Tag: Country Music Lyrics
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Nashville Lyrics: The Next 5
Five More Songs From the Front of the Catalog Earlier this year, I selected five songs that represented some of the strongest work in the Nashville Lyrics catalog. Those songs were: My Greatest Win. Mother Over 40. The Bank and the Barn. Day by Day. Dreaming for Two. That was a snapshot of the catalog…
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The Top 12 Strategy: Why Most Songwriters Stay Stuck, and How to Move Forward
How many songs would you confidently play for a publisher today? Not your favorites. Not the ones your family likes. Not the ones that took the longest to write. Not the songs you feel guilty leaving behind because you remember how much work went into them. I mean the songs you would confidently put on…
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Why Some Good Songs Still Aren’t Pitch-Ready (And What to Do Next)
“My song is good. Why isn’t anyone cutting it?” It may be the most honest—and most frustrating—question in commercial songwriting. Almost every serious songwriter eventually asks it. Sometimes they ask it out loud. Sometimes they only think it after another pitch comes back with no response, another artist passes, or another publisher says something polite…
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Would I Pitch This? The Five-Minute Publisher Test Every Songwriter Should Use
Every songwriter has asked, “Is this song good?” Very few ask the question that matters more. It is a natural question. We spend hours chasing a title, shaping a verse, rewriting a chorus, and trying to land that one line that finally makes the whole idea feel alive. By the time we finish a demo,…
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Behind The Scenes: Tattoos and Booze
Writing a Country Pop Song About the Ones You Know Better Than to Chase Not every song starts with heartbreak. Some start with personality. “Tattoos and Booze” came from the idea of writing a modern country pop song built around attraction, chemistry, and the kind of person who looks like trouble before they even say…
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The Emotional Arc Test
Does Your Song Actually Go Anywhere? One of the biggest reasons songs feel forgettable is simple: Nothing changes. The lyrics may sound good. The production may be polished. The melody may work. But emotionally, the song begins and ends in exactly the same place. That’s where the Emotional Arc Test comes in. What Is an…
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The First Chorus Timing Rule
How Long Is Too Long Before You Get to the Hook? One of the easiest ways to lose a listener is making them wait too long for the payoff. In country music, the first chorus carries enormous responsibility. It’s where the title lands. It’s where the emotional promise gets fulfilled. And it’s usually the moment…
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Writing for the Cut vs Writing for the Crowd
Why Great Songwriters Know the Difference Why Great Songwriters Know the Difference Not every song has the same job. Some songs are written for artists. Some songs are written for audiences. And understanding the difference can dramatically improve your songwriting. Because what earns a cut isn’t always the same thing that earns a standing ovation.…
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Why Good Songs Don’t Get Cut
The Difference Between a Good Song and a Song Someone Needs One of the hardest lessons in songwriting is realizing that good isn’t always enough. Most songs that don’t get cut aren’t bad. In fact, many are well-written, professionally produced, and emotionally solid. The problem is that the industry isn’t looking for good. It’s looking…
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Behind The Scenes: I Was Blind
Writing About the Damage You Don’t See Until It’s Almost Too Late Some relationship songs are built around betrayal. “I Was Blind” was built around something quieter and, in many ways, more painful: The realization that emotional absence can slowly damage the person you love most. The song came from the idea that sometimes the…