In June of 2018 I wrote "I Am Me" at Village Fire gathering in Iowa. In the months after writing it, I received a lot of praise from people singing it all over North America. This was the first community song I ever wrote, and I never imagined or intended for it to spread far. All of this attention has felt really good, and I have found myself trying to recreate this experience by writing more community songs. Sometimes I catch myself wanting another song to go "viral" so I can get more attention and distract myself from my insecurities.
One day I was doing exactly this. I was frantically trying to create the next "I Am Me". I wrote two or three songs in one morning, each one less satisfying than the last, and I was getting angrier and angrier about being unable to write another amazing song. It was like I was addicted to the attention, and I needed my fix. Slowly, I realized what was happening. I remembered that music is not a mere tool I can use to get attention. I realized that I don't need attention in order to feel okay. I started to meditate and connect to the present moment, and I'm grateful that I felt a wave of peace wash over me. I got the sense that something "out there" was smiling at me. I've heard that the present moment is where what some people call "God" exists.
Then, with the intention of holding a "pure" relationship to music, I started playing the piano. A two-part melody came through that I liked. Giving up on writing a great song made the process more fun. I added words to the song that expressed my gratitude for being able to slow down and find the present moment. When I finished, I did not feel like I'd written the next viral hit, I felt like I had written a song that I would enjoy singing to myself, and that felt good. Months later, I added a third part and felt that I was ready to share this song.
Lyrics:
First Part:
Where am I, where am I, where am I, where am I oh (2x)
I am here, slow down, and be, to see oh (2x)
Second Part:
You are there for me always (2x)
All I have to do is slow down and be to see (2x)
Third Part:
The present moment never leaves. In the present spirit sings.
One day I was doing exactly this. I was frantically trying to create the next "I Am Me". I wrote two or three songs in one morning, each one less satisfying than the last, and I was getting angrier and angrier about being unable to write another amazing song. It was like I was addicted to the attention, and I needed my fix. Slowly, I realized what was happening. I remembered that music is not a mere tool I can use to get attention. I realized that I don't need attention in order to feel okay. I started to meditate and connect to the present moment, and I'm grateful that I felt a wave of peace wash over me. I got the sense that something "out there" was smiling at me. I've heard that the present moment is where what some people call "God" exists.
Then, with the intention of holding a "pure" relationship to music, I started playing the piano. A two-part melody came through that I liked. Giving up on writing a great song made the process more fun. I added words to the song that expressed my gratitude for being able to slow down and find the present moment. When I finished, I did not feel like I'd written the next viral hit, I felt like I had written a song that I would enjoy singing to myself, and that felt good. Months later, I added a third part and felt that I was ready to share this song.
Lyrics:
First Part:
Where am I, where am I, where am I, where am I oh (2x)
I am here, slow down, and be, to see oh (2x)
Second Part:
You are there for me always (2x)
All I have to do is slow down and be to see (2x)
Third Part:
The present moment never leaves. In the present spirit sings.
| Where Am I - Full Score.pdf |