Last last year (in 2018), I was invited by Tunewelders to participate in a songwriting program at Camp Southern Ground (Zac Brown’s camp, located just south of Atlanta).
I was one of 10 Atlanta songwriters who were paired with Military Veterans for a songwriting exercise during the camp’s Warrior Week program.
I sat down with 4 Marines - Blake McGee, Kelsey Smith, Lacy Gunnoe, and Brent Taylor. We spent the first hour of our 3-hour session hour getting to know each other, listening to songs we like, and kicking around ideas.
Then we landed on a plan: a storytelling country song (a la "Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis) highlighting moments in which Veterans are “thanked for their service” and how often they often respond thinking “serving is my life’s purpose.” (the rhymes were flowing immediately!)
Blake, Kelsey, Lacy, and Brent shared powerful stories, anecdotes, quotes, and rhymes as our discussion progressed.
We worked our ideas into a song structure and polished the story a bit further - before quickly busting out the guitar and putting the lyric to music in the final 10 minutes of our session.
Then all of the groups (songwriters and vets) gathered in the Treehouse to share our stories and songs. This was - by far - one of the most powerful moments in my life as a musician. I’ve written many songs over the years, but using music to help share these mens’ stories - their words, their experiences, their lives - was by far one of the most impactful musical projects I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.
And since last year, Tunewelders has been working to record fully-produced versions of a handful of the songs written during these sessions. And we’re making progress - hopefully we’ll release a few songs early next year.
In the meantime, it felt appropriate to share this song on Veteran’s Day. Something to say “thank you” to the men and women who serve our country.
ABOUT WARRIOR WEEK (from Camp Southern Ground website)
Warrior Week, our signature 12-month transition program, begins with a high-touch week at Camp Southern Ground. The goal of this week is to help transitioning veterans harness their strength, perseverance, selflessness, sacrifice, integrity, and honor as a springboard to a productive and fulfilling life after service. We apply a holistic approach to growth and discovery amongst a support network of peers and mentors who will walk with them over the next year of their journey to assist them in finding their new mission in life. The wellness and workforce readiness program helps veterans identify their unique strengths, define purpose, and develop an action plan to transform struggle into profound growth, fulfillment, and productivity.
https://www.campsouthernground.org/veteran-programs/programs
