SONGWRITING BY KURT HAGAN

I’m a Canadian songwriter who has worked with a number of hit songwriters in Nashville as well as Canada.
Although I do write solo, I also love being the title/lyric guy and working with a musical partner or directly with artists, especially if they have a germ of an idea that needs to be blown out.
Whatever the genre, there’s nothing more satisfying than creating new emotional energy out of thin air.

MISSING PERSON (Female Version)
A haunting, desperate journey to discover why the relationship ended. But some mysteries will never be solved.

BEAUTIFUL FOOLISH MOON
It’s impossible not to fall in love with the moon…and to write yet another song about it. But this sweet ballad captures the moon’s dilemma. And it’s much like ours.

KNOW-IT-ALL HEART. Kick-ass country rocker written with Aidan Mason (see NOWHERE NEAR). Demo sung by current Chicago front man, Neil Donnell, BTW.

CROWS OF OCTOBER
Just when you think your life couldn’t get more complicated, the lawyers get involved. Whether scavengers or predators, who always comes out ahead?

BEYOND THE RIVERBEND
If you’ve ever lost a dearly loved one and found yourself in possession of their ashes, I sincerely hope you’ll find comfort and inspiration in this song.

LIVED AND GONE TO HEAVEN.
Nothing like a near-death experience to make you appreciate the beauty of your life. Mark Blomsteel's version won Song of the Year at the Dutch CMAs. Written with genius Jon Robbin in Nashville.

A SONG NEEDS LOVE
Where would we be without the talented singers and musicians who bring our songs to life? A heartfelt and inspiring tribute.

FORGETTIN’ OUTTA TOWN
It’s not enough to leave a bad relationship if you don’t leave the place where it all happened. Those daily reminders will grind you down until you eventually up and go. Upbeat and energetic.

AFTER THIS. A solo write that offers hope when facing life's challenges. Available on Spotify by Hagan & Friends. 3 versions: AC, Crossover Country and Classic Jazz.

I CAME BACK FOR EVERYTHING. A happy ending song written with Aidan Mason. Great writer, guitarist and right here: fiddler.

CAN'T WEAR THAT HAT ANYMORE.
A tip of the fedora to the Cole Porter era when even a break-up was done with style.

GAME TIME. Kick-ass country rocker written with Nashville hit songwriter Rand Bishop (#1 with Toby Keith's MY LIST). The sport of sexual pursuit meets pure adrenalin.

YOU HELD ME. A pop expression of desperation after losing love and the stability it once imparted. Country Pop version also available.

JUST JANE. R&B ballad written with Laura & Earl Torno. Featured in the Degrassi: Next Generation soundtrack. Also recorded by Juno winner Carlos Morgan.

I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES IN KANSAS. I don't think you have to be from Kansas to sing this. Maybe you could be from Kananaskis. Jon Robbin and me again. We can't stop ourselves.

I READ A BOOK. Sweet and sad and country. Mourning and loss and storytelling. Written with Jeff Silver. Definitely two hankies.

AIN’T WAITIN' ON MAYBE. Upbeat bluesy tune sung by a woman who’s had enough of not getting enough. Written with Nashville’s Jim Counter.

TELL ME WHICH STAR YOU ARE. A heartfelt country ballad about an important someone who is no longer with us. Written with Nashville hit songwriter Jon Robbin. This version could be about a parent, a teacher, a friend. Also have another version with more personal lyrics about losing a partner.

MAMA'S WILL. Another Rand Bishop co-write about the strength of a mother in the face of diversity.

TOO GOOD A FRIEND. Featured on Degrassi: Next Generation. Written with Laura and Earl Torno. Yes, that great vocal is Toronto's own Rique Franks.

ABOUT TO FIND OUT. My very first Nashville co-write. With Rand Bishop, who's had cuts with Heart, The Beach Boys, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and Indigo Girls. We've written a lot together and always had a good time doing it. This song is Life in just over 3 minutes.

