You Are So Much More Than I Ever Let You Be
Or, Dad's birthday, forgiveness, Turtle triumphs, and the greatest friends/fans ever
Alice + Bill Ashworth, wedding day, June 30th, 1955
Today, August 20th, is my father's birthday. If Dad was still walking the earth he'd be 91. Lil’ Willie (Bill Ashworth) died at 59 of heart failure. I used to think the grief would dissipate. It hasn't. I tried to run from it. I didn't have time to be wrecked. Now all I’ve got is time and continual grief. It’s my assurance of true love, grace, and forgiveness. An ugly cry is my homage.
As to forgiveness, I close out the new record, EVERY KIND OF UH-OH (8.30.24), with "Forgive Me" —written for Dad and Mom. From a word-nerd like me, you're never gonna get a shorter song than this. I think the song came in at about 1:30. Says everything that needs to be said.
Forgive Me
I forgive you, I forgive you
It is no less easy since you've gone to your grave
I forgive you, I forgive you
We all have our guilt, have our shame
Now I see the beauty in you
The well-timed comedic delivery and laugh
You are so much more than I ever let you be
I hope you will forgive me
I hope you will forgive me
Thank you everyone for such a great launch of the first two singles: "Turtle in a Chinese Food Box" and "Get Yourself Some."
Take a moment to do the suggested steps listed below. It really is helping me and the music tremendously. This algorithm-dependent world is no joke. The game of trigger the algorithm is real and non-stop when releasing any sort of art commercially. But, look at what you’ve accomplished already!
Why is this important? The algorithm has an ideology: Amplify clicks, comments, presales and presaves.
I am grateful for your enthusiasm, friends!
And, I’m grateful for the Re:Think team from Universal Music Group distribution and the Nashville UMG publishing arm. Without you and their hard work on this album, it would not get the look it is.
If you're willing, if you're on the team, here's how to help today, right now. Thank you!
1. YouTube: Go to the "Turtle in a Chinese Food Box" (even if you've already been there). Watch/listen, or just let the whole video play to the end. a) SUBSCRIBE to the channel, b) Add a comment, c) Click Thumbs up, d) Copy the Share URL and post it on your socials.
2. YouTube: Go to "Get Yourself Some" (even if you've already been there). Listen, and do all the same stuff as above.
2. Spotify: Visit my official page. Click FOLLOW. Play and enjoy “Turtle in a Chinese Food Box” and “Get Yourself Some.” Add both songs to a playlist or recommend to a friend.
3. If you're planning to buy the EVERY KIND OF UH-OH as mp3s, mp4s, or lossless files, go ahead and pre-order the album now. If you're a streamer, pre-add now. Here's a one-click list of digital music providers for pre-add streamers. Here are pre-order links for Apple/iTunes and Amazon Music.
Vinyl and CD purchase info coming soon.
Thanks, everyone. Your support in overcoming the limitations of contemporary, digital retail/streaming is amazing! We are using real relationship to overcome the impersonal.
See you again on Friday. Right now I'm heading into a Music & Meaning podcast with Art House North co-founder, the one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter, Sara Groves (who sings on the new record BTW). We will be discussing how we respond when the unexpected happens—something extraordinarily good—something tear-inducing, heart-breaking and utterly confusing. I suspect I'm about to learn something. Back to you on Friday.
