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Just Enough Light to See the Day

Started my day listening to some morning talk show
Announcer said “breaking news” but news was broken long ago
Raging wars and rising prices
It’s just crisis after crisis
Then they told a story bout a man saved by his grandson
He collapsed and that three year old dialed 911
And I saw a silver lining
Through the clouds the sun was shining

(and it was ) Just enough light to see the day
Just enough faith to show the way
Just Something in the dark, a flash or spark
To make the shadows go away
Ohhh sometimes all we need is Just enough light to see the day

Left a drive-thru…caught a red light downtown
Time was crawlin’ so I cranked some tunes and looked around
Saw the homeless and the needy
Missing posters…gang graffiti
Then a man walked up, and said that for a buck he’d clean my windshield
I reached and handed him that sack with my Egg McMuffin meal
I felt blessed to make a living
Hoped I helped that man by giving

Just enough light to see the day
Just enough faith to show the way
Just Something in the dark, a flash or spark
To make the shadows go away
Ohhh sometimes all we need is Just enough light to see the day

All any soul requires
Is hope in something higher

And Just enough light to see the day
Just enough faith to show the way
Just Something in the dark, a flash or spark
To make the shadows go away
Ohhh sometimes all we need is Just enough light to see the day

©2009 Robert George, Penny Campbell-Loewen

Oh my,

Couchgrouch,

I am hopelessly in love with everything about this, lyric, music, vocalist, and production.

thank you

Letha

can't argue with that, haha! we're aiming this at guys like Keith Urban.

Perfect, and if this doesn't cut it, I don't know what will.

Best of luck and please keep us posted of any good news. I love to hear successes,

Letha

Oh yeah,
I replied to this on the lyric board. It is the most contemporary country radio song I have heard AND better than most on the radio.

again good luck,
John

So there really is hope for Country Music! This is great! I expect to hear this on my way to work some morning. The lyric is tight. The point is clear.

Two thumbs up.

Jonathan

P

thanks all. we're hoping this song has a long shelf life.

I had to come back and listen again. Actually more than a few times. I am very impressed with both of you. Damn fine work.

"I Hope You Dance" of the 21st century.

The best CC song I've heard.

Good luck,
John

I like the opening sound - comtemporary and stirring. The vocals come in so well - clear, stong and easy at the same time. It was apparant at the beginning that this is a very good song. The development is quite good. The turn into the chorus builds nicely.

Very nice.

Tom

thanks again John. can't get enough comments like yours, haha.

Tom, my co-writer Penny did a wonderful job with the tune and the demo crew made it all that much better. more than I could've hoped for.

Rob,
you know I've offered criticism on many occassions but I think you hit a home run with this one. And yes Penny did an outstanding job. Now you just need someone who knows how to make an offer that can't be refused.

This would be a "signature song" for some artist. And isn't that how they say we get our foot in the door?

Good luck,
John

I listened again and it really works. I love the mix of textures.

Tom

Excellent job ya'll Really love that chorus.

HI Rob and Penny,

This is heartwarming AND commercial, to my ears. You don't try to force the second verse to address the chorus literally, but trust the listener to connect doing something nice with giving someone in need "enough light", and that's a strong move on your part.

Was that a four bar bridge? It's very nice.

Overall very moving work here.

Mike

thanks once again everyone.

John, I'd take any opportunity at all to get past the indies and into the majors.

Hey Rob,

I replied to this when it was posted on the lyric board.....but just had to listen again.....I LOVE it.

You all did such a fabulous job with this one.

Gail

Rob,

Clearly you put this is very adept hands, exactly where it belongs. Great write, music, and production. You've gotta be proud of this one - I would be.

Smokin'!

Cheers,

Barry

Beautifully recorded and mixed, I'd be mighty interested to know what you use. Great playing and I loved the sound of the bass guitar, well in fact all of it. Great voice too, I am a tad envious of your obvious skill.

Dude

many more thanks.

Mark, that ain't me...it's a pro demo.

the title really grabbed me, and the tune totally delivers. i love it.

