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Lyrics from a new song...Bow & Arrows

Hey Hey friends!! I'm reprimanding myself for being so lax on this blog.....

Everytime I hunt down a guitar pick or bobby pin (which is daily)....I think about doing better at this!! :)

So....I thought I'd throw out the lyrics from a new song that I just finished TODAY with my friend Kyle Lee called "Bow & Arrows". I'm sure my family will like the title of this one, b/c we are devout hunters....but sadly, that's not what this song is about. I don't have a hunting song....maybe this is the closest thing I'll get to a hunting song.

I actually wrote these lyrics a few weeks ago....and Kyle came thru with the musical hook....it was a fun collaboration! Can't wait to play this one out live! Enjoy.

Bow & Arrows (2009)

Jessica Campbell/Kyle Lee

VERSE:

They told you it would be awhile

But I can see it in your eyes

This mending is breaking you down

But how can lessons be discerned

You try again but still get burned

It’s time for things to turn around

PRE-CHORUS:

If life is the bow and we are the arrows

If hope is the rain and we are the rainbows

CH:

Hold on, hold on to us tight

Underneath the shooting sky

Love us with a love that’s deep and wide

Shine us towards the burning light

Everything will be alright

Love us with a love that’s deep and wide

VERSE:

So what of all this mystery

How can two hearts build a dream

Some fairytales don’t last forever

Just like victories become

The breath that keeps us hanging on

For something so much better

BRIDGE:

When fear becomes my home & I am all alone

You will rescue me, rescue me

End of tour....Headed to Honduras

Hey! Here's what I've been up to: www.homewheretheartis.com

We have two more dates left on the tour....Charleston and Atlanta! Things have gone extremely well on the tour and I've made some lifelong friends! We've partnered with some amazing homeless shelters and organizations in the NC, VA, SC, and GA areas....they are each very unique and are making an impact in their communities!

Thanks to everyone who attended the house concerts!!

On Saturday, I will be heading back to Honduras for the third time with Riverside Mission out of East TN. We will spend 7 days in San Pedro Sula feeding the most impoverished population that reside on the banks of the river in the city. We will also have our 2nd annual shoe drive, where over 500 kids from the river area will be receiving a new pair of flip flops (provided by Soles 4 Souls). There are 15 of us on this trip and we ask for your prayers!

Thanks to all of those who have supported me and for those who continue to pour into the lives of those that are less fortunate!

Now on NoiseTrade.com

Wanna try out my music? Pay what you want or recommend 5 friends!!

Michael Jackson memories.....

As I watch CNN's non-stop coverage of Michael Jackson's death, I'm gonna recall a few of my favorite childhood memories of MJ:

Smooth Criminal:  I took dance for nine years.  3-2-1 Strike a pose!!  I remember how excited I was when I finally made the dance troupe.  (All the girls in dance troupe were sooooo cool, so I wanted to be THAT good!)  This was back in the day of record players folks!!  We would dance so hard in rehearsals that we'd knock the pin off the record!  Anyway, for our first dance troupe competition we chose MJ's song "Smooth Criminal" as our song.  When I was all decked out in my red sequined 3 piece suit--complete with hat & gloves--I thought I was a real criminal on the stage.  :)  We'd dance to other of MJ's songs that year, but that one holds the most weight.

World Premiere of Black & White video:   In November 1991, I remember sitting in the living room of my parent's old house and waiting anxiously with my brother Tate for the world premiere of MJ's "Black & White" video.  We didn't have cable television at the time, so it was pretty rare for us to get music videos on network t.v.  We were pumped!  My brother Tate was so excited that he had a "spaz" moment (like most 10 year olds have when they have too much energy)....and ran around the living room making his best attempt at MJ's dance moves.  The problem was that my Mom had plugged up the space heater....do you see where this is going?  In the midst of Tate's spastic dance break, he put his hands on top of the space heater and pushed off of it to get some air on one of his moves.  BAD!!!  That was the negative part of the night.  I remember the video being amazing....and I loved the fact that there was some kind of storyline, with the use of other actors, and to be honest, I'd never seen a man walk through fire, or transform from being a black panther.  Wow....nobody does it like MJ.  RIP.  

Gonna try to locate the pic of that red suit from dance troupe......

new lyrics.....

Just wanted to post the lyrics from one of my newest songs......let me know what ya think!!  Hopefully, I'll have these new songs recorded soon!  More to come.....:)

Bittersweet

Campbell/Philpott

June 2009 Copyright

Verse:

The stars they are falling but they never reach the ground

They loose all their glitter on the long way down

I long for your sweet voice, to be wrapped up in your arms

I wish I had wished on a different star

Chorus:

Bittersweet, bittersweet

I'm looking, looking for love again

Bittersweet, bittersweet

I'm looking, looking for love again

Verse:

Sometimes I laugh, to show I'm alright

Would it be easier to give up the fight?

