I wrote The Wind In Our Sails for my father.
Who has been the wind in your sails at an important moment in your life?

— Trailand

The Wind In Our Sails | Lyrics

On the edge of the new, leaving all that you own
You take the plunge, venturing alone
With the keys at your fingers, a pen in your hand
It’s all that it takes, to see through your plan
In these stories you’ve told, do they all have a home
These young men now old, when they return
You say it’s too late to fold, your hand has been played
Your mind has been sold, she’s calling your name

It’s the mystery in your eyes, mixed with the midnight skies
In the music she sings, in your heart how it rings
It’s the wind in your sails, that keeps blowing you on
Following your heart, to where you say that you belong

The years have gone by, and that woman you knew
She cast you aside, left you battered and blue
Your vision got blurry, as tears filled your eyes
Asking God why He left you, so He sends His reply
In the shape of a dancer, oh the beauty she brings
Just one movement, your heart starts to sing
You tell her your story, you show her your scars
You play her your songs, ’bout reaching for the stars

It’s the mystery in her eyes, mixed with the midnight skies
In the music you sing, in her heart how it rings
You’re the wind in her sails, that keeps blowing her on
Following her heart, to where she says that you belong

Now it wasn’t all easy, but you both have stayed true
The seasons have passed you by, the kids came and grew
You’ve told them your story, shared all that you know
You cling to each other, and both watch them go
It reminds you of something, of a time that’s long past
Of a young man now old, who’s found home at last
With the strings at our fingers, we’ve picked up your pen
Kept on your writing, and learned for your sin

It’s the mystery in our eyes, mixed with the midnight skies
In the music we sing and in your heart how it rings
We’re the wind in your sails, that keeps blowing you on
Following your heart, to where we all belong

It’s the mystery in your eyes, mixed with the midnight skies
In the music you sing and in our hearts how it rings
You’re the wind in our sails, that keeps blowing us on
Following our hearts to where we say that you belong

Let me create a couple of pictures in your mind.

First, picture a small blue couch in a room where three of the four walls are made of windows, stretching from floor to ceiling. Outside, the weather is a massive gray mixture of rain and fog. Inside, the heating system is made up of water radiators that rattle in time with the lorries driving past. Across the floor sits an orange-and-gray striped IKEA rug, its corners curled up because it’s too big for a European-sized living room. My guitar leans against the small blue couch where I sit, writing in my music notebook.

Hopefully, you can now picture me during my time living in my flat in Cardiff, Wales.

My wife and I lived in Cardiff for two years, from 2017 to 2019, while I was studying for my Master’s in Music Composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After long days of composing at the college and studying in local libraries, I would come home and have to mentally—and physically—wring myself dry (pun intended). After taking off my raincoat and sitting down, I kept finding that my hands and heart were drawn to my guitar. There was something inside of me that needed to work itself out.

It was a different kind of songwriting—connected to what I was learning at college, but strikingly different from what I had been studying over the previous six years. I found lyrics forming alongside the chords I was picking on my Gibson, and melodies rising to meet them.

Now let’s picture another season.

The sun is shining on the dancing leaves of the tall oak trees surrounding my parents’ back porch in Jackson, Mississippi. It’s quiet outside. Because of the lockdown, there are few to no airplanes flying overhead. Instead, you hear robins and mockingbirds sharing their musical talents as they sway with the branches of the trees. The only other sound is me workshopping those musical ideas from a few years earlier on my guitar.

By 2020, these songs—like myself—had grown a little older. They had begun to take shape into something that inspired me to finally record them.

My experience during lockdown was different from many others’. I wasn’t in isolation. Instead, I was surrounded by family, and I needed a creative place to escape. I recorded all of Yesterday’s Normal during that season in 2020, either at home or in my studio at Collage.

There is a warehouse in downtown Jackson—formally called Collage—that became a space for artists to continue working during the lockdown. During that time, I built my studio using scraps left behind by the previous owner. (By “built,” I mean that quite literally: I put up walls myself and made a makeshift roof out of coffee sacks for insulation.)

By this point in my life, I had been writing songs for a couple of years. Before that, I had spent several years writing compositions that were never professionally recorded. I developed a deep need to create something lasting—something that could become, in its own way, immortal through recording.

