Whee! It’s Free Wednesday!

This song is a combination of something I’ve heard over the years and something I made up in the studio. After extensive research, I found so many versions of this spiritual that I decided to just create my own. It’s fun being the choir and the lead…in the studio, of course; not in real life.

I initially wrote the chorus of this song to share with a group of at-risk junior high and high school girls. When I met my young friend Ronell Ragbir, who was facing a losing battle with cancer, she shared with me a compelling piece of prose she had written entitled, “Woman of Destiny.” I was so moved by the piece that I decided to change the last line of the chorus (and therefore the title) to “Woman of Destiny.”

A year later, I sat down to try and craft verses that would compliment the chorus. The season was very different. Ronell had fulfilled her ultimate destiny, and I wanted to honor her memory with the lyrics I wrote. My Mother was battling her way through cancer–losing her hair to chemo, grappling with questions about her own destiny, and feeling anything but beautiful. The chorus which had originally been intended as an easy-to-sing inspirational ditty for teenage girls had become an anthem for women to celebrate the dreams God has for each of us. Because we are daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, I changed the title yet again.

This version of the song can be downloaded at www.briterevolution.com. Hope you enjoy!

This was the first track on my very first CD millions of years ago. I still love the simple melody and the beautiful lyrics. This version is a bit different from the original. Hope you enjoy.

I first heard this song in high school, when one of my friends sang and played it on the piano at a Martin Luther King Day Celebration. I fell in love with it then, and when I decided to put together a collection of
American spiritual songs, it was one of the first that came to mind. I knew the song had been recorded by Mahalia Jackson, and aside from her wonderfully soulful version, I found some earlier more “formal-sounding” versions which were a bit comical in comparison. I was reminded again that a good song can wear many different clothes.

The simple lyrics offer a beautiful message. I hope you enjoy.

April 8th, 2009
Vince Emett, a friend (and co-producer on Long Way Home) approached me last Fall about participating in an Easter project he was working on. He’d just finished recording strings in Prague for the film soundtract, and was collecting artist/writers for the companion CD. It all sounded really interesting, and I promised to write an “Easter” song.

After multiple “gentle” nudges by Vince, it was January, and I hadn’t yet recorded my piece for the project. I was having trouble finishing the composition…it’s quite difficult to find new ways to talk about Easter. When we went to the studio to record, I had no idea whether or not the song was worthy. However, Vince graciously allowed it to be the closing song on the CD. I hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful Easter!

March 25, 2009
I wrote the chorus for “Say Amen” nearly ten years ago. I’ve shared it with several co-writers, but we could never figure out what the rest of the song should be. Then, a couple of years ago, I was introduced to Ronell Ragbir, a twenty-year-old cancer patient at St. Jude’s Cancer Hospital. She was a writer, singer, and fearless dreamer. I shared this chorus with her, and she immediately embraced it, and thirty minutes later, we had a song.
Ronell and I sang the song together at several public appearances, including a concert where I got to open for her. Just six months after our first meeting, I had to share the song at Ronell’s funeral.
Needless to say, “Say Amen” has overwhelming emotion and deep meaning for me. I hope it will inspire and encourage you as well.

March 11, 2009 – Ginny covers Carole King’s classic “So Far Away”

While living with my Mom last year, I found that the most relaxing way to end each evening was to pull up my itunes and listen on my studio speakers to artists and songs I hadn’t spent much time with before. Because of the exceptional sound my speakers put out, this “relaxation period” often turned into several hours of song-scrutinizing. (“How’d they come up with that cool drum pattern?”…”That bass is way too loud!”…”What kind of keyboard is that?”…)

Aside from getting re-acquainted with old Stevie Wonder, I found new love for Bill Withers, Hall and Oates, and Carole King.

Although I’ve always admired Carole’s amazing writing ability and innate soulful style, I must admit that I’ve had a tough time embracing her voice. But all that changed during the months I spent listening to her each night…her voice grew on me, and so did the songs.

This is one of my favorites…the words are a pretty accurate description of what those of us who live on the road go through on a regular basis. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. And check out Carole’s version…much cooler, I must say!