Hey Pete - Here is my two cents on songwriting. For me song ideas can come anytime, but I have to be ready and receptive to take whatever inspiration I happen to have at that moment and turn it into a song. Driving these days, I hardly ever listen to music on the radio. To and from work I'll have on news radio, WTOP here in the DC area, and sometimes a song idea strikes. I'll turn off the radio and try and wrap my head around that idea. I used to send myself voicemails on my phone but I've stopped; if the idea is good it usually stays with me now. The ideas can be musical, some tune in my head that I grab a guitar when I get home and expand on, or any other thoughts when it is not musical...people, events, stuff that brings on emotion...happiness or sadness or all in between. When it's words, I try and focus on turning it into a story, but a story can be simple or can be complex and both can turn into good songs. A story can be as simple as checking the mail, taking out the trash, seeing something and thinking about it, remembering something and thinking about it, wanting something or not not wanting something.I try and stay observant and take whatever I think about or I see and I'll see if it turns into a song, and if it doesn't then that's okay too. Sometimes the mere act of trying to write can set you down that path more often, but if it doesn't at that time it will usually keep the creative pumps primed. Hope this helps.
J E T S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C
