Liner Notes: As I embarked on the journey of compiling my recordings for this album, I felt compelled to keep my songs distinctively raw—stripped down to just voice and guitar. This wasn't the most comfortable choice for me, and maybe not for you as a listener either, since I'm shoving my bare heart right up in your face. At any rate, I hope my songs lead you through grief, disillusionment, and weariness to hope, compassion, and courage—each expansion and contraction a “Beautiful Place” to be. © 2008 McCall Erickson all rights reserved Lyrics to “Birdwings” taken from ancient Rumi text all vocals, guitar and keyboard McCall Erickson second guitar by Shawn Miller on tracks 3 and 5 album design Paula Tager Recorded, mixed, and mastered at MAS Productions in Clearfield UT Produced by McCall Erickson and Freedom Song Productions www.mccallerickson.com Roots I had just finished the recording and the line-up of all the songs for this album when I gave it to my friend and colleague, Danielle Vaughn, to get her opinion. She said she felt the CD needed another song to start it out--something similar to the message of Birdwings, track 10. That was not the feedback I wanted to hear at the time. I was ready for the CD to be done! But I knew in my gut she was right. I sat down that night and prayed desperately to the Gods of Song to reveal the song to me. “Roots” came pouring out. Inspired by Rumi's poem “Birdwings,” this song gives glimpses into my inner life during the past 2 years and beautifully encompasses the message of this album. Beautiful Place When I experienced a profound loss in my life 2 years ago, I was shaken to the core. I felt isolated, hopeless, and desperate for healing. At a moment when it came down to sink or swim for me, I shouted “swim!” And this song came pouring out. It's kind of a fake-it-until-you-make message on my part. When I'm Small This song came to me suddenly and surely, like every bone in my body knew what it felt like to be made inferior and small by someone I loved. People close to me heard this song and immediately got worried, thinking they were the ones I was singing about. During a conversation with my mom, after already convincing her that the song isn't about her, she made a profound insight saying, “I think we all do that with each other at some point. Because of our own insecurities, we need to keep other people small.” Things That Aren't Mine Sometimes I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. As if I'm powerful enough for such a task! This song explores giving up the things that take up my time, things I carry that aren't mine. Watch the Moon A whimsical song about loving, growing, and ending up in places you never though you'd be. It's Alright Stolen cars, waitressing woes, relationship dysfunctions. . . It's alright?? Save Some for Later A song about falling in love and making it last. Inspired by my favorite childhood candy—Now and Laters. I'm Your Lullaby I have a void inside of me, and I'm tempted to fill it with people, places, and things outside of me. This song is a lullaby to fill that void—a lullaby from and to myself. Time to Shine Everything I wanted to say but never did while I was sitting by the bedside of my older sister who was in a coma. Birdwings Rumi's poem “Birdwings” put to music. When I read this poem for the first time, I knew it was going to be an integral part of this album by the words “your deepest presence is in every contracting and expanding/the two as beautifully balanced as birdwings.”