Roots Of American Music
Senior / Songwriter Collaborations
a songwriting collaboration

Stitch by Stitch

Songwriter: Brent Kirby
Senior: Patricia Spychaj

Written by Brent Kirby as part of Roots of American Music’s “Hough is My Home” series, a songwriting collaboration between ROAM teaching artists/musicians and senior adults who regularly attend the Fatima Family Center in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. Brent collaborated with Patricia Spychaj, a 66 year old woman who grew up in Garfield Heights with her parents and sister and now resides in Cleveland. Patricia has fond memories of backyard wading pools and swing set rides at Geauga Lake. She enjoys going on trips to Amish country, playing the penny machines at a casino and watching her favorite TV shows. Having worked for 43 years as a dietary worker and housekeeper at Sunrise Point nursing home, Patricia now makes it a priority to keep in touch, and visit with friends. She loves bible study and her favorite hobby is to crochet hats, scarves and blankets to give as gifts to others.

Patricia Spychaj
Lyrics

Like to sing you are my sunshine
The fireworks get too noisy sometimes
Visit with friends make sure that they’re well
Let there be light that’s how I see it in my mind

Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place
Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place

Sunrise Point, learned some things
Saw what it meant when the telephone rings
Made the beds, cooked the meals
We became family, threads and strands of yarn

Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place
Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place

Cover you up, and keep you warm (4 Xs)

Bright lights that shine, all the people around
Something in the way the penny machines sound
Conversations, words that weave
This comes right from the heart
And I’ll give it to you

Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place
Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place

Cover you up, and keep you warm (4 Xs)

Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place
Stitch by Stitch, gonna make the world a better place