Your pop star pal Elton Baum reveals to you that he's sick of his idiot lyricist Bernie Dolphin. "How would YOU like to write the words to my next song?" he asks you. Well...I....sure!
Song lyrics offer a wide range of possibilities, from the very simple:
Nobody,
nobody
will ever love you like I do,
cos nobody's that strong.
Nobody's that strong. (Tom Waits, "Nobody")
to the poetic complexity of
Your multi-lingual business friend
has packed her bags and fled
leaving only ash-filled ash trays
and the lipsticked, unmade bed.
The mirror on reflection
has climbed back upon the wall
for the floor she found descended
and the ceiling was too tall
("Homburg" by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker, also known for "A Whiter Shade of Pale.")
"La La Means I Love You" is extremely simple, but works beautifully, while Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujiah" is about as poetic as song lyrics get. Lyrics range from the sardonic lines of Morrissey to the heartbreaking country songs of Emmylou Harris.
Subject and style are up to you, but rhyme is such a staple of song writing--from Gershwin to the latest hits--that I do request that it be at least part of your lyric.
Since we can't hear the music--and, indeed, there doesn't have to be any actual music for this--you might want to let us know if you've got a certain kind of music in mind; pop, rap, standards, country, whatever it might be.
Don't let your pal Elton Baum down! Write an original NEW song lyric, and sign the linky. Have fun!
21 comments:
Hey, FB! I found your post under crafts in the schedule so I clicked publish. Hope that's okay. Heading out to pick up my daughter for the weekend but I'll compose lyrics as I drive and check in late.
*drafts*
Stupid auto-correct!
Absolutely loved this challenge!!! Haven't written lyrics in ages... But unless Elton Baum is heavily into country and doesn't want me to write lyrics to a song he's already composed, I'll confess to being in trouble with this one. Thanks for the prompt!
since my NPWM offering is not really a lyric, didn't post it here, but will be back to read later... ~
Amazing to be first!
Thanks Kerry! No idea what went wrong, but all's well that ends well. :-)
I haven't time, nor talent, to write a lyric. I dashed some asinine thing off quickly for another prompt because I'm off for the day with my kids to an amusement park, as we are on Spring Break. Hope to come back this evening to read some songs.
I thought "la la" meant I'm not listening!
I had a tremendous lot of fun with this challenge, in my own grim, brooding Nordic way--my song is not anything that will ever hit the charts, not without time travel anyway, but Shay--you said I could go there. ;_) Happy April, all.
Great post - loved most of the songs you mentioned, esp the Defonics and Randy Newman. Here's my offering: I wrote it thinking of Ray Price, circa 1970. (specifically, https://youtu.be/phLlo_t-z-U) Loved this prompt Shay-la!
Oh no rhyme! It is an awesome challenge, but rhyme and I aren't friends. I am going to try!
Beautiful idea but I suck at writing lyrics. My poem doesn't fit as well. Will visit you people later. :*
Nice prompt, FB, fun to write/compose. I don't sing (maybe croon a bit) so this was harder for me. My 'song' does sing a little though, on its own.
..
I'll have to catch up tomorrow - today went by a bit too fast! Anyway I need to catch up also on commenting on everyone's posts, so day three poem will have to be.. a day four one.. ;)
Very cool. I stayed very traditional though I'm afraid. K.
hey Shay - thanks for the prompt. I think it scared a few folks away, but I love what it produced in those who stayed!
La la la la la la la la la
means I love you - Mosk
Heya Shay, I did something different for 4/3 as songwriting is wayyyyyy over my head... but wanted to check in and I'm looking forward to reading the entries. Maybe you all will inspire me to try. A girl can dream! La la la la la :)
Recovering from food poisoning. That's my excuse for the silliness I posted today!
Shay, Kerry--I came up with very repetitive music for my song poem. It is not a great recording, and too long, and my own voice, and no back-up and I am not in any way a composer, but anyway wanting a laugh or cry should feel free to listen. k.
Wow, what a wonderful batch of responses to this prompt. I could not come up with a song, but certainly enjoyed reading all of yours. Thanks so much!
Please forgive me for this song! I'm out of town for the weekend, writing in the small hours of the night on a borrowed computer. I'll be around ...
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