I've said this before. In western music, with 12 notes and just a handful of rhythm styles, there really can be no more new melodies or progressions. But lyrics? Just considering English, there are something like 171,000 words! This is why I'm so drawn to songwriters like John Prine, Slaid Cleaves, Guy Clark, James McMurtry, Steve Forbert, et al. Sure every song John Prine writes uses the same chords and progressions. But no one can turn a phrase like him.
And this is why I can see why some people are into some rap music. When you've used up all the notes and beats, all you have left is words.
|