Corley Roberts Q & A

In Her Own Words

We considered putting a warning label on Corley Robertsí debut CD "Me". Sheíll tap deep into your emotions and youíll get swept up in her storytelling. Youíll feel her very presence in every lyric and when you let yourself become part of her music, youíll want to return again and again. And, you will.

Q:What does music do for you?

CR: It moves me to feel, to think, to understand, to question. It allows me to go to depths I donít always get to go to without music.

Q: Do you consider yourself a singer or a songwriter?

CR: Iím equally a songwriter as much as I am a performer. I enjoy performing but I live for writing.

Q: I remember sitting at the Bluebird CafÈ in Nashville when you last played there and I looked around at the audience and they were so taken by your words and your songs.

CR: I sometimes write songs from a fictitious perspective. In other words, I imagine what someone else might be going through and I put it to song.

Q: Letís talk about your music. Tell me about the song "She Heard Angels Sing."

CR: Itís about two people who fall in love with each other. Heís playing at a coffeehouse and she walks in and is taken by his music. They begin their life together and he sings to her every night before she goes to sleep until her final moments when she says to him, "Sing to me one more time". Itís their story.

Q: Tell me about some other songs that are close to your heart.

CR: I recently wrote a song for my mother. I had a bunch of songs for my father but none about my mother. A few months ago on a Saturday I brought home a new guitar. I called my mom and told her I bought a new guitar. She didnít know that I had a guitar collection; I had left home when I was 18. She asked "Now do you really need a new guitar?" I said, "How did you know to say that?" And she replied, "I raised you". Mothers, they just know.

Q: You have another song about a mother, but itís not about your mom. Itís about a friendís and her relationship to her son? Whatís the story behind that one?

CR: Yes, itís called "Motherís Love" and itís about a mother whose son has joined a cult and they travel from city to city to find him. They are still searching hoping one day to bring him home. The song is dedicated to Paul.

Q: Tell me about the song "Yours for Me" that recently won you an award. It has a spiritual story to it, doesnít it?

CR: "Yours for Me" is a song about Godís love for me not necessarily my love for Him. I wander at times, Iím blinded and cannot always hear Him - but he seems to always love me regardless. Out of all the songs Iíve written and, in this particular case entered into a song contest, this one received recognition. It was validation. No one can tell me that Iím not doing what I should be doing. Theyíll have to take it up with the Big Guy.

Q: You said that song gave you quite a sense of accomplishment. In what way?

CR: Iíve put myself through college (B.S., M.H.A.). Iíve published a book (author). I started a business (president). I bought a house (homeowner). I wrote a song, and I was noticed (Songwriter).

Q: Tell me about your song "Be Still".

CR: "Be Still" was written as a theme song to KidMusicMed, a program I founded which uses music to help kids with cancer and other serious illness, cope with their illness.