YEAR 8 WEEK 1 - Born To Rock and Roll

[Vic Lewis VL]

From my point of view, year 7 was a funny old year - saw some really good songs from other people, but didn't really post much myself. In fact, it was my least productive year since I signed up back in Y2 - so this year, I'm going to make a conscious effort to concentrate on writing more, which after all is the whole point of the SSG....

So here's a simple statement of my life's philosophy......

Born To Rock And Roll.

I grew my hair and I broke the rules,
Skipped classes and stayed off school,
Spent my time drinking and shooting pool,
Didn't need the words of fools,

Got a job, saved up, bought a guitar,
Started playing in clubs and bars,
I had a plan, I was going far,
And though I never made it as a rock'n'roll star.....

I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need no stroll,
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!

Now even though I'm old and grey,
I still get the same kick when I play,
I pick up my guitar every single day,
Don't care what anyone says...

I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need no stroll,
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!

(guitar solo here....)

I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need no stroll,
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!

Should be pretty obvious what sort of music I've got in mind for this - thinking fairly up-tempo, with some slide for the lead guitar. I'll try and dash off an mp3 a little later on.



Vic

[Alan Green]

With a Tom Petty sound, I guess. Good stuff Vic


A

[pbee]

Hi Vic,
great start for the new year, and thanks for holding SSG together in year 7.

My only thought at present is that the third line feels a little forced, to fit the fouth line.

I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need no stroll,
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!

I know its busting your rhyming scheme but, maybe something like

I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need to shout
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!

or
Its rock and roll that's what I'm about !

cheers
Paul

[dhodge]

Hi Vic

Nice way to start Year 8 with a bang! I like Paul's suggestion for the chorus although I'm good with your original one, too.

One thing I would suggest is taking out the "saved up" in the first line of the second stanza. It's redundant (you obviously saved up) and not really necessary and makes the line less awkward. Going with "Got a job bought a guitar" flows better, at least to my ears.

Or, if you want your narrator to seem more a rebel, you could always go "got some money and bought a guitar" which can make people wonder how you got the money.

Looking forward to hearing this at some point.

Peace

[Celt]

Vic,

None of us should be too surprised at your choice of subject on this assignment.

Some good suggestions so far.

The second line of the chorus seems a bit cliche' to me but this is Rock and Roll
so it is forgivable.

Good Job



John

[jamestoffee]

Hi Vic,

Good start

My only thought at present is that the third line feels a little forced, to fit the fouth line.
I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need no stroll,
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!
I know its busting your rhyming scheme but, maybe something like
I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no twist, don't need to shout
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!
or
Its rock and roll that's what I'm about !

Suggestion:
Consider mentioning other forms of music...."twist" is a bit too much in the rock 'n roll vein.....and "stroll" I am unfamiliar with as a music style.....

maybe like.....
I was born to rock and roll,
I got the music way down in my soul,
Don't need no rap, or country droll,
No jive, no jazz, I was born.....to rock and roll!


James

P.S. Vic, I also want to thank you for your willingness to moderate Year 7. After going 3 years and having written only two songs, you provided what I need when I needed it and definitely got me out of my comfort zone [and that's a good thing ]....

.....I was going to PM the rest, but I think no need....like the saying goes "criticize in private.....praise in public"....Well, I have no criticisms but only praise and thanks for your encouragement, critiques, and support both publicly and through your PMs. Thanks again. .....something is missing, so I will borrow from Dylan's trademark (as it seems appropriate to your post ) Rock on!

[Vic Lewis VL]

Or, if you want your narrator to seem more a rebel, you could always go "got some money and bought a guitar" which can make people wonder how you got the money.

I like that - subtle, understated and suitably rebellious. I think I'll steal that line if that's OK with you, Mr H!

like the saying goes "criticize in private.....praise in public

Feel free to criticise in public - that goes for everyone, and that's what the feedback thread's for. I'm a big boy, I can take it! I sometimes feel like a fraud in this job - my only qualifications are A - I write songs, and B - I've listened to a lot of music over the years. Sometimes I think I've written a decent lyric - then David or Marv or Celt or Cath or Straycat or James or someone else will come up with a song and I'll feel like a talentless hack all over gain. But that's OK - I can always improve!

This forum's about self-improvement, about helping others, and above all (IMO) about encouraging others. Anyone can write - it's about writing down your ideas, getting positive/negative feedback, and bringing those ideas to fruition. Hopefully the end product will be a recording.....and it doesn't matter how amateurish you may think it sounds to you, someone else will find some good points. Personally, I get a huge buzz every time I see "with MP3" alongside a title for a topic I've suggested - I feel like a Godfather at a Christening!

Dylan Barrett made a good point last year....in the Beginner's Video thread, I think. "Hey guys," he said, "why not drop in to the SSG? Post a few lyrics, and the guys there will polish it up for you and hey presto - you've got a song!" or something along those lines.

All I can add to that is, keep on writing - practise writing like you'd practise guitar. It WILL get better!



Vic

[Christiaan]

I don't have much criticism to add, except to say well done! These are nice lyrics, just as good as anything Tom Petty ever did. I would love to hear the Stones do this song

I feel a bit rebellious disagreeing with David Hodge, since I learned to play the guitar from his lessons on this site but I rather liked the original:

Got a job, saved up, bought a guitar,

It's the opening line of the second verse, and you have to speed up the singing for this line, which gives it a nice rush which I think fits it, since you're skipping over a lot of time in one line.

But the "ambigiousness" of the new line is also nice.