2025 Competition Entry:
Breathe by Jeff Madsen
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Genre
Folk
Artist
Website
Co-writer(s)
no
Performer(s)
Jeff Madsen – Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Steve Dawson – Pedal Steel and Guitar
Dave Jacques – Bass
Fats Kaplin – Fiddle
Justin Amaral – Drums
Catherine MacLellan – Harmony Vocals
Steve Dawson – Pedal Steel and Guitar
Dave Jacques – Bass
Fats Kaplin – Fiddle
Justin Amaral – Drums
Catherine MacLellan – Harmony Vocals
Description
This was the last song that I wrote before heading to Nashville to record. I had noted down a few lines in my phone as they came to me. My partner and I were talking about our moms and how they rarely relaxed and let themselves fully enjoy a situation. We often carry things from the past that we have trouble letting go of. They can be heavy. One afternoon when I was still living at home, I remember my mom had friends over and they got into a few beers sitting around the kitchen table. I remember the conversation being especially relaxed and that I hadn’t heard my mom laugh that much or that loudly for a long time. It was Good Friday and I remember my mom having lots of religious guilt for having fun. Seems so silly now. My partner was talking about when she was with her mom in Venice and the flood sirens went off in the morning. While waiting for the water to subside, they went for breakfast. She ordered Prosecco for them. Her mom, of course said “we can’t do that!” But luckily, they did. When she came back from a trip to the bathroom, her mom had ordered second round. She sent me a picture of her mom with the biggest smile on her face and the second glass of Prosecco. Life is too short not to enjoy every moment. We don’t know what tomorrow holds.
Bio
Lyrics
I’m moving farther from the land / And closer to my soul
I’ve left some things behind / To get me closer to my home
I have carried the past with me / It weighs heavy on my bones
Sure helps to share the load / Don’t want to do it all alone
I have let fear get the best of me / Holds me back from who I could be
Got to face what is right in front of me / And don’t forget to breathe
Though I see the water rising / Try to make the most of every day
Never know what lies before you / Things don’t always go your way
Need to live in each moment / Have a laugh with old friends
Even on a Good Friday / We may not pass this way again
I have let fear get the best of me / Holds me back from who I could be
Got to face what is right in front of me / And don’t forget to breathe
I’ve left some things behind / To get me closer to my home
I have carried the past with me / It weighs heavy on my bones
Sure helps to share the load / Don’t want to do it all alone
I have let fear get the best of me / Holds me back from who I could be
Got to face what is right in front of me / And don’t forget to breathe
Though I see the water rising / Try to make the most of every day
Never know what lies before you / Things don’t always go your way
Need to live in each moment / Have a laugh with old friends
Even on a Good Friday / We may not pass this way again
I have let fear get the best of me / Holds me back from who I could be
Got to face what is right in front of me / And don’t forget to breathe
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