We wrote this song over the course of a couple of Monday visits to Petit-Chateau in November 2018. The song began with words and phrases in French from a resident at the center. The following week, Sarah and I shaped those words into a chorus in French and English. We then wrote several verses in English. When he stopped by to visit, we sang the song for him and he expressed gratitude. I think there is something deeply meaningful for a person to hear a song from their own words.

To read more about the writing of this song, visit Guiding Song: Treasure the Moment

And also Guiding Song: The birth of a song

This is a recording of us singing the song with residents at the center:

 

These recordings from November 2018 illustrate the process of writing the song:

Finding the melody

 

Organizing the order of the verses

 

Singing through the chorus

 

Singing with the residents

 

Singthrough

 

Song beginnings with possible chords and melody

 

Trying different melodies

 

Writing the words in French