Lyrics & Story Behind Song #13: “One Drop of Love”

“All it takes is one drop, one drop of love.

All it takes is one step—one step’s enough.”

Following a retreat in December of 2018, I was patting myself on the back for all I’d done to expand my conscious awareness and take ownership of my life. I got an eye reading, expecting to see positive change. I was discouraged to see so much co-dependence and resentment still showing up in my eyes! 

My coach reminded me that consciousness is not “one and done”. We often revisit old wounds again and again. Each time we touch them, there’s an opportunity for deeper healing and new discovery. Old wounds don’t disappear. We move forward scars and all. Yes, their “charge” fades as our relationship to them shifts; however, we don’t leave them behind. Over time they become badges of honor rather than memories of limitation. They become friends Instead of enemies.

  The coach also reminded me that all it takes is one drop of love to shift an old pattern. All it takes is faith “the size of a mustard seed”.  Those messages offered hope and encouragement. Finally, she reminded me I had a choice whether or not to see my wounds as blessings. I could choose resistance (“Oh no, not that again!”) or I could choose love (“Oh, that again? Great! This pattern must be showing up because I’m ready to learn more from it!”).  

  I used to find this type of growth process discouraging. I described it as moving five steps forward and three steps back. Now I know it as the nature of rebirthing. In the delivery room a baby crowns, only to disappear back into the birth canal. Each time the baby reappears, it is farther along. Only when the time is right, does the whole baby emerge. Each time I see an old pattern activate now, rather than get discouraged I get excited. Whatever I’m doing must be working! Old wounds are getting triggered because deeper healing is available. 

Over the next eight weeks I wrote the song One Drop of Love to remember this lesson. Three o’clock in the morning is typically the time my inner voice wakes me up. From a sound sleep, I suddenly find myself wide awake. Song lyrics come in, or I get a sense there’s an angel whispering in my ear.  Verse one of One Drop of Love describes that experience. Verse two speaks to the frustration of seeing old patterns, resisting at first, and finally remembering to love them. The last verse describes the world as it appears once we “step through the veil” and are able to see our wounds as hidden gifts. That vision reminds me of the feeling I get watching sunrise on the beach.

In high school I had a dear friend who would join me every year for an Easter Sunday morning ritual. We would drive down to Virginia Beach well before dawn. We’d spread a blanket on the sand, bundle up in our jackets, and sit in silence in the darkness listening to the waves while we waited for the sun to rise. As the sky began to lighten, we’d watch the waves became gilded in shimmers of light. In awed silence we would witness the new day being born. Once the sun was fully above the horizon, I’d get out my guitar and we’d sing Cat Stevens’ Morning Has Broken, the old Shaker hymn Simple Gifts, Donavan’s Brother Sun, Sister Moon, the Beatle’s classic Here Comes the Sun, and a host of other favorites that fit the mood. 

For years this shared ceremony of Easter sunrise service on the beach felt as sacred to me as anything I experienced going with my family to church. I was awestruck at how magnificently the sun spread its color and light across the sky, putting on a show above the rolling beauty of an infinite Atlantic ocean. Whether or not I showed up to watch it, this miracle repeated every morning. No matter yesterday’s darkness, tomorrow the world would be made new again. No matter yesterday’s scars, tomorrow invites fresh eyes to find beauty and blessing. All it takes is a little faith, a little willingness, a little heart--and one drop of love.       

Lyrics: One Drop of Love

Verse 1: It’s 3:00 a.m.  I’m lying here, angels whispering in my ear.

It’s 3:00 a.m.  I’m wide awake, well aware of what’s at stake.

That inner voice I’ve heard before—the one I sometimes just ignore—

Is calling me from deep inside, “Trust your heart to be your guide.”

CHORUS:    “ ‘Cause all it takes is one drop, one drop of love.

All it takes is one drop, one drop of love.

All it takes is one step—one step’s enough.

All it takes is one drop, one drop of love.

  Faith as small as a mustard seed is all love asks, all love needs,

So make the call with all that you believe.

All you ask and more you will receive.”

Verse 2: I touched a wound the other day I thought I’d touched and healed before,

And all that shame and ancient pain, it came knocking at my door.

My first response was “Not again!”—resisting what was left to mend.

Then I took a second look. “Come on in, remembered friend.”

CHORUS:    “ ‘Cause all I know is one thing—that’s how I feel.

And all I choose is everything—everything that’s real.

All it takes is one breath--one breath’s enough.

All it takes is one drop, one drop of love. 

  Faith and love, guide every step I take today.  

Walking new, I’ll find my way as miracles unfold.

And all I touch and more will turn to gold.” 

Verse 3: It’s 5:00 a.m. The sun came up to paint the dawn with golden rays.

It’s 5:00 a.m. I watch the waves ebb and flow with ease and grace.

A world I’ve never seen before, beckons like an open door,

Shining now with sacred light, warm and loving, clear and bright.

CHORUS:   And all it took was one drop, one drop of love.

All it took was one drop, one drop of love.

All it takes is one step, one step’s enough.

All it takes is one drop, one drop of love.

  Faith as small as a mustard seed is all love asks, all love needs,

So make the call with all that you believe.

All you ask and more you will receive.”

See the light beyond the scar.

See the light beyond the scar.

Be the blessing that you are.  (All it takes is one drop—one drop of love.)

Be the blessing that you are.  (All it takes is one step—one step’s enough.)

Be the blessing that you are.  (All it takes is one seed—one seed of faith.)

Be the blessing that you are.  (All it takes is one touch—one touch of grace.)

Be the blessing that you are.  (All it takes is one breath—one breath’s enough.)

Be the blessing that you are.  (All it takes is one drop—one drop of love.)

© 2019 Ann S. Bugh