Now I sit alone here, while young lovers pass by

And I miss your kiss and your hand in mine

Bridge:

It's time to pack up, head back east

My load is lighter this time

I've had all the sunsets that I can take

And I'm ready, oh I'm ready to see one rise

i heart summer

Hiya there!  This warm weather has been good for my soul!!  I am having a blast now that summer is here.....Last week I took a long overdue vacation to Florida with friends.  I haven't spent that much time baking in the sun since high school, and I was loving every minute of it!!  Also, I finally finished Dylan's autobiography "Chronicles"....and would encourage anyone that loves music, songwriting, or loves Dylan's music to read it!  His life is intriguing and I was able relate with him on several levels....mainly when he was struggling to get the ball rolling.  The last two chapters about working with producer Daniel Lanois....it details the struggle between artist/producer....and I would've loved to have been there when the two of them were battling it out over stylistic approach, song arrangement, sounds, etc.etc.  Now I'm onto reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.....I'll post some amazing quotes soon!  

I've also been on quite the writing rampage lately as well......so I'll post some of the new song lyrics and give a little detail on the inspiration behind each one in the next few days.....

I also want to tell you that Kelleigh Bannen and I are planning to do another tour in the Fall (September).....and we may need some help booking shows.....house shows.  If you have space to hold a concert (i.e. living room, poarch, backyard)....and friends to come hang.....we're gonna have a heck of a concert for you!!  More details to come....Send me a message if your interested! 

The times they are a changin'

Hey hey hey! I'm back again....after I swore I wouldn't take this much time off from my blog!! I've spent the last 3 weeks out and about...Atlanta, NC (twice), and now about to head to Mississippi for the weekend!

As I was talking to a fellow musician yesterday....it really hit me in our conversation when he said "I'm just doing all I can to keep my head above the water." I also feel like I've had to "strong arm" myself into staying positive....when things (especially in the media) seem to be draining the life out of people.

I know many of us are facing the summer without steady work....but, I'm gonna choose to make the most of it. This no-strings attached time will be used to hone in on those things that I never seem to have time for....the list goes on and on. I was talking to a lady this past week that recently retired from her job...I asked her what she was doing now that she was retired and she replied, "Doing the things I've been waiting to do my entire life." It made me think---I'm sure there are things that I can wait to do, but most of the things on my list need to happen NOW, matter of fact, yesterday if I'm being honest.

As Dylan wrote "the times they are a changin".....so let's make the most of it!

A new blog title paired with coffee and dark chocolate

Just nibbling of a piece of dark chocolate and sipping on some iced vanilla coffee at my desk. What a great combination of flavors. You should try it if you haven't......

Anyway, I was thinking of how annoying it is to be constantly cleaning up my hair out of the floor today. Inside I was just about as antsy as my stomach gets when I'm on stage and can't find my guitar pick....or when my bangs have tickled my nose one too many times and I can't seem to locate a dadgum bobby pin to save me from my perils. And then I remembered......why I created this blog. Maybe I should change the title to: Guitar picks, bobby pins, and hair everywhere. Not quite as catchy, huh?

This past weekend was FANTABULOUS! My friend Tracy and I went out for a "one day getaway" on the outskirts of Columbia, TN....we stayed in an extremely cute renovated smoke house (a 10x15 ft. one room loft). It was just what we needed! I walked outside to enjoy some alone time and I stood on a stump in view of the hills, trees, and a field full of cows (that were jumping around and playing the entire time), and watched the sky fade into a shade of dark orange as the sun went down. And it didn't come to me until Sunday morning as I was listening to the pastor @ Mercy Hill church on 12th Ave speak about Acts 4. Topic: Dealing with pain. It hit me.....In my mind I went back to that stump and sunset scene. When I was standing there watching the sky unfold, with tears in my eyes, I asked God to show me what he wants for my life....what I'd missed that day was that He WAS showing me. Then and there on that stump. The display before me......was exactly what God was showing me.....I am loved.....I am not alone.....and my life was created by the One who made that beautiful sunset. Isn't it beautiful when moments come together to complete the picture...like two strings to tie a bow. Like, well, dark chocolate and coffee.

We will meet again soon.

Change is good....but it hurts!

