Showing posts with label original lyrics. Show all posts

Sunday, September 13, 2026

How I Put My Lyrics to Music and Create Songs - A Basic Introduction

How I Put My Lyrics to Music and Create My Songs - A Basic Introduction

How I Put My Lyrics to Music & Create the Songs and Videos

With digital music today, some people think creating a song is as simple as writing a sentence and getting a finished recording. And for those who want to create music that way, they certainly can. I don't do that.

My songs begin with original lyrics, ideas, digital production, stories, and turning those words into a song involves its own creative process.

Rather than writing a lengthy article, I thought I would answer five frequently asked questions.

I'll keep my answers as brief as I can, just to give you an overview of what goes into bringing my lyrics to life through music.

I'll include a video of different songs I've written and produced after each question, so you can see finished products.

1. Do You Write Your Own Lyrics?

Absolutely. I write every single word of the lyrics I create. To date, I have written nearly 100 different songs (I also published a book of lyrics/poems in 2019), and every word is my own. I've been writing since I was eight years old in 1968; I care about the words I choose. My lyrics are original, and I am intentional about the stories, messages, and emotions I put into them.

Digital music production can also generate lyrics, but that's not something I am interested in or do. It is certainly possible, but it's not my approach.

Quite frankly, I can often tell when lyrics have been generated automatically! To me, they lack a natural flow, rely too heavily on metaphors, or fail to carry a clear message from beginning to end.

The song I feature below is one of my personal faves I've written, for the message it tells. It's about redemption.

2. What Should I Be Aware of if I Want to Create a Song Using My Own Words

This would be an entire article on its own, but here's one of the most important things to keep in mind:

You need a commercial plan with the digital music service you use if you want to use your finished music commercially! Commercial plans are mostly, if not all, paid plans.

The commercial rights and licensing terms depend on the service and the plan you have. Read the terms.

Your own lyrics are yours. However, if you use digitally generated lyrics (which I don't), you also need to understand the terms that apply to those lyrics and the music you create.

What is commercial use? For example, if you have a YouTube channel that earns money through the YouTube Partner Program, that counts as commercial use. Releasing your music on streaming services is another example. These are just a couple of examples of commercial use. There are more!

This song speaks for itself, about empathy and acknowledging someone's challenges. I dedicate it to my friend Margaret xxoo.

3. How Difficult Is It to Create the Music for Your Songs?

For me, this is the hardest part.

I am certainly not just typing one sentence describing the sound I want and expecting a finished song!!

In my music instructions, I often specify musical details such as the notes I want the song sung in, the beats per minute, the tempo, the type of voice, the instruments I want front and center, background vocals, genre, and more! Whether I want a baritone, soprano, mezzo-soprano, or a mid-range voice, these choices matter because I have a particular sound in mind. And that sound in my head is, unfortunately, the boss!

The most frustrating part is that I can hear exactly how I want my words to sound and where I want the emphasis and phrasing to fall.

Getting a computer to understand precisely what I am looking for can be challenging. Sometimes I need to have my mouth washed out with soap! LOL. Hubby knows when I'm on that part of the process!

So, no, the music side of creating my songs is not easy for me. It can be quite intense, and I am extremely conscientious about how I want my words delivered.

I also use a DAW program on my computer that lets me work with stems (individual audio tracks, such as vocals, drums, bass, and piano, that make up a song). I have altered stems and used the program to address artifacts, which are unwanted sounds or glitches that can sometimes occur in digitally produced music.

This was written for weddings - a father-daughter dance song.

4. How Do I Create the Videos for My Songs?

You don't have to do a video. I do, to enhance the story, and it gets a better response on social media.

I have a very specific way of creating my song videos, and it's more involved than simply putting a song over a few pictures.

I generate the images I use for my videos because I want as much control over the visual content as possible. I have paid authorization to use images from various programs, but I prefer not to leave questions about licensing or ownership hanging over my work. So I rarely use those for my in-depth videos.

