About the Projects
About The Projects
Taking over fourteen months to record in the New York area, one could certainly say this is a project that has been treated with "tender lovin' care." Producer and keyboardist Steve Young went way beyond the extra mile bringing in grammy winner John Patitucci (Chick Corea/Herbie Hancock) to play bass and Dave Owens (Thomas Dolby/The Lion King/Fernando Ortega) to play drums, adding guitarist Gary Burnette (Nichole Nordeman/Matt Redman) and the mixes of Ben Wisch (Marc Cohn/Kathy Mattea/Bebo Norman), the project was finished in June of '04.
"We set out ot make a nice five song demo to give to mom," says Dave. "I guess it kinda grew."
ABOUT THE SONGS...a few notes from Dave
The Walk The Work
This was born out of a sermon at our church in Holland. The guy was speaking on the topic of 'work.' "She Works Hard for Her Money" seemed like a stretch, but there aren't a ton of songs out there on the topic. I also had remembered years ago (over coffee) a good friend who had all of these notions of our work and how it's to be excellent. He shaped a lot of my thinking on the topic.
So then I start thinking...I wonder if Jesus really bounced out of bed every morning as he went off to do his carpentry. And did he ever screw up a table or a chair? The original version asked a question at each line in the chorus, leaving the listener to ponder it. This version drives it home, but I have to wonder...
Just Longing
From '92 to '95 Kristin,the kids, and I lived in KY. We met the Delps. How many pages could I write about them? They were rocks for Kris and me while our kids had difficult beginnings in life. They knew the deal; they had already lived a decade with Justin.
Justin was a special kid. He had a crippling disease. Most of us have friends that we stand back and watch, and we just think, "how does that mom/dad/family do that?" Those people that live in the moment with contentment and joy--that sums up the Delps.
After moving out west, I flew back for Justin's funeral. There they were again, giving thanks in the moment.
The line "he's the one living; we're the ones dying" actually came years later. I heard a guy saying that to a friend who had just lost his dad. It was powerful to me.
The tune just wrote itself on Mother's Day '01. I hadn't thought of the Delps for a long time, but for some reason, it all came together. I honestly don't have that many 'inspired' stories to tell; this just might be my only one.
Coffee
'nuf said
Valleys
This tune is pretty dark lyrically. People might miss that if they're digging that muted trumpet too much. (I do like the way Ben mixed it waaaaay in the back. He sounds like he's out in an alleyway or something, eh?) I think Steve helped bring some of the 'lostness' of the lyric with his arrangement. Originally, I had some chords that were more hopeful, as if leading to a resolve or something. Steve was like "No, no, no, no! What are you doing?" If I recall, I said something like, "Uhhhhh? I dunno."
Another thought here: Are we seeking God or is He seeking us? That's where the line, "You move me and (You) pursue me" comes from. My personal experience tells me that He does all of the above.
Half the Man
I freaked out the night that I realized my kids were asleep with the same feelings of security that I had known as a kid growing up in Kentucky.
I also still think that my beautiful wife thinks waaay too much of me. That would be the 2nd verse.
The bridge is my big attempt at some sort of lame lyrical wordsmithing or something...."Now, how would John Mayer say this?" (I know, generally speaking, he would say it much better).
God and the Good
I look for signs and wonders, as if I still need to prove God exists or something. The fact that the sun ALWAYS rises in the east, and that my wife is still sticking by me isn't enough proof?
What Do You Want?
Again, I read these lyrics now, and I think, 'Man, shouldn't I have something more happy to say?' (btw, in church-dom, we call happy songs "uplifting" or "edifying" or "edimojofying" or something...)
It must have been late at night, but I think it's gut level.
The first version of this tune Steve never got to hear. It was another slow, Valleys-like lament. Steve said early on, "This is gonna get boring. Got anything else?"
Me From Me
Hey, I mean, this is self-explanatory, right? My problem is not my boss, my job, or my friends. My problem is me. (My boss is reading this thinking, "Yeah, my problem is Dave Miller, too!")
My World
The theologians among us are hung up on the line, "I wonder what Jesus would think of my world?"
Sometimes I miss the hope that is found in the fact that Jesus did this human thing for 33 years.
Sit and Talk
Will all the conservative-fundamentalists have to send the kids out of the room for this one? Will the local Christian bookstore sell it if they knew I was singing about kissing my wife? Will all the cd players of Christian-only music be programmed only to track 9?
And the biggest question of all: Is anyone still reading this stuff?
ABOUT 'SIX REFILLS LATER'
I took six of the three dozen songs that have been penned in the last year and hit the 'record' button.
Buy this cd if you like lyrics and melody and see through mistakes and lack of a budget. If you like your cds auto-tuned, compressed, and without flaw, then just keep playing the first one!
