in a world uncertain say you'll be my stone

I love finding pop-singers whose lyrics actually give you food for thought. Too often I can either not understand what they're saying or don't agree with what they're saying. So when I find a singer whose lyrics are not only catchy but also thoughtful, I like to keep them close. Lately for me, the singer who holds the top spot is Alessia Cara. Favorite among her songs are "My Song" or "Stone" or "River of Tears." The following lyrics are from "Stone."

So much on my mind, I think I think too much
Read between these lines, unspoken weight of words
But time comes to rest when you are by my side, it blurs

And I will follow where this takes me
And my tomorrows long to be unknown
When all is shaken, be my safety
In a world uncertain, say you'll be my stone

Change in every wind
The sands of time don't know our name
Oh nothing's sure, but surely as we stand
I promise I will stay the same
And I've never seen forever
But I know we'll remain

And I will follow where this takes me
And my tomorrows long to be unknown
When all is shaken, be my safety
In a world uncertain, say you'll be my stone
(Oooooooh oooh oooh)
Be my stone
In a world uncertain, say you'll be my stone

Oh steady me, be my source of gravity
While my world's unraveling
Say you'll never change, ooooohhhh!!! Oh!

And I will follow where this takes me
And my tomorrows long to be unknown
When all is shaken, be my safety
In a world uncertain, say you'll be my stone
(Oooooooh oooh oooh)
Be my stone
In a world uncertain, say you'll be my stone

Who are your favorite lyricists currently?

Lyrics: Manhattan

I have recently taken to copying down lyrics to songs I love and really taking the time to relish the words and their meanings. Sometimes I come across a song I love and though I don't identify with the exact scenario laid out in the song's story, I treasure it all the same. Maybe it's the words themselves or the way they sound when combined with the music. Maybe it's just the fact that somewhere deep inside, I know I could feel this way, or that I have felt this way; the details are just different. Regardless of the real explanation, I love the power of music to sway and gentle me or rev me up. A couple weeks ago when we got #Jonas2016 and were buried under days of winter weather, “Manhattan” by Sara Bareilles kept me company as the perfect, wistful, snow-day song. Enjoy.

"Manhattan"

by Sara Bareilles

You can have Manhattan

I know it's for the best

I'll gather up the avenues

And leave them on your doorstep

And I'll tip toe away

So you won't have to say

You heard me leave

You can have Manhattan

I know it's what you want

The bustle and the buildings

The weather in the fall

And I'll bow out of place

To save you some space

For somebody new

You can have Manhattan

Cause I can't have you

Ahhhhh

You can have Manhattan

The one we used to share

The one where we were laughing

And drunk on just being there

Hang on to the reverie

Could you do that for me?

Cause I'm just too sad to

You can have Manhattan

Cause I can't have you

And so it goes

One foot after the other

Til black and white begin to color in

And I know

That holding us in place

Is simply fear of what's already changed

Ahhhhh

You can have Manhattan

I'll settle for the beach

And sunsets facing westward

With sand beneath my feet

I'll wish this away

Dismissing the days

When I was one half of two

You can have Manhattan

Cause I can't have you

You are the Only Exception

I am doing the final read-through of Fly Away Home today. My cover designer has finished and delivered the files. As soon as I finish the read-through I can order a proof-copy. Everything is coming together quite well and I am excited to actually hold a copy of my book in my hands and see if all that formatting work I did worked out okay.
On Twitter, Elisabeth Foley asked if Fly Away Home will be available as an e-book. The answer is yes--I plan to release it as an e-book and a print book. I am going to shoot for releasing them simultaneously but depending on technicalities, the e-book might not come out February 14th. We shall see. I have a friend formatting the e-book for me, as I have no idea what an e-book ought to look like. We all know my feelings about that, don't we. ;)
I was listening to Pandora while reading through one of the more tense, heart-wrenching scenes in Fly Away Home, and "The Only Exception" by Paramore came on. I had never heard this song before but as I listened to it, it was a little startling how perfect this song is for the middle point in Fly Away Home. Read:

When I was younger, I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind
He broke his own heart and I watched
As he tried to reassemble it

And my momma swore that
She would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist

But darling, you are the only exception

You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception

Maybe I know, somewhere deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone
Or keep a straight face

And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I had sworn to my self that I'm content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk

But you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception...

Astonishing, really. People are always asking "What song best describes your character/book?" and I've never had an answer until now. "You Are the Only Exception" is the perfect song to describe Callie's angst, her brokenness, her jaded spirit toward tenderness...Agh. I love it when things are handed to you on a silver-platter and you don't have to go searching for them. Other songs that I've stumbled upon recently that fit (in ways) Fly Away Home are:

Imagine Dragons "Demons"
Colbie Caillat "Falling For You"
Matt Belsante "Beyond the Sea"

For me there isn't a song that perfectly describes the whole book. "Demons" is where Callie starts, "You Are the Only Exception" is the middle point, "Falling For You" is nearing the end... "Beyond the Sea" is Mr. Barnett's song...

I am glad I figured this out. Having music that reminds me of this book is so much fun. 

//sweep the streets I used to own//

Song is one genre of writing that I've never explored. Still...I love music and I will be the first to admit that lyrics set to music have the power to sway the soul.

Seriously. 

And I love it when I find a song that affects me in an indescribable way. While down in Georgia I heard the words to Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" and I grew to love that song. There is some desperate, sad, story behind this song. Beautiful, haunting..full of deep sorrow. And the music that goes with it....wow. I think it would make a powerful novel (if you added a happier ending, wot? ;) Here...enjoy it. :)

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning I sleep alone

Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice

Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing

"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain

Once you go there was never

Never an honest word

And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind

Blew down the doors to let me in

Shattered windows and the sound of drums

People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait

For my head on a silver plate

Just a puppet on a lonely string

Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain

I know Saint Peter won't call my name

Never an honest word

But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain

I know Saint Peter won't call my name

Never an honest word

But that was when I ruled the world

-Coldplay's "Viva la Vida"