We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

SW​:​S Retreat May AZ 2019

by SongwritingWith:Soldiers

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

    All purchases are tax-deductible donations to SongwritingWith:Soldiers.

    Our retreats pair professional songwriters with veterans, military families and couples, and active-duty service members to write songs about their military experiences and returning home.

    The following veterans and spouses participated in the May 2019 retreat: Jim and Robyn Barklow / Sherri Beck / Sam and Wren Brasfield / Ray and Esme Conard / Jeff and Trish Dawson / Duke and Daphne Vega

    These are songs recorded on site at retreats. They capture a song just hours after being written, like the song taking its first breath.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
GIBRALTAR 02:39
GIBRALTAR Jeff and Trish Dawson / Maia Sharp I can’t believe you see what you see Then you come home to me with a goofy smile I can’t believe we laugh like we do After we’ve been through trial after trial You’re my rock and when you’re gone I could break down or sing this song I’m not gonna crumble I’m not gonna falter I’m not gonna disappear under the water I’m gonna stay stronger than I’ve ever known But when you come home You’re still my Gibraltar It’s not like when you walk through the door I’m not strong anymore and we’re not burning both ends of the candle But I know with you by my side Even the craziest rollercoaster ride Is nothing we can’t handle My rock and when you’re gone I could slide off or carry on I’m not gonna crumble I’m not gonna falter I’m not gonna disappear under the water I’m gonna stay stronger than I’ve ever known But when you come home You’re still my Gibraltar Hard to find peace when the only constant is chaos When the lonely takes over and I can’t have you in my arms I’m not gonna crumble I’m not gonna falter I’m not gonna disappear under the water Yeah, I’m stronger than I’ve ever known And when you come home You’re my Gibraltar © 2019 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music (ASCAP) / Crooked Crown Music (BMI)
2.
GOD'S TIMING (THE PHOENIX AND THE WREN) Sam and Wren Brasfield / Will Kimbrough The first time that we met we took off running Two grown up kids out looking for some fun Who knew we’d stay the course and raise a family? 20 years and we’re still on the run That time we missed our turn cause we couldn’t stop talking Looking back, we never had a doubt I left behind the ones that I could live with For the one that I just could not live without Now we know it’s all God’s perfect timing And everything is in his perfect plan When life is fast and crazy flying by me It’s something we can trust and understand It’s just God’s timing She loves the sunshine like we love our babies I’m a diver of the sea and of the sky Through 16 times we’ve been moved by the Navy She’s still the love of my life, the reason I’m alive We’ve made our nest wherever we’ve been planted We’ve weathered winter storms and hurricanes We keep finding someplace warm and sandy on the Redneck Riviera, baby, maybe we should stay And give our thanks for all God’s perfect timing For everything that’s in his perfect plan Cause life is fast and crazy flying by me But we can know and trust and understand It’s just God’s timing Now when I think back on our beginnings And every morning when we start again Our strength is in commitment, not just winning So we’ll always be the Phoenix and the Wren Now we know it’s all God’s perfect timing And everything is in his perfect plan When life is fast and crazy flying by me It’s something we can trust and understand And give our thanks for all God’s perfect timing For everything that’s in his perfect plan Cause life is fast and crazy flying by me But we can know and trust and understand It’s just God’s timing © 2019 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music (ASCAP) / Will Kimbrough Music BMI admin by Bluewater Music
3.
MIRACLES ON MIRACLES Ray & Esme Conard / Darden Smith It’s miracles on miracles Love on love, grace that never ends I believed in what I couldn’t see Now you’re here in front of me It’s a miracle on miracles At night I fall asleep it’s like I’m dreaming In the morning when I wake up next to you I can’t believe the road brought us together I can’t believe this dream came true Everyone is fallen So that we can see The beauty in the broken In you and me We all make choices we all do some damage But the deepest wounds are the sweetest wounds to heal I was on the bottom ready for the rising And mercy showed me that my God is real Everyone has fallen Everyone knows shame We are all forgiven He broke the chain One day to the next into tomorrow Tomorrow turns to years on down the line When the end comes round there won’t be sorrow Together we will get there side by side © 2019 Darden Smith Music / SongwritingWith:Music (ASCAP)
4.
NEW LIFE 02:53
NEW LIFE Sam and Wren Brasfield / Jim and Robyn Barklow / Jeff and Trish Dawson / Ray and Esme Conard / Duke and Daphne Vega / Darden Smith Sometimes it gets a little hard to breathe Sometimes it gets a little hard to see The best in me the best in you The beauty unconditional love so true The pain and the hopelessness So blue I want to breathe new life Into our love So that we can Rise above Rise above We built it on trust, respect and heart True companion, we traveled so far True best friend, passion and bliss Fear and peace all in your kiss Serenity in your eyes So blue I want to breathe new life Into our love So that we can Rise above Rise above So we get stronger For whatever tomorrow might bring Powerful bond powerful love Ready for anything I want to breathe new life Into our love So that we can Rise above Rise above © 2019 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music / Darden Smith Music (ASCAP)
