My "Other Musical Interests"

Today I've decided to not talk much about the move and all that craziness. Maybe it's the 3 giant garbage bags I've filled with clothes to get rid of, or the fact that I finally discussed what day I'll be leaving the Novi, MI store, or still having to sort out my lease etc, but lets just ignore that today! Let me pour you a large cup of denial.

Let's talk about one of my musical projects, the one that most people are probably not as familiar with (or as the Detroit Free Press called them in their article about me my "other musical interests") For over four years I've been playing with a church band in Plymouth, MI. I've had a lot of experience in church music, running programs, leading bands, and playing/singing as needed. The LifeTeen band I've been playing with is by far the best group of musicians I've ever worked with, and we produce some great sounding music every week at 5pm mass.

Recently, I've been working to find new music and even write new songs to expand our repertoire, which has been fairly successful. And last February, as we were preparing to go into Lent, I wrote a song called "If I Could". If anyone follows me on twitter, or has heard me talk about my church band, "If I Could" is The Mary Song. I always refer to it as such because that's what everyone else knows it as most of the time. Once the band got its hands on "If I Could" we could tell that this song wouldn't be just any song, it would be The Mary Song.


I love writing music from the point of view of someone specific, so when I set out to write something for Lent, I knew that Mary's POV would be fun to try...and I kind of wanted to make people cry. We recorded the version I'm posting here on Palm Sunday 2009, but my guitar was unknowingly broken, and something got messed up with the vocal levels on the recording, but we managed to salvage it. You can listen/download this rough version here: If I Could [LIVE 4.5.09] We will be recording again on Palm Sunday 2010, and I'll post that cleaner version on here when we get it.

Oh, and on that recorded version I'm on Guitar/Vocals, Piano/Vocals by Rick Nork, Harmonies by Beth Gault, Drums by Ed Haran, Bass by Carlyle Carvalho

"If I Could"

By Stephanie Anderson

There’s a ragged dirt road before you, my son
It was laid out before Your story had begun
And with every breath you take you move closer to your fate
But the tears that I will cry, cannot provide your escape…

If I could take this I would gladly place it on my shoulders…
If I could ease your path I would lead you there…
If I could change His mind I would gladly write a thousand letters
But I know…you have to go…my Son.

The sun is in the sky as they lead you to the hill
The people in the crowd are watching your blood spill
And with every step you take, I am with you at your side
You will not be alone, my son, when you die

CHORUS

I remember the time I first held you in my arms
I remember all the nights I protected you from harm
But I don’t think that  I can save you from this…
So put on your brave face and give your mother one last kiss..

CHORUS