You know that thing where something goes so well the first time, you feel from the very start that you’ll want to do it again? Sure you do! Such was the case with Song Shop, a songwriting workshop we did in the 2021-22 school year in partnership with Western International High School, teacher Mr. Cruz, Third Man Records, and Lafayette American. (You can order the songs the students created in this program from the robot shop. They’re available on vinyl [!!!!] and as an mp3 download.)
So yes, yes, of course we had to do it again! Flash forward (time really does feel this way lately) to this fall. Mr. Cruz, partner teacher extraordinaire (who, it is very much worth noting, also runs a nonprofit that connects students with book and record stores: Breaking the Cycle with Books) had a new group of teens interested in writing the music and lyrics to an original song about their story of Detroit. Patrick Butler also had an interested class, so he joined us as another partner teacher.
In the first session, we discussed why music matters to us and how it works. We learned about song structure (not totally unlike story structure, as it turns out!) and how melody, verse, chorus, and bridge work together to create an experience for listeners. Musicians from Third Man Records shared insight into their strategies and processes for songwriting, and students tried these methods for themselves.
For the second session, we took a field trip to the breathtaking Third Man Records in Detroit. Students finalized the compositions of their songs and then revised, rehearsed, and recorded their songs . . . in a professional recording studio. After a studio tour, Third Man staffers participated in a Q & A about working in the music industry. It was an incredibly joyful, engaging, expansive day of creating together and talking about creating together while (you guessed it) creating together (it’s circular by design!
We’re still waiting for the final version of the songs to be mixed and produced (we’ll update this when we have a link!), but we couldn’t wait to share all this. (It’s been so cloudy in Michigan lately, we need whatever kind of sunshine we can find.)
And here’s a first! Program Manager Denise Ervin created a playlist based on the favorite songs of the students, artists, and volunteers in the Song Shop program. Note: this playlist contains explicit lyrics and content that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Listen to it here!
We’re pretty sure we know what you’re thinking now: This all sounds awesome! Do you have a copy of the lyrics of the songs the students created that I could read? Oh my goodness, we’re so glad you asked. We do!
Song I: COMFORT AVENUE
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AHH AHHH
AHH AHHH
My life here Is my life everywhere
Detroit’s my comfort zone
Silence in the suburbs, but 17th is booming
I feel whole when I think of home
The noise on the streets
Great food to eat
All these things to see
Makes Detroit unique
In Detroit I don’t feel alone
More to see than broken homes
Running ‘round the city
Riding on these Motown roads
AHH AHHH
AHH AHHH
My life here Is my life everywhere
Detroit’s my comfort zone
Silence in the suburbs, but 17th is booming
I feel whole when I think of home
Family’s on the run
Have no place to go
Haven in the distance
Somewhere safe to go
(AHH AHHH)
Detroit’s the open door
Detroit is my favorite home
Trying to chill, get some pape
Yeah, you know my zone
Oh Y’all trying act tough betta leave me alone
Boi the lions better win, they out there breaking their bones
AHH AHHH
AHH AHHH
My journey here is my life everywhere
Detroit is my stepping stone
Silence in the suburbs, but 17th is booming
I feel whole when I think of home
Song II: Old Memories
I see the spirit everywhere I look
I see love, in spite of the darkness
I see new buildings, new faces, unity
So many changes and opportunities
I close my eyes and I remember colors and cold Decembers
Running to go get ice cream, hearing all the bells ring
Calling my name, come to me, I wanna go back, I can’t lie
I wanna know what my future’s like, hope my children get a good life
We run, we laugh, we play
Knowing it won’t be the same
We run, we laugh, we play
Knowing it won’t be the same
Motors in the city, cracks and bumps inside the road
They’re always fixin’ highways, building better ways to go
Skyscrapers cast their shadows, on the place I once knew
Saying goodbye to the slides of my youth
Clark Park is “gone” to be what the future drew
Clark Park is “gone” for it to be something new
Clark Park is “gone” soon it will be brand new
Clark Park is “gone” but I remember you
Saying goodbye to the slides of my youth
My feelings escape like a lonely lost balloon
Saying goodbye to the slides of my youth
My feelings escape like a lonely lost balloon
Thanks, as ever, to our partner teachers — the irreplaceable Mike Cruz and the amazing Patrick Butler — and everyone at Western International High School. Absolutely essential to this project were: Amy Abbott and Jenna Blackson and all at Layfayette American; and Roe Peterhans, Dave Buick, and all at Third Man Records. Huge thanks to musicians Eugene Strobe, Cleveland Thrasher, and Craig Brown, who helped with multiple sessions, and Alison Lewis and Miz Korona.
And who would we even BE without our volunteers?! Charlotte Sarnacki, Rachel Udabe, Katie Johnston, Shai Rao, Maya Jain, Breanna-Iris Rosario, Benjamin Gallardo, and Erin Wang: thank you for all the magic and connection you provided to this program and these students!