The Biggest Co-Write Ever !!
When I attended my first Carter and Carter Songwriting Retreat in 2017, we were given a big lesson about the moral ethics of co-writing. I was shocked to learn that there are people out there who’ll nitpick about who gets 1% more thean someone else because they wrote three words more than you (even if that means taking out YOUR words, to replace them with theirs, in order to score more production points). WTAF? Just write the damn song!
The takeaway points that day were (a) make the co-write even right from the start, (b) be aware who is in the room while writing, especially if they weren’t there in the beginning and (c) don’t be an Asshole. We were taught to listen and consider EVERY idea, because not all your ideas are gonna be awesome.
We were also educated on why it is necessary to to figure out how to be humble and consider the contributions of others. This is because they can provide a seed of a new idea that creates a better song. It doesn’t matter if someone wrote all the words; another did all the music, and a third challenged the grammar, lines, etc…. EVERYONE was a part of the songwriting process to the final product.
Next we were given a project to write a song that already had some lines written (but the original writer could NOT make it work, no matter how hard they tried). We were told it was a very personal love song for a 50th anniversary gift, so we were humbled right away and imagined writing that song for our own loved one.
As the mentors explained the parameters, I zoned out a little and began scanning the lines, rewriting them a little and creating something that could potentially be the chorus. David noticed this and asked me to read it to the group. Timidly I did.
Everyone was in agreement that it was a good starting point and one more line was added to make it stronger. As a group we came up with a melody and I was intrigued in watching how the singer’s were hyperfocused on where certain emphasis’s should be.
After that, we worked in small groups and create new verses to work around those lines. That night the song was played 5-6 times, with different teams presenting their take on the concept.
In the end, the owner of the project could pick and choose her favourite lines and everyone had an even share on the final product. A crazy 6.75% each!! Anyway, this is the result:
THANK YOU FOR THE LITTLE WAYS YOU LOVE ME
(c) Kath Stewart, Merelyn Carter, David Carter, Shirley Lynn, Tiama Shepherd, Hannah Jones, Christine Kerr, Mary Harrison, Tanya Sims, Kerrie Garside, Peter Armstrong, Selina Hetherington, Tori Rae Davies, Bec Nethery, Kim Carter and Michelle Davis.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2018.
RELEASE DATE: unknown / pending
This song’s been a long time coming
Like the memories we’ve made
When we first met,
Our eyes held a moment
That’s still true today
Together we scattered the stars
Then gathered them one at a time
I still feel the trill, and I always will
When your hand reaches for mind
Thank you you for the little ways you love me
For holding me when times get tough
Thank you you for the little ways you love me
Champagne and Diamonds
Don’t mean as much
As the little ways you love me
Together we made a family
Together we built a home
Filled with the laugher of children
With dreams of their own
The scent of your flowers surround me
Your kisses, your smile, your touch
Your arms around me in our golden years
Fills my heart with love
And I want you to know …..
Thank you you for the little ways you love me
For holding me when times get tough
Thank you you for the little ways you love me
Champagne and Diamonds
Don’t mean as much
As the little ways you love me
You give me love, you give me me hope
You helped me to believe
you showed you care
You’ve always been there
I love the way you love me
Thank you you for the little ways you love me
For holding me when times get tough
Thank you you for the little ways you love me
Champagne and Diamonds
Don’t mean as much
As being with you, still falling in love
As the little ways you love me