I want to know exactly where my images came from and avoid a mix-up that asks me to prove I can use them. That's just an added hassle I'm not interested in. So I prompt/design my images using AI.

I create each image based on the song's lyrics. Because I write story-driven lyrics, I want the visuals to help tell that story. I describe what I want the people to look like, what they are doing, the setting, the mood, and the feeling I want the image to convey. Sometimes it takes several attempts to get exactly what I have in my head.

Once I have the images I want, usually somewhere between 10 and 15 images for a song, I bring them into Canva and convert each image into a video section using "Image to Video". I adjust the timing and speed of each section to match the lyrics and the music.

I also use a paid version of CapCut to automatically generate the lyrics on the video. There was certainly a learning curve to getting the karaoke-style highlighting to look the way I wanted, especially how the words move or highlight along with the song. I eventually found a style I really like, and I now tend to use it for most of my videos.

After that, I take another step to finish the video, but that is essentially how I put the main pieces together.

The entire process can take me at least half a day, and sometimes considerably longer. I'm fairly fast, so someone else could easily spend a couple of days creating the same type of video.

For me, that time is worth it. I want the finished video to do more than simply accompany the music. I want the images and lyrics on the screen to help tell the story I wrote into the song.

This is one of my top songs (for me) on streaming, YouTube, and TikTok. People have used it for weddings, which I truly appreciate!

5. Do You Own the Copyright to Your Songs?

I am not a lawyer, and I am not giving legal advice here!!

I am simply sharing what I have learned along the way about copyright and digitally produced music. So do your own research! Copyright can get complicated, and what it means can depend on what you are doing with your work.

For example, I am registered with SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada), which is a music rights organization that collects and distributes royalties for the use of music. Copyright registration through a government copyright office is different, and copyright has its own legal meaning in that context.

When digitally assisted music is involved, the amount of human creative input can also matter. Generally, copyright protection is based on human authorship and creative contribution. In practical terms, that means the original human contributions to a digitally assisted work can matter when determining which aspects of the work may be protected. How that applies to a particular work is a legal question, and the rules surrounding digital and AI-assisted creation continue to evolve.

For me, I provide significant human creative input. I write my own lyrics, decide what I want the song to sound like, produce and modify, make creative decisions about the musical direction, and control how the finished song and video come together.

Streaming services are another part of the picture. Their requirements can differ, and music generally reaches those services through a distributor. So you need to choose a distributor and understand their terms and the do's and don'ts.

You have to go through the distributor's submission and review process before they accept your music. Is it difficult? Not necessarily. Is it time-consuming? It can be. And does it help to understand what you are doing before you start? Definitely.

There's a lot more to say about copyright, licensing, distribution, and digitally assisted music, but that's a rabbit hole I will leave for you to explore if you are interested. I am simply sharing a few of the basics here about what I have learned from doing this myself.

This song is a fun, upbeat song about turning life's lemons into lemon pie :)

Summary Conclusion:

I want to end by saying that this is by no means the end of the story. Heck, it's not even the full story!

These are only five questions, and they really just scratch the surface of what goes into my own process. To date, I've created about 100 songs, and I've spent about a year learning, researching, experimenting, and figuring out what works for me. And I'm still learning. I learn something new almost every day.

So, if you've ever wondered what actually goes on behind the scenes when I take one of my lyrics and turn it into a song and video, this is simply a glimpse into my personal process.

There's more to it, but these five questions give you a sense of what's involved.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

*********

🎵 I write and produce story-driven lyrics. Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording.🎵 ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved - Original Lyrics Authored | Sound Recording: Produced With Digital Assistance (Vocals and Instrumental) 2026. Licensed digital composition (Commercial Rights Held). The visual artwork may include AI-assisted digital elements. SOCAN Member.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Mom's Pickles and Beets - Remembering Mom With a Story and a Song

As autumn returns and the cooler weather settles in, my mother has been on my mind every day.

