When I was younger I rarely co-wrote lyrics with other people but this song was a wonderful exception. Originally named Bittersweet, I wrote the verses in 1992 after a friend and colleague, whom I consider family, came over and played two lines of a song he was starting on.
His creativity inspired me, and within fifteen minutes, the verses flowed effortlessly into my notebook. The collaborative spirit of that moment was truly memorable.
At the time I was thinking about a careless thing I had said to someone. One of those daily offenses we all commit and wish we could take back. That, and the realization that looking back does not help anything, inspired this song.
Fast forward to 2024. I was hoping to release an updated version of the song so I checked in with my friend. To my delight, he had re-recorded the song with new lyrics as a lullaby, bringing a fresh perspective to the work
When I passed that information on to my new musical partner, Shiro Onedera, he wrote a fresh chorus so we could release our own beautiful, updated version of the original song. We were both inspired by the creative process, and Shiro’s arrangement captured the essence of the message perfectly. The song evolved from Bittersweet into Balanced Teacher, reflecting the positive transformation that comes from collaboration and open-mindedness. The world truly is a fascinating place.
RLH 1.14.2026
