I Wrote this Song for You Wells Hanley

My Aunt Tookie has always been the black sheep of the family. Sharp as a tack, comically irreverent toward convention, and unafraid to speak her mind, she has forged her own unique path in life. She's recently been moved into hospice care, but before she dies she has one very unusual wish...
 
BE A PATRON HERE:
https://www.patreon.com/iwrotethissongforyou
 
Thank You to my current Patreon supporters for helping me produce this episode!
Patreon Gold (Passionate):
Paula Atwood, Royce and Rosalie Blowe, Moira Danis, Kristin Dimento, Thomasina LaGuardia, Molly Perkinson, Elizabeth Rice, Linda Wells, Sharon Wyse, William Zybach.
 
Patreon Silver (Inspired):
Ariela Bonucci, Tanara Bowie, Alison Deadman, Mark Goodwin, Hayes Hanley, Karen Hanley, Joseph Lee, Linda DiPaolo Love, Stephanie Mastri, Randall Pharr, Sallie Thalhimer, Robert Williamson.
Before I Go is written and performed by Wells Hanley on piano and vocals. Mixed and mastered by Curtis Fye. ©2022
 
Before I Go
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2022

Someone once said
Don’t waste your time on the dead
There are things you can’t control
Just don’t let them weigh on your soul
It’s while we’re here, we can let it show
Say what we need to say before they go
 
Before I go,
What I want you to know
is that as awful as it may seem
there’s no need to cry and scream
Just take a chill - give up your straining
It could be worse, it could be raining
 
Better off, do something for someone still around
Lighten someone’s load, wouldn’t that be cool?
Help them to approach the unknown, the frightening and mysterious
with a joke or a laugh - it doesn’t have to be so serious.
 
So before I’m dead
Please get it into your head
that the sky is not falling down
and the king has got no clothes
And while there are those who'll try explaining,
it’s best to see it all as entertaining
So shed your worry, it was only draining
It could be worse, it could be raining
 
Before I go, I hope you’ll know that dying’s not so bad
Everyone must go - one day, even you
And while we hope for heaven and fret about hell, which is just such a pile,
you know the measure of a life well lived is if you made somebody smile.
The hellfire and damnation, it’s such an awful crock you know
I may never have been “saved”, but think of what I’ve saved:
At the cut rate crematorium for just 800 bucks
I’ll be relieved of all but seven pounds and I’ll remain with zero…
fear and regret
 
Before I go
What I want you to know
is that I love you in a place
where there’s no time or space
And I don’t know how, but I think it’s true
that when I’m there, I’m everywhere too
Which means that I’ll be here with you…
So don’t be sad, don’t start complaining
It could be worse, it could be raining

 
Join the Mailing List at iwrotethissongforyou.com
Sign up for Wells' mailing list to be sure you never miss an episode! You'll also be notified of special collaborations, upcoming live streams, or events near you.
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Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.
A special thanks to Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together pairing story and song.
A very special thanks to Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.
The deepest and most cathartic thank you to Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing

Father's Day Special Episode - When my son was born, I wrote a bunch of songs for him. He's in sixth grade now, and in this tangent-filled conversation, we discuss some of them. We also reminisce about "Dinosaur Crocodile", a song we wrote together when he was four.
 
BE A PATRON HERE:
https://www.patreon.com/iwrotethissongforyou
 
WATCH DINOSAUR CROCODILE HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFelNb6ChOQ
 
Thank You Patreon supporters for helping me produce this episode!
Patreon Gold (Passionate):
Paula Atwood, Royce and Rosalie Blowe, Moira Danis, Kristin Dimento, Thomasina LaGuardia, Molly Perkinson, Elizabeth Rice, Linda Wells, Sharon Wyse, William Zybach.
 
