 Several years ago, I was at a meeting with several other songwriters and publishers. We were listening to an artist talk about her next album and what kind of songs she was looking for. We were handed a sheet of paper with possible themes, titles, etc, then sent on our merry way to see what we could come up with. It was like giving a pack of wolves a map to a dumpster full of bacon. I don't know how many songs were written by those writers in the next few weeks, but I'm certain it was A LOT. And like all those other writers, I wrote several songs with various co-writers, aiming for one of the cuts on this artist's new record. Wanna guess how many I got on the album? Zero. Nil. Nada. That happens a lot. Whatever...I'm not bitter. Okay, I'm a little bitter.
I've written many songs aiming for a particular artist, who then passes on the song. Always a bummer. But sometimes the song gets recorded by a different artist and you realize it may have found the better home after all. And that's fun. Then there are times the song never gets recorded and you find it later in your files and you think, "I remember writing this! I love this song. Wonder why it's never been cut?" Actually, that's not always true. First you think, "What the heck is wrong with people? Didn't they hear this is a hit? Those idiots don't have a clue what they're looking for!" Then you remember things like the sovereignty of God and His perfect timing and how he knows exactly when and where and with which artist a song should land. And He knows the songs that were written only for you and your co-writer or simply to get you to the next song or maybe to share on a blog someday. Then you get over yourself a bit and move on. 'Cause it's all good. This is one of those never-cut songs. Written with my sweet friend, Twila Labar, who I rarely see anymore but have so many great memories of writing songs together so I'm sure we'll write again someday. If she isn't some big-time film director by then and only taking calls from Hans Zimmer! Her directorial debut film comes out in July! I am so proud of her. When I rediscovered this song on my computer I couldn't find the demo we had made to pitch to the artists. So the only copy I currently have is the work tape of Twila singing it. Which is SO perfect. I love it more simply because of the memories it brings back from the writing room, and because Twila sounds so beautiful. For now, you just get the words, because this is Wednesday, people. Wednesday's words, okay? Only words. But maybe I'll post the work tape sometime too. I think you'll enjoy it. Even though that darn artist didn't. Not bitter...not bitter... GOD OF THE OUTCASTS Gina Boe / Twila Labar VERSE ONE She lies on a cardboard box under the highway Never dreamed she'd live this kind of life The people drive past her but never stop to notice That she's someone special in somebody's eyes But the one that the world has passed by Is loved by the God of the outcasts tonight CHORUS He sees them, He knows them The wounded, the broken He has not forsaken the lost and forgotten He's holding them close to His side They are loved by the God of the outcasts tonight VERSE TWO He wanders the city streets to find what he's craving Anything to give him some peace for a while We just turn away 'cause we can't comprehend it And never see that this man is somebody's child But the one that the world has passed by Is loved by the God of the outcasts tonight CHORUS BRIDGE The helpless are precious The hopeless are priceless And He will not abandon His own No He will not abandon His own CHORUS
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