Lighthouse

(Bader, Standing) SOCAN, CCLI

The title track is a song about remembering one's dad.

Thanks to songwriter-musician Dean Salyn for the keyboards.

You protected me when I needed it most
From the storms of life along a battered coast
To the Bay of Sanity where shelter lay
I was safe in your hands, but headed on my way

Did you know that I loved you so?
Guys like you and me, didn’t talk like that, you know
You had your way but I chose my own
I just never thought that my dad could grow old

There were times I turned around, away from your light
You were always there for me on the darkest nights
Whenever I was lost  and wherever I roamed
You were my lighthouse, guiding me home

Years have passed, children of my own
I hope when you look down you think that I have grown
From the Bay of Sanity, still a majestic view
Looking down on them, but still looking up to you

There were times I turned around, away from your light
You were always there for me on the darkest nights
Whenever I was lost  and wherever I roamed
You are my lighthouse, guiding me home

Ya, there were times I turned around, away from your light
You were always there for me on the darkest nights
Whenever I was lost  and wherever I roamed
You’re still my lighthouse, guiding me back home

Stockton, Me Lads

(Bader, Standing) SOCAN

A fun song about a real Australian location (pictured below). How can a person go wrong with combining pirate talk, with fishing and friends?

My son, Jeremy, is on drums for this one. Background vocals by the Lads at Ellison Elementary in Vernon, BC.

Thanks also to Dan Osborn for the accordion parts.

Stockton, me lads, is here for us all
Stockton, me lads, can you hear it calling
All to the sea and all that is fair
There's fishin' beyond compare

Stockton, me lads, is long and it’s wide
Stockton, me lads, where the sea meets the tide
There's Strawb, me old mate, and a worthy sea dog
With bait and a hook and a rod

So grab yer spinners and cast them up high
Beyond the sand bar and into the sky
Grab yer spinners and cast them up high
Beyond the sand bar and into the sky

Stockton, me lads, is where you should be
Stockton, me lads, it’s wild and it’s free
There's a fire at the camp an’ a cooler on hand
Better keep your bait out of the sand

So grab yer spinners and cast them up high
Beyond the sand bar and into the sky
Grab yer spinners and cast them up high
Beyond the sand bar and into the sky

Stockton, me lads, is chilly at night
Stockton, me lads, where the choppers bite
I seen ‘em comin' on in from the sea
They're comin' straight in at me

So grab yer spinners and cast them up high
Beyond the sand bar and into the sky
Grab yer spinners and cast them up high
Beyond the sand bar and into the sky

My Heart is Fulfilled

(Bader, Standing) SOCAN, CCLI

A song of thankfulness.

Drums by Jeremy Bader, and background vocals by Jessica Bader.

Thanks again to Dean Salyn for the beautiful keys.

It’s because of you that I feel
It’s because of you that I can heal
You give love, guaranteed
You’re my all, all that I need

My heart is fulfilled  
Thanks to you I am fulfilled  
My heart is fulfilled 
Thanks to you 

It’s because of you I can see
It’s because of you I can be
You give love, guaranteed
You’re my all, all that I need

My heart is fulfilled  
Thanks to you I am fulfilled  
My heart is fulfilled  
Thanks to you 

There are those that hurt me
But you refrain
And while others desert me
You remain

My heart is fulfilled  
Thanks to you I am fulfilled
My heart is fulfilled  
Thanks to you I am fulfilled
My heart is fulfilled  
Thanks to you

You Are Strong

(Bader) SOCAN

This song was born after hearing about a friend going through a life challenge. It was written in about an hour. My goal was to make it universal, as a song of "you got this" to anyone going through a tough time.

Little did I know, a few days later it would become kind of a theme song for a close family member. Read more about that here.

Psalm 46:1-3; Isaiah 40:29

Jeremy and Jessica added their tracks, and my wife insisted we include a piano part. She was right...again.

I hear your struggle
I hear your pain
I know the walls are closing in
And you’re not sure you’ll ever be the same
And everything’s falling apart
And nothing at all matters anymore
And it kills me to see where you are
but listen to me

You are strong
Stronger than this
Stronger than anyone
Strong
Strong enough to stand up
And you’ll find me here at your side

You’re allowed to cry
You’re allowed to scream
Sometimes things really are just as bad as they seem
Like everything’s falling apart
And nothing at all matters anymore
And it kills me to see where you are
But you are strong
Stronger than this
Stronger than anyone
Strong
Strong enough to stand up
And you’ll find me here...

As the mountains fall and they crumble into the sea
I know that it’s true
There’s power for the weak

Pull Together

(Bader, Standing) SOCAN

We wrote this song as a counter to the headlines of hate and despair in the world during the spring of 2020.

A few people in this world bring us down. But the majority of us need to keep preaching what's right.

Drums and BG vocals by Jeremy and Jessica.

Don’t let it
Don’t let ‘em get you down
Keep your chin up; it’ll come around

Get ‘er movin’
Get some shoes on
Get yourself in gear; get on track

Pull together (together)
We all need a friend
We all need to travel down this road
Let’s hold together (together)
We can share the good times
And we can share each other’s load

(mini intro)

Get on that train
Get on that train to freedom
Help someone climb up off the ground

Shout it out
Call up your brother
Call and let him know you still got his back

Pull together (together)
We all need a friend
We all need to travel down this road
Let’s hold together (together)
We can share the good times
And we can share each other’s load

(solo: verse)

Pull together (together)
We all need a friend
We all need to travel down this road
Let’s hold together (together)
We can share the good times
And we can share each other’s load

Pick One Up

(Bader) SOCAN

This song was inspired following my attendance at a Robb Nash Project concert. He wrote a note to one of my students: "Keep walking...someone needs your story." I wrote the rest of the song from those profound few words.

I was running way too fast down this road called life
And I stumbled one day
Ya I stumbled and I tumbled, I really fumbledit up
What a messy mess I made
Well I beat myself up and I pushed it all down
For awhile
And the day eventually came when I could not
Or I would not even smile

Til my buddy said, Hey buddy, what’s your deal?
You just haven’t been yourself, you haven’t been keepin’  it real
And I let it all out, did some cryin’, did some shoutin’
And I laid the broken pieces on the ground
Then I picked one up
I picked one up

I saw you running way too fast down the road called life
And I saw you stumble the other day
You’ve been stumblin’ and tumbling. You really fumbled it up
A messy mess you’ve made
You’ve been beating yourself up and pushing good things down
For way too long
Now you’re lower than low. The pain and sadness are growin’
far beyond…what anyone could take

And as your buddy, a real buddy, What’s your deal?
You haven’t been yourself; you haven’t been keepin’ it real
Let it all out. Give me crying, give me shouting
Just let the pieces fall down to the ground

Keep walking; someone needs your story
Choose to get yourself up in the morning
Keep listening. Buddy, hear this message, hear this warning
Cuz someone needs your story

And as your buddy, a real buddy, What’s your deal?
You haven’t been yourself; you haven’t been keepin’ it real
Let it all out. Give me crying, give me shouting
Let the pieces fall down to the ground
All those broken-up, lifeless, soundless pieces laying there on the ground
Now pick one up
Pick one up
Pick one up