#75: Write a song for your guitar.

Took me long enough!

#75: Write a song for your guitar.

Many, many years ago, my parents got me a guitar as a birthday gift. From then until last September, said guitar sat in my closet collecting dust. Then, my mom and I decided we would try to get me lessons at George's Music (a music superstore near our house). Suddenly BAM! I became obsessed with playing. In the most stressful few months of my life, guitar was one of a very limited few activities I still enjoyed. Others included singing, acting, watching TV, socializing, playing games, and [the one I am best at] writing.

Granted, I am best at writing poetry. I have written some kickass poems that nobody has ever read...they're all in the bottom drawer of my desk, and probably enough to fill a whole anthology by now! Songs were a whole new forum for me.

Since this was my first song and as I am still more of an advanced beginner at guitar but a much better writer, I decided I'd write the lyrics first and then add the chords later. I wanted to write something that spoke to me, something that could influence people. I decided to write a song with the same message as this project, to look at the great things in life rather than the ones that bring you down. That brought to mind the idea of a "glass half full", and that became the title and basis for the song. Then I came up with a simple chord progression that matched perfectly.

The night of Aunt Leah's birthday, I sang it for the family and when I looked up, everyone was in tears. That was a cool feeling because it meant the song accomplished what I wanted it to. Even my mom, who is completely anti-arts (theater, music, etc.) told me that it was good enough to become a hit. I don't know about that, but Pop-Pop (my grandpa) is going to help me get it copyrighted so I can at least record it and post it to Facebook or YouTube without any possibility of plagiarism.

Without further ado, here it is... I hope you like it.
The Glass Half Full:

Staring through a painted glass
The glass stares back at me
The water reaches for the brim
But half full is all it can be
There’s not enough to be full
But too much to be empty though
Room for error, room to lose
But there is also room to grow

And as I look at this glass
I can’t help but ask

Is it what we’ve had that we have lost
Or what we have still with no cost
What we’ve gained or what we lack
What we’ve been given or what we’ve given back
There’s just enough to keep us going
Just enough to wet our cup
We’ll only ever get halfway there,
Halfway down or halfway up

In this life full of successes
We all have our share of fails
We must risk to make it anywhere
And this glass asks heads or tails
It gives or souls something to feed on
An endless questionable pull
Does this glass have any purpose?
Are our lives empty or full?

And as I look at this glass
I can’t help but ask

Is it what we’ve had that we have lost
Or what we have still with no cost
What we’ve gained or what we lack
What we’ve been given or what we’ve given back
There’s just enough to keep us going
Just enough to wet our cup
We’ll only ever get halfway there,
Halfway down or halfway up



So may this circle be unbroken
May any lies be unspoken
Pray the Lord my soul to keep
May I see the shallow water deep
And may I live but one more day
May I say all I have meant to say
And may this glass next to my bed
Put thoughtful dreams in my head

And as I look at this glass
I can’t help but ask

Cuz it’s what we’ve had that we have lost
And what we have still with no cost
It’s what we’ve gained, and what we lack
What we’ve been given, and what we’ve given back
There’s just enough to keep us going
Just enough to fill our cup
We’ll only ever get halfway there,
I’m happy just to be halfway up
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Hope you liked it! I'm glad I got this experience crossed off because now I feel more confident to go write even better songs! I might sing this at one of our concerts this year. Who knows, maybe someday you'll hear it on the radio! =)

What can I say? I like my glass half full.