Before I Knew How!!

[Verse 1][uncertain, young fear + wonder] I was very young and terrified completely unprepared for Motherhood Just a Young Mother doing all she could No instruction books no perfect plan… Then I held you Close for the very first time And you took my breath away…. And love rewrote this Heart of mine…. My first baby girl, my forever love… I knew I’d never be the same… [Chorus][fierce love, pride] Before I knew how to be a mother You taught my heart to love another From little shoes to teenage storms To watching you hold your babies Born… Every season, every mile Every tear and every smile You have always made me proud Even before I knew how [Verse 2][time passing music can grow ] You took your first steps at nine months old You were the sunshine running bold Funny, fearless, full of life, Climbing walls and hanging tight, Barefoot, spinning throughout the night [pulling back the instrumentation briefly growing pains] Then came those hard teenage years Time moved fast….innocence changed…. Childhood became growing pains… Rolling eyes and slammed doors in tears We both said things we didn’t mean…. But love survived those in-between’s…… [Bridge][with background harmonies] Then I watched you hold your babies The same way I once held you… Four little girls with sparkling eyes And the years moved fast like seasons do Those little girls… are all grown up… Now your daughters stand so tall… And I see YOU in them all… And when they laugh I hear your Voice… In every dream… in every choice… You gave them what you gave to me… A Love that feels like Family… [Final Chorus][background harmonies] Before I knew how to be a mother… Life was already writing out forever… God already knew you’d be my daughter And all these years have shown me why You were one of the greatest gifts in my life From your first breath to this day now It was Loving you.… before I knew how…. [Outro fully emotional female pride vocal] That tiny baby girl change my life… And now I look at the woman you became So if you ever doubt yourself Or wonder what your life has been worth Look at the family around you now That’s your love living out Loud So every Day I thank the Lord… For the girl who made me Mom… Before I knew how….. Before I knew how…. Cori, I love you..more than words could say Mmm mmm Mmm ooohh ———————————————— Country / Americana * Lainey Wilson heartfelt family themes The Chicks maternal storytelling energy This should sound: * intimate * nostalgic * cinematic in the chorus * simple in the verses * emotional without becoming dramatic mid-tempo Around: * 79-98 BPM Enough movement to keep it flowing, but mid tempo enough for emotion to breathe. Rhythm: A mid soft: “1…2…3…4…” sway Not heavy drums. Almost like a heartbeat underneath the song. Style: contemporary folk Main Instruments: * acoustic guitar * piano * light strings * soft percussion * harmony vocals Mood: Warm nostalgia + unconditional love + growing pains + pride. Structure Suggestion Intro Soft guitar/piano Verse 1 Young mother / first time holding her Chorus “My first baby girl, my first forever love…” Verse 2 Growing up years Chorus Bridge Fear, mistakes, watching her become her own person Final Chorus Biggest emotional lift Pull instruments back down softly Almost whisper the final line.