I Love My Life

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2010-04-16T23:02:00.001-07:00

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Happy Birthday Scouts!

2010-02-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

Today, February 8, 2010, marks the 100 anniversary of Boy Scouts in America!

I loved my scouting experience: I built a kayak, a birdhouse, snow caves, fires, bridges, and teepees. I resuscitated a bald, bottomless girl named ANNIE. I camped, hiked, swam in a freezing cold lake, and white water rafted the Snake River. I learned the importance of helping others, of being honest and dependable. I learned to reverence my country and the outdoors.

I was heavily involved in Scouting from an early age. My dad was Scout Master from as far back as I can remember until I was about 10. I went on all the weeklong camps. The hikes. The overnighters. I was exposed to all the joys of being an honorable and hard working scout. I proudly saw my oldest brother achieve his Eagle and get tapped out for the Order of the Arrow. I was excited to be a part of this amazing fraternity.

I don’t remember much of my Cub Scouting years other than my Arrow of Light ceremony. It was in our church gym and there was a huge blue bridge at the front of the room. I remember the lights going out and crossing over the dimly lit bridge to my parents on the other side. I remember my mom’s beautiful face smiling. I remember her Wrigley spearmint gum breath and her warm arms as she hugged me.

When I turned twelve, I had a great Scout Master, Brother Reesor. He and his wife had a love for scouting that was contagious. I loved the campouts, the service projects, and the times we built stuff out of wood.

Now as a Cub Master, I get to relive all of the great things that scouting offers. The leaders that I work with are enthusiastic and excited to be a part of Scouts. I love the pack meetings and the activities. I love working on advancements. I love wearing the uniform. I found the neckerchief that I received when I got my Eagle. It’s blue material with a red and white ribbon around the edges. It has a beautiful embroidered eagle with its wings spread. It was packed away in a box in the garage. I’m glad I kept it.

Last month, my son and I participated in an intimate flag ceremony. (One of the requirements to achieve the Wolf rank is to lead an outdoor flag ceremony.) The only people there were my son, me, and our kind neighbor that let us use her flag and flagpole. She took a minute in the cold January night air to teach us about how to fold a flag and what the flag represents. We were both in full Scout uniform and as I saluted and watched my son hoist the flag up the spot lit pole, my heart was filled with pride: Pride for my son leading this reverent ceremony. Pride that he understood the importance of our country and what our flag symbolizes.

I am thankful for Scouting. As a boy, I loved the camaraderie and the activities. As a leader, I see the inspired and beneficial program that helps boys become better men.

Happy Birthday Scouts!

Audio Book VLOG

2010-02-02T12:05:00.000-08:00

Keep It Inside wins a spot on Microsoft Windows Playlist 7!!!

2010-01-13T20:28:00.000-08:00

We did it! "Keep It Inside" made the top 7! Not only was it in the top 7 but it received the MOST votes and took first place! Thank YOU for making it happen! From now until next Monday at 11:00 a.m. EST, the seven winning tracks can be downloaded with a single click, which means thousands more people will hear my song. Playlist 7

It means a lot to me that so many of you helped. You all have my heartfelt thanks.

I've already received requests for interviews and radio airtime from around the globe. The exposure has been great. It's cool to hear from new fans from as far away as Australia and the U.K.

Check out Playlist 7 and download "Keep It Inside" for free!

2010 is the year of friends!

Kirby

VLOG - "You're All I Want for Christmas" - Behind the scenes with Kirby

2010-01-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

Grass Roots. See it. Rate it. Share it!

2009-12-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

Just a note to share the exciting news that the Huffington Post, our nation's most popular blog, is promoting my web series Grass Roots on their "comedy" page all this week! Check out the Huff Post page click here...

I know many of you probably watched Grass Roots when it premiered a few months ago. But if you can find it in your heart to check out an episode or two again, it'd do me some real good. If there's enough interest in the series this week, I will be able to shoot a second season of the show next year. So, please check out the Huff Post page, and share it with friends that you think might be interested in "Grass Roots."