5.
THE LONG WALK HOME Sherri Beck / Sam and Wren Brasfield / Jim and Robyn Barklow / Jeff and Trish Dawson / Ray and Esme Conard / Duke and Daphne Vega / Maia Sharp / Will Kimbrough / Darden Smith Taking the long walk it’ll go wrong or right, it’s black and white Somebody shoots at me I shoot back I don’t have to talk, I push through the pain like I was trained I’m taking the long walk Taking the long walk down the stairs, she’s waiting there Most scared I’ve ever been Another kind of shell shock, fight or flight, no black or white Taking the long walk Home where I want to be Home do you still want me Home, will you come with me On the long walk home I’m taking the long walk I see your face, looking out of place I’ve been waiting here for you I wish you would just talk, I’m holding back the tears, fighting off my fears Taking the long walk Keeping the home fires burning, holding down the fort Suddenly it’s all on me, I don’t want that anymore Home where I want to be Home do you still want me Home will you come with me On the long walk home Drop the stones that we carry They’re a burden and a weight Be my sanctuary Before it’s too late Home where I want to be Home do you still want me Home will you come with me On the long walk Home where safe to rest Home what a beautiful mess Home we are brave and blessed On the long walk home © 2019 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music / Darden Smith Music (ASCAP) / Crooked Crown Music (BMI) / Will Kimbrough Music, BMI, admin by Bluewater Music
6.
THE ONE WHO READ THE STARS Sherri Beck / Maia Sharp The perspective shift, the tide, the drift Won’t take one day for granted If you’ve ever heard that single word You know it leaves you feeling stranded Paralyzed with fear, how did I get here I just don’t understand it And now the one who read the stars The young quartermaster Is steering us to the other side of this disaster The joy the tears, the uncharted waters we’re in But oh, for me there’s nobody better than him To be at the helm again 30 years gone by since he looked to the sky And all the constellations Aw but North is true, he’s no stranger to A change in destinations He’s a strong course of trust and love And endless dedication All the way to the shores of celebration The one who read the stars The young quartermaster Is steering us to the other side of this disaster The joy the tears, the uncharted waters we’re in But oh, for me there’s nobody better than him To be at the helm again I’m letting go, letting others do what I’ve always done Giving up the controls and taking my walk in the sun While the one who read the stars The young quartermaster Is steering us to the other side of this disaster The joy the tears, the uncharted waters we’re in But oh, for me there’s nobody better than him To be at the helm again © 2019 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music (ASCAP) Crooked Crown (BMI)
7.
TWO TREES 03:34
TWO TREES Duke and Daphne Vega / Will Kimbrough My true love was sent away And the phone rang yesterday Helpless when I got the call He might not come back at all I fell down and when I woke It was like some wicked joke Shook so hard and to my shame Couldn’t even write my name Two trees growing intertwined Beautiful and tall combined Strong enough for what will come Two trees standing strong as one I had one boy sick in need And one man at Walter Reed Burned my tires up on the road It’s what you call survival mode Hardest place I’ve ever been Learned to walk and talk again Once more I became a man And went back to Afghanistan Two trees growing intertwined Beautiful and tall combined Strong enough for what will come Two trees standing strong as one I was terrified and alone Right back in the danger zone Six month long panic attack Then I got my baby back Bureaucracy and paper trails I got my pink slip in the mail But I keep on keeping on Let bygones be good and gone Two trees growing intertwined Beautiful and tall combined Strong enough for what will come Two trees standing strong as one © 2019 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music (ASCAP) Will Kimbrough Music, BMI, admin by Bluewater Music
8.
WANDERING CHILDREN Jim and Robyn Barklow / Darden Smith Everybody needs someone to love them Everybody needs someone to care In this darkened world of desolation We all need to know someone is there Oh, we are wandering children Through this world we wander alone It’s faith that gives us direction It’s faith that brings the wandering children home I’m ashamed of all the anger that I carried The madness that followed me for years Until the day I let go of the hatred And the peace came down and wiped away my tears Now I know that I am worth the loving And I see the light that shines inside of me I want to shine my light into the darkness And give someone who’s lost a chance to see © 2019 Darden Smith Music / SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music (ASCAP)

credits

released June 3, 2019

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

SongwritingWith:Soldiers Nashville, Tennessee

SongwritingWith:Soldiers is a non-profit 501c (3) organization.

Our Mission: We transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to expand creativity, connections, and strengths.

contact / help

Contact SongwritingWith:Soldiers

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like SongwritingWith:Soldiers, you may also like: