Had a nice moment in the kitchen last week when I strummed and sang this one for Sue and Jules — resulting in the longest hug ever from Julia. Payment received.

Written in May 2011, it’s a simple love song built on 3 chords: D, G and A — of course. Kinda old school, I’ve really been appreciating very straightforward 60′s / 70′s songwriting lately — especially John Fogerty and Van Morrison. So I didn’t want to fuss too much and complicate the lyric or chord structure. I am particularly fond of the line “time goes by at the speed of a sweet baby girl”. That’s my life right now.

This recording is a quick sketch with piano, voice and guitar. It’s the type of demo I record when a song is close to complete, listen to over a bit of time on the iPod, and then re-record with a modified verse, different arrangement, harmonies etc that I work out. Click the little grey triangle to play, and please let me know what you think!

non-flash play link: http://bit.ly/tfNbya

I wrote her a song
because I just couldn’t say
what I felt in my heart
and couldn’t hide it away,
she sat right next to me
as my fingers did play,
I wrote her a song that day

I played it again
before she knew it too well
and if she didn’t like it
you know I just couldn’t tell,
she sang with me, a harmony
as high as the trees where we lay
laughing, singing in the shade that day

We played it around
our own little world
from right in the backyard
to a sweet baby girl,
and every year I sang it
it made her golden hair curl,
time goes by at the speed of a sweet baby girl

I have this one dream
where she plays me my song
and as she’s singing
we all sing along,
have you heard her
singing just like a bird?
be sure to hear
the sweetest sound you’ve ever heard

I wrote her a song
even though I can say
what I feel in my heart
without my D, G and A,
she sits right next to me
as my fingers do play,
I wrote her a song today
I wrote her a song today