The Care And Feeding Of Muses

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:32 AM

Perhaps a "Care and feeding of Muses" workshop at the Getaway, complete with chocolate? And muse tapes- and other ideas to get the creative juices flowing?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:31 AM

Silly Amos! Chocolate is always indicated.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:28 AM

Chocolate is definitely indicated.


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:24 AM

That is the heart of Mudcat.... discussion, rather than articles. A perpetual letter to the editor. Gets messy sometimes. Not all will read and repond with, "wow, that's cool--" some will pay the higher compliment of responding, "hm, interesting, and my experience is....."

~Susan

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:18 AM

Tme more folkses talk the confusinger it gets.

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:57 AM

I think this thread is starting to get a little silly...

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:27 AM

So, the question becomes, "Is chocolate the proper food to offer the Muse?"

8-{E

(BG)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:22 AM

I think poart of the reason inspiration and creativity have been embodied as "muses" is that though the actual creativity is indwelling the inspiration/motivation/spark is often external - or appears to be so - though in the long run I suppose that it is the (internal) perception of the external object/event.

Confusing enough? easier to say you had a visit from the muse!

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:00 AM

Matai,

I agree with you. That is why I have had to differentiate between my Muse (upper case), the creative spirit that is inside of me, and my muses (lower case), those who inspire me to write. The Muse can be encouraged with practice, study, and meditation/prayer/self-hypnosis ( did I cover them all, Amos?) , while the muses can be people, places, sights, sounds, etc. IMHO, of course.

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 08:21 PM

Matai:

I agree completely, as far as I understand.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: matai
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 08:17 PM

So what i'm hearing is that the muse is not a muse but part of myself. Fair enough but there are people in my life who have inspired me with everything, which is an exceedingly huge amount, that I have written so far. Usually they are real people. People outside myself. What I write might be my own but it is in response to how I perceive others, others in situations.... I don't believe anyone can create in a vacuum. There are always influences. It goes without saying that one's art must be practised everyday. Even if it is only writing in a journal (or to this list) And a class or group of somekind can be helpful but ultimately it is me and the pen/guitar and my muse. I can't see any other way.

Matai

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 06:11 PM

Jerry:

We cross posted just up-thread -- sorry. I don't think I need to start another thread but if you do, please tell me -- glad to help out.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Mudlark
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 05:31 PM

I agree that the "ass-in-chair" mode is the best way to access inspiration. External input can be helpful, even inspirational, but day in, day out, just doing whatever it is you want inspiration for, while not so romantic as a visitation by the/a/one's muse, is the best way I've found to surprise myself out of the mundane. I think my own bigest inspiration gag is the fact that I tend to lose confidence in my abilities: for some (often not very obvious) reason I will begin to think my voice is not worthy of the music I love to sing, or that while the last article I wrote was pretty good, I'll never be able to write another. I can almost always get past this type of stopper with the ass-in-chair routine. I suppose that's why the discipline of daily writing, or practicing an instrument, or whatever, is so important to growth and fulfillment of the creative process.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 04:28 PM

I will say this, Jerry -- you started a real live one here!! Good thread!


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 04:15 PM

Perhaps you should start another thread, Amos?

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:18 PM

Thanks!

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:10 PM

Well there's the point. What is "sub"-conscious in my experience is just as likely to be banished consciousness; I doubnt there is some organic threshold with lots of thoughts running around below it, or some such. But there are lots of viewpoints we hold -- poetic or otherwise, creative or destructive -- that for one or another reason we decide to disavow. Often this is because the viewpoint necessary to think them is of a degree of sensitivity we decide we cannot sustain, and therefore have to shut them off.

Suggestions? Learn to meditate, first in quietude and isolation, and eventually integrate the abilities thus acquired so that you can practice "walking meditation", an always-on connection integrating your own highest self with your own ordinary activities. Learn to know you are the author and also thehandmaiden of any inspiration and find for yourself the frame of mind or the chains of thought that tend to bring it about.

This is not ducking the question but it should be clear that a rigid formulaic approach is least likely to match the way in which one or another individual has constructed their universe.

The best approach is "ass-in-chair" time, spent intentionally writing anything at all, opening the rivers of creative exercise and wit.

There is a book I would also recommend, called "The Artist's Way" which provides lots of exercises in exactly these directions.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:10 PM

Ach Amos yer nae sae bad as grumpy auld bissims go mind you thon beardie fella is catching us up pretty quick :)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:59 PM

Amos,

OK, now can you tell us how you go about "Hooking up with enough of your lost, scattered, disconnected, discombobulated, or denied bits of awareness to bring some back together again with a rush of accompanying energy, a proper Shazaam of the soul. " ?

This is a serious question- this thread is looking for ways to access one's inspiration, regardless of the terminology one chooses to use to describ it.



" inspiration is what you allow yourself to reconnect with when it is "safe". Some people are better at getting back into that mind set than others, but it has to do with how much one owns or rejects the ownership of his own nature and his own mind. "

Any suggestions as to how to get into that mindset? A number of people here and on the "How do you write your songs" thread ( myself included) have mentioned that it seems easier when one is half-asleep ( waking or going to sleep). Should we be talking about cross-connecting with the subconcious? Or unconcious?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:47 PM

No grump, intended, Megan!! I do get a bit sticky about a small handful of issues, I admit...sorry if it sobered things overmuch! :>)


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:32 PM

Amos my dear stop being a grumpy auld bissim theres enough of them around here.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:20 PM

Well, the problem comes in when you start believing you are not the source of something you are in fact the source of. Buying deep and intimate falsehoods about your own nature will tend to cripple you spiritually.

If you're just calling it that for a lark, no harm I can see.


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 11:47 AM

and if I choose to call my "lost, scattered, disconnected, discombobulated, or denied bits of awareness" the Muse, to make conversation about the creative process easier, what is the harm?

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 11:40 AM

Creation doesn't "come from" somewhere. It is what you bring into being from nothingness, an act of aware will, POW! That's where inspiration comes from. Hooking up with enough of your lost, scattered, disconnected, discombobulated, or denied bits of awareness to bring some back together again with a rush of accompanying energy, a proper Shazaam of the soul. Why go around painting yourself as another power?

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 10:18 AM

That may very well be how one connects with inspiration, but where does the inspiration come from? I think that is the topic- and not having an answer, human beings usually try to put a human face on it. I do not believe that this means we can visualize a specific person, with specific physical attributes, but that it becomes convenient to speak of the Muse as a person. On the other hand, as I have stated earlier, I have found muses ( note lower case), who are individuals that the thought of, or conversation with, has given me inspiration.
Perhaps for some it is the sea, or woods, or mountains. Each of us finds inspiration where we can.

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: matai
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 10:15 AM

I must say I do like the idea of being hated by my muse. I think if my muse hated me she would be saying....'you are wasting your time, there is no money in this kind of work, get a real job, especially if it's poetry, no one wants to listen to poetry, well only weirdos, depressives, drunks and why do you want to waste your time with those sorts of people when you could be doing something really constructive in the world like'.....Ha. She couldn't think of anything. Yes if I had a muse right now she would be angry and that's what she'd be saying. Thanks crystal, you have helped me clarify something. Now all I need to do is find out where my muse is hiding and why she is so angry with me....

Matai

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:12 PM

The one last seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

Anyway, inspiration is what you allow yourself to reconnect with when it is "safe". Some people are better at getting back into that mind set than others, but it has to do with how much one owns or rejects the ownership of his own nature and his own mind.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:41 PM

Jerry wasn't he meaning that wierd guy on the coke adverts :)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:33 PM

An old bearded white guy who delegates your responsibility to others?

Never heard of the guy..

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:32 PM

MeganL,

Can you describe your missing muse? Maybe we can locate him- put a picyure on milk cartons, post signs around town...

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:29 PM

ALRIGHT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH would the person who has been feeding my muse please stop it and send the little bissm home, my keyboard is missing him :)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:44 PM

Amos,

So, how do you account for inspiration?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:42 PM

I think projecting one's creative power into the form of a female spirit who comes and goes and has attitudes is kind of like forming a religion based on an image of God as an old white guy with a beard who delegates your responsibility to others. Kinda cuckoo.


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:17 AM

Mudlark,

From your earlier post:
"but resonates so strongly I feel compelled to respond, a sort of giving back, "

I think this is a perfect description. This is exactly what I feel, when I am talking with my muse ( lowercase) and find that some lines of verse have formed in my mind. I find I have little control over it- it pours through me, as well as out onto the page.