Yesterday’s Normal is a small time capsule of my life, my talents, and the stories I wanted to share from those two seasons in Cardiff and Jackson.

In Cardiff, I needed the songs from Yesterday’s Normal to explore a new side of my art.

In Jackson, I needed to record and share a completed project.

– Trailand

PS.

During lockdown my family all lived in one house; eleven people, eight adults and three under three years old.

My escape was to write and play my songs outside of the house somewhere. “Yesterday’s Normal” is my musical journal of what I personally was experiencing while hearing the cries for social justice and the quietness of the world without any airplanes flying overhead. It was also a time for me to reminisce about my two years in Wales, specifically day dreaming about being back in  Llantwit Major (please google it, because it’s gorgeous).“Yesterday’s Normal” unlocked the rest of the songs on the EP.

Yesterday’s Normal | Lyrics

The roaring planes have stopped overhead, 
And I can hear my own thoughts,  
Coming at me, 
Once again   
The hopes and dreams I longed for, 
So long ago,
Appear before me now, 
And they’re coming up short 
And they’re coming up short 

I saw two boys getting ready for a fight, 
When a soft voice broke the silence, 
But unheard, 
Or so it seems   
It belonged to a Jewish man, 
With a great wound in his side 
Reaching out towards them, 
He had made the distance short 
He made the distance short 

I’ve been looking for that one thing, 
All my life 
To fight against my self-doubt, 
And the war inside 
I’ve been looking for that one thing, 
All my life 
Didn’t know that I was missing out, 
On you and I 
Yesterday’s normal, 
Just passed me by 

I heard a woman sing to her mother, 
I will change what has been done, 
By selfish men   
They look at who she is, 
But the color of her skin, 
Separates somehow 
She’s always coming up short 
Always coming up short

I’ve read that those unborn, 
Are spared of all, 
The world and sin would have, 
To thrown on them   
But if they never grew up,  
To understand, 
Life’s held in Your hands 
Where love’s not coming up short 
Love’s not coming up short   

I’ve been looking for this one thing, 
All my life 
To fight against my self doubt, 
And the war inside 
I’ve been looking for this one thing, 
All my life 
Didn’t know that I was missing out,
On you and I 
Yesterday’s normal, 
Just past me by 

I thought that when I’m old enough, 
I would be able, 
To face all the trouble and truth, 
The world would have, 
To throw at me 
There’s somethings I’ll never,  
Be old enough,  
To understand, 
I’ll just be coming up short 
Just be coming up short

Then I saw you in your flora dress, 
While you waded past the craggy shoreline,  
Of Llantwit,  
Once again   
The rising tide held us close,  
And with your hand in mine, 
I pulled us in 
Breath was coming up short 
Breath was coming up… 

I’ve been looking for that one thing, 
All my life 
To fight against my self-doubt, 
And the war inside 
I’ve been looking for that one thing, 
All my life 
Didn’t know that I was missing out, 
On you and I 
Yesterday’s normal, Yesterday’s normal, 
Yesterday’s normal, Yesterday’s normal,
Yesterday’s normal,
Just passed me by

Dear Friends and Family,

Living Symphony is one of those songs that carries inside jokes, odd inspirations, and a few moments that still make me laugh to myself when I sing it.

I slipped in a couple of jokes for one of my friends (you’ll know who you are). The sounds you hear after the line “playing video games” are actually from the video game Rocket League—I recorded the startup sounds and repitched them to the key of the song. It felt like a fun way to turn something familiar into something musical.

There’s also a line in the song that came from a very brief season of drinking Twisted Tea when it first came out. I often write what’s around me—or what I’m holding. Songs have a way of holding onto moments like that—small, ordinary details that end up marking a season of life.

Living Symphony is a reminder to me that our lives are made up of many little sounds, stories, and rhythms—some serious, some silly—all woven together into something meaningful.

We are all a part of a larger story, a living symphony.

