Back when I regularly wrote songs, I occasionally wrote in waltz (3/4) time. Possibly the earliest one came as a result of trying to write a song honouring my mother. The plan was to write four verses, one for each of her sons, and as I was lying in the tub with my writing book and pen in hand trying to work out the verses, the thought occurred to me that in addition to having had four sons, there was a stillbirth between me and the birth of my youngest brother. The song didn't take long to write, and it seems only fitting that it's brief.
I'm not sure if my mom ever heard it. I burned an early recording of it to a CD and sent it to her, but I think she couldn't get it to play correctly.
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Another one I wrote not long after that was based on a dream I had. I am terrible about recalling my dreams but I guess this one was vivid or surprising enough that I worked it into a song. The dream involved a friend of my then-wife, Penny. Penny and I and her friend and her husband spent a bit of time together socially, whether at our homes or at local gatherings or events. In case you're wondering, no, I didn't harbour any fantasies about her, but there she was in one of my dreams one night, dancing with me. The song, in all likelihood, is longer than the dream lasted.
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In the summer of 1997, I wrote a three-verse waltz as a gift to a friend in the D.C. area who was getting married. I'd been invited to the wedding but it just wasn't within my budget at the time to make the trip, so I wrote the song as a gift of sorts. I recorded it and sent a cassette tape to her, but didn't keep a copy for myself. I can't for the life of me recall the melody, but a few months ago I asked her if she still had it as I had recently come across the lyrics in my book. She does, but after thirty years, it's not readily accessible. I hope she comes across it some day, I'd like to get a copy.
DEAR BARBARA
Copyright 2026 by Patrick T. Power. All rights reserved.
Dear Barbara, I'm sorry I can't make the wedding
I'm sorry I can't join in that feast
but my car's broken down and I haven't the money
for making that long trip out east
as much as I've planned for this day
I simply could not make ends meet
so maybe we should see it this way:
I won't dance all over your feet
Dear Barbara, I love you as much as a friend
can love you from so far away
so, wrapped in a melody this gift I send
to you on your wedding day
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My friend Susan turned 50 in 2004, and I had this brilliant idea to write a quick song and send a recording of it to a friend of hers in Florida so that it could be played at a party being held in her honour. Susan happens to be the biggest Wizard of Oz fan ever, so I just had to incorporate that into the song somehow, along with a favourite phrase of hers, "ooh la la!", which since I've been to Paris several times sinice I wrote the song, I couldn't help but change it to what the French actually say.
In the fall of 2010, I wrote probably first song—more a ditty, really—since moving to San Francisco. In fact, I hadn't been writing all that many songs since 2006. I recall waking up realizing it was my friend Marya's birthday, and words and a melody just tumbled into my head, featuring the word Marya uses to help people pronounce her name.
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I have two more that I've written since 2006, but I've not played either of them in quite some time, so I might have to post a Part II once I re-learn them.
Note: I've not played guitar or sang regularly for the last fifteen years, so my fingers are a bit clumsy, and my voice cracks a bit and wanders out of tune, so bear with me.
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Unless otherwise noted, all writings and photographs on this blog are copyright Patrick T. Power. All rights reserved.
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