Songs Risen from the Ashes of my Dusty Bookshelf

[Madeline]

I see that it's become the trend to start one thread and post all of your songs/poetry in it, so I decided to follow course.

Although it did not rise from the ashes of my dusty bookshelf, this is a song I just finished. I sing the lyrics and accompany it with my keyboard. I haven't decided on a title for it yet...

Verse I: I know of the one you follow
Seen the ground your feet now tread
Down the road that leads to sorrow
Forsaking Him who suffered in your stead
Please don't give up on truth
Though your mind be filled with lies
For wickedness drains youth
Until your carcass hosts the flies

Chorus: For He reveals the depths of darkness
And brings deep shadows into light

Verse II: I have felt that which you suffer
O one nailed down by your shame
The blood that runs between your fingers
And emptiness to share the blame
Please don't abandon hope
Though you're weighed down by your grief
Only by the One who saves
Can your soul know true relief

Chorus: For He reveals the depths of darkness
And brings deep shadows into light

Bridge: You say you don't need God
I see you crying
My heart is wounded by your words
But I won't leave the dying
Stop thinking no one loves you
And wake up from this horrid dream
You know the easy exit
I know where it leads

Chorus: For He reveals the depths of darkness
And brings deep shadows into light

Verse III: Like flowers razed after a hailstorm
I watch you fall onto the earth
Like the sun unto the skies
I wait for you to rise
And realize just how much that you are worth
Please don't give up on life
Don't leave us in the past
To gain a quiet future
A peace that will not last

Chorus: For He reveals the depths of darkness
And brings deep shadows into light

Longingly He waits for you
If you would only stand and fight

[mastersquirrel]

I really like this song. It has a very good message to it and sounds good to boot!
I especially liek the similes you used in the first four lines of the third verse, they give you a good visual comparison.

Was it hard to write?

[Kaori]

This song does have quite a few evocative images. The ones that mastersquirrel pointed out in the third verse are particularly strong, but I also like how the first two verses each contain one dominant image, while the third contains multiple similes drawn from nature.

The smooth meter of the poem and predominance of end-stopped lines will probably lend themselves nicely to music; also, I like the chorus; it is simple but meaningful.

Overall, the song does have an uplifting message; thank you for sharing it with us.

[Madeline]

Thank you for your lovely comments! The chorus is from a verse in the book of Job.

This song took a very long time to write as the song itself is very off-beat. It's hard to describe the way it sounds...

Not only was it difficult to find something that fit the strange melody, but this song is very close to my heart. The poem is a letter to a friend of mine who is really struggling right now. She is extremely depressed and has tried to commit suicide four times. Somehow she has convinced herself that no one, especially her family, cares about her and that love is just a lie. My friend has tried to commit suicide four times and slits her wrists. Now she is really getting into the occult and I am worried for her.

This song was for her. I wrote her a very long message the other day. In one part of it I mentioned that only God could ease her pain. I told her that I wasn't trying to convert her or something, but nothing and no one else comforts me the way God does. All I got back was the quote about how God could ease her pain. She wrote "I think not".

For some reason that really hurt me...it felt like she was scorning my very soul. Sometimes she reveals the side of her that is hurting and sensitive and needs love. It seems like she is really seeking the truth one time and other times she is just spiteful. It's like trying to hug a porcupine with iron spikes.

This conflict is what this song was born out of...

[ShiroiHikari]

that's some good writing. powerful imagery and great message. :3

but it's sad about your friend. -_-

[Madeline]

Here's another song...although the format reminds me more of a poem.

Rise, O morn!
Dispel the night
The shadows torn
By piercing light
Rise, O joy!
And ease my pain
Like silver gleaming on the rain
Come, O love!
And be my guide
My heart would feel your touch again
Never straying from my side
Like winding river o’er the plain

Alas, my hardened heart can see
The joy that comes with company
My soul can long
But cannot touch
I yearn for You to comfort me
But I must overlook my sorrow
Rising on the wings of dawn
Pushing on into tomorrow
'Til the day I see Your face

Find me in my place of hiding
You know where my footsteps fell
Where lasting hope is now abiding
Lead me to the Living Well

[true_noir_chloe]

These are so powerful and moving. What a talent you are, Maddie. ^____^

Have you already written music for the first song? I wish I could hear it if you did.

I really love the last line of your most recent song, which ended on, "Lead me to the Living Well." I'd love to hear the music to this one, as well.

Bravo!

[Kaori]

I agree with true_noir_chloe; this is another moving poem. I particularly like the opening lines and the description "Like silver gleaming on the rain."

You also do a good job using meter and rhyme--rhyming poems can sometimes have a bit of a singsong feel, but I think you effectively avoid that in these poems. (I always admire people who are good with rhyme, since that is something I have trouble with myself.)

This is beautiful writing; thank you again for sharing with us.

[Madeline]

Thank you everyone. I'm glad you liked my last poem. Perhaps I will record a bit of the tune to the last one and put it up here for you to listen to. ^_^ That would be fun. I can't do the vocals though because I don't have a decent mike wired up to my computer yet, lol. My dad has an *alright* one that he used to use for performances but it's not exactly studio-quality...no matter. I probably couldn't do it anyway because I'm not prolific enough in Soundforge to knowif I can or how to put two tracks together! ^^;; Embarrasing, I know. >"<

[Madeline]

This is another one that's not exactly written in song format.

The title is "Driven".

Driven by the need
Driven by the cause
Driven by the flood
Driven by my flaws

Lord, help me to succeed
Find the place where I belong...

Anywhere but here
Anywhere but there
I crawl, I jump, I scurry
Driven by the worry
Searching for somewhere...
Somewhere I'm released from all my cares

Driven by the need
Driven by the cause
Driven by the flood
Driven by my flaws

I must find it!
I travel on endlessly
God, help me find what I'm looking for...

Realization
Realization that I'll never find this comfort here
Sorrow
Sorrow hits me like a stone in the chest
Because no matter how far I'm driven, I'll never find peace

Not unless I look to You
Carry me through
Sustain me with peace everlasting

Driven by the need
Driven by the cause
Driven to succeed
To lead
Point the way unto the peace I've found
Stop them all from crashing to the ground

I don't bear the world
I don't need the world
My place isn't here
It isn't to speak my words
Or do my deeds
But to speak for Him,
To do for Him,
To die for Him,
As He did for me...

Driven by the Word
Driven by His Love
Driven by His Truth
Driven by His Mercy

Jesus loves me as I am
I know now where I stand
No need to keep on running
Running to nowhere
I won't waste my final breath
Dying alone...

I'll just pray He keeps me here
Though I know I'm bound to move
My travels aren't yet over
But I've nothing now to lose

Driven

[Madeline]

I think I'm on a song-posting spree. =)

I wrote this and set it to music the day before. All of my songs have emotion in them, but this in particular was one that I found very difficult to express. All of my words seem disjointed in this poem because I am so exasperated that everything just tumbles out from my fingertips. This is a subject that is very close to my heart, something I have never discussed with anyone, feelings that I have kept bottled up inside me for years.

I have been trying for a long time to write a poem expressing what I felt. I had a nightmare one night that got me thinking about it all day...

...and so I wrote this song. It's not exactly motivational, more of a personal thing to get out all of the angst and sadness that has been welling up inside of me recently.

It's called, "Bittersweet Remembrance".

As I turn the pages of the past
Your face begins to fade
My bittersweet remembrance
Of sunlit days long turned to gray
Does your spirit bear this ache
The way my soul can feel your chill?
I try to wipe away the memories
They linger in my conscience still

If I looked into your eyes again
Would it drive you off the edge?
Even whispers of your passing glance
Strike fear into my poisoned mind
Are you the child that I once knew?
Your innocent soul I deeply loved
Swathed beneath the wounded lies,
I longingly watched your wings unfold
But I'm tortured by what you have become
My bittersweet remembrance

The cost is far too much to pay
It ages me each passing day
The shackles of this weighted sin
Offer me no repentance
I would give the world to tell you now
"I'm sorry..."
Dawn and dusk
Days slip away too quickly
Unwanted

As regret shreds each fiber into pieces
I am reminded for the final time
It's too late
Do you wish that everything could just be over?
You know that I will never let you go
I asked once for forgiveness
But never heard your voice
For I spoke only of silence to you

So watch and know that you are avenged
As the tides of my pain drip in, overflow

Haunt my dreams no longer
Please, be dead to me
I open my eyes, wide awake
Upon the hour
I see you again
Still I find myself alone
Veiled in your shadow
My bittersweet remembrance

[Kaori]

This is another moving song. Once again, you do a good job including striking images and active language. There are several beautiful phrases here; my favorite line is "I longingly watched your wings unfold."

All of my words seem disjointed in this poem because I am so exasperated that everything just tumbles out from my fingertips.

Whether it seems disjointed to you, I thought that the poem seemed fairly coherent. Also, even this phrase itself "everything just tumbles out from my fingertips") is fairly well-written.

[Madeline]

Thank you very much for your comment. You always have such interesting and encouraging things to say.

[true_noir_chloe]

These are just so beautiful and moving. I'm being repetitive. I can't offer the fine-tuned critiques that Kaori can, but I do enjoy reading your lyrics/poems. They are beautiful.

Maddie, you're such a wunderkind. ^______^ I would love to hear the music if you are able to place it on here.

[Madeline]

These are just so beautiful and moving. I'm being repetitive. I can't offer the fine-tuned critiques that Kaori can, but I do enjoy reading your lyrics/poems. They are beautiful.

Maddie, you're such a wunderkind. ^______^ I would love to hear the music if you are able to place it on here.

Thank you! *blush*

I will try to record the music and not flub the notes, lol. Then I will post a clip of it on CAA. ^^

[Anna Mae]

Wow, these songs are awesome!

There is music-writing software out there, and I think that there are some websites out there where you can write it for free.

Nevertheless, I hope you continue to post more of your writing!