Originally Posted by Rand Bishop
Colin:


However, Toby Keith actually improved "My List" by changing a single phrase of lyric. The original first chorus included the line, "Bate a hook and cast a line." Toby (a pretty decent song scribe himself) took it upon himself to change that line to "Wade the shore and cast a line." At first I wondered why he'd done that, and it kinda pissed me off. Then I realized that he really knows his audience: picture, if you will, a wiggly worm being forced onto a barbed hook; now picture the fisherman wading in clear, placid waters. Which is the more pleasing image? Aha! The song is now a better song with wider appeal.

So, on a rare occasion the artist might make your song better with a change in composition. It's more likely to drive you crazy. But, know you're not alone. Every songwriter goes through that. And, hopefully, just hearing that little song you made up one day being performed by some gifted musicians and singers will be thrill enough (even if they do play the wrong chord in the bridge).

Rand Bishop
songwriter/producer/author Makin' Stuff Up - secrets of song-craft and survival in the music-biz
www.makinstuffup.net


So did Toby ask for a share of the song writing credits for making that change?

The more you taste the bitterness of defeat, the sweeter final victory will be

May the flowers of love forever bloom in your garden of life

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