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Five and DinerI'd warned him that this rundown placewas too much for a man his agebut he loved cooking and this old cafeand all the locals loved his signed photosof Cassius Clay and Willie Maysfielding a grounderhe'd fry anything...possum and passion fruitI moved away but my father's rootswere in cardboard menus and tabletop jukesand Mama's picture hung up in the kitchenand the cigars and pint he kept behindnapkins under the counterand come payday ev'ry logger and mineruseta pack the old Five and Dinerthey said he was a chef but that's just succotashcos the secret spice in his omelets and hashwas mostly just cheap cigar ashand his bad habit of using rabbit fatin his homemade cheese and when he greasedhis cast iron skillethe could've ran my rest'raunt in New Yorkbut he didn't think supper needed five diff'rent forksor my penthouse terrace beat his riverside porchand there was no profit he never got rich off itbut he loved this place and to the end of his daysI couldn't make him sell itDad was proud of being an Elk and a shrinerbut mostly that he owned the old Five and Dinereyes peeked in though the sign said closedbooths filled upwith shadows and ghostsI sat downand the lights were dimhe talked to melike Mom must've spoke to himI sold my fancy place in New Yorkand found nothing is finerthan serving rabbit fried porkat the old Five and Diner(c)2005 Robert George

Hello,Just wanted to say this is a nice lyric.I also am curious as to what advice youcan give to writers? What tools can be usedfor technique, i.e. Shelia Davis, etc.?Where does the inspiration come from towrite so many quality lyrics so quickly?Good job and good luck.Joe PiaseckiCleveland, Ohio

hi persistence and thanks for your nice words about my stuff. as for advice...that's a tough one. I've never read a single songwriting manual or attended a seminar. I don't own a rhyming dictionary. in fact I don't believe in them. soo-ooo...my advice will run contrary to everything else you'll hear, haha. but it will be simple...here it is:buy up and listen to as much music as you possibly can. the older, the better. absorb it all. and then from the artists and songs you like, use their influence to form a style and voice of your own. it will take time and will require a dedication that borders on obsession. but in my opinion, that's the best way to learn to write lyrics. if you want a checklist of do's and don'ts...I don't have any. you hafta feel your way and find your creativity. if you have talent and you take the time, the songs will come.

thanks for your reply and best to ya.here are 3 websites you may find musicallyhelpful.www.goodnightkiss.comwww.dennymartinmus ... cess.comif you have any music online i'd like to hear it.also if you get a chance give me your thoughtson my song, "minivan", it's on broadjam.comunder my name. i am getting this forwaredby taxi once in awhile. i'd like to hear yourcritique of it.joe piasecki

hey Joe! the demo sounded great. I'm no critic but I thought the lyric was a little weak. it could use a bit more punch. I might've heard it wrong but the 2nd vs seems to say he's got a Barbie in one hand and a GI Joe in another which would be strange if he's driving his minivan. still a sharp sounding demo. and I've got some demoes up at songjourney.com. it's a pay site but well worth it. it's run by two Nashville pros.

thanks for the thoughts, it's a good point.i can strengthen a couple other lines also.thanks for the website link.best of luck