This song was born out of the frustration with the idea that music is "free." It was also a Song Title Challenge about a year ago. I was also pleased that it just won awards from NSAI and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.
Any and all comments and critiques welcomed.
Hi Michael, first of all congrats for the awards! There is a lot of poetry in your lyric and yes, I have to confess I had also to think twice about it, but I really like it. Do you already have a melody on it? I tried a bit and maybe I have an idea.
February 10, 2019
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Thanks, Frank. I appreciate the feedback and am so glad you like it! And that it even got your music juices flowing! I’ve been working with songwriter Eryn Michel on the music. I really like your tunes, so if you need any lyric input, I’d be happy to help.
February 10, 2019
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I really appreciate the offer, Frank, but since the song is already in process with another songwriter, I must decline.
February 10, 2019
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The Price of a Song
© 2018 Michael R. J. Roth
Everybody wants a ticket to heaven
Everyone wants the last drop of wine
Everybody wants to end the discussion
And stand where the spotlight will shine
Everybody wants something for nothin’,
As if nothing could ever go wrong
And they want it all, they want it all
For the price of a song
Chorus:
[But ] The price of a song is the last glimpse of beauty
Before you go blind
The wounds of a soldier cut down under fire
The scar left behind
The tears of a mother with a child in her arms
The Judas kiss of a faithless lover
Who will rip out your heart for the price of a song
There's a song in the thunder and lightning,
On the bloodthirsty edge of a knife,
In a shot from a bottle of whiskey
Pushing emptiness back in the night
There's a song on the highway before you
Between the prison bars of a cell
In a cry out to God in the midst of misfortune
A glimmer of heaven while walking through hell
For the price of a song
(Chorus)
When I think of the times that I have been injured
How I was maimed by the things I did wrong
And the pain that inevitably lingers
through the night and into the dawn
I know I’m not one of the chosen
I know that I’m not very strong
But I know every time I was broken
I broke into song
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About a year ago, I took this lyric to a local songwriting workshop, and thought the notes l took afterwards might be of some interest, and hopefully encouraging to anyone facing rejection:
“In general, people seemed a little confused about what the song is about. Didn’t seem like it was about songwriting, they said. One guy said it didn’t sound like it was written by a songwriter. But three people told me afterwards they really liked it.
“Several people objected to the word “inevitably.”
“They all loved the line “every time I was broken, I broke into song.”
“I don’t think it’s that confusing, but obviously people weren’t getting it. I think it was harder for them to connect the dots without the chorus, even though it was right in front of them. One guy thought it was supposed to be a funny song. “
Obviously, I didn’t let this stop me.
February 07, 2019
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Hi Michael, first of all congrats for the awards! There is a lot of poetry in your lyric and yes, I have to confess I had also to think twice about it, but I really like it. Do you already have a melody on it? I tried a bit and maybe I have an idea.
February 10, 2019
0
Thanks, Frank. I appreciate the feedback and am so glad you like it! And that it even got your music juices flowing! I’ve been working with songwriter Eryn Michel on the music. I really like your tunes, so if you need any lyric input, I’d be happy to help.
February 10, 2019
0
I really appreciate the offer, Frank, but since the song is already in process with another songwriter, I must decline.
February 10, 2019
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Michael R. J. Roth
About a year ago, I took this lyric to a local songwriting workshop, and thought the notes l took afterwards might be of some interest, and hopefully encouraging to anyone facing rejection:
“In general, people seemed a little confused about what the song is about. Didn’t seem like it was about songwriting, they said. One guy said it didn’t sound like it was written by a songwriter. But three people told me afterwards they really liked it.
“Several people objected to the word “inevitably.”
“They all loved the line “every time I was broken, I broke into song.”
“I don’t think it’s that confusing, but obviously people weren’t getting it. I think it was harder for them to connect the dots without the chorus, even though it was right in front of them. One guy thought it was supposed to be a funny song. “
Obviously, I didn’t let this stop me.
February 07, 2019
No members have liked this comment.