"Daughter" (iTunes) is the 4th song (of 25) in my Atlas: Year Two project. As I mentioned in the “how it was made” post for Son, the length of Daughter and Son are identical: 4:04. These two sibling songs represent two sides of the gender spectrum, so I figured since all are equal (gender, race, equality, religion, etc.) I should make certain that these two songs shared the exact same length. Son represents the male gender with use of Brass instruments, and Daughter represents the female gender with use of String instruments.
Though each of the 25 Atlas: Year Two songs are being released as singles, there are five themes that I’m exploring in the writing of these songs: Life, Senses, Emotions, Intelligence and Enneagram. (Read more about these themes here.) With the release of Daughter, the “Life” EP is now complete! There’s a narrative thread between these first four Life songs that relate to one another:
• "Overture II” sets the stage and represents new life forming inside the Womb. • “Life” is about birth, representing Newborn life. • “Son” is about building up the strength to stand up, representing Infant life. • “Daughter” is about finding the balance and courage to walk forward, representing Toddler life.
The thread that ties these four songs together is the development of a human being from the womb to their first steps. Though each of those songs tell their own individual story, as a new dad, I couldn’t help but reference and document our almost-one-year-old daughter Lily's development as well!
I began writing Daughter a couple months before our daughter was born. I’ve written a handful of songs from the perspective of a parent (before I even became one myself), but Daughter was the first song I wrote after finding out Lily’s gender. So though I’ve written songs for my future children, Daughter was the first song written just for Lily.
There are two pianos playing simultaneously in the beginning of the song (and throughout)- one is an upright piano that my dear friend Alex gave me as a gift right around the time Lily was born, and the other is a grand piano (my first!) which I purchased a few months later. Since Lily was born, playing the piano together has been one of my favorite things. First I held her in one arm and with the other, played her songs on my upright piano. As she grew a little, I got my grand piano and she’d sit on my lap and play along too. So when I recorded this song, I knew that both of those pianos we played together had to be a part of this recording!
From the womb and onwards, Lily has been surrounded by music and always interacts with it in some way- first with awesome interpretive hand movements and now, full on dances and jam sessions. But my absolute favorite thing is when she visits me in my studio and I play her back a new song through my studio speakers. She first lights up and smiles and then makes a very serious face and sings along! She’s been doing that since she was only a few months old and it is the greatest reaction to my music I can imagine. So when it was time to record my vocals for this song, I held Lily as I sang my takes, to remind me of who this song is for. It’s not loud, but if you listen closely, you can hear some of Lily’s contributions in the background of my vocal recording!
I’m a fan of sappy stuff. Though I always try to keep a close watch on being overly-sappy in my songs (gotta keep sappy special by keeping it in check!)- I knew before I wrote Daughter that it would be impossible. My hope is that this song, sap and all, gets filed in the “heartfelt” category more than anything. It was written as a letter to my Daughter, a reminder for her that she is capable of anything.
"our ceiling is your floor, and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you”
I had a brief conversation with a friend of mine, David Dark who shared some encouraging words about becoming a parent. He told me that our parent's ceiling is our floor, and our ceiling will become our children's floor, meaning that our very best is a mere starting place for our children. I think it’s true and it meant a lot to me to hear in the short days leading up to my daughter’s birth.
“the forests grew a little greener”
As a sweet gift to Lily, my parents gave her a young Maple Tree to plant in our yard in Lily’s honor - a beautiful and thoughtful gift that will grow as she grows. So the above lyric is a little reference to Lily’s Maple tree.
I knew right away that my friend and frequent collaborator, Sharon Gerber needed to play Cello on this song. She recorded her Cello in her studio in Greenville, South Carolina and emailed me the results and I was instantly blown away by her performances (as always!). Her Cellos add so much depth and heart to the song. (As an amazing mom of three daughter’s herself, it’s no wonder!) I’m so grateful for her gorgeous contribution to this song. (Check out Sharon’s music here!)
Lastly, but absolutely not least-ly, I invited my friend, Joanna Hui who lives in Chicago to come by my studio and record Violins. She first heard the song on the short drive to my studio and without warning I threw dozens of melody ideas at her and she played/recorded each one so beautifully and soulfully! So the many Violins you hear throughout the song were the results of a lovely evening of off-the-cuff recording! Side note: In addition to having played several shows with me, Joanna and her sister, Jessica played strings in my Yearbook song “Watermark.” (Check out Joanna’s Grace In Style Blog here!)
I’m so honored to get to share some of the heart and ideas behind each of these songs and can’t thank you enough for reading!
Much Love, Ryan
Lyrics:
DAUGHTER
if only you knew- the sunlight shines a little brighter, the weight of the world's a little lighter, the stars lean in a little closer all because of you.
i want to see you lift your chin a little higher, open your eyes a little wider, speak your mind a little louder, 'cause you are royalty.
this is your kingdom, this is your crown, this is your story. this is your moment, don't look down..
you're ready, born ready. and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you. our ceiling is your floor, and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you, if only you knew.
if only you knew- the forests grew a little greener, the roots reach in little deeper, the birds all sing a little sweeter, all to welcome you.
I want to see your happily ever after, that you know in your heart that you matter, that you are royalty.
this is your kingdom, this is your crown, this is your story. this is your moment, don't look down.
you're ready. born ready, and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you. our ceiling is your floor, and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you.
you're ready. born ready, and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you. our ceiling is your floor, and all you gotta do is put one foot in front of you. if only you knew
this is your kingdom, this is your crown, this is your story. this is your moment, don't look down.
