Enter Today.

Lyricists! Here’s your chance to shine! Enter The Dallas Songwriters Quarterly Lyric Contest Entry fee is $10 per lyric.

Quarterly Entry Deadlines: Winter - March 31 * Spring - June 30 * Summer - September 30 * Fall - December 31


PRIZES TO BE AWARDED

Of course the MAIN prize is what we ALL aspire to:

RECOGNITION FOR OUR LYRICAL WORK!

ALSO: The 1st place winning lyricist receives:

A certificate, $50 cash and a 1 year DSA membership.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winner's lyrics and judges critiques will be published in the DSA “Songwriters Notes” and on the DSA Website.

Monday, September 3, 2012

2012 Spring Lyric Contest Winners


1st Place
     He Was The Whole World to Me by Dana Young, Anthony, KS

VI: I used to sit with grandpa in his old porchswing
And listen to the cricket's serenade
He'd whittle on a stick, wearing old overalls
As we sipped on our sweet lemonade

VII: I remember watching the evening sun
Melt into the distant oak trees
Then God would snap on His heavenly lights
And send us a cool autumn breeze

CH: He was just a dirt farmer with a plow and a cow
But his heart was as big as the sea
He didn't mean much to the rest of the world
But he was the whole world to me

VIII: He told me stories of his childhood past
And I listened with a reverent air
The next morning I'd wake up tucked in my bed
Never remembering just how I got there.

CH: He was just a dirt farmer with a plow and a cow
But his heart was as big as the sea
He didn't mean much to the rest of the world
But he was the whole world to me

BR:         We have to let go of the ones we love
For from this world they must part
But when they leave us with sweet memories
They will always live on in our heart.

CH: He was just a dirt farmer with a plow and a cow
But his heart was as big as the sea
He didn't mean much to the rest of the world
But he was the whole world to me.



2nd Place 
    Corner Bar by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ
        
                                                                                                            
                 V-1  A YOUNG MAN ON HIS WAY FROM WORK, STOPS AND PARKS HIS CAR
                                                                                                       
                         HE’S LOOKING FOR SOME ACTION, AND GOES IN THE CORNER BAR
                                                                                                                
                         NONE OF HIS FRIENDS ARE THERE, JUST AN OLD MAN SITTING ALONE
                                                                                                                       
                         BUT HE REALLY WANTS A BEER, AND IT’S TOO EARLY TO GO HOME


                V-2  HE SAYS HEY POP HOW Y’A DOING, AND THE OLD MAN TIPS HIS HAT

                        WOULD Y’A LIKE A DRINK OLD TIMER, AND HE SAYS I’D LIKE THAT

                        SO THEY SAT DOWN TOGETHER, AND TALKED FOR A WHILE

                       THEY HAD A LOT IN COMMON, AND MADE EACH OTHER SMILE


               V-3  THE YOUNG MAN ASKED, HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS CORNER BAR

                        THE OLD MAN JUST SMILED, SAID I DON’T LIVE FAR

                        MY KID’S MOVED AWAY, AND MY EYES TOO BAD TO DRIVE  

                       I’VE GOT NOWHERE TO GO, AND FEW FRIENDS ALIVE

                                                                                                                        
   CHORUS:  SO I COME TO THIS CORNER BAR, AND ON A STOOL I SIT
                                                                                                                       
                        AND DRINK AWAY MY LIFE, WHATEVER’S LEFT OF IT
                                                                                                    
                        PEOPLE PITY ME, AND THEY SAY WHAT A SHAME
                                                                                                               
                        BUT I LIKE IT HERE, EVERYBODY KNOWS MY NAME 


               V-4  THE YOUNG MAN ASKS,  HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE OLD

                       AND THE OLD MAN ASSURES HIM, NOT AS BAD AS YOU’RE TOLD

                       I RELIVE MY YOUTH AT NIGHT, WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES

                       I’M A YOUNG MAN AGAIN, AND MY SPIRIT REVIVES


              V-5  BUT I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, TO FIND IT’S JUST A DREAM

                      MY BONES ARE STILL ACHING, AND LIFE’S WHAT IT SEEMS

                      NOW EVERY DAY’S A JOURNEY, THAT I DON’T WANT TO END

                      I HOPE YOU’LL STOP BY AGAIN, TO SEE ME MY FRIEND
                      
REPEAT CHORUS: 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

2012 Spring Lyric Contest Semifinalists


Semifinalists
 He Was The Whole World to Me by Dana Young, Anthony, KS
 Just About Us by Mike Brandon, Joplin, MO
 Songs From Home by Matt Stemme, Castiac, CA
 Corner Bar by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ 
The Life We Know and Love by Roy Williams, Woodbridge, ONT, Canada
 So Many Dreams by Dana Young, Anthony, KS
 Salesman by Ryan Eichenwald, Dallas, Tx
 Under The Canopy by Mitchell Kopnick, Janesville, WI
 A Yard Full of Weeds by Dana Young, Anthony, KS 
Nothing Changes Life Like Living by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ


Judges comments about semifinalists:
He Was The Whole World to Me - J1: good rhyme scheme, J2: Lyrics have emotional appeal. Sweet lyrics. Good form, rhyme and meter.  Could not really see much to change. J3: Well written, tells a good story, has emotional impact.

 Just About Us - J1: near rhymes

 Songs From Home -  J1: very homey

Corner Bar -  J1: good rhyme scheme. J2: Good story line with emotional appeal. Good meter/rhyme. I would re-position the chorus after 2nd verse and 4th verse and end it with the 5th verse to create better flow of song. J3: good idea, good story, too many verses. Try combining 1st and 2nd verse into one verse with more impact.

So Many Dreams - J2: Has emotional impact. Good structure/ rhyme/meter.

 Salesman - J 2: Good form. Rhyme scheme could use a little help. Interesting point of view of the life of a salesman.

Under The Canopy -  J2: Really like the lyrics. Rhyme and meter works, but unsure about the form and structure - there is no chorus or bridge, but could work.

A Yard Full of Weeds - J3: Good imagery, cleverly written, original

 Nothing Changes Life Like Living - J3: Too long to the chorus. Move chorus up to after 2nd verse



Some good titles:
All Drinks Aside by Michael Junek, Cameron, TX
Dirt From Your Jeans by Gino Loti, W. Palm Beach, FL
Kiss Me Before I Flat Line by Michelle Jenkins, Bolivar, MO
Dentures For Sale or Rent, by Michelle Jenkins, Bolivar, MO. - written to the tune of "King of the Road", is very funny and a good way to practice writing lyrics by picking a popular song. We did an exercise of writing to the "Let I Be" melody at one of the DSA meetings .