Barefoot.

The other day, I asked my friend Winston, a songwriting major here, how he goes about writing a song. The brains behind Night Beds, he's written and recorded some pretty impressive tunes (although he won't admit it) and will be releasing them on iTunes within the year. Anyway, he described to me an exercise that he practiced in one of his classes: to think of an idea, place, person, or thing, and write everything you know about it. In his words, "vomit" on the page. And so "Barefoot" was born.

The story behind this: On campus, we have what we call "The Quad," an attractive area of grass and trees situated right in the middle of everything. My friends and I occasionally throw a frisbee or dribble a soccer ball in between classes, and every time I head out there, I kick off my shoes and enjoy what's beneath me (admittedly, this is destroying my feet). But it seems like when I lose my shoes, I lose my stress. The "cliff" bit in the song refers to an actual set of cliff at a nearby lake that Kern showed me to. Jumping off those things is so liberating. My surroundings: the trees, the water, the rocks, are so beautiful, and I really thank God for the nature that He's given us; it's always a retreat for me.

So here's what I "vomited" this evening :-)

Bare, I stand barefoot

The sand and rock and earth between my toes

And there, from where I look

God's wonderful creation lives and grows

Sometimes you gotta strip yourself

Of shoes and futures, worries, wealth

And smell the smell of green here in the air

'Cause what's the thrill in life concrete

Just shed the shield right off your feet

And jump off of a cliff with body bare!

MP3: Night Beds - There Was Enough/Rest