Harlan Howard, one of the most successful songwriter s of all time, died a few years ago leaving many anecdotes in his wake. Harlan drove the archetypal Cadillac – complete with cow-horns on the bonnet (hood) and with the distinctive registration 1 EARN. Harlan’s wife drove a similar car and her registration was; 1 SPEND . Not subtle but not retiring either. Harlan, apparently was frequently to be found in Nashville bars, shooting the breeze and offering pearls of song-writing wisdom to anyone who cared to listen. One often quoted being that in a song – a version of a story in 3 acts, what is required in the first verse is that you ‘Tell em’’, the second, ‘Tell em’ again’ and in the third, it’s important to ‘Tell em’ you told em’’ – that simple. Another oft quoted is that ‘Take a good story, shorten it and then, shorten it again”
In California at the writing retreat, one of the participants told me of her first husband’s meeting with Harlan, shortly after they’d moved to Nashville. Her husband, then 24, explained to Harlan that, at 24, he felt he was too old to go for a singing career and intended to focus, henceforth on whiting for others. Harlan asked him again how old he was and, when told, responded that y’ain’t got nothing to write about till you’re 42.
A saint then? Not quite it appears. Someone I met on my return to Nashville reckoned that Harlan wrote less than half the songs he was credited with and told me about a time when a young man approached Harlan and excitedly asked to run a song by him. Harlan agreed, listened and told the disappointed guy that it’s already been done – mentioning a title. After the guy left the bar, Harlan asked my friend for a pen and began scribbling. My friend asked Harlan what was so urgent and Harlan told him, ‘Gotta write down that song before I forget it. It’s good’.
http://www.harlanhoward.com/bios/Harlan-Howard.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment