I started writing silly lyrics to various tunes, for kids, and a Mr. Gargoyle politely suggested I stick to traditional folk songs. Trying to take that suggestion, somewhat, it's more work, really. Many folksongs have muddled verses and off-center stuff clinging to them like cockleburs, I have to sort versions, pick and cut and paste, and hunt, eventually I give in and write a little something myself. I really can't sing verses of Die Gedanken Sind Frie that make it sound like a drinking song, or dainty additive verses to a powerful narrative lyric.

   But I get more lyric ideas, and more tune ideas, in the process. I'll stumble through finding chords to an a cappella tune, and wind up changing the tune, and then before I know it it's really a different tune. There are many degrees in the art of stealing.