borrowed wings

LINER NOTES

I pulled that U-Haul into Nashville with a head full of melodies and my 1976 guild. I met some famous friends, wrote, and recorded hundreds of songs. Some made it on the radio, records, movies and T.V.

Here are four favorites I left with.

Hard to Get Over is a “died-in-the-wool,” edgy, “addicted-to-your love-type lyric,” riding on a ZZ Top-like groove played by Val McCallum.

1. “Hard To Get Over”

Co-written with Adam and Shannon Wright (Two-time Grammy nominated
songwriter, producer, Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Garth Brooks.)

“My head is aching, my body’s ill fever is breaking, I’m feeling the chills

The doctor said the worst is gonE, I’ll be right before too long

BUT You, you’re hard to get over. You, you’re hard to get over”

Borrowed Wings is a lyric about the singer warning her loved one that the cure for their pain may be worse than the pain itself. Most of us have or have experienced someone using drugs and alcohol to numb their fears and emotional demons unwittingly causing new ones. The song gives poetic description of the vicious cycles escaping pain creates. The chorus brings the listener back home where the singer offers refuge and peace in her arms while warning of losing patience. We can all relate to a loved one choosing the wrong path, while we stand by heart in hand, begging them to come back home.

2. “Borrowed Wings”

Co-written with Mark D. Sanders (Nashville Hall-of-Famer with 14 No. 1 hits,
50 singles, and over 200 cuts), Ed Hill

“When you’re flying too high on borrowed wings when your feet are too far from the ground

too often the truth that tomorrow brings you down

And that angel that’s been watching over you has just about run out of prayers

When you’re flying too high on borrowed wings, it’s bound to be lonely up there”

All That Really Matters is a song is about giving unconditional love to someone. A child, friend, or a lover. The lyrics explore that symbiotic nurturing relationship also found in nature and the universe. The Chorus is focused on the singer declaring her unconditional deep love for the listener. The sentiment is sweet, poetic, and true. The melody soars in the Bridge describing the why and how of that love with a climactic melody that loops back into an anthem like chorus finish.

The first single:

3. “All That Really Matters"

Co-written with Eric Paslay (Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen)

“All that really matters to the sky is for the sun and the moon to make it shine

All that really matters to the stars is to sparkle like diamonds in the dark

All that really matters to the sea is to be pulled in by the tide and still be free

All that really matters to the wind is to dance across the heavens till the end

All That really matters to me all that really matters to me is you”

Angel In the Clouds is an upbeat but bittersweet story of a weary southern gentleman yearning to be with his true love who has died. The verses describe ordinary days in his life working or in church and how that longing for his love haunts him to the point he is praying to die. The chorus juxtaposes the lonesome mood in the verses and thankfully rejoices in the afterlife. The song lifts you into the proverbial rafters like a hallelujah anthem while drawing inspiration from the iconic gospel Hymn, I’ll Fly Away.

4. “Angel In the Clouds”

Co-written with Eric Paslay (Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen)

“On the 42nd floor down on main street he stands in a window looking out

He swears sometimes he can see her when the sun paints the sky with golden clouds

He’s saying I’m just trying’ to get up there to heaven if could Id fly away right now

I’m waiting for the lord to reach for my hands and lead me to my angel in the clouds”

THE studio

We set up shop in the legendary Village Studios in Los Angeles, CA, where countless platinum albums have been made over the years,

THE BAND

The band Jack Shit is a trio well known in the Los Angeles scene as an entertaining Alt country band comprised of three legendary studio and touring musicians, Val McCallum, Davey Farragher, and Pete Thomas. Among them they have appeared on records with Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow, Kracker, Squeeze, Wallflowers, Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Elvis Costello. Jeff Babko also joins on keyboards, (Jimmy Kimmel live, Jack Reacher, Deadpool 2.)

Sound: Engineered by David Boucher (Toy Story, Frozen, Squeeze.)

Co-produced by Jim Keller (Tommy Tutone, Phillip Glass, Tom Waits).