I’m Hungry

youtube sessions

This week, I’ve got a wonderful worship song that I hope you’ll enjoy.  I love doing it in this slow, contemplative way.  I could sing it for hours! (thanks Harold Greene).  It was written by Kathryn Scott from the Vineyard in Ireland (we’re getting intenational here).

Download here.  Play here:[audio:https://benwardmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Hungry.mp3|titles=Hungry|artists=Ben Ward]

There’s Still a Fight in Me

youtube sessions

New song this week written with one of my favorite people in the world, Anje Dowler, and Katie Dean.  It’s got a “James Taylor Moment” in the middle where the key goes up and I have to move the capo in a split second.  Watch for it 🙂

Download here.

Fight In Me
Ben Ward, Anje Dowler, Katie Dean

You’re the cigarette I’m not smoking
You’re the whiskey I’m not pouring
Anymore….Why can’t I close the door

You’re the hit I’m not taking
You’re the judgment I’m not making
It’s not over yet…Too hard to forget

CHORUS:
I’ve got more needs
Than the comfort you bring
You hold my hand
But you’re not holding on to me
I’ve got some doubts
But I’m feeling my way out
In the end I believe
There’s still a fight in me

Maybe I fall too quickly
Maybe I’m my own worst enemy
It’s so easy…You never leave me

CHORUS

I’ll overcome where I’ve come from
Undo the damage I’ve done

CHORUS

I’m Breaking the Speed Limit

youtube sessions

Thanks to my friend Lani Brandon for letting me use her keyboard this week.  I wrote this tune after getting a few speeding tickets…seems I can’t speed without getting caught!

Download MP3 here.  Play here: [audio:https://benwardmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Speed-Limit.mp3|titles=Speed Limit|artists=Ben Ward]

One of those days

Wednesday was not a great day.  Nothing bad happened.  It just wasn’t good.  Have you ever had one of those days?

I stayed home from work to wait on the exterminator (another long story…) who never came.  I tried to record a new song for the YouTube Sessions on keyboard and I just couldn’t get a good take.  At about ten o’clock I decided to pack the recording stuff up (it’s New York – there no room for a dedicated studio) and try again another day.  I must’ve spent five hours or so working on that song.  Nothing to show for it.  I wanted to write a blog – no dice.  I even wanted to go for a run…didn’t happen.

It’s been a long time since I tried so many different things and nothing worked out.  But I guess it’s just one of those days.

One of those days

One of those days

One of those days

No matter how you say it (write it…whatever!) it just doesn’t give you any more satisfaction.

But just before midnight as I was packing up the gear to shove into my closet I stumbled onto something.  I put a vinyl copy of James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James on the turntable and I just enjoyed it.

Didn’t sing along.  Didn’t play along.  Just enjoyed.

So I did accomplish something after all on one of those days.  Something I could have done all day long: Listen to the sounds of some really great songs.

Love Song for Olivia (11 Years!)

youtube sessions

This past Saturday was our 11th anniversary so I did what any good songwriter does  [:) ] and wrote her a song. 

If you’re interested, the last anniversary song I wrote Olivia was “Like This” from my album State I’m In.

Let me know what you think!

Download the MP3 here.  Play here: [audio:https://benwardmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/11-Years.mp3|titles=11 Years|artists=Ben Ward]

A Little Garth…

youtube sessions

A little change of pace this week.  I’ve played you eight new original songs in-a-row so I thought it would be fun to do a cover.  This is the first Garth Brooks song I learned to play.  It’s very James Taylorish so it fit me just right.  It was written by Garth and Victoria Shaw from the album Fresh Horses.

She’s Every Woman

Download | Play:[audio:https://benwardmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Shes-Every-Woman.mp3|titles=She’s Every Woman|artists=Ben Ward]