Interesting, Gargoyle. I am currently writing some songs borrowing a Scottish style. Little one, I use the lyrics to lead the music, their meter, their meaning. The songs I am writing are using someone else's poetry.

But the sea song I wrote was completely original, yet I still let the lyrics lead the music. I had one poetic phrase that I had started with which was the point of creation for the melody. Personally, I find I use the lyrics to formulate the music more often than not.

Margarita