When the seasons change, my parents come front and center in my thoughts, bringing back all the things I miss about growing up.

Fall always reminds me of my mom preparing homemade pickles and beets, filling the cellar and freezer up with homemade goodies.

To honor my late mother, I decided to write her this song called Mom's Pickles and Beets. Below, you will find the story of me as a fifteen-year-old girl back in September 1975. I hope you enjoy the story below and the related song.

A Page from My Life in 1975:

September 1975 brought that familiar, sharp chill to the air, signaling the start of a brand new season. I was fifteen years old and it was all in front of me.
For me, autumn was always the absolute best time of the year, filled with the return of school routines, skating lessons, and the comforting sense that September offered a fresh start.
Coming home at the end of the day meant stepping through the front door into a warm haven. The kitchen always smelled richly of spices and a pot of homemade soup simmering steadily on the stove.
Countertops would be lined with rows of freshly packed mason jars filled with homemade pickles and beets. My usual routine was to head straight for the living room fireplace to warm my hands, just as Mom would call out from the kitchen, asking me to head down to the basement to handle the laundry basket and grab a container of fudge on the way back up.
Mornings didn't always run smoothly, of course. There were frantic days when sleep got the better of me, and I had to scramble, racing into the kitchen to plead, "Mom, can you drive me? I'm going to be late!"
With a familiar roll of her eyes and a quick, resigned nod, she would agree, usually adding with a knowing smile, "You know, I won't always be here to fix every mess."
More than five decades have slipped away since those days. Yet every time the autumn leaves begin to turn, those memories return just as vividly as ever.
The scent of her cooking, the quiet warmth of those evenings, and the lasting comfort of her presence remain woven into every part of who I am today. I miss my mother.

************

What memories do fall and the changing seasons bring back for you?

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

*********

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, August 23, 2026

Borrow My Eyes - A Love Story and A Song

Borrow My Eyes, A Love Story

He sometimes watches her go about her day and wonders if she has any idea how much of herself she gives to the world around her.

She is naturally giving, not because she has forgotten herself or believes everyone else should come first, but because kindness is simply part of who she is. She knows who she is. She takes care of herself, yet when she moves through life, she sees beyond her own needs. In the smallest decisions and ordinary moments, she thinks of others. She notices what people need. She does what she can. Often without fanfare. Often without anyone realizing how much thought she has put into the simplest things.

And he loves her for all of it.

When they first met, she saw something in him, too.

She could see beyond the person standing in front of her. She sensed the road he had traveled and the pain he had carried. She didn't try to rescue him. She didn't sacrifice herself for him or make his wounds her responsibility. She simply understood that someone who had traveled such a difficult road might need a little more tenderness, a little more patience, and a little extra loving care.

So she gave it freely, simply because that was who she was.

And slowly, without either of them fully realizing it, she became the place he had been searching for his entire life.

Home.

Not just a house. Not just a person he loved. But a feeling he had never truly known before. When he looks at her, he sees quiet after the noise. He sees safety after uncertainty. He sees somewhere he belongs. He sees a life where he can finally exhale.

His life before her had not been easy. He had known pain, carried scars, and traveled through experiences that changed him. But it is never lost on him that, without her, he might never have understood love the way he understands it now.

That is why he wishes he could lend her his eyes.

Just for an hour.

He wishes she could see the woman he sees, the kindness she doesn't always notice in herself, the beauty that goes far deeper than what can be seen, and all the quiet things she does that make his life better. He wishes she could understand that when he looks at her, he doesn't just see the woman he loves.

He sees his fairytale hero.

He sees the person who helped heal wounds she didn't create. The person who erased pain simply by loving him with patience and sincerity. The person who saw his truth and accepted him without asking him to become someone else.

Most of all, he sees home.

And so, through this song, he gives her the only gift he knows she truly needs to understand his heart:

His eyes.

Because if she could see herself the way he sees her, she would finally understand the depth of his love.

