Conversational Tone
Conversational tone in songwriting, as Jimmy Webb in his book ‘Tunesmith’ correctly points out, altered the rules. It’s the natural tone of conversational songwriting that makes it so effective. If we can use the cinematic reference once again, there’s a ‘suspension of disbelief’ that happens on some conscious or subconscious level with conversational songwriting. The listener is drawn into the ‘conversation’, and for a time is freed from the restraints of the more flowery and over-the-top style of traditional songwriting. The goal should always be the communication of emotion, and often the less a listener is distracted by the ‘chops’ of the songwriter and focused more on what the songwriter is communicating, the more likely the communication of emotion will take place.
Here are a couple of videos of the conversational songs Webb refers to:
“Raised on Robbery” by Joni Mitchell can be heard by clicking HERE.
Let’s take a look at Joni’s lyrics:
He was sitting in the lounge of the Empire Hotel
He was drinking for diversion
He was thinking for himself
A little money riding on the Maple Leafs
Along comes a lady in lacy sleeves
She says let me sit down
You know, drinkin’ alone’s a shame (It’s a shame it’s a crying shame)
Look at those jokers
Glued to that damn hockey game
Hey honey-you’ve got lots of cash
Bring us round a bottle
And we’ll have some laughs
Gin’s what I’m drinking
I was raised on robbery
I’m a pretty good cook
Sitting on my groceries
Come up to my kitchen
I’ll show you my best recipe
I try and I try but I can’t save a cent
I’m up after midnight, cooking
Trying to make my rent
I’m rough but I’m pleasin’
I was raised on robbery
We had a little money once
They were pushing through a four lane highway
Government gave us three thousand dollars
You should have seen it fly away
First he bought a ’57 Biscayne
He put it in the ditch
He drunk up all the rest
That son of a bitch
His blood’s bad whiskey
I was raised on robbery
You know you ain’t bad looking
I like the way you hold your drinks
Come home with me, honey
I ain’t asking for no full length mink
Hey, where you going
Don’t go yet
Your glass ain’t empty and we just met
You’re mean when your loaded
I was raised on robbery
I would have to say that these lyrics are as much narrative lyrics as conversational but extremely well-written
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