Pieces of Her Past + Brock Goodwin

[ande]

here's a song Donna Aylor and I cowrote with Brock Goodwin
Brock moved to Nashville last year and signed a publishing deal with Clay Walker's Publishing company

several artists have asked to record it

you can hear it at:
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/view...?trackid=13728

you can read the story behind the song at:
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthre...&Number=188358


PIECES OF HER PAST

(c) 2004 Brock Goodwin, Donna Aylor, & Ande Rasmussen

Verse 1
Here's the quilt she stitched
It goes to my sister Tess
I'll keep the poems and letters
Left in this cedar chest
Since Grandma went to heaven
I want to read each page
And listen to the records
From her younger days

CHORUS:
THESE are the PIECES OF HER PAST
They MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME
SENTIMENTAL SOUVENIRS
OF HER HISTORY
SOMETIMES I CRY when i think of her
And other TIMES I LAUGH
BUT I'll ALWAYS HAVE
THESE PIECES OF HER PAST

Verse
Back of this photo reads
"A day I won't forget"
Grandpa's headin off to war
Waving from a battleship
Here's the necklace that he gave her
The day when he came home
Beside an old champagne cork
and dried petals from a rose

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE
There are many questions
I wish I would've asked
N' Though she's gone
she still lives on
cause I have

REPEAT CHORUS
(the pieces of ... )

[BuzzsawMusic]

Ande,

This is one of my favorite tunes from 'writers I know trying to make it' -- I'm glad to posted it again. Brock does a great job with the performance as well.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned it before, but I shared this song with one of our State Representatives that I know loves undiscovered music, and he shared with me how it was an especially touching and important song to he and his wife. They were cleaning out his mother's lifelone home, deciding what to get rid of and what to keep...when they tossed on some music, one of them being this song, and he said they ended up spinning it several times in a row. After sitting, crying, holding each other for a while, they made some changes to be sure to keep some important pieces from her past to share with the kids.

Anyway, one true song story that will really connect with many, many people who will go through this sad, and common true life situation.

Best of luck!
Paul

[Zan]

I love the story to pieces, the melody sounds an awful lot like Collin Rayes, "Love, Me". Good luck with it

[teleman58]

Real nice story. I think everybody goes through this when someone close passes away.

[dkraut]

Beautiful song -- the chorus flows so smoothly. A good example I think of writing conversationally -- doesn't seem like you tortured any words to get them into the power or rhyme positions -- I could imagine someone saying them.

Small side note -- why such a long musical break after the first chorus? Throws the listener a bit.

[Nan Cassidy]

Ande,
Thank you for posting this.
I spent the day yesterday cleaning out my Father's home. He moved to assisted living and was only able to take a few posessions. As we packed up the memories from all his 87 years it really surprised me all the things he and my mother(who passed in 1999) had kept. Every card they ever recieved, newspaper clippings of births, deaths and important events. So many family pictures, old records, 8 track tapes, cassettes etc.
In this throw away disposable world it is good to know my parents kept a remembrance of the good things in life.
When I listened to this song I said..yeah..that was my day yesterday.
I wish you all the luck in the world with this.
Say hello to Donna for me.
Hugs,
Nan

[The Moon In The Man]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with the other posts. His voice was nice.

But I felt the lyric was kinda weak. It wasn't written in a strong enough way to move me emotionally.

I'm actually shocked that you said "several artists have asked to record it" hmmm... hard to believe. It's also hard to believe that stuff like this could get someone a staff writing deal, but I guess people get deals for all sorts of reasons. (I've seen that happen here many times)

JMO

I'm gonna get bashed for this, but I just don't think this measures up to the current standard on music row. sorry.

(Please remember that I'm speaking based on- "Nashville Bound")

[ande]

thank you so much paul
I appreciate your kind comments about the song and sharing that story,
I saved that email you sent me years ago, recently I assembled a little book that contains, lyrics I've written, stories about what inspired the song, and stories that arrived when people heard the song. What you sent me that day is in there.

thanks again and I would love to work on something new with you, you're a great guy and a talented songwriter.

ande

Originally Posted by BuzzsawMusic

Ande,

This is one of my favorite tunes from 'writers I know trying to make it' -- I'm glad to posted it again. Brock does a great job with the performance as well.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned it before, but I shared this song with one of our State Representatives that I know loves undiscovered music, and he shared with me how it was an especially touching and important song to he and his wife. They were cleaning out his mother's lifelone home, deciding what to get rid of and what to keep...when they tossed on some music, one of them being this song, and he said they ended up spinning it several times in a row. After sitting, crying, holding each other for a while, they made some changes to be sure to keep some important pieces from her past to share with the kids.

Anyway, one true song story that will really connect with many, many people who will go through this sad, and common true life situation.

Best of luck!
Paul

[dkraut]

Originally Posted by ande

recentlyly I assembled a little book that contains, lyrics I've written, stories about what inspired the song, and stories that arrived when people heard the song. What you sent me that day is in there.

What a great idea!

[Nan Cassidy]

Al C said:
"All thats left can't fill the emptiness--it only makes it hurt more."

That wasn't the case with me. It was very enjoyable looking at old photo albums even old prom pictures my parents had kept all these years.
We laughed so hard at some of the hairdos. I didn't hurt or shed one tear, it was a celebration of our lives as a close family who shared all the happiness and hurt between us so we never had to bare it or celebrate it alone.

I paid no attention to song crafting, any of the structure issues that radio listeners completely ignore if the song tugs at them emotionally and they can put themselves in the scene. All the craft in the world won't make that any better.

I love these discussions. Really..nobody is right or wrong, it is all a matter of opinion.


I can't see outside of me..that's why i'm horrible at critiques. I only know how a song makes me feel on a personal level, lol maybe thats why my songwriting ability is limited..lol