I’m jumping ahead posting Prompt #75 because I feel a real push to do so. Read on to understand.
I was reading an old American Songwriter magazine and came to a song writing lesson by Clay Mills. Examples were given on how you can take something someone says and immediately make it a song. One was about talking to Darius Rucker on his tour bus about breaking up with his girlfriend, and then second guessing the decision. Darius said he has done that, and still thinks about one particular girl. Mills said, “Really?” And Darius shot back “Don’t think I don’t!” Mills immediately picked up his guitar and, using Rucker’s words, started writing a song…
Don’t think I don’t think about it
Don’t think I don’t have regrets
Don’t think you don’t get to me
This ended up being a hit song for Rucker in 2008 is called “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.”
I filed the idea of bouncing off a line someone said to do a piece of writing, figuring somewhere down the line I’d post it.
Then I was prompted again while reading a story about the Paul McCartney & Wings hit “Band on the Run.” The album of the same title starts with the lyrics:
Stuck inside these four walls
Sent inside forever
Never seeing no one
Nice again like you
Mama you, mama you
If I ever get out of here
Thought of giving it all away
To a registered charity
All I need is a pint a day
If I ever get outta here
If we ever get outta of here
Paul explained that the whole opening segment was from a sentence George Harrison said during a business meeting. George is notorious for hating anything to do with business, and in one meeting he mumbled, “If we ever get out of here.” Paul took that line and used it as a jumping point, and it ended up informing the direction of the entire song.
Once I read that, I couldn’t stop thinking about the prompt. Right now we are all super busy with the upcoming school year, travel, and more. I’m posting the prompt because it sounds like a prime time to be listening for those phrases and sentences that might be good to prompt a piece of writing. In a meeting, in the airport, in a phone conversation. You get the picture!
So, in the midst of the craziness, open your ears in a new way and listen for inspiration from the universe. You might even try to write a second line immediately just to see what emerges.
