Why this tune?
Once in a rare while, inspiration strikes and there’s no choice but to follow it. That happened to me on the morning of July 4, when we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. I had an image in my head of an enormous American flag flying over a remote truck stop, which quickly led to “My Country,” a impressionistic song about the USA as seen through the windows of a car speeding down an American freeway. From a technical perspective, this song was a departure for me. There are almost no rhymes, and the structure is much more free than what I usually write.
I posted the song first to FAWM, which opened up their website this month for a nine-day summer song sprint. I’ve mentioned FAWM (February Album Writing Month) before; it’s a lovely virtual community of songwriters that meets every February, setting an informal goal to write 14 songs in 28 days. It has has been a good place for me to stretch out, experiment and collaborate in a positive, appreciative environment.