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hey
first let me say I love the song LIGHT ON by david cook howes/cornell writers. love the power in the vocal /production etc. having said that I just don't know what he is singing about. I think delving in deeper and deeper to the country genre has made me expect more from a lyric than some catchy phrases. I know rock music lyrics are not to be taken as literally as country and are often more about the emotional appeal of the idea but man...this one has got me scratching my head?. any thoughts ... anyone else find it difficult to write effectively in different genres that have different ways of approaching themes/song ideas

scotty

He loves her, but he's a rambler, so he's asking if she'll leave a light on (symbolically) to help him find his way back, because he does want to come home to her.

"I'll leave a candle in the window for you" is an age-old concept; it's like a lover's personal lighthouse and a sign to the absent person, and everyone else, that the person waiting inside still loves him/her and hopes to guide him/her home.

I guess it beats "I'll leave a grenade in the window for you"
If you could post the lyrics, or a link to them, I'd love to respond.
Ott

here ya go ott


Never really said too much
Afraid it wouldn't be enough
Just try to keep my spirits up
When there's no point in grieving

Doesn't matter anyway
Words can never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know I'm leaving

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night, a naked light
A fire to keep me warm

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it's late at night you can look inside
You won't feel so alone

You know we've been down that road
What seems a thousand times before
My back to a closing door
And my eyes to the seasons

That roll out underneath my heels
And you don't know how bad it feels
To leave the only one
That I have ever believed in

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night, a naked light
A fire to keep me warm

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it's late at night you can look inside
You won't feel so alone, ooh yeah!

Sometimes it feels like we've run out of luck
When the signal keeps on breaking up
When the wires cross in my brain
You'll stab my heart again when I come along, yeah

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night, a naked light
A fire to keep me warm

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it's late at night you can look inside
You won't feel so alone

Try to leave a light on when I'm gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it's late at night you can look inside
You won't feel so alone

...
Scott,

I get the general meaning .. the one CK describes .. but I hear you .. it is a bit too muddled for my personal tastes. Like why is she stabbing him in the heart ... and ....

Performing artists can get away with more 'vagueness' than you and I can. Sometimes that makes for GREATNESS, but sometimes they take it too far, imo. You can write artistic lyrics that still make sense. For example, Bill Gaunce is basically a performing artist, he writes like one, but his lyrics are consistently very good and it's always pretty clear what they mean.

I love The Killers ... Human .. but what does that song mean? Heard him interviewed once ... so I get pieces of it .. but still not all of it .. lol

Of course, I also think it is worth the risk sometimes to write songs in a stream of conciousness/poetic manner and not worry too much about 'logic'. If it works for you ... record it and put it out there. You can't hit on 'greatness', imo, if you are too analytical all the time.

Dean

To hear Brian H. tell it, Chris Cornell was basically forced to co-write it with him by his producer, and it was originally intended for Chris. So, definitely, Cornell can kind of do whatever he wants.

thanks CK and dean as always. I think I may be over thinking things a bit too much lately trying to hit all the points on what makes a great song and missing the heart of it as cliched as that may sound. Im trying so hard to write a HIT and analyzing things to death listening to hit songs in a bunch of genres and the emotion is drying up. HELP!!

scotty

scottyrock wrote:thanks CK and dean as always. I think I may be over thinking things a bit too much lately trying to hit all the points on what makes a great song and missing the heart of it as cliched as that may sound. Im trying so hard to write a HIT and analyzing things to death listening to hit songs in a bunch of genres and the emotion is drying up. HELP!!

scotty

Scott, lol ... i hear you! .. it can happen ..

interesting CK .. about the forced co-write .. man, i would hate that .. co-writing should be fun and mutual

I can't really say enough about Pat Pattison's book Writing Better Lyrics. First thing I wrote after getting it, was my first ever country song, was my first ever forward -- and that's miraculous. So I can't promise miracles but I do think it's a great book.

As for not losing the emotion, look at other people's structure, rhyme schemes, etc., but for something to write about, look at your own life. The last thing that made you laugh so hard that your stomach hurt, and the last thing that made you cry.

deantaylor wrote:
interesting CK .. about the forced co-write .. man, i would hate that .. co-writing should be fun and mutual

Well, we are talking about Chris Cornell. If I remember right, as Brian H told it, Cornell was like, HELL no, I'm not co-writing with anybody. And his producer said, Uh, yeah you are.