Trying To Write A Song

So … I’m trying to write something – a song.

I had a few instrumental ideas on the guitar that I took to the monthly song writing circle I attend. It was three tunes really, that could have worked together, with a slow section, followed by a fast section, then back to a different slow bit.

They liked it, and suggested a pastoral feel for the lyrics – think summer, sitting by a river, meadows and wild flowers.

It’s still around, unfinished. I tried some lyrics on it earlier this week.

I’d had an idea that was sparked off by listening to Ched Myers talk about the way that where he live – in Northern California, the river is dry because of water being taken off further upstream for communities or industry.

The same happens in the Palestinian Territories in the Jordan Valley, with the culprit being Israel’s industry.

It’s an idea with a more general meaning … that where there is disadvantage, or poverty, it’s probably because someone else has got to all the resources, leaving little for others.

Disadvantage = downstream.

So, the idea was to pick up on the suggestions made by my friends at the songwriting circle, but give it a twist. So use the image of the river, but think about stuff that’s done upstream that makes life hard for the people who live ‘downstream’

Moonlight on the water
Blue lights in the town (On the road / street ?)
Sun’s coming up in an hour or so (or two ?)
…???

It’s about something dark that’s happened that has called about the blue lights of the emergency services.

Anyway … today, I’ve moved on. Forget about trying fit lyrics to the tune that I have for now. Just keep thinking about the upstream / downstream idea, and get some lyrics.

The other thing to add into the mix is something I heard on an interview with the Musician/Producer T Bone Burnett. He made the observation that the word that occurs most in popular music is ‘you.’
’She loves you,’ ‘I wanna hold your hand,’ etc.

The singer is addressing the listener, drawing them in to the song.
Peter Case does this with his song ‘Have you ever been in trouble,’ and adds to it by making it a question.

So, that’s another thing I’d like to get into this song – address the listener, and maybe with a question.

Hopefully I’ll be back later … bye for now.