Writing lyrics

[Henke]

Ahrg!
I'm under pressure here to come up with good lyrics and it's a bit frustrating, because I don't have much inspiration at the moment. It has to be done this friday at the latest.
It's a ballad, the melody is already worked out. It's in F-major, and I figured something beautiful, not very sad, would be good. Preferably not about love. The melody has a part where it goes into a minor key as well. Don't know what to do with that.
I want it to be sort of a story, something capturing.
Just give me a hint, some inspiration and I should be off. Anyone who come up with something that I'll end up using will be formally thanked in the cd booklet.
I know this is not a good way to write a song, but I'm on a schedule here.

Brainstorm me. Anything you come up with, no matter how silly, off topic or stupid it is, it's better than nothing.

Thanks alot folks

[Bloomfield]

Down-on-his-luck drunkard sees little girl with her mother and a balloon in zoo looking at animals and decides to lay off the booze and turn his life around. That minor part is for when he recalls how the drink destroyed his family. Happy ending.

No need to credit me.

[emmline]

your favorite beverage.
a natural wonder.
a sailboat.
a bird.
your dog.

[emmline]

Down-on-his-luck drunkard sees little girl with her mother and a balloon in zoo looking at animals and decides to lay off the booze and turn his life around. That minor part is for when he recalls how the drink destroyed his family. Happy ending.

When you start seeing balloons looking at animals in the zoo, you know it's time to go easy on the Schnapps.

Oh, wait--triteness--I'm good at it:
The old fiddle player has just died, and as his dinged up fiddle sits forlornly in his empty chair, the remaining session players play an impromptu song of remembrance.

I'll think of more crappy stuff, just give me a few minutes.

[Congratulations]

A Penguin says, "It's too cold," and moves to Florida. Perhaps he's a retired penguin. Or a retired couple of penguins who've been married for 55 years. Along the way, they have an argument (there's your minor part), but the argument only makes them reminisce about their youth, and how much they love each other. Uplifting ending!

Oh, you said preferably not about love. Oh, well.

At any rate, whenever I can't think of something to write, I start with animals. Not sure why, or how I thought of it, but it works for me.

[Wanderer]

Let's see....sappy cliche music..
Someone's father died, and they never got to tell him how much they loved him.

Someone left their wife, and now they realize they don't hate her that much after all (lotta country/western songs with that one)

[Bloomfield]

The old fiddle player has just died, and as his dinged up fiddle sits forlornly in his empty chair, the remaining session players play an impromptu song of remembrance.

When you start seeing session players playing songs, you know it's time to lay off the Öl.

[emmline]

The old fiddle player has just died, and as his dinged up fiddle sits forlornly in his empty chair, the remaining session players play an impromptu song of remembrance.

When you start seeing session players playing songs, you know it's time to lay off the Öl.

Well, maybe they're not actually players. Maybe they're balloons.

[Henke]

it's time to lay off the Öl.

Impressive Bloomie

Good ones so far. Keep 'em coming!

[fyffer]

Can you abc-ify the melody? That may help inspire me to inspire you...

[mackcole]

Three starter-thoughts I heard once in a writing class:

The first time...

The last time...

The only time...


good luck!

Bette Jo

[BillChin]

Like the other responses, this will probably be of no help, but I am a songwriter. After reading your post twice and browsing the responses, this is the glorious song for you:

Let me tell you about Huckleberry Finn,
and his trip with a slave named Jim.

They went down the river on a wooden raft,
didn't know what would last,
it was just a day of play--a blast

Time like a river, finds its pace
some days seem narrow
others full of waste,
but it keeps on flowing,
yes, it keeps on flowing.

For that young Huckleberry,
and that "runaway" slave
it was the best, the best, of days

Time like a river, finds its pace
some days seem narrow
others full of waste,
but it keeps on flowing,
yes, it keeps on flowing.

(Damn that is good . Well not bad for five minutes anyway )

[djm]

In the same vein as Bill's post:

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip.
That started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
the skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour, a three hour tour………
The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew,
the Minnow would be lost; the Minnow would be lost.
The ship took ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
with Gilligan, the Skipper too,
the Millionaire, and his Wife,
the Movie Star, the Professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan's Isle.

Or how about an ode to a subterranean mushroom that spans several square miles?

djm

[Charlene]

Or how about an ode to a subterranean mushroom that spans several square miles?

djm

Ok, I'll play. Probably won't be any help with the original request, though!

I looked out the window one sunny spring morn
And I saw some bright green grass
“Wow” thought I “this is really neat”
Then I saw white mushrooms in the grass

They were in a big circle
Inside the ring the grass was dark
But the grass outside the ring was dying
So I dug up a sample
And took it to the experts
What they told me left me crying.

You have fairy ring
Yes fairy ring
It’s caused by a mycelium fungus.
Very difficult to cure
But if you do these things with care
It will disappear some day.

Poke holes in the grass
All in the fairy ring
About 6 inches apart
And outside the ring too
To make sure you get it all
A foot outside the ring to start

Then mix some soapy water
And pour it over the ring
Then get out your garden hose
And let the water run
And run and run and run
And soak the grass for an hour.

For you have fairy ring
Yes fairy ring
It’s caused by a mycelium fungus
Very difficult to cure
But if you do these things with care
It will disappear one day.

I thanked him and started out the door,
He said, "I haven't finished yet"
"You need to repeat these steps
Every 3 days
Until the ring is all gone
Or else the mushrooms will come back
And you have to start again."

For you have fairy ring
Yes fairy ring
It’s caused by a mycelium fungus
Very difficult to cure
But if you do these things with care
It will disappear one day.

[Henke]

Thanks very much for the responses so far guys. I've got a little more inspiration now at least. We'll see how it goes.