7in7 - Day 5 "The Train to See the Lord"

My mom is the daughter of a souther baptist preacher and we grew up either watching the Gaither's on TV. Somehow, I think that's where this song came from. Thanks, mom...and Bill.

Also, thanks to Cara Scott for doing the harmonies.

7in7 Day 5 - "The Train to See the Lord" by alan_land_10

Jesus, I was a sinner with no hope

Upon me your wrath was to be poured

The could’ve got me but instead you bought me

A ticket on that train to see the Lord

Jesus, you bought my ticket long ago

The ticket I never could afford

I didn’t deserve it and sure didn’t earn it

That ticket on the train to see the Lord

The train, the train

The morning train

That train to see the Lord

The train, the train

The glory train

That train you take to kingdom come

Jesus, won’t you forgive me of my sins

The ones I said I would do no more

I just can’t stand it, I took it for granted

My ticket on that train to see the Lord

The train, the train

The morning train

That train to see the Lord

The train, the train

The glory train

That train you take to kingdom come

One day we’ll hear that whistle loud and clear

Next stop, God’s celestial shore

There he’ll be standing and that’s when I’ll hand in

My ticket on that train to see the Lord

The train, the train

The morning train

That train to see the Lord

The train, the train

The glory train

That train you take to kingdom come

7in7 - Day 4 "Fill It Up"

This one is called "Fill It Up" and it was inspired by my backyard. The concept is filling up these dried out places with memories or ideas, or what have you, through stories or songs or poems, or what have you. Eventually, you pour out too much and your heart is dried up. So, you have to fill it up with brand new memories. I hope you enjoy and that it makes you feel something.

7in7 - Day 4 "Flood of Memories" by alan_land_10

Walk out the back door and through the yard

Make your way through the silent crowd of trees

You’ll come up on an old rusty car

Make a left and find a dried up creek

It’s been empty way too long

So tell a story or sing a song

And fill it up with a flood

Fill it up with a flood of memories

Walk out on that wooden bridge

High above where the water used to run

From a pond atop the ridge

Before it was swallowed by the warm relentless sun

Hang your feet off of the side

Over the creek that’s dead and dried

And fill it up with a flood

Fill it up with a flood of memories

Now you’re like the streams before you filled them up

Your heart is empty, you’ve poured out way too much

So fill it up with a flood

Fill it up, a flood of brand new memories

7in7 - Day 3 "50 Years"

Today I was thinking how cool it would be to randomly run into the future version of yourself walking down the street or something. So, I thought this might be a few of the things the 70-something version of me would say to the present day version of me.

7in7 Day 3 - "50 Years" by alan_land_10

I haven’t seen your face since over 50 years ago

One day you’ll meet me in the mirror a couple decades down the road

Time will teach you lessons, time will teach you how to live

Now you’re a great receiver, but time will teach you how to give

I know it sounds improbable

You learn the hard way most of the time

To be back in your shoes

To be back where you are

To live it all again, I’d give most anything

50 years from where you are

every joy and broken heart

I’d live it all again, and not change anything

She’s gorgeous No she doesn’t seem to change

You grow weak and weary and her beauty stays the same

But trust me nothing compares to her walking the aisle

Both your faces beaming, the taste of joyful tears on your smile

I know it seems impossible

But you fall more in love than you are right now

7in7 - Day 2 "I Took and Ate"

Here is Day 2. It's called "I Took and Ate" and it's a familiar story. I usually write some verses, a chorus, and a bridge maybe but that just didn't happen this time. I am ok with that. I am pretty sure this song came from discussing "Paradise Lost" in Brit Lit today. After class, I couldn't stop thinking about The Fall, my depravity and need for Jesus.

I took and I ate by alan_land_10

I woke up a bit dusty. My lungs full of breath.

All creation was singing I kept the beat in my chest.

I roared with the lions, I sang with the birds.

I screamed from the mountains, but nobody heard.

I spoke with the maker. He said “it is good.”

When he put me to sleep when I woke there she stood.

My house was a garden, the backyard was the world

I swam naked in oceans with my beautiful girl

I spoke with the maker. He said “Isn’t it good?.

Just don’t mess with that tree there not even for firewood.

