Sometimes A Loss

The Wyoming Singer Songwriter Foundation has been an inspiration to me. After I qualified for the semi-final round of the competition in Laramie, I traveled to Ten Sleep, WY on Labor Day 2022 to compete against the other songwriters. The road to Ten Sleep is beautiful.

The people and camaraderie there are indescribable. I even wrote a song about the “Long Road Back to Ten Sleep” while I was there.

But before I competed, I just enjoyed the moment, the people, the music, and the night sky in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. In the morning, I would compete against other songwriters who had qualified in the preliminary rounds in their cities across the state. I went to sleep happy that night and woke up the next day, prepared to perform and compete.

I lost.

When I didn’t advance to the Finals, I left early to come home and be with Hope and Tanner (who were originally supposed to travel with me to Ten Sleep but weren’t able because Tanner was sick).

Within a few minutes of learning that I didn’t advance, I left Ten Sleep and drove through the night to get back home to them. I was discouraged for losing and, again, feeling guilty for having been away from them at the competition…where I lost.

I arrived home from Ten Sleep around 2AM in the morning. After a bit of sleep, I woke up and talked with my father about it. His advice was simple, “Sometimes a loss doesn’t mean anything.”

I spent the rest of the day accepting that advice and writing the lyrics to this song…almost a catharsis for my defeat the day before.

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Working Tracks:

In this ‘private’ SoundCloud playlist, I’ve shared the earliest recorded versions of the verse, chorus, and bridge of the song along with the final working track...probably the last time I’ll touch this song in the studio.

• In the first version of the verse, you can hear Tanner in the background. He’s in the scratch tracks of most of my early recordings. Though he is non-verbal, he loves music and makes many happy sounds when I’m playing. Many of these lyrics changed, but the concept remained.

• This is the earliest recorded version of the chorus. The pacing is entirely different in the final version of the song, but this is how it started.

• This is the earliest recording I have of the song’s ‘bridge’. It didn’t substantively change since then…I remember it feeling very inspired in the moment. I loved the feeling of ‘eureka’ when it came to me.

• Then, the final version of the song in the studio. It begins with an instrumental section because I envisioned having a big “Steamroller-esque” vibe (check out James Taylor, if you aren’t familiar with this reference) to start the song.

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Lyrics & Chords:

Swinging through [G]three strikes at your trip to the [C]plate

Don’t hang your head [G]low as you’re walking [D]away [D7]

Heartache’s been [G]brewing [G7]; it’s been steeping for [C]days [Cm7]

But seeing it [G]coming [D] won’t change how it [G]ends [C —> G]

Sometimes a [C]loss means nothing at [G]all;

Your going through [D]pain, so keep moving [G]along

Sometimes the [C]pain means you’re doing it [G]wrong

Get thrown off your [D]horse, but not for too [G]long

But when the [C]pain starts something brand [G]new

And the things that you [D]loved are too borrowed and [G]bruised

There’s always the [C]chance you’ll take it too [G]hard

Sometimes a [D]loss means nothing at [G]all

Interview’s [G]over and rejection be[C]gins

Your not e[G]nough, so says the [D]man. [D7]

Everyone’s [G]tryin’ [G7] to do all they [C]can. [Cm7]

There’s someone else [G]better; [D7] there always [G] is. [C —> G]

Repeat Chorus

Sometimes you [Em]think all [D7dim]night, wondering [G]what to [C]do

Then in the [Em]morning [D7dim]light, you can [G]see the [Cm7]truth

Sometimes the [G]loss is honest and [D]true

But its not about [G]you. [C —> G]

Repeat Chorus