[Hey Everyone]

Thanks John,

nice to be here!

jd

[For Jen]

In the shallows, you and I feel

the hint of history's fathoms -

as a wave we alone will know

takes our sinking heels...

And when our hearts are yearning

to rush to their tomorrows -

to find their place of being

in the roder of things

Or ghost the empty hollows

left by lifes passing

content with consolation

in imitations of the sea

Whether anchored or drifting

all of history's knowing

we find by looking squarely

in the eye of a seal

Copyright John Duncanson 2009, all rights reserved

[Hey Everyone]

Hey guys,

thanks for the welcome!

I've had a chance to have a wee look-see at the site and like what I've found.

Some nice writing and a good vibe too.

Tom - review (such as it was!) was no problem - a pleasure to feedback on something with such elan!

Right - that's my french exhausted!

'Look forward to getting to know you all and giving and receiving feedback - maybe even working together if the gods will.

See you round

Cheers

jd

[What Makes A Good Songwriter?]

For my money (all 73 pence of it) essential songwriter 'kit' includes:

1) a soul

2) an ability to connect to the experiences of that soul and distill them to maximum potency

3) an ability to perform point 2 in a manner fully understandable and accessible to all

4) through mastering the balance between revealing and hiding

5) and thereby allowing the 'viewer' to 'paint' their own 'Mona Lisa'

6) using not much more than a few blunt twigs and an ashtray

I think that practice improves, but that ultimately you're either Michael Angelo, or you're not.

You either feel or you don't.

Example of fine songwriting? In my opinion something like "Christmas card from a hooker in Minneapolis" by Tom Waits.

Narrative.

Imagery.

Humour.

Empathy.

Brevity.

Having said that I once 'wrote' a pretty good song by picking words randomly out of a hat.

Vodka generally improves my perception.

That and love.

Perhaps we can define a good song writes by good songs?

Any other suggestions??

[Hey Everyone]

Hey everyone,

just wanted to say hi and introduce myself...

My name's John (but most folk call me jd) and I'm a forty-something lyricist living in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Been writing songs and prose since I was a kid.

I'm really interested in collaborating with other writers/musicians to get the lyrical/musical equivalent of Pythons 'worlds funniest joke'.

Or just to have fun.

Preferrably both.

I've had a few things recorded but basically I'm an under-motivated dreamer type waiting for the Lotto...in short an enthusiastic amateur.

Looking forward to hopefully making a few friends and generally kicking things around.

I've previously only really moderated a few poetry sites so out and out muso is newso to me...

See you round!

jd