Arty,
The 24 NOTES/Taps, thing was a very interesting experience for me. When Big Ed came to me with the idea, it was actually on the end of a three day tour where we had written several other songs. When Ed would come to town, we would work a couple days, then he would write with some other people, and then go record the songs at Jay Verne's studio. It was an intriquing idea, and came together pretty quickly. He had a lot of information, having just come from the funeral of a relative who actually was in World War II and taps was "played" at the funeral by a fake horn, and a device in the bell. It wasn't a real bugler. So he came up with a lot of information we used in the song, we recorded it quickly and it all was great.
Then, about a year later, I was contacted by a guy I write with somewhat frequently, every couple of years will pop up in Nashville and do a day tour with me. He was a Marine back during the first Gulf War in 1991, and had an idea called "SOLDIER'S LAST LULLABYE." It was basically the same thing, and I had written it with him about FIVE YEARS before I wrote the one with Big Ed. Talk about STEALING FROM YOURSELF. They were identical. He now wanted to record THAT song, so I had to go into the studio, play them side by side for the players, and find ways to make them not sound so much alike. Was pretty embarrasing, but when you write a lot of songs, you are going to find yourself repeating a good deal. Can't be helped.
We were able to make some changes and the two songs now are different, although the same basic message. I tend to like 24 Notes better, because it is simpler, (Easier to remember) and really the "24 NOTES" idea is much more distinctive than just a SOLDIER'S LAST LULLABYE, because that is what Tap's is already known as. I never thought about the number of notes. So that just seemed like a better approach on the idea.
This kind of thing happens all the time on very well known things, which is why I am hesitant to take on "War, Military, patriotic" "Nashville" songs, "Bro country songs" "Angry Chick Singer Songs" on in the first place, because they are all written about so much. Finding the different subject, and finding a different pathway is a very difficult thing. the fact that you found a "very sad" poem about similar subject matter, is what I am talking about. There are a lot of them out there. But a lot of people love them and they really mean a lot to so many, so good for you. Everything's been written before, so might as well make sure it is something that means something.
Good to hear from all of you. I have a Wisconsin artist, Kirstie Kraus, here doing a few days. So I'll check in later.
Have a good day.
MAB
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