"Borrow My Eyes" is his thank you to the woman who gave him more than love; she gave him a place in this world where he finally feels he belongs.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

*********

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, August 16, 2026

She Used To Be Brave - A Story and a Song

She Used To Be Brave

She didn't want to move forward.

But she didn't want to go back either.

And staying exactly where she was felt impossible.

For the first time in her life, she found herself standing somewhere she couldn't explain, a place between decisions, between certainty and doubt, between the person she had been and the person she might become. It was a liminal space, though she didn't have a name for it at first.

She only knew she was there.

And somehow, the fact that she couldn't figure out why, bothered her more than the place itself.

The Woman Who Thought She Knew Herself

She had spent most of her life believing she had clarity. She made decisions. She moved forward. She faced things. She had always thought of herself as brave.

Or at least, she used to be.

So why was she standing here now, unable to take the next step?

She wished someone would simply tell her what to do. Just one person. One voice. Someone who could see what she couldn't.

Someone who might reach for her hand and say, Here. This is the way. Step through this door.

But no one came.

And perhaps that was the hardest part.

She began questioning everything.

Was she afraid?

Was she protecting herself?

Had she spent years protecting everyone else, convincing herself that was courage?

Maybe she had been confused for a very long time without realizing it. Maybe she had been lost without knowing she was lost.

That thought frightened her.

Because if she had been wrong about being lost, what else had she misunderstood about herself?

She had always known one thing for certain: she was hopeful.

Hope had carried her through difficult days. Hope had given her reasons to keep going when she couldn't see what was waiting ahead.

But now even that certainty began to trouble her.

Could Hope Be Keeping Her There?

She wondered if hope could become another kind of hiding.

Perhaps she had been holding onto hope so tightly that she had forgotten to reach for anything else.

Hope that something would change.

Hope that someone would appear.

Hope that eventually, the right door would simply open.

But what if it never did?

What if she had to choose one?

Forward or backward.

Stay or leave.

Fear or courage.

The questions circled endlessly through her mind, and still she couldn't find an answer.

Then she realized something she hadn't considered before.

Maybe being brave had never meant knowing exactly where to go.

Maybe bravery wasn't certainty.

Maybe it was standing in the middle of uncertainty and taking one step anyway.

She looked ahead.

Nothing had changed. The doors were still there. The path was still unclear.

No one had come to take her hand.

But for the first time, she didn't wait for someone to show her the way.

She took a breath.

And stepped toward the door.

Not because she knew what was on the other side.

But because she finally understood that she didn't have to know.

Perhaps that was the courage she had been searching for all along.

The courage to move without answers.

The courage to become someone new.

The courage to remember the woman she used to be and finally discover the woman she could still become.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

*********

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Can I Rise Above This? Can I Get Through It - A Song of Hope

I've always enjoyed writing lyrics about life because life gives us an endless supply of stories to tell. Some are happy, some are heartbreaking, and some leave us asking questions we never thought we'd have to answer.

I like exploring all of those different parts of the human experience because no two journeys are ever the same. Sometimes my songs are about family or relationships, sometimes they're about loss or hope, and sometimes they're simply about finding the strength to keep moving forward.

Believe in My Wings came from one of those moments. It grew out of a question I think most of us have quietly asked ourselves at some point: When life gets difficult, will I be able to rise above it?

A Simple Thought That Grew Into a Story

The idea for this song began with a familiar metaphor about a bird trusting its wings instead of the branch beneath it. That image has appeared in many different forms over the years, yet its meaning has always remained powerful. Rather than writing about the saying itself, I wanted to explore what it represents on a deeper level. I wanted to imagine what that quiet confidence might look like if it became a story instead of a quotation.

Nature has a way of teaching us lessons without ever speaking a word. We can watch a bird settle onto a branch, and while we'll never truly know what it experiences, we can observe something remarkable. It doesn't appear consumed by the possibility that the branch might fail. It rests when it needs to rest, and when the time comes, it spreads its wings and flies. That simple picture has stayed with me because it reminds me how often fear encourages us to focus on what could collapse beneath us, while courage asks us to remember the strength we already possess.

