PROMPT

Pick Your Lyrics and Connect

A Songstories relational prompt

Hello darkness, my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains

The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel

Our editorial team kicks around the ideas for prompts once in a while. The ‘while’ being those rare, lucid moments when we talk ‘business’.

Consider yourselves prompted. Or entertained. Or at least leaving in a few moments with a song stuck in your shaking head (it’ll happen).

The lyrics above fit exactly how this prompt percolated in my brain; also my usual attitude when I open my laptop. Plus, I just like typing “Garfunkel”.

Let’s call this what it is, a prompt and a promo piece.

A prompt to inspire you, our friends and fellow writers, and a shameless plug to spread the word of Songstories.

So with that, allow me one lyrical moment to plug and thank the group of editorial misfits I get to write and talk ‘business’ and crap with every day. Every damn day.

The band is just fantastic That is really what I think Oh, by the way, which one’s pink?

Have A Cigar, Pink Floyd

The band: Christopher Robin, Squeeze the Avocado, yesnodunno, Carlos Garbiras, Samantha Drobac, Angelina Der Arakelian, Arthur Dewson, and myself, Will Hull

(Leave your pink guesses and comments in the comments, if you’d like)

What the people need, is a way to make ’em smile. It ain’t so hard to do if you know how.

Listen To The Music, The Doobie Brothers

I’ve always loved this line in the Doobie Brothers song. To me, there’s a lot of truth in it and if you can make someone smile and laugh? There’s not much sweeter a moment in life than that.

Here’s a clunky segue to a couple of writers who always do just that. Jennifer McDougall, Michael Burg, MD (AKA Medium Michael Burg)(just be sure you get vaccinated), Kristi Keller (she’ll also take you to the depths of the other end of the spectrum, but she’ll always bring you back) and Amy Sea.

There’s so many different worlds So many different suns And we have just one world But we live in different ones

Brothers In Arms, Dire Straits

First off, I just love the song. So there’s that. And it touches on another aspect of what makes our writing community so fun and interesting. We’re scattered all over the planet, and while it may be one planet, it really feels like we live in vastly different worlds at the moment. But our writing, reading and communicating bring us back together.

Okay, a bit too ‘kumbaya’ but hope you get me.

Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), most all of us know Lucy. If you don’t, what planet have you been on? She has her own pub, The Brain is a Noodle, and it’s one of the best on planet Medium. Want a short course in great thoughts and writing prompts? Go.

Australian Alien is a fellow Aussie stuck over in Germany. We get along because we share the same Australian rants. Poke her to write more, but in the meantime, read some of her back catalogue.

The writing community is in excellent hands with wunderkinds such as Angelina Der Arakelian. She’s one to read and follow.

PlainTalkBadManners, this woman’s a favourite of mine. Trust me. Just click and read a bit. You’ll understand why.

Jimmy’s an Aussie legend, from Cold Chisel to his solo work. Why did I pick these lyrics? We’re all working class with writing. Plus, duh, I love the song. When you put the words of Australia’s national anthem to this tune, it works. It would make for a better anthem.

Working hard to make a living Bringing shelter from the rain A father’s son left to carry on Blue denim in his veins Oh oh oh he’s a working class man

Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes

Darius Butkevicius. He has working man writer down cold. Love his gritty writing style, thoughts and subject matter.

Dave Logan, check out his poetry and thoughts. What he’s doing for mental health here in our community is priceless. And he’s a pretty damn good writer too.

Want another witty and intelligent, hard working writer? Anthony O'Dugan. Poetry, humour and you never know what else.

Betsy Denson, another solid writer and has a very interesting pub about history, A Smorgasbord of History. If you have even a passing interest in historical quirks or unknown facts, have a look.

I hate the idea of mentioning television in writing. There’s a reason you rarely watch someone watching TV on TV. It’s boring.

But I once had to sit through my kid’s school Christmas concert, “A Celebration of 50 Years of Television”, so you get to sit through this.

I’ve added these lyrics because it’s really why we all hang out here in this community and write.

Making your way in the world today Takes everything you’ve got Taking a break from all your worries Sure would help a lot Wouldn’t you like to get away?

All those nights when you’ve got no lights The check is in the mail And your little angel Hung the cat up by its tail And your third fiance didn’t show Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name And they’re always glad you came You want to be where you can see Our troubles are all the same You want to be where everybody knows your name

“Cheers” theme song, Gary Portnoy / Jean Hart-Angelo

How celebrating television relates to education or Christmas, I’m still trying to figure out.

While I continue to scratch my head on that one, jump in on the prompt and engage with us, your friends and fellow writers.

Here’s the prompt:

• Grab a few lyrics
• Give us a relational connection to those lyrics
• And be relational, help widen and bring our community together

That’s it.

I’ll start off by tagging a few: Rodney Brazier, Alice Cunningham, Susan Foster, Jupiter Grant, Amanda Wilson, Jessie Waddell, kasey sparks, Chris Zappa, Anne Bonfert, Penny Grubb, Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Krystal Mossbarger, Melanie J.