—Trailand

Living Symphony | Lyrics

I tried to write for You again
But words wouldn’t come to lay with me
I set in the quiet
Waiting for a knock on the door
I wrote the sound
That I heard on the breeze
Given gracefully
The Living Symphony, Contains this melody

And I
Want to love You well
Holy Isosceles
I hold onto You selfishly And You
Have always loved me well
With the greatest of compliments
The image of Yourself

I unwind with a gin and tonic
I’ll call you after I’ve stayed up too late
Playing video games
When we’re down and it’s three to twelve
I’m afraid to write
‘Cause I know it sounds ironic
But there’s plenty of time Twisted, rotate
Carry me and climb

And we
Try to love You well
Holy Infinity
And love each as their self For You
Will come to love and dwell
While singing You hung selflessly
A movement in the Symphony

Dear Friends and Family,

Earlier this year, I had the chance to learn and record this song with my friend Mike Murphy, and I genuinely loved the brotherly process of our time together. Some songs are meaningful in the moment and then fade—but this one has stuck with me. I’ve been waiting to sing it again with my family during the appropriate time: the Advent season.

That’s part of what I love about Advent. It gives us language for waiting—steady hope, honest longing, and the quiet joy of remembering what God has done and anticipating what He will do.

Another part of the Advent season that I love is the family and fellowship throughout the season. I hope you enjoy watching Mike and his family as they teach us this song.

And I further hope “Each Advent” meets you wherever you are in this season. If you’re able, gather a few people close (family, friends, roommates), press play, and let it become a small prayer in your home.
— Trailand

PRAYER

Lord, we ask you: give ear to our prayers and, by your gracious visitation, lighten the darkness of our hearts,

through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, 1552

Each Advent | Lyrics

Each Advent tells us Christ is near;
each Christmas tells us Christ is here,
and in Epiphany we trace the Son of God,
the gift of grace,
the Son of God, the Gift of Grace.

Here’s another “whisper” from the 37 Days of Christmas that we originally released in 2019/2020. “Whisper” is a term my dad uses to describe his songs that are recordings in progress. Here’s what he wrote about “Shepherd’s Tale”:

“This song is exactly what the title implies—it’s a tale: based on a true story, but full of imagination and poetic liberties. It’s fun! If you want the accurate version, I recommend you read Luke 2, which inspired this tale.”

So, if you haven’t already, go read Luke 2 this Christmas season.

— Trailand

PS. We’ve had a lot of fun playing this one on tour this season! If you heard it at a show reply to this email.

A Shepherd’s Tale | Lyrics

I was watching moonlight sparkle in the dew drops on the grass,
I was watching the horizon for the day.

We were watching over sheep all night and they were sleeping fast
Trying to find new ways to stay awake.

it made no rhyme or reason
‘cause it was simply not the season
Fall began descending down the mountain slope
and it looked like stars were falling then we heard each of them calling
Then the fall burst into flame and then it spoke:

It said put away your fear boys,
I’ve got something good to say
I think you’d best sit down there by your stock;

The news is so unnerving I’m afraid that you might faint,
It’s bizarre enough I think that you might laugh

In the city of your King inside your next door neighbor’s barn
something happened and the world will never be the same

Earlier this evening unto you a child was born,
He’s the Messiah, and Jesus is His name.

Glory in the highest, peace down here on Earth.
Glory in the highest, peace down here on Earth.

Glory in the highest and salvation on the Earth,
there is peace to anybody who believes it.
Glory in the highest and salvation on the Earth,
there is peace to anybody who believes it.

We went running down the same road that we walked on many times,
found them in the stable just like he said we would.

Well I humbly made an entrance and asked if we might take a vote
Cause like this never happens in our neighborhood.

That made the boy then smile and he said “sure you can stay awhile,
but you must tell me every detail every part”
So the menfolk told their stories about angels about glories
She just sat there with her hand upon her heart.

Then she sang Glory in the highest, peace down here on Earth.
Glory in the highest, peace down here on Earth.

Glory in the highest and salvation on the Earth,
there is peace to anybody who believes it.
Glory in the highest and salvation on the Earth,
there is peace to anybody who believes it.

I remembered angels in the field keeping their watch over my flock
So I thought that it was time we should return.

It was just the way we left them, Gabriel sitting there on the rock
So I told him everything that I had learned.

