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Music City Melody

from Songs From Life Part One by Dave Shiflett

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about

This song was inspired by a conversation with the legendary Fred Foster, best known for his work with Roy Orbison and for co-writing Me and Bobby McGee. I had gone to Nashville to interview Fred about a political issue. After the interview I told him I had written some songs (the first batch of songs I ever wrote) and had a woman sing them. I wondered if he would mind taking a listen. He asked if the girl was in her 20s and looked like a supermodel. I said not exactly. This inspired Fred to launch into a spirited denunciation of Nashville's emphasis on looks over talent, which he partially blamed on MTV. He ended the conversation by saying that many of the stars he had worked with had gotten better as they had gotten older. Fred is not "the man" in this song. The man is the part of the industry that put looks above talent.

lyrics

I know a girl, she sings so sweet
She's a blessing to this world
She had her dream, to sing on the radio
And the Music TV
But the man he said no, 'cause you’re too fat
You're probably too old
I'm sure you can sing, I’m sure you are sweet
And I’m sure you ain’t got what it takes to compete

He knows the way, you play ten songs a thousand times a day
Ain't nothing discrete, you're like a pimp out working the street
But the girl she says no
I'm gonna sing 'cause that is my soul
The fat girl she cries, the fat girl she sings
Only the girl held on to her dreams

I know those girls
They sing so sweet across this sad world
Night after night they reach those angelic heights
Angelic heights

I love that girl
She sings so sweet
She's a blessing to this world
The man who said no
He spends all day just counting his dough
She knows his thing
He makes those cash boxes ring
And the fat girl she cries
The fat girl she sings
Only the girl escaped with her dream

credits

from Songs From Life Part One, released May 5, 2023
This is a home recording. I played all the instruments. Recorded with Audacity software.

license

all rights reserved

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about

Dave Shiflett Virginia

Dave Shiflett is a lifelong journalist and writer, musician and, more recently, a composer. He has created a dozen CD-length recordings of songs for female and male vocalists, and another six for solo guitar, orchestra, and chamber ensembles. Most of that music will be archived at this site over the next several months. ... more

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