Okay,
I neeed another fix. Rob and Penny this is brilliant. Really the best song I have heard since I first heard "I Loved Her First".

Good Luck,
John

This is beautiful Rob and Penny! A real winner. Great sound and lovely melody!

Great song. The title peeked my interest, came for a listen. This sounds like an expensive demo,right?

Hi Couch & Penny

Wow, yes it's a Keith Urban kinda song I reckon, I just love it, YIPEE, way to GO! Hmm, the guy singing this, sings it beautifully.

This Aussie girl is hoping to meet Keith Urban one day, congratulations, I'm Hooked.

Big Fan

Michele

Oh yeah! Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts could definitely take this to the top!

Way to go, Couch and Penny. A true winner, this one!

Greg

Back to the front page.

Very enjoyable and inspirational, Robert.

The instrumentation is the first thing that strikes me - very good - clear andinteresting. Good vocals with nice expression and phrasing and tone. Good drive to the music.

Tom

Hey Couch,

Nice groove, great production, uplifting lytics, and a good listen. It's a good write, just flows. No nits here.

cheers, niteshift

I love this place (jpfolks)...and songs like this is why!

Great job!

thanks again everyone. I think this song will do right by me and Penny one day.

Back to the front of the class. Hearing this on the radio would be just enough light to see the day.

John

Hi Couch,

Very cool lyric, production is really tight and sounding good
and it all fits together so well. You never disappoint.

Ricki

Robert and Penny,
Very cool all the way around! Best of luck with it:)

Hey Robert and Penny...

Well I truly hope this makes it big for ya both...truly a great contempoary country tune. Well crafted, well produced and a great fit for either Gary LeVox or Keith Urban....

Love to know who did the demo on this one....just killer...


Larry

Rob & Penny,

This might be the best song to hit the boards in a few years. If there was ever a song written for Rascal Flatts, intentionally or not, this is it.

This is excellent writing from every perspective and a super demo. It should be heard by the suits in Nashville who make those all important decisions. Should be on the radio. Good luck with it! You, Penny and the song deserve it for your fine effort.

Alan

Robert,

Definately commercial and better than what's playing on the radio.

It's incredible, I too can hear Rascal Flatts doing this song.

Geneva

Rob,
it's a BIG hit when it gets cut. There are plenty of artists out there and not many songs this good. Someone has got to cut it and release it as a single.

Good luck,
John

Hi Rob

Great! wonderful work by all involved. Great positive message lyrically with some terrific lines in there. Musically matched with a great positive feel & vibe.

Pitching wise it will do really well, the only thing they may be (if at all) just a touch hesitant on is the chorus. Man it is sooooo close It's so hard to nail down what your trying to explain and feel when songs are this good and close.

But I listened a few times and walked away singing the first line of the chorus but couldn't recall the rest of it. It's still a great chorus and catchy upon first hearing it.
If I had to explain it musically it would be this - The cool aspect that the melody moves up right away in the second and third lines are a good thing, but may also be why it wasn't sticking to me.

Maybe if that second one moved down as probably more predictable it would catch even better and set up that third line even better. Also moving downward would be more soulful which this song has. Regardless it's still a wonderful song with Country hit possibilities written all over it. Just thinking the way I know they do a little

GREAT! job really this hits on all cylinders.

All The Best!

Robert/Penny,

Keith Urban must definitely have been used as a reference for this demo. Many elements of his music here.

Great sounding song, clever lyrics, feelgood uptempo, and a good message. Can't find reasons for this to not make it!

Who wrote the music for this?

Good luck!

thanks again everyone. I guess it's good to be involved with a song that just won't die, haha.

songcabinet, Penny Campbell Lowen, my co-writer did the music. and arrangement.

Rob/Penny..
I have to agree with Al on this...it is so darn good I thought it already on the radio...Gary LeVox could/should do this.
This girl is so commercial....I am looking fowrard to hearing this cut...

Larry

Cool song! Could definitely work for KU . . . though I expect he would soar even more melodically on the final repeat of the chorus. Yessiree!

