the point I'm trying, and obviously not making is that we may be able to perform songs, but we may live in a social context where its impossible to write songs like that

desolation Row is a great case in point. sure we all nursed our alienation in college dorms to the strain of that anthem. You could even take it to the concert platform like Chris Smither does.

however if you you are working within the confines of a three song floor spot if you wrote such a song, I think you would be booted offstage. so examine these masterpieces that work for you by all means - then get real about the actual nature of the creative opportunities that God has handed you as a writer.

recently i was amazed to find that a couple of djs were playing a six and a half minute song I had written - so maybe I'm paranoid - however I've been there when an a&r man was auditioning tapes - most of them didn't stay playing for a minute. Similarly I've been to Radio Derby and Radio nottingham breakfast shows when they have played about one and a half minutes of a three and a half minute song, and thats after getting you up as some ungodly time(for a musician) for breathtaking shallowness.

best of luck with your venture anyway!

al