Song Club #13: On The Road

Even if it’s all billboards for Jesus and dusty nothing

NOTE: This week I’m experimenting with a different format for Song Club. Instead of song provocations, creative missions, and artist reflections I’m sharing 7 small music-making experiments. I’ve included a little poll at the end of this email. I’d love your feedback on what you prefer. 

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I love a road trip. Especially if it’s a spontaneous, going-nowhere-in-particular one. My chest opens up when I think about endless stretches of highway, the stops in-between, and the possibility both hold. I breath a little deeper. 

Per usual, I am not alone in this. Road trip songs proliferate in popular music. From classics like ‘Born To Run’ and ‘Fast Car’, to two of my favorite tunes from the last few months Palehound’s ‘Eye On The Bat’ and Youbet’s ‘Carsick’. 

The momentum of a car on the open road is mesmerizing captured in music: propulsive and expansive.  The imagery of a road trip is just as captivating, even if it’s all billboards for Jesus and dusty nothing.

So, this week in your songwriting, some experiments in writing about the road. 

Keep going, 

Lucy

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7 Small Songwriting Experiments:

#1: Use ‘America’ by Simon & Garfunkel as a blueprint for your own road trip song 

A few elements to borrow: