"Wind Swept Shore" was the theme of last week's Steemit Open Mic Songwriters Challenge. Preparing for this song, my thoughts flew straight to Cannon Beach, on the Oregon Coast. The resulting song is an ode to Oregon, remembering the people and the places that make that state so special to me.
“Far Out In Oregon”
The Story
The Christmas holiday rushed me away from home, and so I missed the due date in last week's Songwriters Challenge. Sorry about that. This song here is an emotional one for me, looking back and reminiscing. I was born in Oregon, and lived there for a while, returning to visit over the course of many summers. Family members and cherished friends live there still. These people were with me while I wrote this song.
Oregon's natural landscapes are among the world's most wonderful. Vivid green rainforests, sky-high waterfalls, salmon-filled rivers, rocky desert canyons... Even the coastline itself offers a diverse array of environments: sand dunes, volcanic cliffs, forests that disappear into the sea, and yes, windswept shores. The place is otherworldly. These places were with me while I wrote this song.
Yes, these people and places are so very precious to me, and I'm happy they could be with me while I wrote this song. Sadly, there was another dominating memory that drive me into the deeper territory of this song, with its bluesy tone, and the subtly sorrowful lyrics. I remembered a fragile time in my life, when something terrible happened and I had to escape to Oregon, to find myself again.
Skip the next paragraph, if you're not ready for a horror story.
I apologize in advance if this rattles your nerves, but I'll do my best to share a true story in a sensitive light. I heard a woman's scream one night. I shot out of bed and ventured out to see what this was about. I followed another scream to an open garage, where a mother was holding her 15-year-old son, who hung himself with an extension cord. I'll just say about that much for now, although there's so much more to say.
Oregon saved me from the crush of despair, in that moment, because it brought life back into perspective for me. I was living in Montana at the time, and my little brother picked me up and drove straight to the Pacific Ocean, where my little troubles dissolved, in the presence of something so big. Mother Ocean truly soothed me with her immensity, and she washed away my emotional pain. This song, "Far Out In Oregon," encapsulates these feelings and remembrances.
The Lyrics
Behind eyes closed
My heart goes coasting
Over the edge of Oregon
Getting life in motion
Windswept shores
Old growth forests
Cattle guards on country roads
Fields filled with roses
Far out in Oregon
This tornado goes to unwind
Blowing in the breeze to the great big ocean
Gonna ease this little troubled mind
Moving forward
Further inward
My heart remembers
Windy winter blizzards
Reflections on Crater Lake
Listening to meadowlarks
With evening coyotes
Howling in the cedar trees
Far out in Oregon...
My heart advances
To future glances
New songs new dances
Adventures and romances
In Bend in Redmond
In Ashland in Portland
Cannon Beach
With loved ones with me
Far out in Oregon...
Gratefully,
Nice writing @cabelindsay! I'm so happy to see you wrote about Cannon Beach, I LOVE that town. I have passed through it twice, both on band tours. Slept out on the beach in tents one night, got soaked! Keep writing great stuff man, you are an asset to #openmic
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Hey, thank you so much. Feels good to be an asset here, as the #openmic has been such a game-changer for me here on Steemit. It's given me a sense of belonging, in a way. You know? I hope you feel that same sense of belonging, and I trust the Steemit platform as a whole will help to cultivate you and your fabulous music.
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This is awesome. It touches me to read how people can get so lost in music and how we have such strong emotional responses & meanings behind their own lyrics!
I’m a music lover myself, and I listen to a bunch of different genres. I’m also a researcher in psychoacoustics, which is all about the perception and psychology of hearing and our response to music. It’s great to see the talent that’s around. I didn’t realise how Steemit could actually be such a great platform to showcase musical talent.. My earliest posts on Steemit were all about my music, but I completely gave up hope because they got no views or up votes.. It was really discouraging, so I just began posting more generic blogs about cryptocurrencies etc, whatever was hot on the scene… So, I’m really glad the music side of Steemit is working out for you. Maybe some day I’ll get there too! 😅
Music helps me connect to the world emotionally. It’s really so much more than people think.. It’s a journey, and it’s fun to get lost. Anyway, it’s really nice to read that others appreciate it as much as I do.. Happy New Year, and keep up the good content on Steemit.
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What an exceptional reply. Thank you. Yes, I can relate with the discouragement that often comes in the beginning of most people's Steemit journeys. I'd say you'll have ample time to give your music posts another try, once you're really cooking on Steemit. To me, those "passion" posts are where the greatest value comes from – even if there's little financial reward, the greater gift is in the creation itself. And yes, the #openmic is incredible. It's the first place where I invest my energy here, because it gives and gives just as much as I give, and more. It's perfect for me, desiring to express myself creatively and find my voice and exercise my ideation, so I appreciate it as a platform/spotlight/amplifier for expression. Even more rewarding is the connections I've made with other participants in that community. There's a definite feeling of kinship there, and I'm proud to contribute through various roles: songwriter, encourager, appreciator, and brother.
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I completely agree. Well done to you and thanks for the encouragement. Its the content and care like this that keeps the community alive! Now to continue my own journey and actually get cooking, as you say! 😊 Happy blogging!
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very beautiful song and nice voice
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Great Job!. really well written song, love to see someone actually putting meaning into their lyrics. I am not usually into this type of music but I enjoyed this!.
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Thank you. The #openmic is such a nurturing environment. A place to practice performing in front of an audience, and engaging with other artists, which is immediately rewarding and also brings benefits for the greater picture of life. I highly recommend jumping in, if you're interested.
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Music connects the world and steemers! :)
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#truth.
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wow, as always @cabelindsay your perspective moves me! I feel the same way about Oregon and haven't ever heard someone capture the magical and unparalled beauty of every part of this state.
I'm not from here but have lived in Portland for 25 years, which is a lot longer than anywhere else. I know that there will be a time (very soon) when I have to return to the east coast for some years to be with my father before he gets too old and while I look forward to his in some ways, leaving this beloved place makes me cry just thinking about it. I will need to listen to your song to help with my homesickness when the time comes!
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Ah, wow, your words are so full of tenderness and kindness and richness. Thank you. Trusting the ocean will comfort you while you're with your father. Happy to hear your appreciation for that great state of Oregon too. Wishing you roses galore while you're there in Portland.
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I love going to cannon beach! :) I currently live in Oregon, so this really resonates with me! thank you for writing and sharing! :) you are very talented!
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Rock on! Place is mesmerizing. One time, I showed up there just North of Cannon Beach at a place called Indian Beach, and I forgot my swim trunks. So I borrowed my girlfriend's "boy shorts" and waded out to some rocks where a bunch of surfers were hanging out, all wearing wetsuits. And they actually clapped for me, after braving those chilly waters. So funny! And then I dove in. Brrr! The ocean shivers stayed with me for days.
Thank you.
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Always a pleasure. Thank you for holding the space for us.
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hello bro,
Iam from turkey and aldought I have never been a country music listener but likely the music that comes from my self its kind of that style..... I hope to also share my songs as well...thanks for your music.
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Yeah, it's true, my style feels like it would fit into the Country music genre. Thanks for your comment. And yes, I greatly look forward to your songs too – the #openmic is open for all of us. I trust you'll appreciate the community, filled with fantastic musicians and open-hearted listeners.
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Sweet song! Man, I miss Oregon dearly.
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Great song, Cabe! Sorry I didn't catch it in time for my weekly round-up of "Wind-Swept Shores." I've made sure that the other judges have seen this as they've yet to produce their weekly reviews. Glad you've done so well with this one, friend!
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Thank you, brother. I was late getting this one recorded, so I'm OK missing the boat this round. I'll be on time for the "Special Delivery" round, I'm sure, although I haven't found the inspiration quite yet.
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THANK YOU for this post, a much needed reminder that there's so much I haven't seen of this earth's beauty.. Oregon I'll visit you someday <3
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Fun! Yeah, same here. I admire the Steemit travel bloggers, who go to exotic places and document their discoveries. Oregon really is majestic. Mountainous, oceanous, glorious! :)
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The northwest definitely calls to me- I’ve never been further west than Missouri though haha some day!
