This song started while digging through my New Orleans LP collection. I listened to Smokey Johnson (legendary drummer) and found a funky drum sample from the song "I can't help it". I made a loop from the sample and began to play around with chords and melodies. I ended up finding inspiration while strumming my 6 string mountain dulcimer which lends itself well to simple chord structures.

While I kept the strumming very straight forward I let the melody bounce around playfully with the beat. I was just singing la la la's and nonsense words to find the melody. Once I liked what I had I fleshed it out with some violin plucking and reverberated falsetto melody lines. I used my garage band to find a form and play around with the arrangement ideas.

At some point when the song had found a definite shape and sound I passed it onto my friend and poet Jessica Faust to write the lyrics. My idea was to give her the music pretty much done so that it would inspire the right mood for words. Of course this verse melody was challenging because of it's distinct rhythm. Somehow Jessica penned the most perfect lyrics that makes me feel like I am transported onto that New Orleans mid-city front porch stoop when I sing about it.

The chorus speaks of choices we've made and continue to make, who we are as a people. "Birds fly away-seek shelter. Trees stand strong-don't falter". They're both right. It just depends on your personality.

Check out Theresa's Myspace to preview songs, learn more about her and her new album. It's all right - here!