I said I’d seen the savior but I’d still like one more favor,
and I promise not to keep you very long,
But I sure did like that chorus, would you sing it once more for us,
And I’d like to know if I could sing a-long.

Glory in the highest, peace down here on Earth.
Glory in the highest, peace down here on Earth.

Glory in the highest and salvation on the Earth,
there is peace to anybody who believes it.
Glory in the highest and salvation on the Earth,
there is peace to anybody who believes it.

Living in Boulder, CO gave me the opportunity to be connected to several expressions of Christ’s Church. I was part of several men’s groups that beat into me strong, godly ideas and teachings—and beat off some useless, dull edges (iron sharpens iron).

One gathering was an early Friday prayer breakfast, from which a few of the guys went on to start Promise Keepers. Years later, I reconnected with Promise Keepers and wrote a few songs that were sung at some of those large gatherings.

Here’s one that I want my current men’s prayer group to hear. I meet with a group of guys each Thursday from a diverse background of culture, race, denominations, and political expression—but all men of faith in the Lord Jesus.

I’m the oldest guy in the group, and I hope the younger guys don’t laugh too loudly at this song written in the ’80s—before a few of them were probably even born.

So, men, I’m writing a new song based on our new vocabulary of “boy soul versus man soul.” But the thoughts of this 1980s song and the new 2020s song are similar—what do you think, guys?

— Doug

Glimpse Of A New Man | Lyrics

I caught a glimpse of the new man 
That I’ve never ever seen in my heart before
I caught a glimpse of renewed man 
that I’ve never ever seen in my mind before

I caught a glimpse of the new man 
that I’ve never ever seen in my heart before
I caught a glimpse of renewed man 
that I’ve never ever seen in my mind before

His appearance how it pleases, and so I ask, “who can this be?”
He looks a lot like Jesus, and yet I know this man is me, 
that I caught a glimpse of

(I caught a glimpse of)

I saw this new man a glimpse of renewed man
Older than old yet newer than new
He was the “who I was meant to be”
I saw this new man (I saw the new man) a glimpse of renewed man
He is both my Lord’s and my heart’s desire
He’s the “who I am gonna be”
(who am I gonna be)

Livin’ under rubbish of an old man’s style
Wishin’ that his habits would just decompose
He’s strugglin’s t’wards the surface of the refuge pile
He’s longin’ for the new man to be exposed
For his appearance how it pleases 
And so, I ask, “who can this be?”
For he looks a lot like Jesus
And yet I know this man is me
That I caught a glimpse of
(I caught a glimpse of)

I saw this new man a glimpse of renewed man
Older than old yet newer than new
He was the “who I was meant to be”
​(who I was meant to be)
I saw this new man a glimpse of renewed man
He is both my Lord’s and my heart’s desire
He is the “who I am gonna be”

I caught a glimpse of him
Glimpse of the new man 
And I’ve never ever seen
And he looks a lot like Jesus
And the new man is me
That I caught a glimpse of 
I caught a glimpse of him

Dear Friends and Family,

Three years ago, I recorded a song called “Gloria” with my friend Jonathan West. Lately I’ve been thinking about that recording again—where it came from, and what it still means to me.

This song was born during the 2020 COVID season, in the middle of those strange, quiet months when the world felt both smaller and heavier. I spent a lot of time walking around my neighborhood with my wife during her pregnancy with our daughter. As I walked, I kept thinking about Mary—pregnant with Jesus—carrying hope in her body while living under the pressure and uncertainty of real life.

Not long after our daughter was born, I remember walking outside with her in my arms under the night sky, humming a melody without words. That melody stayed with me. It felt like a prayer at first—simple, repetitive, and steady—something to sing when you don’t have much else to say while you’re trying to sooth your child.

The other spark for “Gloria” came from Luke’s account of the angels appearing to the shepherds—ordinary people, out in the dark, doing their nightly work—when suddenly the sky fills with worship: “Gloria.” Light breaking into darkness. Good news arriving, under the created night sky.

That’s what I wanted this song to carry: the sense that God meets us in the ordinary—on sidewalks, under streetlights, in the exhaustion and tenderness of new parenthood, and even in the middle of a year like 2020.

