Weekly Songwriting

I had the pleasure and honor of being a songwriting mentor for our beloved B.J.

For three years she faithfully sent me a song every Monday. My job as mentor was to give her feedback and basically help each song reach its potential. I wonder if B.J. ever knew how much she was helping me?

B.J.’s songs were filled with wonder, beauty, wisdom and peace. Her story songs journeyed to the deep woods, the high mountains and wild rivers. Her “Banjo songs” always made me smile with their infectious melodies and seemed like instant Bluegrass hits. No matter what style of song she wrote, her velvety voice easily flowed over her masterful melodies. Her guitar work was exquisite. Oftentimes, there was no feedback to give other than; “B.J… how do you do it?” or “B.J… do you ever write bad songs?’ Mostly I would just say something like; “B,J. this song is another gem and keeper, add it to your list of must record songs!”

Monday mornings became very special to me. I felt like a kid at Christmas getting to unpack yet another gem. Her songs were a weekly meditation or palette cleanser. They kept me on point and focused on what really mattered. Some of B.J.’s songs asked big questions. How can we be more loving? How can we make the world a better place? How do we find our purpose? I think ultimately, B.J. shared with us how to do all those things and more with her gentle spirit, soft presence and wonderful sense of humor. 

B.J. was somewhat of a mystery. She was a quiet person and then she sang and floored everyone that heard her sing. It was her songs that revealed so much about her. She was a painter, a deep thinker and a philosopher. She wanted to write plays and she wrote children’s songs. She looked beyond and saw the world with her artist eyes, bringing to light her insights and honest musings. 

Mondays will never be the same for me. I will always think of B.J. and her dedication to her art, to being human, to showing up and sending her songs out into the world. 

B.J.… we are all still listening. Even though you are not here, we feel you with us, gently nudging us to keep on keeping on. We hear you, we miss you and your songs will never stop playing in our heads. Thank you for your amazing gifts. Until we all meet again in the giant Bluegrass band in the sky, I’ll think of you on Mondays and I can only imagine what songs you are writing now!  - Sally Barris