Page 26 - wamcountry

Quarantine these Songwriting Cop-outs!

Sails do not float!

quick look, this month, at weak, lazy, cliches that have been duct-taped onto so many
A songs that a young songwriter may foolishly believe them acceptable. But they’re
not. You need to root these out of your work, lest they destroy your artistic efforts with
the most unforgivable of sins: Mediocrity!

First off, let’s remember the Hollywood movie depiction of songwriting….a man sitting
for hours at a piano, asking aloud “June….June….June….what’s a rhyme for June?” I’m
urging you to remember this depiction, so you can FORGET IT!! Cruella De Ville
SHOULD come in and ruin this man’s life---he’s not only an idiot, he’s a HORRIBLE role
model for you. Does the comedian start with the punch line, and then explain the joke?

Does the magician start with the rabbit already out of the hat? Of course not! And
neither should you….when you awake at midnight, with the most brilliant line of lyrics
that has ever occurred, the line you simply must…..are COMPELLED….to communicate
to your fellow humans…...that, me buckos…..is your PUNCHLINE…..not your starting
point. What you’re searching for is your setup….if possible, so seamlessly subtle a setup
that the listener doesn’t see the strings of the puppet show moving until the punchline
jumps out at them, eliciting the mixture of surprise and “of course!” that’s at the heart of
all great art.

Regular readers of this column will recall a rant about “little sister Nell”, who magically
appears (in verse 5 of “Color Him Father” a 60’s soul tear-jerker) out of nowhere, with no
context, just in time to rhyme (with “I can tell”). Let’s list a few more (and send me your
favorites)--SAY IT WITH ME----THERE WILL BE NO:

Canyons of your mind

Words getting in the way

Seasons of our love….or Seasons in the Sun…..possibly Seasons of the witch may be
considered

Too good to be true is suspect

Hands in air…..regardless of your level of care

On Knees, begging please…..is right out!

Find something cold other than ice

26 www.writeawaymag.co.uk