Agreed. And thanks, Rand, for the kind words. I always knew that if I ever made a dime off of a song, it would probably not be the one I expected.

I've been absolutely consumed by your strong suggestion that we stick to the positive. I'm currently kicking out 14 songs this month for the FAWM (February is Album Writing Month) challenge, which is to write 14 songs in 28 days. Now I know that for you, that's probably an unacceptable number, even on a vacation month. For me it's tough because I work 60 hours a week and have a family and a house, etc. Whatever though...the point is, now that I look back on the last five lyrics I realize how much negativity is still there in the lyrics, even the funnier ones. Dang it.

In interviews when Paul McCartney looks back on his Beatles catalog, he often expresses how proud he is that their message was essentially a positive one, all about love and fun and peace and good feelings. I wonder how many of us can look at our own catalogs and say the same. Songwriting is such a good way to exorcise our demons, that I believe sad songs are probably twice as common as all the others put together. It's always easier to bitch, isn't it? So your advice is resonating with me, and I appreciate that.

My Dad used to ask what kind of idiot would try to make a living at something like music, or any art for that matter. Kind of like George Carlin's take on drivers, the slow ones are all idiots and the fast ones are all maniacs...well, sometimes it seems like songwriters who are trying to make a living at it are all fools, and the handful of successful ones are geniuses.

But you can't make the goal if you don't take the shot.

Here's to the fools! smile God, I love 'em all.

http://www.soundclick.com/MarkKaufman