Life gives each of us our own version of an unsteady branch. It might be the loss of someone we love, a health challenge, financial uncertainty, disappointment, loneliness, anxiety, or simply stepping into a future that feels completely unknown. None of us can predict every storm that will come our way. What we can choose is how we respond when those moments arrive.

Finding the Wings Within Ourselves

That became the heart of Believe in My Wings. For me, it's a song about the balance between fear and faith. There isn't one survival path that fits everyone; however, just the belief that we can overcome can help pave the road to getting there. Sometimes resilience grows through experience. Sometimes it comes from the encouragement of those who believe in us. Sometimes it appears so quietly that we don't even realize how strong we've become until we look back.

As I wrote the lyrics, I kept returning to the same thought. Every verse and every chorus seemed to ask the same question: Do I stay frozen by the storm, or do I trust that I have what it takes to move through it? That question isn't limited to one situation. It belongs to anyone facing uncertainty, whether the challenge is visible to the world or carried silently inside.

Perhaps that's why this song became so meaningful to me while I was writing it. It reminded me that our circumstances are only one part of the story. They may shake us, test us, or force us to rethink the path ahead, but they don't define what we're capable of becoming.

The branch beneath us may change without warning, but our greatest source of strength has never been the branch itself. It has always been the wings we carry within us, waiting for the moment we decide to trust them.

Thank you for listening; I really appreciate it.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

*********

**I write and produce story-driven lyrics. ** ** Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording. ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved. Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held). I wrote, created, and produced this piece on July 31st - August 1st 2026 - Member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)**

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Life I Built From Broken Things - A Song Review

When You're Done Trying to Put Your Name in the Sand

Have you ever had one of those days, or years, where it felt like you were trying to write your name in the sand while the tide was coming in at full speed?

You keep smoothing it out, trying to make it stay, but the water just wipes it away again and again.

Although I'm a positive person, I do feel this way at times. I spent a long time thinking that if I could keep everything neat and predictable, I was winning. Not anymore. Life has a way of showing us that some things are out of our control.

I poured these thoughts into a new song called "The Life I Built From Broken Things". It has become my own little anthem, and I wanted to share it with you because we all need the reminder that we are tougher than we give ourselves credit for.

Building Something Real When You Are in a Crunch

When things fall apart, our first instinct is often to worry. We look at the mess and think, "Well, that is it. I am done." I have been there. You look at your life and see the broken floorboards and the leaks, and you feel like the whole thing is coming down.

But we don't have to fix the whole house in a single day. Recovery is often quiet and slow. It is just one band-aid at a time, as I wrote in the song. It's deciding that even though the floor has holes in it, we will still sweep up the sand. There's something beautiful about building a life out of our broken things.

It means the foundation is not just some perfect, sterile thing. It is made of experience. It is made of the times we fell down and got back up anyway.

Why a Little Stubbornness Is Actually a Good Thing

If anyone tells you that you are being too stubborn, take it as a compliment. There is a specific kind of stubbornness that I think is a superpower. It is that quiet, deep-down refusal to let the storm win.

In my song, I wrote, "I'm just too stubborn to know how to fail." People might look at your life and see the rain or the struggle. But they don't see the work you are doing when you hide your wings. They can't see the way you are reinforcing the walls in the dark, preparing for the moment you're ready to fly again.

I've learned that the one thing nobody can take away from me is me.

You're the only person who can decide when you're done. If you haven't decided you're done, then you're not failing. You're still in the middle of the project.

We Don't Have to Be Perfect to Be Strong

It is perfectly okay to have weak days. We're human. It's going to happen. We don't have to be a superhero every single day. It's okay to be tired or frustrated. It's only part of your story, not the whole story.

