Addendum on Inspiration for Songs

I have talked in previous posts about getting an idea for a song. Sometimes the initial thought is overtaken by a subsequent - and better - idea. I said in the earlier post that I tend to make brief notes about song ideas or phrases that might form the basis of a lyric. When I have a ‘dead moment’ I look at this note of ‘scraps’ (as I call it) to see if anything sparks.

Take a recent example. I am not sure why now but recently I wrote down the two words - ‘prances’ and dances’ - nothing else …. just a possible rhyme or rhyming scheme.

Some days later, I looked at my note and, almost immediately, thought of the phrase “He dances like he owns the floor”, followed fairly quickly by “He prances like he owns the world” . For some reason (unknown) I then thought of line dancing and of the kind of people who dress up in full Western gear fir their line dancing - and came up with the concept of a fake cowboy or ‘Cowboy cowboy’ (llke ‘cowboy builder’). This then resulted in rhe song ‘Cowboy cowboy’. (See the ‘Country Songs’ page of this website to listen)

So a very short note of 2 rhyming words lead to a complete song. That seems to happen enough times for me to continue the practice. If I go for a few days without creating a note, I am disappointed. Like most idea encouraging processes, at the early stage it is quantity of ideas that is important. Later reflection/evaluation determines whether there is any quality of idea - in the notes.