GUEST, Crystal,

I do not know if Muses hate, or just ignore those they dislike. I would like to think that your Muse is being heard imperfectly- One does have to provide the craft to contain the creativity. The Muse provides the spark- but the person is required to supply the wood ( or coal...) for the fire, to forge out a work, be it song, or poem, or prose. IMHO, of course.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 10:59 AM

Matai,

One cannot search to find one's Muse- but one might wander, looking at the world with open eyes, and perhaps the Muse will find one again, at some point when the thought of Muse has been forgotten in wonder at what one has found.

In times of absent Muse, I have found that ( for poetry) reading the works of others has been of some use. It seems to get the words moving in my thoughts, and perhaps that attracts the Muse. Sometimes I reread my old verse- proofing is always a good thing, given my skill ( or lack thereof) in typing. I think music might be the similar- Jerry?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 10:57 AM

My Muse isn't very musical, she forces me to write pages of bad fan fiction insted. I think she hates me.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: matai
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:55 AM

I am amused and musing upon your musings about the muse but sigh sadly because after twenty years of a constant stream of writing in response to my muse she seems to have taken a trip overseas. Do I go in search of her or wait for her to come back?
In recent times my mother who has declined into a delusional state has replaced former muses and dominated my thoughts and the writing that has come out of it. Now she has been incarcerated in a rest-home by the Mental Health authorities for her own safety her muse status in my creativity has also disappeared. So I am museless. Sadly nothing new is being written. All my gigs are based on past stuff. For the first time in my life my creativity is totally stuck. The only positive thing I can see in this is that I can only spend the time recording/publishing all that I have gathered together. But I do so miss having a muse. I feel quite bereft.
Matai

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,Ingrid Frances Stark
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:28 AM

I wrote this poem in 2001, after a friend asked if I'd ever written a song or poem to my muse.

The Muse

She speaks to me from shadows in the corners
Her voice is like the sound of running water
She walks among the celebrants and mourners
And chooses those who have, and haven't sought her

She speaks in tiny whispers when I seek her
And then, when I do not, her voice is thunder!
And sometimes. if I've nerve to dare bespeak her
She will not let me rest nor pause to wonder

Once inspiration strikes I'm at her mercy
I cannot fight it, that would lead to madness
But if I let her use my hands, let her see
Through my eyes, I can gain relief from sadness

For, once I let her take me, I'm transported
Into a world where music flows like velvet
I sometimes feel as though I'm being courted
By creatures of some breed I cannot tell yet

'til, caught within their claws, I am enraptured
By visions and by rythmns from the darkness
And swiftly, I forget that I've been captured
As, straining, I can almost hear...Oh! Hark! Yes!

The words are clear and pure, their meaning faultless
I strive to write them down before they scatter
Before she drops me back into that haltness,
That fog which usu'lly clouds my grey matter

I know some think she uses me unfairly
In fact, I've heard it said that she's a 'Muther'!
And oft I think that I survive just barely
But still, she is my muse, I'd have no other.


I think she thrives on depression. Most of the best stuff that I've written has come from depression and pain. When I feel her touch, the best thing I can do is grab pen and paper, and get out of the way.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 11:37 AM

Vixen,

I have to keep a notebook by my bed, as well, Some of my "best" thoughts come at either the start, or end of the day- when I am at the point of falling asleep, or waking up. Perhaps that is when I can best hear my muse.

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:12 AM

That's wonderful, bruce!

My sentiments, exactly. Funny thing is, there's something very releasing about accepting that creativity is a gift. It releases you from all the comparing that artists are prone to do. That's something I talk about often with my quartet. A couple of the less secure members of the group can get very tense when we sing at a program or festival where several other groups are singing? What if we screw up a song? Are we as good as the other groups? What will people think of us. Like all the other guys, I don't want to blow a song (although EVERYONE does from time to time.) But, if you accept that creativity is a gift, and that each of us is gifted in their own unique way, then it's foolish to compare your gift to someone else's. We used to do that when we were kids, at Christmas, but we should long ago have outgrown that.

