Colin,

the short answer is of course "yes, you could". I am sure you realise yourself that you start with a number of handicaps: Unknown, older than 30 (and then some, eh? :-)), singer-songwriter (when everyone is into covers, caraoke and tribute acts), and worse than that, your lyrics show that you have a conscience and you care (when it is Lurve that sells and not social issues).

Against that you are armed only with talent, decent guitar playing, an ear for a good chord change, a very nice turn of phrase and magnetically honest delivery. The odds will be stacked against you all the way. How much of a professional you'll become will depend on how many corners you are prepared to cut, how many soul-destroying gigs you are prepared to take on for the sake of the daily bread, and of course on the height of your expectations and living standards, certainly in the short term.

But all of the above are not the point. I spent most of "Norah Jones Blues" peering through your glasses (and mine) and into your eyes. I think I saw something there that I recognised. If I am right therefore, the real question is:

Can you afford not to try? Before it's too late?

Always willing to chat, if you want. Google me and you can email me from my website. My heart goes out to you.