off by one for 2008 May

Sat May 10 12:53:49 song archetypes: the list song:

I often think about different kinds of song archetypes -- songs that either in form or content, get written and rewritten constantly. One of these days, I want to do an album of all song archetypes... I suppose one approach would be to make you try to figure out what archetype it is, and the other approach would be to make it incredibly obvious... I'm not sure which strategy I'll take on this nebulous idea (file it under "probably won't ever happen").

Anyway, one archetype that, as a kid, I thought was absolutely hilarious and clever, was what I called the "list song", which basically just begged you to memorize it. Notable list songs: We Didn't Start the Fire, and It's the End of the World As We Know It. I think that American Pie is also one part list song -- it's also one part "mysterious lyrics" song, which is a different archetype I'll talk about some other time.

All three of those also have the distinction of being list songs about historical events... but I'm sure there are lots of these songs out there.

Stay tuned for more song archetypes.

Sun May 18 21:22:55 song archetypes: folk hero ballads:

These songs are usually about a famous folk hero -- some are more legendary and some are more factual than others. Classic examples include John Henry and Jesse James.

John Henry was, of course, the man who beat that steel driving machine but died as a result. Jesse James was the outlaw with a heart of [gold|silver|tin], often touted for his faith or lambasted for his theft of gold from old people. Few people know that Jesse was a secessionist who targeted Northerners that either served in or who he thought profited as a result of the war. On the balance, most songs treat James as a hero.

Personally, I want to write a song about Jesse James and John Henry meeting in heaven and fighting each other up and down the hills of Zion for a thousand years before settling their grudges. Seriously, don't steal that idea.

Update: Steal that idea all you want -- folk songs are all about stealing from each other.

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