For the past two years, I’ve been the Third Alternate to the finalists of the Tumbleweed Songwriting Competition. Kind of like being 13 out of 10 (well, ok, 13 out of the 50-60 submissions each year), but who’s counting?

This year the topic of the competition is “bridges” and I’ve just sealed the envelope on my submission, Bridge Don’t Rise. It’s a song I wrote for my dad, but I think it will resonate for anyone who has ever lost someone. Take a listen:

Bridge Don’t Rise
© 2013 Mike Buchman

God willing and the bridge don’t rise
I’ll see you over on the other side
We’ll share some laughter, share some tears
Back with you after all these years
So much to tell you, so much to say
But we’ll have eternity, if we have a day
And the bridge don’t rise    

            And I can’t wait to see you again
            I can’t wait to see you again, if the bridge don’t rise

God willing and the bridge don’t rise
I’ll drink you in with my own eyes
We’ll laugh about the earthly ways
And all the problems in that place
We’ll share some memories, we’ll have a cry
And I know you won’t be leaving me twice
If the bridge don’t rise 

And I can’t wait to see you again
Yeah, I can’t wait to see you again, if the bridge don’t rise

I was young when you died
Never saw you eye to eye
We’ll be together on the other side
God willing and the bridge don’t rise

God willing
And the bridge don’t rise
God willing
And the bridge don’t rise
And I can’t wait to see you again
I can’t wait to see you again