Brave - Melanie Marshall (2026 NPR Tiny Desk contest submission)

Описание: When my spirit’s weak
Make the coffee strong
Don’t forget to breathe
Play my favorite song

Focus on today
Moment at a time
Give myself some grace
I will be all right

Days like today
I can’t be brave
Days like today
I have to wait
For the clouds to clear my doubts and fears away
I can’t be brave today and that’s ok

When the day is through
Look up at the sky
Find the rising moon
Silver, calm and bright

Silent beam of hope
I will light up too
Right now letting go
Is what I need to do

Days like today
I can’t be brave
Days like today
I have to wait
For the clouds to clear my doubts and fears away
I can’t be brave today and that’s ok

I’ve stayed strong
For so dang long
I can’t fake a smile, pretend that all is fine
I’ll try again another time

Days like today
I can’t be brave
Days like today
I have to wait
For the clouds to clear my doubts and fears away
I can’t be brave today and that’s ok

Music & lyrics by Melanie Marshall

This song came from a songwriting challenge, Songtober 2025. The day’s prompt was “brave” and I set out to write an inspiring song for my kids. I ended up writing myself a reminder about the power of rest, for those days I’m feeling empty and defeated - a lesson I hope my kids embrace one day, too.

A bit more on the writing - this song also includes lyrics I wrote during Songtober 2022. The first verse came from the prompt “coffee” and three years later I found a home for it in “Brave.”