PopTodd Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Ones that are about writing songs, or that refer to the PROCESS of songwriting, or that are metaphors for the songwriting process. I'm thinking about making a mix of such songs. Any suggestions? So far I have: "Major to Minor" - The Settlers "G to D" - Sloan "Love Song" - Brinsley Schwarz "I Love My Label" - Nick Lowe ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 "Number Three" - They Might Be Giants Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Just added:"Fountains of Wayne Hotline" - Robbie Fulks so brilliant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Only a Northern Song - Los Beatles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 "Dance to the Music" - Sly & The Family Stone Doesn't really discuss songwriting per se, but describes the construction of a song, layer by layer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jcroach Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 "One Down" by Ben Folds. It's about him trying to get out of his songwriting/publishing contract. I got up and I drove to workOn the wrong side of the roadWhat the hell would I doI must admit I didn't knowAnd Andrew came along y'allTo add a couple lines or soI've got one I finished yesterdayAnd I've got three-point-six to go (Chorus)One downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm out of hereOne downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm out of here People tell me"Ben, just make up junkAnd turn it in"But I never was alright with turning inA bunch of shitI don't like wasting timeOn music that won't make you proudBut now I've found a reasonTo sit right down and shit some out One downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm out of hereOne downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm out of hereYeah, yeah I love you more thanAny man has loved before ILove you more thanAll the stars up in the sky IThink that we should settle downAnd live happily foreverAfterWhat do you think of that? I'm really not complainingI realize it's just a jobAnd I hate hearing belly-aching rockstarsWhine and sob'Cause I could be busing tablesI could well be pumpin' gasbut I get paid much finerFor playin' piano and kissing assAnd it's one-point-six yesterdayAnd three-point-six at last One downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm outta hereOne downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm out of hereOne downAnd three-point-sixOne downAnd three-point-sixTomorrowAnd I'm out of here How about Barry Manilow's "I write the songs"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 "Dance to the Music" - Sly & The Family Stone Doesn't really discuss songwriting per se, but describes the construction of a song, layer by layer. Looking more for references to somebody sitting alone in a room with their guitar or on the piano, trying to put something on paper.But, that is a good one for song construction, as is -- The Intro & The Outro" by The Bonzo Dog Band (which also won't make it onto this mix). Something like the ones already mentioned, or like "I Write the Songs", except not sucky. But the same type of subject matter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" (Belle and Sebastian) sort of equates the writing of a great song to reading/writing a great book and/or the dying art of letter writing.Plus, it's a great song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Does "Sara" by Dylan count? Its the first song that popped into my head. I can still hear the sounds of those Methodist bells,I'd taken the cure and had just gotten through,Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel,Writin' "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BreezyGrass Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 What about A Shot In The Arm? "We fell in loveIn the key of CWe walked alongDown by the seaYou followed me downThe neck to DAnd fell againInto the sea" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lodestar Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Travis - "Writing to Reach You" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Little Room - White Stripes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 pavement's lyrics are always very obtuse, but i've heard that the 'he can't even finish the songs' bit of 'Major Leagues' was Malkmus' pointed jibe @ Spiral Stairs. http://www.lyrics007.com/Pavement%20Lyrics/Major%20Leagues%20Lyrics.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 if we are counting the Sloan song, i'll also add Mogwai's "D to E" but since it's an instrumental I can't verify its meaning. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 "25 or 6 to 4" by Chicago. From Wikipedia: Chicago fans have long argued about the meaning of the song. When it was released, there was speculation that the lyricswere drug-related; but the same thing was said about many songs in thelate 1960s and early 1970s and the rumor has been largely dismissed.[1]Lamm himself says that the title is "just a reference to the time ofday," and that "the song is about writing a song. It's not mystical."[2] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 The Beta Band - 'Outside' Tried to write a song today, the devil knows I couldn't get far... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Artist: Clark GuySong: Somdays You Write The SongAlbum: Somedays The Song Writes You It’s just one of those days you can’t explainWhen nothing’s right or wrongToo much wine or not enoughSo you just play along.There’s no rhyme or reasonAin’t a damn thing you can doSome days you write the songSome days the song writes you. Your sure voice and melodyWill sing my soul to sleepReaching for some harmonyDeep inside of meSome days you know just how it goesSome days you have no clue.Some days you write the songSome days the song writes you. You can fallYou can flyGet low down or get highYou can try or just leave it alone.You can search for the wayYou can curse, you can prayBut the words have a way of their own. It don’t matter how much it hurtsYou’ve got to tell the truth.Some days you write the songSome days the song writes you. Now you may think I just made this upBut I would not lie, that’s trueSome days you write the songSome days the song writes you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 "Hallelujah"by Leonard Cohen Now I've heard there was a secret chordThat David played, and it pleased the LordBut you don't really care for music, do you?It goes like thisThe fourth, the fifthThe minor fall, the major liftThe baffled king composing HallelujahHallelujahHallelujahHallelujahHallelujah LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Excuse meUh will ya excuse meI'm just trying to find the bridgeHas anybody seen the bridge?Please...Have you seen the bridge?I ain't seen the bridgeWhere's that confounded bridge? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Neil Young - Borrowed Tune Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Got "Hallelujah" on there. Thanks, Louie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Back of a Bible-Patterson Hood Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 I write the songs that make the whole world sing.... Barry Manlow... Put that on your mix.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Leonard Cohen - Tower of Song CCR - Wrote a Song for Everyone Met myself a comin' county welfare lineI was feelin' strung out, hung out on the lineSaw myself a goin', down to war in JuneAll I want, all I want is to write myself a tune Wrote a song for everyoneWrote a song for truthWrote a song for everyoneAnd I couldn't even talk to you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lodestar Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Ryan Adams - "Writing the Hits With Stupid" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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