Writing Considerations: The Promise
This song started its life as a request for a wedding song for my niece Kristen. She wanted something personal for us to play for the ceremony. The request, as I recall it, came about six weeks out – plenty of time to write a song. My brother Craig and I were on the case. Six weeks… “Hey, we should get together and write that song”. “Yes, we should” Four weeks… “About that song…” “Yeah, yeah, I’m working on it.” Two weeks… “What do you think about that song?” One week… “Hey b
Writing Considerations: Last Leap of Faith
Most of the time, (as discussed in Jake's Guide to Songwriting) when I write a song it is either because I’ve decided to put lyrics to an interesting guitar lick or chord progression, or I’ve come up with an interesting thought or lyric idea that I want to set music to. But every now and then I write a song because of a challenge or other exercise. For example, “Didn’t Care About Money” was in response to a challenge to see if I could write a song, limited in length, to two m
