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This is a song I wrote from a picture of the true story of John and Schoep. A man who took his dog into the lake each night to soothe his pain.

I wrote the lyric, made the melody, recorded a guitar and shaker track (my first ever) and vocal.

Thank you to my friend Danny for his mixing.

Please take a listen and tell me your thoughts, this is a story you can look up online (http://www.johnandschoep.com/), tell me if I captured the spirit and rest in peace Schoep.


LOVE AND HEALING WATERS on SoundClick


Love and Healing Waters
by Tammy
© 2013

There once was a time
when life was unkind
and there was no love to be found

My heart let you in
you became my best friend
my life's better with you around


I had high days and low
but all that I'd know
no matter what, you'd be by my side

but the sun sets so fast
our days weren't going to last
I can see the pain you can't hide

chorus
let's seek comfort
in the waters out in the lake
we'll float
till your pain goes away
and the water will soothe our weary souls
and I promise I'll never let go
I'll cradle you while you sleep
I hope love and healing waters bring you peace

the days sun will shine
but a shadow's cast on mine
I know your time's come to an end

but life moves along
and I'll try to stay strong
and in each day I'll love you my friend

chorus
let's seek comfort
in the waters out in the lake
we'll float
till your pain goes away
and the water will soothe our weary souls
and I promise I'll never let go
I'll cradle you while you sleep
I hope love and healing waters bring you peace

New Hampshire is some beautiful country, but the winters are too damn cold Anyway, very nice song Tammy. In general, people aren't going to look up the story behind a song, so it doesn't matter to me if this is true to the story or not. It's just a nice song. And reading it, there's no way I'd think it was about a dog. Personally, I'm fine with it just being about a friend. I don't know if that matters to you though.

Bill

Hi Tammy,

Bill makes a good point about the story and the dog. I actually saw the story a while back and it was very touching. Cool you wrote a song about it.

Personally, I'd go less intense vocally on the line - I'll cradle you while you sleep - since those words paint a soft image. Also now that you have your guitar chording pretty down, I encourage you to try some fingerpicking which would fit really well on a song like this one. It's not that hard and will give you more creative expression. I think you can do it.

Hey Tammy

I like it....I would maybe cut the LIFT/PRE-CHORUS in half...But nice Lyric

I have a song about a dog on my IPOD....Though I guess without "knowing" the story, who would know it's about a dog...

SHANNON by Henry Gross....Probably one of the Best One Hit Wonder Songs of all time....The story goes that back in the day when Beach Boy Brian Wilson was bedridden with depression, NOTHING could get him out of his bedroom. His family and friends after time were befuddled, fit to be tied and had no idea how to help their friend and brother. Finally, a family friend came by and gave Brian a little Irish Setter Puppy that Brian named Shannon.
Well guess what? Shannon's charisma and love got Brian out of bed, and not only out of bed but he was actually active. In fact, Brian and Shannon romped on the beaches of Southern California daily for months. Brian and Shannon would play in the surf., finally Brian's life was coming back together and happiness surrounded him with Shannon's love. Until one horrible day when Shannon was carried out to sea and never to be seen again. Brian's heart was broken and he was crushed. Needless to say, Beach Boy Brian Wilson was bedridden again.

Tammy,

A touching story. And you've captured it nicely in your song. It is nice that this could, in fact, be about a person (but is actually about a dog). It's really just about a love.

floyd

hey Tammy,you got a nice song here!I've seen that story on tv a while back,it was almost sad as Ol Yeller.I think if you soften the "cradle" line too it would be more effective,the lift sorta takes away the softness of the song to me.About time you posted a song!Mike

Hi Tammy,

I really love listening to you sing! Another lovely song you have here...so sweet and tender!

Lisa

Awww! Now look what you gone and done.
A touching and believable story.
Your guitar sounds better now too.
Vic

Hello Tammy.

Love your vocals, very soothing. Comes across very clearly.

douglas

Tams--

A very emotional song--for me it was a dog story. I just set my 14 year old pet's headstone in the back yard--

Thanks for posting this one!

Write on--

Mackie

Hi Tams

First of all congrats on doing so much and having this much involvement in your own song.
People tend to forget the differences in how many things we can or cant contribute to them. Wide range.

The song is beautiful and has a great feel to it. Your playing has improved and the timing is pretty darn good. Timing kills people so often.

The things that would benefit this song as a song in itself aside from all your great contributions is the most common things songs suffer from or need to address.

The Arrangement!

Some think that just means A B A B C B B
It is but is more too...

Listen to the sections see the ones that sound or feel like the others. Then try to alter them or break them up further apart or change them. This is why writing is such a hassle lol.

I Forget shopping songs and careers most time and just battle against myself. Mess with your song and yourself.

Could be a s simple as. Im watching my right hand go up and down on this guitar too long now make it go ALL down in the next section no matter what try it...

This will not only give you more ideas but will alter the way you sing and whatever else you lay down..

Great work super proud of you hon.

Thanks
Mike

I like what Mike C. said on the musical side of the song.

As far as the subject matter, I almost got choked up listening to a man and dog love song. I never get that way about a man and woman love song. Hmmm..