Recording it with Jonathan was a gift. He helped give shape and color to something that began as a quiet hum under the stars. I’m grateful for his musicianship, his friendship, and the way collaboration can take a small beginning and turn it into something you can share.

If you listen to “Gloria,” I hope you hear a little of that night sky. I hope you hear a little of the shepherds’ field. And maybe—if you’ve ever carried a baby in the dark, or walked through a hard season with hope in your chest—you’ll hear some of your own story in it too.

Gloria.

— Trailand

Gloria | Lyrics

With stars in the sky, connecting the dots
Creating lines forming constellations
Through night time explorations
Old stories fill the air
For Andromeda and Perseus make on
Past the milky way, until the dawn
Where there story ends, they have reached their stop
And the night stands still

But an older story, endures
One song by a choir, at the dawn chorus
A victorious tail, a battle pre-won
The oldest story still being sung

Gloria, Gloria
Peace on earth
From the highest heaven
Gloria, oh the glory of
The Son of Light
From the highest heaven

Well a new night unfolds with renewed awe
Of the people and places, the stars and all
You have called to worship, everything is foretold
Old stories fill the air
For in the darkest of nights there is hope for the morning
For the weight that you feel has also been worn
By the king of kings, the lowly born
Who the stars sing about

For there’s still untold stories
Of the saints and their glories
And the things we can’t
Comprehend
For the story of old
That was long foretold
Isn’t only meant
The churches of men
It’s creations songs
Everything belongs
To the lamb that was slain
And this picture in my brain
Of the virgin birth
That brought light to the earth
By the star night
When the shepherds heard

Gloria, Gloria
Peace on earth
Gloria, oh the glory of
The Song of Light
From the highest heaven
From the highest heaven

Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, Gloria

I pace the yard with my daughter in my arms
And the wonder of the stars are shown through her eyes
An despite efforts to keep her safe
I can only pray she grows deeper in her faith
Oh great Father of night, of the day and beyond
Help me as I stand humbly in the lawn
To keep telling her stories, that hope is alive
In the God that came to give her new life

For an older story, endures
One song by a choir, at the dawn chorus
A victorious tail, a battle pre-won
The oldest story is still being sung
Yes, the oldest story is still being sung

I was surprised when my dad told me that “I Know a Savior” had never been recorded before. While some of his other songs talk about the Christmas story in poetic, storytelling ways, embedded at the heart of this song is genuine personal human experience expressed in the “I know” phrases—“I know a trouble, I know a sorrow.” I also know that this song is particularly dear to my dad’s heart.

I took a few steps to make this recording as genuine and honest as possible. What I mean by that is: through trial and error, we attempted to not overproduce, overcomplicate, or bring in some artificial gloss to smooth off the rough edges. To explain what I mean, let me take you a little behind the scenes.

It took us three separate recording sessions to finally hear what we were after. Initially, we’d agreed on recording the piano part first and then adding the vocal part over the top of it. While this works for many different songs—and can even make the process easier in the long run—something felt unnatural about the piano and vocal parts being disconnected, having not been recorded together. In light of this, we decided to record them together, live in the living room at the piano.

Basically, what this means is that we get one take. Studio recording microphones aren’t generally hyper-directional, meaning they pick up noise to the sides of whatever you’re trying to record, and sound from another source bleeds into each and every track during a recording. So the piano part is picked up in the vocal mic, and vice versa. It makes taking mistakes out rather difficult in the editing process…

I hoped that all of this (plus more tech stuff that I assume you wouldn’t want me to go into detail on…) would amount to you being able to picture yourself around the piano in my dad’s living room… even though you weren’t there when we recorded this whisper of “I Know a Savior.”

— Trailand

There is a PDF of today’s song and other’s available by following this link

I Know a Savior | Lyrics

I know a trouble I know a sorrow
I know a grieving I know a pain
I know a trial I know a hardship
I know a burden I know a weight

Chorus:

But I know a Savior
He’s so much greater
Everlasting is His love
I know a Savior
He’s so much greater
Everlasting is His love

Verse 2

I know a failing I know a lying
I know a stumbling I know a sin
I know a bending I know a falling
I know a promise that is broken again

(chorus)

Verse 3

I know a terror I know a darkness
I know a danger I know a fear
I know a sadness I know an evil
I know a dying I know a tear

(chorus)

Ending:

He’s so much greater
Everlasting is His love
Everlasting is His love
Everlasting is His love

In my imagination, I see God walking through the door of an old barn while a person (maybe me, maybe you) walks through a door on the opposite side. The two keep moving closer together until God reaches out His hand to greet the person. They shake hands and start a conversation. That represents God greeting humankind.

