Come Home for Christmas

Download MP3.

Ho, Ho, Ho!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I rerecorded a Christmas Song I wrote a few Christmases back called “Come Home.” I had the first line “For a Few Moments at a Time…” for several years. I actually worked on that song during my lunch breaks at this day job I had in Cambridge, MA (iXL if you wondered). Olivia and I had moved up to Boston to go to grad school in 1999 and needed to make some $$$ in the meantime. I really didn’t know how to write songs yet (My first Berklee songwriting course was a few months away) but I was determined. So I’d bring my guitar to the office and go down by the Charles River and write. The song never went very far, but when I was looking to write a tune for a Christmas Production in 2007 that line’s lyric and melody seemed to fit.

Christmas is about home. It’s about family, friends, reflecting, and all that stuff. But it’s also about how our Father sent His Son to rescue us. That’s the ultimate family restoration. For a few moments at a time, come home.

On a fun side note another version of this song with Olivia and me singing it at church is  my most popular video on YouTube. When O was on the show that was the one that pulled up when people searched for her. I’ve included it below…we are MUCH bigger…ha.

Come Home – Written by Ben Ward

For a few moments at a time
I see so clearly
For a few moments at a time
All the world is right
Christmas trees and Angels
Bows and ribbons tangled
For a few moments I’ve come home tonight

For a few moments at a time
No one is angry
For a few moments at a time
No one says goodbye
All my friends and family
Gathered round the fire
For a few moments I’ve come home tonight

I’ve come home
I belong
Sing those old familiar songs
About peace on earth
And Jesus’ birth
And healing all the hurts

In this moment here tonight
I stand forgiven
In this moment here tonight
Love has brought me light
I’m so tired, I’m not running
I’ve found rest on Christmas Day
In this moment I’ve come home to stay
In this moment I’ve come home on Christmas Day

Overjoyed About this New Song

Fun to stretch a bit on this tune…I need a little combo! Freedom…joy…overjoyed :).

Overjoyed

Overwhelmed and overtaken
Overruled not shaken
Feel that change running through my veins
I’m not afraid
I’m not ashamed

CHORUS
Overjoyed
In this hour, strongest tower
Fear devoured, so much power
Releasing me free
My prison destroyed
Overjoyed

Fill me up until I overflow
Pouring out on everyone I know
Empty spaces don’t stay that way
Not for long
So I’ll sing this song

CHORUS

Everything We’ll Ever Need

So one night I got into this rabbit hole on YouTube (don’t you love them??) watching old James Taylor shows. I SO wanted to write some great songs like that (and still do!). So I just started…I was also in that crazy sleepy place where you’re a little freer and I just let the song become what it wanted. I really like how it turned out. Don’t know if it’s JT quality, but I keep working!

So excited to have Stephanie White and Jessica Logan singing harmonies. We’ve got a cool cover coming up you won’t want to miss!

Download the MP3 hereListen here.

I’ve spent most of my life running from this place
I’ve spent most of my time trying to put on a happy face
I can’t ever figure out just where to begin
When I finally do I don’t know where to end
That’s when you walk in
Pretty as can be
Make me stop my doubting
Convince me to believe (that)

CHORUS
The sky won’t fall if it’s a little gray
And we won’t lose it all if we’re a little late
And everybody’s known to get the blues
But I got you and you got me
And that’s everything we’ll ever need

Guy on the TV screen’s got the latest thing
What he’s selling me’s not what I need
I don’t live my life on bread alone
‘Cause in the blink of an eye it’s almost gone
That’s when you walk in
Pretty as can be
Make me stop daydreaming
And see what’s right in front of me

CHORUS

We think we’ve have to have so much
But I could live for years on your sweet love
It’s always enough

CHORUS

Another New Song – Don’t Want to Run

Here’s another one I wrote with Anje Dowler and a great singer/songwriter I went to Berklee with, Mike Willis.

Staying put. Seeing love through. Walking it out. Hard, but so worth it. Enjoy!!

Download the MP3 here. Listen here.

Don’t Want to Run

I’ve always played the game
Holding back,
not giving all of me
so quick place the blame
A broken man
With an answer for everything

Can’t keep living live in overdrive
Always trying to catch my breath
My soul is tired now
I think I’m losing ground
I can’t help myself

CHORUS
I don’t want to run anymore
I’d rather stay with you and take it slow
With this love I can’t ignore
I’m finally coming undone
I don’t wanna run

A collection of memories
A fading dream
Are all I’ve had to hold
A beaten up photograph
From a moment that
I cannot seem to let go

Our love has been a battleground
Leaving us the casualties
I’ll raise my hand and call a truce
But I just can’t retreat

CHORUS

Am I too late?
Has the moment gone?
Is there a part of me alive in you?
Something I can hold on to?

CHORUS

Finally Free – New Song

Time for a new song! This one I wrote with my dear friend Anje Dowler…bunch of new ones coming up here and on the YouTube channel!

Finally Free
Anje Dowler/Ben Ward

It seemed so permanent
Felt like forever
They all said “learn from it”
It’ll get better
But walking around in chains ain’t good enough you see
So I cut those ties, the one’s that bind
And it almost killed me
But I’m still standing

Finally free

All my reasoning
Seemed so perfect
Subtle seasoning
Far from working
With no one else to blame walking right into that place
Just let it go, nothing left to know
No more excusing
Done with waiting

Finally Free