Good subject matter for songs, Mike and Huw ! And I like that advice, George: a dozen memories wrapped in a song
"Just keep it plain and from the heart
And then it can't go wrong."

I've been making a bit of a study of Harvey Andrews songs lately, to get some hints as to how he does it - I would just love to be able to write like that. I heard him a month or so ago and between songs he was talking about songwriting, and how sometimes just the sound of a word or a place (especially, as he said, if it is full of long vowel sounds) can spark off a song - and he gave the example of the song he wrote, sparked off by a road sign to "Boothferry Bridge". Another one was from a snatch of a conversation he heard: "She got the house, I got the mortgage."

Have any of you been to any songwriting workshops/courses that you would especially recommend ? I know there are a few held at some of the UK festivals, for instance. I'm much more of a "free agent" than I used to be now family commitments are less, and will be able to get to festivals and events, so would be grateful for any information.

Anyway, here's my contribution to this thread:

SOLSTICE

As the sun stands frozen for one moment
And the dawn starts to make its steep climb
The seconds and minutes and hours try to melt
But are trapped here with me, marking time

On the shortest day of the year
But the longest, longest day of my life.

It could have all been so different
Oh, how I'd hoped you would see
All of the dancing and laughing in store
If only you'd stayed here with me

But it's the shortest day of the year
And the longest, longest day of my life.

Through the frost fern curls on the window
The trees paint a grey silhouette
Cradling their buds hiding Russian doll leaves,
Are they trying like me to forget

It's the shortest day of the year
But the longest, longest day of my life.

They say everything has its season
And nothing's new under the sun,
The universe wheel starts to turn once again
And my winding trail has begun

From the shortest day of the year
And the longest, longest day of my life.

[Tune (which I don't know how to post here) & Lyrics: J.A.S., first version written 2004 and still being worked on !]

Looking forward to seeing more songs on here.

Cheers,
- jeanie