Share it on your facebook profile!!!!

Kirby

We might as well win.

2009-11-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

I just read, “We Might as Well Win,” by Johan Bruyneel, the managing director for US Postal (later Discovery) cycling team. He produced 8 Tour de France wins: 7 with Lance Armstrong and 1 with Alberto Contador. He is the most successful coach in any sport.

The whole point of the book is: If you are going to expend the energy and effort to participate, you might as well give whatever else it takes to win.

There’s a saying in cycling: “50% of winning is just showing up. The other 50% is crossing the finish line first.” That other 50% isn’t just coasting, though. There is preparation, research, conditioning, hard work, and determination.

That really struck a chord with me. I have encountered many people who just trudge through life giving only minimal effort. They dread every day and live for the weekend. I think that that is a horrible way to go through life.

I am so fortunate to have a career doing what I love. I enjoy learning more about my career, applying those things I learn, and then seeing what works and what makes me better. I enjoy the challenge that comes with trying to be the best. I’m never happy with myself if I just give the minimum effort.

Whether you are writing a song, coaching your kids’ soccer team, or working on a project for your job or school, you might as well give all that it takes to be the best.

We might as well win.

I love cold mornings like today.

2009-10-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

When I woke up this morning, it was a chilly 48 degrees and overcast. (That’s cold for southern California.) When I went in to wake up my kids, they had their blankets all tucked up under their chins. I love going in to wake them up because they are so sleepy warm. I like to cuddle with them and ask them to recount their dreams from the night.

After the kids got off to school, I sat down to a warm bowl of oatmeal and read the news. (I’m getting old, my wife informed me. We got into my car one day last week and I had talk radio on. When did that happen? I used to only listen to music in my car. Now I listen to the news.)

After a relaxing, daydream-filled hot shower, I put on a long sleeved shirt, shorts and a pair of woolly socks. All I want to do today is read, listen to sad music and cuddle.

I love cold mornings like today.

Keep It Inside

2009-09-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

Behind the song:
In the beginning, I tried to force this song to be something it wasn’t. I let it sit for a few weeks and then I’d pull it out again. I knew it was important, I just couldn’t see what it wanted to be or what it was trying to teach me. I’d put it away, rediscover it, put away, rediscover. This pattern went on for a year and a half. Until one day I had just finished reading The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I thought about the people in my life who give. I thought about my mom giving even when she had nothing left. I thought about my neighbor who was giving so much. Both of them would give and never give up. I listened to a David Wilcox song, "For Real." Feeling inspired I went to the guitar knowing the story I needed to tell. The song opened up its arms and let me bring it to life.

I wanted words to describe the smell of the leaves, the crisp autumn air, and the woods. In Fahrenheit 451, there is a moment when Guy Montag is hiding under leaves in a wood. Bradbury (the king of igniting my senses) describes the leaves as having a cinnamon scent. I loved the way that description captured not only the scent, but also the crisp feel of autumn.

Musically, we wanted something to be subtly present from the beginning of the song. A kind of haunting melody that would at times compliment and at others stray from the
main melody. It never defines the song, but it is present throughout.

Even when life is difficult, we can find joy in knowing that we can grow. We have faith that the bare branches in winter will be green again in the spring. Difficulties challenge us. They make us stronger.

In the studio:
We decided that strings would be the appropriate voice of the haunting melody. The melodies we came up with were beautiful but not quite what we wanted. We looked to other songs that we had recorded together and came across the file "Alleluia" from my Christmas album, Merry White Tree in the Night. "Yeah. Something like this." I told Nathan that both songs are in the key of E so we pulled some of the string files over to "Keep It Inside" to use for reference. As we were piecing cellos here, violins there, and the full quartet in the spaces in between, we realized how well the two songs fit. We started placing entire phrases in sections. There are times when the two songs fit perfectly and others when the strings stray slightly from the melody. We had stumbled upon a magic moment that we couldn’t have otherwise duplicated. We would have written the new melody within the musical theory boundaries that typically "works" melodically in a song. Just like the lyrics, choosing the instrumentation for this song wasn’t up to us. This song knew what it wanted to be. We got out of the way and listened.

Writing this song helped me process events in my life and also opened my eyes to how I live it. I need to listen to who I really am and stop trying to force myself to be something I’m not. Life is more rewarding when we get out of our own way.

Lyrics:
Leaves are dry and marigold beneath our feet
Above our heads a subtle blue
We lay in silence so this silence is our bed
Cinnamon and earth we breathe
We breathe
And I keep it all inside

We climb these branches bending to our weight
I find the safest way into your arms
If I’m doing well you’re pulling
more than they would know
Who could ever fell this tree?
Of you and me

I keep it all inside
No one sees the beauty in an ordinary life
The days are turning into sleepless nights
But I keep it all inside

I can walk this silence with a brave face
So no one has to feel the weight I feel
This isn’t giving up it’s knowing
when to let it go
I would never give up on you.
I forgive you

These limbs are bare now
With no signs of green
The promise of a new day
Blossoms underneath

I keep it all inside
Flowers of the mourning paint an ordinary life
The days are turning into sleepless nights
But I keep it all inside

Kirby Heyborne

Exercise

2009-09-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

Every year about 3 months before my birthday, I get all gung-ho about exercise. I get in the best shape I’ve been all year. I plan out a great exercise program. I set goals. I see progress. I don’t know if this motivation and dedication come from a heightened awareness of my mortality or if it’s just easier to exercise when the kids are in school.

My least favorite person to exercise with is my friend Curt. He’s super nice when we’re working out together, but I can tell he’s giggling on the inside when he has to water-down his routine so I don’t die. Really. If I did half of what he did, my body would give up the ghost. He can curl, press and lift two of me. His biceps are the size of my thighs. I always feel less like a man when I work out with him. When I’m exercising by myself and I do something really well, I think, “If only Curt could see me now.”

My favorite person to exercise with is my wife. I am motivated to work harder when she’s with me. I think that subconsciously I’m trying to impress her with my manliness. The downside to this extra push is that I’m not that attractive/manly when I’m gasping for breath, scrunching up my face with effort, and dripping sweat on the floor.

If I exercise when the kids are home, they usually join me. I honestly enjoy their company and the challenges they present. They “help” me with sit-ups and push-ups by sitting on top of me for both. Then they say, “Dad, why can’t you do more?” They also make sweet comments like, “Dad, you really sweat a lot.” When I go running, they ride their bikes or scooters. I get a good workout the first 5 minutes trying to stay up with them. I feel the burn when I push them or “boost” them up hills. Usually 10 minutes into the run, I’m “boosting” them on the flat parts too because, “Dad, my legs are tired.” We have to stop a lot to explore insects, dirt, and more recently, dead birds:

Me: STAY AWAY FROM THAT BIRD!
Son: Why?
Me: Because it’s dead and it’s got diseases!
Daughter: How did it die?
Me: It got old.
Daughter: No. I mean HOW did it die.
Me: It just got old and it’s heart stopped beating.
Daughter: Why?
Me: Because when you get old things stop working.
Daughter: Grandpa’s old and he’s not dead.
Me: (Good point.) Just stay away from the bird. PUT THE STICK DOWN!
Son: But I’m just moving the bird so no one else will touch it on accident and get sick.
Me: (Why do you have to be so nice?) That’s nice of you. But just leave it alone. Pick up your bike.
Son: But my legs are tired.
Me: How can they be tired? You play soccer, you swim, you run with your friends and you never complain about your tired legs.
Son: But they’re tired.
(Struggles to get on his bike with a 5-foot stick in his hands.)
Me: Just leave the stick here.
Son: I want to take it home and show Mom.
Me: (Sigh) OK. But I’m not carrying it. You’ll have to carry it on your bike.
Son: OK. Can you give me a boost home?
Me: Yes.
Son: Dad, are you frustrated ‘cause you wanted to exercise and we’re making it hard?
Me: (You are a genius.) No. I love exercising with you guys.
(Begin boosting both of them)
Daughter: Your hands are sweaty.

Whether I’m exercising humility when I’m lifting with Curt, exercising restraint while working out with my wife, or exercising patience while running with my kids, I’m a better person the more I exercise.

I love my life.

Vlogging in Vegas

2009-08-13T22:28:00.001-07:00

A short video blog about my St. George concert and more!

Red Lilies. More from Kirby's Spectacular Offering of Marvelous Stuff!

2009-07-19T12:02:00.001-07:00

A song written and performed by me. It's Marvelous Stuff! from Cory to Carrilyn! Thanks Cory! Happy Birthday Carrilyn!!

Dinner with Jo and Becky-- It's Marvelous Stuff!

2009-07-10T12:04:00.001-07:00

Jo and Becky purchased a Marvelous Stuff! package that included dinner with me. This is a short video blog of our dinner together.

Here's a picture just sent to me of Jo in the t-shirt I made for her...

I'm All Right

2009-06-24T10:54:00.001-07:00

A song by Kirby Heyborne. Part of "Kirby's Spectacular Offering of Marvelous Stuff!"

Caught In Flight

2009-06-24T08:24:00.001-07:00

A song for Rod by Kirby Heyborne. Part of "Kirby's Spectacular Offering of Marvelous Stuff!"

Sunshine Follows Melanie

2009-06-11T10:33:00.001-07:00

A song written for a fan of Kirby Heyborne. Part of "Kirby's Spectacular Offering of Marvelous Stuff!"

Grass Roots - Ep. 2 "Door to Door:"

2009-06-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Miles and Harry hit the streets, getting out the word about the Jim Clarkson campaign. (Aaron Hilliard & Kirby Heyborne star, Kit Pongetti guest stars)

A Marvelous time with Marvin!

2009-06-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

Me and Marvin after the concert!

Thanks for letting me come play with you on this special night!

Getting ready!

2009-06-06T18:39:00.001-07:00

Getting ready to go onstage at the marvin goldstein concert. shhh.

(Sent from my t-mobile phone)

New Web Series - Grass Roots

2009-06-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

Grass Roots" follows the lives of two inept campaigners (Aaron Hilliard and and me, Kirby ) as they lose votes for their candidate.

In this first episode Miles teaches Harry the first of many valuable lessons on how to succeed on the Clarkson campaign. Check out watchgrassroots.com for more episodes and details!

"The Hard Way" - Song #3 on "The Elm Tree"

2009-03-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

Behind the song:
This was the first song that I wrote specifically for “The Elm Tree.” I loved the guitar part and wanted a catchy line to sing. I had the lyric “I found out the hard way” and loved how it sang. The problem was, I didn’t know what it was that “I found out.” I spent months trying to put the right words together. And, as it always goes, when I stopped trying to force the lyric, it came to me.

I was watching my son revel in the mud in our backyard. He loved the moment he was in. He had no thought of the possible mess he would track into the house.

I realized that we let important moments slip by us. There’s a point in our lives when we stop enjoying squishing mud between our toes. When we talk to someone, we look over their shoulder to see if there is someone more important to talk to. We pull ourselves out of the moment we are in and worry about the next one. We need to enjoy every moment.

In the studio:
I wanted this to feel like a group of strangers meeting accidentally in a park. They are going through the park with their eyes on the ground. As they hear the music, they look up. They see the park around them. They see a friend in the person they just met. They add to the music. They enjoy the moment they are sharing.

We wanted a casual and laid back feel to the vocals and instrumentation. We used instruments that would be easy to carry through a park: guitar, triangle, tambourine, trumpet, bass, snare drum, and bass drum. We rounded out the percussion section with some knee slaps, handclaps and my car keys.

When we work together and listen to each other, we can create beautiful music.

Your conversation
Fills these walls
I know. I know. I can’t believe this
We should jump before we fall.

Your communication
Coded and classified

I give you hints where hints are hard to follow and build up a home

I found out the hard way
That this life is made up of the moments that pass us by
I’m here for this moment with you
And I won’t let it go

These lines are showing
The years you had to know
There’s so much to do so much to leave for
And we stumble through it all

This path is beaten
But I won’t look down

I follow creases where the lines are pointing and build up a home

I see now the slow drought that dried up my bones
I slow down to enjoy the road that leads me home.

My hands are ready
Though burdened and heavy
Instead of complaining
I’m leaving them dirty

A moment to steady
I’m willing and ready
To hold you up now

I’m through retreating
Regretting, defeating
No more misleading
I’m happy you’re breathing

As long as you’re willing
I’ll love you out loud

"We Fall Back"

2009-03-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Behind the song:
I enjoy playing “Angels” from my Christmas album and wanted to write a similar guitar part. I was playing around with some chord voicings and stumbled into the progression for “We Fall Back.” It flowed perfectly. I get the same joy playing this progression that I get from playing “Blackbird” by The Beatles. Music? Done. Time for the lyrics. They came easy enough but they weren’t exactly what I wanted. I was struggling through a period of writing only sad songs. I was trying to get out of this rut and my thoughts (as they often do) turned to my wife. Even after a decade of being together, I am still in awe that she is my wife. Somehow, through all of my faults and troubles, she loves me. She has the ability to lift my sad, lonely, and heavy words.

In the studio:
We wanted a constant beat throughout this song. A kick drum was too boom-y. Software samples were to sample-y. So we set up a microphone above my right foot (dressed in a comfortable sock) and hit record. I am adding “studio foot musician” to my resume.

We fall back to each other
And somehow you found me
Black pen in hand
You lifted words
So weighed down and lonely

You’re not afraid

We turn ourselves into gold
When we can we fall back
And turn our hearts where we go
And somehow
We fall back

I understand why
The tumult died now that I want you for my own
Thoughts are retreating
From the line that fell tonight now you are my home

We fall back to each other
And somehow you love me

You’re not afraid
So I’m not afraid

"Honest Ground"

2009-02-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

Behind the song:
Any solid relationship stems from an unshakable place of trust. Love is deeper when it is rooted in honesty and openness. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to turn these ideas into a song when I heard the beautifully dark lyric from one of my favorite bands, The Shins: "It took me all of a year to put the poison pill to your ear but now I stand on honest ground on honest ground." There it was: "Honest Ground."

In the studio:
The idea for this song started out with a string quartet as the backbone. So, I spent a few months working on the string arrangement. (The composing/arranging part of my brain had been in hibernation since college.) I slowly worked out the brain cramps and eventually got the arrangement to a point that really felt satisfying. I brought the arrangement to the studio and Nathan and I started to build the song around the strings. We tried many different approaches. Something just wasn't clicking with the song. After sitting on the song for a few weeks, Nathan suggested that we try arranging without the strings. Scrapping the strings altogether had never even crossed my mind. I had worked so hard on them. THE SONG WAS GOING TO WORK WITH THE STRINGS whether the song liked it or not. I would have pounded this square peg into the round hole until the bitter end had Nathan not removed the strings and replaced them with a magical electric guitar line. The rest of the song jumped up and screamed, "This is it! This is what I'm supposed to sound like!"

Lyrics:
Gray silence up ahead
And a highway of time
You’re blue and trembling
From the walls we have to climb

Take these words I give you now
Hold me up 'til we get out
Plant my feet on honest ground

And the light comes tumbling
Through holes in our lives
Our hands find strength
From a sun we thought had died

We start out fine
But this heart tears every time
Throw the doubt to the fire

Your brown eyes settle me
From the fear in mine
This hand you’re offering
Well, it comes as no surprise

And we shine

The story of "The Elm Tree". Thoughts on my new album.

