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About the people |
birminghamOur first co-write, Body Out of Birmingham was written, really, about two completely different experiences.
The chorus was written in 2012 on the weekend of two important memorial services. One for a close friend, Mitch, who had passed away only at the age of 19. The service was held in North Carolina. Another, in Nashville, for my best friend's third child, a twin, who passed away before even being born. Both of these services took place within 24 hours of each other, and I remember feeling so strongly that I needed to go to at least one of them. The days surrounding this one, I knew that I was physically in Birmingham, but every bit of me wanted to get out of town and be with the people I loved in Nashville and with Mitch's family and friends in North Carolina. Realizing this, and knowing that there was no way out of Birmingham, I sat down and started singing, "Just get my body out of Birmingham, I don't know where I am tonight..." and the rest of the chorus just flowed from there. A few days later, I showed Makenna this chorus and had no clue how to go any further with it. Having had similar feelings of resolved angst toward Birmingham in previous years, Makenna and I wrote as if we were still in our Freshman year at Samford. We both didn't fully want to be there, and we hadn't found our place yet. Everything and everyone seemed to lack sincerity, bringing forth the thought that "They're all pretty people...always looking right through me, always missing the beat." Toward the end of our Sophomore year, Makenna and I both started to accept Birmingham as a home to us. We found solid, genuine friends, and found ourselves missing everything about Birmingham when we weren't there. We knew that we hadn't found the perfect happy ending in Birmingham yet, but we also knew that was something that is impossible for anyone to find anywhere. It was important for us to resolve that in the song. After a lot of struggle and thought, we decided to sing the opposite idea in the final chorus to let people know (and to remind ourselves) that we don't hate them, and we don't hate Birmingham, and that we really do call it home now. |
Just get my body out of Birmingham I don’t know where I am tonight. Get me out of this old town I don’t want to stick it out tonight. Just get my body out of Birmingham, I think that I’ve already lost my mind. I don’t care where we drive, My heart is racing over the state line. This steel city burnin’, has never been my home Sit on the hillside, I wander and I roam Countin’ the headlights, on 65 North Get this city behind me, won’t look back anymore Just get my body out of Birmingham I don’t know where I am tonight. Get me out of this old town I don’t want to stick it out tonight. Just get my body out of Birmingham, I think that I’ve already lost my mind. I don’t care where we drive, My heart is racing over the state line. They’re all pretty people, too pretty to speak, Always lookin through me, always missin the… beat. But isn’t it funny, I still can find home In different people with similar souls Just get my body out of Birmingham I don’t know where I am tonight. If I can’t get out of this old town Maybe I could stick it out tonight. Just get my body out of Birmingham, I think that I’ve already lost my mind. I don’t care where we drive, My heart is stuck right over the state line. It’s hard to believe it, it’s hard for me to say Maybe it’s not so bad if I have to stay. It may not be perfect, but it’s perfectly flawed. Just keep my body here in Birmingham, It’s where I keep my heart safe and my mind I don’t care where we drive, as long as I can see those city lights. Just get my body back in Birmingham, If that isn’t where I am tonight. I came around to this old town I learned that I could stick out and fight |
MakennaTop Bunk
Older sibling Born on Valentine's Day Hometown: Moulton, AL Studies: Nursing Enjoys naps. |
Laura LynnBottom Bunk
Younger sibling Born three days before Cinco de Mayo Hometown: Nashville, TN Studies: Non-Profit Business Management and Worship Leadership. |