On Writing Piecemeal (Songwriting Week 7--It Takes Time)

I thought I'd write today about composing songs piecemeal, i.e., episodically. I chose this topic because I wrote something this past weekend that I'm pleased with conceptually, but that seems to me to need another component bolted onto it to qualify as a "song". I'd love to hear what you think after you listen.

The idea behind the lyrics is a notion I've pondered many times: are old people wiser than the rest of us? Can we learn something from them that will accelerate our own pace of learning? The American culture as a whole doesn't seem to think so. When's the last time you saw a magazine targeted at a young audience extolling the virtues of an older person? The only people who seem to give a damn about old people in the media are old people (e.g., AARP). An overstatement? No doubt, but you have to admit there's a grain or two of truth in there.

Before I go on, I'm going to call my grandfather and see what's on his mind. Be back later.

I'm back. Man. What's better than a 97 year old, more than half-blind guy, living alone in an old folks home who's in a good mood? I'd be pissed off ALL the time if I was him. And not because he's in a bad place (it's very nice with a private apartment) or because we put him there (he and Grandma picked the place and bought the apartment themselves), but because it would mean I'm old and can't do all the things I'm used to doing. Or will I be wise enough to let "doing" go and be content with a lifetime of "knowing"? Hmmmm. Might be another song in there. Or another piece of this week's song.

Segue ... this week's song is entitled "It Takes Time", but the complete thought behind the title and song is "it takes time to know what to know". Just a little catch phrase that popped into my head as I was making our frittata Saturday morning. Yeah, I said frittata. It's EYE-talian for omelet. It just means you mix the fillings in with the beaten eggs before/while they're cooking. Like a flat souffle you make in a skillet. Where was I?

It takes time to know what to know. What do you make of that? That we're destined to make mistakes as we live, so deal with it? Live in the moment? Take heart in your trials because they translate into wisdom in the end? Take heed of what the elders say lest you repeat their mistakes? None of the above? Well here's what I make of it:

It Takes Time
(To listen, click on the link above and use Steve's Myspace music player)

Basic outline of the story is this: young man ignores wisdom of kindhearted old woman, young man becomes older man who realizes how right the old gal was, still older man tries to pay it forward by imparting same advice to a child in his sphere of influence. Essence of the life lesson? Be patient and live with big eyes and ears. Now that we know the moral of the story, I wonder if you think, like me, that it needs more context? I'm almost thinking this works more as a song in a play or musical than as part of a traditional CD/album. I guess I'll let this one sit awhile and come back to it when the spirit moves me.

See you next week, and thanks again for reading.

IT TAKES TIME

It takes time to know what to know
Do you bet to win, place or show?
Ageless wisdom takes years to grow
It takes time to know what to know

Sweet old timer, she said to me
I can predict your history
Live too fast and you'll learn too slow
It takes time to know what to know

Sure to God her words did come true
Spent a fortune living the blues
Had I only heard what she said
I'd be ten steps further from dead

Little baby, hear what I say
Let these words seep in as you play
Us what loves you all live to show
It takes time to know what to know

(c) Steve Celestini, April 17, 2010