are these lyrics universal?

[cassmcentee]

Good one Richard!

Someday I’m gonna live, in a big house on the hill
I swear I’ve had my fill, of this river's swill
And when I’m in my big house, my big house on the hill
River bottom fair thee well, I ain’t goin’ back no more

I would change the highlighted line because the singer's perspective is never from "up on the hill" till the "River bottom fair thee well...
I imagine the storyteller looking at his mud soaked legs while singing it

1swill \"swil\ verb [ME swilen, fr. OE swillan] (bef. 12c)
verb transitive
1 : wash, drench
2 : to drink great drafts of : guzzle
3 : to feed (as a pig) with swill
(C)1997, 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved

[Len911]

"Successful hit tv series". If it is one of those reality shows set in Louisiana, there really isn't any higher ground in the whole state:shock:
And isn't that the whole premise of the show, gutsy, gritty, swamp people who never want to leave their environment? That's sort of why I don't really think you have truly universal lyrics. I've never watched Duck Dynasty but from the look of the beards, zz top beards, and the wiki said they were from West Monroe, Louisiana, Swamp People is another one. quote from wiki "The show follows the day-to-day activities for several Cajuns living in the swamps of the Atchafalaya River Basin who hunt American alligators for a living."
Of course I don't know that the hit tv series is a reality show, it's just an illustration or debate about why I don't think you necessarily have universal lyrics.

[rdance]

thanks also casey and cass. wow, everyone is trying to help, feels real good!

what i'm learning in this situation that a lyric re-write is often harder than starting fresh. 'big house' was originally written for a specific tv news show a couple years ago when raging rivers were overflowing all over the south and midwest...and like with katrina, a lot of poor folks were left stranded with no help.

with robin's book which several of you reminded me of, i am trying to re-write the lyrics for a universal application. i may get there...or just start fresh. i'm definitely in music school this week! but love the challenge.

thanks again everyone...

[pitterpatter]

Even coming up with universal lyrics seems difficult. Why is writing lyrics so fricken hard? After reading these posts, I don't think I can presently even write universal lyrics. I'm just too darned opinionated with too many pointed things to say. Good luck to you. I hope you figure it out and make a million bucks.

Regards

PitterPatter aka Carla