I think it was Miss Luckhart’s kindergarten class.
Probably somewhere between snack time and recess, Officer Friendly was up in front of the class.
Officer Friendly was a generic name of a real live police officer, gun, hand cuffs, billy-club and all, who came to talk to the kids about safety.
One of the things he talked about was not taking candy from strangers.
If we ran across someone saying…
“Hey, little boy. Want some candy?”
We were to run like hell or scream.
Today, creeps like this probably wouldn’t get too far. Running like hell or giving a good swift kick in the balls followed by peepers full of pepper spray would be as much a reflex as shivering in a snow storm, but back in the day, this was a new, unheard of thing.
Creeps like that were fresh on the prowl.
Got a little confession. As a little kid back then?
I didn’t really believe this was a real thing.
I didn’t think people, people you’d see anywhere, were capable of nasties like that.
I figured people were honest, and truthful.
I guess all the more why Officer Friendly needed to be there to straighten us kids out a bit.
Fortunately, I was never approached…
By strangers with a piece of candy in their hands that is.
But, candy isn’t the only lure in life is it?
There’s always someone to prey on others. And how much easier is it to lure people than by their burning desire?
Like those song sharks out there saying…
“Hey little boy, want your poem made into a song and published?”
More creeps.
Fortunately, I was on to them jerks too. Got to have some street smarts, right?
But even so, there are well meaning, honest people passing out song candy which, as much as it might be right for them, it might not be for you.
The result is the same, they try to lure you into the back seat and take you for a ride. They mean you no harm, but still, there’s free candy out there which might not be good for you.
When I started songwriting decades ago, I was lured in by some songwriting candy.
Some of those fancy wrapped candies had to do with song titles.
But, I found out the truth.
For instance, I bet you didn’t know by itself, a song title is the least important part of a song?
‘Tis true.
I also know you’ve been told certain things about titles which might be true…
But it might also be as deceptive as that creep holding out candy to you.
Some of that info was true at one time, but maybe not now.
No different than year’s ago it was sacrilegious to write in anything but perfect rhymes. Nobody does that all the time anymore.
Same with titles. There’s no kickass title out there, anywhere. Don’t believe me?
Once you check out October’s Tune Booster, you’ll not only smell what I’m steppin’ in, but you’ll agree.
Get your healthy songwriting greens at: https://www.tunesmithtips.com/newsletter/