I believe that every tiny, incremental inch we move forward counts. Even if it is just one nail you hammer in, it's progress. The life you are building might look different than the one you started with, but it is yours.

Thanks for letting me share this with you. I hope that if you are going through a storm right now, these words give you a little bit of shelter. You've got this.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics

*********

**I write and produce story-driven lyrics. ** ** ** ** Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording. ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved. Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held). I wrote, created, and produced this piece on June 21st, 2026 - Member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)**

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Happy Father's Day! All You Did Didn't Go Unseen

I wrote the lyrics and created the production for Dad, You're the Quiet Hero on June 1, 2026. With Father's Day celebrated during June in Canada, the United States, and many other countries, it felt like the right time to reflect on the role fathers play in our lives. Yet this song was never meant for just one day on the calendar. It is for any moment when someone wants to acknowledge a father who has quietly carried the weight of responsibility, love, and devotion through the years.

"DAD, All You Did Didn't Go Unseen"

As I worked on this piece, I found myself thinking about the countless ways fathers show up for their families without expecting recognition.

Their contributions are often woven so deeply into everyday life that they can be easy to overlook. They work, worry, sacrifice, protect, and provide, frequently without applause or fanfare. Much of what they do happens behind the scenes, forming the foundation that holds a family together.

This song was written as a reminder that those efforts are seen. Behind every steady presence is a person who has faced challenges, carried burdens, and kept moving forward because others depended on him. Sometimes, the people who love him most do not always find the words to express their gratitude, but that gratitude exists nonetheless.

The story told through the lyrics follows a father whose life has been devoted to his family. He helped build a home, created security, and stood as a constant source of support through changing seasons of life. In the end, the song arrives at a simple truth: while he may never have received public recognition for everything he gave, the greatest reward was always the love, respect, and appreciation of the family he helped shape.

This piece was inspired by the experiences and perspectives of many fathers. It was also written with my own father, my husband, and my sons in mind. I wanted the song to remain open enough for listeners to see their own stories in it, whether they are thinking of a father who is still here, remembering one who has passed away, or celebrating a father who is currently raising his family.

At its heart, this is a tribute to the quiet heroes whose impact is often measured not by recognition but by the lives they touch.

*********

Drageda Lyrics on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics

*********

I write and produce story-driven lyrics. Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording. ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved - Original Lyrics Authored | Sound Recording: Produced With Digital Assistance (Vocals and Instrumental) 2026. Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held). I wrote, created, and produced this piece on June 1st, 2026 - Member of SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada).

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, June 7, 2026

I Cried Writing This Song - I Am Your Silence

Inspiration to write lyrics can come from the oddest places for me. Nearly 99% of the time, I write in the moment I decide to write. I might have an idea of what I want to write about, but I rarely know exactly what I want to say until I sit down and start putting words together.

Truth be told, I don't actually put anything on paper (I used to back in the day), I type everything into the Notes app on my phone because inspiration doesn't always wait until I'm sitting at a desk.

The story behind I Am Your Silence spans several days.

I was watching television when a conversation came up about silence and quieting the inner self. Topics about personal growth, character, and understanding ourselves have always been my favorite topics. They capture my attention almost immediately and are the kinds of things I naturally seek out.

At one point, I paused the television because I needed to run downstairs for a quick errand. I was in my bedroom, where I do most of my writing, and as I stood up, four words suddenly popped into my head:

I Am Your Silence

The moment I thought of them, I knew there was something there. I quickly opened the Notes app on my iPhone, typed in the title, and went about my day. That was the last I thought about it.

Over the next several days, the title drifted through my mind now and then, but I still hadn't decided whether I was going to write anything about it.

Then, on June 5, my husband and I went to Costco to run a few errands. It was nice to get out for a while. I spend a lot of my time writing, so a simple outing felt like a welcome change of pace.

While we were sitting in the food court having a light lunch, I opened my Notes app and thought I would see if anything would come to me from that title that had been sitting there waiting. To my surprise, the entire first verse poured out while I was sitting at a Costco table.