Change....oh, change. We say we want it, but when it comes....OUCH! Like a kid that gets their first bloody wound kind of ouch. I'm trying not to be sappy and pouty....but this readjustment is really getting to me! It really seems like we all experiencing this "uncomfortableness"...you know, like a pair of jeans that are just a little too tight around the waist. Thankfully, the jeans I am currently wearing fit just right. :)

Here's what I marvel at and am thankful for at this point: Had my circumstances remained the same...I would've remained the same. Nothing would've changed, so in some way I am grateful for all of this pain. And, since all of this has been out of my control, it is evidence that through "taking one on the chin" God is growing and resetting my focus on the real issues.

So, groan with me, if you will. "This too shall pass" they say, and trust me, I want it to pass, but not too fast. I want to come out on the other side....with the wind at my back.

SO BEHIND....

Hey!  I am so behind on keeping up with this blog!!  Eeeekk!!  I've been "readjusting" to life....or rather, just adjusting to the plans that God has for me the past few weeks!  Since I posted last, I picked up a temporary job at High Five Entertainment....in the video production world, so I am getting acquainted with that environment.  And am trying to balance music around my work schedule, which usually makes for late nights.  BUT.....Things are good and I will continue on and persevere.  

I wanted to tell you about a tour that Kelleigh Bannen and I are going on in May:  Ladies & Lyrics (don't you love that title?)  We'll be kicking it off on May 7th in Knoxville, TN and continuing on thru NC until May 13th.  Cities include:  Knoxville, TN, Greensboro, NC, Raleigh, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, and Greenville, NC.  Specifics on the venues/times are on my Myspace page.....www.myspace.com/jessicaleecampbell.  PLEASE COME!!  

I promise to write more soon!  I'm still reading in Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver.....ladies, this will change your life!!  Oh Wow!  I'll post a few quotes in the next day or two!  This is my 3rd time reading the book....and it never ceases to move me!  

LOVE YOU GUYS!!  :)  

Tomorrow night....the 90th Show!!!

I'm excited to be a part of the final show of Kelleigh Bannen's "90 in 90" Tour on April 1st!  Kelleigh has been working so hard and will cross the finish line at the Exit In---show starts at 8pm!  

She has been traveling the country raising awareness about the importance of the first 90 days of the recovery process.  The tour is a tribute to her brother Grant, who passed away from an overdose last March.  

All of the proceeds from Kelleigh's Tour go to addiction recovery.

Come out if you can!! 

www.90in90.com

Growing up....

Why is pain so much a part of growing?  I know we all have "growing pains"....but this is different.  I mean growing as in healing from hurt, taking it on the chin and getting back up to face adversity, being let down...again, and having tough-but-needed conversations.  I can't possibly name all of the situations---nor do I want to---but do you ever feel like sometimes things happen at the most unique times in life?  When I think back to the times I've been in the valley---I can now look back and realize how crucial those times were to molding me into the woman I am today....shaping my opinions....building my character.....and on and on.  

As I'm reading what I just wrote---I want you to be sure and know that I don't mean all of this in a negative way.  It's kinda like taking your vitamins....or like nasty tasting medicine as a child....you know it's good for you.  Some people embrace change and others enjoy being settled, but either way, sometimes we are forced into adjusting....and sometimes that is uncomfortable.  

I am thankful that God is continuing to teach me life lessons.....and speak in challenging times of uncertainty.  When I say that I believe God is the Most Creative One....I am usually talking about music or art.....but I also believe that he is just as (or more) artistic in the way that he shapes our lives through the process of pain and healing.  How beautiful was the the last conversation you had with someone who really understood you?  How restoring is a breathtaking sunrise?.....or an orange canvas sky at dusk?  There is color in the broken....and beauty through the pain.  I am sure of it.

Austin....what a BLAST!!!

After walking the streets of Austin....and playing a great showcase for the Red Gorilla Fest....we are exhausted!!  We had a GREAT time in Austin....we actually just pulled back into West Monroe, LA.  I have many stories.....and will punctuate them in a day or so after I can get enough rest to think straight.  Fun stuff.....catch you up soon!  It's back to Nashville tomorrow....

Made it to Louisiana....

Hey!  So, I made it to my first stop with success.......West Monroe, Louisiana.  My friend, guitar player and co-writing buddy Jarrett Carter is gonna hit the road with me in the morning.  Tomorrow night we're gonna go see my friend Kelleigh Bannen's showcase.......and we'll make our rounds to as many Red Gorilla and SXSW parties and shows as possible!  Our showcase is on Thursday......so, we're excited!!!  Can't wait to experience Austin......will let you know how it goes!

The week I had.....

