During Covid I joined Southern Songwriters. We met online each week and each week we were given a suggested prompt. This song was written simply based on the prompt “100” and I wrote this song in less than two hours. A few months later, I sent it to Dave Johnson to add bluegrass instruments – which he did superbly – and suddenly I was a bluegrass songwriter. Don’t let the light-hearted sound fool you – getting old can be seriously sad and lonely! There is a good mix of humor and seriousness in this one, though. I really do wish for a time when there will be no more war and no more poverty! Heaven, perhaps?
While the story is about losing a lover, the real story is about losing a life-long friend this way. It’s a different kind of love, but every bit as painful. Tracy was singing background on one of the other songs and I thought I needed to write something specifically for her beautiful voice. Because this idea was already rolling around in my head, I thought it might be perfect for her – and I was right! I’m so thankful that she was willing to do this vocal as a last-minute addition to the album.
Called your phone yesterday – never heard a word.
That you would ghost me – it seems absurd.
Was it something I said to you; something I did or didn’t do?
Please talk to me.
It hurts so much not knowing why;
I’m so confused – I sit and cry.
Could you please explain? Help to ease the pain, but
You don’t have to love me, too
It’s simply not required of you
’cause I’ll love you anyway – and there’s nothing you could say
To change my heart.
It may be foolish – this one way street.
I lay my dignity at your feet.
Sometimes we love and love is not returned.
And that’s a lesson my heart will never learn.
And you don’t have to love me, too –
It’s really not required of you,
So, I’ll love you anyway – there’s nothing you could say.
You don’t have to love me back –
I simply will ignore the fact
And I’ll love you anyway – even if you go away –
Just isn’t any way to change my heart.
Tracy Simpson is a singer/songwriter from Fort Mill, SC. Her original music is folk-esque, is lyrically heartfelt and often full of humor, and listeners always remark on her voice’s sincere, smooth quality and pitch. She never declines an invitation to sing with her fellow songwriter friends.
