Lauren, I had to look up enneagram 2, and wow is that me. Everything here is so relatable. I am listening to your sweet expressive voice, your words, and the chord choices (that subtle dissonant darkness under "waves" and the chord "drown") and tearing up. I feel like I am that lady in the song "Killing me softly with his song" right now.

The opening description of the tapping pen and bouncing leg is just so concrete an image. I was immediately captured. (I've listened to this song a couple of times now.)

Beautiful melody and lyrics that are invitations to come back and find a different perspective with emphasis of words slightly changed in the timing of reading while listening. I don't know if that made sense, but it's supposed to be a great thing. Saving for more listens.

Incredible lyrics. Really hit right in the feels. The opening lines especially carry so much power. Really a song that stops the listener in their tracks and yet moves them immensely.

dang, these lyrics are really evocative, I especially like the line about the inner world being a phantom limb one needs to shed, I feel that deep in my psyche sometimes haha 😅 great tune!

Oh, Lauren. I felt this. I'm just now getting around to reciprocating for some of the comments I've received, and this song stopped me in my tracks. There's a complexity here that's hard to describe; a meditation on one's legacy of love and kindness, encompassing both burden and reward. A favorite so far this year.

don’t fight against the way it makes you feel when you can see all the ways that you contort just to reveal who you can be

This entire song is full of beautiful lyrics but the above are the ones that really, really hit me. I don't think your lyrics are too oblique or too obvious - as far as I'm concerned, it's just right.

I love love love the way this came together musically - it's making me want to have a go at the DADGAD tuning! Having the chorus be more stripped down than the verses is unexpected but so, so, so good. This is so beautiful, thank you so much for sharing.

Jesus, that's beautiful! I'm cracking up by how moved I am, I wasn't ready for that lmao!

"if being loved becomes your epitaph, go extra miles"

Bars.

This is fantastic, Lauren! The guitar work is gorgeous and the lyric just destroys me! Excellent excellent work, friend!

Oh how I adore the chorus lyric, the feeling you convey and how it unfolds musically. How hard it is not to lose ourselves completely in the giving, yet the giving is the way we love. How desperate we are for genuine connection and safe belonging and still that nagging insecurity that the way we express love is not received/appreciated/reciprocated the way we intend.

To be of use. Yes, please.

Stunning lyrics and I love some of those chord progressions. Really lovely x

ouchhhhhh.. as usual your lyrics are heartbreaking in such an honest way. the space between lines when you sing really forces me to sit with what is being sung rather than just hear the words. amazing write!

Wow, this is so beautiful! When the chorus guitar goes from strumming to picking is just perfection. And the lyrics, "shape your words to score an earnest laugh, a sunny smile, if being loved becomes your epitaph, go extra miles" hit so hard!!

Your top line melody over this DADGAD progression is terrific. It fits the lyrics beautifully and those lyrics have intriguing psychological layers. Because of the deft vocal phrasing, the gentle guitar and the overall vibe, a listener really is drawn to dig in and fully empathize with the emotion that goes with this rather complicated self-analysis.

Your songs never disappoint -- you're so skilled with melody and lyric (not to mention the performance). I love the pacing here and how much you let the song breathe.

I’m afraid I’m no help with the message - I almost always miss the point unless things are very literal 😆, but I do absolutely relate to the idea of being of use, a lover not a fighter etc. The chorus melody is really strong, no polish required to my ears. Overall this felt like listening to an old Joni demo (if she was coming off the back of a bad head cold). Really beautiful vibe to it, well done!

Funny, I’ve been composing and arranging in DADGAD for decades now, and you came up with completely different chords from me. It sounds like you.

Love a DADGAD tune! Your voice sounds lovely here. I wouldn’t worry about being too oblique or too obvious as long as you feel like you’ve got the right mood and got out what you need to say. To me, I think there’s an interesting ambiguity here between most of the song feeling like a meditation on people-pleasing but the last verse embracing that rather than being troubled by it.

really relate to this one. beautiful lyrics as usual. and love what you did with this tuning. "obvious chords" or not, you make it yours.

This is really pretty. That cold is like a phantom limb that only you can feel, I guess. I hope you can shed it soon! The imagery here is so strong, and yet it could apply to so many situations, because it’s all about the inner life, not the real world events that shaped and shape that life. I bet it will touch a lot of hearts.

Baby’s first DADGAD sounds awesome (I have a soft spot for DADGAD thanks to Tom Jeffers). Your lyrics are beautiful and hit something right inside. Lovely. ♥️

Ohh this is beautiful! And also hits right in the feelings, ouch 😅. If you hadn't said you were sick, I wouldn't have known, the way your voice and guitar blend together works so well.

For me these words and melody swirl around in layered circles, beautiful and haunting indeed. Congrats on trying DADGAD! Where ever you start is awesome.

Gorgeous melody and vibe. I was holding my breath and floating a bit over the phrases. Thanks for posting it.

I've made one DADGAD song, and I think these chords are a lot more creative than the ones I did!

I mean I think you sound great here for what it’s worth. I love that idea of the world being a phantom limb. And the dissonant chord on “take a knee” is SO GOOD. This is so beautiful.

So, the fawn response in inventive poetic metaphors? Oh, I don't recognize that at all. 🙃 Oof. "If being loved becomes your epitaph" is a gut punch, honestly. And I know absolutely nothing about the mysteries of DADGAD, but this just sounded like a well-crafted Lauren song to me, not a beginner anything. I wish you less gunk, but it wasn't detectable here, FWIW. 💙

Oh I think I can relate to these lyrics very well. Welcome to the wonderful world of DADGAD.. it's fun here! I love how contemplative, raw and heartfelt this song sounds. You have created a beautiful atmosphere. Thank you for sharing.

Gorgeous words. Really love the plucked chords in the chorus. I too, slip beneath the skin of those around. The second verse got me in particular. I feel this deeply.

Yeah. A hauntingly beautiful tune with your trademark quirky metaphors ("your inner world's a phantom limb") and deceptively simple yet intricate structure -- i mean, this does not sound like a first foray into DADGAD.