Well, now that I've had a little bit of time to breathe, I can talk about last week.  What a horrible week.  Now, I must begin by saying that I am thankful to be alive and healthy (as far as I know).....so it could be worse.  And when I start to complain, I think about the starving people I have encountered overseas.

First of all, I got laid off from my job at Starbucks.  I know.....it's only a part-time job, but when a musician only has a few chains of income flowing in and one of those is removed, things can get really interesting.  Honestly, it was time that I lay down the green apron, but the timing and current economic crisis we are experiencing makes it a little frightening.  

Long story....I had to shell out some pretty crazy amounts of cash on the same day that I was laid off to fix my computer....and because of a failed "cleaning" experiment with my teeth retainers, a shocking bill came for me to have those replaced.  :)

THEN on Saturday----my boyfriend of 1.5 years decided to end our relationship.  Apparently, I am not "the one".  Nice.  I mean, at least it's good that he didn't string this out.....but WOW.  I could go on for days about this, but enough said.

God is completely rearranging my circumstances....so I am a little excited to see what's next.  

Tonight my friend Amanda and I cleaned out my messy closet....something I'd been putting off for months!!  I am considering it symbolic:  To a fresh and new beginning.....

Here's to Monday.....a start to a great week in Austin, TX.  

StoryCorps

I wanted to pass this link along....NPR has a segment called "StoryCorps" and they feature short 2 minute stories from people all over the world.  They are GREAT!!  Lots of ups and downs....but real people telling about real times in their lives.  Their theme is "Listening is an act of love"....and sometimes I am so bad at that!  I want to get better!  

Here's the link:

www.storycorps.net

Thanks to everyone who came out...

Hey!  I just wanted to say a BIG THANKS (high five!  kiss kiss!) to everyone who came out to our CD Release show at The Rutledge on Wednesday night.....it was a great night!  

Also, if you were able to catch Kelleigh Bannen and Mike Anderson.....you'll understand when I say they are AWESOME!  

Our next full band show in Nashville is April 1st at the Exit/In.....with Kelleigh Bannen and Bo Bice (American Idol what?)....hope to see you there!!

I'll post pics soon!  

CD RELEASE SHOW!!

Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!  (sorry, I couldn't resist)  

I want to invite you out to our CD Release Show.....Wednesday, March 4th @ The Rutledge on 4th Ave. in downtown Nashville @ 8pm!  The EP "Put the Stars Back" will be on sale for $5 for everybody who comes to the show!!

Special guests: 

 

Kelleigh Bannen:  www.90in90.com  This girl is doing 90 gigs in 90 days to raise awareness for addiction recovery....you're gonna love her!  

Mike Anderson & The Deputies:  Great band from Murfreesboro, TN....Mike just released his latest CD "Closing credits for a fire" last month!  

It's going to be a great night.....Don't miss this!    

RedGorilla showcase ANNOUNCED!!

Hey!  I'm excited to announce that we were chosen to be a part of the RedGorilla Music Fest in Austin, TX the week of March 17-21st!  Our showcase will be held at the Thirsty Nickel (E. 6th Street) on March 19th @ 12:30pm......tell your friends in Austin to come out!!  This will be our first trip to TX!  

www.redgorillamusic.com 

Hanging in AL.....

"There can never be enough music in this world," said Trish Toomer, owner of Toomer's Coffee in Auburn, AL, and inside I was saying to myself, "Wow!  I wish more people were like her!!"  As I make phone calls to book places to play, typically this negative-your a hassle-don't waste my time type of thing.  So, I'm encouraged when I meet people like Sandy and Trish Toomer.  

We had a good night playing with Matthew Mayfield....Thanks to everybody who came out!  

After the show we sat with some friends and listened to the thunder, rain, and lightening....with the living room window open (until the floor was drenched with the rain that blew in).  What a beautiful thing....what beautiful sounds.  The feel of this college town is very chill and we've been to some neat places so far.  How about the Barbeque House for what else....breakfast!  We're off to Cambridge Coffee Co. in a few mins to play another show and then back North to Samford.    

These were a lot of random thoughts.  :)  We love you Alabama.   

Alabama Baby!

Scott and I are Alabama bound this week...and have some really fun shows planned!  We'll be playing at Toomer's Coffee and Cambridge Coffee Company in Auburn, AL and then we're heading up to Samford University to play at their on-campus coffee shop!  Can you tell I'm a caffeine addict?!?  :)  

I'm really excited about teaming up with AL native, Matthew Mayfield for the Toomer's Show----we have some of the same musician friends and Paul Moak, who played on my EP, is going to work with Matthew on his next project here in Nashville.   You know what they say, "It's a small world."  

Here's our dates/times....if you know anyone in AL....let them know!  

Toomer's Coffee, Auburn, AL:  Wed. Feb. 18th 7:30pm

Cambridge Coffee, Auburn, AL:  Thurs. Feb. 19th 1pm

Harry's Coffeehouse @ Samford, Birmingham, AL:  Thurs. Feb. 19th 7:30pm

Also, here's a link to Matthew's page if you wanna listen to some of his stuff:

www.myspace.com/matthewmayfieldmusic

What a SATURDAY!!

Wow, so I just woke up to this beautiful Saturday morning....with a new song idea in my head....and feeling like I'm on the upswing from the cold that I have.  Sniffles are never good!!  

I've been reading this book....actually re-reading it now and it's a MUST HAVE for women out there!  "Cold Tangerines" by Shauna Niequist  Basically, it's just a book of honest and real stories from her life (subtitle:  Celebrating Everyday Life)....but they are written in a way that make you reflect on your own life stories.  The variety of her stories intrigues me....here's one that's interesting....

From the chapter "carrying my own weight"

"I thought that seeing that magic, fabled, dreamt-of number on the scale would turn me into a person who revels in her own skin, who dances in her underwear, who walks into every room fearlessly and shamelessly.  I thought that number on the scale would protect me from the vulnerability I had always felt, that it would secure me, once and for all, a place at the cool kids' table at lunch, my very own place in the world of successful, happy, confident people.  

What I found, though, is that if you're not chasing one fantasy, you're chasing another.  If it's not your body, it's your bank account, and if it's not your bank account, it's your resume or your nose or your boobs or your car or the perfect marriage or the perfect vacation or the perfect child.  For two decades, I believed that if I could just get this one thing under control, the the whole of my life would magically bloom like a perfect, lush flower.  But to my great dismay, I realized that my life was still my life, and I was still myself, just in smaller pants."

www.shaunaniequist.com  If you want to read her blog....or find out more about the book!

Have a great weekend!  

Listening to my songs on the radio!!

So my friend Jarrett Carter (co-writer of Like Fire) just moved back to his hometown of Louisiana....and he took our song in to a radio station down there.....and I'm listening to it RIGHT NOW online!  What a crazy thing!  What an interesting feeling!  Thanks Jarrett!!  

Video posted "Making the EP"

Hey!  Just posted a video "Making the EP" on my gallery:

www.gallery.me.com/jessicacampbellmusic

EP RELEASES DIGITALLY TODAY!!

Hey friends!  Excited to announce the digital release of my new EP "Put the Stars Back"......it's available on my Myspace page and my website:

www.myspace.com/jessicaleecampbell

www.jessicacampbellmusic.com

Listen to some clips and let me know what you think!!  

Writing today...

I'm gonna be honest....this was a rough week for me.  Can you relate when I say 'life can be a roller coaster'?  This week it felt like the downs were outweighing the ups.  :) Ya dig?  Anyway, I will say that my week ended on a high note.....I had a LONG and AMAZING afternoon writing with my friend Josh Cassidy.  I can't wait for you guys to hear some of his stuff when it comes out!  We wrote a song that I am SO EXCITED to share with you called "Today"....and have some others that we're working on.  In songwriting, specifically co-writing, there's no formula for being able to successfully collaborate with someone (even if things line up on paper).  If you've ever co-written....it can be grueling and intimidating with one person and exciting and fun with another.  I'll keep you posted on when you can hear some of Josh's music.....and some of the stuff we've written together!  Big UP....as they say in Jamaica.  

My NEW EP Releasing next week!!

Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Next week, January 27th, to be exact, my new EP "Put the Stars Back" will be released on my Myspace page (www.myspace.com/jessicaleecampbell) and on my personal website (www.jessicacampbellmusic.com).  Hard copy release to follow next month!  Thanks to all of you have supported me through my musical journey....what a journey it has been....and God willing, much more to come!  Thanks to Cason Cooley and all of the excellent musicians and songwriters who contributed to this project....and made it sound fresh and new (not an easy thing to do in this town)!  

My First Post!!

Well, I have surrendered to the power of the blog.  Part of my New Year's resolutions was to journal more...to actually write down what's going on in life.   So, my hope is that this blog will be an overflow of my journal....and sometimes I'm sure more random thoughts will rear their ugly head and appear on this blog.  Guitar picks and bobby pins...I am always looking for those two things.  If I had the money back that I'd spent on those two items....well, I'd go get a pedicure.  :)  Follow me.  We'll have fun.