Then I see God showing up in Xenia, Ohio (my hometown), finding me there, and again we shake hands and have a great conversation. Then again at the Pearl Street Mall, when I’m older and living and working just off the mall. There could be a lot of verses written about all the places where God has greeted me in my life.

— Doug

Shakin’ Hands

_{Words and Music by Douglas C. Eltzroth}

Over in Bethlehem in a little cattle stall
I saw God and Mankind, they were shakin’ hands
Over in Bethlehem in a little cattle stall
I saw God and Humanity shakin’ hands

Up in Ohio, in my home town
I saw God and Mankind, they were shakin’ hands
Up in Ohio, in my home town
I saw God and Humanity shakin’ hands

Over in Boulder, near the Pearl Street Mall
I saw God and Mankind, they were shakin’ hands
Over in Boulder, near the Pearl Street Mall
I saw God and Humanity shakin’ hands

Kind of like the first-time meeting of true lovers at first sight
Kind of like a family reunion at the Holiday time
Kind of like a surprise greeting of two long lost friends
A whole lotta hugin’, lot of kissin’, lot of embrassing going on

Over in Bethlehem in a little cattle stall
I saw God and Mankind, they were shakin’ hands
Over in Bethlehem in a little cattle stall
I saw God and Humanity shakin’ hands
I saw God and Humanity shakin’ hands

I’m enjoying the recent stories and movies about the life of King David. He’s growing in popularity again. Since Jesus is from the lineage of David, it seems worthwhile to know about the life and writings of David. The incarnation story is grounded in history and family is a large part of the story.

Here’s a family song that reminds us to pray, “May the things I have become the things of God”. You might want to gather some children around to listen to this one. Note: this is a duet made with my ten year old daughter, Tessa, around ¼ of a century ago.

– Doug

Sing of David | Lyrics

You say you know the story of the giant that was killed by the little boy
But do you know exactly when and why Goliath fell
In his hand he held a warrior’s spear the shaft as large as I’ve ever seen
And before him stood a soldier’s shield about the size of a limousine
A javelin slung on his back
And from head to toe he was covered with brass
A mighty sword tied to his side
Yet he fell because he trusted in these things he held within his own control
In his heart he wore a desire to be served
The giant had a childish desire to be served

So I sing this song to you
So I song this song to me
What do you hold in your hand
Why do you do the things you do
So I sing this song to you
So I sing this song to me
What do you hold in your hand
Why do you trust the things you do
The things you own they don’t belong to you
If you think they do they’ll soon be owning you
If you’re big enough you think you should be served
Then you’re small enough to get what you deserve

You say you know the story of the child that killed that giant of a man
But do you know exactly when and why young David won
In his hand he held a shepherd’s staff
That he used each day when he helped his dad
And his clothes he wore that battle day were just everyday little boy clothes
On his side he tied a shepherd’s bag and then five smooth stones he placed inside
He threw one from a simple sling
David won because he trusted in the God who was the Shepherd of his life
In his heart he had a desire to serve
The child had a giant desire to serve

So I sing this song to you
So I song this song to me
What do you hold in your hand
Why do you do the things you do
So I sing this song to you
So I sing this song to me
What do you hold in your hand
Why do you trust the things you do
When the sling of David became the sling of God
The giant fell
When the things of children become the things of God
Giants still fall today
May the things I have become the things of God
Like the sling of David became the sling of God

May my heart become His heart
May my ways become His ways
May my thoughts become the very thoughts of God
May my hands become His hands
May my feet become His feet
May everything I am
All I ever hope to be
Just like the sling of David became the sling of God
May the things I have become the things of God
May the child I am
May the man I am
May the child I am become the child of God