new/old rhythms

After a long season of detail-oriented work with recording and mixing and preparing to release the new record, it's great to get back to the new/old rhythms of writing again.

I've always wanted to establish a routine like Woody Guthrie did - I think it was in his "New York City while living with his wife and young children" period - where he would get up every day and write a song before (or was is after?) breakfast. I have spurts where I can do it that way, but I've never been able to sustain it very long. Not because the writing gets harder - usually because other "urgent" (usually administrative) things tend to pile up so much that I feel I can't ignore them (or just give them a few hours later in the day) anymore.

For the past week, happily, I've been able to get into the kind of rhythm I've wanted. Up in the morning, make breakfast and eat with J and M, walk M to the end of the lane to catch the school bus, barn chores, shower, Scripture reading and prayer time, songwriting time, and then on with the rest of the day.

The four new songs I've written in the past week are all for the summer 2008 Vacation Bible School curriculum put out by Faith and Life Resources. It's an exploration of some of the prophets, one for each day of the VBS week (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jonah, Amos, Daniel). I'll also be able to use these songs for my November "delivery" to the members of SmallTall Music.

It's been good to delve back into some prophetic texts that I haven't read for a while. Including Amos 5:21-24 - a real doozy, and required reading for anyone in my line of work:

Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

- Amos 5:23-24