09.11.06
Posted in Uncategorized, music news at 9:30 pm by Deb
Oh well, I didn’t make the finals in the lyric writing contest. I will admit that I’m a little disappointed, but also very pleased to have made it as far as I did. Some of the nominees in the other categories who made it to the finals include Janis Ian (one of my songwriting idols), Freebo, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, They Might Be Giants, Lowen & Navarro, Art Garfunkle, Cris Williamson, Jay Mankita, and many more. One of the lyric winners is Tom Kimmel, who has been writing for other artists such as The Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Levon Helm, Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Waylon Jennings, and more. I’ll get over my disappointment. Meanwhile, I hope I get myself in gear and write more. By the way, here is the lyric I entered.
WITHIN THE GIANT’S EYE
© 2006 Deb Cavanaugh
As a girl, I spent my growing years
On a small Nantucket isle
I climbed up into the lighthouse tower
And looked across the miles
I recognized the birds in flight
They soared across the sky
I looked down at the sea below
From within the giant’s eye,
from within the giant’s eye
As a woman I moved on from there
To a life that was my own
Started working in a factory
Going home with aching bones
I moved into a tenement
In my room I’d sit and cry
I looked down on the city
From within the giant’s eye,
from within the giant’s eye
As a wife I watched my own true love
Work eighteen-hour days
My babies never played out in the sun
They worked their lives away
I watched them lose their fingers
I watched their spirits die
The bosses watched their workers
From within the giant’s eye,
from within the giant‘s eye
Now I go and leave a legacy
Of hope that never dies
Remembering those birds I used to see
They wheeled across the sky
As my life is ending
I encourage you to fly
I look down on your struggle
From within the giant’s eye,
from within the giant’s eye
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Posted in Uncategorized, babble at 12:00 pm by Deb
Well, hopefully I will be back on track a bit now that school has started. I managed to get both of my at-homers into school this year. My youngest son, RC2 who was homeschooling for high school the past two years, has started at an alternative high school here in town. Grandsweetie has just started pre-school at our other alternative school. I will actually have time again to write, keep up with the house, practice music and try to get more gigs. I feel like a new woman. It’s amazing how seemingly little changes can alter your whole state of mind. I also have more work this year, so finances won’t feel as desperate. That’s a big factor in everyone’s state of mind. As hard as I try to “Be Here Now”, it’s hard not to worry when I’m not sure if I’ll have my rent at the end of the month. I’m pretty sure that won’t be an issue this year. I also will be paying less for tuition for two young people than I was paying for daycare for one. We really need to get together and try to figure out some solutions for daycare in this country. I am struggling to try to pursue my music and taking every job I can find in music while painting and doing light construction on the side, and was being driven to the poorhouse by daycare costs. I can make a pretty good income if I work enough hours and still struggle. I can’t even imagine what it must be like for someone who makes minimum wage and has to shoulder those costs. Where is our village that it takes to raise a child? I’d love to hear other people’s experiences. When RC2 was very young I had a community around who all had young ones. We had an informal childcare co-op and traded back and forth often. It was like a huge extended family. All the children practically lived at each other’s houses and are still very close. Unfortunately, I inherited Grandsweetie suddenly and haven’t yet been able to set that up again for us, but I’m working on it. Anyone have any ideas how we can change this?
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