Nothing feeds the soul like heartfelt words given life in music.

At the age of 20 I wrote 35 songs that I have never shared with anyone. 2006 I started writing again. Now I am an active NSAI Member. I have completed multiple songwriting courses, workshops,   made numerous trips to Nashville and studied with some of the most successful songwriters in the industry.

Three of of my original songs will be made their debut on WIXE radio in July 2006.  They are listed below as an example of my work.  I currently have ~ 65 completed songs and am in the process of generating professional demo's for sharing and pitching.  I hope you enjoy my songs.  It has been a wonderful experience learning and sharing my music.  There are some mp3's on my myspace.  www.myspace.com/fionamcallister.

The Carpenter

Feel the Reel Unwind

When It's My Week,

About the Song	Lyrics
This song is about forgiveness and God's power to use us despite ourselves. Verse 1: A carpenter who reaches for a saw doesn't care if it has made mistakes in the past. He knows he has the skill to use it. It is not a matter of the saw having any skill. It just needs to be available. It is by being used that we are blessed with meaningful lives. Sometimes the work goes against the grain. Sometimes it requires standing up for what is right and going against the grain of the people around us. But that actually helps those very people as they learn. And those people grow to meet their destinys. Verse 2: Sometimes we are called to deal with splintery people and situations. It may wear our blade to deal with them. It doesn't matter if we don't think we are the best person to teach, to mentor, to inspire. In God's hands he can do his majic through the weak and life tattered tools.	The Carpenter Tools In His Hands Fiona McAllister  © 2005 8-15-2005 (Starts with hand saw setting the beat for the music.) Verse 1: The carpenter who takes the saw, Cares not what it’s done before. In the master's hands, it will cut straight, Take the seasoned wood, sometimes against it’s grain ...and craft it's fate. Verse 2: The carpenter then takes the plane, And deftly smoothes the splintered grain. Though the blade is worn and the handle frail, In the loving masters' skillful hands... ....it will not fail. Chorus: You and I are just tools in His hands. We claim achievements of our own. But they're his list of blessings shown. We’re sharpened by his grace with loving care, (So comfortably we fit his hand) Companions in the work, we love and share. Bridge: (3/4) Lay me in the palm of his hand, Lay me in the sweet master's hand. Lay me in the harnd of God, And let me be his tool. Verse 3: The Carpenter, when day is done, Collects his tools ...and takes them home. They’re treasured more than any precious jewels, The carpenter in love with his creation (spoken "It is good".).... (Musical pause and build).... loves his tools. Visual: Sunlight on sawdust in the air, shavings on the floor, an old tool bag in weathered hands.
I wrote this song after sitting on the pier one night.  My little girl had just finished her last day at school. She was looking forward to a long free summer break. It had been a long time since I had gone outside.  I opened the door and the sound of the katydids was almost deafening. The air was hot and humid and closed around me.  As my tender bare feet felt the soft blades of grass a strange sensation ran down my back. It was sweat... it felt as though someone was touching me. I seated myself at the pier and watched the fishing ritual.  I was not used to having my hands unoccupied.  It felt alien not to be multi-tasking.  It was strangely silent except for the croak of a bullfrog and the chirping of the katydids.  Had they been there all this time?	Feel The Reel Unwind Fiona McAllister  © 2006 (Mudcat) 6-9-06 .............final revision 8-08-06 (Am) Magnolia moon (E7) risin' from (Am) the warm black (Dm) water, Am) Firefly answers (E) her (Am) light. (Am) Honeysuckle (E7) breeze keeps the (C) skeeters (Dm) down, (Am) Barefoot (E)fishing on a (Am)Saturday (Dm)night. Chorus: (G) It's time to feel the (Dm) reel (Am) unwind, …… (Am) Let the (Em) line out (Am) Èeasy. (G) It's time to leave it (Dm) all (Am) behind, Cast those (Am) cares, and (E7) let them (Am) be (Dm). Cast your (Am) cares, and (E7) let them (Am) be. Bullfrog bass croaks a lullaby, While the katydids sing harmony. Mudcat sleeping under merky waters, Come, share a bite with me. Chorus: No opinions are allowed out here, Let’s have a silent end to the day. The only thing a'squeaking is this old pier. It's great to have nothing to say. You know it's great to have nothing to say. Chorus:
My co-worker lost his court case for sole custody of his children. Three weeks later we were in his office when his cell phone rang.  It was his little girl.  I could hear her crying as he tried to console her.  Then I heard her mother take the phone from her and start shouting at him.   He tried several times to respond to her but she just kept shouting.  Unable to reach his child, he finally closed his phone, threw it on his desk, and pushed his chair back.  He buried his head in his hands, and the grow man cried. I can think of no greater torture than being unable to help your children when they cry for you.  I wrote this song for him.	When It's My Week Fiona McAllister  © 2006 Verse 1:        (phone rings) The ring shattered the silence in the empty walls, Footsteps echo down the lonely halls.  (spoken:  hello)    "I miss you daddy",   brings a tear to his eye. Through miles of phone line ...comes his little girls cry. Verse 2: She said "Daddy I need you, I feel so alone." "Daddy please come, please take me home." He searched for the words, but finds no reply, Finally he told his baby girl, with a deep sigh... Chorus:  “It's not my week to hold you and make things alright. It's not my week for prayers and kisses good night. Since I've had to walk past your empty door, I've loved you like never before.” Verse 3: He’s got half of the laughter and twice the tears. Biweekly snapshots of the fleeting years. He said “I’m living in fear that words will turn her from me. Trying to be, more than one man can be.” Chorus: Till it's my week to hold you and make things alright, My week for prayers and kisses good night. Every time you walk through my opened door. I'll love you like never before. Oh, Yes, I'll love you like never before. Bridge: When my arms can't hold you because we're apart, When my kiss can’t reach you when those lights go dark, Remember that you're always safe deep in my heart. You’re deep down safe in my heart. Chorus:  When it's my week, I’ll hold you...  Make things alright. Wipe all your tears, Hold you so tight. Every time you walk through my opened door. I'll love you... like never before. Oh, Yes, I'll love you... like never before.