My husband laughed and said, "You really can write anywhere."

I laughed too because he was right.

If I'm feeling inspired and connected to an idea, it doesn't really matter where I am. The words either arrive or they don't.

Later that evening, I decided to see if I could finish the song. I never force myself to write if I'm not feeling it, so there was no guarantee it would happen. But I understood the concept I wanted to explore, and little by little, the rest of the lyrics came together.

The video of the song itself explains the idea far better than I ever could in a simple summary.

At its heart, I Am Your Silence speaks to the emotions that run so deep we cannot find words big enough to contain them. Sometimes those emotions come from grief, loss, longing, or heartbreak. Other times, they come from overwhelming joy, love, gratitude, or wonder.

The feeling may be different, but the experience is the same. We reach a point where language simply falls short. Thus, "I Am Your Silence."

I wanted to write about that space.

The place where emotion becomes larger than expression.

The place where silence takes over because words can no longer carry the weight of what we feel.

I also wanted to capture something deeply personal about those emotions. No one can truly see them the way we experience them. They exist within us in a way that is uniquely our own. Others may understand pieces of our story, but the full depth of what we feel belongs only to us.

The production side of the song is subject to intense scrutiny. The sound has to match the intention of my lyrics. The sound production aspect can be exhausting, because I'm very picky and specific about the sound, layers, and emphasis I'm looking for.

As I reflected on the finished song, I realized there was another layer to it that I hadn't consciously intended. Beyond the silence of emotion and the absence of words, there is something almost spiritual woven through the lyrics. A quiet reminder that some of life's most profound experiences are meant to be felt rather than explained.

When I listen back to the song now, I hear that element in it.

And yes, I cried while writing parts of this piece.

Not because it was sad, but because it touched something difficult to describe, something that lives beyond language.

I hope you enjoy I Am Your Silence. It has become one of my favorite songs I have ever written and produced.

Thank you for listening.

I produce all my videos myself as well, so I can paint the picture with the words. Plus, I'm just really fussy and a bit of a control (ish) person, lol.

*********

Facebook: Lyrics About Life on Facebook

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Amazon: Drageda Lyrics on Amazon Music

iTunes: Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

**Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics***

*********

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, May 31, 2026

A Daughter's Journey: The Reality of Caregiving for Your Mom

This piece is incredibly personal to me, capturing the fading chapter of my mother's life as we navigated the grueling journey of caregiving.

While it was a time of immense challenge and heartache, I would do it all over again just to be with her. I miss her so much; if I could give my breath to see her for even a minute, I would. These lyrics were written specifically from what occurred during that time in my life, yet I know this is not just my story. It is a description of the reality for millions of mothers and daughters who have walked this difficult path.

Here's The Lyric Storyboard I Wrote & Produced To Tell This Story:

Because this is a four-minute song, every line carries a specific purpose and meaning. While I cannot detail the entire narrative here, I want to highlight the core moments that defined this journey.

In the first verse, I write, "I watched you in the kitchen trying to lift that small plate; it hurt to see you struggle to do the basic things each day." While it sounds simple, this was a daily, painful occurrence. Whether it was opening a jar or managing the simple act of lifting, her hands would shake, and we had to find tools to assist her. It was a constant reminder of how life had shifted into something far more fragile.

I also wrote, "To me, you were the bravest with everything you had to face, you'd always say 'I'm fine' knowing that wasn't the case." My mother was from the "I'm fine" generation. Even when the doctors looked at her test results and then turned to me with concern, she would insist, "I'm fine, Barb, don't worry." As I get older, I've come to understand that she didn't want anyone to reiterate her ailments; she already knew them. But at the time, it was frustrating to watch her try to hold her struggle back to protect us. It was a valiant effort, and I didn't want to break her strength, but we saw the truth behind the words.