When my group is learning a new song, the person who is singing lead always seems to end up comparing themselves to the lead singer on the recording (when we're learning it from a recording.) Invariably, they
measure themselves against the original recording, and feel insecure because they aren't doing it "as good as" the recording. My attitude is that we can't do it the same way as the recording, or anyone else, because we have different gifts. But, it works both ways. Right now, I'm learning a lead on a song for the Men's Chorus I sing in. The woman who sings the lead on the recording I have is a real powerhouse... like Etta James, for those who like blues/jazz/soul. I could never sing it like Etta, but then Etta could never sing like I do.

Gifts is gifts. Best not to compare yours with anyone else's. As Sly said,

Different Strokes For Different Folks.

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 06:41 AM

Sonnet 30/06/04    On Muses               CMXX

One's Muses come and go, but when they give,
All one can do is hold the words, and pray
That they will come again. We let dreams live
In hope that Muse might find reason to stay.
What is the reason Muse offers such gem
That we would sell our souls to keep their gift?
Is it just chance, or does their givimg stem
From higher purpose, to other souls lift?
Our Muses give us power to share dreams
And tell of heart's desires. But, should we seek
To claim words inspired as our own? Such seems
Ungrateful, to not of thanks for gift speak.
Can any of us say "This work is mine.",
And not admit some part might be divine?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 02:40 PM

Getting married... Aye... there's some stress for you! Congratulations, Vixen and Tim.

As for producing gospel songs and not feeling "religious," that's not so surprising, I guess. As long as you allow mystery in your life, Vixen, your heart will be open to all things spiritual, no matter what label we apply to them. I think that it's acknowledging that there is something beyond our understanding working in our lives that makes us open to creativity. I've had a couple of long discussions with my younger son recently about changes I see happening in his life. He is agnostic, so he was asking me what I meant when I said that I felt that the Lord was leading me, or showing me something.
No burning bushes.. or Bushes, even. I put it all in the area of "Something tells me." Everyone has used that phrase, not necessarily meaning that there is a Capital "S" something out there. It's just a recognition that there are things afoot that we sense (and then try to make sense out of.) That holds true with creativity and spirituality. I have good friends who are Atheists who sing a lot of gospel. They'd probably say that it's because they like the harmonies and choruses, and that may well be true. But, for a lot of people, there's something more than meets the eye.

As Iris DeMent said, she'd like to Let The Mystery Be. It's good to acknowledge it, though..

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 02:16 PM

Here's a link to a brief recent discussion regarding the muse Erato. Poem included.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=71080

SRS

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 02:10 PM

sidetracking a moment - it is animal husbandry rather then Wifandry due to it being "husband" as in "to conserve or to care for".


re: muses - keeping with the "care and feeding" metaphor (allegory? I always did confuse those two)- you shouldn't keep your muse confined - the majority of muses prefer to roam in many directions - though most ultimatley return to a preferred locale.   Some will tend to strike out primarily in one direction - but often produce their best when going in a totally different direction.

To cage one's muse is like trying to chain a dragon to toast your bread.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Vixen
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 01:41 PM

Dear Jerry--

We've met at Branford and other places, but I don't know if you'd remember me. This is a really interesting discussion...

I hear what you're saying about stress and misery--I've gotten some good material from being "in the pits". But I've also found that just general stress can stimulate my Muse. At the moment, I'm planning my wedding (10 July) and trying to get all the loose ends wrapped up at work before vacation starts (2 July) and Tim and I just got back from camping at Old Songs, which was relaxing and fun, but involved a lot of effort. All of this is very positive stress, no "blues" or misery about it. And with all of that going on, in the last two weeks my Muse has produced 3 new songs for me to work on. Sometimes I'll go a whole year with only 3 new songs to work on.

Another thing that puzzles me about my Muse is that I don't listen to much gospel (just what I absorb second-hand through bluegrass) and I'm not a "religious" person (though I consider myself "spiritually oriented"). I don't go to church, or revival meetings. I don't come from a family tradition that included gospel. Nevertheless, my Muse likes to produce gospel music. Now where does THAT come from?

I find the entire process inscrutable, mysterious, and wholly ethereal...I am humbled to be a part of it, and understand why Biblical authors believed they were writing the words of the divine. I truly feel that the songs, stories, prose and poetry I produce come from somewhere other than inside me.