Patreon Silver (Inspired):
Ariela Bonucci, Tanara Bowie, Alison Deadman, Mark Goodwin, Hayes Hanley, Karen Hanley, Joseph Lee, Linda DiPaolo Love, Stephanie Mastri, Randall Pharr, Sallie Thalhimer, Robert Williamson.
Sleepy Time is written and performed by Wells Hanley on guitar and vocals. Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Curtis Fye. ©2010
Boy Came Down From the Sky is written and performed by Wells Hanley on piano and vocals. ©2009
Dinosaur Crocodile is written and performed by Wells Hanley and Sasha Hanley. Wells Hanley, vocals and keyboard; Sasha Hanley, vocals, drums, keyboard, harmonica. ©2014
 
Sleepy Time
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2010
 
Sleepy time is in your eyes
 
Sleepy time is in your eyes
 
Sleepy time is in your eyes
 
but you won't let go
 
No you won't let go.
 
 
Now the sun is nearly gone
 
and we've sung so many songs
 
it seems we've been awake so long
 
now it's time to let go
 
it's time to let go
 
 
Dinosaur Crocodile
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley and Sasha Hanley ©2014
 
The dinosaur eats the crocodile
 
The crocodile eats the dinosaur
 
Everybody's trying to eat each other
 
Now does that make sense?
 
 
Dinosaur tastes like crocodile
 
Crocodile tastes like dinosaur
 
Everybody tastes just like each other
 
Now does that make sense?
 
 
Dinosaur is fond of crocodile
 
Crocodile is fond of dinosaur
 
Now they're starting to eat each other
 
Now does that make.......



 
 
Boy Came Down from the Sky
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2009
 
Boy came down from the sky today
 
He landed in my arms, now he's here to stay
 
It's a happy happy day, it's a happy day
 
It's a happy happy day, it's a happy day
 
 
 
Join the Mailing List at iwrotethissongforyou.com
Sign up for Wells' mailing list to be sure you never miss an episode! You'll also be notified of special collaborations, upcoming live streams, or events near you.
Find I Wrote this Song for You on Social Media
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
 

Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.
A special thanks to Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together pairing story and song.
A very special thanks to Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.
The deepest and most cathartic thank you to Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing this podcast into the world with me.
 

Where do we go when we die? And what if we could go there and then come back to tell about it? For Elizabeth Johnson Rice, a prominent 1960's social activist, her brush with death left her forever changed and set her on a mission which she is still pursuing today at the age of 80.
Second Chance is written by Wells Hanley and is sung by René Marie. Wells Hanley, piano; Randall Pharr, bass; Billy Williams, drums. Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Curtis Fye.
Support I Wrote this Song for You
A heartfelt thanks to those of you supporting this podcast on Patreon! It's because of you that I'm able to keep the songs coming. Help out for as little as $5 a month.
Join the Mailing List at iwrotethissongforyou.com
Sign up for Wells' mailing list to be sure you never miss an episode! You'll also be notified of special collaborations, upcoming live streams, or events near you.
Find I Wrote this Song for You on Social Media
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.
A special thanks to Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together pairing story and song.
A very special thanks to Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.
The deepest and most cathartic thank you to Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing this podcast into the world with me.
Thank You Patreon supporters for helping me produce this episode!
Patreon Gold (Passionate):
Paula Atwood,
Royce and Rosalie Blowe,
Moira Danis,
Kristin Dimento,
Thomasina LaGuardia,
Molly Perkinson,
Elizabeth Rice,
Linda Wells,
Gordon Winn,
Sharon Wyse,
William Zybach.
 
Patreon Silver (Inspired):
Ariela Bonucci,
Tanara Bowie,
Alison Deadman,
Mark Goodwin,
Hayes Hanley,
Karen Hanley,
Joseph Lee,
Linda DiPaolo Love,
Stephanie Mastri,
Randall Pharr,
Sallie Thalhimer,
Robert Williamson.
 

Second Chance
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2022
 
Look who's got a second chance,
I'm back on the ground from the great expanse.
I took a dive, but I've got a second chance.
I just landed my lucky break,
got the band back together for another take.
I was "ciao", but now I'm wide awake.
 
I let my life go completely
receding to a far away shore.
Now I've returned so sweetly,
back in the flesh, and ready for more.
 
