If you follow this blog (and we know who you are and we’re close to finding you) you know that I wanted to learn how to play an instrument. I finally did and I am now full of myself. Why stop at just playing music, why not create it? (Hey, I can hear you laughing out there. We’ll have your position triangulated soon). They call it “song writing” and since I’m a writer, how hard can it be? Is that foreshadowing or what.
I went all the way in preparation to become a song writer. I researched some of the great song writers of our time and the wonderful music they created. Lennon & McCartney’s Yesterday, George Harrison’s Something, Don McLean’s American Pie, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page’s Stairway To Heaven, Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind and Loudon Wainwright III’s Dead Skunk In The Middle of the Road. All examples of classic songwriting. I popped in my earbuds and started listening to this great music. An hour later, when I woke up, I was ready to give composing a shot.
First thing I had to figure out is, am I going to do this on my own or find a collaborator? Some of the greatest songs ever written were by song writing teams. The afore mentioned Lennon & McCartney, the Gershwin brothers, Elton John and Bernie Taupin to mention a few. At the same time, some of our greatest writers wrote both music and lyrics. Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Ray Stevens (just loved “The Streak”).
Teams would consist of one member who is a talented musician while the other was a gifted lyricist. The lone wolf song writers are blessed with the ability to write both music and lyrics. Since I have no clue how to read music and I failed poetry in high school (limericks weren’t allowed, darn), I decided to go it alone.
It was time to start my song writing career. To begin, I had to get inspired. Songs are basically a form of poetry and the writers sometimes use the challenges in their life as a basis of their songs. Since I have lead a pretty cushy life, what kind of despair could I possibly share? My haircut was bad? I had a flat tire and left the car jack in my garage? My Internet went out again and I couldn’t access that site I was on…oh, wait, that might be embarrassing. Maybe I’m coming at this from the wrong angle.
There are many fun loving, upbeat songs out there. Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys always told us how fun the beach and muscle cars were. The Go Gos seem to promote happy thoughts, like going on Vacation. How about the Archies singing about Sugar, Sugar (now I can relate).
The first thing I needed to do was come up with some music. I needed to find a combination of chords that sounded good. Since my guitar playing is limited, I decided to not attempt too many. The less my fingers had to travel on the neck of the instrument the better for those forced to listen to it. A song like America’s “Horse with No Name” is basically two chords, while Sonny and Cher became rich on two chord songs.
I started strumming a few ideas. Problem is, everything I strummed sounded familiar. I guess when there are a limited number of chords and millions of songs, there’s good chance it has already been done. My Sweet Lord, George Harrison learned that painful lesson (For those that don’t understand the last sentence, look it up). There aren’t any copy write lawyers reading this, are there?
While you can copy write a song you can not copy write a title. I have decided to name my song “Hey Jude” no matter what I write. Couldn’t hurt sales.
I finally settled on a simple tune that didn’t necessarily sound like a famous folk song from the 60s…not a bit, sort of. It was time to come up with lyrics. This is when I discovered, song writing is hard (ha, I told you there was foreshadowing). I had writers block and as a result I resorted to heavy drinking. I must have gone through three giant Big Gulp Diet Cokes while struggling for ideas.
During one of my many bathroom breaks, it hit me, write about something that I’m familiar with. I’m a car lover and really enjoy watching shows where they rebuild classic muscle cars. Why don’t I write a song about a car. Problem is, modern cars have the same milk toast design and today’s muscle cars are sad replicas of their former 1960s glory. There’s nothing distinctive about any of them. Still, it should be about a current car. Since my inspiration should come from an experience in my life, I settled on the ride my song would be about.
I’ve been struggling to find the right lyrics but I think I have a good starting point. Imagine this: It’s a sunny summer day, your cruising down Pacific Coast Highway, the beach is filled with sun worshipers and surfers and on your car radio you hear, “Plug it in, plug it in, little Prius going to save you gas!” Eat your heart out Beach Boys.
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