Back To The Future

Celebrating 10 years of serving veterans had to be a momentous occasion! So, in October 2022, SongwritingWith:Soldiers headed back to the site that started it all – Cedarbrake Retreat Center in Belton, TX. Celebrating 10 years of service around the country, with our roots in Texas, was powerful.

It was a beautiful time of sharing, creativity and of course, songwriting! Our talented writers were Bonnie Bishop, Marshall Altman and Mark Nesler, led by SW:S Music Director Jay Clementi. Jay was at the very first retreat before SongwritingWith:Soldiers even had a name. Having Jay serve the 10th anniversary retreat as lead songwriter in Belton was a beautiful confirmation of the sustainability of our mission.

One of Jay’s most prominent strengths is that of ‘love.’ He pours his heart into every retreat, song, recording and, frankly, everything he does! He shares that when working with the songwriters, “We always say, ‘Lead with love, and it always ends up being something beautiful.’ We are lucky to be able to tell these stories.”

We feel fortunate and proud to have helped tell more than 1,000 stories through song and as we reflect on the past decade, we know that there is so much more yet to come!

As the group in Texas came together, representing many different branches of the military with many varied experiences and stories, they worked together to find their strengths and realized that just like SW:S on its 10th Anniversary, they were “feeling revived!”

Feeling Alive

Angela Caruso-Yahne / Rebecca Fenton / Trever Fenton / Don Krimmer / Dale Mofield/ Jahnna Seeling / Donna Smith / Shawn Tillman / Jay Clementi

I’m feeling nervous but I’m here
Doing 90 running from the fear
Stepping on that stage eyes wide open
I’m not alone I’m feeling hope and

I’m feeling revived
I’m feeling alive
We got that energy
Picking up that harmony
Feeling revived
Taking I-35
To find my tribe we all need a better life
Yeah survived
I’m feeling alive

We’re all here living loud
I’ve made mistakes but I’m standing proud
Never thought I’d live to this age
I made my choice I’m gonna turn the page

I’m feeling revived
I’m feeling alive
We got that energy
Picking up that harmony
Feeling revived
Taking I-35
To find my tribe we all need a better life
Yeah survived
I’m feeling alive

Brothers and sisters
Welcome home
Brothers and sisters
You’ve been gone too long
You’ve been gone too long

Now we’re feeling revived
Feeling Alive
We got that energy
Picking up that harmony
Feeling revived
Taking I-35
To find my tribe we all need a better life
Yeah I survived
I’m feeling alive
I’m feeling alive
I’m feeling alive

©2022 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music / Cross Keys (ASCAP)