I can feel my feet, I can sing and dance,
I've returned to wearin' my shirt and pants,
I've got a second chance.
And I'm carrying a jewel,
and I don't wanna drop it,
I would be such a foo-el
if I should ever stop making the most of this second chance!
 
My days were numbered, I lumbered,
feeling so encumbered by fate,
but having dozed and slumbered,
I'm back in the race, and I'm feeling great...
There's a tear somewhere in the grand design
that I should have crossed that finish line
and kept on running, Lord how I feel so fine!
 
Now I have got another shot,
I've entered a bonus round, and I would never have thought
there could exist this delicious twist in the plot...
The curtain was closed, and the show was done,
but the producer introduced an extended run.
We made a pact, and now another act has begun.
 
The show keeps going and going,
I know it's gonna grow and thrive.
I'm overflowing just owing
to being alive!
I am gonna survive...
 
I'm living up my second chance,
I'm gonna work this perk in my circumstance.
I was revived, and I survived,
my day has arrived, I'm gonna thrive,
and I'm still alive cause I've got a second chance...
...and

We all seek to be loved, to be accepted, to belong. Straddling multiple subgroups within the culture, Topher describes himself as "Too white to be black, too black to be gay, and too gay to be Christian". He's suffered bullying and discrimination in silence... and now he's beginning to speak out.
Ready to be Loved is written and performed by Wells Hanley and is sung by Darius de Haas. The song was inspired by this video of Topher and Constance.
Support I Wrote this Song for You
A heartfelt thanks to those of you supporting this podcast on Patreon! It's because of you that I'm able to keep the songs coming. Help out for as little as $5 a month.
Find I Wrote this Song for You on Social Media
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
I Wrote this Song for You playlists are here!
You can now find all of the songs on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Join the Mailing List at iwrotethissongforyou.com
Sign up for Wells' mailing list to be sure you never miss an episode! You'll also be notified of special collaborations, upcoming live streams, or events near you.
Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.
A special thanks to you, Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together in pairing story and song.
A very special thanks to you, Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.
The deepest and most cathartic thank you to you, Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing this podcast into the world with me.
Thank You Patreon supporters for helping me produce this episode!

Patreon Gold (Passionate):
Paula Atwood,
Moira Danis,
Thomasina LaGuardia,
Molly Perkinson,
Linda Wells,
Gordon Winn,
Sharon Wyse,
William Zybach.
 
Patreon Silver (Inspired):
Royce and Rosalie Blowe,
Ariela Bonucci,
Tanara Bowie,
Alison Deadman,
Hayes Hanley,
Karen Hanley,
Joseph Lee,
Linda DiPaolo Love,
Stephanie Mastri,
Randall Pharr,
Elizabeth Rice,
Sallie Thalhimer,
Robert Williamson.

 
Ready to be Loved
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2021
 
I became in a blaze of light
I landed here after a long, long flight
And now I'm ready to be loved
I am ready to be loved
 
I went the way of the American child
I played the game, when I was sad, I smiled
But now I'm ready to be loved
I am ready to be loved
 
When the rain goes,
there ought to be a rainbow somewhere
After the pain I've known,
I want to believe you could begin to care
And that's a heavy hope to bear.
 
I've felt so frightened that I've made myself small,
I've said I was sorry when I was not sorry at all,
And I am ready to be loved
I am ready to be loved
 
I've been bossed and double crossed, and I've been tossed around
I've been stood up, and I've been let down,
And now I'm ready to rise above,
I am ready to be loved.
 
I have pretended
that I was not offended by your jokes on me
When the laughter had ended,
I searched your eyes, but found no empathy
and that's a lonely way to be.
 
Here I stand before you now
I've been mistreated, I've been beaten down,
And now I'm ready to be loved
I am ready to be loved
Oh, I am ready to be loved,
I am ready to be loved.
 
