Songs and Stories from the album
“I Have No Idea What I’m Doing”
1. All Your Courage – (Courage)
…A few years ago, two birds were hanging out together in our backyard. Suddenly, one of the birds flew straight into our living room window. He hit so hard he died instantly and fell to the ground. His partner stood by his lifeless body all day long. I kept going back to the window to investigate this odd scenario. I wondered what was going through the living bird’s head? Was she sad?…. READ and LISTEN..
2. Forgotten Names – (Letting Go)
…I woke up in a hotel room in Buffalo, New York on a tear-soaked pillow. I just wanted to close my swollen, blood-shot eyes and sleep for the rest of my life. Quentin rolled over and snuggled me into his arms, and like a child, I began to ask him questions about fate and life. I wept uncontrollably into his chest, completely overtaken by what seemed like the most excruciating and unbearable pain I’d ever experienced…READ and LISTEN
…I can’t remember which of my parent’s records captured me first. It might have been Olivia Newton-John, Nana Mouskouri, or Roger Whittaker. But, once I heard ABBA, my search was over. By the time I was 6 years old I was completely hooked on music. My babysitter loved Andrew Lloyd Weber. We’d fill the car with our voices singing “Jellicles can and Jellicles do!” on our way to Bingo. READ and LISTEN
4. Child of the Jungle (Compassion)
…The rhythm was refreshing and before I knew it, I was writing Child of the Jungle. I quickly recorded it and then forgot all about it. Six years later, I found it on an old hard drive while looking for something else. As soon as I heard it, I was immediately transported back in time, vividly remembering the “granola bar exchanges” with the beauty who carried water in a bag on the subway train…READ and LISTEN
…There was so much love between us, but it was starting to be eclipsed by the intense resentment we had built up from trying to remain in our respective roles. Together, we deduced that the main problem was that we had formed a dependent relationship. So, the most logical solution we could come up with at the time was for the dependent person (Moi) to learn how to be less dependent. Seems logical, right?…READ and LISTEN
Past experience has taught me a few things: I often fight when I should surrender; talk when I should be silent; and try to make a point when I should be listening. I only learned these things after years of repeatedly unleashing the same quick emotional reactions to varying circumstances. Eventually, I started to experiment with taking a moment of reflection at the height of a conflict… READ and LISTEN
7. Tell me a Story – (Healing)
One person’s story can do many things. It can teach, heal, open our hearts, alter our perspective or even our whole worldview. The sharing of stories is what matters to me these days because I’m realizing the power of a great story lies not only in the story itself, but in the person telling it… AND the reason they’re telling it…READ and LISTEN
8. She Does What She Wants (Self-Respect)
“I asked you a question!” she commanded even louder. Just as I thought her tone couldn’t get any more authoritative, she repeated, “Who in this class was talking?” Suddenly, I could feel my little arm raising meekly into the air. I had assumed we were ALL going to collectively raise our hands since EVERYONE was talking. To my horror, no one else budged! ..READ and LISTEN
I quickly learned that a career as a performer is not the ideal place to hide. You’d be surprised how remarkably honest people can be, especially in a bar setting once their filters have been loosened by alcohol. Becuase of this, I developed many strategies to checkout of “stinger” conversations, but I was definitely going to need a bigger fly-swatter if I was going to survive a career in …READ and LISTEN
The description I had submitted for the conference brochure said that I was going to deliver a hopeful and uplifting keynote performance. The first half of my presentation wasn’t too bad, but I soon started feeling the sadness seeping back into my body with all its exhausting weight. I started to cry right in the middle of my “uplifting” performance...READ and LISTEN
11. Against All Odds (Inspiration)
…The more I researched, the more I started to wonder how a person manages to persevere in situations and environments that expose them to even more bullying and blatant criticism. I would think they’d want to shut down or hide, but fame is not a place to hide from the cruel arrows of an immature and insensitive society. …READ and LISTEN
Somehow I just know that’s not true. In fact, I don’t think anyone understands their true calling. They may think they know their calling… for a few years or even decades but eventually, they end up confused just like everyone else. Like many, I’ve often wondered: Why am I here? Why are any of us here? What is my purpose, my calling? ...READ and LISTEN
13. Joan of Arc (Slow Version) (Death and Dying)
Partway through my stretch, I noticed a huge fish floating on its side in the lily pads. It would intermittently wave a fin above the water and I could tell it was on its descent into the “great beyond.” After watching it for a while, I determined that this fish was suffering a long, slow death and that someone should put it out of its misery…READ and LISTEN
Be the first to hear about each song and story by joining Angie’s Email list: