MAB Q&A

Okay,  the Old Dog is in the beer again.  Not bad just a few to help celebrate my Army Buddy Mack's birthday, not that I need an excuse but it sounded pretty good.

I was wanting to respond to The Kid's delema about second verses, the other day; but I can't express things as well as The MAB.  I usually say the wrong things; like I did to my buddy KevMo about his last song on open mic.  For the record, I am impressed with how KevMo writes, plays his own instruments, and records his own songs.  I would apologize to him again but I fear I have blown any credibility I may have had with The KevMo.

Now back to my buddy The Kid and his song idea.  I worked on his song idea for about two hours and eight beers.  While I "Thank" him for getting me away from the TV for two hours,  I especially "Thank" him for giving me an excuse for drinking a few ice cold beers (not that I need an excuse).  I have a rather bad reputation for working on someone else's song ideas and lyrics; but I never mean any harm; nor want any credit.  I just find it more exciting to work on their idea's than come up with one on my own.

Their are a couple of lesson's behind my lyrics that MAB teaches and I'd like to bring to everyone's attention.  First of all, a co-writer can come up with a different idea and story line that may enhance the song or maybe not.  As a songwriter with an original idea, we may not like every change a co-writer may want to make; or bring into the write.

My own personal experience in co-writing is a co-writer I've worked with has never offered their opinion about changes that didn't result in changing things that made the song better.  This is a no-brainer when an experienced songwriter like the MAB or someone else above our writing abilities make a suggestion; but also a newer writer that may raise a question and make the more experienced writer give some thought to a line and try to make it better.

Now onto The Kid's story about his mother no-longer throwing out pennies.  I will start by saying I have met his parents and heard The Kids stories of how they started with nothing, worked two and three jobs to try and get ahead, and how his father built a couple of spec homes to get started.  He also shared how is dad bought his first commercial building at a closed bid auction; but bid so low he thought there was no way he would win the bid; so he didn't have to worry he didn't have the money to buy it in the first place.  His dad won the bid and had to scramble to get the financing; which he did and later sold that building for a profit.  But it took guts and his dad had a lot of that and perhaps some luck on his side.

His dad's luck came from taking chances, working hard, and having a good woman at his side.  They truly make a good team.  So I'm aware of the Kid's story and can relate to the lesson his mother taught him.  However, like everyone here, I considered his story being a life lesson and maybe to preachy as the MAB suggested.

I think The Kid was probably too close to the story and the lesson and those invisible 'blinders' set in.  He had trouble leaving his true life lesson (what is real) and coming up with a simple story that would make a good song being part fiction and the non-fiction that is keeping him form getting all tied up in his story.

So I took the liberty to make up a little movie trailor of my own.  Perhaps not so real but my attempt at telling a sweet love story that also includes the life lesson the Kid mentioned.  Now I'm not a great writer by any means; but I am a MAB student and I can attempt to set up a story and leave room for a great writer like the MAB to improve it.  

So I'll place my head on the songwriters chopping block and allow any comments to follow along.  The lesson is; any potential co-writer can give a different perspective and idea to a song.  Another co-writer can add to that and start a back and forth to make it better.  My man The MAB could take this idea and improve it and make it so much better.  I'm just trying to show The Kid how another songwriter may view his idea and make it a story about a life lesson and not get caught up in the life lesson so much he can't come up with a story.

OD

Chorus:  Tag:   Out 

Anyway, that is the Old Dog's video he see's; but check back in the morning.  I may sober up and have a totally different view of things.

OD