A few years ago my cousin’s daughter had a gorgeous little baby girl. Named her “Emily”. (That makes her my third cousin, if you’re doing the math at home.)
Meanwhile, I had a song in the works about a baby, but the tune was just a pile of notes with an occasional rhyme in the mix. Most songs – at least mine – start that way. Then you have to force yourself to be patient until inspiration hits. “Inspiration” is just the catalyst that knocks something into place. It might be something you overhear in a conversation or it could be something you see on the way home from work.
In this case, it was a photograph of Emily received in a Christmas card.
I retooled the song, shortened “Emily” to “Emma” (“Baby Emma” is just easier to sing), and finished the song.
A couple years later, and I’ve recorded the song. Had my pal Bruce add a dobro, and then Jimmy Jackson brought in Karin Phoenix, a wonderful local singer, to add harmony. We ended up with Takin’ Baby Steps.
Another one in the can.