Little Gems
In 2003, I took 15 Warner Chappell writers from all over the world to Lake Arrowhead for my annual Writing “Summer Camp. That year I would meet Stephony Smith from our Nashville office.
Immediately, I felt connected to this woman. She was smart, kind, funny and oh yeah, she had written a little song called “It’s your Love” for Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill.
Her other songwriting credits include Heidi Newfield’s “Johnny And June,” Trisha Yearwood’s “Perfect Love,” Reba McEntire’s “How Was I To Know,” Chad Brock’s “Yes,” Tim McGraw’s “Back When,” Kenny Chesney’s “Big Star,” Ricochet’s “What Do I Know” and Lorrie Morgan’s “Go Away.” She was BMI’s 1998 Songwriter of the Year and has more than 100 cuts by artists such as Shania Twain, SHeDAISY, Barbara Streisand, the Dixie Chicks, Lonestar, and Diamond Rio.
On the first day of camp, I paired her with her roommates: Jodi Marr who is a successful Pop/Latin writer and Rosey, an artist/writer signed to Polygram at the time. That day, they wrote one of my favorite songs that has never been cut, “Someone Says Your Name.”
I can’t tell you how many songs sit in the vaults of publishers that are forgotten. Honestly, I should make a playlist! I was at Warner Chappell for 20 years and got pretty familiar with thousands upon thousands of songs that will never be heard again. They will never get the attention they deserve because it takes too much man power to look through them and see if there are any gems. It’s a full time job.
Luckily for you guys, I’ve dug this one out! Enjoy this song written by 3 girls who had just met and are still friends to this day.
“Someone Says Your Name” by Jodi Marr/Rosey/Stephony Smith
“I think I’m fine and then...
Then someone says your name
then all of a sudden my tears come down like rain
I thought it was over
but it’s like nothings changed
cause I still feel the same when someone says your name”
