In these days of dealing with the isolation of social distancing, we’re producing the Apple Seed from a couple of home studios.  Sam took to posting to social media a little song every day – something filled with a little hope and a little encouragement to hang on. We thought we’d bring you some of those pieces here, as Apple Seed Extras. These aren’t studio recordings, and you’ll be able to tell – they’re made with an iPad, aimed at Sam while he sits at his desk. We’re happy to bring them to you here on The Apple Seed. Here's what Sam says about this song, called "Sleep":

"This is a song that I started to write on the way home from the dentist’s office. My youngest son had been in there that morning – just a little guy, five years old, and his teeth were a mess, and he needed some work done that was going to require them to put him right under.

He had been yanked out of bed in his PJs, impossibly early in the morning, long before down, to go down to the office for that procedure, And I waited with him while he slept in the recovery room, and I watched him slowly come out of it, and as I drove him home, he fell dead asleep again in the car, and I saw him there in this kind of drug induced stupor, and he just so vulnerable, like the world could just have its way with him. And the sun was just coming up, and my father’s heart imagined all the things he might have to face in a tough world that didn’t care much about him.

And frankly, those thoughts had a lot more to do with how my day was going than they did about how his was going. But at the moment, with a sore mouth waiting for him when he woke up, and a miserable day ahead, I just wished him a good, long, sleep. And that wish got writ rather dramatically large in this song."

Here are the lyrics:

There is nothing so cold as the night-time

There is nothing so black as the sky

And you rest there in your little PJs

And the storm gonna keep blowing by

It will take you and do what it will so for now close your eyes

And sleep

‘Til you know that all promises break

And the water is always too deep

Sleep

Little captain in your little vessel

Where you sail and you sail all alone

And I pray and I pray ever knowing

That none of us knows the way home

And the North Star is hidden in some other part of the skies

I believe in the fire in the lighthouse

I believe in the power of love

I believe in the strength of the darkness

I believe there’s a God up above

Your voice will come and you’ll pray for redemption

Pressing on though you’re battered and bruised

‘Til you’re gone I will stand there beside you

I will teach you the words that I use

Later on, but now

Sleep

Ain’t none of us angels

Caught up in a war that is dirty and cheap

Sleep

A little Apple Seed Extra, something that’s available only here in the Apple Seed podcast space. Again, we’ve been self-isolating, and looking for ways to reach out to our fellow humans. Our hearts go out to all of our storytelling friends, who even in times like this never cease to reach out in all kinds of creative ways to share stories at a safe distance. Hang in there, all. We love you. We’d love to know what you’re up to, how you’ve passed the time in an era of isolation. Did you recite Shakespeare monologues? Sing broadway show tunes? Tell family stories? Let us know, by emailing us at [email protected]. We love to hear from you, especially now.