Songwriting: The Tribute

From the time I was very young, I found my most satisfying purpose for songwriting was to write a tribute. This is a little embarrassing, but I think my first official tribute song was to the graduating seniors in my high school choir.  I got up during rehearsal one day, nervous and awkward, and played and sang my little song about how awesome they were and how much we underlings would miss them when they graduate.  I wonder if I found a rhyme for graduation.  Adulation?  I'm glad I've forgotten!  If the seniors thought I was a geek, they disguised their feelings, and thanked me for my song.

Over the years, I have written poignant songs for suffering friends, good-bye songs for teachers, funny songs for showers and birthdays, romantic songs for weddings, sentimental ones for my kids.  I love the process of personalizing a lyric, especially if it is like a secret wink that no one else sees.

Over the last couple of months, I painstakingly composed a song for my niece's wedding.  I had to write it for guitar because we could not fit my keyboard into the van with all the sound equipment, unless we left the kids and grandma behind, and the lodge where she got married had no piano.  I practiced the heck out of my guitar and have the finger callouses to prove it.

I knew Jenna and Alex would not want a sappy love song like The Rose or a traditional Ave Maria-type of song.  This is the couple who sent out a "save the date" wedding video that was worthy of a Target Commercial award for cuteness and joy.  My favorite engagement photo of them was on the tandem bike that they actually ride around in their neighborhood, always garnering hoots and hollers.

So when I wrote the song, I knew it had to have a nod to the bike.  And to their playful romance.  And to their faith in Christ.  Probably the first wedding song ever about riding a bicycle, but it brought a big smile to the adorable couple, and that's what it's all about.

Chorus:

Let's go ride a bicycle together

And let's go make a lovely life forever

We'll build it on the ROCK that will not falter

I give my heart here at the altar

Now if I only had a picture to share of Dave and me dancing Gangnam-style at the reception.