“Throw it away.” – IMPORTANT Songwriting Expert Man (aka Folk Dinosaur)
I’ve never felt like I fit in with traditional folk singers. Most stick to a storytelling format. My instinct is to write what I know; autobiographical wordplay, steeped in metaphor and simile. It’s been a huge source of insecurity for a long time.
Years ago, I performed my song “Swingset” at a folk conference for a panel of Award-Winning Nashville Songwriters. They didn’t get it. Tore it to shreds – one even told me to throw it away. It didn’t fit their mold of the ideal folk song. And you know what? I’ve probably played it 1,000+ times, and it still makes my heart sing. It’s one of my most requested songs.
So what do you think? Have you ever had an “expert” knock you down for not fitting the mold?