time and having three young sons, I was emotionally drained.
At one point, I heard about somebody who covered up a hole in a wall with a picture, which inspired me to write “Holes in the Wall.”
There are holes in the wall
Hidden underneath the pictures
I can’t answer when you call
There’s a shortage in the fixture
The lawn is overgrown
And the floor’s in need of sweeping
But I can’t get out of bed
I only feel like sleeping
In case it’s not clear, “Holes in the wall hidden underneath the pictures” is a metaphor about reality being different than what appears and not really knowing what goes on in a person’s household.
Another example about things not being as they appear:
The sun is shining brightly, but it’s icy cold outside
Around this time I had read a news article about what drowning looks like – that it’s not what you expect, no dramatic splashing and yelling for help, but instead a quiet, undramatic action, which led me to feeling apprehensive for years whenever I was in the pool with the kids. This is where the idea of these two lines came from:
It appears that we are floating, but it feels like we are sinking
My favorite verse is this one, because it signifies hope (the light at the end of the tunnel, the new day):
That may be light inside the tunnel
But it’s just too dark to see
Can’t tell if it’s salvation
Or a train headed toward me
It’s dark although it’s morning
Because the sun has yet to rise
So you don’t notice the new day
When you open up your eyes
And because the whole song is rather depressing, I wanted to end it on a more positive note, changing the end of the chorus to:
I’ll try getting out of bed, though I only feel like sleeping.
My 10-year-old, J, says this is one of his favorite songs of mine.
My Songwriting Journey 