Now, CG, the one thing I have a problem with - actually it's more a disappointment - is that the vocalist DIDN'T sing it exactly as you have it posted here.

Here is why it was a disappointment for me:
From the end of verse two going into the chorus he added the words "and it was" (like in the first chorus) - and, for me, it really took POWER away from the lines as you had written them. It made it seem to me that the "just enough light" was still for the singer - rather than for the person he was trying to give the "light" to . . . does that make sense?

THIS:
(v2) Hoped I helped that man by giving
(CH) Just enough light to see the day . . .

Is more powerful than
THIS:
(v2) Hoped I helped that man by giving
(CH) (and it was) Just enough light to see the day . . .

The way YOU have it written COMPLETES the thought of the last line of verse 2.

I wonder if they would re-record it? It really changes the focus, and for me, kinda misses the point of why you had it written that way to begin with!

Nit-picky - but hey! Ya spend good money for these things and there is a reason why you wrote it as you did. Is there not?

I expect you to disagree with me here too! But just thought I'd give you kudos AND a little something to pester the demo-er about. It's what I do.

~Bubbles

thanks Larry.

bubbles, I wouldn't even know how to relate to the demo outfit what you said. and same as your responses at Musesmuse, I don't understand how it'd affect the average listener or a publisher. it's already been signed, anyway. there's not much else I can do with it.

Congrats! That's a quick sign!

LOL Just what I'd thought you'd say.

Guess I'm just not an "average listener".

~Bubbles

the song was posted months ago and signed shortly thereafter. you might be a person who listens to established artists with a different ear than stuff posted on the Net. a few years back I posted a lyric on the Muse where a character put a pint if whiskey in his pocket. people inexplicably said I needed to change that because in England a pint is a mug of beer in a bar. (beer, not whiskey) I politely disagreed. they said I was evil, haha. Today I'm listening to some Bruce and he sings that he put a pint in his boot. reminded me of those well meaning but misguided folks. and they're not limited to the Muse, either. que sera.

Enjoyed listening to this. Good luck!
kyrk

Rob,

I understand entirely. Any particular reason you didn't come back and say - "Hey, guys, this got signed!" (?) From your responses since May - and even the most recent responses, it still sounded to me like you were hopeful but still in the pre-pitch stage.

Out of curiosity, with whom is it signed?
A&R rep?
Publisher?
Label?
Artist?

I dare say, very few of us here have made the leap that you have and would find it informative and just plain interesting to follow this song through the process of actually getting cut. Would you be opposed to sharing that journey with us? This is a finely written song and it would be ubber-cool to hear it on the radio someday! LOL

Mini-Interview for couchgrouch:
Since you live in AZ, I assume you have pretty solid connections in Nashville - how did you build those relationships?

Do you venture there often? If so, how often?

Is there a primary demo outfit that you seek out? Are they located in Nashville?

When did you get your first cut?

Was it a major label? Did that even matter at the time?

How long have you been writing?

Is writing part of your daily routine?

Do you consider yourself a pro or do you have a day job unrelated to songwriting?

What has been your biggest success thus far?

What has been your biggest disappointment?

What are your hopes regarding your lyric writing?

And paraphrased from Mike Dunbar slightly: If the angel of the Lord himself came to you and told you that you'd never write a hit song - would you still write? Why?

~Bubbles

PS I think in a previous life, I must have been a cat! LOL

Bubbles, I'm too much of a nobody for these questions. I've got one indie cut to my name which is no big deal. I tend to keep my business to myself but it's a good publisher who pitches to the majors. I've been writing 30 years...since I was fourteen and obsessively listening to music since then as well. the key to good writing is being baptized is great music. I'm always thinking about writing. always. I have a few decent contacts through co-writers. publishers like my lyrics. I rarely network so I don't have a "journey".

I'd like to earn some good money by writing good songs. I never started writing to pen hits. the internet or money was never a motivation and still isn't really. frankly, the internet
would've messed me up as a kid. I'd advise a writer to stay away from all these sites unless they were set in their ways and knew what they were doing. it's infested with bad advice.

that's my story. think it'll make it on Oprah?