Taking Down the Walls at Esalen

A handful of years back, we took a songwriting class at Esalen taught by Jimmie Dale Gilmore. It was an intensive experience; one more about storytelling, working together, and seeing possibilities. In fact, it was several days of writing, collaboration, and soul-searching. We met and made friends with an eclectic group of talented people who remain our friends -- Bill, Charlie, Jules, Johnny, and others. It also involved music.

Our first assignment was to write a song, and then we were informed that at the end of the week we would perform for everyone else who was at Esalen. And so it began.

I struggled. I had things to say and wanted to say them. I wanted to be abstract and serious. I didn't want to write about frivolous things. It was hard but good. Thanks to Bill Gessner, our team made it through. In the end, our team of three wrote two songs. One was deep, the other was about the incredible beet. Unfortunately I can't locate the lyrics for the beet song -- it was quite fun -- but I just stumbled across the words to Walls, the more serious of our productions. Along with the lyrics, I have a smattering of photographs from those leisurely songwriting days. I share them here.

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Walls

You came to me with only love to offer

That’s when I was in fear

When I could receive the gifts you gave to me

That’s when it all came clear

Chorus:

When I agreed to have these walls around me

That’s when they fell away

I understood that other life surrounds me

That’s when, that’s when I chose to stay

In early years I went in search of freedom

That’s when I could conceive

That going for the ride would lead me deep inside

That’s when I chose to leave

Chorus

Then over time I slowly found my weakness

That’s when I chose to hide

Contained within my shell, I surrendered then I fell

That’s when my heart was opened-wide

Chorus

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