Tutorial Tuesday (Potpourri)

Inspiration: Song Lyrics

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When Cindy Ritter said she sometimes takes her inspiration from song lyrics, it really resonated with me. I’ve used lyrics as journaling – a LOT – and song titles too can stimulate my scrapping mojo. So today, I think we should take a deeper dive into that topic. (I’m going to be VERY wordy… so prepare yourself!) I’ve gathered some examples of lyrics that lend themselves well to memory-keeping. Some of them are from 70s pop, some from folk music and some from country because that’s what I listen to; they’re meant to be examples to help you think about YOUR favourite tunes and what they mean to YOU.

My first verse is one that can be adapted to almost any situation. Time in a Bottle was written by James (Jim) Croce. It’s so meaningful on so many levels. It could reflect romantic love, love for a parent or from a parent, and even the relationship between close friends.

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you.

Another verse with similar sentiment is from Remember You Young, written by Ashley Glenn Gorley, Thomas Rhett Akins and Jesse Frasure.

And no matter how much time goes by
And no matter how much we grow up
For worse or for better, from now ’til forever
I’ll always remember you young.

For layouts about children and growing up, another song by Ashley Glenn Gorley and Lee Williams comes to mind: You’re Gonna Miss This. Trace Adkins‘ rendition is so moving.

You’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast
These Are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this

This verse from Light on in the Kitchen is a blueprint for moms and daughters. Written by Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Ashley McBryde, the entire song is full of love and wisdom.

Honey, trust yourself
You better love yourself
‘Cause ’til you do, you ain’t no good
For anybody else
And, honey, boys are dumb
But you gonna find your one
Love him hard and bless your heart
You’ll need someone to listen
That’s why I leave a light on in the kitchen

To carry on with that theme, Mothers and Daughters, by Troy Verges, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Melvern Rivers Rutherford II, speaks for itself.

Mothers and daughters
Daughters and mothers
For a few years they’re
Like oil and water
Then one day they discover
That they need each other
Mothers and daughters
Daughters and mothers

For those of you who miss your mothers, Theodore Harris has the words your memories may need. My favourite version is by Glen Campbell.

There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas
Creation’s most unique and precious pearls
And heaven help us always to remember
That the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

I’ve always felt this song recorded by Rascal Flatts represents what each parent wants for their children. It was written by Stephen Paul Robson and Jeffrey Allen Steele and is called My Wish.

My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things, too
Yeah, this is my wish

This one, Strong Enough to Bend, was recorded by Tanya Tucker; it would be a great way to commemorate a long and enduring marriage. It was penned by Paul Davis and Bobby Emmons.

There’s a tree out in the back yard
That never has been broken by the wind
And the reason it’s still standin’
It was strong enough to bend

For years we have stayed together
As lovers and as friends
What we have will last forever
If we’re strong enough to bend

Another Rascal Flatts song could be an anthem for those who have survived their worst struggles, and an anthem for those still conquering them. It’s called Stand, written by Dan Ernest Orton and Eric Blair Daly.

‘Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you’re made of
You might bend ’til you break
‘Cause it’s all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you’ve had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, yeah, then you stand

What lyrical lexicon would be complete without something by Carole King to round it out?

My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view
A wondrous, woven magic in bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold

Let me show you some examples of how I’ve used lyrics to inspire my layouts.

Blue looks good on the sky
Looks good on that neon buzzin’ on the wall
But darling, it don’t match your eyes
I’m tellin’ you
You don’t need that guy
It’s so black and white
He’s stealin’ your thunder
Baby, blue ain’t your color

Hillary Lindsey, Steven Olsen, Clinton Lagerberg