Amy Holland’s career began at 15 years old when she migrated to LA to sign … Read Full Bio ↴Amy Holland’s career began at 15 years old when she migrated to LA to sign with Brother records a label started by the Beach Boys. Though no album was to materialize, it was a ticket out of palisades NY straight into the music business of the 70’s in that mecca known as Hollywood California.

Amy Boersma came to LA as a singer songwriter in 1970 and during the typical string of artist development deals that for some reason, don’t quite pan out, she met and captured the interest of more than a few distinguished record producers. Among these were Jack Daugherty (the Carpenters. Paul Williams) and Rick Jarrard (Jefferson Airplane, Nillson, Jose Feliciano). However it was a randomly brief but fortuitous rehearsal encounter with a relatively unknown composer, and for the moment, piano accompanist Michael McDonald, during these early years that would lead ultimately to Amy Hollands success at radio years later, winning her a best new artist nomination at the Grammy Awards of 1980. McDonald who, years later, remembering the allure of her vocal style, would join forces with keyboardist/composer/producer, Patrick Henderson to produce her first Capitol LP from which the top 20 hit “How do I Survive,” (composed by Paul Bliss), emerged on to the charts, taking Amy Holland around the world as an American 80’s ingénue. This period of Amy’s career is documented by TV appearances in Japan and the US that can still be found on YouTube.

A second Capitol LP titled “On Your Every Word” and musical contributions to films such as “Scarface” and “Teen Wolf” (Some of those tracks produced and written by the infamous Giorgio Moroder) along with her contributions to the projects of other artist’s such as Kenny Loggins, Joni Mitchell, Tim Weisburg, Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons and McDonald’s solo projects, would mark her career path for the next few years.
During this time her music business relationship with producer McDonald had developed into something much more and with their marriage and the subsequent birth of their two children, Amy found herself embracing the role of wife and mother. discovering along the way that she had to somewhat relax her grip on her lifelong dream of being a recording artist.

After a much longer than intended hiatus due to a battle to survive breast cancer, Amy found a renewed inspiration in the making and release of “The Journey To Miracle River”. Produced by Bernie Chiaravalle, this Album is very much the autobiography of a personal sojourn she was destined to return from at this point in her life, It’s her first solo album release in over 20 years.
With songs co-written by Amy with friends Jon Vesner, John Goodwin, Michael McDonald and Bernie Chiaravalle. The album features contributions from Vince Gill, Michael McDonald, Shannon Forrest, Bernie Chiaravalle, Stuart Duncan, Tim Akers, and her son, Dylan McDonald.
Amy’s voice can be heard on Willie Nelson’s release of “Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth”. A poignant call to conscience featuring other artists such as Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Michael McDonald, and Pat Simmons with all proceeds going to benefit the National Veterans Foundation.

A Few Short Hours
Amy Holland Lyrics

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Early in the morning
Before the night has shed its coat of darkness
And I remember how to be
The one that everyone expects to see
There's a certain light of innocence
Before I put my solders on the line
The border between love and fear
As the world I left behind appears

For a few short hours
Everything is possible
I forget the game and all the rules
That hold my spirit in
For a few short hours
I remember who I really am
In the colors of the rising sun
Before the day begins
For a few short hours

Early in the morning
Before I put my dreams away
If I can put a pen to paper
Or some colors on a canvas
I surprise myself before the traffic fills
The deserted empty streets
Where the buyers and the sellers meet
I love the inspiration

For a few short hours
Everything is possible
I forget the game and all the rules
That hold my spirit in
For a few short hours
I remember who I really am
In the colors of the rising sun
Before the day begins
For a few short hours

We all do what we have to do to get by
But in the land between dreaming and the world
I can fly

For a few short hours
Everything is possible
I forget the game and all the rules
That hold my spirit in
For a few short hours
I remember who I really am
In the colors of the rising sun

Before the day begins
For a few short hours

Overall Meaning

The song "A Few Short Hours" by Amy Holland is a reflective song about taking the time to rediscover oneself before the day begins. The song starts with the artist describing the moment when she wakes up in the morning, and everything is still, and she is full of innocence. This momentary peace that she feels is before she must step out into the world and put herself on the line. She reminds herself of how everyone expects her to be and takes a moment to center herself. During these few short hours, she forgets about the game and rules that hold her and takes time to rediscover herself.

The second verse describes how the artist uses this brief time in the morning to create something new. She takes out her pen or colors and lets inspiration hit her before the traffic fills the deserted streets. Before the buyers and sellers meet, she finds herself, and her creativity begins to flow. In the bridge, Holland reminds the listener that we all have to do what we can to get by, but in the land between dreaming and the world, anything is possible. The song ends with the final chorus that repeats the message of rediscovery and the beauty of the time before the day begins.

Overall, the song is a powerful reminder to take time for yourself, to rediscover who you are, and to let the creativity flow from within. It emphasizes how crucial it is to have these few short hours before the day begins, where everything is possible.

Line by Line Meaning

Early in the morning
At the start of the day

Before the night has shed its coat of darkness
Before the darkness of the night fades away

And I remember how to be
I recall the manner of my behavior

The one that everyone expects to see
The way others anticipate me to be

There's a certain light of innocence
A specific aura of purity

Before I put my solders on the line
Before I face difficult circumstances

The border between love and fear
The threshold between affection and anxiety

As the world I left behind appears
As the past I left behind resurfaces

For a few short hours
During a brief period of time

Everything is possible
All possibilities are open

I forget the game and all the rules
I neglect the competition and its regulations