V

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 12:21 PM

Hey, Vixen:

Your muse must work the night shift. Mine often does, too. I've received verses, choruses, sometimes just a provactive line in dreams.
I don't take credit for them. One night, after I'd just sung at a nursing home and was deeply moved by a woman who was totally paralyzed except for one finger she could tap in rhythm to the songs, I awakened with the line:

"And somewhere inside her, there's still that young girl with a tortoise shell comb in her hair."

I have no idea where that came from, but I tried to go back to sleep to see what else was in there. I ended up getting most of the rest of the song, floating between sleep and awakening.

Stress certainly can produce art. I started another thread a while back challenging the concept that art is ONLY produced because of stress and misery. Stress can arouse the sleeping muse, just as joy can. Even contentment(which is usually denigrated as being a second-rate state of being.)

I'm pleased that so many people recognize creativity is a gift. Some people confuse creativity with craftsmanship. They aren't the same. Craftsmanship (or craftswomanship) is what you do with creativity.

And why is it called Animal husbandry and not Animal Wifeandry?

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Vixen
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 09:48 AM

I've been thinking more about this idea about the care and feeding of muses...probably because I'm in a really creative streak (for me) right now.

In addition to listening, writing, and playing, here are three other things that seem to stimulate MY Muse (YOUR Muses, of course, will no doubt have other stimulants!)

1. Stress: if I have too much to do and think about, that's when my Muse is most productive.

2. New Instruments: my Muse seems to get lots of ideas when I'm noodling around making noises on instruments I have no idea how to play.

3. Sleep: I keep a pad and pen near the bed, and I have taught myself how to write legibly in the dark, because my Muse often comes up with really good ideas when I'm dozing off or waking up. Sometimes ideas are presented to me in dreams--I got one whole song (5 verses, chorus, and melody) that way. As an aside, does anybody know why I can play both the guitar and the pennywhistle flawlessly in my dreams, adding embellishments at will, when in real life I don't even come close to that standard of proficiency? Most frustrating!

My $0.02--your mileage, of course, may vary!

V

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: freightdawg
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 11:03 PM

Well said, and much appreciated.

I really like what BeardedBruce, El Greko and Vixen had to say about creativity vs. just capturing what has been given to us, and the sense of awe at just being a part of the process. It really is a gift, if it were anything else then anyone and everyone could apply a formula and come out with a song.

All praise to the muses, in all their multi-faceted glory.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 10:56 PM

You said it all, Gargoyle. Gotta give credit where cerdit is due.

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 10:47 PM

Hey, Freight:

People what makes money out of music are sometimes driven to lead very restrictive lives as far as the music they listen to. Many years ago, the Patons tried to get a couple of my songs into the ears of Willie Nelson and Don Williams. As it turned out, from what I remember, Willie has to be careful about what he listens to, just for fear that he will subconsciously fold a line or a chord progression from someone else's song into one he has written. Certainly George Harrison, among others paid a price for "borrowing" (consciously or subconsciously) a melody from someone else.

I find, much to my amusement that, long after I've written an "original" song, that there are similarities to other existing songs that I've heard. I think that's all right. I never intentionally swipe someone else's melody (well, once I used a traditional melody... of Will The Circle Be Unbroken, in a song that I wrote honoring the songs that came before us. Fortunately, it never made a penny for me, so no one thought to sue me.

As for multi-tasking, most muses seem to have a fairly narrow focus to their strengths. That's why it's best not to buy an album of standards sung by Bill Cosby or William Shatner. A wonderful jazz guitarist I came to know, Sal Salvadore said once that "a musician's style is the summation of his limitations." He made the comment referring to Tal Farlow's limitations as a jazz guitarist. Tal was one of the finest, most creative jazz guitarists to ever live, and yet he worked within his own limitations. We should have such limitations. I can write song lyrics, but only within the framework of a melody, chord progression and rhythm. A friend once got up on stage and read the lyrics to a couple of my songs as if they were poetry. I thought they sounded phenomenally weak as poetry. That's why I am always a little hesitant to share lyrics to songs without the music. They always sound naked to me.

Maybe the greatest blessing is to recognize your limitations, and play to your strengths.

Jerry