May Day Surprise

Small flower-filled baskets, left secretly on the doorstep, are a May Day tradition.

I received a modern-day, electronic equivalent of a basket of posies this morning, when I discovered I'd been named a finalist in the Sandra James Music Foundation songwriting contest for the song "I Never Knew I Could Fly."

The foundation was established by singer-songwriter Sandra James "to convey hope to children and adults alike that together we can make a better world," according to the web site.

I was inspired to write the song by a letter from my cousin Patrick Richwood, who was in New York City when the towers fell on 9/11. On the one year anniversary of that event, he wrote to friends and family describing the tragedy and the city's recovery. One of the details that haunted him was the replayed images of terrified people leaping from the buildings -- and the fact that some held hands as they leapt. Their last act was to reach out.

Alan Jackson said all songwriters and poets had to write about 9/11. And that is where the song started. But since "I Never Knew I Could Fly" came a year after that horrible day, it ended up being more about hope and recovery than tragedy.

The song can be heard on our myspace web site: I Never Knew I Could Fly Or on our band site:
Still Married.