Hello again;
I hope your 2022 is getting off to a great start.
I hope you have already taken some of those small steps on the journey towards your big goal or dream.
Today, I’m writing to share my experience writing my first song.
Those of you who know me well know that even now I’m nervous about singing in public.
It’s because as a teenager I was made fun of for my singing voice.
If you want to learn more of how I overcame my shyness, there are a few posts you should check out.
Why I sing and How I can help You Free the Song in Your Own Heart,
What I learned from a Successful Church Talent Show Appearance,
and The Blind Blogger is Greatly Effected by Singing the River at the end of Dreamcon.
Either way you are probably wondering how does a guy who is still nervous about singing end up writing and recording a song of his own.
Small Steps
Like a lot of things it happened several small steps at a time.
It started last year when I heard and fell in love with Better Together by Luke Combs.
It has some great lines like what’s the point of this old guitar if it ain’t got no strings.
But it had some lyrics I didn’t care for.
They come in the chorus.
He sings “It’s like a match made up in heaven. Like good old boys and beer.
something just didn’t feel write about those words.
So, I decided to see if I could come up with some lyrics I liked better.
They would have to be pairs of similar things that also go together.
Like peanut butter and jelly. Or pop corn and a movie.
My Lyrics
I decided to use a couple of food references that heldd good memories for me.
Like having smores around the campfire or cotton candy at the county fair.
If you like, you can listen to me sing it in this video.
I shared the video with my friends, and they told me I had done a really good job.
Then I posted it to Youtube, Instagram, and Linked In.
Then, one of my friends from church named Issy had a suggestion.
She said Max why don’t you write one of your own songs.
She said she knew I could do it.
She said how I was very creative and had a great voice.
She never called me chicken or invoked the “What’s Your Excuse?” tag line.
But I could feel the challenge in her voice.
I’ve often said that one of the best things that can happen to us is to have someone double dog dare us to do something scary.
How Do I Write A Song?
Once I got past the shock and fear, I said I don’t know how to write a song.
I told her I wouldn’t even know where to start.
I told her that many music teachers had tried to teach me to play the guitar and failed.
She said Max do it like you do everything else.
Don’t try to write a whole song, just try to write one verse or even one line.
That’s what I did. I sat in my room and fooled around with the idea of writing a song.
I thought whether I succeed or not I want to have fun with the process.
And I thought if I’m going to try to write a song I need to start with ideas I’m familiar with and that I believe in.
Kind of like when experts tell first-time authors to write what they know.
If You Don’t Ask
© 2021 by Maxwell Ivey Jr.
Aka The Blind Blogger
I guess it shouldn’t surprise me or anyone else that the song ended up being about asking for help and letting other people help you.
If you haven’t heard the song yet, hear it is.
One friend told me that he had heard me talk about interdependence for years, but it didn’t sink in until he heard this song.
The Lyrics
My friends who are a little hard of hearing asked me if I would include the lyrics the next time I wrote about the song.
Verse One
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
They can’t help you move or write you a check.
They won’t walk your dog or hug your neck.
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
Verse Two
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
They can’t say you’re hired or you’re the best.
They can’t say I Do or yes yes yes yes.
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
Verse Three
If you don’t ask, they can’t say Yes.
They can’t bring you coffee or breakfast in bed.
They can’t read your thoughts, so don’t make them guess.
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
A Fourth Verse
Since recording this, I wrote another verse to the song.
It goes like this.
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
They can’t help you clean up your latest mess.
They can’t give you answers to your life’s test.
If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes.
One of my second most favorite comments was when friends told me now I need to write some more songs so I can record a whole album.
I haven’t accepted that there is a whole album or CD worth of music in me yet.
I am happy that I accepted the challenge from Issy and wrote my first song.
My Dad Wrote Music Too
It turns out that my dad wrote songs when he was a teenager.
He never followed up on them because he was always working to support his family.
And whether it was working construction or traveling around the country with our carnival; there was never enough time for him to write, record, or perform.
I’m going to close this post with a link to the video of my Uncle Vernan and some other Ivey family singing my dad’s song.
I really hope you like the music and the posts.
If you want to thank me, then follow my example.
Find the courage to take some small steps towards something you are passionate about.
Sure it can be scary. Sure your hands may sweat and your belly may clinch.
That just makes it all the more satisfying when you can take the big bow.
I’ve often said I don’t mind being called an inspiration as long as they tell me what I inspired them to do.
I want to hear those little things you did that you should be proud of and deserve to be celebrated.
And finally thanks so much for your continued support.
You have stayed with me through the broken laptop.
You overlooked the horrible video when I was recording music or appearing on camera from my tablet.
I couldn’t keep doing this without you. I hope that gives you some comfort.
Now come on. If I can do it, then what’s your excuse?
Take care out there, Max