Well, y’all.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a song on here. Believe it or not, I’m up to 93 now.
Here’s #92 – submitted to NPR in response to their weekend songwriting challenge… The song had to be original, written this weekend, and use at least one of the following words: Japan, firecracker, dog, lampshade, NPR. I’m one of the nuts who actually jumped at the chance – grabbing headlines and ideas from the NPR.org website.
Some of the others’ entries are fantastic. But, who knows? Maybe this’ll end up on the radio!
For all you songwriting geeks: I’m trying to grow in writing “story songs.” From what I hear, they are very … captivating. I’m also making an effort to use more descriptive words and very specific details. They say that detail draws the listener in and makes the song more believable. (“They” being the writers of all these songwriting books, articles, and blogs I’ve been ingesting as of late.) (“Ingesting” being a more descriptive and interesting word than reading. See? “They” would be proud! 
)
For all you music geeks: This is the first time I’ve employed the trick of playing a bass lick on the acoustic, then churning the tone down 12 notches to get a bass guitar feel out of it. I don’t know if it’s convincing – but I’m all about experimenting as I go.
ON NPR
~mandy thompson
I ran into his shop just the other day
crying for a cut&color or else I’d pull a lampshade
over this maddening mop of messy hair
A bombastic fog of fashion error
he started telling me about insurance for his dog
grab a green apple to get the whole Beatles catalog
David Archuleta is like the green bay packers
And all the chemicals packed in fire crackers
I had to stop … and ask him where he got
all this & he said
On NPR on NPR
It’s the kind of thing you hear about on NPR
between Keillor telling stories about Guy Noir
Edelstein reviewing Where The Wild Things Are
Scott Simon interviews Kareem Abdul Jabbar
It’s the kind of thing you hear about on NPR
& he styled & talked about Renee Montagne
and Earth and Sky and Day to Day
Echoes and Talking Plants and Lost and Found Sound
and Hearing Voices and Future Tense and Here and Now
And the American Battalion in Afghanistan
and Obama’s alliance announced in Japan
& when he finally finished with my hair
I thanked him & tipped & climbed out of his chair
& when I started my car I spun my dial to NPR
CHORUS
Enjoyed your songs (and really enjoyed some of the clever rhymes).
I also attempted this challenge and made a much simpler song.
I didn’t think I could pull off writing the full verse/chorus/bridge with the kids, church, and masters degree work.
I see you also lead worship. Cool!
p.s. have you ever heard of or participated in FAWM.org’s challenge? It’s a really, really great website for encouraging and promoting songwriting.
http://www.famw.org
Steven – thanks for stopping by! And for checking the song.
yours was hysterical… Wouldn’t have expected that from a church guy, but eh – I’ve written a song or two that wouldn’t be expected from a church girl either.
FAWM – yes I’ve heard of it. I *think* I did something for that this year… Don’t remember. That was 9 months and 70-something songs ago.
Great lyrics Mandy! I hope it’s a winner!
My favorite line for sure ( the reason I was inspired to comment!)
Eddelston ( sp) reviewing Where the Wild Things Are. That’s a book I own and frequently read…. along with hundreds of other children’s books. That line brought to life how inspired I often feel after ” bedtime stories”. Tonight while reading ” A day at the salt marsh” I had a song idea. So here’s a muse for the list. Go to the children’s section of the library and read some good ole classic children’s literature. It’s so sing songy and catchy. or just come to my house. love ya. soon to be town- mate.
the chorus makes me wanta dance like carlton from Fresh Prince. and thats a compliment. cuz i cant dance.
fun!