Your cart is currently empty!
-
Diamonds
words and music by Doug Howell (11 Nov 1979) a thousand diamonds on the back of a leafa hundred on a single blade of grassfrosty jewels fallen from some store of wealth unseensunlight through the crystals on a glassprisms splashing colors in the airswirlin’ all around me everywhere you give me diamonds everydayand every night…
-
House on the Ocean
words and music by Doug Howell (12 Jan 1978) I’ve always wanted a house on the oceanall made of glass, perched high on a hillthen every morning I’d wake with the sunriseand every night rock to sleep with the wavesall down the stairway that leads to the waterflowers are dancing in time with the breeze…
-
Kiss the Old Romantic Goodbye
words & music by Doug Howell (25 Oct 1978) © 2019 Creative Measures I could write a bookI could go downtownI could take in a movieand then just drive around I could make a speechto the bedroom wallon the risk involved in loving youand the way I lost it all and you can kiss the…
-
The Love You Must Have Had
words & music by Doug Howell (1973) © 1980 Love’s Music, assigned to Creative Measures Lord, to think You came down herereally makes me wonderwhy we go on the way we dohurting one anotherit just don’t seem rightthe way we give you second placeand You gave us the worldbut we can’t seem to find You…
-
Keep This Heart Tender
words & music by Doug Howell (1972) • © 2018 Creative Measures LLC I was hurryin’ down the sidewalkso busy looking straight aheadI didn’t notice the sky or the leaves on the treestill one floated down in front of meit was a beautiful shade of yellowand also orange and brown and red how much does…
-
Everything I Am
words & music by Doug Howell (2015) • © 2015 Creative Measures LLC everything I ameverything I’ve doneI pour it out to you, Lordeverything that’s goodand everything that’s badI lay it down before you, Lord we start out with nothingand that’s where we endwe lose track of all we held dearall we can seem to…
-
The Lord’s Prayer (St. Barnabas Mass)
music by Doug Howell (Spring 2014) • © 2015 Creative Measures LLCadapted from the Book of Common Prayer (1979), Rite 2, Eucharistic Prayer B Our Father,who art in heaven,holy is your name.Your kingdom come,your will be doneon earth as it is in heaven.Give us this dayour daily bread,and forgive us our sinsas we forgive.Save us…
-
Retirement Career—or Calling?
I retired just this last February, and had begun using the term retirement career (which I heard somewhere last year) instead of retirement when telling others about my plans—mostly because I didn’t want to convey the impression that I don’t expect to work. On the contrary, I hope to do a lot of work. But…
-
A Big Hawaiian Adventure
Back in 2015 we began a big adventure and started blogging about it, so we could more easily share photos and experiences—both ups and downs—with family, friends, and anyone else who might be interested. In case you’re not a Facebook friend, or haven’t found or followed my Facebook music page, I’d like to share the…
-
A Musical Prayer for You
As some of you know, I’ve been working on a contemporary musical setting of the Holy Eucharist mass (that’s “communion worship service,” for my Baptist friends), dedicated to our little St. Barnabas congregation in Chelsea, MI—and our patron saint, of course! We plan to premiere the St. Barnabas Mass on Saturday, June 13, 7:30p, at…
-
How Does an INFJ Prepare for a Concert?
Since people at St. B are starting to make fun of me, I thought it was time to address this head on. The stories are beginning to get around of how I send David out of the house so I can practice. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Keep in mind that it’s been over…
-
Concert at St. Barnabas on August 18
Yes, folks. You heard me correctly. I’m doing one of those very rare local concerts. So what’s the occasion? It’s the last in St. Barnabas’ “Music and Meaning” summer concert series. I’ll do an evening of contemporary Christian music on Saturday, August 18, at St. Barnabas, Chelsea MI, sharing original songs born from moments when…
-
According to Your Word
I’m singing “According to Your Word” tonight at St. Barnabas’ Lessons and Carols service. We’re doing six of the traditional nine lessons in our service, and the third in our line-up is Gabriel’s message to Mary from God, and her response, from Luke, chapter 1. Her answer of simple, total obedience is what the song…
-
All I Know
words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare, 1973 Notes This song is the most famous one of the entire collection. Though it’s been recorded quite a few times, I think the original version is still my favorite. Some have called “Wichita Lineman,” another of Jimmy’s more famous works, the “perfect…
-
Met Him on a Plane
(originally Met Her on a Plane) words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, And So: On, 1971 Notes This has always been one of my favorites. Probably because I had an experience very like this once myself. Or twice… This is a prime example of how Jimmy takes a supremely personal moment…
-
Simile
words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Letters, 1972 Notes This is the most beautiful song about writing a song I’ve ever heard, and I think it completely blurs the line between poetry and music. Songwriting has always been a mystical thing to me, and “Simile” lays bare that mystery like no…
-
Shattered
words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: Linda Ronstadt, Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, 1989 Notes Even though I love Ronstadt’s version of this, I’ve always thought it was too short. I guess I just love the song so much I never want it to end. (Ever feel that way about…
-
Skywriter
words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Twilight Of The Renegades, 2005 Notes A friend helped me discover this song, for I had somehow missed it when it was first released. I love how the rootless, restless lyrics float over the rootless, restless harmonies. Just how a song about skywriting should be.…
-
Wooden Planes
(aka A Song for My Brother) words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: B. J. Thomas, Billy Joe Thomas, 1972 Notes Speaking of flyin’ games, here’s another. Again we’re chasing after something unattainable. Again we think our flight will never end. It was the last track on B.J. Thomas’s album, Billy Joe Thomas, and…
-
When Can Brown Begin
words & music by Jimmy Webb Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Letters, 1972 Notes If after the first six songs you’re still unsure whether Jimmy is a dreamer or not, this one should do the trick. This song is about so much more than racism—don’t stop until you’ve plumbed its depths. It’s about how we live…