p. 48 — Pre-Pro
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Outside Cut — Only Non-Original on the Record
Core Concept
"I fell in love with this song a decade before I had the chance to record it."
Over 10 years ago Kris was hired to demo this song so the writers could pitch it. She fell in love with it immediately but wasn't in a position to release an artist project at the time. The song never left her. A decade later, when she finally went to cut her first artist album, she reached out to find out if it had found a home. It hadn't. She got to record it. Some songs find you when you're ready for them.
Emotional Arc
A meditation on what love looks like when it's built to last — wildflowers and mountain red oak, made to weather storms. A portrait at the top of the stairs. Forgiveness living alongside anger. Faith never a stranger. A front porch light left on so a heart can find its way home. The song builds love as a place, not a feeling. Each verse adds another room. The bridge names the harder virtues — forgiveness, faith, hope — and the final verse is the most quietly devastating: no back door for weakness to sneak in, but the light always on for whoever needs to come home. That's the whole thing.
Sonic Palette
Overall Vibe
Acoustic, intimate, warm. The tuning gives it an open, resonant quality that should breathe through the whole arrangement.
Tuning
Open D minor — DADGAD tuned a half step down with the G string adjusted. This tuning is the identity of the song. Everything else builds from it.
Demo Status
Demo is perfect. The goal is to recreate the demo and add color — not reinvent. Stay as close as possible to what's already captured.
Fill / Color
Light steel guitar, possible strings. Keep it simple and acoustic throughout. Open to co-producer suggestions in session.
Instrumentation
Acoustic Guitar (Open D Minor)
Steel Guitar
Strings (light)
Album Note — Outside Cut
The Only Non-Original on the Record
This is the only song on Midnight Church Aftermath that Kris didn't write. It earns its place because it belongs here emotionally and sonically — and because Kris has carried it for over a decade waiting for the right moment. Ensure publishing and licensing is fully cleared before production locks.
Music Video / Visualizer
Concept TBD
Open Questions
Confirm writers' full names, PRO, IPI numbers and publishing for outside cut clearance
Confirm licensing and publishing cleared before production locks
Steel guitar and string direction — confirm in session
Music video or visualizer direction TBD
p. 49 — Lyrics
Outside Cut — Only Non-Original on the Record
Verse 1
If love was a house
It would be built on
Acres of wildflowers kissed by the sun
Board by board
Of mountain red oak
Made to weather storms that will come
Chorus
If love... if love was a house
Verse 2
If love was a house
There'd be a portrait
Of a storybook moment at the top of the stairs
And it would always smell like Christmas
Gypsies and Jesus would be welcome there
Chorus
If love... if love was a house
Bridge
Forgiveness would live with anger
And faith would never be a stranger
And you'd see hope always hanging around
Chorus
If love was... a house
Verse 3
If love was a house
There'd be no backdoor
For a moment of weakness to sneak on in
And it would leave the front porch light on
So a heart could find its way home again
Outro
If love... if love... if love was a house