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Hi, to one and all

These lyrics are the result of a recent collaboration between Carfo and myself.

We seem to have clashed a little on our thoughts on it. I'll try to explain our predicament.
Carfo thinks we need to make it more obvious who is the singer telling the story too.

I think their fine as they are. As in the story is not meant to be directed at anyone in particular, it's just a general answer to anyone who ever had thoughts on how this works.

So it's over to you lot, any thoughts on the above, appreciated and suggestions of improvements if you feel they're needed.

Thanks Carfo and Roger


DREAMING OUT LOUD

Just ask a bunch of songwriters
Their sources of inspiration
You’ll get many different answers
Joining in the conversation

While some could write a great long list
Stating everything they accrue
Some say not sure, all that we know
Is they just seem to make it through

So when the question arises
No easy answer can be found
I feel that this one may suffice

It's just like dreaming out loud
Carve things out to set them free
There’s nothing fancy ‘bout that
If we just find the right key
It's just like dreaming out loud

We’re looking round throughout the day
For things that rag or make us smile
Though the one thing that we all hope
When it’s finished it’s deemed worthwhile

Now things have always been like that
Because that's just the way it is
Just to add some of my own thoughts
It’s just my way to reminisce

Pre-chorus

Chorus

I'm not quite sure what you are asking about the singer needing to be identified. The statements are mainly observatory and not anything controversial that needs credentialed. I had to look up the word 'rag', ah, it is an English slang term, and you are from the U.K. ok
Feels cabaret or theater.

This is just my thoughts:
As I understand, it started out with the intent to write a universal lyric.
What I got back didn't seemed as an universal lyric to me. Then I tried to
explain that since this lyric is aimed towards a specific group, in this case
songwriters the lyric, for me, ain't universal enough.

Then I tried to explain that if the lyric shouldn't be universal there would be
great for me to know the answer to these following questions:

Who or/and what is the song about?
Who is the main-character telling the story to?
When is it happening?
Where is it happening?

So my question is if someone can help me understand what an universal lyric is.

The song is more or less a soliloquy. That's why it feels cabaret or theater imo. The song would be directed toward the audience. A singer sitting at and playing the piano for instance in a cabaret setting, singing to the audience. It could just as easily occur in a musical in the proper place and setting for the play. The song is about how songwriter's write songs, the universality depending mostly on the context. It might not be so appealing if the song stood by itself as a top 40 pop hit, however many seemingly less universal songs from say the theater have become top 40 pop hits.

I think in general when universality is mentioned it primarily refers to songs that don't mention proper nouns such as places or names, in the generic sense, mainly for use in film, ads, television. But also in film,television or ads the song shouldn't be telling the story, especially a conflicting one. Safest bet is singing only emotion. Universal appeal means something entirely different.

On the other hand,lol, even though the general consensus is not using proper names to be universal, if the woman's name in the story happens to be Elizabeth, or the location is New York or Chicago, songs with those proper names may be more desirable in an ad, tv or film and trump a universal lyric song. I would target whatever seems more advantageous and what makes sense to you.