I consider myself a songwriter. But I hardly ever write lyrics--I can only do that when the mood hits me (which is only once in a blue moon.) I am much more of a 'music person.' Of all the works in my personal catalogue, which is up to sixty songs and tunes, there are only a handful that I've written both the lyrics and the music.

Finding it hard to write these lyrics, I resort to taking Scottish and Irish poetry from the 18th & 19th centuries (no copyright restrictions!) and put music to them. The songs are not at all bad, from a critical point of view, and I love the joy of putting music to them. Other artists, nameably Robin Laing, do much as I do because of the same problems.

So my question to all Mudcatters, most of who have tons more musical experience than I do, is this a legitimate form of songwriting? Or am I a songmaker? Does the fact that I hardly have any lyrics that I personally have written, and instead use poetry I can strongly identify with, make me less of a songwriter? Will people think I am uncreative because I cannot make lyrics, or will they accept the poetry as legitimate, since most people have never heard it before (I did hard to find this stuff)? I'd just all you folks opinions. Thanks!

--Mbo