I'MSORRYPLEASEFORGIVEMEILOVEYOUTHANKYOU by Richard Stuverud

Here is the 2nd song which was recorded alongside Stargazers from the Desert Sessions at Red Barn Recorders in Yucca Valley back in 2011.
I was listening to a lot of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo at the time when I wrote this one and I could hear slide and pedal steel in the back of my mind as the song took form. Gar Roberts @ Red Barn is one hell of a pedal steel player, so I was in good company to capture its sound. I was also fortunate to have some great players on this track as well.
The front half of the tune has a warm sort of melancholy vibe to it as the second half builds into a bit of a shoegaze guilty pleasure of mine.
Lyrically the song is coming to terms with some of the difficult terrain in the landscape of personal relationships. It was about trying to find ways to surrender, waking up to the idea of making transformative changes along the way.
Writing and recording this in the desert seemed to open up more possibilities of expressing this emotion.
The working title at the time was White Flag.

It wasn't until later this year that I decided to add the extra vocal line on the outro of the tune.
In the spirit of the Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponopono, a prayer of reconciliation and forgiveness, it seemed to fit really well with it's message and melody.
A new title was born!
I'm Sorry Please Forgive Me I Love You Thank You.

As I kept singing this line over and over it reminded me of what George Harrison did so well. It became a mantra.
And this mantra started to transcend beyond the original subject matter of the song in a way.
I began to think about applying this prayer to greater situation in which we find ourselves today.
With the pandemic of 2020 and the ongoing damage of climate change,
the song for me personally has become an apology to the earth among other things.
I hope you enjoy the tune.

Come sing it with me!

Richard is a musician known for his work in the Seattle music scene as the drummer for The Fastbacks, War Babies and as a guest drummer for Pearl Jam in Oakland in 2022. Richard has released material as a singer/songwriter with Memories In Kodachrome in 2020,
His follow up, Hummingbirds, in 2022, And a 7"vinyl single in 2023. Richard's latest release Sunset Ghosts will drop Sept 20th 2024.

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