The Listening Room

Welcome, friends.

Over the next several weeks, I’m sharing songs from my next album, one new song every Thursday.

I’m curious to hear your reactions. Sometimes you’ll notice things I can’t hear anymore because I’ve spent so much time with these songs. On my last album, a listener pointed out something in “Liver and Onions” that I had completely missed.

Mostly, I want to know:

Which songs stayed with you?
Which lines or moments hit you in a special way?
Did anything make you want to listen again?

You can reply by email with any thoughts.

A few listening notes:

The songs may change a little before release.
Headphones or good speakers help, but aren’t required.
Mostly, I hope the songs keep you company for a few minutes.

Thanks for being here.

Love,
Aaron

P.S. Want to help get this album over the finish line? Go here and learn how to get your name thanked on the last track of the album.

The New Album in Progress

One new song every week

Home Means You

Forgiveness

Long Road Back to You

All In My Head

Shepherd

Fargo, North Dakota

Is That Alright with You?

On and On

Thank You

Quiet House

Lyrics

Home Means You : It could be out in the country / Where you hear the crickets at night / It could be right in the city / Where the lights shine so bright / But it cannot be a house / No, a house won’t do / It’s gotta be a home / And that means you, you / A home means you / It could be new, big, and fancy / Where everything works like it should / Or it could be old, small, and scrappy / With paint peeling off all the wood / But it cannot be a house / No, a house won’t do / It’s gotta be a home / And that means you, you / A home means you / No, it cannot be a house / No, a house won’t do / It’s gotta be a home / And that means you, you / A home means you
Forgiveness: I cut my teeth on the people closest to me / I make them bleed and somehow they still never leave / They say the ones we love we hurt the most / And if we never do we were never close / But once in a while I push too far / I make you wish your heart was hard / Now all of this dust and all of what’s left is me on my knees asking / Forgiveness / Forgiveness / Forgiveness / What to do, what to do now with all the pain / Every time I turn mine into a cage / And once in a while I push too far / I make you wish your heart was hard / Now all of this dust and all of what’s left is me on my knees asking
Long Road Back to You: One thing I know / Is I don’t know that much / About anything, really / And I sure can’t bluff / There was one time / I tried to appear like I did / And I led someone close / And I burned up the bridge / ‘Cause you can’t mistake it / The truth in your face / The mirror’s reflection / Puts you in place / But you are the one / Who can put your foot down / You can just say the word / You can turn it around / Take the long road back to you / The long road goes back / To you / I was afraid of what / People would say, I thought / They were thinking of me / When they were really just / Thinking about their own / Problems, oh, what a relief / We all got problems / Of our own / Each our own mountain / Making the climb / Focused on footholds / A step at a time / Take the long road back to you / The long road goes back / To you / If you can hear me calling your name / You haven’t reached the end yet / Hear me calling your name / You haven’t reached the end / Take the long road back to you / The long road goes back / Take the long road back to you / The long road goes back / To you
All in My Head: Sorry I haven’t been myself lately when / You’ve been so steady and true / Sorry I didn’t bring all of my everything / Thinking that you could see through / But it was all in my head / It was all in my head / It was all in my head / It was all in my head / Sorry I went away, did not know how to say / What I was feeling inside / And that I couldn’t see your eyes searching / I thought I had to hide / But it was all in my head / It was all in my head / It was all in my head / It was all in my head / And I believe / We soon will meet / Again / And I can see / You and me / In the end / All in my head / All in my head / All in my head / All in my head / It was all in my head / It was all in my head / It was all in my head
Shepherd: The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want / But sometimes I do / I get till I’m got / Then I gaze at the birds / They’ve all that they need / While I sit here grumbling / They soar and they sing / Hallelujah / The Lord is my shepherd / Though I wander off / I chase shiny objects / That are just a mirage / Now it’s getting late / I become content / The stars are my blanket / The earth is my bed / Hallelujah
Fargo, North Dakota: Fargo, North Dakota / A blizzard in the night / I fell asleep beneath the black / I woke up in the white / The old man and his blower / Carved a path that morn / His Buick turned onto the street / And a new day was born / Fargo, North Dakota / I kissed my wife and children / I told my oldest son / “Look after your brothers, / Be good to your mom.” / Fargo, North Dakota
Is That Alright with You?: Somedays I’m up / Up in the air / Flying around / And I don’t have a care / And somedays I’m down / Below the earth / Looking for something / Deep in the hurt / Is that alright with you? / Is that alright with you? / Some nights I look up / And I just see stars / Shining down on me / Straight to my heart / And some nights I wake up / And there in the black / I see it clearly / Who I really am / Is that alright with you? / Is that alright with you? / And I’m not afraid / I’m not afraid / I’m not afraid anymore / I’m not afraid / I’m not afraid / I’m not afraid anymore
On and On: When I count the ways of wide-eyed wonder / Even in these shadows on my walls / When I try add up the stars I’m under / Even when the clouds have hid them all / It goes on / On / On and on it goes / It goes on / On / On and I know / It goes on forever / When I think of all the ways I love you / Even in the humble here and now / And the ordinary has its breakthrough / And I understand it all somehow / It goes on / On / On and on it goes / It goes on / On / On and I know / It goes on forever
Thank You: Thank you for the love you share / Thank you, thank you / Thank you for the way you care / Thank you, thank you / Thank you for the smiles and laughter / Here and now and for ever after / Thank you, thank you / You were there and no one else / Thank you, thank you / And you know the way it felt / Thank you, thank you / Asking nothing in return / You were there to help with the hurting / Thank you, thank you
Quiet House: Little room in a quiet house / And a sunbeam warm and bright / Without shadow of a doubt / Specks of dust reflecting light / And I know you often see it / Do you ever feel that way? / Floating, floating away / Little room in a quiet house / Where my thoughts go wandering / Some are humble some are proud / In the silence surrounding me / And I wonder do you feel it? / Do you ever feel the same? / Floating, floating away / Yes, I wonder do you feel? / Do you ever feel the same? / Floating, floating, floating / Floating, floating, floating away

If you’d like to hear the original worktapes and alternate version, plus songs that are not going to make the album, visit the patron archive to learn more. Not a patron? Start at the $5 a month level and get the password immediately after checkout.