Hi Tammy,

Niecely done, good for you.

sad but lovely.


Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Very, very lovely.

I love the baptism of healing you suggest here, let the cool waters wash away the pain and sorrow, and just float together on a raft built for two, above the depths of despair.,,,for this pair. Superb work tam~~~M

A sweet story. It's well written and well told/sung, Tammy.
Very nicely done.

Michael

Love it, Tammy. You are really coming up with some compelling melodies and chordal progressions for as short a time as you've been playing. Kind of reminds me of Carole King. Good for you, my friend.

Stevie

Tammy,

I remember reading about this man and the love of his four-legged friend. I think you have done a beautiful job capturing the emotion of that story but believe this would work well for those with ill human companions too. It is a song about suffering and love, friendship and easing a loved one's pain. In the case of Schoep, it was real water. The "healing waters" in this song could also hold more meaning for other ways someone tries to ease the suffering of a loved one, perhaps. Either way, it brings tears to the eyes. I have always loved dog songs...still tear up when I listen to "Old Shep" by Elvis. Your guitar playing is really improving! Very nicely done!

Hi Tammy,

I really liked the chorus on this. The melody line is unique and fresh.

I also appreciate the sentiment. I remember seeing something about this story.

Very sweet.

Nice little melody Tammy.

Creates the mood I think needed for the song.

Has a folksy feel as well.

Doug

What a surprise.....I was listening to John Hiatt's "My Dog and Me" this morning. Very nicely done and as many have pointed out -- a nice sentiment.

Very pretty tune Tammy. You're really improving. The guitar and shaker are nicely done. You've recorded and mixed this nicely.

My critique, if you can even call it that is that the story isn't self contained in the lyric. You have to know that it's about a man and his dog for it to make sense, and I'd don't think you'd get it without an explanation. Nothing really wrong with that. It happens in musicals and opera etc. all the time.

Anyway, you're really improving and it's great to see you making such great strides!

Peace,

Ian

Great story and song! Your voice is perfect to tell it also. Great Job.

Brian

Know I'd enjoy Ya singing The Phone Book, with Your Soulful Vocals, Mz Tammy!!!

Here, all's well. DON'T actually HAVE to know the Backstory...COULD just as well be about SomeBODY other than a dog, IMHO...(Which'd be even sadder..to me, anyways, IF it was about a Person.)

&..with That In-Mind...here come some line Sugs to make it feel Thataways:

L6: "Life GOT better with you around"

L12: "WHEN I saw (del-the) pain you couldn't hide"

L21: "(Del-I hope) WHILE love & healing waters bring you peace"

L24: "AS I WATCH your time come to an end"

L25: "I SEE life move along"

L26: "& in each day I'll STILL love you my friend"

L31: "LET the water (del-will) soothe our weary souls"

L34: "WHILE love & healing waters bring you peace"

KOS, & Good Luck with A Beautiful One, Mz Tammy!

Best Wishes & Big Hugs,
Stan

Thank you to everyone who took the time to listen to this, the summer got the best of me and I have been hunkered down trying to learn the guitar better in my free time, please know that your time and friendship is always greatly appreciated by me, now that school is in, I hope it affords me more time back on the boards....fingers crossed!


Bill - Songs are for the individual to interpret, so I hope anyone can enjoy this, no matter what they think it means, thanks for the listen

Josie - I promise, I have been working very hard on learning rhythms right now, I do hpe picking will be in my future, but have only been playing for three years,it is sucha slow process...thanks for listening!!

Steve - don't have a lift/pre-chorus in this song, thanks for the story, appreciate your time and listening.

Floyd - Thanks Floyd!

Michael - hello friend, thanks for the listen

Lisa - so happy you like it!!

Vic - When you say the guitar is better, I believe it because you have been there since the beginning...thanks friend for always giving me your ear....and don't make a silly comment about that...LOL!!!

Douglas - Thanks so much Douglas!!

Mackie - thanks for the listen and I'm so sorry aobut your dog...hugs...

Mike - Mentor of all mentors, I do understnad what you are saying an I promise I am trying to get better...so says my calluses!! Thank you for your time my friend!

Ben Willis - I'll wirte a song that will make you cry over a gal...I promise...LOL!! Thanks for stopping in!!

Calvin - Thanks Calvin!

Dave - Glad you liked it, thanks!

M - yo have no idea how happy I was to read your post, lyrically, you get it, thank you my friend!!

Michael - Howdy cowboy, appreciate the listen! Glad you like it!! LOL!!

Stevie - A great complement for sure!! Thanks!!

Jen - Thank you my friend, glad you could connect with this lyric!

Vondelle - Appreciate the listen, glad you like it!

Doug - Thank you sir, so nice to see you, glad you liked it!!

Janice & Bud - Thank you and thank you...

Ian - Always appreciate your opinion friend! Yes, I don't want to make things too clear, I do loke to leave it open to interpretation...I am working hard to get better, the shaker was a new thing for me and Danny did a good job mixing as always!! Thanks!!

Brian - Appreciate your kindness Brian, thanks!

Stan - Thanks for the ideas and listen Stan, always appreciated!...now...let me flip to the first page of the phone book...Ahem....LOL!!