The chorus asks, "Mama, I can't fix it, I can't make this go away. I can only hold your hand now while you whisper I'm okay." When I wrote this, I kept thinking about what I would do if I had magic powers. I couldn't "fix" the aging process, but I realized what I truly wanted: to step back in time and live just one day when she was in her prime.

There are other realities referenced in the song, like the challenge of getting in and out of her lift chair, and the terrifying process of the stairs. I remember walking directly behind her, leaning against her for support as she held the railing; this was the same woman who once ran the world and bossed us all around. Watching that shift requires a kind of strength you never knew you possessed.

Finally, I believe a song needs to reach for the light. I don't provide a perfect ending, but I do create something uplifting. I end the song with the image of my father coming for her when she passed. I'm standing there, feeling a sense of relief knowing he had her hand, that he was holding her when she crossed over, and that I will be with them again when it is my time.

If you are going through this, or have walked this road, I totally understand your agony. I know the absolute struggle of this experience. My heart is with you, and I truly hope this song brings you a little bit of empathetic peace.

*********

Facebook: Lyrics About Life on Facebook

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Amazon: Drageda Lyrics on Amazon Music

iTunes: Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

**Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics***

*********

FOLLOW US ON:

Sunday, May 24, 2026

A Wedding Day Message From A Mother in Heaven

I wrote and produced A Mother's Wedding Blessing from Heaven on May 20th, 2026, as part of my continuing wedding series collection of original songs and lyrics.

Over time, I've wanted this collection to reflect not only the joy and celebration surrounding weddings, but also the deeper emotions that so often exist quietly beneath the surface. Weddings are filled with love, hope, memories, family traditions, and sometimes heartbreak, too.

This particular song was inspired by daughters who are preparing for one of the most important days of their lives without their mother physically beside them.

I had previously written a song honoring fathers who had passed who would not be present for a wedding day, but I kept thinking about the mother-daughter bond and how uniquely deep that relationship can be. For many women, their mother is the person they imagined helping them choose a dress, calming their nerves, sharing tears of joy, and witnessing the beginning of a new chapter.

When that presence is missing, the loss can feel overwhelming.

With this song, I wanted to create something that could bring comfort during those moments. Here's the song as posted on the Lyrics About Life Facebook page.

Maybe it's played privately while getting ready for the ceremony. Maybe it becomes part of a bridal shower playlist, a quiet tribute during a wedding weekend, or simply a song a bride listens to alone when she needs to feel close to her mother again.

More than anything, I wanted the song to carry reassurance.

The heart of the message is that a mother's love does not disappear. In the lyrics, the mother watches over her daughter throughout the wedding journey. She sees the choices she's making, the emotions she's carrying, and the woman she has become.

One of the most important ideas I wanted to express is that every mother hopes for her daughter's happiness above all else. No mother wishes hardship upon her child. Deep down, every mother wants her daughter to find her own version of a fairy-tale ending: a life filled with love, safety, and happiness.

That thought became the emotional center of the song.

I also included reflections on childhood, because weddings often bring back memories of growing up, moments that suddenly feel close again. A wedding day can remind someone not only of who they are becoming, but also of where they came from and who helped shape them.

To every daughter experiencing this kind of loss, my heart truly goes out to you.

I hope A Mother's Wedding Blessing from Heaven brings even a small measure of peace and comfort, and reminds you that love does not end simply because someone is no longer physically here. On a day as meaningful as your wedding day, the bond between a mother and daughter can still be deeply felt in the quietest moments.

Sometimes love stays beside us in ways we cannot see, but still somehow feel.

Note: This song is also available on YouTube, but the version featured in this post is the final version that will be released to streaming services at the end of June 2026.

I made one small change before release by reducing the percussion near the end. The YouTube version still contains the earlier mix.

*********

Facebook: Lyrics About Life on Facebook

YouTube: Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify: Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Amazon: Drageda Lyrics on Amazon Music

iTunes: Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

**Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics***

*********

FOLLOW US ON: