“What I Do” - a song about… what I do
It’s incredible how often I meet people on the road that at one time were musicians. It’s a testament to two things.
1. How difficult it is to do this as a lasting career
2. How people set dreams down first to pick up other responsibilities
I’m on the road and don’t have my usual video setup, but wanted to get a video up regardless. Maybe I will record another version when I get home.
Story Pairing
List of Jobs I Wanted throughout time:
Elementary School - Marine Biologist
Middle School - Artist/Author/Storm Chaser/Biologist
High School - Laywer/Choir Teacher/Vet
College - Marketing Manager/Entrepreneur/Sales/Real Estate/Music Store Owner
After college - Logistics/Supply Chain/Music Teacher/Computer Programmer/Video Editor/Sound Engineer/Hiking Guide/Heavy Equipment Operator/Pilot/Motorcycle Instructor/Electrician/Park Ranger/Networking Engineer/Grain Merchant/ Truck Driver/Painter
Now - Songwriter/Troubadour
As I write this section I am sitting in Black Mountain, NC after just participating in a great regional folk alliance conference. I am leaving this weekend with a whole list of new friends, new venues, and bunch of work to do. I love it. It’s such a great feeling to have a direction. I spent most of my life not really knowing what I wanted to be.
Being surrounded by rooms full of other musicians shifts my mindset in such a beautiful way. This isn’t a temporary walk of life, it’s a career that means the world to us. It’s a thread that is wrapped around every step that we take. Finding groups of like-minded people is powerful. Can’t wait for more moments like this.
I am going to add a final tag to this song and it sums up how I feel.
”Ink to paper, that walk feels most like me
I guess I found it, I’ll keep doing this my friend”
Song Structure
Who even is this guy, playing up the neck without a clamper?
Verse: A/E7/A/D7/A/E7/A
Chorus: E7/A/E7/A/D7/E7/A/E7/A
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
May 2023
Lyrics
I don't walk as a preacher, not dressing in white
Ain't checking with Jesus, to see if I'm doing alright
If you're looking for saving, not sure that it's true
I don't walk as a preacher, it's not what I do
I don't walk as a doctor, or healing the sick
Ain't pushing out pills for a cover up quick
If you're looking for fixing, brother I could use some too
I don't walk as a doctor, it's not what I do
What I do is try to keep it on the sunny side
And loosen up the point of this ballpoint pen
There's a calling waiting out there just for me
Maybe I'll find it, I'll keep doing this till then
I don't walk as a teacher, no books in my head
Not publishing papers or spouting off things I read
If you're looking for answers, I lost the ones I knew
I don't walk as a teacher, it's not what I do
I don't walk as a fighter, no hate in my heart
Not looking for trouble or for the swinging to start
If you looking to rumble, I got no problem with you
I don't walk as a fighter, it's not what I do
What I do is try to keep it on the sunny side
And loosen up the point of this ballpoint pen
There's a calling waiting out there just for me
Maybe I'll find it, I'll keep doing this till then