2009-02-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

Life is made up of moments and every moment is a gift.

There are moments when we lose hope. We can only see the bare limbs of winter trees. We forget that there is life pulsing through the roots in the frozen ground. We feel like we can’t make it through another day. But somehow we find the strength. Something reminds us of the blossoms that come every spring. Sometimes it’s a friend or a family member who offers a hand of comfort. Other times we rely on our faith to get us through.

As I was working on this album I read a favorite book of mine, “The Giving Tree,” by Shel Silverstein. It’s the story of a tree that loves a boy and gives everything to make the boy happy. I have always enjoyed the story but after my most recent reading I realized: I am the boy. I thought of people in my life who are the tree: my wife, my parents, a neighbor battling cancer, a young friend fighting in Afghanistan. They are strong, dependable, and giving. Even when there is nothing left to give, they continue to comfort, inspire and give me strength.

These songs are about moments of happiness, sorrow, courage, and hope.

This album is for the trees in my life.

Confusing Christmas Songs

2008-12-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

While we were energetically singing "Jingle Bells" this past week, both of my kids corrected my lyric of "In a one horse open sleigh" to "In a one horse SOAPEN sleigh." This made me think of all the Christmas songs that I 1. Sang (sing) incorrectly, 2. Don't understand, and 3. Skip over entirely in our Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook.

Lyrics I sang incorrectly as a child:
"Round YOUNG virgin Mother and Child" (She was young)
"Up on the housetop reindeer PAWS" (That one makes sense to me still to this day. Hooves can be referred to as paws, can't they?)
"Good tidings we bring to you and your KING" ("King" rhymes with "bring" better than "kin" does)
"Take a look at the FINEN TIN glistening once again" (I don't know what that means. So I looked it up. It's "Five and ten." What is that referring to? Cross streets? A time of day?)
"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of YOUR faithful friends who are dear to us" (What does "yore" mean? Did you know that before you looked it up?)

Lyrics I don't understand:
"We'll tell scary ghost stories" (This is from "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Is it common for people to sit around at Christmas and try to scare each other? Am I missing out on a fun holiday tradition?)
"Bells on bobtail ring" (What's a bobtail?)
"Twelve Days of Christmas" (There are birds given on days 1,2,3,4,6,7. If you write a song that has twelve different things in it and half of them are birds, why not do the whole song about birds? Did the guy not know any more bird names? I can't name 12 different birds. Do people give birds for Christmas? Is wanting a bird for Christmas common enough to write a song about it? I have some friends whose son is asking for a rat. (Apparently they are really smart and bond well with their owners. Who knew?) Then there's the most confusing part of all: "Four Colly birds" vs. "Four Calling birds." I didn't even know this was a debate until last week when we got a "Twelve Days of Christmas" book from the library. It says "Colly birds." (It means black bird. Thank you answers.com). My kids sing "Colly" now. Are they going to get beat up by the "Calling" faction? This discovery made me question years of singing an already confusing song.)

Christmas songs I have never heard nor sung yet are in the Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook:
"The Merry Christmas Polka"
"Christmas in Killarney"
"Will Santy Come to Shanty Town?"
"The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot" (I just read the lyrics. Chorus: "He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot, and goodness knows he didn't want a lot. He sent a note to Santa for some soldiers and a drum; It broke his little heart when he found Santa hadn't come. In the street, he envies all those lucky boys, then wanders home to last year's broken toys. I'm so sorry for that laddie; He hasn't got a daddy, the little boy that Santa Claus forgot." Really? That happy chestnut made it into this collection of songs? Are there really so few uplifting Christmas songs that this one made the cut? Was "that little boy" the editor for the songbook? Hmm...)

As a kid you never cared about getting the words right or even tried to understand what you were singing. You just loved being with family and sang the song loud and hoped that your enthusiasm for Christmas would somehow be detected by Rudolph's sonar.

So sing out this Christmas when you are a-wassailing with friends and kin (not king). It's the joy of being together that really matters.