#16
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I have written a couple of experienced-based songs that tell a story, but they would not be popular beyond a narrow target audience. For example, I used to fly Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in Alaska and found many crash sites and helped rescue a few folks too. There are any number of car wreck, train wreck, and shipwreck songs around, but no plane crash songs that sprung to mind. So I wrote a song about a crash near Denali and the resulting search efforts. It was basically the Cessna / Alaskan version of "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". Your workshop sounds like it would be very interesting, but way too far for me to travel. If it were streamed, I would pay to "sit in". |
#17
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One point in your favor: Shakespeare wrote some of the most gripping, despairing and spiritually dark plays in the history of world literature, and yet from the reports we have he seemed to be a well-adjusted wealthy man who was an excellent businessman. Perhaps we could agree to disagree that there are plenty of examples on both sides of the equation. It's fascinating to consider. Earl, I had a very challenging childhood, with mental illness in the home, and due to trauma and genetics I am susceptible to depression. For many years I grappled with those events, and I wrote a 300-page memoir that was repped in NY by a top literary agent. It didn't sell, which turned out to be a good thing, but I was miserable during that time and in no way ready to deal with recounting those events. Interestingly, over the last ten years, as much life has come into balance, I feel much less of a pull to retell the story. It's quite a relief. Robert Frost said, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader," but I feel much less inclined to cry or feel blue these days. You know, most platitudes and cliches have stood the test of time because they have a grain of truth in them. As far as holding on to the hurts of the past, I say to myself, "Life is for the living." Everyone who hurt me (unintentionally) is now dead. Why be angry at them? They did the best they could, as do we all. Thanks so much, Earl. I'm surprised this thread has gotten as much activity as it has. Another blessing. I say this about music. Songs are holy. That's why music is a part of every major faith tradition on the planet. It has the ability to heal and console, and also to get us dancing and rejoicing. It doesn't get much better than that. sm Last edited by Charmed Life Picks; 06-13-2023 at 05:47 PM. |
#18
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Scott, I cannot say that suffering is mandatory but it seems to help inspire the muse. My point was that given the comfortable adult life I've been blessed with, there isn't much to whine or pontificate about. We agree far more than not, and I apologize if that came across differently before.
I too had mental illness in the home as a child and in the extended family, plus some rough experiences. (The extended family and one of my parents would have been on the Jerry Springer Show had it existed back then). As a result I opted to never become a parent -- stop the madness before the genetics can be passed along, even if the nurture part was ultimately OK. That was a decision taken at age 17 and I have never looked back. It took a long time to get there, but I ultimately vowed to "forgive the people, but never forget what they had done". I let go of the anger, and I'm better off for it. Ten years ago I had a brain tumor that suddenly paralyzed the entire left side of my body for weeks. One day I was scuba diving in preparation for a dive trip and riding my motorcycle on the highway, and literally the next morning ended up in the ICU very close to death several times. It took months to learn to walk, work, function, and especially to play guitar again. But that adversity gave me something to strive for. I chose the "glass half full" attitude, but could easily have given up. I have often considered writing a song with the working title of "Perspectives" since the tale is fairly compelling, something along the lines of Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying". A few ideas have been kicked around, but I never actually put my mind to it. Maybe I do have something to say after all.... Songs ARE holy, as is music in general. I am blessed to be back to about 95% of my prior playing ability and still able to learn and sing. Life would have been bleak without making music. A handrail is now mandatory on stairs, but I can still get around and do my engineering work (there are some things in the field that are not wise -- no more ladders or rooftops). |
#19
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Take Good Care, Scott |
#20
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Just ran across this thread and am happy to hear about your teaching this approach to songwriting. One of my favorite song/album collections is Kin by Rodney Crowell and Mary Karr. Rodney has spoken a lot about songwriting as literature as has Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Bonnie Raitt was blown away when she won a Grammy this year for Just Like That. She wrote the song based on a news story that moved her. I’ll check out more about Far West this year. Best, Jayne |
#21
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https://campscui.active.com/orgs/dre...ssions/3304235 Jayne, a lot of what I do is straight Strunk & White. I have found the advice on using active verbs, avoiding modifiers, and that less is always more, especially in songwriting, has stood the test of time. I'll post a few more thoughts later this week. Thanks again. Always a pleasure. Scott |
#22
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Till then..... Scott Memmer |
#23
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No worries, Scott. I figured that you were keeping busy with something, and I'm glad that CLP is successful. Business has been slow for me the past two months (very unusual) so I'm taking it as a preview of retirement.
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