Rewriting and rewriting

Reworking material - rewrites - has never been something I've been good at in the past. In this new creative life, I've decided to put some focus in this area. I have spend quite a bit of time the past few weeks reading and studying "songcraft" trying to better understand a number of different facets of the whole enchilada. So, time spent reading, listening to examples of phrasing, beat placement, emotional response mechanisms, etc. Sounds all to scientific, yes? I guess, but there really is something to it all and melding it with old fashioned creativity.

I find this time around the adventure that I have a ton of ideas to work with and I really want to hone some skills from a writing perspective. To this end, I've pulled back on writing new things the past month and am trying out new ideas with already penned materials.

Most of my time has been working and reworking the song I posted the lyrics to before; "Can't Say No." Although I'm still working the recording side of this one, I believe the lyrics better suit what I was shooting for. I'm going to record it again from the beginning and see if I can't create more contrast and dynamics into it. Again, this rewriting and re-recording process I find fun, but doesn't come naturally, so I constantly seek inventive ways to motivate. Sometimes I've got to walk away and many times, wham, a new direction or piece to the puzzle. The trouble with this puzzle is that there is really no definitive "puzzle's complete." Always room to grow. Maybe "trouble" was the wrong word as it really is opportunity laying in the wings.

Here's the new "Can't Say No" with only a few additions really. The major change is an added lyric to the bridge section. The bridge is now lyrical rather than instrumental lead, but I think sums up the song direction. When I get it down digitally, I think it will have a great impact and change the song (for the better??!!!).

There’s something in the air
Moving on the ground
Feeding on the night
Making no sound

A deer in the headlights
Frozen in your tracks
Can’t keep moving forward
And you can’t go back

Can’t trust what you’re seeing
Can’t trust anything that you know
Don’t believe what you’re feeling
But you can’t say no, no, no

A shadow ‘cross the moonlight
A ripple in time
Sporting double vision
Just another sign

As you knew your life, it’s over
Never be the same
No way to recover
Can’t find the reigns

Can’t trust what you’re seeing
Can’t trust anything that you know
Don’t believe what you’re feeling
But you can’t say no

Now that mask is slowly lifting
Resistance not enough
And despite yourself, your every breath
Fans the fire of love
You can’t say no
You can’t say no

Can’t trust what you’re seeing
Can’t trust anything that you know
Don’t believe what you’re feeling
But you can’t say no, no, no
You can’t say no
You can’t say no
You can’t say no