I have always enjoyed shows like VH1’s “Storytellers” because it’s fascinating to hear what inspired some of my favorite songs; even better to learn about the songs that move me.

I therefore thought I would tell you the stories behind the “words” offered in my Use Your Words (TM) t-shirt line.

The desire to offer tops that leverage Spanish words has been in my head for at least a couple of years now, but it wasn’t until I heard the Lila Downs song “Soy Pescador” that the images started coming to me.

Let me start by saying, I’m not an angler. I went fishing once when I was (maybe) 12 or 13 years old and never went again. As with most connections to a song, it wasn’t as simple or as base as that.

I instead sat listening to her beautiful voice and was transported to the ocean hoping, as the protagonist does, to find true love. Hoping that the water will provide for our hearts’ desires.

Hoping.

You’ll note that I did not go as far as including her song’s symbol of hope in the design (although I do love oranges), but I do mentally place one somewhere in the water and smile each time I look at it.

What has inspired you lately?