Tuh! Duh! That is one of the sound effects that I like to make. The problem is I don't know how to spell it. It could be Ta! Duh! maybe Ta! Da! It just loses a lot in writing. I love to do this at work. I will do something easy and celebrate like I just accomplished some gigantic success story. It is even more fun if you raise your arms in celebration. Yes, I was able to clock in to the time clock. I am going to get paid. Tuh! Duh!
In chapter six my goal was to win the songwriting contest at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass festival. I had tried for four years and I had one second place finish. It was time for a new strategy. I did not have a copy of my entries in 2013 and the entries for 2014 are not dated. I am guessing I lost 2013 and 2014 is accurate or maybe I didn't enter. I might of missed the deadline. I don't remember. Not remembering is a great songwriting as we previously discusses in previous chapters. It makes rejections of your songs easier to deal with.
I entered three songs in 2014. Big Hit, Pair of Dice (Paradise) and Picker's Paradise. Big Hit is one of my personal favorite songs. I played it at the Bluebird café at an Open Mic and the crowd loved it. The chorus feels like a sing a long song. It is fun to play.
Pair of Dice (Paradise) is a play on words. I was trying to write a song about the crucifixion of Jesus. I wanted it to be different so I thought that I would write it from the standpoint of somebody watching the crucifixion and then I had what I thought was a better idea. I would be one of the thieves on the cross beside Jesus. My favorite line in the song is the first line.
I'm a crook on the cross, where I deserve to be
and the King of the Jews is hanging beside me.
If only I could come up with lines that were that impactful all the time. (but I don't) The song continues with
Four soldiers dividing up the clothes that he wore.
part of the job they've done before.
The robe of a King and it was nice.
Let's decide the winner, with a pair of Dice.
Chorus- Pair of Dice, throw the dice
Pair of Dice, roll the dice.
There are losers and a winner
Pair of Dice.
The other thief on the cross was hateful and rude
he yelled, "Save yourself and save us too."
I yelled, "He's done no wrong. He's not like me and you.
Jesus cried, "Father forgive them, they don't know what they do"
"Jesus please remember me,"those words I cried
He said, "Today you'll be with me in paradise.
Chorus- Paradise, Paradise
Paradise, Paradise.
This losers a winner in Paradise.
Looking back at that cross, that soldier and me.
He won a robe and me eternity.
What a strange way to meet, God's only Son
Jesus the Messiah, the Holy One
I know that he died to be my sacrifice
and it's because of him, I'm here in paradise.
Chorus- Paradise, Paradise,
Paradise, Paradise,
This losers a winner in Paradise.
That song did not win and neither did Big Hit. I was down to one song. The last song that had a chance was Picker's Paradise. Here is where I decided to use strategy. The song contest has many different categories. Here are a few of the categories that I remember, Songs about love, Spiritual songs, Songs about heartbreak or maybe it was called songs about feeling blue and songs that don't fit in a box (other) and songs about Winfield. The category that has the most entries is the ones that you don't know where they go. I decided my best odds would be to write a song about Winfield.
I have been to the bluegrass festival three times. It was known for everybody playing instruments with other musicians and having a grand time. I must be honest. I had never had that great of an experience. I played with some folks but it wasn't like I had hoped or imagined. You have different levels of experience, different types of music, folk, bluegrass, country, etc., different ages, and the differences go on and on. I had never really clicked and thought this was great.
This was when the light came on. Don't write a song about what Winfield is really like. Write a song about how I wish Winfield was like. I picked out a song title that painted the picture. Picker's Paradise. It sounds like a band playing in heaven. Here are the lyrics-
We're a Winfield campfire band playing new guitar strings
and older gray hair lady who yodels when she sings
Her voice is sweet as honey as she glides from note to note
I felt a tear run down my face as she sang that song she wrote.
Chorus- It's a simple melody in 4/4 time
Her verse told a story of her rocky times
We all sang the chorus and we sang it twice
All our feet were tapping, It's a picker's paradise.
The chords were very simple, just a D and an A
That boy on the banjo, That kid could play'
His Dad plucked the bass, Mom's on mandolin
I played a solo, my Martin blended in.
Chorus- It's a simple melody in 4/4 time
Her verses told a story of her rocky times
We all sang the chorus and we sang it twice
All our feet were tapping, It's a picker's paradise.
There's a guy in a dress shirt, thimbles on his thumbs
He taps his tin necktie and plays it like a drum
There's a pretty fiddle player, hot as 4th of July
A farmer in lawn chair his harmonica cries.
It's a simple melody in 4/4 time
Her verses told a story of her rocky times
We all sang the chorus and we sang it twice
All our feet were tapping, It's a picker's paradise.
Tuh! Duh! It won. I was so excited. Six years of entering the contest. I had learned so much in those six years. I appreciated winning and getting to play on stage. It was a lot of fun.
Chasing our dreams should be fun. Waiting is part of the journey. Would I have enjoyed if I would of won the first year? No, I would of taken it for granted. I do not take it for granted. I worked hard and put in the time and the effort. I want to encourage you to do the same. Have a goal and work toward it. It might seem like nothing is happening but behind the scenes God is working. Don't fret and try to rush the process. You have things that you need to learn. I had to learn to write better songs. I took guitar lessons. I took singing lessons. You might have some things that you will need to work on to get to your goal. A class to take, a degree to get, or maybe more wisdom from just getting older and wiser. Chase your dreams.