I SHOULD KNOW. Another of many heart-breaking tunes I've written with Jon Robbin (two #1s with Chris Kagel and Lori Morgan). We always laugh through our tears and sometimes even cry through our jokes.

THE NIGHT'S NOT OVER YET. Not country. Maestro Aidan Mason again. A heartfelt shout-out to singer Trish O'Brien. What a voice. Also available in a male version (Chicago's Neil Donnell). Plus Country Crossover.

OUTLIVIN' YOUR LOVE. Jon Robbin and me. One of our best. Maybe our best. Wait, we haven't written our best yet.

YOU DO LONELY GOOD. Aidan Mason and I pay tribute to songwriters. Somewhat self-serving, but super sweet.

I WANT IN, YOU WANT OUT. Written with the artist, Canada's David Martin Rodenburg. Great voice. Great guy. It's kind of about a door.

MEANT TO BE. A sweet re-affirmation of love created with artist Shauna Rae Samograd, one third of Farmer's Daughter.

YOU SHOULD TALK. A rockin' Jon Robbin co-write in which we take the female perspective on men's taciturn nature. It's a problem neither of us have.

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID. Here is the other side of the story. A three-way composition with Jon Robbin and Nashville publisher Steve Bloch whose contributions were immense.

PRESSED AGAINST THE GLASS. A serious song about a difficult journey through life. Sung by co-writer Rand Bishop. (Did I mention he sang background on a Cat Stevens album?)

NOTHING'S EVER EASY IN THE MORNING. Since we're being serious for a moment, this. A solo write sung beautifully by Canada's own Suzie Vinnick.

I'M CALLIN' THE SHOTS. Rand Bishop and I became barstool philosophers for this one.

BEAT THE SUNSET WEST. Phil Swann and I created this frenetic travelog. Phil's songs have been covered by Blake Shelton, Lee Ann Womack, Clay Aiken, Rodney Atkins, etc. A joy to work with.

HEARTS COVERED IN DUST. A heart-aching, panoramic western vista painted by me and Jon Robbin. It'll make you thirsty.

I COULD USE A MIRACLE. A common feeling for a songwriter. Written with Jim Zerface (Tanya Tucker, Reba McIntyre) and Jon Robbin.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU NEVER SAID GOODBYE. A journey to worlds beyond with Aidan Mason's music and incredibly tasteful guitars.

SHE'S THERE. Dave Shiels told me he wanted to write a song for his wife based on these two words. Hmmm. Needs a fresh angle. An assist from Rand Bishop on this. And that's Dave singing like he's singing to his wife.

THE SMALLTIME. Although we all want to make it to the big time, here Rand Bishop and I embraced the small, sweet things in life. Great toe-tappin' fun.

TONIGHT I'M GONNA DRINK YOU BACK. Bruce Michael Miller and I drank and cried all the way through this one.

RIVERS NEVER CROSS. Uplifting message about the power of two lives intertwining. Written with the above mentioned Aidan Mason.

WHY PRETEND. Couples therapy in 4/4 with pedal steel. Me and Jon Robbin being sensitive. Again.

THE OTHER WOMAN. Speaking of Aidan Mason (co-writer) and Neil Donnell (singer), that's all you get in this tune. Voice. Guitar. And a soul-searching attempt to recapture faded love. (Also available as a full production duet.)

YOU TOOK FOREVER. See my previous note about I SHOULD KNOW: Ditto.

LOSIN' HIS MEMORY. Female country rocker (sung here by co-writer Rand Bishop). A tune with 'tude! This is a raw, basic demo just crying out for a great female country delivery.

NOWHERE NEAR. An emotional response to an ex-partner's platonic gestures. Written with Canadian hit songwriter and brilliant guitarist who travelled the world with Anne Murray, Aidan Mason. Female Country Pop version available.

MISSING PERSON (Male Version)
Suddenly the relationship ends. You’re desperate to figure out what really happened. But some mysteries will never be solved. This one rocks.