Then one day a rumor, I heard from a snake

“The maker’s a liar, he didn’t fully create.

you know you could be just like Him a knowledge attained

Just bite and taste and eat. One rule disobeyed.”

God, You say that you love us. We faithfully serve.

If this is true, in your selfish greed you held back the glory we deserve

And for a minute it was sweet

Until our shameful retreat

Our eyes had been open

We’ve betrayed the one we hope in

I was deceived. I took and I ate.

Now I deceive. Full of lust and I hate who I am,

so much shame

There’s hope for everyone

Thank God there’s hope in Your son

7in7 - Day 1 "Slow Down"

Well, I am not proud of it but here is the first one. The sound quality sucks. Get used to it because it's not getting any better.

7in7 Day 1 - Slow Down by alan_land_10

We’re wasting our lives if our schedule isn’t full and bursting at the seams

We’re burning daylight and burning money because that’s what time is, supposedly

We can’t move fast enough

We can’t move fast enough

We walk with our minds glued to our plans spontaneity

is a dream we had when we were kids before responsibility

We cannot plan enough

We can’t move fast enough

I just want to slow down a minute

I just want to slow down a bit

So much on my mind, the train of thought has finally derailed

The thought of rest is so far gone I know that ship has sailed

I can’t think loud enough

I can’t think loud enough

I just want to slow down a minute

I just want to slow down a bit

I just want to slow down a minute

I just want to slow down a bit

I’m running here and I’m running there

Running late and running scared

Running hard and getting run down

I’m running out of excuses now

I just want to slow down a minute

I just want to slow down a bit

I just want to slow down a minute

I just want to slow down a bit

I just want you to feel something.

Well, friends, tomorrow marks the beginning of 7in7, a week of songwriting for me and over 300 other folks. 7in7 is a songwriting exercise. Seven songs in seven days. Finish writing a brand new song everyday.

Now, the goal here is not to write bunch of great or even good songs. It's just to stretch the creative muscle and develop some discipline for writing everyday. It would be stupid to think that someone could just pump out seven incredible songs in seven consecutive days so I am not expecting a whole lot. Neither should you. Especially if you followed my progress last year. Hopefully, I can be graced with one or maybe two songs that don't completely shame my existence. One or two that I can share with someone down the road and it be mutually beneficial.

My plan for this week is to try to balance writing completely for/from myself and writing for the listener. What I write will absolutely be an overflow of my heart in some way but I am hoping to keep the listener in mind as well. My hope is that it would be real and relatable. I just want you to feel something. I want you to sing along.

I attempted this last year and posted almost every song (the 7th never found it's way to the internet) on this very blog and I plan to do the same starting tomorrow. Let's see what happens. If you follow the progress, let me know what you think.

I Try to Keep My Eyes Alert and Open

After 15 months of driving back and forth to Waco, the time spent driving seems to go by a lot slower than the time spent with her.

For real songs by real song-writers/musicians click here or this or that or whatever.

You're the Destination

I think these tires have almost rolled

over every inch of this old road

I swear that I could make the drive with my eyes closed

As I pass each mile marker

the numbers on them keep getting smaller

but I wonder why you and I don’t seem much closer

from sea to shining sea

i’m stuck in the driver’s seat

feels like I’m going clear across the nation

40 miles aint that far

and it should take this long

so much further when your the destination

It seems like days but I am on my way

the right hand lane’s way too slow

but there’s danger in the left I know

start to pass and go too fast and before I know it

I glance up in my rear-view

the night lit up with red and blue

I cuss then pray for a little grace and that he’ll show it

from sea to shining sea

i’m stuck in the driver’s seat

feels like I’m going clear across the nation

40 miles aint that far

and it should take this long

so much further when your the destination

It seems like days but I am on my way

Until I get there

until we’re face to face

time moves lazily and slow

Once I’m with you

he promptly quickens his pace

time flies and it’s time to go

I hate when it’s time to go

get to making my way back home

burning gas on an empty road

I try and try to keep my eyes alert and open

Stayed much longer than I ought

even more exhausted than I thought

I fight and fight to keep my eyes alert and open

from sea to shining sea

i’m stuck in the driver’s seat

feels like I’m going clear across the nation

40 miles aint that far

and it should take this long

so much further when your the destination

It seems like days but I am on my way

Thanks for listening/reading all the way through. I hope it made you feel something.