 

In this follow-up conversation, Sophie shares details of her love story not revealed in Episode 1 - Indian Summer. Prompted by questions from listeners, Wells and Sophie explore Dan's continued presence in her life, how her song has impacted her over time, and the approachable wisdom of dreams.
Hear Sophie's story and song in Episode 1 - Indian Summer (for Sophie).
Be a Patron
A heartfelt thanks to those of you supporting this podcast on Patreon! It's because of you that I'm able to keep the songs coming. Help out for as little as $5 a month.
Find I Wrote this Song for You on Social Media
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
I Wrote this Song for You playlists are here!
You can now find all of the songs on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Join the Mailing List at iwrotethissongforyou.com
Sign up for Wells' mailing list to be sure you never miss an episode! You'll also be notified of special collaborations, upcoming live streams, or events near you.
Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that has created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.
A special thanks to you, Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together in pairing story and song.
A very special thanks to you, Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.
The deepest and most cathartic thank you to you, Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing this podcast into the world with me.
Thank You Patreon supporters for helping me produce this Bonus episode!

Patreon Gold (Passionate):
Paula Atwood,
Moira Danis,
Thomasina LaGuardia,
Molly Perkinson,
Linda Wells,
Gordon Winn,
Sharon Wyse,
William Zybach.
 
Patreon Silver (Inspired):
Royce and Rosalie Blowe,
Ariela Bonucci,
Tanara Bowie,
Alison Deadman,
Hayes Hanley,
Karen Hanley,
Joseph Lee,
Linda DiPaolo Love,
Stephanie Mastri,
Randall Pharr,
Elizabeth Rice,
Sallie Thalhimer,
Robert Williamson.

 

Some people exude kindness, acceptance, and love, and we feel deeply seen and appreciated in their company. As her vision is fading due to a degenerative eye disease, Moira continues her important work of seeing the beauty in every person who passes her way.
I See You with My Heart is written and performed by Wells Hanley. Wells is joined by Curtis Fye on bass. Lyrics appear below.
Moira's photo for this episode was taken by Bill Westmoreland.
Support I Wrote this Song for You
A heartfelt thanks to those of you supporting this podcast on Patreon! It's because of you that I'm able to keep the songs coming. Help out for as little as $5 a month.
Find I Wrote this Song for You on Social Media
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
I Wrote this Song for You playlists are here!
You can now find all of the songs on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Join the Mailing List at iwrotethissongforyou.com
Sign up for Wells' mailing list to be sure you never miss an episode! You'll also be notified of special collaborations, upcoming live streams, or events near you.
Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.
A special thanks to you, Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together in pairing story and song.
A very special thanks to you, Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.
The deepest and most cathartic thank you to you, Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing this podcast into the world with me.
Thank You Patreon supporters for helping me produce this episode!

Patreon Gold (Passionate):
Moira Danis,
Thomasina LaGuardia,
Molly Perkinson,
Linda Wells,
Gordon Winn,
Sharon Wyse,
William Zybach.
 
Patreon Silver (Inspired):
Royce and Rosalie Blowe,
Tanara Bowie,
Alison Deadman,
Hayes Hanley,
Karen Hanley,
Joseph Lee,
Linda DiPaolo Love,
Stephanie Mastri,
Randall Pharr,
Elizabeth Rice,
Sallie Thalhimer,
Robert Williamson.

 
I See You with My Heart
Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2021
 
Don't be afraid that that I might not see you
nothing could be any more untrue
The beauty of light may have up and left me
but darling, I still see you.
Now I may not notice the clothes you wear
or the style of your hair, or your face so dear
Though you treasure the photos of the times we share
that's not important here.
These are the little things, but I see who you are
so don't be afraid, don't even start
I see you, I see you with my heart.
 
Lately you cry when little things confound me
and it lightens your load when I reach for you
Your eyes give a glow that I can feel surround me
and it tells me your love is true.
These are the things I see when you show me who you are
so don't be afraid, don't even start
I see you, I see you with my heart.
 
Every year there is a different style
a brand new coat that's gonna last just a while
a new kind of phone
that'll help you feel never all alone
I was told, and I did believe,
don't judge by the cover, that the eyes deceive,
and they do
now I know it's true
but no matter for me and you
'Cause we've found a different way
and I see you for who you are
so don't be afraid, don't even start
I see you, I see you with my heart.
I see you with my heart.