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dude, you have a really great talent of composicion, as a singer you have my vote, and my congragulation, i dont even visit the usa, but you really get me there with this song.
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Hey, I really appreciate your encouraging words here. Thank you. Happy to see you there joining the #openmic too. Hopefully you're feeling a warm welcome.
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amazingly sung. if you ever need any custom illustrations for your songs or posts, i'd love to help make them for you! here's a painting of some canyons i made some time ago...
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Thank you. And yes, I'll keep you in mind - this illustration here is awesome.
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Thank you! Do you use discord? I just made an account the other day -- you can add me at tninh#6415
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Great work!
I was lucky enough to visit Oregon this last summer, and spent some time around Cannon Beach. I really got a simultaneous sense of warmth and coolness the whole time I was there - the Pacific was chilling.......but you don't have to pull too far back from the beach to feel the warmth of humanity again.
I thought you paced this piece well, and infused it with a great balance of sparsity and life. That's Oregon to me.
I look forward to more!
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I agree with you completely. Nicely said. And I appreciate your thoughtful words regarding the pace and balance of the music too. Superb comment, thank you. Looks like you're new here–welcome to Steemit!
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i like it
follback
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Great post there, keep up good work !
This replay was created using STEEMER.NET Alpha ( support STEEMER.NET / Wallet / Exchange Project here: https://steemit.com/investors-group/@cryptomonitor/steemer-net-steem-blockchain-transactor-for-windows-android-app-funding-update-243-1200-sbd-28-12-2017 )
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Thank you! Wishing you a Happy New Year. Cheers!
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I really enjoyed this. I have never been to Oregon, but I have dear friends who just moved there and love it, so will most likely go now. Your song has inspired me to seek out the places mentioned. Well done. I'm following now as well.
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Fun, thank you! Oh yeah, there's so much to do and see and play in Oregon. If you're in Central Oregon (near Bend), you might also look for Smith Rocks – another one of my favorite places. Lots of nice hiking and other outdoor activities there. Of course the Coast is my first recommendation. Cannon Beach is superlative! The surrounding area is full of beauty too. And then there's the volcanic cliffs that meet the ocean at Lincoln City, and the Newport aquarium with its jellyfish exhibit, and the sand dunes farther South. Ah, I love it there.
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It sounds so wonderful. I live on a coast, but the 'other coast'. Here now we are very cold and ice has begun to form on the bay. I have heard that the Northwest has a climate similar to that of Southern England, which is my favourite place in the world. I will be coming back to hear more songs. That's what so wonderful about our online lives, we can be everywhere at once!
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For sure! It's so fun to live vicariously through other people, seeing the world through their lenses and filters. Steemit gives us such a wealth of diverse perspectives, all of which can bring our lives into perspective too as we find meaning and passion.
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Cool song I like
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Thank you. I appreciate your comment. Hope you have a great day.
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Good post! Visit our blog and enjoy the content, greetings :D
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that was so well done that I would not allow myself to leave this page until I posted a comment, very well thought out and performed sir ;9)
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Hey thanks! And what a great comment you've made. I really appreciate you. Cheers! And stay beardiful!! :)
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Oh dear. Your voice is really calming. I had an headache, but after listening to your singing it disappeared. Thank you :). Never stop singing!
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So kind! I'm thrilled to hear you remedied your headache, and I'm touched you found my voice to be calming. Thank you for saying so. Honestly, music lifts me up all the time, and I strive to write songs that lift up others too. I believe love finds its way into the world through the melody, the words, the guitar... and the great mystery of vibrations moving through us all.
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Ha I found you and followed you and upvoted and restreemed this! This is Michael from our hometown of Lander. Awesome song Cabe!!!
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How fun! Happy to connect with you here. You're the first person from Wyoming I've seen here, so cheers! Playing music like this is becoming a great passion of mine. Thanks for your encouragement with this song. I'm following you now too.
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