no matter the battle, no matter the score (week 20)

First, a bit of housekeeping: I won't release a song next week, and will instead use the time to compile the last ten songs into a digital and physical album for patrons. This next release will be called Ordinary Magic. It's also time for me to design a limited edition lyric print, so if there's a phrase from the last ten songs that really jumps out at you (in the I-wouldn't-mind-that-on-my-wall sort of way), please let me know in the comments!
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We're at week 20, which means that it's time for the last ten songs to take on new life as a limited release CD.

This project is, first and foremost, about creating and publishing at the weekly level. I don't plan out my recordings weeks in advance. Usually, I determine the song and record it within 24 hours of publishing it here. 

When I was working on my studio album, All These Dotted Lines, I had no idea what the track order would be until well into the mixing process. There were many drafts before the final order was decided. So these weekly song releases are not really conceived as albums in the regular sense. 

Still, I know that every group of ten songs will ultimately be standing on its own in some way, and I do give this fact some consideration as I plan which song to record each week. Mostly, I try to avoid placing two songs that are too similar or discordant side by side. But I also think about the beginning and ending of the album itself. 

Songwriting is such a subjective thing-- my best advice on the matter is to find the people whose songs you wish you had written, then listen to them talk about it. Josh Ritter, who is one of those songwriters for me, has clear opinions about the way albums should end that I've pretty much adopted. I'm paraphrasing very loosely here, but his take is that albums should end with a song that has a consistent emotion and is relatively static in its feel. If it's hopeful, all the better. By static, I don't mean slow or boring, but rather a song that ends pretty much as it began. A lot of my songs are very linear, with developments and builds and big fallout bridges where everything changes. And a lot of my songs deal with mixed or confused emotions, so there are not a lot of good candidates for album-enders among my repertoire. 
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So when I wrote this song about a month ago, I knew pretty much right away that it should be saved for this final-track position. It's simple, consistent, and hopeful to boot. I think Josh would approve.

Executive Patrons
Karen Schantz and Alan Bargar

Lyrics
I hear you play and Lord have mercy
you make the weight of it all seem so easy
and when I am heavy, this thought pulls me through
there's got to be room for a few more like you

There's gotta be room for a few more
a handful of tokens and treasures in store
no matter the battle, no matter the score,
I know there's got to be room for some more

There were children running wild at the playground
a tilt-a-whirl of color and light
oh and a mother with tired eyes and kind words
There's got to be room for a few more like her

There's gotta be room for a few more
a handful of tokens and treasures in store
no matter the battle, no matter the score,
I know there's got to be room for some more

There's no shutoff on the park water fountains
and there's no shortage of bread for the geese
and the sun always rises with its teeth on the bit
there's got to be room for a few more like it
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There's gotta be room for a few more  
a handful of tokens and treasures in store  
no matter the battle, no matter the score,  
I know there's got to be room for some more

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Thanks so much for listening. If you'd like to receive a copy of Ordinary Magic when it's released, consider becoming a patron. Patrons get early access, limited edition stuff, and other perks. Starts at a buck a month. Thanks for all your support.

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